When it comes to Survival Rifles, the
best option will largely depend on the intended use for the
rifle. This page will discuss some of the options
available in the context of wilderness survival and
personal survival situations.
There are essentially only two uses for
a survival rifle:
1) To kill game for food.
2) For use as a personal protection
weapon.
For hiking, backpacking, canoeing, or even flying over remote areas for example, or
situations where you dont actually intend to use the
rifle except in an emergency, smaller and lighter is usually
better. A lot of people choose to carry a handgun, which
is ok for personal protection, but in most cases not a very
good choice as a survival weapon. Chances are, if you have to
use this weapon in this scenario, you will be trying to feed
yourself. If you have to hit a squirrel or other small game
from any sort of distance, you need the accuracy that only a rifle
can provide. The best choice for this situation would be a
lightweight compact .22LR caliber rifle. Here are some good
choices to fulfill this need:
Do you own a survival rifle you would like to share with our visitors ? Post a picture of it here, and tell us about it. Why do you choose it as your survival rifle ? Have you made any modifications to it ?
(I protect the privacy of my visitors, you do not need to post your name if you dont want to.)
Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...
M4 Carbine





Ok, Riddle this with holes.
There are two many choices. What are you preparing for? The Zombies, End of the World (2012), Fall of the Economy/Government ...
Bolt action .22 magnum w/ fixed sights and scope





While the potential for a catastrophic encounter w/ the beasties (bears, lions, etc...) exists- I believe that the best survival weapon is a .22 magnum ...
Ruger 44 carbine





I have an old model Ruger semi-auto 44 magnum carbine. it loads like a pump shotgun from the bottom, and has plenty of power for 2 or 4 leg predators....
My Springfield M6 scout survival rifle





After dropping my Henry AR7 survival rifle and snapping off one of the plastic ears that wrap around the receiver effectively rendering the rifle useless ...
M1A "Loaded"





Yes, it's heavy, but it's also of a caliber that will kill anything in North America. People will argue it won't kill a grizzly or brown bear, forgettign ...
Savage model 24s..22lr/20gauge





This is a combo 22lr and 20 gauge shotgun..The neat think about mine is its take down feature..Open the action up,lower a small lever and the forearm comes ...
Unidentified .22





I am trying to find out info on a .22 rifle that does not have any wood on it.. just metal frame... no serial number... too old... does say springfield ...
savage 24s-a





this is an over under with 22wmr over an 20ga shotgun. It weights in a little over 8lbs but verry handy in every situation. will kill all game small and ...
My Saiga .223





I bought my Saiga .223 before they became popular here in the US. I wanted a rifle that shot .223. I'm a soldier and that's what I was used to. I really ...
12 gauge shotgun





most of the old woodman and pionner have a 12 gauge side by side shotgun for protection or for hunding many different animal ex.(bear,deer,rabbit,goose)...
Springfield SOCOM 16 M1A





Springfield SOCOM 16 M1A, This rifle chambered in .308 is accurate, extremely reliable, and very compact for a .308. Add a 25 round magazine and a sling ...
.300 savage





i have a .300 savage model 99. it is a lever action rifle with a pistol-type revolver chamber for holding the shells that are contained inside. it is in ...
Ruger 10/22





As you can see I have made some changes to my rifle. I replaced the wooden stock with a muzzelight bullpup stock. Added a Tasco red/green dot scope ...
Marlin 1894C





I have a Marlin 1894C in .357 Magnum. It is a very handy little rifle. I like that is uses the same ammo as my revolver. While I have other firearms, the ...
1911 .45





For survival, I suggest that .22LR papoose because it's light, it breaks down for easy carry, it runs dirty, and you can carry plenty of ammunition. Contrary ...
Winchester model 94 in 30-30





With a Williams aperture sight it is plenty accurate enough to bag a bunny or up to muleys and beyond. Powerful enough to put down most North American ...
Siaga .223





The Siaga can come in .223, 7.62x39, .308, 12ga, 20ga, or 410 with magazine sizes from 5-30 rounds. They use an AK-47 bolt and operating system so they ...
Savage 4.10/.22 under/over





this gun can shoot a .22 in any size and shoot a 4.10 of bird shot or buck shot or a slug and it can shoot a 41 mag pistol round.
Marlin .44 Cal Lever Action carbine





Kept it over the years. First used as a Whitetail Deer brush gun for short range in heavy cover. I also had a S&W model 29 (yeah I know its a heavy sucker)...
marlin model 60 sb





I see marlin model 60 as the ultimate survival rifle as it is proven, sturdy, stainless all weather barrel and has no magazines to lose or get damaged ...
Remington Rimfire 597 ss





Really strong and very reliable. I would take my Remington 597 over anything. Its got a ten round mag and i use the iron sights. Ammo is cheap and there'...
Winchester 9422 22 WMR (still available used)





This is my second post, the winchester 9422M, one of my favorite rifles, and of course another rimfire. I believe the 22 mag is totally underrated and ...
Kel-Tec SU-16 (any variant/color)





The Kel-Tec SU-16 B model has very good sights. Foldable and will fit in a backpack.
5.56 NATO or .223 can be used. Will store two 10rd Mags in the stock....
Marlin 336SS





