The Ultimate Survival Gun

[lions]

Once again, I ask "How do we wind up stranded in the woods?"

I don't know Vern, use your imagination.

OP:

Imagine you've just been stranded in Alaska...

While I agree that your scenarios are much more likely we're just playing along with the OP. (And your scenarios don't involve bears, zombies, zombie bears, or murderous meth-heads. All staples of any good thread.)

 

[ilbob]

HiPoint in 380. Maybe with a laser sight.

 

[stk10767]

Bolt action 22lr, hands own. Easy to carry, light, accurate, and will kill anything up to game sized deer with an excellent shot. Plus you can have 20 rounds in your pocked and never know its there. If you see a bear, RUN!

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I don't know Vern, use your imagination.

Reality I do for free. Imagination costs extra.

 

[Pizzagunner]

Humans lived for thousands of years in that part of the world with no firearms at all.

The highest priority would be having a fantastic fixed blade knife. With a good belt knife all things become possible.

Deliberate hunting by one's self is usually a net calorie drain. As folks mentioned above, traps, snares, fish weirs for small game and a rifle capable of taking larger creatures. In a survival situation, birds don't have to be taken on the wing. Anything goes--hit them with throwing sticks while on the ground or near the shore. Knowing how to dress and preserve meat and test and identify plants for adequate carbohydrates are far more important skills to have than casting your own ammo.

Since Alaska is anything from dense woods or brush to open tundra with miles of visibility with pretty large game animals and two of the most dangerous bear types going, I'd like a Marlin 1895 GS in .45-70. Drops anything, carries easy.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Again, why do we assume our "survival situation" will involve us being stranded in the wilderness? How did we get there? And how do we propose to get out?

It's far more likely that we will be caught at home or at work by an earthquake, flood, forest fire, or similar natural disaster. We should plan for that.

 

[kirklandkie]

in terms of survival (man surviving in the wild) i'd probably take my ruger 10/22 due to it's reliability and the shear quantity of bullets you could take with you. i could also make the argument that having a semi-auto rifle like this could still give you a fair level of protection from wild predators such as bears. Quantity over quality if you know what i mean.
for the record, i'm not that .22 enthusiast that so many others are so this is said out of an unbiased mouth (if anything i'm biased the other way)

-kirk

 

[Vern Humphrey]

The Parable of the Condom

At a SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape) symposium, a survival expert was touting the condom. It's small -- you can carry one in your wallet. It weighs virtually nothing. You can put you socks inside and keep them dry. You can put it over the muzzle of you rifle and keep out the mud, snow and water. And you can fill it with water and use it as a canteen.

A smart aleck in the audience asked, "If you were starting out to walk across Death Valley, would you carry your water in a condom?"

The survival expert replied, "In a survival situation, you take what you can get."

And the smart aleck came back with, "We aren't in a survival situation. We're sitting on our butts in an air-conditioned room deciding what some other poor shmuck will have when he's in a survival situation."

Out of that discussion emerged the Water Sack -- a polyethylene bag inside a smaller nylon bag. The polyethylene makes it leak proof, the nylon makes it strong. And it's not all that heavy, either.

The moral of this is, when contemplating what you would want in a survival situation, imagine you were deliberately going into that situation and ask what you would choose. When contemplating carrying pepper spray for self-defense, ask yourself, "If I knew a 400-lb mass murderer were down the block, and I were trying to capture or disable him, would I choose pepper spray, or would I want something else?"

 

[Pizzagunner]

There's a lot to be said for pairing up a non-lubricated, non-spermicidal condom, as a water container, carried "hobo style" inside of a large bandanna for support. A bandanna is more useful in more situations than is a nylon anything sack or sheet of similar area/capacity.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Would you deliberately set out to cross Death Valley carrying your water in a non-lubricated, non-spermicidal condom inside of a large bandanna?

If not, don't include a condom water carrier in your survival plans.

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

Without the aid of water pressure, as from a garden hose, faucet, etc, exactly how much water is one going to force into a condom? I think I'd juest bear the weight of a centeen.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Think water balloon, like kids throw at each other. And just about that easy to burst if you do manage to fill it. Not something you'd want to trust with the only water you have in a survival situation.

