If I only had 1 survival rifle, what would it be

[JoeProBono]

[ChildOfThe60s]

In general I agree, but you don’t live in Kentucky. I don’t know about “capable”, but we have plenty that think they are.

Buddy of mine has some property that we use for a private range. During hunting season, we don’t go out there. It’s not safe.

[JoeProBono]

[Yosemitest]

Survival needs MORE than just a .22 LR !

BROWNING BLR LIGHTWEIGHT 81 308 WIN HOG STALKER TAKEDOWN REALTREE MAX-1



Browning BLR Lightweight 81 TAKEDOWN 270 Win.

[yarddog]

I recall an article many years ago by a writer named Skeeter Skelton. Skeeter was writing about his alter ego, Sheriff Dobe Grant.

If he had to just have one gun, what would it be? His choice was a .22 rifle. I think I might choose a 12 gauge automatic shotgun, but this thread limited the choice to “what rifle”.

[lavaroise]

How about em 357 air rifle? Wouldn’t be hard to cast own bullets.

[yarddog]

A .357 magnum in a model 92 Browning, Rossi model 92, Winchester 92 conversion etc. would actually be a pretty good choice.

Air rifles have too many negatives. I enjoy shooting them and for some purposes they are fine but not as an overall gun.

[Georgia Girl 2]

Love my AK 74 too. :-)

[razorback-bert]

Mine is the breakdown model.

[dynachrome]

“1944 Sako.”

Try http://www.7.62x54r.net

or http://www.mosinnagant.net

for more Mosin and Finnish Mosin manis

[dynachrome]

“mania” I meant

[skinkinthegrass]

seems to be a tribal tattoo...

[Yosemitest]

With over 26 years of military experience, I telling you, a .22 LR isn't large enough, if you're ONLY going to own just one rifle.
A takedown rifle has advantages that others don't (easier to conceal and smaller pack bulk),
and a lever action will give you the ballistics of a bolt action, but with quicker reload time.

The ,270 Win. is fairly cheap; for ammo and can be bought almost anywhere, and is easier to "GET ACCURATE WITH" than the .308 .
But being retired military myself, I prefer the .308.

[yarddog]

Thank you for your service to our country. It is something to be proud of.

That does not make you an expert on guns of all types, especially .22LR.

Since about 9 I began carrying and using a rifle and shotgun. I went hunting with my Father and Brothers a few years before that. I have spent nearly my entire life in rural areas hunting, target shooting, plinking, killing farm animals, killing varmints etc.

I will admit that of the several hundred guns I have owned over the years, a Siamese Mauser in 45-70 was probably the most powerful tho the 7mm Remington mag probably had more energy. I have seen what the .22LR can do and it can do a lot. IT is not forgiving of bad shot placement.

I am a certified firearms and hunter safety instructor, at least I was until I let my certificates expire. I taught skeet at the University of Southern Mississippi for two years. There are a lot of people who know guns better than me but percentage wise it is not many.

[Yosemitest]

I'm in MS myself, but back to the topic of ONLY ONE rifle to own.
I didn't say a .22 LR was bad.
I said it wasn't a large enough caliber IF you're ONLY GOING TO OWN ONE rifle.
I like the 45-70 myself and you can still get it in a "takedown", but they're too expensive and rare to be a "survival rifle".
You say you teach, and I say you've been hanging around college liberals too long, if you think a ,22 LR is a good survival rifle.
Part of survival is defending yourself, and staying alive when others are trying to kill you.
A .22 LR might be great for getting food from SMALL game, but it won't stop a charging wild hog,or a charging angry bull,

(which Mississippi is having an increasing problem with, due to idiot hunters who brought them in for game to hunt and now they're multiplying in the wild like rats)

so have you ever been around a rabies outbreak of wild animals?
I have in the 60s when I was a young teenager, an it was ugly.

I say again that a .22 LR won't cut it, and in a dangerous situation, will probably get you injured, or worse.

[Blue Collar Christian]

Looks like a Mosin Nagant with “hex” receiver.

[yarddog]

I only taught 2 years while getting my Masters at Southern Miss.

Between my Father and I we have killed lots of hogs tho I admit none were charging. I have had to climb trees before because of wild hogs. I only had a Walther PP in .22LR with me and was glad I didn’t have to shoot the hog with it. If I had had my Remington Speedmaster, I would not have felt even a little bit under gunned while up that tree.

A .22 would certainly not be the ideal for hogs of bears. I would choose a 12 gauge with slugs for those. That doesn’t mean I would feel completely unarmed with a .22 rifle firing 14 fast shots.

As far as humans and not in regular combat, the Ruger 10/22 has been used very successfully by Israeli soldiers in close range sniping. (Under 100 Yds), I mean from what I have read that they are deadly as all get out.

[Yosemitest]

"... the Ruger 10/22 has been used very successfully by Israeli soldiers in close range sniping. (Under 100 Yds)"

Well trained professionals, also trained in coping with severely stressful situations AT CLOSE RANGE, is far different than an average untrained civilian just out trying to survive (and know that the Israelis can and do use fully automatic pistols).
Yes, I can believe that, but they prefer the .9 MM G-3 by H&K.

Only ONE rifle, I stand by the TAKEDOWN in .270 Win. or the .308.

[Organic Panic]

I had to think long and hard about this. If I were only allowed one I would sort of cheat. I would take an ar-15 with a drop in. 22lr drop in conversion.

[yarddog]

One of my favorite outdoor writers when I was a kid in the 50s was Russel Annabel. He was an old Alaskan Sourdough.

He once told of bringing a mule train of supplies up the middle of a frozen creek. A female wold and her four yearling pups caught smell of the mules and began a circling attack.

Annabell was carrying a Colt Woodsman with a 6 inch barrel. He sat against a tree trunk and using his knees as rest, proceeded to shoot and kill all five of them. He said every time one was hit they would bite at where the bullet went in. I can’t recall if he had to shoot more than once each but he eliminated the whole pack with a .22LR pistol

At the end of the tale, he said they ought to make a monument to the .22LR.