Depends on if you need to travel long distances or can remain fairly stationary doesn't it? This is all hypothetical and the circumstances at the time would determine what would be ideal. I for one would find a good roll of snare wire to be just as handy as any rifle, would be reuse able and works on everything from rabbits to deer. It wouldn't be too hard to live a long time in the woods with a few basic tools and a roll of both wire, and good rope. Self defence might require a decent firearm, if you are in grizzly country, or some odd reason end up with a very brave and very hungry pack of wolves on your butt. But "The Grey" is a movie, and not very realistic. I imagine cooking game over a fire out there would attract some predators though...
What would you do
- Thread starter cwalker765
- Start date
They must have been terrible shots if they couldn't hit a bird with a rifle. I doubt if they would have hit a caribou at 100 yards with open sights.
If I had to choose only one gun for survival it would be a .22lr. You can carry around 100's of rounds compared to 40 rounds of 12 gauge or center fire bullets.
WOW, did not expect so many replies. Awesome.
I like the idea of small, cheap, light and accurate ammo. .22 seems to be the best fit of all 4.
Granted ive read allot of thigns that say each gun likes it own ammo, so some field testing would be in order befor a guy made a large ammo purchase.
And as mentioned you can carry way more .22 vs a shot shells.
I couldn't see the need to take big game except at the start of winter if small critters weren't very abundant. One could simply smoke/jerky the meat for prolonged storage or just hang it up in a tree.... its like one big freezer out there in the winter.
I can see the uses for a shotgun tho, birds and what not. Having the ability to "tame" a bear would sure be a nice way to ease the mind too. Altho, im sure in a life or death situation, if you pumped 10 .22 rounds into a charging bear, you gonna change its mind right? I sure would
Bears and birds aside, I think I'd still be more inclined to have a .22 with me. I love the fact there lightweight, not overkill for 95% of the things you'll actually be shooting at, ammo is way cheap/light/small. The actual sound the gun makes is minimal, some circumstances that could be very handy others maybe not so much. Gun it self can be had for fairly cheap, and if I decided to move on to the rpal later, and pick up a handgun, there are allot of .22 handguns out there as well as conversions (at least that's what I've picked up in my reading over the last few days.). I really like the idea of having a handgun to match the caliber of the rifle I choose.
Ive read nothing but good things about the ruger 10/22. Are the new ones just as well made as the older ones? What simple/cheapish optics would you recommend? Is the take-down version of this just as accurate/robust as the regular version? Best ammo you've used with this particular gun. Is a bolt action really that much more accurate then a a semi-auto. Does a semi-auto really take that muich away from a bullets "punching" power then a bolt action? Sorry for all the new guy question, but I'm new and have questions dammit
@Cleftwynd I hear ya on that one. If you really couldn't trap/snare/catch anything and you were that hungry, then you could shoot something. I would of course try and save all the ammo I could for as long as I could. (My prepping mindset is kinda like, if it got that bad to were I had to be out there in the first place, its prolly cause there's nothing left to be had in town. So yes, ammo would be as precious was water at that point) Got a few rolls of snare wire, plus some cheap vietnam era milsurplus stuff I got off ebay for like $2 a roll (1000ft), More then enough. Next step tho will be 3-2 of the #110 and a #220 conibear traps. (found em pretty sheap here http://www.fntpost.com/Categories/T...ding+Conibear)/Oneida+Victor+Conibear+Traps/) Got all the fishing stuff a guy could need already.........
I like the idea of small, cheap, light and accurate ammo. .22 seems to be the best fit of all 4.
Granted ive read allot of thigns that say each gun likes it own ammo, so some field testing would be in order befor a guy made a large ammo purchase.
And as mentioned you can carry way more .22 vs a shot shells.
I couldn't see the need to take big game except at the start of winter if small critters weren't very abundant. One could simply smoke/jerky the meat for prolonged storage or just hang it up in a tree.... its like one big freezer out there in the winter.
I can see the uses for a shotgun tho, birds and what not. Having the ability to "tame" a bear would sure be a nice way to ease the mind too. Altho, im sure in a life or death situation, if you pumped 10 .22 rounds into a charging bear, you gonna change its mind right? I sure would
Bears and birds aside, I think I'd still be more inclined to have a .22 with me. I love the fact there lightweight, not overkill for 95% of the things you'll actually be shooting at, ammo is way cheap/light/small. The actual sound the gun makes is minimal, some circumstances that could be very handy others maybe not so much. Gun it self can be had for fairly cheap, and if I decided to move on to the rpal later, and pick up a handgun, there are allot of .22 handguns out there as well as conversions (at least that's what I've picked up in my reading over the last few days.). I really like the idea of having a handgun to match the caliber of the rifle I choose.
