Building a new "Survival Rifle"

Mostly for "Kicks & Giggles" I am building a light (4.9 pounds) survival rifle. It will incorporate several features from the Savage M-24C "Camper's Companion" with it's storage compartment in the butt stock. It will have basic open sights & a weaver 1913 type rail for a quick release scope mount. the scope should fit in the butt stock (I hope).

The Caliber: 6 MM The Cartridge: 243 Winchester. Barrel length will depend on the balance point when the 8.5 ounce scope is in the butt stock. However as the H&R youth model comes with a 22" barrel, it will be some place in the 16" to 22" range, the rifle could end up as short as 29.5". This firearm is partly for redundancy of my Winchester Model 70 Stainless Steel "Classic" Featherweight which is also .243 Winchester.

Good Luck, I don't believe I will ever find the "perfect" rifle, handgun or knife and don't think I could make something I would be happy with.

Sounds intresting.
So what action are you building it on?
Savage 24 or H&R?

Sounds like a plan. How/why did you decide on .243 Winchester?

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Originally Posted by Pal334

Sounds like a plan. How/why did you decide on .243 Winchester?

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Pal334: I did not care about the cartridge as long as it fell with-in a very broad range of acceptable choices. It could have been .22 Hornet to 30/06. My priority was weight first, and package length of the disassembled rifle second. So the finale package should be 16 1/2" long and 4.9 pounds weight, which will fit under the seat of the snow machine or into a small day-pack.

HUNTER63: I am starting with your pet receiver the H&R. The start point is the youth model superlight synthetic which is 5.3 pounds in .243 Winchester, the lightest center fire rifle I could find for under $265.00 with factory open sights installed.

I'm in works on a survival/field rifle. Mine is a bit more high tech. I'm starting with a Stainless Ruger M-77 MKII chambered in 7.62x39, I am rebarreling/rechambering to a carbon fiber barrel in 6.5 Grendel. I am also altering the feed mechanism to accept AR mags. It will have popup irons and keep the Ruger scope mounting system. Haven't decided on the stock yet.

SD, I hear you, my first Handi came with a .243, I really like this round.
It's just I like the .270 better, (what's on #2 Handi now).

Can't wait to see pic's.

So, SD, how is it comming?
Been away for a while.

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Originally Posted by hunter63

So, SD, how is it comming?
Been away for a while.

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It arrived in Anchorage a week a go, I might drive in this week, I need hydrolic oil filters for the logsplitter, and well pump supplies, and fresh food.

SD, if your project does weigh in at 4.9 pounds, I thinking you are gonna like that .243 a whole lot more than say, a 30-06 or .308.

Raining to day so headed into town for a the Wifi

We need some pics!

Survival guns are an underserved niche in my opinion. Nice work piecing together your own. For survival rifles I tend to be attracted to the combination guns. Stuff like the Savage Model 24F appeal to me.

Sparky's making a 6.5 grendel! That round looks so awesome...


greenbeetle

I have to agree with you. There is not a forum that discusses guns that doesn't lament about the loss of the Marlin camp gun, the M6 Scout or even the Savage 24C. With all that interest out there, you'd think that some of the makers would re-introduce one or two.

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Originally Posted by Rick

I have to agree with you. There is not a forum that discusses guns that doesn't lament about the loss of the Marlin camp gun, the M6 Scout or even the Savage 24C. With all that interest out there, you'd think that some of the makers would re-introduce one or two.

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I saw a Marlin camp gun, at a gun show saturday. It was a 9mm, and the guy was asking either $675 or $875. (Poor writing on the tag.) I laughed and went on my way. Two months ago, I passed on one for $325.

Sourdough,
Midway has the Choate Survivor stock and Storearm forearm. Scope will not fit in the butt-stock, but the forearme in nice fro some storage, and the screw makes it easy to take-down. If you do not go that route, I found that the knurled screw that fits in the side of my old CB radio (to mount it) is the same thread and length for my forearm. Works well on my .243 to take it down or change barrels. (I don't have the Survivor set-up on my .243, just my 12ga and 20ga/.357mag).
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct...tNumber=869991

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct...tNumber=763418

I have a some on a couple of my NEFs. Work well with a small slip-on butt-pad and a Velcro shell holder.
I also like the weight of the .243, but make sure your barrel shoots well. Some of the light .243 barrels don't hold a group. Mine does now, but it took me 3 of them and finding a load she likes.

