What if you really needed a rifle to survive outdoors?
Some carry a hiking handgun or a packable shotgun. Others prefer a rifle. Even a small rimfire rifle can offer more range than either a shotgun or pistol, and they are certainly easier to shoot accurately.
I’ll walk you through what I consider a true survival rifle and share my top picks for getting out of trouble. So keep reading!
THE QUICK LIST
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Most Customizable
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Most Compact
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Best Cartridge Selection
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Best Budget
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Best Value PCC
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Best PCC
Table of Contents
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How We Chose the Best Survival Rifles
We here at PPT have been camping, hunting, hiking, and adventuring hundreds of times. With this in mind, we wanted to focus on rifles that were compact and unobtrusive. Something you can pack without it taking up too much room or weighing too much.
For these reasons, we came up with a few standards for choosing the best survival rifles:
- It needs to weigh less than 5 pounds.
- It needs to fit in a standard-size backpack. This means the gun is required to break down or fold in some way.
- It needs to use light ammo that is easy to find and store.
Input for this article came from the editorial and freelance writing team at Pew Pew Tactical. Every rifle on this list has spent hands-on time with someone on our staff, undergoing 500+ rounds of testing at various distances and different types of ammunition.
Our writer Scott Murdock builds upon the original article written by Travis Pike.
Best Takedown Survival Rifles
1. Ruger 10/22 Takedown – Most Customizable
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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Pros
- Massive aftermarket support
- Increase capacity with extended magazines
- Feels solid once assembled
Cons
- More bulky than some of our picks
Specs
The Ruger 10/22 is, without a doubt, the most popular rimfire rifle ever. It’s been made in the millions since the 1960s and is the standard for semi-auto .22 LRs.
The Takedown model allows the gun to be split in half and easily packed away.
This is a proper rifle with a real stock, a comb for a cheek rest, and handguards. It’s everything minimalist survival rifles are not.
It only weighs 4.6 pounds in its factory configuration and skates right under my five-pound limit. I own a standard 10/22, and it’s one of the most fun guns I’ve ever handled.
As a semi-auto. 22 LR rifle, the gun is very easy to handle, and you can quickly dump rounds into a target. This makes it a bit more capable of taking on dangerous animals.
Admittedly, I’d want something bigger but 10 rounds of .22 LR should cause enough pain compliance for a lot of animals to change their mind.
The 10/22 Takedown comes with a carrying case but it’s also easy to pack into a bag on its own. You can find magazines for the Ruger 10/22 that can hold 10, 15, 25, and even up to 110 rounds in a drum.
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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The takedown and assembly procedure is straightforward and quick. Its stainless steel parts are rust-resistant and very easy to clean, which is convenient for a survival rifle.
The Ruger 10/22 is an extremely reliable gun and one of the most customizable rifles you can buy.
It’s easy to tailor to your needs and is ultimately a gun you won’t regret buying. If you choose the Ruger 10/22 Takedown as your survival rifle, it can double as a great plinking gun.
Of course, you can choose any of the Ruger 10/22 models and still be decently equipped.
Oh, and there’s tons of great ammo out there. Check out our guide to the best .22 LR ammo.
2. Henry AR-7 – Most Compact
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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Pros
- Super light and portable
- Long track record of reliability
- Multiple came options available
Cons
- Optics won't fit inside the buttstock
Specs
The Henry AR-7 was initially built as a survival rifle for U.S. Air Force pilots. It’s a .22 LR semi-automatic rifle that feeds from box magazines containing eight rounds.
It has a very odd design, and this is due to the fact it’s a very early takedown rifle design. The barrel and receiver detach from the stock, and the stock is then used as a storage compartment for the receiver and barrel (but not an optic).
The entire design is toolless, compact, and lightweight. This gun weighs a mere 3.5 pounds and is very simple in design. It lacks any handguard, so the barrel will heat up after extended firing.
This rifle isn’t designed to be a high-volume plinker, but that doesn’t mean it won’t keep going and going.
With a 14-inch length of pull, it is excellent for adult-sized shooters. The gun is a blast to shoot and comes with two magazines. Eight rounds are more than enough for most situations, but extended magazines are available and are reasonably affordable.
