My Rifle Survival Kit

**dawg69** · 08-05-2009, 12:12 PM

A few months ago I decided that I was due for another rifle. I had always wanted a .22 that could fire shorts as well as long rifle loads, but all I had were semi-autos. I was strolling through Walmart and noticed a Crickett rifle on the rack and only $117. I gave it the once over and decided that it would do the trick for what I wanted.

For those of you who aren't familiar with the Crickett rifles, they are a single shot, bolt-action rifle made as a beginner rifle for children. Overall, the rifle is 30" long and has a 16 1/4" barrel. It is equipped with a peep rear sight and a triangular front sight. As short as the rifle is, it handles very well for my adult frame.

As soon as I got home with the rifle, the wheels got to turning in my head. The rifle had the potential to be a pretty good camping/survival rifle. It fit right into the box that we keep our camping supplies in, so it would be easy to pack along.

My particular rifle came with a black synthetic stock with a removable buttplate. The stock is hollow, so I figured I didn't want that area to go to waste. I devised a small survival kit to go into the stock (contents will be listed later with the photo). The kit fit fine, but I ran into the problem of getting to it in an emergency. The buttplate was held on with phillips head screws. Now I almost always carry my Leatherman Wave with me, but I didn't want to have to rely solely on it. I got to looking around and found an old can opener/driver that I had taken off an old Swiss Army knife. I ground the tip of the driver at an angle similar to the phillips driver on a Leatherman Squirt. It worked great on the screws, plus I had a can opener.

Now, I had to attach the driver somehow, so I made a sling out of about 30' of paracord. I used the cobra stitch and put removable sling swivels on it. I wove the driver/can opener into the sling on the forend. Now all I have to do is remove the sling swivel on the forend and I can remove the buttplate screws. I also have plenty of paracord now.

This is a photo of the Crickett rifle with the sling attached.

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Here is another photo of the sling:

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Here is a closeup of the driver/can opener:

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Here is the kit stuffed into the butt stock.

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Here is the bag of kit removed from the butt stock.

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Finally, the kit contents:

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The contents are as follows (clockwise from top left):
1) Swedish firesteel with several feet of duct tape wrapped around the striker. 2) Wad of dryer lint for fire starting. 3) Sheet of aluminum foil. 4) Potable Aqua water purification tabs wrapped in aluminum foil. 5) fishing kit; (several feet of monofilament line wrapped around cardboard and a few hooks and sinkers). 6) Small compass. 7) razor blade (hey, it beats no cutting tool at all). 8) approximately 20-25 rounds of .22 ammo wrapped in bubble wrap. Mostly long rifle, but some shorts and a couple of birdshot rounds.

While this isn't the most ideal kit and rifle for a survival situation, I feel it is more than adequate to help out in a lot of situations that may arise, and takes up very little space.

I look forward to hearing your comments, although I will say that suggestions for additional kit items may not be considered, as this kit is a very tight squeeze as it is.

**Icemancometh** · 08-05-2009, 12:19 PM

Cool idea, nice pics. I had thought of doing something similar with my Mossberg 500. Good idea with the opener/driver.

**Ken** · 08-05-2009, 12:27 PM

Dawg, you've got some of the basics covered, but some items are one time use, like the foil.

I'd rather have my kit secured to my body, either in the pockets of a vest or, say, in a small fanny pack (which will hold alot more) secured to my belt. I know we all hate to acknowledge it, but it is possible, just possible, that you may become separated from that rifle.........

**dawg69** · 08-05-2009, 12:29 PM

Ken,

I wasn't planning on using this as my only kit, but as a redundant one. I always have other items on my self, but figured this kit could be another layer so to speak.

There's no sense having that empty space in the stock go to waste!

**Ken** · 08-05-2009, 12:34 PM

Originally Posted by dawg69

Ken,

I wasn't planning on using this as my only kit, but as a redundant one. I always have other items on my self, but figured this kit could be another layer so to speak.

There's no sense having that empty space in the stock go to waste!

In which case, you've done a great job of filling that empty space! I've done the same thing with my garage, and my basement, and my attic, and my shed.............

**dawg69** · 08-05-2009, 12:37 PM

In which case, you've done a great job of filling that empty space! I've done the same thing with my garage, and my basement, and my attic, and my shed.............

So have I. Just ask my wife!

**COWBOYSURVIVAL** · 08-05-2009, 01:30 PM

Good show Dawg! I have been eyeballing the same little.22 at walmart for more than a month! Can you speak for the Quality of the gun is the action smooth, jam free? Is it accurate at 100 yds.?