Ive read nothing but good things about the ruger 10/22. Are the new ones just as well made as the older ones? What simple/cheapish optics would you recommend? Is the take-down version of this just as accurate/robust as the regular version? Best ammo you've used with this particular gun. Is a bolt action really that much more accurate then a a semi-auto. Does a semi-auto really take that muich away from a bullets "punching" power then a bolt action? Sorry for all the new guy question, but I'm new and have questions dammit
@Cleftwynd I hear ya on that one. If you really couldn't trap/snare/catch anything and you were that hungry, then you could shoot something. I would of course try and save all the ammo I could for as long as I could. (My prepping mindset is kinda like, if it got that bad to were I had to be out there in the first place, its prolly cause there's nothing left to be had in town. So yes, ammo would be as precious was water at that point) Got a few rolls of snare wire, plus some cheap vietnam era milsurplus stuff I got off ebay for like $2 a roll (1000ft), More then enough. Next step tho will be 3-2 of the #110 and a #220 conibear traps. (found em pretty sheap here http://www.fntpost.com/Categories/T...ding+Conibear)/Oneida+Victor+Conibear+Traps/) Got all the fishing stuff a guy could need already.........
Last edited:
hometownhero
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Toon Town, Sk
Myself I would go with the good ol standby 30-06.
There are several reasons why the military put the 223 in the hands of there grunts over biggers rounds. One of the main ones is the amount of ammo you can carry for the amount of power the cartridge puts out. 223 is my personal #1 choice hands down. If there was an apocolyptic scenario you would probably find ammo being that its a common cartridge and you would probably come across military personal. You can buy it in bulk for cheap, and yes its illegal to hunt with FMJ but we are talking about " life and death" not " ethical and leagal ". FMJ will not open up, so if you shoot small game at close range it is likley to make a pin hole before it tumbles ... which is what 223 FMJ does on big game or personel. If you put a 223 FMJ between the eyes of a deer or down the ear hole at 3300 fps ... believe me, It wont take a physicist to figure out if the kill will be ethical !
So in summary for the money i would look for a Model 7 rem in 223 or a model of bolt action around that weight or lighter. Or even something like the CSA VZ 58 Sporter that has come out in 223. I like the idea of an accurate rifle with Iron sights ... not that the CSA VZ58 is the number one choice for accuracy.
So in summary for the money i would look for a Model 7 rem in 223 or a model of bolt action around that weight or lighter. Or even something like the CSA VZ 58 Sporter that has come out in 223. I like the idea of an accurate rifle with Iron sights ... not that the CSA VZ58 is the number one choice for accuracy.
I carry a Hammond Gamegetter when I am hunting. I usually go out 2-3 times a fall for 5-6 days, backpack hunting for sheep. It is great to be able to supplement my backpacking food with fresh small game! I find the gamegetter properly effective, so far I've used it successfully on ptarmigan and grouse. Besides the modified case one must carry, the power loads and lead slugs must weigh close to a .22lr round. So you can carry your hunting rifle (mines an aperture sighted .308, weighs 6.5 lbs.) with a dozen or more rounds, and a large supply of small game loads.
PS the Hammond Gamegetter is a cartridge adapter available for just about any centre fire rifle cartridge. Costs around 50$.
PS the Hammond Gamegetter is a cartridge adapter available for just about any centre fire rifle cartridge. Costs around 50$.
A very humbling book and a movie were made about a guy who did the whole "back to the wilderness" thing. "Into the Wild" I think it was called.
A very, very smart young guy who had lived on his own for a few years backpacking aroung the country went into the backwoods of Alaska and was found the fall by hikers.
He had almost all the right knowledge, was very fit, and used to being alone. He died of a fungus, or some such, that grew on berries. It attacks your intestines, or some such, and prevents your body from absorbing any nutrients. He starved surrounded by food. It's difficult to detect, as locals fall victim to it as well. They are able to get medical help. He was trapped on the wrong side of a glacial runoff all summer long.
He shot a cariboo, or moose calf judging by the remains, and messed up trying to preserve the meat. It all rotted before it could be dried.
Doesn't matter which gun you get. Everything from the 577 snider to the 30-30 to the 22 can all be used to survive with.
Survival is all a matter of being lucky. Gear is extra insurance. Ask any caveman.
I've always wanted an obsidian knife, but will have to make do with steel for now.
A very, very smart young guy who had lived on his own for a few years backpacking aroung the country went into the backwoods of Alaska and was found the fall by hikers.