The water sack, with it's valve mouth and no need to stretch or "blow up," is easy to fill at any stream or water hole. It's become pretty much a standard piece of equipment for backpackers these days.

 

[Isher]

Vern -

In answer to your question, most "wilderness/survival" incidents

Happen within a 20 mile radius of a well-travelled blacktop road.

We have several of these tragedies every year up here in the NW,

Which all too often result in death.

Somebody takes a secondary, or perhaps a forest service/logging road.

Car breaks down, or gets stuck.

Darkness falls, and you are still way the hell from where you would like to be.

Then whattya gonna do, jack?

The victims are not dressed for it, or otherwise physically prepared

For it, and they certainly are not mentally prepared for it.

It is NOT a matter of being armed to the teeth.

I carry a medium sized rucksack in the truck,

With plenty energy bars, a portable water filter, medium

Firstaid kit, firestarting stuff, couple of those survival tarps,

3 season sleeping bag, etc., etc.

You can find about a jillion varieties of this list on the net.

Anyway, the thing weighs about 32 pounds, and I've enough

To go on for about 8 days.

Now, I've been in several situations on day trips in the back country

When I could not get home.

Washed out roads, windfall trees, truck buried to its axles in mud, even a

Total MF of a sprained knee.

And yeah, I carry a semiauto pistol and there is a .22 wmr in the truck,

But those are at the flat bottom of the list compared to the other basics.



isher

 

[blackops]

If you find yourself lost in the woods you will have a long list of things to worry about ahead of being swallowed by a bear.

And I agree, but that's not the point of the thread now is it? Since the thread is directed towards a firearm, I will take one that will not only provide food, but keep me alive as well. Bears will laugh at a 22. Moutain lions I wouln't risk pissing off, so I'll take a cartridge that will take it down. Throwing a rock is as effective as shooting a 22.

 

[doc2rn]

Ok read the first two pages and no one came up with the Handy Rifle yet
You get the rifle reciever and you can put any shotgun or rifled barrel they make on it. Pick your flavor!

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Vern -

In answer to your question, most "wilderness/survival" incidents

Happen within a 20 mile radius of a well-travelled blacktop road.

You're dead right -- and one key element in such situations is inability to navigate. People die within easy walking distance of help, but are unable to find help. Add hypothermia, thirst and so on, and that accounts for almost all such deaths.

However that's only a fraction of survival situations -- far more are due to things like floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, and so on. Most of the people who died in Katrina, for example, died near home.

 

[islandphish]

Plenty gun here

Ruger Mk3

Light, I can carry a ton of ammo. I can kill big game with it.

Yep, big game. Like a moose or a caribou. Remember, this is survival...not hunting. I would get relatively close and then dump a mag into a moose or caribou. Then I would set up shop for a week and I would have all the food I would need for a long time. Repeat as necessary.

Also, you could very easily shoot up some food in the streams. The salmon are not always very deep and, though I've never done it, I bet you could shoot up some slack pools and get some grayling or trout or dolly varden to rise up while shocked.

My first "survival" gun was a Ruger 10/22 and that would be a good choice too. But I am confident in my shooting skills enough that the pistol would be my choice.

 

[ThomasT]

I just bought a Remington SPR in 22/410 today. This is a gun that strikes me as being good for the purpose of prividing food in a "Stranded in the wilderness" situation. Besides I have wanted one for a while.

Like vern said you are a lot more likely to be stranded at home from a natural or man-made disaster. In that case a bunch of food and water would be best. Also staying warm and dry.

I'm not sure the gun is as important as having the skills and mindset for making it out of the wilderness. A good knife and some fishing gear might be just as important. Plus a way to start a fire.

 

[ThomasT]

I have been out of town for a couple of weeks and when I got home I had a new Guns Magazine.

They had a reveiw of the Marbles "Game Getter" shotgun/rifle combo that is supposed to be reissued around August. They are taking orders per the website. It will have a finish by Doug Turnbull which means it may be too pricey and pretty to use. I sure hope it occurs to them to make a field grade version that is affordable.

If you don't know a Game Getter is an old design that is a 22/410 combo wih a folding skeleton buttstock and no forearm. They weigh around 3 pounds and will fit in a backpack. I guess we wait and see.

