Survival Firearms - The Perfect Pair?

M

msiley

Joined
Aug 19, 2006
Messages
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A while back I was watching a documentary on
a division of Alaskan irregulars made up of rugged
outdoorsman and Inuits during WW II, called
"Castner's Cutthroats" or 1st Alaskan Combat Intelligence Platoon.
They had the task of acting as scouts for the regular army, in
taking back the Aleutians from the Japanese.

Anyhow, what was interesting was that these soldiers used
a .22 pistol for hunting small game along with their
combat rifle (I am assuming a M1 Garand but it wasn't stated).

That makes for a very good survival combination especially during a war.
The rifle for large game and defensive/offensive maneuvers and the
.22 pistol for small game.

For my personal choice, since I don't plan on fighting a war
anytime soon, I would choose a .22 LR rifle for
game getting and a 357 or 44 Magnum for self defense (human or otherwise).
Since, my primary mission would be small game for survival
and self defense would be secondary. Also, with the magnum
caliber handgun it would be possible to take larger game like deer
if need be.

What pair of firearms would you carry?
 
I've used my .58 smoke pole fer taking small game. Trick is to only shot fer the eye. Some times I miss and hit them in the Head.
 
I've seen where Alaska natives/Inuits are still using the AR15 for just about everything from small game to elk and polar bear when the need arises.

For me, it would depend on what part of the world I'm trying to survive in.

In most cases it would be a 12gauge with a selection of different loads and .22 handgun.
 
one of my hunter safety instructor ( a long time ago) used a .50 black powder gun for squirrels (or so he said) he used to shoot the tree right in front of them and kill them with bits of bark..

That being said .. I think for it's hard top beat a .22 as a survival gun..if you don't mind the extra weight than a 12 gauge will do you fine... just 1 gun if any when I'm in the bush..if I do my part they'll do what I need them too. any more than that..and I start feeling like a mall ninja. But thats just me.. if you have the space, and the guns, and the desire to lug them all into the bush than rock on!
 
My plans are my AR-15 and Kahr P9 and plenty of ammo. I have a .22 conversion for the AR which will be in "the bag" too for small game. The conversion is not the most accurate .22 I've shot but not bad either. I'm sure I wouldn't go hungry with it, unless there weren't any little critters to shoot at! :D
 
I would take a scoped rifle in 22 mag. Ammo is about the same weight as 22LR but alot more power. Solid points could probably take down larger animals (small deer) with a head shot. It would be hard for me to hit a deer anywhere with a pistol unless the deer stuck his head into my deer stand.
 
msiley said:
What pair of firearms would you carry?
Click to expand...

Interestingly, I just answered this on the RAT forum.

I'd either take a 12 GA and a Ruger Single Six.

Or a 4" .44 Mag and the single six.

If I can get in range to hit it with a bow (and I can), I can hit it better with the .44.
 
Interesting thought. I've been giving this some consideration, too.

I recently picked up a H&R model 999 sportsman. 9 shot 22LR sa/da revolver with a 6 inch barrel. Little tack driver, and I like that it's 22LR, since the magnum is a waste unless you have a longer barrel. Aside from the lack of ability to kill sasquatch with one shot from 350 meters, it's a joy of a trail gun.

The general consensus seems to be that a sidearm should be a .357, .44, possibly something as "tiny" as a 9mm or .32

But I'm starting to consider the merits of the larger longarm and .22 pistol pair. I'd personally go for a 20ga with a choke system, and some slug and bird loads.

If I was giving up the shotgun option, a 30-30 trapper (short lever action), or better yet a 44mag trapper would be fine. I recently was shooting a nice light "scouterized" 7.62x39 bolt that was pretty durned sweet, too.

I used to think that the matching ammo possibilities of the .357 revolver and .357 lever gun were a pretty big bonus, but I'm leaning heavily towards the versatility side of things now.

If I lived in the great white north, that'd be a 375 bolt action rifle, incidentally.

For the sidearm, if you go .22, I have messed with several different variations, and while some of the autos are really sweet, I'd stick to a revolver. 7,8, or 9 shots are common, 6 inch barrels won't drag you down much, and if you find a good condition Iver Johnson or H&R, you can get a really accurate pistol for cheap, with a simple and reliable SA/DA system (simpler than the colt style, what with the independent SA sear), and collect beater models for spare parts.

A good condition H&R .22 sportsman should run you under $200, and will be every bit as accurate as a new ruger at at least twice the price. Though, if you can afford it, the ruger is well worth buying :D
 
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we talking about bunkering or moving? I'd not want to cart around 2 longarms and a sidearm on foot for any serious distance.

By all means add a good semi auto rifle for the homestead, and probably a good scoped bolt, too.
 
My combo would probably be my Lever action Marlin 1894C in .357 Magnum and Ruger Single Six convertible. The Marlin Carbine only weighs 6 pounds empty and hold 9 rounds of .357 mag or 10 rounds of .38 special. It has a Skinner peep sight on it and I can hit small soup cans at 75 yards with it. Out of all my hand guns I'm probably best with my Single Six and it's 100% reliable. I picked the Single Six over my Ruger Blackhawk .357 Magnum/9mm convertible do to the lower recoil and if I need to shoot something bigger I still have the carbine. Then again, the Blackhawk isn't bad with light magnums or .38's or 9mm. So there is a chance that I'd bring both pistols but probably just the Marlin, Single Six and an extra knife or more ammo.

Heber
 
koyote said:
we talking about bunkering or moving? I'd not want to cart around 2 longarms and a sidearm on foot for any serious distance.

By all means add a good semi auto rifle for the homestead, and probably a good scoped bolt, too.
Click to expand...

I was thinking moving. That's why 2 would be my personal limit
or at least only one long arm.
 
Just me, I would opt for a 12G Rem 870 SG, and my Ruger Alaskan 454 revolver.. The SG will fill the pot with all the small game ya want, and with slugs still stop anything that may want to do ya harm. The 454 is good security inside a shelter, or while copping a squat to pinch off a loaf..;)
 
I ususally just throw my gear in a Sherman Tank equipped with a side mounted flame..good for bear, Griffins and other game or enemies of titanic proportions... and the flame thrower saves me the trouble of cooking the meat afterwards. LOL JK
 
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