Survival .22 Rifle

[jackknife]

Stay away from the Henry AR7, I bought one and as cool as it seems, it's about as accurate as a rock, my Mrlin I can remove the barrel from the stock with one screw and strap it to my pack, I can drive nails with the Marlin and it's iron peep sites at 50 yards with no problem.

I'll second that!

I had one, and it was THE most inaccurate .22 rifle that I've ever had. On top of that, it was very ammo picky. Not a good gun at all for any usew, survival or general shooting. My Marlin 39TD shot rings around it, and takes down as well. The Marlin papoose is a way better gun, if you can find the ammo that feeds perfect. Semi-auto .22 rifles take a backseat to bolt actions for both reliability and accuracy.

If semi auto is that accurate, why do Olympic competitors and snipers use bolt actions?

 

[gangsta965084]

I went to dicks today, they said to bring my passport as a secondary id, then they say that they need another one that is state issused. Im registering to vote on monday, that will be my 2nd id. i went to get the Marlin 795 because of the $35 mail in rebate, so now im waiting for my check to come in 2 weeks and im going to get the Ruger 10/22!

 

[J.Marsillo]

Damn...even in New York I can buy a Rifle with a single I.D.
Good call on the Ruger...It's the Jeep of .22's! Its Highly customizable down the road when you get the cash.
Go to Rimfirecentral.com and you wil be amazed at the inexpensive 10/22 mods.
Good luck and safe shooting!

 

[Handwrecker]

In my opinion, you will get a lot more gun for the money if you look into the Marlin 60 or 795 than you will with the 597 or 10-22. I picked up a model 60 for $100, and it's a tack driver. Every stock 10-22 that I've ever shot has been significantly less accurate than my 60, unless you dump some money into it. On the upside, if you want to spend money, you can turn a 10-22 into just about anything. I've never heard many good words about the 597, just some problems with the magazines and feeding. I've also seen the Henry collapsable survival rifles have trouble feeding often. The ones I've seen at the range seem to turn into single shots quick.

This forum can definitely help you out with any of your rimfire needs:

http://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/index.php

If you want a gun strictly for survival, the Springfield M6's are awesome. .22 and .410 over/under. They are discontinued though, so finding one can be hard.

 

[pilote]

As far as a "survival" rifle the ar-7 can't be beat. For survival im thinking backpacking, light load, need to shoot some food. For hunting whatever moves for nourishment while still being able to carry comfortably and no be burdened by a full size rifle its an excellent choice.

exactly...i hike 5-8 miles to backcountry lakes for fishing, and every ounce counts; no way am i going to carry a heavy 10/22 or pappose. when i've taken small game it's in the 10-25yrd range, and using cci velocitors i've ALWAYS hit my target on the first shot. and by the way i've NEVER jammed using cci minimags, velocitors or stingers in my ar7.

it's not a target rifle or a every day plinking rifle, and it's not a rifle that is friendly to cheap ammo buyers. if this is your profile by all means don't waste your money on an ar7; marlin 60, 795 or savage mark 2, or 10/22 is the rifle for you...

 

[Bo T]

"If you want a gun strictly for survival, the Springfield M6's are awesome. .22 and .410 over/under. They are discontinued though, so finding one can be hard."

Yes. And they typically fetch $400 or more. I wish Springfield would make another batch of them. I think the M6 is a better survival firearm than the AR-7. But, I think the AR-7 is the best survival .22 currently manufactured. Very light, compact, and I think it floats.

Everything seems to be a tradeoff. Out of the box I managed 2-3 MOA with the 795. With a trigger job that dropped to 1-2 MOA with 10 shot groups. A friend shoots 1-2 MOA with his older 10-22. This is using inexpensive ammo. I'd guess that whichever rifle you get, it is likely that you will need to put another $100 into the trigger to get it into the 1-2 MOA. If you end up with a Marlin shoot the copper clad bullets as i've read the micro-groove barrel is prone to lead build-up.

I don't think you can go wrong with either the 795 or the 10-22.

 

[hatidua]

Look for one of the Savage over/under guns, they made a .22-over-.410 that would get just about any job done, and it is/was very accurate due to that .410 barrel underneath. Easy storage as it broke down into three pieces in seconds.

