Survival gun

[wilderness medic]

Anybody have a "survival gun" they keep stuffed away in their emergency bags or vehicles.

What do you have? Anything special or just a full sized regular small game rifle? Opinions on breakaway/compact "survival guns"

I had a Springfield M6 scout. It was the first gun I ever owned and it got destroyed. I really liked the thing. For years it always had a special place. It was heavy for a small survival rifle, and damn near prehistoric feeling. But something about a small game shotgun/rifle package that broke into two relatively small pieces always seemed interesting. It was surprisingly accurate too. I remember hitting a jackrabbit with those rinky-dink iron sights from so far away I shocked myself.

The AR-7 by Henry looks cool, a lot smaller and lightweight. But it is only a small cheap .22

I am in no hurry, and no real desire to buy one. I'd have to run out of other stuff to buy on my list first (and it's a long list), and get some extra money way before that if I did.


Just curious if anyone has one in there grab and go/emergency bag, and what your thoughts are on them. Great tool, or unnecessary weight addition to a bag. Of course this again depends on what your bag is for. I can't see ever needing to grab a bag and head to the hills living off of mice and birds, i.e. "bugging out" as a likely situation.

[1stimestar]

What's the difference between a gun and a survival gun? I consider all my guns (if I were to admit having any) to be "survival" guns. Either survival to get meat, or survival to fend off unwanted 2 or 4 legged animals.

[wilderness medic]

What's the difference between a gun and a survival gun? I consider all my guns (if I were to admit having any) to be "survival" guns. Either survival to get meat, or survival to fend off unwanted 2 or 4 legged animals.

That's kind of why I asked. Same argument as a "survival knife". All guns of course can be "survival gun". Curious if anyone had a dedicated gun that sat in a bag. A cheap one that really wouldn't be used for anything other than an emergency gun. Let's face it, no ones using the M6 or AR7 to target shoot...

[1stimestar]

Hahhaha I have. They are fun.

[randyt]

survival gun is a term a husband uses to justify a purchase or acquisition of a gun to the wife.

[crashdive123]

I don't have a dedicated "survival gun" as you describe. I also don't have a "truck gun" as is often discussed. I do have quite a few choices depending on the activity or time of year. I've almost "pulled the trigger" on the AR7 a couple of times, but decided against it because although kind of cool and compact there were better, more versatile choices for my purposes.

[kyratshooter]

Wilderness Medic, if you just go back through the archives on this one section you will find every one of your concerns addressed in detail.

There are a half dozen threads on the AR7 alone, another dozen on "truck guns", combination rifles get addressed three or four times annually and we have elevated the status of the Mosin Nagant to legend.

We have addressed cheap guns, expensive guns, underrated guns and overrated guns as well as overpowered guns and underpowered guns.

This is a survival forum and this is the guns and ammo section, so every word we speak, in general, addresses "survival guns".

Pick a thread, read it, learn something.

[Rick]

I don't have a dedicated weapon either. Here's a pic of me during a bug out practice session. I'm heading for the canoe.

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[wilderness medic]

I don't have a dedicated weapon either. Here's a pic of me during a bug out practice session. I'm heading for the canoe.

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Oh boy, about to be Christmas. Don't mind me...

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[hunter63]

Guns?....What gun?....Don' no noting 'bout no guns?
All went down in the canoe.

Kyrat make a good point......This come down to the "What"s the best"...or ..."If you could only have.....?"
But I think a good place to start.......

What is the primary intended use?
.....And in your case what is legal.

Any gun "can" be a survival gun,.... HP, hunting,....but the type and caliber will tip one way or another if you want start specializing.

I picture the Savage M24 as a good foraging offering....and the are some newer offering out there......Savage M42 ( new M24)and Chiappa XCaliber (kinda an M6 clone).

http://www.chiappafirearms.com/product/2677

AR7 ...had one didn't run, got it for a low price at a show.....now I know why....Gave it away.
Did add a Ruger take down 10/22....kinda heavy....but small.

.22 ammo is hard to find, still

The you get into hand guns, or EBR's and away ya go.

So pick one and try to fit it into your idea of what you what and need....

[wilderness medic]

Kyrat make a good point......This come down to the "What"s the best"...or ..."If you could only have.....?"
But I think a good place to start.......

No, that's not what I was asking. I can make that decision myself, based on my needs. I was asking how many people have a dedicated "survival" rifle they keep in a bag. I use the term "survival" loosely, just a term for a small dedicated lightweight gun kept with your other gear, such as in a vehicle.

I'm not asking what's the best or what should I buy. I don't want to buy one. Perhaps years from now just because I thought it was "neat", not now.

If the various types have been discussed in depth (Sure they have given this site) I can go search for them. I was more curious about individual members having or not having one.


That XCaliber is pretty cool...but I wonder how it can shoot that many different calibers in the same barrel? Barrel must be thick enough for the highest pressure caliber increasing the weight. Cool idea though, gonna look more into that.

[hunter63]

XCaliber uses barrel inserts for the various calibers and loads.

Not a big fan if inserts.

Vehicles have a least one truck gun 12 ga pump, legally case and secured out of reach.....and maybe handgun close by.......

Hunting fanny pack has something inside when out and about...revolver.