The top of the receiver sports a short rail, but a mounted optic won’t allow the gun to be stored in the stock.
The gun is very lightweight and comfortable to shoot. It may be a 1950s design, but the overall concept screams space age.
Want more details on the Henry AR-7? Check out our full review here!
What’s your take on the AR-7? Rate it below!
3. TPS Arms M6 Takedown – Best Cartridge Selection
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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Pros
- Rifle and shotgun in one
- Broad caliber and gauge selection
- Mitten-approved trigger
Cons
- Unrefined and utilitarian
Specs
The M6 Takedown is a classic survival firearm originally developed for U.S. Air Force pilots. While it might have come out of the 1950s, it’s still a viable option mainly because of its versatility and rugged simplicity.
See that funky trigger? It’s designed so you can use it even if you’re wearing mittens or suffering from numb hands.
TPS Arms recreates this classic survival rifle for a great price point with a few improvements.
But this isn’t just a survival rifle; it’s a rifle and shotgun.
While the bottom barrel is always bored for .410, you can pick from .357 Magnum, .22 WMR, .17 HMR, .22 LR, .22 Hornet, or even another .410 barrel up top. That should help you tailor your rifle to the kind of survival scenario you foresee in your future.
The .357 Magnum can take any medium game animal in North America, and the .410 can take down birds, squirrels, snakes, and other pests. On the other hand, picking .22 LR allows you to carry 500 rounds in your cargo pocket. Decisions, decisions.
Pick the right option for you and your environment, and the modern M6 rifle will serve you well.
The .410 barrel has interchangeable chokes, and you can outfit the modern variant with a scope rail for optical enhancement.
Like the classic M6, the M6 Takedown Series from TPS Arms is super lightweight, fairly short, and separates in half for tossing in a backpack. The stock features a customizable storage compartment to fit a number of different rounds.
Not only are these guns faithful representatives of the classic M6 guns, but they improve upon the original design.
Best Folding Survival Rifles
4. Chiappa Little Badger – Best Budget
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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Pros
- Super affordable
- Incredibly light
- Three rimfire options
Cons
- Poor ergonomics
Specs
The wallet-friendly Chiappa Little Badger is light, affordable, and dare I say adorable. It’s chambered for .22 LR, .22 WMR (.22 Mag), or .17 HMR.
I own a .22 LR model, and it’s an enjoyable gun.
Chiappa’s Little Badger is a single-shot rifle with just the essentials: a barrel, receiver, and wire stock. It weighs 2.9 pounds and comes with four short rails you can attach accessories to. The small peep sights are adjustable and very easy to use.
The gun folds in half to be only roughly 17 inches long. It’s super thin and fits in a backpack.
This gun even has a little plastic attachment to hold extra rounds but I found them a little too loose to hold ammo securely.
The .22 LR version is excellent and makes sourcing ammo a breeze, but the .22 Magnum variant will pack more of a punch. The magnum rifle might be a better survival rifle for its game-getting abilities.
The gun is very easy to operate; all you have to do is load a single cartridge, close the action, cock the hammer, aim, and pull the trigger.
Simplicity also means it’s almost fail-proof. It’s not a rapid-fire weapon but, with well-aimed shots, you can quickly get dinner and kill off snakes, coyotes, and other pests.
It’s less than $200 and, survival skills aside, it’s a cool rifle to plink with.
Want more single shots? Take a look at our round-up of the Best Single Shots on the market.
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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5. Kel-Tec Sub 2000 – Best Value PCC
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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Pros
- Folds down to 16.15"
- Uses Glock magazines
- Tool-free disassembly
Cons
- Limited hunting utility
Specs
The KelTec Sub 2000 is one of the few common, affordable, and reliable semi-auto centerfire guns I could find for this list.
When folded in half, the Sub2000 sports an overall length of only 16.25 inches. Unfolded, the rifle is still a short 30.5 inches. It weighs in at only 4.25 pounds and fits well into a standard backpack or even a messenger bag.
The third generation of the Sub2000 shoots 9mm from Glock magazines, so sourcing ammo and mags is a piece of cake. It loses iron sights, but you can add flip-up sights if you want a backup to your optic.
