.22 survival rifles

Ruffed Grouse

Ruffed Grouse

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I've been perfecting my pack of hunting/fishing/outdoors emergency survival gear. I've read many opinions that a .22 (i.e. rimfire 22) is probably the best survival rifle. I agree with this in a lot of ways. I have a couple of questions. The first questions pertain to what rifle would actually be best:

Is a survival rifle like the Henry U.S. survival .22 unrestricted in Canada? This is their semi-auto model that collapses into its stock. It's collapsed length is 16.5 inches, but as a rimfire it is unrestricted right?

What other takedown rifles might be good choices for a survival .22? If I could find something compact enough I would prefer something much simpler than a semi. Does anybody know about the HR sportster .22? When that rifle is taken apart, does the forend come off just like a shotgun? In that case it could be pretty compact.

The other set of questions regards using a .22 outside of it's normal purposes. I'm not suggesting that any of what follows should be done in any but the most dire and unlikely of circumstances. But I've been thinking it through and don't have much of an answer myself:

In a survival situation, how could a medium sized animal like a deer best be taken with a survival .22 rifle? If shot in the ribs could there be a reasonable expectation of recovering the animal? Of course for all sorts of reasons it would be better to go after smaller game for food, but if push came to shove what would someone be best off doing with a larger animal?

An even less likely situation, but interesting nonetheless: Whether in a survival situation or just out hunting with a .22, what would your best course of action be against an aggressive and attacking bear? Now all the black bears that I have ever encountered looked embarrassed about letting me so close and then ran away. But I understand that when black bears do attack, they are often predatory and one needs to fight back. Assuming very very close range and a great deal of skill and composure in shooting, could a .22 penetrate a bear's skull? Or would it be better to shoot in the air to make noise but not further anger the bear with pesky little rimfire bullets?

Looking forward to answers, thoughts, and discussion,

RG

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The Henry survival is a complete piece of garbage.
I bought one last month and i wish i hadn't,it shoots horrible.

Get a papoose if you wanna go that route,i hear they shoot good
 
A friend had one of those rifles, but I think it was called an AR-10 or something like that. It functioned ok. Sights and ergonomics are poor. He might have had to chose his ammunition carefully, as it is a semi-auto.

A Ruger 10/22 with a folding stock is another alternative if you prefer a repeater.
 
My Charter Arms AR-7 runs great (needed trigger job and high velocity ammo) I think it is a slick backpack unit. The apature sights lend to easy pic and resonable accuracy.
 
i would be looking for a 12ga for a survival gun way before a 22. slugs for the big stuff, #2-4 for the med stuff and 7's for the small guys (if food is needed)...just my 2 cents tho.
 
I'm working up a Marlin Papoose that I just bought - See my thread below.

The Henry's that I have seen were utter trash, but I guess if you were just going to keep it in a pack and never shoot it except for the big "emergency", it might last.

And, I have a personal dislike of anything from Norinco - Besides the fact that you are supporting slave labour in a nation that I fear we might have to actually go to war with sometime in my lifetime, the two Norc's I have owned were totally unreliable.

The REAL Browning take-downs are really nice, but expensive. Waiting to see how my Marlin does with optics on, but it may be a winner.

Cheers,

Neal
 
I have a Survival Arms made AR-7. I did never had an issue with it. It shoots great and does feed every high velocity ammo. Nice little packing gun.
 
I have no problems with the Norinco's I have bought. Slave laborer's are what are anncestors were 100+ years ago.

Go to war with? with what? Our obsolete CF-18s, our 4 surplus rust bucket overpriced British subs, our massive helicopter wings, our 5000 combat arms troups that are all needed and comitted to longer and longer rotations in Afganistan...

How are you going to go to war with China in B.C.? There are already a million Chinese in B.C., who do you think they will fight for?

Maybe Jack Layton can "negotiate" for us, like he want's to do with the Taliban.

We have been to war with the US, Germany, Japan, Italy, South Africa ...

Do you boycott their products?
 
A 22 should be enough to get you food in the wild. If you think you need more, consider a 410. Sure hits on small game and slugs for bigger stuff.
 
bought a Henry U.S Survival a couple of months ago, shoots fine, definately not for competition, fussy on ammo, which only matters if you need repeated shots, I find the stock uncomfortable for prolonged periods, but I'm working on my own, so we'll see.
 
I'll have to put mine up for sale then..I hate the hollow sound when shooting.
I plan on making a new stock and barrel for mine,that's it's only hope to becoming a decent gun.
 
Jeez!!! Get an M6 22/410 it folds up,has storage for 22 &410s and with a brenneke 410 slug a bear is in trouble. 44Mag ballistics. I have and still do shoot coyotes with mine . The 22lr Stinger@ 50 yds is quite fatal on the buggers. I know its not solely a 22 but why not use the 410 too! I swear by mine. It has a millet red dot and see thru mts for the irons if nessesary. JITC
 
I have an original AR-7 made by Armalite. It is much better than any of the subsequent AR-7's. Feeds anything, and is very accurate for a take down .22.
 
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