He had almost all the right knowledge, was very fit, and used to being alone. He died of a fungus, or some such, that grew on berries. It attacks your intestines, or some such, and prevents your body from absorbing any nutrients. He starved surrounded by food. It's difficult to detect, as locals fall victim to it as well. They are able to get medical help. He was trapped on the wrong side of a glacial runoff all summer long.
He shot a cariboo, or moose calf judging by the remains, and messed up trying to preserve the meat. It all rotted before it could be dried.
Doesn't matter which gun you get. Everything from the 577 snider to the 30-30 to the 22 can all be used to survive with.
Survival is all a matter of being lucky. Gear is extra insurance. Ask any caveman.
I've always wanted an obsidian knife, but will have to make do with steel for now.
handofzeus
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Trout Creekish Ontario.
12G shotgun w/ cylinder bore, 24" barrel. Covers many bases.
In the movie " Into the wild " Cristopher McCandless actually was eating the root from a wild patato. Later in the year it became tough to eat, so he ate the seeds of a wild sweet pea that supposedly contained a toxin. Also there was suspicion of a mold that had grown on berries, but was proven not the case. it dosnt sound like anything was conclusive ... but ya the outcome was how you described... Amazing story.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Into_the_Wild_(book)
Last edited:
Once upon a time I built as a survival/airplane rifle a 6mm hornet with a 16" barrel on a small martini action with Rem 700 sights. I hollowed out the stock until it held 120 rounds. I loaded it exclusively with Speer 90 gn FMJ bullets and it chrono'd right at 1700 fps. This rifle was capable of taking chickens in the head, rabbits with a body shot and although not tried, I would have had no qualms about cariboo or moose with a head shot. I also figured I'd have a reasonable chance against a grizzly if I could get a head shot.
I put a lot of thought into this rifle and it turned out to be very accurate and everything I'd hoped it would be. Light and small ammo, way more power than a 22 or 22mag, no more meat destructive than a 22 mag and at least a fighting chance against a bear.
I put a lot of thought into this rifle and it turned out to be very accurate and everything I'd hoped it would be. Light and small ammo, way more power than a 22 or 22mag, no more meat destructive than a 22 mag and at least a fighting chance against a bear.
Nope had this one in my Cessna 205 where it lived in the very back with my ELT along with the other necessary survival equip required when flying in the Yukon. I also had another 300 rounds with it.
That's great! I had to put a cub down once quite a long ways east of where the Sikanni Chief crosses the Alaska HWY on a deserted PDR. It was then I had wished I carried a survival rifle. Luckily I was found the next morning by the owner who knew I was way overdue by the next morning. Some basic tools would have had me back in the air as well, wished I had some of those as well lol
I believe this refers to John Hornby, who starved on the banks of the Thelon River in 1927 along with his 18 yr. old cousin, Edgar Christian, and another companion, Harold Allard. Hornby wasn't a novice, he'd spent years living off the land with nothing but his weapons. They missed the caribou migration and all three starved to death, with the young cousin the last to go. The remains of their cabin and their graves are still on the Thelon.
Dorian Gray
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I've got a little story about this, 1899. Not this past fall but the fall before that a friend and i were out hunting for the day. We had just buried his dad the day before and he wanted to get away from it all and just spend some time out in the bush. We drove 160 kms up in the bush and then got stuck. We were there for 2 days trying to get the truck out with no food/water except for a few whiskey jacks and some snow birds i managed to shoot and a dirty creek nearby. I had a 12 gauge and a 30-06 with me. On the 3rd day we finally decided to walk out and we were both exhausted. We ended up getting picked up after walking about 20 klicks because people were out searching for us. The point of this story is that i carried that 12 gauge pump those 20 exhausting kilometers with about 25 round of ammo and it felt like they weighed a tonne. I'd have given my left nut then and there for a nice browning lever .22 and 100 rounds of ammo.
"I believe this refers to John Hornby, who starved on the banks of the Thelon River in 1927 along with his 18 yr. old cousin, Edgar Christian, and another companion, Harold Allard. Hornby wasn't a novice, he'd spent years living off the land with nothing but his weapons. They missed the caribou migration and all three starved to death, with the young cousin the last to go. The remains of their cabin and their graves are still on the Thelon. "
I read the book. He was legendary for going off for the winter without adequate supplies and then begging off the neighbours, even if it meant abandoning his companion (on a previous trip) for weeks.
I read the book. He was legendary for going off for the winter without adequate supplies and then begging off the neighbours, even if it meant abandoning his companion (on a previous trip) for weeks.