It’s quite a bit more potent than a rimfire rifle or .410 shotgun, making it better against dangerous animals and medium game.
A very simple blowback system means it is quite reliable. It does have more recoil than a standard carbine due to this system, but it’s still easy to control.
Check out our articles on the best 9mm ammo for our favorite training and self-defense rounds.
Want more? Read our complete hands-on review of the KelTec Sub 2000!
6. Smith & Wesson M&P FPC – Best PCC
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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Pros
- Folds down to 16.4”
- Recoil buffer system
- Optics won’t interfere with folding ability
Cons
- Limited hunting utility
- Expensive
Specs
Think of the Smith & Wesson M&P FPC as a KelTec Sub2000 for the discerning survivalist.
It uses the same general layout and cartridge, but with a few perks the Sub2000 doesn’t offer.
For starters, it’s a continuation of the M&P line so you know its reliability and accuracy should be rock-solid. You can use double-stack M&P pistol magazines, and the M&P FPC comes with one 17-round magazine and two 23-round magazines.
The stock securely stores whichever two magazines you aren’t using.
Smith & Wesson even gave the FPC a buffer system to soften recoil, which is already minimal in a firearm of this size.
Between the punch of 9mm defensive ammo and the ability to cook off rounds in a hurry while staying on target, this PCC is a formidable survival gun.
Best AR-Style Survival Rifles
7. Aero Survival Rifle LTE – Best AR
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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Pros
- Familiar AR-style platform
- Uses Glock magazines
- Picatinny and M-LOK rail
Cons
- Less portable than the other PCCs here
Specs
A semi-automatic, AR-type PCC that breaks down with ease and weighs less than 4 pounds? Yes, it exists and it comes from a little company called TNW Firearms.
They’ve been producing takedown carbines in various calibers for years, but the Aero Survival LTE series reduces the weight to just 3.95 pounds.
With it, you get a Glock magazine-fed, lightweight, semi-automatic takedown carbine with a 16-inch barrel.
It’s stripped of everything but the basics but it can still launch 9mm pills fast and hard. When used with 147-grain JHP ammo, you have a weapon that can take medium-sized game at close range.
The semi-auto design allows for fast follow-up shots.
Shooters get a nice-sized optic rail and an M-LOK handguard. After adding an optic or light, you can still walk away with a weapon weighing less than six pounds.
It breaks down into two 17.25-inch-sized components for easy storage and carrying. Grab a few extended Glock mags, and you’ll be set for most threats inside 100 yards.
Notable Mentions
8. CMMG Banshee Mk57
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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Pros
- Delightfully compact
- Decent ballistic performance
- Excellent fit and finish
Cons
- Expensive to buy, expensive to shoot
Specs
I might be breaking my own rules with this one but stay with me.
The Mk57 is most commonly sold as a braced AR pistol (it’s also available as a short-barreled rifle) but it can handle many of the same tasks we’d expect the rifles on this list to tackle.
To fit under my five-pound limit, you’ll need to grab the five-inch barrel variant.
Like any standard AR-15, you can easily break the thing into two pieces and store them in a backpack, although it’s so short you might not have to.
The 5.7x28mm round fits neatly between a rifle and pistol cartridge, boasting decent penetration and flat-shooting performance out to 150 yards or so.
This bullet is smaller and lighter than most rifle and pistol projectiles but it uses speed to generate a surprising amount of force. The 5.7x28mm round is unusual but surprisingly well-suited for survival applications.
This little fella offers you the modularity of the AR platform in a high-performance, lightweight caliber. It’s a premium-grade weapon with a superb trigger and M-LOK handguard and uses FN Five-Seven magazines.
How To Choose The Best Survival Rifles
Survival can take many different forms. What’s the most likely survival situation you’re likely to face?
Living off squirrels and rabbits looks is nothing like fending off human attackers. Hiking back to civilization isn’t the same as locking down your property.
Choosing between a .22 LR takedown rifle and an AR pistol will be a lot easier if you know what you’re up against.
FAQs
What is the best apocalypse gun?