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Originally Posted by aflineman

Sourdough,
Midway has the Choate Survivor stock and Storearm forarm.
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct...tNumber=869991

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct...tNumber=763418
.

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WOW, Ten Thousand thank-you's. That is 1/2 the price that H&R "Parts Department" charges. (Rep point coming)

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Originally Posted by Sourdough

WOW, Ten Thousand thank-you's. That is 1/2 the price that H&R "Parts Department" charges. (Rep point coming)

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No problem. These little NEF Survivors have a soft spot with me. IIRC, my little 12ga was my first post on the site. :)

So, SD, how's the little guy coming?
Never did hear, unless I missed a post while on the road?

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Originally Posted by hunter63

So, SD, how's the little guy coming?
Never did hear, unless I missed a post while on the road?

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Well, I could not figure exactly what I wanted to do with the .243, as they wanted $90.00 just to cut and crown. So I but that on the back burner, and doug out all the pieces and parts form other H&R projects. I found a 20 Ga. barrel that went to nothing.

So I cut it off at 18 1/8" and squared it up on the belt sander, and it would not take to forend screw, so I duck taped the forend on, and fired a few rounds. Then cut the Butt-stock off so as to have a over-all length of 27". So intriem I have a "Mad-Max" road-warrior shotgun.

I am going to order the survivor butt-stock and then cut the .243 barrel to about 16" I do that in the spring.

SD, thanks for the up date, was kinda wondering.
Sometimes you just have to wait to let the project tell you what it wants to be.

I brought my .243 barrel back from "The Place" has been stashed for a year or so, wanted to clean it up and make sure it wasn't rusty.

About a year ago I bought the Rossi version in 30-06. I may have to get a .243 barrel for it.

the 30-06 is a dandy and is very accurate for the first 3 shots. On the third shot the scope flies off. Last time I put it back together I used JBWeld instead of locktite so I am hoping I have the problem under control.

It would be nice to have deer killing capabilities without the recoil.

:rambo:

In order to get maximum utility, you have to somehow be able to fire both a centerfire rd and .22lr, and you have to have rapidfire, too. The various 223autos with .22lr conversions do that really well. That is to say, 223 AK variants, the Mini-14 Ruger, the AR-15.

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Originally Posted by y2k

In order to get maximum utility, you have to somehow be able to fire both a centerfire rd and .22lr, and you have to have rapidfire, too. The various 223autos with .22lr conversions do that really well. That is to say, 223 AK variants, the Mini-14 Ruger, the AR-15.

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Sorry But I fail to see how this post is relevent to the Original Post.......Do you mean Auto's or self-loaders.......?

SD you know some folk can not say the words "survival gun" without visualizing an AK or M-16. It's like when someone says music I see a guitar and others visualize an MP3 player. I think it is an "old guy" thing.

One real nice advantage of the NEF or Rossi system is that one can buy the multi barrel system and stick the shotgun tube and a couple of shells in the backpack just to have the extra versitility.

I think at night, when the campfire burns low, an 18 inch 12 ga barrel with some #4 shot on that receiver would give me a warm fuzzy feeling while I sang kumbiya.

Is an MP3 like a banjo?

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Originally Posted by Rick

Is an MP3 like a banjo?

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I thought it was an army guy that wore an armband and carried a billy club.

Oh. 3 of them? I get it.

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Originally Posted by y2k

In order to get maximum utility, you have to somehow be able to fire both a centerfire rd and .22lr, and you have to have rapidfire, too. The various 223autos with .22lr conversions do that really well. That is to say, 223 AK variants, the Mini-14 Ruger, the AR-15.

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I guess I have to ask....Why?

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Originally Posted by y2k

In order to get maximum utility, you have to somehow be able to fire both a centerfire rd and .22lr, and you have to have rapidfire, too. The various 223autos with .22lr conversions do that really well. That is to say, 223 AK variants, the Mini-14 Ruger, the AR-15.

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Originally Posted by hunter63

I guess I have to ask....Why?

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+1, I would also ask why.

I would never feel undergunned with just my 12ga H&R Survivor. Nor my 20ga/.357 combo NEF (two barrels). Nor even any of my Savage Model 24s. I own military rifles, and have used many styles all over the world. I still prefer my 12ga H&R for most survival situation I would envision. A .223 auto rifle really does not have as much of a place in my fold of "survival rifles" as say even a .30-30 lever action would.

