Survival Gun

Well, sure. But let's say someday it gets hard to acquire primers? Or any of a dozen imaginable events makes it hard to own/keep/maintain/repair/feed a modern, smokeless, fixed-ammo gun? One advantage of flintlocks, incidentally, is that they are defined in the US 1968 Gun Control Act as non-firearms--so, the odds may be a little greater that they'll be legally usable in the longer term than other, admittedly-more-efficient, guns. There's a lot of do-it-yourselfism to which the older-style guns lend themselves, in the area of repair and maintenance, for example.

Make no mistake--I love modern technology. I mention this on this forum chiefly in deference to the interest of those involved in thinking through what might be called technology-lowering events. Here where there is thread after thread about how to make fire using a bow drill (while we all usually use Bic lighters for our campfires, I imagine, and cook with microwaves more often than we grill meat--recognizing in each case the usefulness of modern technology), I figured mention of the one type of firearm which people here would have the best chance of actually maintaining without access to factory ammunition might be of interest.
 
RescueRiley said:
Not tryin to hijack a thread here just had some similar thoughts I'm looking for a new campgun as well I'm looking at the Henry arms minibolt it is small but nice...I know it's silly but the one shot capacity bothers me form a "What if the boogieman stops by" perspective, I have no concern about being attacked by animals in the field. It's people that Trouble me the most specially Now that I have a wife and son with me..most of the time..However I feel like I'm much more likely to use it as a plinking/small game gun than a SD piece and it seems really safe (as it requires a cocking lever to be engaged after ther round is chambered via the bolt action mech...(the safer the better when around the fam, even though all firearms are trigger locked and unloaded and sometimes dissasembled in my bag) I suppose what I'm asking is would the majority of you feel safe out in the bush with a single shot .22 It is certainly better than nothing but we deal in a lot of what ifs here on the forum so I thought i'd just put it out there.. Regardless if I were to choose a .22 as a survival weapon I would bring a large variety of ammo cb longs, subsonics, bulk high vel hp's and maybe some velocitors
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The CZ scout is only marginally bigger than the Henry mini-bolt by about 2 inches, but comes with 5 round magazines, and have 10 round mags available. Think of it as a mini-bolt with old world craftsmenship and 10 rounds on hand.

An ideal survival gun would be a Henry mini-bolt with a 5 shot mag in .22 magnum.
 
I didn't say but right now this is my pick.
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20 gauge, modified choke, less than 100dollars.

With this on my hip.
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But next week it might be something different.:D
 
I have an unmodified Ruger 10/22 that I like very much. Somtimes I think of finding a folding stock for it to make it more portable, and maybe adding peep sights.

I also have a Ram Line .22 semi auto pistol that I got years ago as a gift. It's pretty cheap and bottom shelf. The sights are horrible and I can't shoot accurately enough to feed myself with it. I think Magnum Research makes it now under the name "Mountain Eagle." It is easy to carry at only 20 ounces though.

My father has a Ruger Single Six with the regular .22 and also the mag cylinders. This is a versatile pistol that I can hit things with
 
I also like my Ruger 10/22, but I probably would choose a bolt action 22 for woods survival purposes.

Choice depends on where you are geographically. The Marlin 1894 in 357, 41, or 44 mag would make an excellent survival rifle. Good for critters with two or four legs. The ammo weight and bulk might be an issue for long term survival though.
 
FYI Ruger now makes a smaller version of the 10/22, 16" barrel and a short stock. you might want to check out their web site.
 
I think about any .22 will fill the bill for eating. My MKII would outshoot my 10/22, but for a good combo I think the 22 pistol and a shotgun would do about everything.
 
I looked at the cz scout I would really like one but am having a hard time finding one by me... as a side not I was wondering how a .38 spcl would function on small game It seems it would do a lot of meat damage but my be wadcuters or something would perform better (just weondering)
 
another option I've been considering is the Henry youth lever action 33 OA 4 1/2 lbs accepts .22 shorts long and long rifles, I have never owned a lever action though and don't know how relaible it is and how it is to keep clean..
 
The CZ scout is only marginally bigger than the Henry mini-bolt by about 2 inches, but comes with 5 round magazines, and have 10 round mags available. Think of it as a mini-bolt with old world craftsmenship and 10 rounds on hand.
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I have a CZ 452-2E-ZKM 'Trainer' model, and it is a very high quality, very accurate rifle. I can average scores in the low 270's with it and a cheap 3-9x scope in NRA Light Rifle Competitions (50 feet, 30 rounds, standing).
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The shots just under the black reflect me reacclemating myself with them. I started just under the black and then at 6'oclock before remembering the sights are set for a (relatively) dead on hold.
 
I know I'll probably get flamed for admitting this but it's worked for me. I've been carrying a NAA Mini-Master for a while now as my "survival pistol". I go on long rambling walks and I carry this, in a small PSK, and a variety of ammunition for squirrel, rabbit, dove and other targets of opportunity. Some have complained that they're innacurate and maybe I just happened onto the rare "pocket sniper" but I've not had any problems with feeding myself using the little thing. I've found that Aguila Super Colibri will reliably take squirrel and dove in areas where noise is an issue.