When people type this into the Google search bar, they're probably picturing "The Walking Dead." Squirrel hunting is much more likely in a post-societal world, so abundant and portable rimfire ammo is a good choice. You might want to stick to .22 LR.
Is the AR-15 a good survival rifle?
The AR-15 is a great survival rifle because it's super versatile. It's heavier and larger than we'd like for this list, though.
What makes the Ruger 10/22 so good?
The Ruger 10/22 has been around for ages, so we know it's super reliable. It's also accurate, affordable, and easy to source parts and accessories for.
Final Thoughts
Keep in mind that most responsible hunters, hikers, and campers will never need it, but a good survival rifle is worth its weight in gold should you ever find yourself in a pickle.
These choices are perfect for most budgets, are lightweight, and can be quite discrete. Since many of these are easily concealed, check your local laws and the laws of anywhere you may consider camping to ensure they are legal.
What do you prefer as your go-to survival gun? Let us know in the comments below! Now, head over and read the rest of our survival and prepping guides.
Latest Update
July 21, 2024: Updated product information and supporting content, added the Smith & Wesson M&P FPC, and removed the Savage Model 42 Takedown.
67 Leave a Reply
I have chosen the Henry while also carrying a Springfield XDM 10mm. Enough said. From squirrels to bears, I'm prepared.
good write, AR-7, like the fact it fits in the buttstock and floats. i know what are the chances of a water thing, you never know, my middle name is whatif. in the real world scenario i would be packed with what i need and have my primary and secondary and plenty of ammo
Ah, the smell of burning leftovers…
The Keltec is a bad choice, horribly made — and there have been a number of accidents where a Keltec has simply exploded.
The CMMG is hardly a survival rifle, and something that expensive is hardly what you’d leave in the trunk of your vehicle: it’s an expensive toy — a deadly one — but a toy that fits a tiny niche.
We're it myself and I could only choose one of my current arms it would be the M -1 carbine. 30 caliber bullet small enough to not damage to much meat head shooting small game, large enough to kill four legged game or the possible two legged predator. Just my .02 cents.
Depending on when this listing was compiled let's add the S&W FPC in the 9mm. It folds sideways, is ready to fire in seconds, carries 17 round mag in the grip, plus two 23 round mags in the stock for quick access, has rails to mount sights/lights and any other accessories. Has a threaded barrel for staying quiet or a muzzle break. I have a 3x prizm and red dot piggyback canted at 45 degrees on mine alone with green Lazer light combo in the fore grip. Good weight I can carry that in the backpack or in its own bag and be ready for deployment in seconds
Applause for two great choices: the 10/22 breakdown-variant and the AR-7 — great for small game when you’re forced to survive on your wits and the merits of the rifle you chose.
Question is, what is the purpose of the rifle? To feed or protect? Both? If you intend to protect, most of these “survival” rifles are wholly inadequate.
I suspect that if you’re considering all aspects of survival, assuming the rural environment of the U.S. northern tier and Alaska, we’re somewhere in the lower half of the food chain — and only the shotgun works in most cases. If weight and size are the determinants of choice, a Mossberg 590S Shockwave would be a good choice — at least it has been for me.
If weight is the sole determinant of desirable survival rifles, Christensen’s Ridgeline Scout rifle (5.9 lbs) is exceptional as an all-around rifle, and .308 Win might be a good choice of caliber— guaranteed sub-MOA. Fully loaded (large magazine, SLING, with a small 1-6x tactical scope, the rifle tips the scale at about 7.7 pounds.
If you are in a long term survival situation, you should have listed lever and bolt action .22 rifles, they can handle shorts, longs or long rifle. old ammo or squib loads may effect accuracy, but it will cycle. failure to cycle simply requires working the bolt or lever without taking the rifle from the shoulder like a semi auto.
i like the henry youth .22.
just my 2 cents worth.
Can anyone point me to more information on the FoldAR build at the top of the article?
I am a nut for gadgets, so any of these are very attractive. If I had the money, I’d probably get them all. I have held, but not short the Henry AR-7. While I really like the concept, I can’t get past the fact that the grip and stock is so fat. For an actual survival gun, one of the dual caliber guns would be great. Probably in .22 HMR/.410 is a good combo. Ammo is light enough to carry a few hundred rounds.
