The best survival rifle

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Lot's of myths and bad advice on this one. No, the .30-30 (the other deer killin myth) or .22lr has not killed more deer than any other round. Heck, by the turn of the century and for the first half of the last century deer numbers were at the lowest in this nations history. Also happens to coincide with the most popular time period for the .30-30 and the .22lr comment is laughable at best.

The article was also a joke.

And the .22lr, while light in weight, is a horrid choice for a "one gun" survival scenario. It is SO UNDERPOWERED compared to any other possible cartridge and for all uses outside of small game hunting that even though you can pack 500 rounds you'd be better off to pack 50 of a more powerful cartridge. Carry only a .22 and you'll die hungry or bloody. I don't want a minimal round that may or may not be "capable" of killin a deer, hog, etc but instead want something that can "reliably" kill a deer, hog, dog etc.

LK
 
Gotta get me one of them thar "survival" box guns that I saw last night on Red Jacket :rolleyes:

What a joke...sad, really....
 
Mini-14 (snicker) sorry sorry...


Cornhusker,
That thing looks kinda cool.

Anything that's small in a common caliber should work....7.62 maybe, so you could do some cannibalization from other cartridges in the years after the apocalypse.
 
You risked it alright.... turns out tools help survival, like, a lot
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And I think you're missing the point entirely, which is that no single tool could possibly be considered the best in all possible situations. Even if somehow there were some magical survival implement, if you aren't fully prepared to use it in any and all situations requiring its use, it may as well be a boat anchor.
 
heh, you CLEARY did not even read the article, at all. not one word.

In no form did I state that one single tool could solve all of my problems ... I really do not know where you're coming from
 
Impossible to say which gun is the best. You could possibly make a case for an AK-47 due to it's reliability. Maybe an SKS. Either can go a long time with little maintenance required and hyper functionality. You'll have to learn to hunt for real, though, because you won't be able to shoot a deer at long range. The 7.62x39 is a decent round, especially with the right bullet head on it.

The difficulty of the rifle is that we can't say the best is really the best. You pick the one that works for you.

Which takes it to the question of ammo. You have to pick the one that gets the job done. Personally, I like .30 cal ammo, such as the aforementioned 7.62x39, the 30-30 or the 30-06. They can take fairly large game and they are loud enough to dissuade most attackers. Readily available, too, for the most part.

For me, it would be tough to choose between the SKS or the 30-30 lever action Winchester. I expect that one of them should go in my grab 'n' go bag. :-)

--Wag--
 
Come to think of it, though, there might be some merit to getting a .44 magnum lever action rifle and toss that and my .44 magnum super blackhawk into the GNG bag just for convenience sake.

--Wag--
 
I don't think you would die hungry if you had a 22lr, plenty of people stalk deer and get close enough to kill them with a bow, and little naked men in Africa and South America use bows and blow darts, i'm sure if you can stalk a deer to with blow dart range then its within killing distance of a 22lr.
 
Come to think of it, though, there might be some merit to getting a .44 magnum lever action rifle and toss that and my .44 magnum super blackhawk into the GNG bag just for convenience sake.
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Was thinking the same thing. Got me a .44 cal Henry rifle and the Blackhawk. I'd grab them along with a boatload of ammo.
 
If civilization has gone by the wayside and the need is "hunting for food", then a 22 wins hands down. One of the most available meat sources that will be around are cats! Hey, don't laugh....taste like chicken, and there will be millions of them roaming the streets :eek:

For protection needs, or larger animal harvesting... a Kel-Tec sub 2000 in 40 caliber accompanied by any 40 caliber pistol will fit the bill.
 
I always laugh when people discount the 22 because it's not suitable for big game. There is a whole lot more small game than big game in this country. If you are lost in the woods what are you most likely to find? History has also shown that when time get tough the big game is quickly hunted to endangered levels. America during the 1930s or modern day Africa are examples.

An added bonus of the 22 is that it is all but silent.
 
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I partially agree with this statement...

people discount the 22 because it's not suitable for big game
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I believe .22lr or better yet .22mag would surprise most folks in dire times of need. Now I'm not recommending someone venture out and hunt down moose, mountain lions, and hogs with a 10/22 but a person with a survivalist's mindset would be well served by a dependable .22.
 
I was looking at the browning blr stainless takedown rifle, I think that would be a great choice in either .223 or .308. the rifle could be broken down and carried in a pack to be discreet, lever action, detachable mags, stainless to help protect it from the elements.
 
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