Survival Gun of last resort.

[InfidelShootist]

It may not be a .44 mag... but it's good enough to stop someone coming at you.

I'll give anyone $100 to get shot in the head with this gun. Then we'll see what they say about its power!

Bad guys always stand still at close range and let you shoot them in the head.

A whore working in a brothel could make good use of that gun in a garter belt.
So could a woman who's main goal is last ditch rape prevention.
A man carrying that as a primary weapon for self defense should get his head examined.
I have a P3AT .380 and don't trust that,it's only used as a BUG.

 

[koyote]

The K-38 masterpiece would be a good field gun for me, I'd love to find a pair of K-32 6 inchers to last me for the rest of my life

I think, in keeping with the thread, there's a paradox in the desire to carry something really really tiny and the need to have an adequate grip surface and sight radius to effectively make small and medium game shots at 20-50 yards. Inside of 20 yards, speaking PURELY of food aquisition and not taking any self defense issues into account, I'd be hard pressed to beat a crosman 1377 with steel breech and LPA target sights firing crow magnums. 250 shots sets you back a whopping 5.5 ounces. The pistol does push you back 2 pounds, though.

 

[okbohn]

+1 on a Kahr for the 9mm family!

 

[PrimitiveMan]

I think the Crosman Air pistol is a great idea, but does not serve the original purpose in a few respects. It is large and the overall weight far exceeds the original intent. It also is a single shot and requires pumping so it is more a weapon of planning rather than opportunity.

So, in answering the OP's original question, for a last ditch gun, would you rather have a small .22 pistol with a teeny barrel, or nothing, because I didn't see him suggesting any .357's, 9mm's or .32's.

 

[KiljoyKutlery]

I'll start his by saying I don't own a handgun....although I do a fair amount of shooting with them... for an over all survival combo...I favor a .22 rifle... and a 4 inch barrel .357 wheelgun....the .22 is for filling the pot..the .357 is for safety....If I could only pick one fire arm however I'd have to go with a mossberg 500 in 12 gauge....easy to get ammo..and super versatile...for everything.

John, I have to agree..after a bunch of thought on this years ago..12 gauge can shoot deer, bear, or 2 legged dangers and put it down with no questions...The ammo is easy to find, and most pumps are easy to maintain..and they seldom break. Well, unless its Mossberg..I'm a Remington 870P man myself

 

[pict]

I'm a big fan of the Ruger Single Six, w/ .22 mag as a trail gun. I've carried that quite often and taken lots of game with it.

A while back Ruger chambered the Single Six in .32 H&R magnum and that seemed like a versatile intermediate round. I wonder what will be coming out in .327 Federal. A three inch DA six shooter in .327 would be pretty handy.

I've never been a big fan of the mouseguns, other than for fun at the range. My big problem with them is that I would carry one. I carry my J-frame .38 more than I should just for convenience. I'm not the kind of person that will leave it at home and carry nothing. If you really want to cut down on weight and not sacrifice power then an airweight J-frame (like the 442) is a good compromise.

The Berreta 21A is a very accurate .22 mousegun. I have a friend who can manage consistent headshots with his (man target) at 25 yards. I wouldn't want a .22 for defense. They will certainly kill but there will be alot of running around first in most cases and that can get messy. Mac

 

[j williams]

Those .22 ruger single six guns are sweet! I want one in .17hmr. I saw a .17hmr 9shot revolver Taurus puts out with a 2in bbl. Looked pretty sweet.


http://www.taurususa.com/products/product-details.cfm?id=55&category=Revolver"][][/URL]

 

[runningboar]

The 357 has a lot going for it.

A Model 60 Smith 3" with adjustable sights is as compact or more so than any kit gun I have seen, no problem fitting it and extras in a fanny pack. I don't think any one will argue the effectiveness of the 357 magnum and with light loaded roundnose 38 specials it will take small game all day long, doing little more damage than a 22. And it actually has enough accuracy for 30 yard shots if needed.

