Posted on 08/07/2009 12:52:41 PM PDT by appleseed
If youve watched Survivorman, its hard to ignore the fact that Les Stroud, the star of the show, seems to starve during every episode. I dont 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, youre going to need bulletsand 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; henryrepeating.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 yardsplenty good to render rabbit into hasenpfeffer.
The verdict? If I knew in advance Id be forced to feed myself with a .22, Id choose a more substantial takedown model, such as the Browning SA-22 or Marlins 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 friendmy .350 Remington Magnum. The best survival weapon is the one you have in your hand when you face a survival situation. For most hunters, thats 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, its 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 simplesimple 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 isnt an issue regardless of the survival gun you choosejust as long as your first aim is true.
“Set aside a year’s supply of food for your family, Mormon or not, and stay armed to protect it.”
Trouble is you might have to move and takin that much food with you is tough. Best to be prepared for both.
Besides 150 million of the 300 will be eating each other. Probably 100 of the remaining will be killed. Leaving 50 million.
I’ve taken 100 pound white tails with my 223 (in Montana - you can hunt with anything). I wouldn’t use it for anything bigger, but then again if I’m in a survival situation by myself, I’d rather not shoot anything big!
And the 223 won’t pulverize a rabbit or coyote...;) I’ve seen what them speedy 270s do to small game! Shoot a rabbit or coyote or beaver with a 223 and you still have a lot of good meat.
I have one I bought and did not realize how powerful it was. I was shooting at a box in the garage.
After a few shots I realized it was going thru the box and the garage door.
He mentioned the .38 Auto round that was first made in the year 1900. He never mentioned the .38 Super.
The .38 Super is popular in Mexico since the civilians can’t have military cartridges but even then it wouldn’t be my first choice for a survival round.
Holy cow! Mine ain’t that good - wish it was though. I Must have a dud. Couldn’t shoot my eye out even if I tried.
My small utility pack I carry when hunting, fishing, 4 wheeling etc contains basic gear to get me through a “survival” event.
I always carry a CHL sidearm with at least one spare high capacity magazine.
If hunting I will have a rifle or shotgun of course in addition to my CHL handgun.
But that small basic do it all utility ruck always has a Smith an Wesson 317 three inch barrel 8 shot revolver with target sights and 100 rounds of CCI stingers. Very accurate an very reliable.
Small an light enough to always be in a small day pack / ruck with enough ammo to feed on small game for long time if needed.
Leaves my “self defense” handgun an ammo as a backup as well. Goes for whatever hunting firearm I may have at the time if that is reason I got into such a situation that caused “survival” mode.
My pack is a gearslinger from maxpedition that has served me for about last 10 years. Been washed an repaired / reinforced an modified but is where my EDC “survival” gear is carried that includes the SW 317 revolver an ammo.
My choice......lightweight target / camp gun .22 revolver for a “survival weapon”....... revolver due fact it will feed .22 ammo of all kinds like CB caps to the hot stingers etc.
Stay Safe
I’d still take a .38 Super over the .40 S&W and in the Corbon DPX loading it gives the .357 Sig a run for the money with a lot less recoil and noise.
The Lightweight Commander was a great gun.
LOL !
Good points. Presstitutes have to eat to !!
The upside of having guns for funky cartridges is that in the last few months while everyone is crying the blues over 9mm, .38 Special, .357 Mag, .380, .40 S&W, and .45 ACP... I’ve had no trouble finding .44 Special and Russian (for assorted .44’s inc. my 696), .32-20 for a Colt Army Special, .45 Schofield for an elderly New Service that I had “Fitz’d”, and .38 Super (found one store with dusty boxes of 50 for $12). Even found an old box of .38/44 metal piercing (!) For shotguns, there’s still stacks of 16 ga. buck and slugs... the buck is #1 (12 .30 pellets, compared to 9 .33 in 12 ga - I think it’s actually better)
sorry I was referring to a pellet gun and not the good ole daisy.
I had been used to the daisy growing up and figured out I could crack 1/4 inch plexiglass at about 50 ft. Definately a rabbit could be taken if you could hit it. My main complaint is the lack of real accuracy in the one I have.
First whitetail deer I took as a young teen hunter was with a old Winchester Mod 74 22 long rifle. It was legal back then an I fired once an followed the blood trail as I was taught. Fired once more when I saw the young buck standing about 30 meters away.
Albeit small deer it can be done with accurate firearm an knowledge of the wild game your after or in the area you recreate in.
Stay Safe !!!
ping
wild hogs down here in Florida are abundant. I would NOT try to take one of them with a 22. They’d be apt to eat you for pissen them off.
Dang, I would have bet on an atlatl and clovis point spear. :)
I’d go with a Merkel Cape Rifle in 9.3x74R and 16 gauge in a O/U configuration. ;)
Gotta stay classy you know.
.....the buck is #1 (12 .30 pellets, compared to 9 .33 in 12 ga - I think its actually better).....
Well well. that’s what I needed to know. I have both but think I prefer the 16 to the 12 when stressed. It seems more controllable.
I’m going to get me some 16’s #1 buck
If you can’t find any let me know. ;)
I have a Stevens 520 cut down to 19”... it’s got such a Frank Hamer waiting at the roadblock for Bonnie and Clyde vibe going on...
(To all FR gun historians, yes I do know Frank used a Remington Model 8 in .35 Rem with a 20 round aftermarket mag adaptation)
Whipper snapper.....:o)
You ever hunt em with spear or knife ?:o)
Personally I use a 45-70 Ruger No 1 for such here .
Stay Safe
But I wouldn’t recommend buying guns with odd chamberings if you don’t already own the essentials.
This writer is all wet with his recommendations. The standard .22 rifle is still the Ruger 10/22.
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