A few questions regarding emergency rifles

A

armoredman

New member
If you kept a rifle/carbine for emergencies AWAY from home, say backpacking, flying a light plane, at the lake, cabin, etc., what features of the following would you be looking for? Please remember, this is NOT a SHTF or Zombie apocolypse thread, but for what suprises you might encounter out in nature when you AREN'T hunting or target shooting, in the real world.

1 Bolt/lever/semi/single shot? Please, must be legal for you to own and use.
2 Wood/polymer stock?
3 Fixed or folding stock?
4 Weight limit - remember, you might be backpacking with it.
5 Sights, fixed/adjustable/scope only?
6 Optics or not/what kind?
7 Easy to carry spare ammo/magazines/speedloaders?
8 Ease of concealment from the curious sheeple wandering the same trail?
9 Amount of ammunition carried in the magazine/tube?

I have this concept I am kicking around, curious to see what others think.
 
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1. single shot (less parts less things can break)
2.polymer stock
3.fixed stock
4. max of 7 pounds
5. scope is fine but must have some fixed sights for back up
6. if any optics a low power scope
7. stock would be handy if it had storage compartments for fire starts extra ammo and such



my bush/ survival gun is a H&R pardner single shot 20 guage with the forend and buttstock having storage compartments
 
I'll play!

I'm a huge fan of semi-auto pistol caliber carbines. .40 or .45, polymer stock. Probably no optic, but an aimpooint or eotech wouldn't be bad if the budget allowed. I like fixed stocks.. never shot a folding stock I liked.

(3) 10 rounders, but would prefer 15 rounders.

Yeah concealability wouldn't be the strong point, but I'm not too worried about that.

I've shot the new Judge that shoots .410 and .45 and liked it more than expected. If the situation allowed, that could be my backup.
 
I guess you start with what you like, what you enjoy, what you do well. For some this is a lever rifle.

A lever action rifle is probably less intimidating to others than a military style rifle, and your ammunition deficit disorder is probably not as big a deal unless you are surrounded by a large pack of wolves or something similar. Some lever rifles can be made "take down" rifles relatively easily, and some already come that way, making them a bit more stowable.

Interesting thread. I'd be interested to see who else jumps on and what they offer.
 
.22lr in a folding for other compact configuration. However, words like "emergency" or "survival" have too many permutations to answer for every situation.
 
For short term emergency use, especially one that needs to be packable, to me a takedown (or carbine lever action) or maybe folding stock design makes the most sense. Other factors to consider might be where you will be travelling; a 10-22 with a folding stock might be suitable for an area with ample small game and no real predator concerns, but in the pacific NW or Alaska something with a good bit more punch is in order. If scoped, should have rings that are easliy removed without tools other than a coin or knife blade, backed up by fixed sights. Polymer or stainless aren't a complete necessity IMO, but wouldn't hurt if thats what you've already got. A waterproof ammo container for spare ammo would be good also.
 
Three words. Esss - Kay - Ess. Oh, I mean letters. SKS.

Comes with all tools on board, sling, bayo, cleaning rod; heavy, but folks have been backpacking around the world with them for years.

You won't find anything more sturdy, reliable, or easy to find ammo for. There should be one in every cabin, plane, and camper. We should be issued one when we are born. jd
 
I would think an h&r handi rifle with open sights would be a good choice. Keeping it as simple as possible.
If I had to use something I already have I would happily use my lever action .30-30. It's a good multi purpose carbine that is very packable due to it's light weight and compact size.
A small bolt action rifle with open sights like the ruger 77/44 would be useful and offer a lot of close and medium range power in a light short package.
A cz 527 carbine would fit in the same category as the 77/44 but in .223 or 7.62x39mm.
If you were going to be in a high level of danger from other people then a colt m4 would be nice.
 
Too bad the average Joe or Jo can't run down to the gun store and get a shoulder stock for their handgun. I can think of lots of times that would be handy.
 
hmmmm?

Ya know, I'm thinking I'd want a repeater, and I'll name two.

The first is the plain old Win M94 30-30 carbine. The things are legendary for reliability, and the ctg has enough juice for about all uses. Flat, light, easliy packed, they've been wilderness rifles for years. I'd put a stout aperture sight on it, cause plain irons give me fits these days on short barrels, maybe a synthetic stock set for durability, and sally forth.

The other is some version of a bolt scout rifle. In .308, plenty of power, optic with back up irons.....the concept was conceived as a GP rifle and should serve well in the "emergency" role. The Savage has a bit of a complex trigger for use in the boonies, but the Ruger trigger is plain, with big parts, and straight forward. A recent gun mag article got me thinking about that.

Finally, you're not gonna plink bunnies, grouse and squirrels with a .308 or .30 WCF. If that is the role your thinking, than a simple bolt .22 is more in line of what you want. For that, what about a .22 Chipmunk or Cricket.
 
