1 Gun

Bravo · 02-07-2007, 08:13 PM

I wasn't sure where to post this, so I hope here is ok.

The question is, say you were to know in advance that you were going to be in the middle of a very big woods for 1 month. To prepare for this endeavour, you can pick 1 firearm to take with you.

Knowing that the animals you might be encountering will be as small as a rabid raccoon to something as big and vicious as a grizzly bear.

Knowing that you are going to have to walk with other survival equipment, and considering how the weapon will be carried;

Which single gun (Rifle, Shotgun, Handgun) would you take with you as a survival tool?

CrazyIvan · 02-07-2007, 08:18 PM

For me, it would be a toss up between a Marlin Cowboy 45-70 lever rifle and an LAR Grizzly handgun. One or the other would suffice. I would probably go with the handgun for protection and depend on trapping skills to capture small animals for food using field-created traps, and use a stick to hold them down while I bash them in the head with a rock to kill them. If a large animal comes, that handgun will take quick care of them.

LAR .45 Magnum:

Modern Firearms - LAR Grizzly pistol

Mooseman684 · 02-07-2007, 08:40 PM

I would have to carry my Model 70 Winchester .300 Win Mag .

Pred · 02-07-2007, 09:17 PM

Midas · 02-07-2007, 09:24 PM

Remington 870

JBS · 02-07-2007, 10:44 PM

12 gauge 870... Slugs....0 Buck...#5 Shot and Sherry Smith (need ammo bearer)

Lng Rng · 02-08-2007, 12:14 AM

I think I would have to go with a 870 Express 12 gauge, knowing there is probably no way I could make this gun NOT work.

Spurzmaker · 02-08-2007, 09:48 AM

Tuff one,

A Contender/encore in a 45-70 barrel which takes 410 shot shells also. Light, compact, easy to carry in a 10 barrel. Also be able to swap out to a 44 mag barrel

Second choice. 12 gauge over under survival gun with a rifled hi power round like a 223 on the top. They are so heavy though.

SilverRun · 02-08-2007, 09:48 AM

I agree with the Rem 870.

burd1959 · 02-08-2007, 10:07 AM

870 sounds good but my 300 win mag is light and i could kill a rabbit at 150 yards no problem and a grizzly too so id use it even if rabbit is a little tender it would beat starvation

BattleRifleG3 · 02-08-2007, 12:07 PM

Could you kill a rabbit at 150 yds with a 300 win mag and still have a rabbit to eat? Or is that in case you meet the killer rabbit from Monty Python and the holy grail?

I'd have to go with a 12ga shotgun. Subsistence doesn't seem to be the issue in this scenario as much as defense. Even so, you can take a small animal with shotshells, medium sized ones with buck shot, and the biggest with slugs. I'd pick a medium length barrel with an adjustable choke.

tbonecpk · 02-08-2007, 12:50 PM

I'd say my M1 Garand. 30-06 has enough stoppin power for anything in north american ammo is fairly light so yeah. issue would be water and shelter. so I'd bring a map of the area some gps and plenty of medical stuffs just in case but yeah I figure my seabag (for those of you who are navy vets you know what I'm talkin about) with about 400 rounds that should do. granted the rifle is a little on the heavy side 9.5lbs but there really isnt very many rifles more reliable then that 65 yr old war horse.

ash · 02-08-2007, 01:49 PM

I'll take my carbon-15.
Even though the calibre isn't ideal it's what I'm most familiar with.
And I can just take head and neck shots.

Oxford · 02-08-2007, 02:13 PM

Rem 700 30/06

knightRider · 02-08-2007, 03:27 PM

i would take my 12 gauge aalso

Dallas · 02-08-2007, 03:47 PM

12 Guage pumpgun and a good mix of shells.

frozentorso · 02-08-2007, 03:47 PM

I was thinking .45-70 0r Rem 870 until I saw Preds choice. Hmmmmm. If it's 1 gun, different ammo, Rem 870. 1 gun, same ammo, AR/15 .308 or a true AK/47 since they were built to survive.

