Best SURVIVAL rifle

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I see decent used drilling that a guy can take hunting for about $1500.00 and like new ones for under 3K. I paid much less for mine...

It easily replaces several guns, and is of a MUCH higher level of quality than most of the newer guns that most guys buy, so in my mind it's a good deal that will easily last a lifetime!

Best part is, it actually WORKS, and when i'm in the bush i know it will shoot where i'm "aiming" and get me something to eat that day! I've spent weeks at a time in the Alaskan bush, depending on this gun to feed me!

Folks who haven't been there done that, they think it's easy, but it isn't! You have to have a gun that will do MANY things and do it right every time, IF you want to eat every day!

DM
 
If by survival, you mean a no-holds barred, every man for himself, all-conditions free for all?

Option #1
1.) A compact double-barrel .410 shotgun for harvesting small game (think coach gun). Don't kid yourselves. All the big stuff will be gone. Deer, cows, etc. will be gone in a very short amount of time.
2.) A bolt or auto-loader in .223/7.62x39. The ammo is light, and you can carry a lot of it compared to the bigger rounds. One well-placed shot will hopefully cause your adversary to stop shooting at you.
3.) Any pistol that starts with a "4." A .40S&W or .45ACP will do fine for self-defense of last resort.

Option #2
Just get a 12 or 20ga pump with a wide assortment of different shot shells. The disadvantage here is you might limit the number of rounds you can carry.
 
I guess I failed to answer the OP's question.

A no-holds barred, every man for himself, all-conditions free for all would require more than just a rifle. I think a rifle fits within a survival system given you have other tools at your disposal. The rifle would have to have its purpose within that system whether that purpose is game-getting or long-range defense.
 
Henry Rifles makes a survival rifle cheat. Under $300 im sure. Called an AR-7. Other than that Cz makes a shotgun & rifle combo in 1. Dont get much more survival than that
 
Since most of us live in populated areas, we need to survive the civil unrest first. So my choice is a LR308. just so happens I too have a 10/22.
 
It depends on where I was trying to survive. In this area I would probably use my marlin 22 mag. It has enough power to take a deer and enough range to hit rabbits at 200 yards. It's always been reliable and accurate. In this area you're likely to be eating mostly rabbits and birds to survive. No squirrels out here. As far as suriving where people are involved, give me my ar, my m&p 9, and my compound bow. Bow= stealthy kills on game in areas that are possibly occupied by threats, ar and m&p are for tactical retreats in the case of an overwhelming force where simply hiding is not an option.
 
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I see decent used drilling that a guy can take hunting for about $1500.00 and like new ones for under 3K. I paid much less for mine...

It easily replaces several guns, and is of a MUCH higher level of quality than most of the newer guns that most guys buy, so in my mind it's a good deal that will easily last a lifetime!

Best part is, it actually WORKS, and when i'm in the bush i know it will shoot where i'm "aiming" and get me something to eat that day! I've spent weeks at a time in the Alaskan bush, depending on this gun to feed me!

Folks who haven't been there done that, they think it's easy, but it isn't! You have to have a gun that will do MANY things and do it right every time, IF you want to eat every day!

DM
A quick search of Gun Broker with the key word "drilling" showed up a lot of interesting results. Very cool firearms.
 
Benelli Super black eagle 2 can shoot slugs for big game and shot for small game, it is light and very reliable.

If I had to pick a rifle a Marlin 30-30


I wouldnt want to be equipped with a 22 or a single shot if I were to get into it with a Bear.
 
LMG
Given your location you should have a unique perspective. TSHHTF at your house and I'm wondering if those still in standing houses wouldn't be faring better with a months supply of food, equipment and a 10/22 with a couple thousand rounds of ammo. On its face that gun and supplies might not seem significant but when you consider a few blocks worth or a whole town similarly equipped you have a formidable force for the help and protection of yourselves and those unfortunate enough to have lost their homes and what provisions they might have put up.
I hope this storm and the real survival stories coming from it will help us all to be further educated on the real need for survival preparation since once again it seems that the huge agencies that we have come to depend on are failing us.
 
The answer to the OP depends entirely on whether you plan to eat what you shoot. If the answer is no, a .308 will take any critter, 2 legged or 4, in North America. Of course, rabbits would be obliterated.
 
I would hazard a guess the use and type of firearm would directly relate to the area and both predators and game in the area. If in Alaska, I might opt for something a wee bit heavier than a 22lr. In the Desert Southwest, living scant miles from the Official Drug Corridor, and with water very scarce and far between, I would opt for something a bit heavier too, as I will either get out within a few days or the vultures will have a nice meal of my fat old bones.
This is my czoice, less than 6 pounds.


