Working Guns for Homesteading/rural/off grid lifestyle?

Bolt action 22 LR
Ruger K77/22-VBZ with a extra M2 Barrel

Remington 870 12 guage with a Modified Choke barrel Full choke Barrel and a slug barrel

44 Mag Revolver

and maybe a 45-70 gov lever action

Win 94 in 30-30
moss 500 12ga
ruger blackhawk convertable 45 or 1911 (really would be a toss up depending if I was gonna ccw)
.22 bolt or lever action

22 Rifle: CZ 452 Varmint (bull barrel, bolt action, no iron sights) with a decent scope -- amazing accuracy!
Shotgun: Mossberg 500/590 in 12 gauge
Pistol: 1911 if 45, CZ-75B or Beretta 92FS if 9mm.
Military Rifle: Cheap Romanian AK or an AR-15

ETA: Interestingly, all of the above (sans the 22) are firearms issued by law enforcement and/or military throughout the world. I think they're on to something.

I really depends on where you are.

A lot of guys seem to like shotguns, but I've never had much use for one. I have a couple, but all I do with them is shoot clay targets a couple times a year, and hunt birds in the midwest. In the Rockies, I hunt birds and small game with a 22, either rifle or pistol, or very light loads in a centerfire rifle.

A basic setup for me in this area (Rockiy Mts) would be a scoped bolt in 30-06, preferably an '03 Springfield sporter or Mauser sporter. A Winchester 94 carbine with decent sights(pre-64 or pre-war is my preference), a decent 22 rifle, like a Marlin 39 carbine, a K-22 Smith, and a Smith 19, 29, and/or Ruger SA in 44 or 45 Colt.

So, I'd thin down the choices by simply eliminatiing any shotguns, and self loaders of any kind. I would suggest that someone choosing a self loading military rifle as a working gun hasnt carried one around much, they are bulky and clumsy compared to a short light bolt gun or lever action. I lost interest in them years ago as anything practical in the field.

If you're thinking extreme long term, I'd lay up primers in the type you use most. Other than primers, you can get by casting bullets, and using black powder if needed in everything else, although pistol powder can be used for low to mid power cast rifle loads, and a few pounds of pistol powder would last a long, long, long time. A dozen lbs of rifle powder would also last a long, long time if used for meat making, not fun shooting. For efficiency with black powder, you could add an extra one, or substitute a 38-55 for 30-30 in the 94 carbine, tho I think the 30-30 is more useful in general, and not that tough to feed, even with cast loads. 3 grs Unique powder with a round ball makes a good small game load in the 30-30, and doesnt tear up meat or make much noise. A pound of powder would make 2,333 loads. Balls can be cast simply. Primers can be stored easily, and last a lifetime if not allowed to get extremely hot or damp. Similar loads can be made for any centerfire rifle.

Someone mentioned tearing up small game with a 44. I've shot a lot of small game with 44's and 45 Colts with lead bullets, and they dont tear them up at all if they arent full speed magnum loads.

You really don't need the rifle when you have a 12ga with slugs. Given you'll want to stand hunt for obvious reasons.

So

1) .22 rifle....really any accurate one will do.
2) 12ga shotgun
3) a good skinning knife
4 (optional) ) a .22 pistol.

There you go.

For off- grid living:
1. .22lr Semi Auto Rifle
2. 12 Guage Pump
3. 30-30 or .357 Lever Action
4. .357 Revolver

Or for REALLY off grid living:
1. Longbow
2. Kite-Shield
3. Broadsword
4. Trebuchet

Settlers back in the 19th century usually made do with a single barrel shotgun for all uses. It was cheap, reliable, and esaily fixed if need be.

Click to expand...

Yep!

My pappy ran a cattle ranch & wheat farm with nothing more then a single-shot 12 ga and a Winchester .22 pump while I was growing up.

Late in life he finally added a 30-30 Winchester 94, but he never found a use for it much at all.

rc

"You really don't need the rifle when you have a 12ga with slugs. Given you'll want to stand hunt for obvious reasons."

I'd suggest that it depends on where you are. I havent heard of anyone stand hunting in the Rockies, and ranges tend to be longer than a shotgun is really useful at. In this area you could shoot truckloads of deer @ 200 yards or more for every one that I see at really close shotgun range. Just saying, what works in one place doesnt neccesarily work everywhere.

I really have to ask what the terrain looks like where you are headed. In my neck of the woods vegetation is real thick so a center bolt rifle would be a luxury. If you are profficient with a pistol I'd reccomend a Ruger MK II or equivilent. Pair that up with a shotgun with a variety of shells and your good to go. In my neck of the woods that is.

Whatever you get, if you're really going to go off the grid as much as possible, make sure you can get spare parts and reloading gear for it.

Suggestions?

1) Ruger .22 pistol. Probably the most game-getting gun you can get. Someone mentioned before, long shots are the exception.

