a 22 pistol or rifle is to me a great survival tool for one you can kill alot small animals with it for the pot another there is a ton of ammo everywhere for it . for me i prefer a pistol and would carry a rifle for bigger critters . which leads me to this question would you prefer 22 rifle,pistol,or neither
I would say rifle. Much more accurate. If you are worried about weight you can look for a smaller rifle. Ive seen a few little brownings and I own a Remington Nylon. I could carry that thing for a week!
I'd take the pistol. I have a Ruger Mk II, 50th Anniversary Edition, which means that it's the Mk II with an engraving on top. The only thing that I'm learning about holsters is that I would need a sturdy leather holster on a seperate belt. When I go to the sandpit to shoot I wear a cordura high ride, and it really leans away from my body. It tugs on my belt. Need a seperate belt and better holster for all day wear.
I'm not the most accurate shot (hence my pen name) so I would include a walking staff to rest the gun on for shots at small game.
A .22 Pistol carried in a holster would leave your hands free for other things when
not hunting for game.
I was watching a guy on a survival program throw a stick at a rabbit and kill it so I guess I could at least hit a rabbit with a Ruger Auto or maybe an old S&W Kit pistol.
The key to hitting things with a pistol is plain old practice. You don't have to hit bullseyes, just be reasonably accurate. Practice, Practice, Practice.
Depends on the situation.
1) You made it to your BO site, and have many guns available. You are small game hunting close to your retreat. I'd carry a good .22 rifle, backed up with a good CF pistol for defense.
2) You are bugging out afoot. Weight is at a premium. You'll do your hunting at closer ranges, stalking your prey. A .22 pistol is best - a good one that is proven accurate at 25-30 yards. You'll be carrying a good battle rifle for defense.
There are many variables in both these situations.
I love my Ruger S/S 10/22, I have it with a Butler Creek folding stock and 50 round magazines. Great for squirrels, rabbits and even larger game like small deer, if I could only have one weapon this would be high on the list.
Think I'd opt for both as the weight overall in our situation would be negligible and both would be handy to have.
I was just thinking the same thing. I would trust my luck with a Buckmark Camper and a 10/22. Think how much ammo you could carry comfortably in a bug out situation.
__________________
You don't shoot to kill; you shoot to stay alive.
Well a bug out for us includes a heavily outfitted CJ3B and a small tracker boat (both for cargo and possible river/lake travel). My Missus has had major reconstructive knee surgery twice over the years and appears there is a third on the horizon. So weight for us isn't as high a priority as it may be for some.
__________________ "You can have my Freedom when I'm done with it!"
i agree , last month a put a bipod on my ruger 10/22 and realized the firepower you could get from that thing ..... no recoil means all 30 .22 bullets are gonna go where you put them , i can ammagine layin down some irratateing fire lol plus the ammo is light and cheap and quiet ....safe the big stuff for when you really need it
Well, a good .22 is indispensable for small game hunting (though trapping/snaring is quieter, if you have the time),
but you'll just attract more MZB's using it for defense. They get irritated by the stings too.
Something like a Marlin Model 60 or a Ruger 10/22 would be best overall. I personally like my Smith Model 63, 4 inch .22 LR revolver, but I think a rifle would be more practical.
Actually I found an interesting little number that many of you probably already know about, but I thought I'd bring up for discussion: The M6 survival rifle. It's a .22LR over-under combo with a .410 Bore shotgun. It has ammo storage in the stock. The following article details someone's modifications to a standard M6 to improve its utility as a 'survival system'. He adds supplies and additional storage to the weapon, so in an emergency if he grabs the gun he's got most of what he needs in one handy package. Springfield Armory M6
Very nifty!
Last edited by Kale; 08-06-2007 at 12:03 PM.
Reason: Automerged Doublepost