I have worked in a gunshop most of my adult life and have handled a lot of those NAA pistols, they are wonderful little curios and very well made. But for the life of me I can't figure a practical application for one of them, all that I have shot start keyholing past about 15 yards. Chris

EDIT: If anyone is strictly talking about a meat gun, a sensible 22lr with adjustable sights is the only way to go, and if powder guns are illegal where you live, a quality air pistol will also put a little meat in the pot. All of this has been said over and over, the problem is, if you want to combine self defense into the equation, then things change drastically IMO.

 

[kdstrick]

+1 on a Kahr for the 9mm family!

Here is a shot of my Kahr PM9 next to a modded Busse SAR5 (5" blade). It is tiny...

This is the KelTec .32 with a Kershaw from the web(.380 is the same size... but wasn't available when I bought the .32). It is UBER-tiny.

 

[j williams]

Hows that keltec treat ya? Ive been lookin at the OD .380 for awhile, but never knew anyone who owned one.....

Model 60 S&W with a 2in bbl is my next firearm purchase this year. Probably summer time. Ive been wantin one of those for a long time.

Today I found a circa 1991 pre-lock nickle plated S&W in 44mag with a 3in bbl for 600.00. Like new. I really want that gun. Wish I had the money....

 

[Steel-Junky]

Now that would be an impressive display of marksmanship that I'd like to witness.

Which one? The 1911 part or me seeing if I can hit something with my 22 within 30? If the 1911 part... you must not get to be around really high quality 1911s or shooters that know how to use them. If the last... Me too... I wanna take a run at it and see what I can get done.

 

[Steel-Junky]

Absolute bottom of the barrel, last resort, doom and gloom has befallen us survival gun for me would be break action, single pump pistol like the RWS 5G that puts out 700FPS (Minimum). Rifle prefered but the title said "gun".

1000 rounds takes up almost no space.
Easily enough for birds or squirrel.
No need for CO2 cartridges or specific ammo.
accurate.
Pretty much maintenance free.

For food acquisition, I'd take it over the NAA.

Again... if I could take something that large... I'd take a Mark III or Even my Glock 34 lower with 22lr conversion kit on it. I'm speaking about something big enough to fit in your pocket or small fanny survival pack... I think the wheels have fallen off this thread LOL.

 

[Steel-Junky]

Sure looks like someone speaking out of their lower orifice to me...

Hey, I was trying to be nice to you.

I did go back and edit it to convey what I was trying to say. But I'm still not sure I can't hit a bird with it at 30. You never know. I'll check it out and see tomorrow. I'll be happy to admit my limitations. But as of yet... I'm not sure if this is one of them.

PS... And I don't care if you were trying to be nice to me. I don't need youto be nice to me. I'm a big boy. I can handle myself.

 

[Steel-Junky]

In the woods I generally go with my Glock .357 sig... 14 rounds of Hornady 147 grn JHP @1225 fps. Enough to stop anything I may run across in my neck of the woods.

Another G32 man. I love mine. I rock the 124gr Gold Dots.... or are they 125gr... either way... nasty round. I hear Federal has come out with an HST in 357sig... that'll be my new carry round as soon as I can get up some extra dough to buy 500 rounds for testing and such. Those HSTs are super nasty.

 

[okbohn]

Hows that keltec treat ya? Ive been lookin at the OD .380 for awhile, but never knew anyone who owned one.....

Model 60 S&W with a 2in bbl is my next firearm purchase this year. Probably summer time. Ive been wantin one of those for a long time.

Today I found a circa 1991 pre-lock nickle plated S&W in 44mag with a 3in bbl for 600.00. Like new. I really want that gun. Wish I had the money....

I think the Keltec has one thing going for it and only one thing--size.

I have the .32 version. I love that I can put it in my pocket and not even think about it. I think it would do its job at 5-8 yards, but beyond that, good luck.

Not much fun to shoot either.

 

[Steel-Junky]

In all honesty, sometimes a moron can taint a product for you.

I'm sure the NAA is a cool little .22LR or .22Mag. I even thought about buying one at one time.