Paper · 02-08-2007, 05:35 PM

.22 single shot.. I'd just avoid Mr. Grizz..
Iron sites, too..

Simple, light, easy ammo to carry, and it'll kill anything short of Mr. Grizz, unless you hit Mr. Grizz just right.

Bravo · 02-08-2007, 05:39 PM

Well I guess I'll post on my thread

My initial choice would be my Ruger Blackhawk chambered in .45LC. It has hunting rounds available that I am certain would drop the largest of North American animals. The problem is that I am a very average shot with it.

So, I would probably take either my Springfield 30-06 (which is a heavy gun with heavy ammo), or, my SKS. The SKS carries a bit better than the big 30-06, and the ammo is also lighter. I am also a very decent shot with the gun. The only thing that would stop me from carrying it in the woods is how quickly it could stop an animal like a grizzly. Shot placement would be critical, and I think I could hit it in the head, but missing and making a neck or shoulder shot could be a disaster.

billy · 02-08-2007, 07:43 PM

12 ga.

02-07-2007, 08:13 PM	#1
Bravo Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Maine, USA Posts: 1,879	1 Gun I wasn't sure where to post this, so I hope here is ok. The question is, say you were to know in advance that you were going to be in the middle of a very big woods for 1 month. To prepare for this endeavour, you can pick 1 firearm to take with you. Knowing that the animals you might be encountering will be as small as a rabid raccoon to something as big and vicious as a grizzly bear. Knowing that you are going to have to walk with other survival equipment, and considering how the weapon will be carried; Which single gun (Rifle, Shotgun, Handgun) would you take with you as a survival tool?

02-07-2007, 08:18 PM	#2
CrazyIvan Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Englewood, CO Posts: 2,338	For me, it would be a toss up between a Marlin Cowboy 45-70 lever rifle and an LAR Grizzly handgun. One or the other would suffice. I would probably go with the handgun for protection and depend on trapping skills to capture small animals for food using field-created traps, and use a stick to hold them down while I bash them in the head with a rock to kill them. If a large animal comes, that handgun will take quick care of them. LAR .45 Magnum: Modern Firearms - LAR Grizzly pistol __________________ "Minimum wage, minimum effort." "Never underestimate the power of stupidity." ~Me Last edited by CrazyIvan; 02-07-2007 at 08:21 PM.

02-07-2007, 08:40 PM	#3
Mooseman684 Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Alaska Wilderness Posts: 9,632 Images: 2	I would have to carry my Model 70 Winchester .300 Win Mag . __________________ You know you might be facing your doom,when all you get is a click when you're expecting a BOOM!

02-08-2007, 12:07 PM	#11
BattleRifleG3 Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Western PA Posts: 11,401 Images: 13	Could you kill a rabbit at 150 yds with a 300 win mag and still have a rabbit to eat? Or is that in case you meet the killer rabbit from Monty Python and the holy grail? I'd have to go with a 12ga shotgun. Subsistence doesn't seem to be the issue in this scenario as much as defense. Even so, you can take a small animal with shotshells, medium sized ones with buck shot, and the biggest with slugs. I'd pick a medium length barrel with an adjustable choke. __________________ Trust is earned, not... GIVEN away. - Worf

02-08-2007, 12:50 PM	#12
tbonecpk Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: San Diego Cal Posts: 1,590 Blog Entries: 2	I'd say my M1 Garand. 30-06 has enough stoppin power for anything in north american ammo is fairly light so yeah. issue would be water and shelter. so I'd bring a map of the area some gps and plenty of medical stuffs just in case but yeah I figure my seabag (for those of you who are navy vets you know what I'm talkin about) with about 400 rounds that should do. granted the rifle is a little on the heavy side 9.5lbs but there really isnt very many rifles more reliable then that 65 yr old war horse. __________________ "Speak softly but carry a big stick" -Teddy Roosevelt