Good for survival: I like the RDB-S. No folding, fits in my Kelty backpack. Light. Not too expensive. Gets about 1.5-2 MOA w 5.56 M193 with my mediocre skills. Simple operation. Reliable, but dont use cheap .223 or you will get jams via failure to eject.
Better for survival: stay out of gunfights, move away from the city, get well septic and solar, spend more on high shelf life normal foods. Stay quiet and invisible. Know your neighbors but tell no-one about your preps.
I have this one: Tippmann Arms M4-22 ELITE Tactical Rifle
It is takedown-has upper and lower, easy to dismantle.
Accurate, 25 shots in the mag.
This is one of those areas, I tend to disagree with the experts on, because "survival" is subjective, but can quickly become objective.
If survival means needing a squirrel or rabbit to stew for your evening meal, by all means pick a .22 LR or .22WMR. The latter doesn't take up that much more space, and the higher muzzle velocity and energy means you can reach Rocky or Bugs a little farther our.
If survival means facing down a 4 legged Predator, that .22 is just going to piss them off unless you get very lucky. Against a Bear or Mountain Lion, I'd be hesitant to rely on anything smaller than .30 cal (though .357 and 10mm would be suitable if you know where to shoot)
If survival means two legged Predators. 22 LR is not a real man stopper (or shot placement is critical to .22 LRs effectiveness against two legged Predators might be a better descriptor). So if that's what you're facing, choose wisely, because you may only get 1 or 2 shots.
All the listed guns mentioned are adequate to the first scenario. If I had to choose only one of the listed guns, I'd go for one of the over/unders. .410 bore in buckshot or a slug, would handle scenarios one, two and three, though you're limited to one shot before needing to reload, but it's definitely an option.
I'm not an AR-7 Fan. I had one in the mid 80s and could never make it through a magazine without failures. I had to slip a hunk of cardboard between the magazine and receiver to get it to feed. Word is Henry's fixed that problem, but:I'd have to check that out before I'd buy one.
So that's my take on best Survival rifles.
I would advise not to buy the ruger 10/22 breakdown. It's controls are difficult to manipulate, cleaning is a pain and it's sights are very poor. If you put a red dot or scope on it, it won't hold zero, since the barrel is not very well attached to the main part or the gun
What is a 14” length of pull for the Henry supposed to mean?
14 inches from the trigger face to end of stock. You really should have known...
Surviving what exactly?
Good question. EMP attack or "accident". Half of citizens would be dead in 90 days. And a little bitty nuke set off at the right altitude and location takes down all electronics/grid permanently.[Don't think about it,your head will explode....too] China cuts off all medicines to US, 90% of diabetics dead in a few months,heart drugs ,croak rate high,Anti-biotics ,vaccines etc. People get real stupid real quick when they can't get important things at any cost. This what happens when people and pols put themselves above the Nation and walmart/unions,ecowackos,entitled losers,parasites and their lawyers make producing important products here impossible.Don't even think about Taiwan falling and Chicoms controlling 98% of the chips everyone needs to make anything actually work......
Great article! Everyone has different views of survival from armageddon to lost in the woods and the rifles and or handguns would vary depending on the situation.
Semper Fi
Forget the 22 you totally missed Ruger's 9MM PC Carbine. It breaks down and will use Glock or Ruger magazines.
While I agree the Ruger PCC is great, and I really love mine, it's curb weight is 7lbs so it's significantly heavier than what Mr. Pike's requirements were set for.
Even still, it's my SHTF long gun of choice, heavy or not.
Bruh… rufs? You’re writing an internet article, and using pictures… htf do you not show side by side comparisons of assembled and broken down pictures of each rifle? This extremely simple task adds texture and validity to every rifle you report on.
Get top brand firearms at solidarmss. com...
I would recommend: in this order:
Pump action;
Lever action;
Bolt action.
The reason, those actions will eat any ammo you feed it and with practice, a pump action is almost as fast as a semi auto.
