22 Magnum as a survival rifle?

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I have a Marlin 883SS in .22WMR that's wicked fast and a tack driver. I'd be comfortable using it as a survival gun.

I wonder how the Model 883 SS differs from my Marlin Model 882 SS? My .22 Magnum Marlin, topped with a Simmons 2 1/2 powered scope, has proven to be an accurate, reliable and durable bolt-action rifle.
 
The 882 has a detachable box magazine.
the 883 has a non-detachable tubular magazine.

Years ago, conventional wisdom was that the box magazine rifles were slightly more accurate. My M882 shoots under 2” at 100yds with Winchester 40gr jacketed hollow points. Not quite as good with plated CCI.
30-33gr V-Max ammo approaches 1” at 100yds, depending on individual lot #’s.

It did require stoning the trigger and replacing trigger tension spring. It now has a ~2lb trigger pull.
 
I think a bolt action repeater 22 mag is a good option. It has about double the power and range of a .22 LR. I am not a fan of the combo guns that shoot 2 calibers. Of course there are issues like resupply and too much gun for the squirrel size game. A single action revolver that have cylinders for both could be pretty useful.

As I was reading this thread, I thought about having something like a Ruger convertible Single-Six with a longer (16") barrel and attachable wire shoulder stock. It would shoot both 22LR and .22 Magnum and be able to group about 1" at 30 yards with either round.

That would be a very stowable rifle/handgun for both airplane or backwoods Jeep travel. Maybe we need to approach Sturm Ruger about it? (P.S.: I think the legal minimum barrel length for a rifle is 16".)
 
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As I was reading this thread, I thought about having something like a Ruger convertible Single-Six with a longer (16") barrel and attachable wire shoulder stock. It would shoot both 22LR and .22 Magnum and be able to group about 1" at 30 yards with either round.

That would be a very stowable rifle/handgun for both airplane or backwoods Jeep travel. Maybe we need to approach Sturm Ruger about it? (P.S.: I think the legal minimum barrel length for a rifle is 16".)

A stock would do wonders for a normal barrel length. I wonder if anyone makes one or does the barrel have to 16 inches or more?
 
As I was reading this thread, I thought about having something like a Ruger convertible Single-Six with a longer (16") barrel and attachable wire shoulder stock. It would shoot both 22LR and .22 Magnum and be able to group about 1" at 30 yards with either round.

That would be a very stowable rifle/handgun for both airplane or backwoods Jeep travel. Maybe we need to approach Sturm Ruger about it? (P.S.: I think the legal minimum barrel length for a rifle is 16".)

Makes me think of the .22LR/.22WMR shown below. If that buttstock was made quick detachable, could be something. https://stateofguns.com/long-barreled-revolvers-1807/
 
Makes me think of the .22LR/.22WMR shown below. If that buttstock was made quick detachable, could be something. https://stateofguns.com/long-barreled-revolvers-1807/
Interesting that someone else thought it would be a good idea. I think the .22LR/.22WMR could be more useful as a survival/camp gun and a Ruger Single-Six configuration should be a bit lighter, especially with a removable wire stock. It's also easier to carry lots of rimfire ammo, compared with centerfire.
 
A stock would do wonders for a normal barrel length. I wonder if anyone makes one or does the barrel have to 16 inches or more?
It would become a SBR then, if it could be adapted at all. Not clear what the NFA rules are on that. Would be nice, though.
 
Makes me think of the .22LR/.22WMR shown below. If that buttstock was made quick detachable, could be something. https://stateofguns.com/long-barreled-revolvers-1807/

Interesting that someone else thought it would be a good idea. I think the .22LR/.22WMR could be more useful as a survival/camp gun and a Ruger Single-Six configuration should be a bit lighter, especially with a removable wire stock. It's also easier to carry lots of rimfire ammo, compared with centerfire.