**Pict** · 08-05-2009, 01:39 PM

I have the same rifle and have been planning a kit for it as well. It really is a natural choice for a survival rifle.

The Potable Aqua in the foil is a no-no the iodine is a powerful oxidizer and will not remain in the tablets. They need to be carried in an airtight container.

My idea of a rifle kit was not to make it a general purpose survival kit but a food gathering kit. I figure that if I decide to pack the rifle that food procurement is in the cards. In that case I'd want a fishing and trapping kit (snare wire) as well. If course there would be a way to boil water, maybe an oven bag, and away to make fire, foil for cooking.

I'm too much of a survival kit geek to not carry my basic kit and if I have the rifle I'm planning to eat out there. Mac

**2dumb2kwit** · 08-05-2009, 01:49 PM

Great idea......I especially like the sling.

**SARKY** · 08-05-2009, 01:59 PM

Dawg, do you have to cock the bolt manually or does it cock when you manipulate the action? You also might want to replace the monofilament with 60lb or 80 lb test spyderwire so you can use it for shelter building and snares as well as fishing. Other than that very nicely done!
oops, just thought of something else, have you thought about one of the Gerber ultra lite folding knives? and how about a compass?

**hunter63** · 08-05-2009, 02:17 PM

Dawg, very nice, great idea, lots of thought, and planning.

As you said, redundant systems are the name of the game, and you seem to have the basics covered.
I carry 5, 2-3/4 12 ga. shells in the bolt hole in the stock, under the butt plate of a H&R SS 12 ga for the same reasons.
Now maybe I will substitute, the old 20ga. inside a 12ga, match holder for one round.

P.S. any instruction on the paracord sling?

**dawg69** · 08-05-2009, 02:59 PM

Let me catch up with responses.

Cowboy, The quality of this rifle is great for what it costs. The action is pretty smooth. I don't know about 100 yard accuracy, since I don't have any plans of using it at those lengths. 50 yards at best are what I'm planning on. The only concern I have with this rifle is the internal lock. You push the center of the lock up with the chamber open to lock it. If you were to inadvertently push it in, you would be SOL without the key, so I need to add an extra key to the stock as well.

Pict, Thanks for the tip on the Potable Aqua. I'll see if I can find a tiny ziploc to put them in.

Sarky, You have to manually cock the weapon each time. There is a knob on the back of the bolt to cock it. What knife are you referring to? I don't have much extra space in there, but I will take a look at it. And BTW, there is a tiny compass in the kit (#6).

hunter63, I got the plans more or less here: http://www.instructables.com/id/Para...elease-buckle/ I made the sling with a four-strand core. Pay attention to step 8 first to see how to do that. It only took about 45 minutes at the most to make. The hardest part was getting it started. It's all downhill from there.

Thanks to everyone for the comments. Keep 'em coming.

**hunter63** · 08-05-2009, 06:01 PM

Thanks, now to find some paracord.

**dawg69** · 08-05-2009, 06:48 PM

hunter63,

Here are some places I've gotten it before:

http://www.supplycaptain.com/index.c...category_ID=19

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/c...d.aspx?a=40360

http://www.lapolicegear.com/trpa100fole.html

Be careful, it becomes addictive!

**SARKY** · 08-05-2009, 06:52 PM

Dawg, go to
www.gerbergear.com
it is their UltraLight LST
open: 4.62"
blade length: 1.96"
closed length: 2.65"
weight: 0.6 oz
can't get much more compact or lighter than that in a lock blade folder

**COWBOYSURVIVAL** · 08-05-2009, 06:53 PM

OK I can understand maybe not 100 yds. How about 75 yards.

Hey Sarky .22 at 100yds. what do you think for small game? I never had .22 rifle but I thought it would be effective on small game at 100 yds. in the right hands. Heck I shoot my 12 ga. slug barrell at 100 and beat out the .270 and 300's at the range. But then I have been shooting since I could speak. Am I wrong about the .22?

**crashdive123** · 08-05-2009, 06:54 PM

Sarky - while quite informative, you may want to double check that link. It's to Gerber (breast feeding, not knives).

**2dumb2kwit** · 08-05-2009, 07:00 PM

Originally Posted by crashdive123

Sarky - while quite informative, you may want to double check that link. It's to Gerber (breast feeding, not knives).

Musta got this thread mixed up with the booby thread. LOL

**mcfd45** · 08-05-2009, 07:35 PM

Nice setup with the cricket. It would make a nice truck gun. Cheap, accurate to minute of squirrel, if it gets stolen you are pissed but not out a 1000$ gun. I have a rossi .223 single shot on the way and I am thinking of doing this if the stock is hollow. I will put up pics if it happens.