Just my $00.02. Worth
First photo of the artice is FoldAR double fold, but never another word about it in the article. I understand it does not fit the "below 5 lb" guidance, but I'm wondering if you folks have any experience with the platform? Is the Return To Zero as the FoldAR website says it is (which is: always repeatable no shift in POI when assembled from cold)?
PPT did a full review on the FoldAR back in Dec 2023, just search FoldAR on the PPT website and you'll find it.
Tested the POI shift and from the report was spot on.
I've also commented on the image and would like to know more about the build. I've been considering a build such as this but it is pretty expensive and want to get some research in before committing to it.
The gucci option I would choose is the mini fix by q.
This is one of the best satire gun sights on the internet. You guys really had me rolling with your editor's choice. Thanks, sometimes you just need a good chuckle.
You listed the 10 22, what about their PCC 9mm that is a takedown? I have one and it is very accurate.
I actually have 2 Armalite 22s! which were the original ones before Henry bought the rights I think. I loved the scene in From Russia With Love (?) where 007 shoots down a helo with his :) very cool The Armalites may have some collector value now.
That would be Charter Arms. I have one as well. It’s a great gun. I also have one of the newer Henry models which is a bit less plastic in feel but both are excellent little 22 rifles.
The Ruger 10/22 is a great gun. But it realizes it’s true potential in the Tactical Solutions X ring VR. This is the Cadillac or Rolls Royce of 22 rifles. I have the backpacker takedown, only 3.7 pounds and it is fabulous! Just get some decent ammo. 22 doesn’t get better than this! Can’t wait to get my grandson to the range.
Why add , if you currently own a daily carry, see CAA for the MCK. Uses your same pistol, the MCK allows you to mount all the optics to reach out to the 100-200 yd. I carry a G3C, wife carry’s a Sig P365. Take a look. No added licensing required.
Keltek SU16 all day! .556, folds, 5lbs, $500. Can’t beat it.
What ever happened to the old metal survival gun from back in the '60's that broke open like a single shot shotgun and had an over and under design with .410 shotgun on bottom and .22 hornet on top with ammo storage in the stock? My dad owned the only one I've ever seen.
Savage made these in several caliber combinations. I have a 30-30/20-gauge combination. A .22/410 was also popular. Your .22 hornet/.410 is probably a Savage.
He said metal survival gun. Most of the Savages had wood stocks, or plastic. Sounds more like a Springfield M6. There was another over/under called a Bronco. Sold in the 60's I believe! All metal.
You're talking about the Springfield M6 Scout. I have one in over and under .410 bore and .22LR. Great gun! Stores 4 x .410 and 15 x .22LR in the stock. They come in .22 Hornet too. Comes apart easily, durable, etc.
I'd love to have that gun back. If I remember right, it had a peep sight on it. They are probably very rare, because I've never seen another like it.
Yeah, if you can learn the trigger! I could not. It was a cool looking firearm though!
that wouod be the Ciappa reviewed above no?
No, I believe in was called an M6 survival rifle, but the one we had was .22 hornet on the top, .410 on the bottom. I'll try to send a link; Link would not go
I had most of these rifles, I put a scope on the Ruger, and it had to be sighted in again every time I took it apart... The AR7 jammed all the time in cold weather. I have and love the Chiappa Little Badger in .22 lr, but I also have the Chiappa Double Badger, in .22 lr over 20 gauge - that would be a better choice, I think for survival, as the 20 gauge with Brennekki style slugs will kill anything, and it is quite accurate with the rifle sights and all, mind you it's a bit over your 5 pound weight limit...
The very best survival gun is a 12 gauge single shot shotgun with a drop in 410 gauge adapter. Period! Why? A 12 gauge with Brenneke Black Magic slugs can drop a charging Grizzly in it's tracks! The ability to carry 410 birdshot ammo in a pack allows a hiker camper to carry more light weight rounds. The single shot gun makes a person use less ammo and more conscious of their aim as to not waste ammunition. And finally, a good single shot shotgun will outlast the age of the carrier! The new folding 12 gauge single shot shotguns are light, fold up, and fit into a pack nicely. Just a 410? Just a 22? Na. There are more things out there that can kill you besides snakes, cougars, wolves, and such! Be prepared!
