Best "survivalist" airgun

HW80 in .177 with a Diopter sight. That is in my opinion the ultimate survival airrifle.

.177 pellets take up less space and they are much more common. In a spring gun the .177 pellets just don't give up much to .22 in terms of energy, unlike gas guns. They do shoot faster and flatter though.

The HW80 is probably the highest quality breakbarrel in existence. A good sighting system with repeatable adjustments coupled with the flatter shooting .177 will make for a great chance of hits and less waisted ammunition.
The argument that .22 is a better killer can be made, however .22 will not penetrate feathers as well in my experience. Either caliber in a good, soft, expanding pellet will do the business on small game and birds.

-Grant
 
For Survival, rather than as an all round firearm substitute, you gotta think that any and all things are food, too. You can fill a belly faster if you include a lot of the common birds around the place as food.

IMO, you don't need a very powerful airgun. Mid power level, say 650-750 fps range, should cover all your needs. How many times dead does a squirrel have to be to eat it? Just the first time!

The mid level guns tend to be built slimmer and would be lighter than the full size "adult" air rifles, as well as not suffering performance loss from springs that were being pushed too hard making the 'magnum' power levels.

The mid power level guns tend to be a fair bit quieter than the magnum level ones, too.

Birds like Larks and Sparrows were listed on the menus of days past. If you have a choice between them, and hungry, them'll do.

Cheers
Trev
 
Original question

I had to go back to the original question as we're skating off into the sunset here boys..... i believe it mentioned "air rifle" so drop all the posts about .22lr as they don't apply...now mid power 450-600fps guns are good...if you're going to shoot tree rats and ground huggers...but if you come across a pair of cub bears around the other side of a juniper bush..you're going to go pale...REAL fast...wondering where their momma is..'cuz you know she ain't far off...and unless yer rifle has a bayonet attachment,you better start stretching those leg muscles...BIG TIME...I'll stick with all the energy i can muster into an air rifle...'cuz in the wild...you just never know! :D
 
I have an old 60's Hungarian Telly [FEG] .177 from Canadian Tire for $20 that taught me to shoot.Lots of rabbits and upland game.Rebuilt by changing to a new mainspring and soaking the shrunk leather piston seal in Neat's Foot Oil for a week so it would swell up again.Good as new and good for another 40 years.How long were you planning to survive?I guess you could leave it to the kids.Talk about low[No] maintenance.Running around 600+fps......Harold..... Stapled an obnoxious crow to celebrate the rebuild P.S. my HW80K/.22 completely penetrates grouse and crows at 30 yards with the very violent expanding JSB Predator's.Porcupine and skunk skulls as well[Porkies are pests in AB and shootable year round]The .177 wasn't recomended in the R1/HW80 by Tom ###lord but is perfect in the HW50S at 800fps not subsonic speeds RE : instability
 
Levi Garrett said:
one better
DSC03605-644x484.jpg
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more info please

nm found it.. AR7. Can we get one in Canada unrestricted and bring up one of these stocks?
 
Can-down said:
Majestic arms
I haven't checked their web site in a few years but last time I asked Dino he said they should be ready for sale around 2007 or so.....:rolleyes:
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haha yeah i found info on it and that it's unrestricted. However i have yet to find out where in Canada i can buy one... 2007 eh? Cool i can't wait

ok found it. $250 at Cabelas. on "Backorder"... hopefully some come in by 2007
 
There was a MA 2000 on the EE a few years ago it must have been imported and I think Dino will do one up for you if you send him Henry to build on.

The MARRS 4 barrel setup has been coming soon for way to long.
 
You can carry a couple years supply of ammo on you no problem with a .22 and take big game if needed..........................Harold
 
marlin papoose... .22lr. why take on a matter of survival being obviously undergunned? it is really hard to beat the .22lr for survival purposes. i hear everyine saying things like "springer .22, as close to 1000fps as possable",... you are talking about a .22lr! only a .22lr will give you semi auto fire, accuracy out to 80+yds over 1000fps and a papoose is about 3lbs! why bother with an airgun for survival? they are perfect for practice and urban small game hunting in a pinch, but if SHTF i won't be reaching for my pellet guns, i'll be taking a papoose in a pack and a shotgun in hand! DFA!
 
DATAM said:
Did a lot of hunting in England with air rifles.
It was pretty well established by all my friends, that the .22 was superior in taking game than the .177
The only reliable way to take game with the .177 was a head shot.
The .22 would drop rabbits and birds if a good body hit was obtained, the .177 would wound.
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Generally in agreement with DATAM; the .22 hits harder and kills small game more reliably. That said, as a kid i killed a lot of pigeons, rabbits, crows and magpies with body shots from a .177 break action air rifle.
 
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