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Originally Posted by y2k

In order to get maximum utility, you have to somehow be able to fire both a centerfire rd and .22lr, and you have to have rapidfire, too. The various 223autos with .22lr conversions do that really well. That is to say, 223 AK variants, the Mini-14 Ruger, the AR-15.

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Have to agree with hunter and AF here.... HUH???? Also I've never heard of a .223 AK.... Have I missed something? Is there a new toy I missed?

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Originally Posted by oldsoldier

Have to agree with hunter and AF here.... HUH???? Also I've never heard of a .223 AK.... Have I missed something? Is there a new toy I missed?

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I have seen some conversions, but failed to see the point?
Trying to think of the name.........
But,
AK, 7.62 x 39, why convert?
AR .223, lots of uppers avalible if that isn't your round of choice.

Of course if you just ran out of stuff on your "life, want list", Hey, go for it.

My thread about my survival kit shotgun:

http://www.wilderness-survival.net/f...ead.php?t=1545

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Originally Posted by dscrick

My thread about my survival kit shotgun:

http://www.wilderness-survival.net/f...ead.php?t=1545

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I did go back and review as I'm a big fan of the NEF/H&R myself.
Your points are still valid.
I guess I'm too cheap to invest in the survival stock set up, but the stock mounting screw hole will fit 4, 2-2/4 shot shells under the recoil pad.

Or anything that is the same size. Does add stock weight.

but the .22lr unit for the AR-15 offers cheap, quiet practice, quiet foraging of small game. 223 is a bit much for squirrels, 22 is a bit light for deer..223 handles deer ok, to 100m or so, if using 60 gr Nosler Partition sp's

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Originally Posted by y2k

but the .22lr unit for the AR-15 offers cheap, quiet practice, quiet foraging of small game. 223 is a bit much for squirrels, 22 is a bit light for deer..223 handles deer ok, to 100m or so, if using 60 gr Nosler Partition sp's

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But,but, but, but, but I don't like AR rifles and I can buy four of anything else for the same money as an AR and .22 adapter.

I also do not care for fat chicks with no teeth, even if they have big boobs. You can have all of them you want, just don't expect me to tell you she should be working for Victoria Secret

:knight:

You are so going to heck or the ER, depending on how bad the next chubby chick beats up on you.

For the record, I like all women even those that look like men. (will that clear me?)

Oh, and Michael Jackson, same thing.

what can you buy for $200? A .22 ONLY. A single shot NEF, maybe with a shotgun barrel. I can get a stripped RRA lower for under $140, shipped thru a local dealer, from GunsAmerica.com. I can assemble the lower parts in an hour. I can get an assembled upper from Model1Sales for $500, and a mag for $10. I can get the .22 unit for $150. Total $800, and I have a rifle with which I can win matches, defend myself, take big or small game. You can't do 3 of those 4 things with any bolt action or single shot rifle. :-) If you get a short-barreled version, with a telescoping stock, and shtf, you can always conceal it in a backpack, or slung under your arm, under a coat. Or, pay the $200 tax and you'll have that option today. The AR offers a return to zero scope mount, "see thru" scope mounts, rustproof finish, ease of cleaning in the field, ease of barrel and bolt replacement, luminous iron sights, protected iron sights, a host of other "combat-related" things that sometimes help with foraging, and which you can't get or do with any bolt action, and with no other autoloaders, either,(much of it, at least). You can get an ambi-safety, GREAT 'drop in" trigger jobs, cheekpcs, bullet drop compensators, tracer ammo, etc, etc. There's nothing like it for versatility.

Maybe you don't "like" having to breathe, eat, etc, either. The fact is, tho, that a bolt action is NOT much in the way of versatile, and it's just not feasible to carry more than one longarm. So, if you want to play games, and waste your time and money, go for it. I post for the people who need to learn, not for those who aren't interested in learning,.

Me thinks you post to hear yourself talk.

Obviously, someone doesn't know how to use a bolt action properly. They also don't know the capabilities of a bolt action.

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Originally Posted by y2k

but the .22lr unit for the AR-15 offers cheap, quiet practice, quiet foraging of small game. 223 is a bit much for squirrels, 22 is a bit light for deer..223 handles deer ok, to 100m or so, if using 60 gr Nosler Partition sp's

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Not sure how this squares with your profound advocacy of the .22 as a bear defense / killer catridge