survival guns?

nate1714

nate1714

Joined
Apr 16, 2005
Messages
1,738
ok i know were are a knife forum but this is the survival part...ok well my ? is what gun would be the best survival gun.....what about with water...what about desert climate....what size over all....do u want it to fold up...what cal.....anythign else to add feel free......

my pick would have to be the henry...because its small and compact...thats what i like...then again im not by any means an expert with guns since im only 19...but i do read alot.....

http://www.henryrepeating.com/survival.cfm


post links...
 
12 guage shotgun. There might be a few others but this is the gun that will be posted here on this topic the most,hands down.:D
 
I have that Henry Survival Rifle. It's a nice plinker that's gotten a whole lot more reliable over the last year or so (something to do with mag issues), but I still don't think it's as reliable as a regular .22 rifle. If I had the opportunity to choose between the Henry and, say, a lever-action rifle, I'd take the lever. I think rifles with some sort of manual action are more reliable.

And you will hear the 12 guage mentioned quite a bit, but myself, I would take the .22. It's lighter, you can carry much more ammo, and there's far less recoil and potential meat damage. The trade-off, of course, is that you have to be fussier with aiming and shooting.

Now, if I were stranded somewhere with big bears, I'd want the 12 guage--but I'd still have a .22 revolver with me. :D
 
If your idea of survival is combat, get a combat rifle (whatever that is).

If your idea of survival is hunting(and it sounds like it is), get a hunting weapon. "Survival Weapons" seem to be invariably harder to hunt with, than dedicated hunting weapons.

I hunt with my M6 survival rifle for the challenge, primarily. And secondarily to prove to myself that it is a viable survival choice.

A 12 gauge has more raw ability to put meat on the table than my little .410 Otherwise, a scoped, highly accurate .22 rifle (Like the CZ FourFiftySomething) will let you take a lot of small game. You'll never be sorry you paid for quality, in a .22 rifle.

Those AR7 clones have a spotty rep.

Anyway, get what you personally like, use it for hunting, and form your own opinions. You are the one who will have to live with the weapon. If you are personally happy with it, "your're there." Also, borrow and shoot/hunt with other weapons, so you can form more opinions based on experience. Good luck with your shooting pasttime. Hunt safe.

CHEERS
 
There is no "best survival gun". The type of gun most appropriate in a survival situation is entirely dependant on the geography of your location.

Some factors to consider:

- Stopping power: Where protection against aggressive wild animals (bear, mountain lion, etc.) is necessary, a larger caliber rifle is advisable. A higher power cartridge is needed for larger game. For small game, a scoped .22 or .17 would likely be enough.

- Weight: When carrying heavy gear, a large rifle will be a burden. A compact, folding survival gun may be perfect. However, a hunting revolver may be just as convenient. If weight is not a concern, the extra stopping power of a larger caliber would be useful.

- Water Resistance: In a dry climate, water resistance is not going to be a factor. In a humid or wet environment, a water-resistant firearm manufactured of stainless steel and plastics might be best.


Remember: the best gun is the one you have with you when the SHTF. Any gun is better than no gun. If you think that the Henry will be sufficient for your needs, then by all means buy it. I would personally prefer a lever action, in .30-06.

Some other good "all around" calibers: .270, .30-30, .308, 12 guage.

In my opinion, a sturdy single-action revolver in .45LC (or any similar caliber) is always a good thing to have.

TheSurvivalist
 
I too like the M6, but I must say that a good bolt action .22 is all that I would need. Not to mention how much ammo you can carry for them.
Wade
 
A .22 rifle would be fine in most non-combat survival situations, but if you feel you need more, get more. The Savage over-under crack barrel, with a 20ga. on bottom, and a .22 on top would good, if you can find one.
 
Are you looking to carry just 1 gun? I'd think maybe a Savage 110 in .223 with a good sturdy 4x scope.

I like my Chicom SKS in spite of having others to choose from. It would be my overall first choice in a grab and go. I like the idea of not having to fool with magazines and 10 rds. at a time is plenty. It loads fast and can take a lot of field abuse.
 
hmmm..... maybe one of those bushmaster carbon m4 s would do. its light , its reliable , doesnt rust and im sure you could trick it out just like any other m4 to suite your needs . not sure about this but its an idea. im sure you could get some pretty mean hand loaded ammo for it and maybe even a heavier barrel modded to shoot 77gr rounds . dunno , just my opinion. personally i carry a hk usp 45 compact with ++p ammo in it .
 
