your favorite survival rifle?

[outbac1]

If it's for survival it's small game time. A 22lr is more than adequate for the job. Any reliable rifle will do the job. I would prefer a bolt action over a semi as they can be more tolerant of dirt and cold. Shorter and lighter is easier to carry. A 22lr tends to reach max velocity in about 16" - 18" so a long barrel is not an advantage. It is easy to carry 100 rds which will get a lot of game.

My 2nd choice would be a shotgun in 20,16 or 12ga. Ammunition is heavier and bulkier but it can be so versitile. Slugs for big game or life threats, 7 1/2 for birds and lots inbetween. A single shot would be sufficient but I have a Win 1300 Turkey with an 18" barrel that weighs 6lbs empty. Many rifles weigh more than that.

[Mike00006]

I think that that might have been what I was looking at awhile back, if not then it was probably that springfield M6 in the earlier post.

In response to the earlier threads about wal-mart selling rifles:

A few days ago I spend some money on a Marlin 925 in .22 magnum. There were a few diferrent rifles there for less than 300 dollars. One was a Ruger 10/22, the other was a marlin 917 varmint (which is was I was originally going to get... its a .17HMR). The 10/22 was only $230 or so. I was fighting myself not to buy the 10/22 but chose the marlin on account that I already have a match 10/22 rifle.

A 10/22 would make a good survival rifle if you thought about it. They do not jam up with quality ammo, can go thousands of shots without a cleaning (do at your own risk), and are pretty compact the way it is (my rifle has a 16 1/2 inch barrel). Plus the triggers on the carbine 10/22s are very nice once you get used to them.

Outbac1: I also have a winny 1300, and they are very nice guns. Normally I take it when I go camping and load it with #1 shot in a 3 inch cartridge. The pellets are plated with steel or nickel so they are non-toxic. It packs a kick with the shells but it will knock anything out of the air if its in the general direction.

Can you fire slugs out of yours? Im afraid to fire them out of mine due to the pressures created.

[klkak]

As previously mentioned elsewhere in this forum, before the AR-7 came along, there was the AR-5; it was issued to the SAC (Strategic Air Command) as a Survival rifle. It was bolt-action, as opposed to semi-auto, and was calibered to the .22 Hornet.

The AR-5 (MA-1 aircrew survival rifle) Was a 4 shot bolt action take down rifle made by H&R. There were very few of them made. They were designed like the AR-7 in that the taken down rifle was stowed in the buttstock. It this configuration it would float like the AR-7.

I have handled the MA-1 and was not that impressed with it. Then again I'm not very impressed with the AR-7.

[flandersander]

Expecting a no, but can my ruger 10/22 lr carbine shoot .22 magnum loads? Is there any way to modify it (new barrel etc) so that it can?

[Stairman]

I have a tendency to like the magnum over the long rifle just because if I find a little larger game such as a deer I want to be able to take it down without having to track it for miles and get far off course or lost.

I wouldnt be planning on making any body shots on deer with a 22lr.In a pinch I would shoot em in the eye for a quick kill.

[SARKY]

No the 10-22 can't shoot .22magnums. The magnum round is both longe and has a larger diameter. That is because the .22lr uses a heeled or stepped bullet where as the .22 magnum uses a bullet the same diameter as the .223. In fact some of the new ammo for the .22 mag are loaded with a jacketed V-max type bullet. You could find yourself a 10-22M (and no I'm not giving mine up!)

[Stairman]

Stairman - Shooters on University Blvd. frequently has sales and offers the Ruger 10/22 at a pretty good price. Of course there is alway Wal Mart.

I used to go there when it was Southside gun.Ill check their price and compare with Gander,Dicks ect.I live in Middleburg area and dont get to town too often but will go whoever has it at the best price.Thanks!

[SARKY]

Mike00006,
For the money you spent on your new (Does it still have that new gun smell?) rifle, you could have purchased a .17 barrel for your 10-22 and doubled the capability of your 10-22.

[Stairman]

I didnt realize they sold interchangable barrels[10/22]

[Mike00006]

Mike00006,
For the money you spent on your new (Does it still have that new gun smell?) rifle, you could have purchased a .17 barrel for your 10-22 and doubled the capability of your 10-22.

Yeah, I thought about that but I always wanted the .22 mag Marlin 925... ever since I was 14. So I bought it, and it hasnt let me down. The trigger is very nice on this gun, and it is a tackdriver. I can keep it under 1 moa at 100 yards if its not very windy.

The VMax bullets from Hornady work the best out of it.

No, it doesnt still smell like a new gun, because I painted it the day I bought it. Now it smells like varmint death.... Cant wait to take it out for a spin at the local critters. Small game came in last week.

[SARKY]

Have you shot any of the .17 rimfires?

[SARKY]

I didnt realize they sold interchangable barrels[10/22]

Go to www.volquartsen.com and check out all the goodies available. The one thing I reccomend above all else is their match trigger group. It makes a world of difference in the trigger pull. Both of my 10-22s amd my 10-22M have them installed.

[sgtdraino]

Expecting a no, but can my ruger 10/22 lr carbine shoot .22 magnum loads? Is there any way to modify it (new barrel etc) so that it can?

No the 10-22 can't shoot .22magnums. <snip> You could find yourself a 10-22M (and no I'm not giving mine up!)

flandersander, I suggest you check out gunbroker.com for 10/22 Magnums. Ruger does not make them anymore, but used ones show up on there pretty regularly.

[Sourdough]

Or buy the Remington 597 .22 Magnum for 1/3 the price. My guess is Ruger will make another run of 10/22 Magnums.

[flandersander]

Is there anything I can buy that will allow my gun to shoot 22 magnums? Like a different barrel and clip or something?

[sgtdraino]

Is there anything I can buy that will allow my gun to shoot 22 magnums? Like a different barrel and clip or something?

Sorry, I really don't think so. The pressures in the .22 Magnum cartridge are significantly greater than .22lr. A standard 10/22 is just not built to take that.

If it's any consolation, the concensus on this forum is that the standard 10/22 is a superior survival rifle to the 10/22 Magnum.

[flandersander]

Really? So like the action couldn't take it? Yeah the pressures are too great but if I had a 22 magnum barrel and a clip suitable for the longer loads wouldn't it work? OR no the action would go. I hate to ask the same question twice, but a few specifics on what would happen would make me feel better. lol.

[fury_m]

If I had my choice and I do own one......I would like my reliable Winchester Model 94 30-30. Kicks butt in the brush and has never let me down

[crashdive123]

Hey Fury M, how about shooting on over to the introduction section and tell us a bit about yourself. Thanks.

[flandersander]

Hey Fury M, how about shooting on over to the introduction section and tell us a bit about yourself. Thanks.

Wow man, if I had a nickel for every time you came up with a sweet way of telling people to introduce themselves, i would have grain silos full of nickels.