Survival Rifle/ Sierra Nevada

[supermario]

I have been searching for a Remington 700 in 223. but cant seem to find one in your $400 price range. They seem to go for more. I bought my Rem700 in 30-06 for $350 from walmart when they still sold rifles. I will keep looking.

[maxicon]

For long-term hiking, total weight, compactness, and ammo choice are pretty critical. If you're already carrying an 870 and ammo, that's a pretty heavy load for hiking already. Two long guns and ammo will really add up.

If you're going to stick with the 870, I'd get an accurate, reliable .22 pistol or revolver to supplement it.

Otherwise, I'd think about the Savage 24C or the M6. The Savage is a perfect ammo combo in .22/20g IMO, as others mentioned - a few kinds of .22 ammo and some 20g bird/buck/slugs would cover about everything. The main problems are that it's bulky and heavy, and it's not a good defense weapon due to the slow rate of fire. It's great for small and medium game, though.

The M6 is more portable and sturdy, if a little weird, and .410 slugs still pack a pretty good wallop. It's also got a slow rate of fire.

Too bad the AR7 is a piece of junk - it would be a great combo with the 870.

Here's my page on the 24C and ways to pack it:

http://maxicon.com/guns/savage_24c.htm

[1lostinspace]

hell for that matter take a keltec su16ca.. Plent of power for most, folds up , and is light.. I dont know about small birds.. good pack rifle.. i had one and it was pretty accurate

Or maybe a 22mag lever action.. Yea.. dependable, accurate and light

A kel tec is great at FTE and breaking down when you needed the most, I sent my 5 times the last time it broke in half
Sent that POS back and got a refund that I build my first AR 15 with.
Never had a problem with my AR well until I mounted a FSC556, took it off never had a problem since. But if your talking about living in the woods AK is far better choice then anything else out there period.

[Mississippi]

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

FOr only 400 you can forget any kind of AR15.

[mif_slim]

I'd say a Kel-Tec Su-16. Their .223 Rem. IF you reload, you can make sub-sonic loads to shoot squarrels and full-load for deers and bears. I dont think any animals in CA can servive a .223 round. I've shot plenty of Bears, Boars, 8 point (western sytle count) deers with them and they all knock down with my 1st shot. I've shot squarrels with my reduced loads and their pretty clean. Just aim for the head. Its not that hard.

Reason why I wouldnt go with 22LR is that if your hiking long ways, 22LR isnt the most reliable ammo to take out. I use to hunt alot with 22LR and in wet weather, the ammo goes bad. about 1/3 of my bunch wouldnt fire. That got me thinking that if I'd ever run into a SHTF in the woods (ex: bear encounter), its just unreliable. 17HMR, I think might have the same problem, but I havent confirmed it either so I wouldnt know.

[mif_slim]

A kel tec is great at FTE and breaking down when you needed the most, I sent my 5 times the last time it broke in half
Sent that POS back and got a refund that I build my first AR 15 with.
Never had a problem with my AR well until I mounted a FSC556, took it off never had a problem since. But if your talking about living in the woods AK is far better choice then anything else out there period.

Not true. I own a CMMG AR and DPMS AR and they both jam 10x more then my SU-16 Bravo. Dont get me wrong. I love AR's, their just too tollerance picky. What my AR short strokes and doesnt chamber correctly, my SU eats up with no problem.

Just in case, I clean all my rifles after every session. If I dont shoot over 2 months, I clean them even thought their already clean. And yes, I studied in Gun smithing, so I know how to clean a gun.

[Humboldt]

Remember bears and mountain lions live in CA

[BillyGoatMachine]

You do not need a .223 (kel-tec or AR)for a pack rifle. It's overkill for hunting small game. Their will be nothing left of your kill. Plus if you ever miss your first shot, every creature within ten miles will hear you and vacate the area. The only time i would want one is for self defense against a large predator. I've spent my whole life in and out of the woods and only wished I had one once(stalked by a bear for 20 min). I ended up not needing a gun because it never attacked. Other than that, a .22lr or .22 mag will be fine. I still think .22 mag would be plenty. Light, accurate, ammo weighs near nothing. Don't bring a big gun because your afraid of nature.

[andrewj]

The Mini 14/30 is a great utility rifle. May be a bit overpowered out there though. Last time I went hiking in the Sierras I carried a Walther G22. I didnt like it. Long story short, Im selling the G22 now.

[1lostinspace]

Not true. I own a CMMG AR and DPMS AR and they both jam 10x more then my SU-16 Bravo. Dont get me wrong. I love AR's, their just too tollerance picky. What my AR short strokes and doesnt chamber correctly, my SU eats up with no problem.

Just in case, I clean all my rifles after every session. If I dont shoot over 2 months, I clean them even thought their already clean. And yes, I studied in Gun smithing, so I know how to clean a gun.

that's so funny. Hey I heard that after 50 years of service the US government is replacing the aging M16 with the SU-16Bravo lol bro we all have shot keltecs the are POS period.


for $400 one word "Saiga"

[mif_slim]

You do not need a .223 (kel-tec or AR)for a pack rifle. It's overkill for hunting small game. Their will be nothing left of your kill. Plus if you ever miss your first shot, every creature within ten miles will hear you and vacate the area. The only time i would want one is for self defense against a large predator. I've spent my whole life in and out of the woods and only wished I had one once(stalked by a bear for 20 min). I ended up not needing a gun because it never attacked. Other than that, a .22lr or .22 mag will be fine. I still think .22 mag would be plenty. Light, accurate, ammo weighs near nothing. Don't bring a big gun because your afraid of nature.