I was looking at one at a gun shop a couple years ago. I mentioned something about self defence and the guy behind the counter actually suggested that it be loaded with snake shot and if brought to bear, shoot the assailant in the face. Once blind, he would no longer be a threat.

This struck me as a sure way to get sued for everything I own and then some. It just left a bad taste in my mouth when it comes to the NAA mini revolvers. Snake shot as an SD load too for that matter.

But, to each their own I guess.

Don't let them turn you off... the little gun is worth a look. I actually carry mine when I'm out and about in gym shorts or something where carrying a real gun isn't practical... It's better than nothing and 22mag is gonna hurt.

 

[Steel-Junky]

I have NO DOUBT you can hit a rabbit or bird with that gun at 30 yards. Maybe not every time, but survival is about getting food. 1 out of 3 or 4 would be fine.

I have a TP-22 that can hit a pie plate with pretty good regularity at 15 0r 20 yards.

As far as a .22 not being able to kill large game, including a man, My two uncles killed deer regularly with a .22 single shot Remington 514 from a Pontiac Bonneville Convertible at night.

I have not seen anyone take JAWILDERS 100$. If you are uncomfortable with the probablity of being able to hit someone in the head during duress, I'll give you $500 to lunge at me from 10 yards while I unload 7 rounds from my TP-22 into you. If your in any shape to finish me off, you can have whats left in my wallet.

As a last ditch, small, packable gun with a 50 round reserve, I think the OP is being very realistic in his approach. Would I rather carry my Combat Commander? Sure. But then I am gonna have a lot more weight, a lot more bulk and a lot less ammo. Depending on the sitch, a pocket .22 might be the smarter approach.

Finally someone that understands the point of this thread LOL. I would love to have a 10-22 with me. Or even a nice 20 or 12ga. But the point is... firepower in a tiny space. A knife, 22mag mini, 50 rounds, fire steel, and maybe a leatherman. I think you might be able to do alright for yourself in a survival situation... not in a robbing at the local wal-mart... but in the woods alone.

 

[Steel-Junky]

The black widow variant is important here. This is a finicky little thing, the .22- it likes some barrel length. It *needs* some barrel length to perform well. And you sure don't lose much with the NAA black widow style or the Mini-Master. In fact, the Mini-Master is starting to look like a real wilderness survival gun- 4 inch barrel and adjustable sights, a grip you can hold onto and still a super light packable item. Twice the weight of the smaller one in .22lr, but still under a pound. I'd sacrifice 25 spare rounds of .22 out of my 100 or 200 carried for a 4 inch barrel and real sights.

Good points here. I've looked at that model myself... and I agree... your ammo would go further with the longer barrel... meaning fewer wasted shots.

 

[PrimitiveMan]

I'm with ya brother.

Actually, I have carried my TP-22 instead of my Combat Commander .45 for some hikes.

I think your logic is totally reasonable.

 

[jackknife]

Like was said, talking about a meat gun, something to just put food in the pot, I'll take a .22 rifle anyday. You'll see lots more small game than big, and if it's survival, a deer can be taken with a .22 rifle.

When I read the bio on Audie Murphy, I was amazed at how when his father had run out on the family when he was very small, the family was really on hard times. Young Audie grew up putting food on the table with a bolt action single shot. A deer was taken on more than one occasion with a carefull head shot. When he was 13, he had a stand off with a game warden over his head shot deer. The game warden relented when young Audie told him he was taking the deer home to feed his family no matter what.

A .22 handgun can take game very well, but I think we're talking S&W K22 and Ruger MK2 type of guns.

I have two of the little NAA revolvers. They fill a nitch for that of a small hideout piece that nobody knows you have. A small ace in the hole, or side pocket, that can be palmed and used at the right moment, can be a nice thing to have. But we're not talking small game shooting here, as much as two legged varmit shooting.

Handguns in general make poor survival arms. Small handguns even more so.

Using the Audie Murphy example, I'd rather have a good accurite .22 rifle than a center fire handgun. Power is good, bu accuracy is deadly.