J. Allen, I agree 100%. I have a $99 dollar break open Hatfield 12 GA, made in Turkey. I was a little worried about the quality when I bought it from WalMart, but it has turned out to be a fairly well made firearm. I bought it because of the price and the fact I was going to saw the barrel down to legal minimums plus do a slight modification to allow the gun to fold up as far as it possibly can to fit into a backpack. I then put around 150 rounds of all kinds of 12 GA ammo through it and it performed perfectly. Only problem I've encountered was shooting 3 inch magnum slugs out of it. They kick like a mule. I've since bought Short Lane gun adapters and shoot 20 GA and 410's out of it, plus I bought the 8 inch 45 Colt adapter which has turned out to be very accurate out to 50 yards. I haven't tried 100 Yards yet. For a survival gun the 12 GA break open with Adapters of your choice has got to be the best survival gun you can carry. I bought my wife an AR-7 22LR, perfect for a lady. She hates the kick of the 12 GA, thinks the 410 is OK, but absolutely loves the 22LR.
I know this is about rifles but also consider a Taurus Tracker in 17 HMR. Its a 6.5 inch barrel and according to some videos on youtube they come screaming out at least 1700 fps. Shooting 20 grain FMJ's it can put lots of small game in the pot. In a survival situation one in the ear or between the eyes will take a deer.
This is a great list nothing wrong with any here.......however my tastes run more to the Marlin Papoose SS in place of the AR7 OR 10-22..........
The best foldable survival rifle in my opinion has to be the Chiappa M6 Excalibur. The over/under 22 lr / 12 gauge, also comes with 8” chokes that shoot 38 acp, 38 special/357 magnum, 44magnum, 45 acp,45long Colt/410 gauge , 40 SW ,9mm, 20 gauge.
I have the Ruger PCC with glock mag insert. Absolutely love it! Will definitely be my shtf gun along with my g19 and g26
Excellent article, I have a keltec 2k. 9mm glock mags. Shots well out to 200 yards. Getting a good check well on the stock is hard, recoil is moderate.
You didn’t mention the fact that Henry Ar7 floats. That was one of the biggest selling points for me. Boating, rafting, canoeing!
Absolutely. And those extended mags for it suck. Stick with the stock 8-rounders.
So you've shot a couple squirrels for fun? Congratulations, you're a piece of trash
I also ate them
Weirdo. Did you miss the part about him eating them.
NICE comment you must be a real SUPER genius. How many years of college did it require to acquire this intelligence level??????
I own the Glock model, Gen 2 and its a very fun gum
Easy mistake to miss, I use type manger for manager all the time
We have the Henry AR7 but sometimes I wish I had something with a little more power, great article
I recently purchased a Ruger PC9 carbine. It takes down like the 10/22. It will use Ruger or Glock mags with the supplied adapter. I have only shot it with the 32 round after market mag. I put 32 rounds into a 4" circle without trying hard. I was testing the mag for function and it passed the test. I believe that shooting from a bench I could shoot a much smaller group. I just loaded my newly received 50 round drum and planning on having some fun Tuesday at the range. I would definitely choose this carbine over the Kel Tec. It looks like a rifle and points and shoots like one too.
I really wanted to add the PCC as I adore it but unfortunately it didnt weigh less than 5 pounds
I luuuv my sub2000. Light, small, accurate, fun to shoot, and magazine compatible with my Glock. Mcarbo has add-ons to tame recoil. Both highly recommend.
Yup. I have a Gen 2 S2K with lots of M*Carbo goodness and it's a blast to shoot. Haven't had a single issue with it in over 500 rounds of mixed ammo. Great little packable gun.
I know it's not a gun exactly, but the Mini Roni might make a good option. Can be ordered without ffl
I prefer a warlord with a 240 when my survival is in question.
Haha whats up man! Semper
Marlin 70 Papoose
Yeah, I was wondering why this wasn’t on the list.
Unfortunately I have no experience with the Papoose although it was considered.
Tell ya what, Travis, come visit and we’ll go shoot my Papoose (among other stuff just for fun).