It has the versatility of the single-six with the extra magnum cylinder, adjustable sights, uses the same .22 ammo that I use when I carry a rifle, plus it's small enough that it doesn't draw attention.

Don't get me wrong. If I'm going into bear country, I'll go loaded for bear but for a small PSK for woods-wandering, this has my vote.
 
task force k said:
I know I'll probably get flamed for admitting this but it's worked for me. I've been carrying a NAA Mini-Master for a while now as my "survival pistol". I go on long rambling walks and I carry this, in a small PSK, and a variety of ammunition for squirrel, rabbit, dove and other targets of opportunity. Some have complained that they're innacurate and maybe I just happened onto the rare "pocket sniper" but I've not had any problems with feeding myself using the little thing. I've found that Aguila Super Colibri will reliably take squirrel and dove in areas where noise is an issue.

It has the versatility of the single-six with the extra magnum cylinder, adjustable sights, uses the same .22 ammo that I use when I carry a rifle, plus it's small enough that it doesn't draw attention.

Don't get me wrong. If I'm going into bear country, I'll go loaded for bear but for a small PSK for woods-wandering, this has my vote.
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Actually, I've considered that gun myself, but been scared away by reports of it's inaccuracy. I am surprised the use of the Aguila rounds is that effective in noise reduction. At what distances are you usually taking small game with it?
 
RWS,

With the Colibris, I won't take a shot much beyond 10 yards. Even out of that four-inch pipe, they only sound like a loud cap gun, no hearing protection needed. Like any .22, you've got to feed it what it likes. If I do my part...really do my part, it'll hold three-inch groups at 25 yards with it's favorite LR's. I'm waiting on some Aguila Super Max right now to test out of curiosity.

It's not a shot I would want to take and hope that I never have to but I think, with correct shot placement, a deer would not be unlikely for this thing stoked with .22 Mags. Let me stress, it would be a true survival situation.

I believe that the innacuracy reported from a lot of people on these is due to the awkward trigger and small size. It takes a lot of getting used to. I pulled out the cylinder and dry fired a few thousand times (maybe more) until I felt confident in my hold and sight picture, before I ever pulled the trigger on a live round.
 
I like most people reporting about these NAA pistols couldn't hit anything with it, the trigger was probably the worst of any firearm I have ever fired. I also have not had any luck at all with colibris or super colibris, in every gun I have tried them in they have been very inaccurate and not enough power to reliably kill a sickly cockroach. My son had a chipmunk and we used to shoot super colibris quite a bit, I bought 2 bricks at a gunshow, they are quite though. We do quite a bit of plinking, golf balls are pretty fun reactive targets, my son shot a golf ball from about 15 feet and the super colibri bounced off and hit me in the knee cap, after some colorful language and jumping around on one leg I told him to please not do that again. BTW it didn't break the skin on my knee but hurt like hell. I beleive at about the same noise level my Benjamin 22 pellet rifle a very accurate and much deadlier.

I am in no way saying that you are not telling the truth but I believe that you have a very special NAA. Chris
 
RB,

I didn't believe it either. I've owned some of the smaller NAA's and couldn't hit anything with them beyond hugging distance. That's why I never would buy one of the Mini-Masters for myself. It took my smart, beautiful, loving wife to buy one for me because she thought I'd like it. But this thing really will shoot like I said. In fact, I just had a salesman in that's a fellow firearms enthusiast. Between my last message and this one, he shot a three shot group the size of a quarter from thirty feet with Colibris in a dimly lit warehouse on his first try. Beginner's luck? I don't know. I just keep getting more impressed with the little thing. I'd post the target but he took it home to put on the refrigerator.

I don't blame you. I'd be skeptical, too, but, as I've said for years, "I don't know you well enough to need to lie to you."
 
Robert H said:
My MKII would outshoot my 10/22
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I thought people would think I'm an A$$hole (maybe they will anyway) so I didn't say this but the Ruger Mark III stainless that I have will outshoot almost any .22 rifle I have fired with the exception of my model 75 Winchester and some other target type rifles. I kid you not. I can't believe how accurate that pistol is. And it isn't once in a while, it consistently shoots extremely well. Only "problem" is it’s the long bull barrel so it isn't light, or compact, but damn what a gun. My Mark I shoots well but nothing like this gun.

I had to at least say how impressed I was with that pistol.

KR
 
RB,

I believe that you believe...I just had to find a way to include my little countrified witticism somehow. I don't take the credit for how well this thing shoots and I don't think NAA should either...It's my wife...everything she buys turns to gold. She wanted a junker Mosin Nagant to build into a cheap survival carbine so she went out and paid fifteen bucks for the ugliest collection of parts I've ever seen. Despite the fact that it came without a front sight, I took it to the range to function fire it. I just sort of sighted towards the target like I was firing an M-203 and...bullseyed.

Maybe I should rent her out to buy things for other people.
 
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