 

[Scottman]

ALL great suggestions! The important thing is you figure out what works for you and your needs!

This is a little gun I've been putting around the woods with, by no means this is the final build but I've been testing it for quite some time and have come to like it. I think it gives me lot's of options that I have yet to explore as I get time for future weapon development - off the 10/22, and agp blemish stock, bx-25/TI-25 mags for options of capacity, a modified urban rifle supply short magazine. etc.

some copy and paste from hoodswoods

MY TI 25's composites and BX 25's are working flawlessly. A couple days ago I shot 600 rounds through my let's test the 10/22 barrel (just a regular extra 16 inch factory ruger barrel I have) non stop. I shoot CCI blazer which I've done immersion tests on and it has very good qualities. I've never had a dud. The gun kept firing till I was out of 600 rounds. I experienced no misfeeds, stove pipes etc. FLAWLESS. The gun was VERY hot (again just for testing) that I could feel heat through the magwell.

Was this test extreme? yes it was, but it shows how a 10/22 with BX-25 mags and or TI 25's can keep on ticking. An asset if the chips are down for sure.

Urban Rifle Supply of Idaho makes some interesting things that I have been itching to get my paws on.

1. They make a 29 inch barrel for the 10/22. Quiet
2. The second is what this post will be about. It's there modified magazine for the 10/22 that is made to take super colibri and 22 shorts.

I have found that in my "neck of the woods" I can kill small game just fine with the 22 short. And that in most guns it will group well enough in the standard 1-16 twist rate for it be effective at the distance I end up taking a lot of small game. Furthermore, it allows by repacking the container, one to carry double the amount of small game killin potential compared to the 22 Long Rifle.

That's 200 22 shorts, 200 meals if ya do it right.

The magazine works great. It offers me another option for the 10/22. I like that.

http://www.urbanriflesupply.com/

Agp 10/22 Folding Stock

Small pistol grip even though the 10/22 is "fat" because of it's rotary mag. I like that alot, reminds me of an AK pistol grip, great for when you have a lot of insulation on your hands trudging though the winter. Also, hollow, storage option.

That plug on the right hand side can be taken out. Storage options along the whole buttstock.

A look at the butt. Sling options. And access to be able to mount a recoil pad/extension if you want longer pull.

How small is it folded? Here's a CS SRK.

If you live in a not as permitting state, this stock still has good options.

1. The socket, like an AK, is simple for fabrication/repair/ . The two piece stock allows you to make your own custom fixed/folding buttstock if you desire.

2. I took out the plug of the tube that runs the length of the buttstock, and ran a small piece of scrap dowel (3/4), and secured it with a scrap rusty wood screw. Now it's fixed, and legal to assemble in my state. I took the 10/22 action out of my nice stock, took the scope off, assembled, and wow, a very nice light gun even with the 18.88 barrel. (i now have the factory ruger 16 inch barrel)

I will say the given AGP buttstock does not have a lot of drop. Shooting a standard 10/22 barrel with irons requires a very high in the pocket shoulder mount, and a cheekbone weld. If running an optic, it won't be a problem. Shouldering the rifle with standard barrel with my eyes closed and opening, the front sight is sticking up ala "caveman eotech". Not really sure I want that on a 22 lr for standard shoulder mount. If running suppressor sights/higher sights it would be more natural.


We still have the option pointed out in Number 1, of fabricating our own buttstock if running the gun with a standard barrel and irons.

hmmmmmmm access to the barrel.

A handly light weight gun, perfect for feeding yourself, and with the option of magazine capacity, may thwart off a threat to your person if you can't access a secondary weapon when small game hunting.

 

[coote]

Very nice Scottman.

 

[gangsta965084]

i agree that is awsome, what animal is that?

 

[crazyengineer]

the 10/22 is an absolutely amazing little .22

i have one and will end up getting another sooner or later

 

[retzius]

Cz 452

 

[JOSH111]

Bill, hit the nail on the head,Marlin 70 PSS is one sweet shooter and fits the bill to a "T". I would go with the AR-7 as a second choice for the task.That said I still love my 10/22 for all other .22 related activities.