2) 12-ga shotgun. Remington or Mossberg. Barrel length and choke, etc., are up to you.

3) Big bore rifle. Personally, I'd suggest a Mauser 98. Accurate, hard as nails, parts are everywhere, 8mm Mauser will do almost any job, surplus ammo is cheap, and new ammo is still loaded. Barring that, a .30-06 or .30-30. How many country hardware stores have you gone into that didn't have at least a couple boxes of each on the shelf?

4) Self-defense rifle/handgun. Probably self-defense could reasonably be handled by one of the first three. If you're out on your own, you would not be engaging in firefights with anyone. But better to have and not need and all that. Once again, up to you. Dual purpose is good. .308 autoloader (FAL, M1A, G-3 types) or AK type. Revolvers? I'd say no. Revolvers are good, but NOT as sturdy as modern autoloaders.

1) Ruger .22 pistol. Probably the most game-getting gun you can get. Someone mentioned before, long shots are the exception

Click to expand...

Others must be much better shots with the short guns than I am. I missed more than hit with .22 pistols, and the round loses considerable force from the small barrel. The .22 rifle is the way to go--not the pistol.

Trebuchet

Click to expand...

Good luck getting that one sited in!!!

1)a quality air rifle- great for small game, quiet and you get pellets in tins of 250-500 and can handle most things a 22lr can($100-250)
2)remington 870 with various chokes($300)
3)marlin336 in 30-30 OR some sort of bolt action 30-06 with a scope AND iron sights($300-500)
4)1911 or ruger super redhawk 454casull/45lc($450-800)
5)traditional low bow or recurve(allows you to use handmade wooden arrows-compounds bows can easily splinter wood arrows puttin large splinters into your shooting arm)($150-300)


note: all prices based off local sources here in South Dakota

If I can take my Jeep, then Winchester 94, Mossberg 500, GP100; if I have to hump the load CZ452 and Heritage Rough Rider for comparative volume of ammunition you can carry. Also, this scenario requires sharpening your most important weapon -- your mind.

From what I have on hand:
Ruger 10/22
Remington 870 in 12ga. 20" IC rifle sighted bbl.
Ruger GP 100 4" in .357
Marlin 336
All of these are accurate enough, reliable and chambered for widely available calibers.

Only change I would make would be to swap a Fulton Armory M1A with an 18.5-20" barrel in place of the Marlin.

12 ga 870/500/1300 with a bird barrel and a slug barrel.

.22 bolt action rifle.

30-30 lever.

.38 revolver.

This would be what I'd probably pare it down to for "minimums" in the hilly brush-country that I live in.

Les

Here's my lists, descending from what I'd really want to what I could get by with.

Would Really Want:
12 guage of some sort, preferably pump
.22 rimfire, preferably bolt
.30 caliber centerfire, preferably a bolt .308
concealable handgun, I'm partial to the 1911 in .45acp

If I had to eliminate one, it would be the .308 and I'd then use slugs in the 12 guage.

Next I'd eliminate the .22 and use small game loads like #6 shot in the 12 guage.

If pressed hard enough, I'd eliminate the handgun and tote the 12 guage everywhere.

Get yourself a no nonsense 12GA pump, a bolt action in .308 with iron sights as well as mounting points for a scope, a .22LR lever action, or pump. Keep your weapons simple. If you prefer a semi auto pistol a 9mm, or .45 caliber would be wise choices. The ammo for anything you have should be readily available in quantity, nothing exotic, or obscure. Our military uses the same ammo which gives you another source if things really went south and the rule of law fell apart. I don't see that happening, but some folks do. The AR15 platform is often mentioned in similar posts as being a survival weapon. The problem is you want to put meat on the table as well as defend yourself the .308 make better sense. JMHO

So a question. Does the 22 WMR offer any useful advantage over the 22 LR for this role?

Click to expand...

I'd say no the extra cost in ammo isn't justified IMHO. Before I went with a .22WMR I’d get a .223 maybe a handi-rifle.

1 gun could do the job if you are really serious about using a minimum of tools 12ga Mossberg or Remmington, with an adjustable or folding pistol gripped stock. Would also invest in a couple of barrels. 18in barrel for home defense, and TEOWAWKI CCW (could cover with a big bulky jacket), rifled slug barrel with scope for big game hunting, and the reg barrel for bird/small game hunting.

1861 springfield musket...can shoot single roundball for large game or bein a smoothbore can shoot shot for small game and birds

I'd go with what the agencies and or military use.. why - they have/carry the same mags and ammo as you.

AR low +.223 upper + .22LR upper
M9 pistol
Remington 870 or Mossberg 590

If that is not to your liking then:

Ruger SP101 .357 Magnum Revolver
Winchester Model 94 Ranger Compact .357 Magnum
Remington 870 or Mossberg 590

Shucks, we grew up that way. We used the 12 ga, and the 6mm Rem rifle. Thats about all we needed.