Looking for light .22 rifle

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Smithers

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As the subject says, I'm looking for a light .22 rifle to "rough it" in the wilderness for a week. Basically some kind of test of manhood or some such. I won't be alone, but the plan is to hike to some remote location where the benefits of running water and toiletries are a luxury.

Unfortunately, while I'm an owner of several servicable pistols and revolvers. I don't happen to own a long gun. I'd like to take along a .22 rifle for killing snakes along the trail. I probably won't be hunting (don't know the first thing about it although it may become necessary.) Since we'll be hiking some hours, I want something light and reliable. Price is not an issue, but limited to something I can easily get at a gun store.

A couple of rifles I'm considering are:
The AR-7,
and the Ruger 10/22.

I like the compactness and lightness of the AR-7, but I can't ignore the popularity of the Ruger.

Please help me decide on a rifle :confused: Thanks in advance to all.

P.S. I might bring along a high-caliber revolver for defense, but I'm pretty sure if a bear or cougar comes at me, I'm basically ****ed.
 
You probrobly be fine with a pistol for what you want. You generally be fine with a .357 magnum revolver in most places if you are not hunting.

However if you want a light .22 rifle and you seem to have picked a semi automatic action and you be backpacking you might want to look at something like the Marlin 70PSS. It is stainless barrel so not going to mind being pushed around, comes with a removable barrel for easy breakdown so you can store it in a backpack, and gives you a reliable light little carbine thats easy for transporting.

Or you could always use one of those .22 rifles and .410 shotgun combos. Single shot but give you the compact light carry.
 
Not much lighter than the AR-7. I think it weighs about 2 1/2 pounds. The 10/22 is a much better rifle, but not as light, and doesn't have the capability of being broken down and stored in the stock. The AR-7 has pretty cude sights, but they'll probably do for what you're talking about. I don't know anything about it's reliability.

I think I'd go with the Ruger but I have experience with them.
 
Respectfully, a walking stick would be more useful than a rifle for self defense against snakes- and there's no real point of "killing snakes along the trail" unless you're planning on eating them (cooked well, rattlesnake is good eating).

If you're testing your manhood, killing unobjectionable animals that are good for the ecosystem isn't a good start.

There could be good reasons to take a light rifle with you in the wilds, but killing snakes ain't one.
 
Assuming you can legally carry a firearm where you plan to hike the Marlin 70PSS would be my pick over the AR. If you already own a reasonably accurate 22 pistol I bet a day or two into the project you'll be glad you carried that instead of any rifle :).

While you may be aware of park rules if it's a national or state forest, in some cases wildlife managment regs/hunting regs also apply. The latter apply even to private land under certain circumstances and, around here anyway, packing outside of hunting season is highly restricted or prohibited.

Best

S-
 
I'd suggest a pistol if you are legal to carry it there and legal to have in those woods. It's a weight issue. I have a 7.5" barrel .22 and it'll do better than an AR7. If I want it to float I can put it in a boat. :D
 
skip the ar-7, besides being weird to hold, it is maybe the most unreliable 22 rifle ever made. a long bbl, pistol or revolver is better.
 
Agree with JShirley

If you come across a snake you can defend yourself by taking a couple steps backwards. I've run across dozens of rattlesnakes, eastern and western. All you have to do is back off and go around them. It's quicker than drawing a gun, and you're guaranteed not to shoot someone's feet.

Speaking in general, for personal defense you want a handgun. They're usually somewhat less effective than a long gun, but you can have it on your hip where it's useful at all times. Do you really want to carry a rifle slung over your shoulder all day long on the off chance you'll need it at a moment's notice?

As far as lightweight .22 trail rifles, I'd go with the Marlin 70 (AKA the "Papoose"). AR-7s are a crapshoot, reliability-wise. The Marlin weighs about 3.5 pounds. You can unscrew the barrel to fit it into a pack. The newer Papooses are stainless, so you won't have to worry too much about them getting soaked in the rain.
 
If you're testing your manhood, killing unobjectionable animals that are good for the ecosystem isn't a good start.
Click to expand...

I agree, and I was being slightly sarcastic when I made the statement about the "test of manhood." Anyhow, I wouldn't go out of my way to shoot a snake. I believed that may be a possible situation where I felt that I may need a firearm (and there is no way I'm going to poke or get near a snake with a walking stick. That's just crazy, those suckers are fast. :D )

There could be good reasons to take a light rifle with you in the wilds, but killing snakes ain't one.
Click to expand...

Total agreement.

If you already own a reasonably accurate 22 pistol I bet a day or two into the project you'll be glad you carried that instead of any rifle .
Click to expand...

Ah, unfortunately, I own mostly high caliber revolvers and hand guns. All the numbers start with four... :uhoh:

I'll definitely take a look at the Marlin. 3.5 pounds doesn't sound too bad. I'm still open to recommendations.
 
Maybe the current copy of the old Steven's Favorite made by Savage. They can be had in a break down model. I have one with the solid frame and like it very much for a light weight knock around .22.
 
Marlin Papoose. It's a takedown, weighs 3 1/4 lbs, is accurate and element-resistant stainless and fiberglass. I love mine.
 