02-07-2007, 09:17 PM	#4
Pred Banned Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Kentucky Posts: 3,873 Blog Entries: 3

02-07-2007, 09:24 PM	#5
Midas Troll B' Gone Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Springdale, Arkansas Posts: 3,786 Images: 2 Blog Entries: 6	Remington 870

02-07-2007, 10:44 PM	#6
JBS Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 761	12 gauge 870... Slugs....0 Buck...#5 Shot and Sherry Smith (need ammo bearer)

02-08-2007, 12:14 AM	#7
Lng Rng Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 944	I think I would have to go with a 870 Express 12 gauge, knowing there is probably no way I could make this gun NOT work.

02-08-2007, 09:48 AM	#8
Spurzmaker Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: San Luis Valley Colorado Posts: 313 Images: 2	Tuff one, A Contender/encore in a 45-70 barrel which takes 410 shot shells also. Light, compact, easy to carry in a 10 barrel. Also be able to swap out to a 44 mag barrel Second choice. 12 gauge over under survival gun with a rifled hi power round like a 223 on the top. They are so heavy though.

02-08-2007, 09:48 AM	#9
SilverRun Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: AL Posts: 1,661	I agree with the Rem 870.

02-08-2007, 10:07 AM	#10
burd1959 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: burton michigan Posts: 606	870 sounds good but my 300 win mag is light and i could kill a rabbit at 150 yards no problem and a grizzly too so id use it even if rabbit is a little tender it would beat starvation

02-08-2007, 01:49 PM	#13
ash Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Maryland Posts: 934 Images: 3	I'll take my carbon-15. Even though the calibre isn't ideal it's what I'm most familiar with. And I can just take head and neck shots.

02-08-2007, 02:13 PM	#14
Oxford Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Gladstone, Missouri Posts: 13,021 Blog Entries: 4	Rem 700 30/06 __________________ "If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right".

02-08-2007, 03:27 PM	#15
knightRider Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: you know where Posts: 2,680 Images: 19 Blog Entries: 11	i would take my 12 gauge aalso

02-08-2007, 07:43 PM	#20
billy spiritual counselor Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: a secret lab on the shores of lake titicaca Posts: 11,929 Images: 9 Blog Entries: 145	12 ga.

02-08-2007, 03:47 PM	#16
Dallas PUKHA DAWG Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Virginia, just outside of Washington D.C. Posts: 3,595	12 Guage pumpgun and a good mix of shells.

02-08-2007, 03:47 PM	#17
frozentorso Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: North East Texas Posts: 592	I was thinking .45-70 0r Rem 870 until I saw Preds choice. Hmmmmm. If it's 1 gun, different ammo, Rem 870. 1 gun, same ammo, AR/15 .308 or a true AK/47 since they were built to survive. __________________ "I'm your huckleberry. Thats just my game!"

02-08-2007, 05:35 PM	#18
Paper One Buwwit Weft Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: IL/WI Border Posts: 977	.22 single shot.. I'd just avoid Mr. Grizz.. Iron sites, too.. Simple, light, easy ammo to carry, and it'll kill anything short of Mr. Grizz, unless you hit Mr. Grizz just right. __________________

02-08-2007, 05:39 PM	#19
Bravo Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Maine, USA Posts: 1,879	Well I guess I'll post on my thread My initial choice would be my Ruger Blackhawk chambered in .45LC. It has hunting rounds available that I am certain would drop the largest of North American animals. The problem is that I am a very average shot with it. So, I would probably take either my Springfield 30-06 (which is a heavy gun with heavy ammo), or, my SKS. The SKS carries a bit better than the big 30-06, and the ammo is also lighter. I am also a very decent shot with the gun. The only thing that would stop me from carrying it in the woods is how quickly it could stop an animal like a grizzly. Shot placement would be critical, and I think I could hit it in the head, but missing and making a neck or shoulder shot could be a disaster.