I agree to a point. I've hunted my entire life too, maybe its just my luck, but I was stalked by a Mt. Lion in D-8 and D-4, I encountered two bears and one charged me (D-5), luckly I knocked em down at 16 yards with a slug (I shot all three rounds, the first two was #4 bird shot and the last was the slug). One of my hunting party was semi-attacked by a mother bear, the mother bear came 3-4 yards away before it ran off in a diffrent direction. He had shot all his bird shots in the air to scare it off. This was in D-4. In B zone a bear came and ramed our truck! WTF?! crazy bear, luckly we were inside, but it was archery season and, yeah, cant shoot from a car. Sounds like its not true but it is, and it didnt happen within a short spand, it happend through a 17 year spand.

I do really agree on, if your afraid of nature.

that's so funny. Hey I heard that after 50 years of service the US government is replacing the aging M16 with the SU-16Bravo lol bro we all have shot keltecs the are POS period.

wait, M16 were crap at first wasnt it? My Father almost died from a VC because his M16 jammed after 3 rounds. Every gun has its good and bad. Maybe you shot a sour SU, I agree, there are plenty of sour SU, but my SU hasnt let me down one bit, so, Im talking about my experiance. And, I still stand on AR jamming. I own two that jams like crazy, so I cant say their the greatest....wait, their still a little crappy, but I love to use them for L-R competition.

[1lostinspace]

I agree to a point. I've hunted my entire life too, maybe its just my luck, but I was stalked by a Mt. Lion in D-8 and D-4, I encountered two bears and one charged me (D-5), luckly I knocked em down at 16 yards with a slug (I shot all three rounds, the first two was #4 bird shot and the last was the slug). One of my hunting party was semi-attacked by a mother bear, the mother bear came 3-4 yards away before it ran off in a diffrent direction. He had shot all his bird shots in the air to scare it off. This was in D-4. In B zone a bear came and ramed our truck! WTF?! crazy bear, luckly we were inside, but it was archery season and, yeah, cant shoot from a car. Sounds like its not true but it is, and it didnt happen within a short spand, it happend through a 17 year spand.

I do really agree on, if your afraid of nature.



wait, M16 were crap at first wasnt it? My Father almost died from a VC because his M16 jammed after 3 rounds. Every gun has its good and bad. Maybe you shot a sour SU, I agree, there are plenty of sour SU, but my SU hasnt let me down one bit, so, Im talking about my experiance. And, I still stand on AR jamming. I own two that jams like crazy, so I cant say their the greatest.

Lol you obviously don't know the History of the AR15/AR10/M16 involving Springfield arsenal. Lol Kel tec I am sorry that's so funny to me.
I have been reloading and shooting the AR platform for along time and can tell you that it's the one of the best rifles ever made.
I will say that the B model is far more reliable then the C
A friend of mine has one it jams from time to time especially when loading M855 or M193 but over all a better rifle then the C.
Sounds like there is something wrong with your mag lips or extractor or you have not cleaned your chamber.

[mif_slim]

So whats the history? From what I know, M16 came into the millitary being said that its made with "space aged" material and to be more reliable in the 1960's, but our boys were being killed because of jamming issues, then, they issued a cleaning kit to help out on the issue of jamming, which worked, but in a battle, can you really clean a gun and fight? Even until this day, the direct impingement dumped back into the mechanics isnt perfect. Why else did they create piston driven AR's? But, Im not going to get into a debate of which gun is better, Im just saying plain and simple, my AR james more then my SU and I acknowledge that KT SU arnt the best gun ever built either.

[supermario]

that's so funny. Hey I heard that after 50 years of service the US government is replacing the aging M16 with the SU-16Bravo lol bro we all have shot keltecs the are POS period.


for $400 one word "Saiga"

I own and have shot alot of cheap ammo out of my SU16 and it has never jammed, NEVER! I have shot Ar's and even when clean have jammed. So dont under estimate a POS keltec. Its kinda funny like when you see at the range a 2k custom 1911 jamm and a POS Hi Point keep on shooting without jamming. I own cheap and expensive rifles, expensive rifles arent always worth the $$$ and cheap guns are always cheap!

[DisgruntledReaper]

Interesting thread..

I have my own opinions and maybe I would be over doing it but-
A carbine rifle of your choice and personal parameters-cal,weight,action,etc
a handgun -either as PP OR game getter-22 lr-action-personal preference
a compact shotgun if desired.

Now if you have a rifle-has do do duty as protection and game hunting and the 223 or 762x39 will work(have read rteport that AK round is ballistically similar to a 3030 in some areas.). I think a military rifle such as an AK would be great due to simple design,robustness,etc....THERE I said it...also I think there should be NO wood on it due to the climate and longterm exposure to elements,but that is me.

IF you carry a 22lr or similar rifle, then the handgun must take over PP.

I think a 22lr,a shot gun and a good handgun would be a good setup, just have to decide all the situations you THINK you may reasonably find your self in.

There is no easy answer and granted, 30-30 may be easier to find in some areas over 223/AK rounds...that is another thing to consider..WHAT geographical areas do you think you will find yourself in?


OH BTW-I have to post this because I got it for $425 as seen and although I will catch flak for it,it will make a good camp gun for me..going to post particulars later in the rifle man area. So you never know what will show up.