 

[Pizzagunner]

I would not rely upon a condom+bandana "canteen system" as a primary water carrier, it's a highly packable redundancy measure.

In a personal disaster, the stuff on you at the moment might be the only things you still possess.

On my keychain resides a squeeze LED lamp, a fire steel with striker, and a button compass. My everyday carry is a Benchmade 610 and a Victorinox Farmer. I carry two relatively fresh condoms in my wallet. I use a folded bandana as a hankie.

What is anyone else carrying on their person right now that could pack anywhere from .5 to a liter of water? I too would try to scrounge for a discarded pop bottle or something tougher, but if nothing more suitable came to hand, I am opening a condom up.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

What is anyone else carrying on their person right now that could pack anywhere from .5 to a liter of water?

Funny you should ask -- I do a five mile hike to the top of the mountain every morning and carry a liter of water with me (in this weather a standard precaution.) And on top of the mountain is a water tank that feeds the line to my house. So, yeah, I have more than half a liter with me.

 

[Grey Morel]

Henry Golden Boy in .22mag.

 

[atomd]

I voted for the rimfire rifle. I think choosing all these combo guns is kind of cheating. If you're going to carry around 4 barrels you might as well have 2 or 3 complete firearms instead. I went for the rimfire because of sheer volume. You can't carry around thousands of shotshells or centerfire ammo easily. They are also small and lightweight.

In most parts of the US, animals aren't going to eat us...or even bother us. I'd be more concerned with temperature conditions, insect/snake bites or bacteria in my water/food than predators eating me. I can kill many small tasty animals with a .22. Plus, small game is plentiful and usually easier to take than most large game. I can kill a few squirrels or a rabbit and eat them before most people can even locate most varieties of large game in an unfamiliar area. Not to mention most of the large quantity of meat would spoil.

 

[freakshow10mm]

.22 rimfire rifle.

Ammo is light weight and lethal to at least 150y (remember the frozen turkey thread?).

 

[ol' scratch]

It depends on the situation

If we are only talking about a partial meltdown in society or stranded in the wilderness. If it is a meltdown in society, it depends on the situation. If we are talking about a partial meltdown, I would choose
1. 1911 .45 or CZ 75 for my carry piece. This is assuming I am still going to work.
2. A pellet gun-YES A PELLET GUN. I still have neighbors in this scenario. I live in a neighborhood. It would be useful to pick off squirrels and rabbits at home in my backyard if need be. There is a very nice FAT, JUICY squirrel I have been eyeing.
3. My in home defense when I am away would be my Remington 870. While I am away trying to secure water or food, my wife has to hold down the fort. Nothing says, "Maybe I should pick a different house" better than hearing the rack of a shotgun slide.
4. I would keep the MBR at home for the moment. I could pull it out to shoot deer which are also in the neighborhood. This would be about the time things might be starting to get interesting in the hood.

Bug out scenario w/ car
1. My Garand, Pistols, AR, .22 revolver and 12 gauge and ammo come with me. I would trade the pellet gun and a few old shotguns for gold jewelry or dried food. Someone always wants to stay behind. Load up what I can with the hard currency. Besides, I can use the extra firearms as currency. I would bring my Kabar, machete, backpacks, fire striker, steel wool (great fire starter) and some other camping supplies.

Bug out on foot

1. I carry the Garand with ammo (two bandoliers), pack, knife, machete, .45 on my hip with 50 rounds and .22 with 100 rounds in the pack. My wife carries whatever supplies I can't and the AR with 4 30 round mags. We would also have the fire starting supplies (striker works well off of the machete). She feels comfortable firing it. She also has a .45 on her hip and the 9 mm in her pack. I carry gold jewelry as currency. Which ever firearms I leave behind I trade with the neighbors for more gold or dried food.
2. I want that .22 to shoot the rabbits and squirrels I so love to eat. I would leave the pellet gun because in this scenario noise is no longer a concern.

Some may say I focus too much on taking the guns with me. I would try and keep them strictly because they would make good barter items. If things got too heavy, I could slim down as needed. It is better to have than not have and wish you did. I would only part with what I have if we are talking about a God forbid, end of the world or government scenerio.

Check out this site. I really enjoyed reading it. It deals with some scenarios. http://ferfal.blogspot.com/search/label/Argentine Collapse