Your Choice, Survival Firearm?

[mortensen]

Let me narrow this question down to a choice of one hunting (survival) firearm for the sole purpose of putting fresh meat on the table for your family, not for war or any form of combat.

What would you eliminate? Would you eliminate semi and automatic weapons? I would as they are comprised of more moving parts and can malfunction compared to something more simple like a bolt action.

How about the old stand-by like the 30-30 lever action. However, you would find yourself limited when it came to hunting waterfowl and upland birds.

Have any choices or solutions?

Here's one worth considering, over & under combo.

http://www.gunshopfinder.com/savage/savage24F12.asp

[mortensen]

I'm leaning towards my 12 gauge pump. Birdshot, buckshot and slugs.

Also, 12 gauge flares which won't bring you any game, but could bring you help or assistance, espcially for myself in the desert.

12 gauge flares:

http://firequest.com/catalog/flares.html

[92xj]

3.5" Auto loading Inertia driven 12 ga. hands down.

you can kill any animal out there with the correct shells and not need to be an amazing marksmen (ie. head shot on a dove at 300 yards with a win mag). Give me my SBEII, a box of #7s, 2s, buck shot and some slugs, I will bring home meat and lots of it.

[Strut10]

I'd go with a shorter barreled 870 Super Mag.

Built like a tank. 3 1/2" capability. Do anything you absolutely have to do.

[Shaun_300]

I thought you would have said your BPS 10ga, Don.

If I had to pick one gun to have to survive with and shoot pretty much anything on this continent it'd probably be a Remington SP-10, semi auto 10ga. Slugs would slobber knock moose, deer and bears, bird shot for waterfowl and turkeys.

[GWSmith]

Very Easy Choice...

http://www.henryrepeating.com/rifle-survival-ar7.cfm

Consider how many rounds of ammunition you will be able to carry. When you run out of any other larger caliber round by weight you could still have "pounds of 22LR left"...More shots...survival.

[m gardner]

For survival a 22 bolt gun with a reciever sight, probably a Marlin for me. You'll probably be shooting mostly small game. Unless you are skilled at curing meat somehow big game is hard to manage, unless it's cold out.

Mark

[mortensen]

How about the 22 magnum. CCI used to produce birdshot for this caliber, but never did hear how effective it was.

[bfletch7441]

How about the 22 magnum. CCI used to produce birdshot for this caliber, but never did hear how effective it was.

Pretty dog-gone effective on snakes!

I'm on the 22 band wagon myself.

Ben

[Rhino]

Give me my SBEII, a box of #7s, 2s, buck shot and some slugs, I will bring home meat and lots of it.

Same here!

[Goinghuntin]

I would probably opt for a bolt-action .22 just because of the smaller size and the ability to easily carry 1000 rounds (try and do that with your 12-gauges guys :gun1:). As for which make and model my old Savage is very trusty but it really doesn't matter.

Nathan

[hunterbobb]

If I can have two barrels I'll take my 20 Gauge Remington 870 combo. Another choice would be the Savage 24 with a 22lr barrel ontop and a 20 gauge barrel on the bottom.

:gun2:

[stevebeilgard]

you said survival. gwsmith has the right gun

[redkneck]

I've thought about this before and there's no doubt about it, .22lr. Given the fact that it easily takes down whitetails as well as puts small birds in the skillet without destroying them, as well as the fact that the small cartridge is easily carried in bulk. No doubt it's what I'd have.

[wtnhunt]

What would you eliminate? Would you eliminate semi and automatic weapons? I would as they are comprised of more moving parts and can malfunction compared to something more simple like a bolt action.

Personally since this hypothetical is for survival and is for "putting food on the table", I am assuming it is survival at home where ever you are scenario. In the event things got to a point that there was a need, safe to say I would not be "eliminating" any weapons. We keep a little ammo for everything we own. Have quite a bit of once fired brass powder and primers put back, should soon be reloading.

[arrow32]

.22lr no doubt about it. Could shoot alot of different game with it.

[Strut10]

I thought you would have said your BPS 10ga, Don.

Two factors against it:

1. Weight. The 870 would be much more portable.

2. You ever have to take a BPS apart ?????????? If you haven't.................DON'T.

[gzilla45]

I was debating on a .22 bolt action or the 870 12 guage. My primary game would be deer, turkey, grouse, squirrel, and rabbit. Both guns are capable. I think I'd opt for the .22 though as it isn't nearly as bulky to haul around and in a survival situation you will want to be able to move as easily as possible.

[huntnfish]

I was thinking Mossberg 535 12ga pump but after reading some other post I am torn between it and my Henry lever action 22lr.

[Ravin R10 man]

if Im in grizzly country i sure dont want no stinkin .22

Id lean towards a shotgun