BOB out door 10/22 take down.

BOB urban.... Ruger LCP that may or may not be CC de jure.

.357 GP100 goes a lot of places....and can be found tucked away .....

Why, because I like to carry them.

[1stimestar]

No, that's not what I was asking. I can make that decision myself, based on my needs. I was asking how many people have a dedicated "survival" rifle they keep in a bag.

I keep these in bags lol.

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[wilderness medic]

^ Different for you, you live "bugged out" 24/7! Obviously for people who live remote, every gun is a survival gun. You rely on it. I don't even think having to bug out would change much? Now i'm curious, besides your cabin burning down or an avalanche or something you're already secluded and set aren't you?


Hunter- WTF. So in order to utilize it as described you have to carry all those inserts? Googled them and they look like spare barrels. Seems to defeat the purpose, apparently inserts aren't new for that gun.

Here in a vehicle the bag would have to be locked, unless it was in a separate bag designed for a gun, then in a bag. I'd be a bit hesitant to leave it in a vehicle 24/7. When I have to leave my handgun in my car I have it cabled to at least slow someone down from stealing it.

[natertot]

I agree with everything everyone has posted so far.

I keep a full size 9mm with me non-stop around the house and out on the town for the 2 legged issues. During hunting, hiking, camping, fishing, and the like activities I keep a single action Ruger 357 with a 6.5" barrel on hand. I keep 357 loads and some #6 shot shells for it. It can be used for all type of critters and food gathering if needed. Finally, a 12ga Pump is usually kept tucked in the trunk with a variety of ammo for all kinds of purposes.

Those three cover a lot and I can't think of a reason why I can't get through a situation with them.

[hunter63]

..................
Hunter- WTF. So in order to utilize it as described you have to carry all those inserts? Googled them and they look like spare barrels. Seems to defeat the purpose, apparently inserts aren't new for that gun.

Yes that's about it....
Quote for their site>
X -Caliber® is designed for use in any condition and with any ammunition available. Originally designed with two calibers, a rifled .22 LR and a smooth bore .12 GA -, this rifle can fire up to 12 different calibers thanks to the 8 steel adapters supplied. In addition to the two original gauges, adapters allow you to shoot 8 pistol calibers ( .380 , 9 mm , .357Mag/.38SP , .40 S & W, .44 Mag, .45 ACP , .410/.45colt ) and two shotgun calibers (410 ga, 20ga), combining the flexibility of a shotgun and the power of a rifled gun.
<quote

[randyt]

TBH I keep a remington 700 in 30-06 very handy. For a beater I keep a eddystone in 30-06 very handy.

[kyratshooter]

Wilderness Medic I feel you have the concept that everyone has a pile of gear, or a bag, that thy set aside and point at is and say "this is the survival stuff", when it should be evident that is not the case with most of us here.

Many of us are on small holdings, homesteads or live in rural areas and a better question would be "What gun is sitting in the corner by the back door?"

My EDC gun and the gun in my vehicle are carried for the once or twice in a lifetime that they might be needed. The gun in the corner by the back door is used daily and fired often for predator control or in case supper wanders past the porch. If the critters kill all my chickens my homesteading plans are shot to he!!.

The ones that do not live in a rural area view our gear as camping gear first and survival gear second, with only a few items directed exclusively use in a "survival situation", which we do not see as an end of the world event.

The gear and guns can be pressed into service for emergency use, but they are not segregated and used only for that purpose.

[wilderness medic]

Wilderness Medic I feel you have the concept that everyone has a pile of gear, or a bag, that thy set aside and point at is and say "this is the survival stuff", when it should be evident that is not the case with most of us here.

Many of us are on small holdings, homesteads or live in rural areas and a better question would be "What gun is sitting in the corner by the back door?"

My EDC gun and the gun in my vehicle are carried for the once or twice in a lifetime that they might be needed. The gun in the corner by the back door is used daily and fired often for predator control or in case supper wanders past the porch. If the critters kill all my chickens my homesteading plans are shot to he!!.

The ones that do not live in a rural area view our gear as camping gear first and survival gear second, with only a few items directed exclusively use in a "survival situation", which we do not see as an end of the world event.

The gear and guns can be pressed into service for emergency use, but they are not segregated and used only for that purpose.

I understand a lot of you are small homesteaders, and this is more every day gear than "survival gear" But surely you guys have an emergency vehicle bag in the event you come home and your house is gone? All that gear in your house does you no good if it's all in your house, and not with you. Without trying to sound rude, I didn't have an interest in the "gun sitting in the corner by your back door" I am more interested to know if you have a small rifle designated for a vehicle or bag, in the event you don't have the guns in your home. It sounds like most people have either a truck shotgun/rifle, or at least their carry.

So, as much as I hate the term "Bug out" bag, this was more geared towards the bag/bags you have with you for a disaster. I guess only an EDC or vehicle bag.

[Rick]

This also goes back to the carry thread. Those of us that carry everywhere have our weapons on us all the time. They aren't stored in a vehicle. Since none of my vehicles have a trunk that would mean they would have to be in the open somewhere unless they are a pistol, which we carry. Having a long gun open in a vehicle, even cased, is sort of asking for it to be stolen. There is no place in my truck that a long gun could be hidden.