What is the perfect survival gun? That is the question many have asked and for the most part this has been nothing but wasted effort, because in reality no such animal exists; granted some are more versatile than others but none that are up to the task of doing everything and doing it well, without coming up short in one area or another.
Each type of firearm has its place and purpose, if you know of a single weapon that can be used for all types of large and small game, defense and concealed carry with equal efficiency, without lacking in any area; let me know because I haven’t found it yet.
.22 Caliber Rifles
I recommend starting with an accurate and reliable .22 caliber rifle. There are many .22 caliber rifles on the market, so it is only a matter of personal preference what make and model you choose. I have a Ruger 10/22 the little Ruger has a well deserved reputation for being an accurate and reliable tool.
I have used one for years and have never had any problems; it reminds me of the energizer bunny it just keeps going. I tend to stay away from lever actions and pumps, they break too easily when put to hard use in the field.
The .22 is in my option is one of the best tools a survivor can own for foraging in a survival situation, allowing the taking of both small game and larger animals, with proper shot placement, as well as limited self-defense. Poachers have been taking deer for years with nothing more than a well placed .22LR round behind the ear.
High velocity rounds such as, Winchester Power Point, CCI Stinger, Yellow Jacket, Zapper etc., offer better on target performance when compared to standard LR rounds, but with a loss of accuracy when shot from most rifles.
My advice is to buy a box of as many different brands of .22 LR ammo that you can find and test each one in your chosen weapon, and stock up on the brand you find to offer the best accuracy and overall performance in your chosen weapon.
Survival Shotguns
The main disadvantages when using the shotgun as a survival weapon is the recoil when firing slugs and buckshot loads, and the bulkiness of the ammo which makes it difficult to carry or store a significant number of rounds. As I said at the beginning of this article there is no do everything firearm and the shotgun is not an exception to the rule.
Remington’s Model 870, Model 11-87, Model 1100, Winchester Model 1300, and the Mossberg 500 and 590 are all good choices. Models that use screw-in choke tubes are a plus. I prefer to stay with the 12 gauge for the added versatility, but the 20 gauge will work fine for those of small stature.
My favorite shotgun is the Remington 870 express, with a 26” vent rib field barrel with full and modified screw in choke tubes and a 20″ rifle-sighted Improved Cylinder “riot barrel”. I feel confident, that this combination will handle everything needed from a shotgun.
Survival Handguns
Handguns were created to arm those who needed their hands free for other purposes. Handguns are useful as backup weapons and for concealed carry but for the most part they are of limited use.
It is best to understand the limitations of a handgun before you put too much faith in its abilities. A rifle or shotgun beats a handgun when things turn bad, but unfortunately the handgun is likely what you will have on you at the time.
There has much debate over the years about stopping power of the various handgun rounds. The usual contention sported by most “experts” is that size matters and this is true to a point, but it is not the only objective to be considered in the stopping power debate.
Shot placement and penetration are of more importance than the size of the round being used. The bullet must hit a vital target area and have enough penetration to reach the vital organs in that area to achieve any chance of a one shot stop.
There are many handguns available that will serve the purpose of a portable, easy to carry concealable weapon. The four calibers to look for include the 9mm, .40 S&W, .45 ACP and the .357 magnum. Beretta, Browning, Colt, Ruger, SIG Arms, Glock, Taurus, Smith & Wesson and several other manufacturers make weapons that will serve you well. It all comes down to your skill level, needs and budget.
I have carried a stainless steel Ruger Mark II with a 5-1/2-inch bull barrel for years while tending my trap line. One cold December morning as I topped a small hill, I spotted a large bobcat caught in one of my dirt hole sets about 45 yards from my position.
I quickly took aim with the aid of a large oak tree, and squeezed off a round, the Winchester Power Point struck the cat right behind the front shoulder-blade, he jumped into the air with a twitch and was dead before hitting the ground. A good quality .22 caliber pistol is a most useful survival tool, and every home/retreat should have at least one.
Centerfire Rifles
The Mini-14 is a small, lightweight semi-automatic rifle manufactured by Sturm, Ruger. It is chambered to fire the popular .223 Remington cartridge, including military 5.56 X 45 mm NATO ammunition as well, as stated in the user’s manual.
