homesteading/survival gun

[hounddog25]

the most used gun on my homestead is the 22 rifle or my 22 browning pistol.i know a lot of folks like to have AR-15,SKS and the like.i know these guns would have a place ...like in a fire fight.BUT...for most of us the 22 rifle is the gun for us.during summer time is a varmint is raiding the garden(groundhog) or crows and blackbirds in the corn.well the 22 rifle is the gun to take care of these problems. most of my centerfire rifles see very little use in day to day living.

weight...22's are mostly light in weight and the ammo is very light compared to shotgun and centerfire rifle ammo.so carrying it around all day you have less fatigue on the arms.the 22 is my main gun for my homestead and it also would be my gun in a true survival situation for all of the above factors.

anyone looking to get a top quality handgun should look at the browning automatic.they are top notch in my opinion and super accurate.

[mike692]

22 and 12 gauge. You can kill anything that walks, or crawls with those. The ammo is still relatively inexpensive too.

An ideal gun would be a 22/12gauge over under but those Henry Survival 22's are nice. The entire gun folds up and fits inside the waterproof stock.

[woodsman416]

How about the old Savage Model 24's. They came in .22 over 20ga., 30-30 over 12 ga. and probably some others.

[mike692]

Jan 20, 2009 11:18:13 GMT -5 woodsman416 said:

How about the old Savage Model 24's. They came in .22 over 20ga., 30-30 over 12 ga. and probably some others.

I had one. A 22mag over a 20 gauge. Gave it back to my ex.

[patricimo54]

I'll have to agree with you HD .22 is a good all around cartridge. I keep my single shot Savage leaning behind the front door in case needed for dogs chasing stock or other varmints. I normally shoot CCI CB Longs. Although I am in the county there are neighbors all around. I don't like to bring attention to what I have to do to protect my sheep and there is less of a chance of "friendly fire" damage with the CB Longs. If you are not familiar with the cartridge they are great. Out of a rifle about the only noise they make is upon impact. Thats right folks a legal silencer. I am with you woodsman on the Savage 24. I had one .22 hornet and 20ga. That's right had. What I have now for my "float the river" or survival rig is a Ruger Mark 1 w/a 6" barrel and a Springfield/CZ Model 6 Scout over and under in .22 hornet and .410.

[Admin]

I have a 22/20ga over & under and it's the handiest gun I've ever owned.

[rustytrap]

Jan 20, 2009 19:23:36 GMT -5 Admin said:

I have a 22/20ga over & under and it's the handiest gun I've ever owned.

i never had one but have friends that have them really handy weapon

[adk]

I also have a Savage 24 in .22 mag/20 ga; very handy gun I use often, but the most-used weapon I own would be the Ruger 10-22 HANDS DOWN. Tough, reliable, deadly accurate, and .22 ammo is still relatively cheap.

[penokeemtn5]

For shooting rabbits and what not a .22 is fine for sure,But if you want an all around survival gun,that is to use in any instance i would have to say a 12 ga. pump would have to be it.I'm not a big shotgun guy buy anymeans i only own 2 but from slugs to buckshot to birdshot you can cover most bases if you carry a small possibles bag with a few rounds of each load.

[ninedeer]

I'd have to agree 12 ga would have to be my pick.Huntin,home defense,multi-use gun.Reloading shells is easy.You can kill big or little critters.

[Deleted]

.22 of course.
They are capable of taking down small game without destroying meat or skin, can also be used on birds and have also been used to good effect by commercial venison hunters here to take all the deer species we have right up to Elk, Rusa and Sambar as long as you can place your shot well.
I have used a .22 on Goats and pigs in the past and would not hesitate to do so again if need be.

[ninedeer]

maarty welcome to the swamp,New Zealand WOW you be far away.What kind of trapping do you do in New Zealand. It is very interesting to hear from others that are in different parts of the Trapping community.

[Deleted]

Feb 16, 2009 1:46:58 GMT -5 ninedeer said:

maarty welcome to the swamp,New Zealand WOW you be far away.What kind of trapping do you do in New Zealand. It is very interesting to hear from others that are in different parts of the Trapping community.

Thanks for the welcome.
We trap, Australian brush tailed possums for their fur or for their skins, rabbits, hares, stoats, ferrets, etc for skins but mainly for pest control and I personally also trap feral cats and dogs at times as part of my job.
I was a bit surprised at the prices you guys were getting for furs there, a possum skin here sells for around $8 NZ and plucked possum fur sells for anywhere from $75 to $150 per kilo which requires around 30 possums harvested. Not too bad at all when you think in one night spotlighting I have shot as many as 200 possums.
We have seven types of deer to hunt as well as goats, pigs and sometimes feral cattle and sheep plus some of the best game bird hunting anywhere.
We don't have any native mammals other than two bats so everything we hunt and trap is introduced and has generally become or been considered a pest at some time. Even our big game animals were (and still are in some quarters) considered a pest, as are some birds like turkeys, peacocks and, in some areas at times, ducks and Canada geese.

[kendwell]

Most used is nylon 66 .22, standard load is aguila SSS 60 gr, subsonic, accurate, occasional prblem with racoons around pig feed trash bbls. hard to find, and expensive, but standard load 5 rounds at all times ready to chamber by the back door.

swede mauser, chopped new surplus 20" bbl, so muzzle doesn't hit the dirt, adjustable peep sights, timney trigger, chopped stock,200 meter zero. handloads with 140 gr lyman cast, for everything but deer, 139 gr softpoint for that.