What's the Best Survival Weapon?

Field & Stream ^ | July 31, 2009 | Keith McCafferty

[appleseed]

If you’ve watched Survivorman, it’s hard to ignore the fact that Les Stroud, the star of the show, seems to starve during every episode. I don’t mean this as a criticism; Stroud is the real deal. But his hunger pangs raise a point: Boy Scout improv works better on the page than in the forest. If you want to bring down enough bacon to keep up your strength, you’re going to need bullets—and the more, the better. With this in mind, I recently tested two different approaches to the survival question.

The Pocket Protector

The Henry U.S. Survival firearm ($245; ­henry​repeating.com) is an updated version of the ArmaLite AR-7 designed for the Air Force. Weighing a scant 21⁄2 pounds, it is the ultimate breakdown .22, with the action and barrel unscrewing to fit inside the ABS synthetic buttstock, which floats in case your canoe capsizes. (Testing revealed the rifle also bobs like an apple when fully assembled.)

A lightweight .22 is a proficient survival firearm for harvesting small game, and at first glance the Henry seemed to perfectly marry the longer sighting plane of a rifle with pistol portability. But tests revealed a problem. The Henry is a blowback semiauto with a rough chamber and a reputation for unreliable feeding, and jamming was the rule until I switched from flat-nosed, regular-velocity ammo to CCi Stingers, which are high-velocity jacketed round-nose bullets. It seems to require kickback from a speedy bullet to work the strong spring of the bolt. The receiver rib is grooved for scope mounts, but this is a gun chosen for portability, and the adjustable aperture rear and ramp front sight proved adequate for the ranges at which most hunters will use it. I shot a 1⁄12-inch group at 20 yards—plenty good to render rabbit into hasenpfeffer.

The verdict? If I knew in advance I’d be forced to feed myself with a .22, I’d choose a more substantial takedown model, such as the Browning SA-22 or Marlin’s 70PSS Papoose. But where space and weight come at a premium, the Henry is a good choice. And it will keep you in squirrel stew as long as you feed it ammo it has an appetite for.

A Sleeve Up My Sleeve

The second gun I tested was a longtime friend—my .350 Remington Magnum. The best survival weapon is the one you have in your hand when you face a survival situation. For most hunters, that’s a centerfire rifle.

What turns an elk thumper into a small-game provider is the cartridge. Instead of using full-power loads, I fired handgun rounds using a cartridge conversion sleeve (KJ Knives: $25; 406-​669‑3382). A conversion sleeve is a housing that encloses a handgun cartridge so it fits the diameter of a rifle bore. (For the .350, it’s the .38 auto.) You can drop 30 or more pistol rounds into a pocket and forget they are there. Reserve your big-game loads to signal for help or rebuff teeth-gnashing creatures of the night.

As expected, the pistol bullets seldom shot to the crosshairs, at least not at rabbit range. But accuracy was adequate and estimating holdover was simple—simple enough, anyway, to reward me with a snowshoe hare while I was elk hunting last fall. True, you have to eject the conversion sleeve after each shot, remove the shell, and reload. But firepower isn’t an issue regardless of the survival gun you choose—just as long as your first aim is true.

[PugetSoundSoldier]

My choice: the Savage 24F-20 chambered in 20GA and .223:

Carry 20 rounds of 223 - it'll take everything from a rabbit to a white tail deer without much damage to the meat, and 20 rounds are small and light. And it will stop a man out at a good range (as far as I'd want to have to shoot; if I can't avoid a confrontation at a distance of 150+ yards, then I'm doing something wrong!)

Then carry 20 shells of 20 GA - 6 of 00 buck, and 14 of #6 birdshot. The buck for bigger beasts (including those that walk on 2 legs), and the birdshot for, well, birds.

All together, with a decent 4x32 scope, you should be right around 10 pounds and have enough "firepower" to feed yourself for a VERY long time!

[SJSAMPLE]

And a towel.

They always forget the towel.

[appleseed]

Been wanting to get a blow gun. Got a bow and cross bow. Only arrow slinger I don’t have is a blow gun.

[FlyingFish]

How about a fishing pole?

[Shooter 2.5]

.350 Remington Magnum??????????????????

After his first box of twenty is depleted, what does he expect to do?

He mentions he has a sleeve to use what he calls. .38 Auto???????????????????

This guy is supposed to be a gun writer? Where do I sign up?