In remington .223, look at the kel-tec su-16. Folding rifle, uses m-16 magazines, built in bi-pod, light for a semi-auto.
 
As a survival hunting weapon I'm a big fan of the Ruger Single Six. I carried one of these for years as my trail gun. The .22lr/.22mag option is very useful IMO. I would plink with it on a daily basis with the .22lr cylinder and then swap the .22 mag for the trail. It gave me an edge in power in a gun I was already used to. My Single-Six is a keeper.

The light-weight .22 autos are a good choice as well. In Alaska I carried a Walther P-22 in my pack for popping small game. I carried either that or a 9 shot .22 revolver all the time. I used them to put a few spruce grouse on the table.

In the lower 48 there isn't a more versatile weapon than the .357 magnum. A four inch stainless .357 mag revolver has you covered for everything from small game to human/animal defense. It will stop anything from rabbits to black bear with the right load. Mac
 
Pict; I agree with you; the Ruger Single six in .22 Mag. Ammo is cheap, light and potent. No, it is not a Bear defense weapon, or a combat handgun, but I feel quite comfortable carrying mine in the woods. I own .44 Mags, .357 Mags, 9MM's, a .45 auto, .45 LC and a .41 Mag, but the little Ruger .22 Mag is by far my favorite for walking in the woods. Granted, I DON'T live in Griz country. In Maine, we only have Black Bears and they are for the most part afraid of man. I do keep an eye out for them. I have seen what that .22 magnum will do to critters, even up to large dog size animals, and it is an underated caliber IMHO. A box of 50 weighs about what a speed loader full of big bore cartriges does. One poster mentioned the 12 ga shotgun. In a plane crash, or other "critital" situation, a shotgun would be easier to hit game with, and MUCH more powerful, but the shells weight too much to carry many, unless you have them stored in a vehicle, or at a remote camp, etc. I do keep an old Iver Johnson Champion 12 ga and a supply of shells at my camp in northern Maine.
 
There is another alternative, though not a cheap one. The Kel-Tek SU-16 has received great reviews as a 'survival' rifle. You may want to check the review found in Equipped.com

Kel-Tec_SU-16 Review]

It retails for over $600.00 but you can find it in the net for around $450.00. One more thing, the review in Equipped.com only lists the Alpha and Bravo versions, but now there is also a Charlie version.
 
The 22 mag is a highly underrated cartridge. Compact and lightweight compaired to any centerfire, it has plenty of power for small game and it is the traditional deer poachers gun. For defense, use it as a rimfire equal to the .30 Carbine round (another highly underrated round). Out of a semi-auto rifle it provides low recoil and accuracy. Now, with the extra capacity mags coming out for the Ruger 1022M it's a cheap alternative to the KelTec.
 
most guys have covered what i think on the question. the 12 guage shotgun, (i personally prefer a pump) is a very versatile platform. ammo is a bit bulky and weighs a bit more. i also think the .22 is very useful as well, although it does have it's limitations, mostly when it comes to self-defense and taking larger game. so it depends on what type of 'survival' you are refering to. the savage that ranger88 mentions would be a great choice.

some of the most important things to me in a 'survival' gun is simplicity, and field servicability. ammo should be in a caliber that is readily available most anywhere.
 
If you have room for a small rifle, the AR-15 is unbeatable. You can get them in an unlimited number of shapes and sizes. I’d go with a light weight 16” CAR with a float tube and light profile barrel, chambered in 223 with a 1 in 8 twist.

If you only have room for a pistol, I love my S&W M-19 police trade-in. It killed a javelina with no problems last month and I believe the 357 magnum is still the all time one shot man stopper.
 
grobe said:
...ammo should be in a caliber that is readily available most anywhere.
Click to expand...
The "ammo availability factor" is a dog that won't hunt. Your survival rifle and the ammo you need should be together and with you when you need to survive. Whether it's the end of the world or the lost hunter or the E&E scenario.

End of the world? There won't be ANY ammo of ANY caliber on the market. There won't be a market. Learn to make and use a bow.

E&E? Use your last bullet to "liberate" a different weapon and ammo for your use until you can make it back to "friendly" lines.

Lost hunter? If you are where you can buy ANY ammo of ANY caliber, I don't think that you're lost anymore. If you've shot 50 or 100 deer and you're outta ammo and still lost, learn to make and use a bow...start now, it's not as easy as it looks.:D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top