2 months in deep wilderness which rifle

[Ed T]

Winchester 94

 

[Ed T]

Then and now.

 

[rctk1]

maybe a single shot contender with an additional barrel like a .22 and .44 mag. I would keep the .44 mag on most of the time in the event something large want to eat me plus its an awesome caliber for deer size game. the .22 would be used for collecting rabbits and other small creatures if large game is not around.

 

[North61]

I have a bunch of trick guns like the M6 Scout and Savage 22C and they are a lot of fun. In a living off the land situation in the North Woods you need a big rifle to take down caribou..moose for some real food value.

All the old timers living on trapline had a big rifle with them. Calvin Rustrum preferred the Win 94 in 30-30. I think a Savage 99 in 308 is even better. I use my Savage 99 in 284 Win as my ultimate woods gun. Gotta have good irons but the old Weaver 3X on mine makes taking the heads of ptarmigan a bit easier. If I see a caribou or moose at 300 yards or so..I have food for a month or 3.

 

[JTR357]

we would need more information as to where you are going, and the anticipated use ofe the rifle. that would help narrow down the choices a whole lot.
alex

I agree:thumbup: Which part of the country/world makes a big difference.IMO A 30-30 Rifle will take down most everything in the US.Also wouldn't hurt to have a large caliber revolver(min.44) at your side.

 

[udtjim]

Here are two, One on each end of the scale. The Stevens Little Favorite 22 RF and the Whitetail Classic H&R 45-70.

 

[batosai117]

Well, I definitely notice a difference in accuracy in changing weather with my wood stocked guns vs. my synthetics (and for this reason I generally switch out my wooden stocks) but nothing I own has a full wood stock that extends right out to the end of the barrell. What I am wondering is not really whether wood stocks decrease the accuracy of a rifle as the wood sheds or absorbs water, as this is definitely the case, but whether a full length stock is noticeably worse than a normal stock?

Oh okay, my last post was more of a guestimation than anything, but besides my lever action rifle, I prefer using synthetic because they seem a lot lighter to lug around. And I guess you could say the same in my knife choices too. The buck 110 is an awsome knife, but for the weight on a folder, I could just as easily carry around my Benchmade Griptilian for half the weight and the gortex handle (I think it's called gortex ).

 

[misanthropist]

Yeah, on a utilitarian basis, the sythetic stocks definitely win out...but that rifle pictured that started this whole line of thinking ten posts back is sure nicer to look at!

 

[batosai117]

Yeah, on a utilitarian basis, the sythetic stocks definitely win out...but that rifle pictured that started this whole line of thinking ten posts back is sure nicer to look at!

That's for sure

 

[langston302]

my mossberg 500....loaded with slugs will take most if not all big game....buckshot or birdshot for smaller stuff....few moving parts extremly versitale and fairly light...only down side...ammo...pretty bulky...unless you end up looking like rambo with a bandolier strung across your chest it gonna be tuff to store lots of it...i have 16 rds on the shotgun...side saddle rigs....working on s sling mount right now too...

 

[ras]

Now that the caliber issue is out of the way, I'd go with a CZ 452 Lux bolt action with a few extra magazines. I also have the single shot adapter which makes feeding single rounds directly into the chamber easier. The rifle itself is very accurate with iron sights and if you prefer it can easily be scoped. 300-500 rounds total of .22 LR solids and HP would suffice.

 

[Original]

KelTec plr16 pistol in .223, this one really grows on me, enough power for large game and accuracy with the red dot out to 200yds. 4 30rnd mags. Good for keeping 2 legged creatures off your tail too.

 

[Halfneck]

My NEF single shot 12 gauge.

Of course I do usually back it up with my S&W model 17 in .22lr.

 

[Boats]

I'd take a Mossberg Mariner 9 shot 12ga. It's pretty close to maintenance free. Takes birds or beasts with shot or slugs. Could probably fish with it under certain circumstances too.

Sure the ammo is heavy, but I am not getting into firefights with the wildlife. About 5 slugs and 15 heavy and 15 bird shot rounds would do for two months in most climes.