[Bidimus1]

The one round that solves all problems is a fools quest (albeit a fun one)

If had to chose just 1 rifle, for a do it all I would lean toward the SKS, its simple robust and fires a decent .311 bullet. The weight of a a 120 grain standard 7.62x39 is not going to be much different than a .38specaial with 158G RN.

If you get a Yugo, it even has a gas cut off that would make it a bolt action. If you take out the gas piston it is always a straight pull bolt action of sorts.

Milspec Ball is ok for a lot of uses, but soft point or even cast or copper plated lead can be used.

Accuracy can be improved with optics or a better iron sight, it will never be a 300y MOA gun but at 100y its plenty accurate. if you get the right one you even have the bayonet for the “everything went so wrong” moment.

Change the stock if you want either classic hunting rifle or “draganov” or a pseudo m-16 or even a folding stock the choice is yours.. (the wood stock is not that bad but a rubber but pad to make it longer is nice)

if you go practice with stripper clips reloading can get pretty fast, not box mag fast but still pretty good. and they are cheap.

If you want to go rim-fire, they a good bolt action can be had with little cost if you go used, if new a bit more but a .22RF really needs to be put RIGHT wear you want it to be effective.

[screaminsunshine]

.410 double barrel

[PA Engineer]

Something you may want to consider:



This is the Crosman Quest 1000X.

Power Source Spring Caliber .177 (4.5 mm)
Velocity up to 1000 fps (304.8 m/s)
Weight 6lbs .32oz
Length 45in


I use this as a pest control weapon and basement practice. The Crosman was easy to site and ammo is very cheap and diverse. There is some noise, but otherwise it is very quiet in comparison to powder. It is a bit heavy at 6lbs, but much more accurate than the pistol. This is very good for small game. Larger game in a survival situation would ultimately be wasted by spoilage. I like it and would recommend it. 250 pellets come in a chew size container.

[PzLdr]

Ruger single action revolver. Comes with two cylinders, .22 LR, and .22 Mag..I’d go with the papoose over the AR-7. And if I was up to the weight of the Browning or Marlin takedown 22s, I’d skip that feature, and go with a Henry. Well made, accurate, and cheaper. Or I’d get one of those combo rifle/shotguns, maybe .22/410, or .223/ 20 or 12 gage.

[BuffaloJack]

The best survival weapon is your brain and the training it take to improvise and adapt.

[PzLdr]

Ruger single action revolver. Comes with two cylinders, .22 LR, and .22 Mag..I’d go with the papoose over the AR-7. And if I was up to the weight of the Browning or Marlin takedown 22s, I’d skip that feature, and go with a Henry. Well made, accurate, and cheaper. Or I’d get one of those combo rifle/shotguns, maybe .22/410, or .223/ 20 or 12 gage.

[appleseed]

Yeah, I agree. I was kind of disappointed in the article. They do have some good fishing articles though.

[ctdonath2]

Yeah, that’s the one biggest lesson I get from the show: if you’re truly in a survival situation for anything less than a week, don’t expect to eat.

[Joe 6-pack]

"He mentions he has a sleeve to use what he calls. .38 Auto???????????????????"

I have a .38 Auto...

It filled a pretty empty niche 'til the .40 S&W and later the .357 SIG came on the scene.

[Vendome]

Mossberg 500, definitely. slugs, 00, bird shot, etc. prefer 2 3/4 for price and portability.

[wolfcreek]

Just as an extra weapon (Zombie killer), we bought a Mossberg Maverick 12 ga. pump.(18.5 in. barrel) $180.00 at Academy Sports and Outdoors. It’s even assembled in the USA. Already have a Savage .22 rifle and a Baretta Neos .22 pistol

[Shooter 2.5]

The only magazine that come to my house are:
The NRA’s America’s First Freedom
The NRA’s American Rifleman
The official journal of the International Defensive Pistol Association.

I have no use for any other magazine. Those cover all of my needs.

Since the NRA revamped the American Rifleman it’s worth the price of the membership alone.

[tired1]

Golfinger, too.

[dfwgator]

What about a pointed stick?

[Vendome]

I think he was asking about a single weapon that could be used for all around and 12 guage fits the bill.

Like you my first grab is my M1A. .308 rounds will take just about anything I am going to encounter in North America. Squirrels, sorry but I have not problem blowing the little punks and going for the head if all I have ia my M1A. Then again if there is a deer, coyote, mountain lion, bear or even a seal .308 185gr is about all it is going to take.