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Carrying two spare magazine gives 15 rounds, which in today's world of semi-auto military style clone rifles doesn't seem like much at all, but in a evasion and escape scenario, might be sufficient - I can always carry a box of ammo somewhere in the day pack/backpack. I can hit what I aim at out to 300 yards with it, and I have reasonable faith in the 7.62x39mm cartridge to deliver sufficient power for both two legged predators and the few four legged ones we have out here. Far more important to me for this specific scenario is water and GPS!

Now if it's urban survival, this is the baby I reach for.

travelcompanion.jpg
 
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I prefer a tube fed .22 over a 10/22 for survival purposes just because the magazine is just one more piece that could break. My dad has a Nylon 66 that has had absolutely countless rounds through it with basically no cleaning at all, it is very light, and deadly accurate.
 
I would buy an AR15 in it's original 223 for use against blackbear, deer, and predators such as wolf, cougar and coyotes. for smaller varmints and survival hunting(rabbits, grouse, turkeys ETC) a 22lr bolt carrier group and magazines are all that is necessary to convert the AR15 for smaller more compact and cheaper to stockpile ammunition.

it's not ideal if you are being forced to kill moose and elk for to survive but it performs more tasks better than a 7.62x39, 30-30, 308 or other large bore rifle.

a 308 means heavier, less compact ammo(you can carry roughly 500 rounds of 22lr or 120 rounds of 5.56/223 in the same space and weight as 40 rounds of 308) and 308 explodes squirrels, rabbits and grouse meaning you will have to hunt larger game(about turkey size minimum) in order to get enough meat to survive.

combine listed AR15 and a pocket fishing rig and you shouldn't have alll your meat concerns answered, then you just have to worry about water, vitamin deficiencies, and greenage to supplement your diet.
 
In a SHTF situation I would give the nod to my Ruger 77/357. Reliable bolt action, great safety, stainless steel and synthetic, IRON SIGHTS (though I replaced the stock with a Skinner aperture barrel mount rear and got a better Marble's front gold bead), 5.5 pounds, .357 magnum out of an 18.5" barrel is no joke out to 200 (technically farther even), 5 round magazines that even if they fail it's a bolt action and can still be chamber loaded and fired and everyone/anyone can use it easily and without fear.
 
In a SHTF situation I would give the nod to my Ruger 77/357. Reliable bolt action, great safety, stainless steel and synthetic, IRON SIGHTS (though I replaced the stock with a Skinner aperture barrel mount rear and got a better Marble's front gold bead), 5.5 pounds, .357 magnum out of an 18.5" barrel is no joke out to 200 (technically farther even), 5 round magazines that even if they fail it's a bolt action and can still be chamber loaded and fired and everyone/anyone can use it easily and without fear.

that's interesting, my brother's 77/357 has a HUGE variance in POI between hot and weak loads, nearly 3 feet ES at 100 yards if he shoots 38 SP VS 357
 
that's interesting, my brother's 77/357 has a HUGE variance in POI between hot and weak loads, nearly 3 feet ES at 100 yards if he shoots 38 SP VS 357

Different types of ammo will always produce different points of impact. I have never shot .38spc out of my 77/357 or my GP100. I have shot American Eagle 158gr JSP, Winchester 145gr Silvertip, Winchester 158gr JSP and Double Tap 158gr Nosler JSP out of both and have no noticeable change in POI at 100yds. I have no idea how any .38spc performs out of the 77/357, and am still a bit shocked at that much variance, but without knowing anything about that specific .38spc ammo he's using and what good quality .38spc ammo can produce for results, I'm not the one to ask about it unfortunately.
 
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Ak/AR
10/22 takedown (or handgun mk3/ 22/45
12 gauge

Take one and rock and roll
 
Well, the answer would be situationally specific. But, I figure running the desert in my Jeep could get me into a "survival" situation with a greater likelyhood than anything else.

So, I give you "The Perfect Jeep Gun".

IMG_4674.jpg
 
Personally I'd opt for my drilling - 16x16x22 Sav HiPowerAI.
Otherwise I would go for the simplest single-shot bolt action .22LR I could find - mine is an old Western Field. Or else a .45 cal flintlock muzzle loader, so long as I had lead and a keg of FFF. I can find and make flints.

I sincerely hope I never find out.

George
 
I'll take my Remington 552 speedmaster iron sights,can take down and clean almost without tools, not that it needs cleaning very often
 
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