Survival Rifle/ Sierra Nevada

[2012Survivalist]

Hey was wondering what kind of rifle would be good for long term hiking/survival in the sierra nevada's... I would assume you would have to go for mostly small game, birds/squirrels n stuff, My experience with rifles is only with an m16, but im a great shot with iron sites ... Anyway i dont want to spend more than $400
Should i just get a basic 22 for small game? or would i be better off with something larger caliber? thx for the info

[Tahoetwin]

Is weight a concerne for you or will any 6 or 7 or 8 lb rifle be ok. Or do you want a small 22.
I would say go a little bigger like your m16= 223. or maybe a 243 caliber rifle would be a good all around gun.
If its trully survival your concerened with you are gona want something that works everywhere. from Varmints all the to deer.
maybe just keep the barrel short to save weight.

[ripcurlksm]

smooth bore shotgun? bird shot, buck shot & slugs.

edit whoops, saw rifle in the thread title- answer stays but .22 is light to carry (respectively) and cheap

[Norccer]

Jw, where in the Sierra Nevada? I am from a very small mountain nestled in the North Eastern Sierra Nevada. I live there over summers when I am not at my university.

[fusionstar]

A bolt action 22lr would be a great weapon for hiking and surviving in the woods. If need be, you can take small deer with it, it wont be humane unless you get a head shot but it will do the job if you do yours..... Have 2 optics for it, 1 scope and iron sights. Master irons for that rifle first.

realistically if your surviving in the woods.. your looking for small game.. a deer would be great but if you don't know any meet curing or processing skills, then your meat will rot and you will waste a lot of food.

[pat4wd]

a little 17hmr.. Alot more poop then a 22lr but about the same physical size..Savage makes a Iron sight model as well as many others.. so a light, accurate, half way powerful rifle

[fusionstar]

a little 17hmr.. Alot more poop then a 22lr but about the same physical size..Savage makes a Iron sight model as well as many others.. so a light, accurate, half way powerful rifle

yea.. but have you seen what a little hmr vermin bullet does to small game? It WILL blow a golfball - baseball size hole in a squirrel, god knows what it will do to a little bird. Thats meat wasted. You can shoot the FMJ but then its gotta be headshots because a zippy FMJ will pass straight through small game, they will crawl in a small hole and die. I've tested this.

Good 22lr ammo = $ .6 cents
Good 17HMR ammo = $ .25 cents

[AJAX22]

I have a 22/20 gauge over under break action savage that works great for survival.... 22lr for small game, 20 gauge bird shot for small birds, 20 gauge slugs for medium game.

[fusionstar]

I have a 22/20 gauge over under break action savage that works great for survival.... 22lr for small game, 20 gauge bird shot for small birds, 20 gauge slugs for medium game.

that would be the ultimate survival rifle.

I never even thought about duel barreled rifle/shotgun combos.

edit: someone is going to say.. the AK or AR15 would be the ultimate rifle..
well yea. for communist invasions or zombies..

[pat4wd]

yea.. but have you seen what a little hmr vermin bullet does to small game? It WILL blow a golfball - baseball size hole in a squirrel, god knows what it will do to a little bird. Thats meat wasted. You can shoot the FMJ but then its gotta be headshots because a zippy FMJ will pass straight through small game, theyw ill crawl in a small hole and die. I've tested this.

Good 22lr ammo = $ .6 cents
Good 17HMR ammo = $ .25 cents

solid bullets are not bad at all.. the hollow points do make a mess..

Go for the inbetween.. the 17hm2.. I have built a couple of these with a 10-22.. VERY accurate and less then half the cost of a hmr.. but still move out at 2100fps..

[fusionstar]

ahh the good ol 17hm2 but 22lr would be easier to find. 22lr ammo is as easy to get your hands on as gonorrhea.

[Black Majik]

Does Springfield Armory still produce the M6 Scout rifle?

[pat4wd]

.. if you going to be in the middle of the Sierra nevadas.. there are no ammo shops.. so it will be just as hard to come across 22lr.. You would want to have all the ammo you need before going.. There is no doubt the 22lr is a good all around round.. cheap for sure.. I would want something with a little more suds though..

[AJAX22]

I don't like the springfield M6's because I'm not confident that a .410 can take down medium game.

but basicly it is the same concept.

[AJAX22]

This is what I have:

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=123789350