I've never fired a revolver-carbine, but it occurs to me that the .22 WMR is one of the sharpest-cracking cartridges I've ever heard. I can only imagine what it would be like with the cylinder gap maybe 6-8 inches from one's ears. :confused: Might be a good idea to pack some of those subsonic rounds... Or at least pack some hearing protection also... :)

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Interesting that someone else thought it would be a good idea. I think the .22LR/.22WMR could be more useful as a survival/camp gun and a Ruger Single-Six configuration should be a bit lighter, especially with a removable wire stock. It's also easier to carry lots of rimfire ammo, compared with centerfire.

I like the idea for sure. I'd like it if the spare cylinder could be mounted within the stock somehow. Maybe make it from a Ruger Wrangler, since its cerakoted and meant to be bashed around a bit?
 
I've never fired a revolver-carbine, but it occurs to me that the .22 WMR is one of the sharpest-cracking cartridges I've ever heard. I can only imagine what it would be like with the cylinder gap maybe 6-8 inches from one's ears. :confused: Might be a good idea to pack some of those subsonic rounds... Or at least pack some hearing protection also... :)

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My 9" barreled Single Six throws shooting bag cutting blasts from the cylinder gap while firing .22 Mag. It won't be friendly on ears or forearms. I figure it would need a shield set up like the Taurus Circuit Judge has. https://www.gunsinternational.com/g...2-magnum-w-two-cylinders.cfm?gun_id=100657687
 
Maybe I can jog Chicharrones' memory a bit and he can remember where it was, but either here or on RFC someone built up a NAA .22 Mag mini SA into a 16 1/4 inch barreled folding stock carbine. I seem to recall he started with a Black Widow for the decent rear sight and had a matching blade way out yonder to the muzzle.

Reminded me of an 1890's bicycle rifle.

That with a pair of the leather cavalry guantlets like they used to reward M113 drivers that finished a particularly demanding course in a certain short time might be interesting.

Might be just the thing if I am ever in a pre WWI New York to Paris auto race against the great Lesley and Doctor Fate as well

-kBob
 
Maybe I can jog Chicharrones' memory a bit and he can remember where it was, but either here or on RFC someone built up a NAA .22 Mag mini SA into a 16 1/4 inch barreled folding stock carbine. I seem to recall he started with a Black Widow for the decent rear sight and had a matching blade way out yonder to the muzzle.

Reminded me of an 1890's bicycle rifle.

That with a pair of the leather cavalry guantlets like they used to reward M113 drivers that finished a particularly demanding course in a certain short time might be interesting.

Might be just the thing if I am ever in a pre WWI New York to Paris auto race against the great Lesley and Doctor Fate as well

-kBob

kBob, I do remember that gun over at RFC. I can't remember what member made it though.

Yes, it was a NAA mini revolver with a long 16" barrel attached and a custom swing out butt stock from aluminum, I think. The person that created it even made a special tube that it would fit into when folded.

It was all legal length, but so small at the same time.

A nifty creation. :cool:
 
Maybe I can jog Chicharrones' memory a bit and he can remember where it was, but either here or on RFC someone built up a NAA .22 Mag mini SA into a 16 1/4 inch barreled folding stock carbine. I seem to recall he started with a Black Widow for the decent rear sight and had a matching blade way out yonder to the muzzle.

Reminded me of an 1890's bicycle rifle.

That with a pair of the leather cavalry guantlets like they used to reward M113 drivers that finished a particularly demanding course in a certain short time might be interesting.

Might be just the thing if I am ever in a pre WWI New York to Paris auto race against the great Lesley and Doctor Fate as well

-kBob

kBob, I do remember that gun over at RFC. I can't remember what member made it though.

Yes, it was a NAA mini revolver with a long 16" barrel attached and a custom swing out butt stock from aluminum, I think. The person that created it even made a special tube that it would fit into when folded.

It was all legal length, but so small at the same time.