 

[ElectrikHellfire]

Hard to beat the 10-22.

I inherited one of the old Charter Arms AR-7s that is pretty much made for this type situation.

 

[Scottman]

it's a wood chuck. Thanks coote, you have some really neat rifles and I like the posts on the trapping.

 

[Brerarnold]

I've been playing around with a Springfield M-6, the "old" survival gun. It's the double barrel, 410/22LR, some of you know this gun I'm sure.
I'm not suggesting it's the best gun for the OP, but he had been considering a shotgun. The M-6 gives you both, breaks down into two pieces, and can be a good choice for some situations.
http://www.oldjimbo.com/survival/v-shrake/m6.html

Great article on the M-6, thanks!

 

[Brerarnold]

exactly...i hike 5-8 miles to backcountry lakes for fishing, and every ounce counts; no way am i going to carry a heavy 10/22 or pappose. when i've taken small game it's in the 10-25yrd range, and using cci velocitors i've ALWAYS hit my target on the first shot. and by the way i've NEVER jammed using cci minimags, velocitors or stingers in my ar7.

it's not a target rifle or a every day plinking rifle, and it's not a rifle that is friendly to cheap ammo buyers. if this is your profile by all means don't waste your money on an ar7; marlin 60, 795 or savage mark 2, or 10/22 is the rifle for you...

Hells bells, for anything out to 30 yds. I'd just as soon have my Single Six, if we're talking a backpacking or day hiking type scenario. Smaller and lighter than any rifle made, and at those distances, you don't lose enough velocity to matter.

With the Single Six, I can knock over the chicken silhouettes at 50 yds, that are set out there for centerfire handguns (not the little ones they use for rimfire matches.) Granted, I have to hit them 3-5 times before they move far enough back on their stands to fall off ... still counts ...

Sometime I hit them off-center and they swivel instead of fall. It is a lot of fun, and a test of your marksmanship, to see if you can hit them just right to swivel them back around to face-front. Not easy, when you don't have much more than the edge to aim at. But it's a great rush when you do it the first time, and it gets easier with practice. Lots of practice.

 

[Ballenxj]

collapsable survival .22 rifle th henry ar-7
Collapsed and stored inside stock

I've got the older Charter Arms version of this.

Nice and compact, but imo, not as good as may Ruger 10/22.
This is it's current look, but I've had it dressed as a folder, stock configuration, etc.

It's always been reliable, and I've owned it since that late seventies or early eighties, and it has never let me down.
-Bruce

 

[Mitchell Knives]

If $200 is your max budget, get the Ruger.

They make factory 25 round magazines for it now.

 

[coote]

I took my Ruger 10-22 with me on a recent trip away. Up until this holiday I had done little more than simply fit a second-hand scope to the rifle and sight it in. I wanted to become more familiar with it.

I am impressed.

I had been worried about the relatively 'hard' trigger pull compared to other rifles I have used. But I found I soon adapted to it.

It is a nice compact, accurate rifle with a good magazine capacity.

There wasn't enough barrel forward of the foresight to make a thread for a screw-on silencer, but I got a local guy to make a special one out of plastic for me. This slides into place and is secured with one small stainless steel hose clamp.

A couple of times I had feeding problems with cartridge cases not being thrown clear of the bolt. However I was using low velocity ammo that had quite a bit of wax on it.

I shot one quick five-shot group at around 25 meters or more that probably could be described as a 3/4" group. I had nothing with me to measure it, but for a hunting rifle that would seldom be used at ranges over 50 meters, the result is good enough .... especially when you consider that the relatively large size of the group could at least have been partially caused by operator shake. I was just lying down leaning over a log and was shooting deliberately fast.

One thing I don't like about the rifle is that it is relatively hard to manually load a single shot into the chamber. However that is something that doesn't have to be done all the time, and it isn't the only semi-auto like it.

Next time I have the opportunity to hunt with a .22 I will seriously consider taking the Ruger rather than my old, well-proven silenced Anschutz bolt-action. I am especially likely to take the 10-22 if I am likely to come across bigger animals.

My wife enjoyed using it too.