The rifle employs a cast, heat-treated CNC receiver and a version of the Garand’s breechbolt locking system, with a short-stroke fixed-piston gas system and gas cylinder derived from the M1 Carbine. The rifle is available in a variety of finishes from stainless to blue with synthetic or hardwood stocks and has a standard 18.5 inch barrel.
The Mini-14 has remained popular with ranchers and survivalist for a number or years. I have a stainless synthetic stocked ranch rifle, and a cache of 20 round Ruger factory magazines bought years ago at an affordable price.
At the present this set up would cost more than it’s worth. When I first bought my mini I paid $375 bucks at a gun show, now the same rifle will run in the $650 dollar range and the factory magazines will cost $45 each if you are lucky enough the find any for sale.
If I am going to spend that kind of money on a .223 caliber weapon, I would get a AR-15 which is more accurate and less complicated to repair if it breaks with spare parts and extra magazines being much cheaper and easier to find.
You might consider acquiring a big game hunting/counter-sniper rifle that can be used at longer ranges of 600 yards and beyond. In the lower 48 states, a bolt-action rifle chambered in .308 Winchester or .30-’06 will handle any big game animal.
Remington, Ruger, and Winchester and others all make suitable rifles that will fill the need.
If you live where the game comes larger than deer the .338 Winchester Magnum is worth looking into. The .338 is a big powerful round that will bring down any animal in North America and Canada. The downside is heavy recoil; loud report and cost of ammo.
No matter what type of rifle you choose, do not get one without iron sights. You could break your rifle scope and end up with a sightless rifle; I think it is wise to put back an extra set of optics as backup against Murphy’s Law.
Military Surplus Bolt Actions
Good military surplus bolt guns like the British S.M.L.E. or Russian Mosin Nagant, can be purchased for a very little when compared to most semi-auto rifles. A surplus bolt gun and 1,000+ rounds of ammo can often be purchased for less than a semi-auto rifle alone. Making it by far the more cost-effective of the two. For the survivalist on a budget a surplus bolt-action rifle, could be the only choice.
The modern semiautomatic rifle on the other hand, while not being as cost-effective as the surplus rifle, offers increased firepower, reduced weight, less recoil with most weapons, cost of ammunition favors the semi auto, (cheaper than dirt has Sellier & Bellot, .303 British selling for $12.61 for a box of 20 while the same brand of .223 at $7.63 and 7.62×39 at $7.97 a box) it is best to buy in case lots if finances will allow, getting the best return on your investment.
Survival Air Rifles
Most survivalist and the public in general tend to regard air rifles as toys or training weapons. Seeing the toy like BB and pellet guns designed primarily for the youth market, its easy to understand why most would come to such a conclusion.
But the truth of the matter is, some air guns have been developed and designed to the point where they are more accurate and longer lasting than most modern firearms at ranges under 35 yards. With some of the better ones reaching velocity’s of over 1,000 fps (feet per second).
Ammunition can be can be bought cheap and can be stored indefinitely taking up little space. The weapons need little in the way of upkeep or maintenance and tend to work better and shoot more accurately after extended usage.
Being silent air guns will not disturb game in the area like firearms would. Anyone who hunts small game animals such as gray squirrel, understands what I am talking about. Usually you only get one good shot at the critters and the rest hightail it out of the area.
With an air rifle they will just keep going about whatever they were up to before you fired the shot. Allowing follow-up shots on the remaining game. Limit your targets to animals no larger than cottontail or fox squirrel and game can be taken cleanly with one shot.
Air gun selection need not be complex or costly. There are many models with price ranges of less than $150 that will fill our needs. I bought mine at the local Wal-Mart for $99 dollars around five years ago and it operates better now then it did the day I opened the box.
It has taken more bushy tails then I can remember, several cottontail rabbits and a ground-hog that became insistent on raiding my garden.
I think, the spring piston models are the best design choice of the models available. They are cocked by a single stroke and the force driving the pellet out of the barrel is consistent meaning better accuracy. Look for a gun with a fully rifled barrel, adjustable sights and grooved for scope mounting. Also look for a rated muzzle velocity of at least 1,000 fps.
{ 1 comment }
Beware of the man with only 1 gun. He's probably VERY good with it.
Author Unknown.
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