A nifty creation. :cool:

Not sure where the RFC thread is at this point, but I dug up a pic of that guy's creation... :)

201_0118.jpg
 
I have a Marlin 25M, .22WMR, scoped, with a couple of magazines. If I was stuck somewhere, with that, and a box of ammunition, I wouldn't be disappointed.
Reasonable weight, reasonable power, good accuracy. I would want to have a lot of other things, not just a rifle, though!
And if I didn't have a lot of the necessities, I would be disappointed with myself!
Where I live 'survival' can include a walkout, of many, many, miles; water is the main consideration (and staying with your vehicle the preferred option, if traveling, as long as someone knows where you are, or were headed).
 
This is an old thread but since someone revived it I'd like to mention that Heritage makes a Rough Rider revolver in 22lr/22mag that has a 16" bbl. It could have a stock attached to it, then you'd have a combo gun rifle/pistol in 22lr/22mag. With or without adjustable sights. They also make a dedicated rifle version.

3llei1C.jpg
 
Curious what the thoughts of the group would be on the use of a 22 Magnum bolt action rifle for survival purposes would be.

There are some advantages. First, the rifles are usually light in weight. Both Savage and Ruger make 22 mag rifles with weights of six pounds or less. The ammo is light also, meaning you could carry a good bit.

As for the cartridge, it is admittedly weaker than most centerfires. But for small game and varmint sized animals, it is fine. It is a little marginal for self defense against people, but out of a carbine or rifle, the 22 mag is not bad.
I think it would be a good choice, but I would also have an old 270 or 30-06 stashed back somewhere.

There is a noticeable and useful step up in power from the 22 LR. I am sure this would be appreciated in a survival situation.
 
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Wow, this is one long thread. Couldn't get through the whole thing. Two points, and sorry if I missed some posts, but there's only really two "survival" situations, wilderness survival, which is something I'm "into", and then the end of the world as we know it survival. The big Boogaloo...the Big Rumble!

For wilderness survival, I think the .22mag is good, I just wish there was a wide variety of sub-loads that mimic .22 long-rifle loads, especially the very low powered ammo like the CCI "Quiet" ammo. If there was, I would get a .22mag. If you live in bear country, you might want to pair it with a .357 or .44/.45 handgun.

For the end of the world a .22mag would "do", depending on what your imagination says the end of the world looks like, but it kind of pushes my buttons when people start saying that this or that caliber is "better" because it can be "scrounged", or worse yet, will be more "available". The ONLY ammo you will be able to obtain, is what you already have. No one will be parting with ammo, and if you found someone that was willing to trade, the cost will be tremendous. Willing to trade seven days of hard labor for six rounds of .357? If you have a 6.5 Japanese Rifle, and 5,000 rounds of ammo for it, you are better off than the guy with an AR and 4000 rounds of ammo. Even if you both have 1000 rounds, you are both out of ammo, when that ammo is gone, with no resupply. Out. Gone. Nada. Zip. Caliber "does not matter".

So, for the end of the world, the collapse of civilization, the big rumble, choose any caliber, but have lots of ammo in that caliber. There will not be more. You will not "scrounge". No "ammo for sale" sidewalk stands.
 
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I'm not sure why a single shot would be an advantage in a survival situation. Most hunters I've known carry repeaters of some kind (bolt, lever, even auto) to allow a faster follow up shot than is afforded by a single shot. If a quick second shot is handy in normal hunting one would think it would be even more so in a survival situation.

When you only have one shot, one tends to make that shot count, and one takes more care in making that one shot. That saves ammo. The faster, and the more shots a gun will fire, the faster and the more shots you will fire. That is the advantage of the single shot. A repeater encourages repeat shots, needed or not. Hunters with repeaters often empty the gun at game, without hitting it. Hunters with single shots seldom miss.

Ask someone who hunts with a muzzle loader how often they NEED (or needed) a follow up shot. The answer will be "never" 99% of the time. :)
 
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