For ease of packing, a Marlin 70-P Papoose
I'm fond of adding a folding Ramline stock to those...(Ebay/auction sites)
Comes with its own floating case (padded).
Great for tossing in an Piper Cub & going anywhere :)

OR

a rimfire Calico Pistol or Tactical Carbine...100 rounds of .22lr Per Mag will kill pretty much anything.
If you can bumpfire, or learn to, it'll clear an alleyway of gangbangers in no time :)

Calico also makes 9mm versions or the above, also in 50- or 100-round mags
and I believe the .40S&W version is due out soon.
 
I kind of agree with Gearhounds about a folding stock being a good idea. I also think that any rifle put somewhere for emergency use should be one that has a red dot or a 4 X scope mounted on it for tactical use, not sniping. So my ideal rifle would be an AK of some sort, probably an Arsenal AK with a folding stock, and about 3 magazines tucked away in some corner somewhere until I need it. The scope would be detachable so I would put it on just before I set out for home or whatever.
 
I agree, the AK with a folding stock and red dot works well.

Use a Russian drop/transport bag, and you can easily carry it in the open, with little worry someone knowing what it was, yet is quickly accessed. It also caries a couple of mags in an internal pouch.

ry%3D400


With the stock folded and the gun slung, you can hide it pretty easily under a coat or untucked shirt.
 
I like the handi-rifle idea. I have a 243/20ga. combo handi-rifle. The .243 barrel is scoped with a burris ff2 and it shoots very nice groups. The 20ga. barrel shoots 3'' buckshot or slugs or birdshot. A backpack with all this and some ammo wouldnt take up alot of room and would definatly come in handy in an emergency situation.
 
First off, I'm not too worried while hiking or doing pretty much any outdoor activity (less hunting) where I would ever feel the need to carry a long gun. Whether it be hiking, canoeing, camping, etc, give me a hand gun. Now when talking about a cabin, truck, boat gun this is what I want:

1) When considering centerfires give me a STAINLESS carbine with a barrel LESS THAN 20". Bolt action ranked first, lever second, pump third, semi forth. Caliber would be .243 or .260 in the east, 7mm-08 in the west. For lever guns .357 or .30-30 to keep it simple.
2) Laminated Stock first, wood second, black third.
3) Fixed stock. Handguns for conceal ability, folding stocks suck.
4) I like guns under 7lbs
5) and 6) Scope only. 2-7x preferred but 3-9x acceptable.
7) It's called a pocket. Carry enough for one reload, maybe 2.
8) Non-factor, the handgun thing again.
9) I'm fine with 4 or 5. Fixed magazine.

In short, I want a compact, durable, accurate gun that is capable of making accurate hits at a wide variety of ranges. Other choice and one that may be the best........12ga shot gun.

LK
 
Mine is a gun to keep on our farm. Part of the calculus was factoring in theft from the farm when I'm not there (I make it up there every other weekend) - so nothing like an AR. I chose a Marlin lever action.

1 Lever - 30-30 adequate for coyotes ( and humans if need be) and not as much affected by brush. Very reliable.
2 Wood stock - would enjoy a polymer stock if they made one - this thing gets knocked around in the truck.
3 Fixed stock - not available for lever guns.
4 Weight limit - a little heavy but has a good sling.
5 Sights, fixed and scope - get's banged around lot so I can't guarantee my zero.
6 Optics or not/what kind - fairly inexpensive 9x scope.
7 Easy to carry spare ammo/magazines/speedloaders - extras in glove box and on stock.
8 Ease of concealment from the curious sheeple wandering the same trail - not so much - on private land, if this were a consideration I would carry a pistol. Sometimes we want the Meth heads - who will set up a cook site on your property - to know we're heavily armed.
9 Amount of ammunition carried in the magazine/tube - plenty adequate for a pack of coyotes.
 
I think something like the old Savage 24 would be a great rifle. .223/12ga or .22 Hornet/20ga would be great. I don't know how these combo rifles shoot as I've never owned one but I like the concept.
 
If I take a carbine backpacking it is the USGI M1 Carbine I got from CMP plus a bandoleer of ammunition/4 magazines.
 
While I posted my criteria above I decided the best way to answer was to post pics. Here is what I like:

Ruger Hawkeye Compact:
RugerHawkeyeCompact.jpg

The Hawkeye Compact only has a 16'5" barrel. Also, Remington used to make their Model 7 in stainless with a laminated stock that fills the bill to a tee but being discontinued I had trouble locating a pic. Another option might be:

Marlin Lever:
StainlessMArlinLEver.jpg


Now for the more defence minded this would be a good pic:

Ruger Gunsite Scout:
RugerScout.jpg


The scout has many options that I find a complete waste of time. The flash hider, 10 round mags, scout scope option, it's not stainless, only available in .308, military type iron sights, etc etc. But being open minded (NOT!!) I could see some advantages if one was concerned with defence while on walk'a'bout. Personally I feel if I can't get the job done with a Rem M7 or the Hawkeye Compact I'm doing much too wrong to live.

For the record, I'm doing a build on this line right now. A Savage 110, 18-20" stainless striker barrel in .243 or .260 and a Boyds Laminated stock. Should do anything a rifle needs doing.

LK
 
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