My first choice is to avoid snakes.
The only two snakes I have had to kill
were in a work area and in a residence.
I have live-captured a non-poisonous snake
in my late mother in-law's house and
carried it deep into the into woods before
releasing it. The copperhead I shot with
ratshot. My sister-in-law killed another
copperhead with a poker in the dining room
(why does that sound like a Clue game?)
Outdoors I practise copperhead and
rattler avoidance. I still carry a gun with
shotshells if and only if there is an
unavoidable situation. When I was a
teenager my uncles taught me that
snakes eat rats and mice, so leave'em
aloneon the farm.
 
I would choose a four inch .357 mag from any of the major manufacuters. Loaded up with some full house 158 gr. JSP's for general defense. I would also tote along some CCI shot shells for snake management if needed but, buy the time you loaded it up with the shot shells for the snakes, you might as well have walked around the snake to begin with. That goes for break down .22 rifles. If you needed them for defense then breaking them out and assembeling them would take too long. My second choice would be a .22 single six with the .22 mag cylinder with at least a 5 inch barrel where you could acheive decent velocities. And again, I would bring some CCI shot shell for that to.

Flip.
 
I can't see any reason why 357 and a 22LR pistols wouldn't fit your needs.
Click to expand...

I want a rifle for plinking, too. I repeat, I don't actually own a single rifle. Would like to own something small before I buy a garand or m14. And I do not want to lug around a big rifle on a 5 hour hike.

I also happen to live in California, and I got to take that stupid handgun safety test to buy another handgun. There is also the question of the legality of carrying a loaded handgun that I don't want to deal with in this retarded state.

I apologize if I didn't make my situation clearer.
 
I would recommend a Marlin Papoose. Like the AR-7, it is a takedown, but they have a better reputation for reliability, and accuracy and longevity. They come from the factory with a 7 round mag, which is Cali legal. Taken down, they can be stowed in a float case, which is included. They are available in 2 configurations.

The older guns were wood and blued. The current model is synthetic and stainless. The reciever is aluminum. The new weapons include QD sling studs.

The reciever is grooved for a scope, using tip off mounts.

They can be assembled or disassembled very quickly.
 
Get a ruger 10/22 - it is light, easy to work on, reliable and accurate. Parts are all over the place and if you really want it smaller, get a 16" barrel and a folding stock for it. It will still come out cheaper.
I got my 10/22 used for $85. It is in excellent condition and shoots better than I do. Can't ask for more than that!
 
Hard not to choose the 10/22.


Also consider the CZ452 Scout. Small stock but still shootable by an adult.
 
I have both an AR7 and a 10/22. The 10/22 is light and handy, but can't compare with the AR7. Both are about the same 4moa accuracy. The AR7 has a poor trigger (somewhat of an understatement) that one must learn to live with because there's no way to fix it the way it's designed. It's very rugged and simple and if there's feeding problems, 99 percent of the time it can be fixed by adjusting the feed ramp on the magazine. The other 1 percent can be fixed by chamfering the chamber in the barrel, easy to do. There are sites on the net that can be googled for instructions. The 10/22 has no idiosyncrasies, pretty much reliable regardless. I've never had a problem with the AR7, but there are folks that bad mouth 'em, just don't understand 'em I reckon.

I have a telescoping stock, 1.5x4.5 scope, and hand guard on my AR7 and have a Marlin Papoose case for it I picked up cheap. :D I just drop it in a saddle bag on my bike and ride happy if I'm going to need a .22. It only weighs 2.5 lbs. I just play with that high cap mag, carry with the standard 8 rounder afield.

attachment.php


Another VERY NICE high quality compact little gun, don't know if it's still being offered, is the little bottom eject Browning .22. They made that one in a take down, too, and Norinco had a cheap copy of it for a while, but nowhere even CLOSE to the quality of the Browning product from what I saw. Friend of mine got a Norinco and it would occasionally cough on whatever ammo he was feeding it and just didn't look as well made as the Browning, but he only paid a hundred bucks at Walmart for it. I don't think Norincos are imported anymore, though, but you might come across a used one. Me, I'd hold out for the Browning, fine, fine little weapon. Okay, well, I admit you'd pay a small fortune for one of these things now days and it wouldn't be practical in the rough country, but just look how beautiful it is! The grade one was pretty expensive back in the day, so you can figure what one would set you back used, but I just love 'em. My uncle had one and it went with him everywhere fishing or hiking in the outdoors. He carried it in lieu of any sort of handgun and he was very good with it. The price on 'em is steep, but they're worth the entry fee and I really don't know why I never bought one I like 'em so much. They're tube fed through the but stock. They didn't just look good, they were accurate! They were made in several grades and the top grade was very ornate with beautiful wood and such. This one's just a grade 2, Belgian made! :what:

http://www.bullseyesportingarms.com/images/Rifles/browningtakedown22.htm

browningtakedown22.jpg


browningtakedown221.jpg


Check out this grade VI. Price just under $1000

http://www.gunrush.com/firearm/gun/Browning-021002102-Rifles.htm

brngpic021002102.jpg


From the same sight, a grade one, just under $500.

brngpicsemigr1.jpg
 
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