Some here are packing handguns and rifles. That makes a good slung shotgun and shells look light.

My second choice would be a Marlin 1894 carbine in .357 Magnum. Lugging something for two months makes this rifle attractive as a choice against small game, men, and heavier game at close ranges. Could probably get by with two boxes of Buffalo Bore loads.

 

[misanthropist]

I'd take a Mossberg Mariner 9 shot 12ga. It's pretty close to maintenance free. Takes birds or beasts with shot or slugs. Could probably fish with it under certain circumstances too.

Sure the ammo is heavy, but I am not getting into firefights with the wildlife. About 5 slugs and 15 heavy and 15 bird shot rounds would do for two months in most climes.

Some here are packing handguns and rifles. That makes a good slung shotgun and shells look light.

My second choice would be a Marlin 1894 carbine in .357 Magnum. Lugging something for two months makes this rifle attractive as a choice against small game, men, and heavier game at close ranges. Could probably get by with two boxes of Buffalo Bore loads.

You know, that's my second choice as well. Ammo is pretty light still, and .357 comes out of an eighteen inch barrel pretty damn hot! If you reload, you can get everything from "mild stunning of a chipmunk" to "hotter than 30/30" and that covers a hell of a lot of food!

 

[udtjim]

No way can you safely get 30-30 performance from a 357 Mag. Not unless you ream it to 357 Maximum.

 

[SpookyPistolero]

From: http://www.buffalobore.com/ammunition/default.htm#357

18.5 inch Marlin 1894 (.357 magnum)

a. Item 19A/20-180gr. Hard Cast = 1851 fps
b. Item 19B/20-170gr. JHC = 1860 fps
c. Item 19C/20-158gr. Speer Uni Core = 2153 fps
d. Item 19D/20-125gr. Speer Uni Core = 2298 fps ( )

From: http://www.volny.cz/buchtik/Revo/Ballistic_Info_komplet.htm

.30-30: Bullet weight, 150 grains. Muzzle velocity: 2390 fps.



The bullet weights of the .357 mag and .30-30 are often similar or equal, and the .357 velocities from a carbine closely approach that of the .30-30. I didn't believe it either the first time I read it, I had to check out numerous chronograph reports first.

 

[cuzzinjack]

This is what I'd take, but it would probably end up being an NEF sporter with exchangable barrels.

+1for that CJ

 

[Boats]

From: http://www.buffalobore.com/ammunition/default.htm#357

18.5 inch Marlin 1894 (.357 magnum)

a. Item 19A/20-180gr. Hard Cast = 1851 fps
b. Item 19B/20-170gr. JHC = 1860 fps
c. Item 19C/20-158gr. Speer Uni Core = 2153 fps
d. Item 19D/20-125gr. Speer Uni Core = 2298 fps ( )

From: http://www.volny.cz/buchtik/Revo/Ballistic_Info_komplet.htm

.30-30: Bullet weight, 150 grains. Muzzle velocity: 2390 fps.



The bullet weights of the .357 mag and .30-30 are often similar or equal, and the .357 velocities from a carbine closely approach that of the .30-30. I didn't believe it either the first time I read it, I had to check out numerous chronograph reports first.

To not leave a mistaken impression, the thuddy will still outrange the .357 by a considerable margin.

The flight characteristics of the magnum are still those of a short and squat handgun bullet. About 125 yards is the max to humanely kill a deer.

 

[udtjim]

You can hardly take the most endemic 30-30 round and compare it to the hottest 357 round and call it fair. The 30-30 also has a 170 grain load and if you are talking reloading the you can go 180 or more with the 30-30 too

Shoot the new Hornady pointed lever action bullets in the 30-30 and then range wise it blows the 357 away.

I am not knocking the 357, just keeping things on the level playing field. I have a NEF single shot 357 that I had reamed to 357 Max. Now were are talking parity with the 30-30 as the Max out runs the standard by 200-250 fps.