I bought the 336SS based on availability of rifle, decent ammo to care of most problems, cost and availability of ammo. I have plenty experience with M-...
model 54 30-30





The model 54 30-30 is a perfect combination of size capacity and just enough power along with a 10 round bullet band and a strap it fills almost all survival ...
baikal combo or savage combo





for me a combo rifle is the best choice I know the savage combo is out of production but baikal produce a lot of interesting combos like :
22lr/...
ruger 10/22





My Ruger 10-22: stainless steel with composite stock. Its got a tasco 3x9-40 scope on it and a sling i also keep a spare 25 round mag on the stock. Its ...
Marlin 45/70 or shotgun with slugs





An AK or SKS takes a 7.62x39 round which, in my opinion, is a horrible choice for anything besides its intended purpose-a cheap military bullet. It has ...
Mossberg 500 Persuader .12 gauge





I bought the Mossberg 500 persuader for home protection and if I ever need to defend my castle or family in a crisis situation. Good firepower with 8 ...
springfield m6 survival rifle





Great over and under design featuring a 22 chambered for either long rifle or Hornet round over a .410 shot gun. There is also a in gun storage placement ...
Remington nylon 66 rifle / 30-06 Win lightweight McMillanStk2x7 Leopld





The Eskimo Scouts of WW2 fame wanted a 30/05 bolt rifle and a Colt Woodman 22 pistol and their own knife. No one is a better survivalist than them. I have ...
stoeger 2000





A shotgun hands down. It is the most versitile. No offence .22 fans, but theres a reason cops don't carry .22s. Buck shot and slugs have a proven track ...
Marlin 39 TDS





This rifle is a variation of the Model 39 lever .22 and is no longer made. It has a 16" barrel and a slimmer fore arm and weighs 5lbs. It came with the ...
My options based on my experiences...





I've gone with a variation of the M-4 carbine in .223/5.56 caliber. My M-4 has a low power optic on it which is a 1 to 4 power Millett DMS-1 Tactical Scope....
Browning 92 lever rifle in .357 magnum





Having grown up on a ranch in South Texas I became aware early on in life of the importance of firearms, especially when working and roaming in the brushlands....
Yugo SKS M59/66A1





I was lookin through the site and noticed that no one has put up anything on an SKS, maybe I am blind but I decided to add this on to help inform people ...
Marlin 1895 in 45-70





I have many rifles but I use the Marlin as my primary survival Rifle in 45-70 caliber. I back it up with a Ruger Redhawk in 44 mag with 300 grain bullet....
My Marlin 1894 .44 magnum





One of my favorite survival rifles is the lever action Marlin 1894 in .44 magnum. It holds 11 rounds of ammunition. The Marlin 1894 comes with ballard ...
fr 7 spainsh mauser





What a great weapon ,it is cheap to shoot .308 cal, short barrel, low maintenance, and has a bayonet and sling. Got it for buck fifty, good for all around ...
My Semi-Auto Ak-47




It was cheap and will function in the most hostile of places. The ammo price is also dirt cheap.I shoot steel cased ammo of course lol.
my cx4 berretta storm .45 acp




Beretta cx4 Storm:
This gun is accurate up to 100yds but in reality was made for 50yds and closer. It only weighs 6lbs with a 2x red dot and sling. For ...
The LIst goes on...




Well, the truth is I have a myriad of use specific rifles, but what I am writing here approaches something I have seen that makes people give up on preparation....
My Marlin 336W, 30/30 lever action with plain iron sights




I bought mine off the shelf and intend to use it as my primary survival/defences rifle. It's light and solid enough for my purpose and has a very good ...
Henry Survival Rifle / AR-7




I keep my Henry Survival Rifle, which when taken apart and stored in the hollow stock, fits neatly in my "go bag", a Camelback Commander backpack.
Total ...
Ruger Mini 14/30




The problem when talking about the best "survival rifle", is that it really depends on the scenario. Are we talking about throwing something in the backpack ...
Survival Rifle



I have this survival rifle and i don't know anything about it,it says AIRSHOT survival rifle,made in brazil by Forjas Taurus S.A,cal..177 (4.5mm)diabolo ...
ruger 10/22



I have a Ruger 10/22 with a muzzlelight stock reducing the overall length to 27 inches. This stock is a 2 piece "Shell" converting it to a Bullpup ...
NEF Handi Rifle .223



I own a H&R Handi Rifle and i think its great. Its very accurate and although its barrel weight can be a bit hefty after a long day of hiking it makes ...
Barnett Quad 400 Cross Bow



I know this is not a rifle or pistol. But fire arms are not the only weapons that apply to survival situations. There are many different ideas of what ...
My Winchester Model 94 .30-.30
Not rated yet
The .30-.30 is not necessarialy my favorite deer rifle for long range shots, but in Florida and Georgia where I hunt, it is definitely a good all around ...
Kel-Tec PLR-16
Not rated yet
I weighed my plr-16 with a full clip of .223 fmj ammo (30-rnd pmag) and it was just about 4lbs. I think you could hit animals at 100 yards with the factory ...
HEH, I like em ALL:)
Not rated yet
While one can argue this rifle or that, I think that RIFLE is the key word here. IT sort of reminds of the term "gun fight" people think the key word is ...
AK 47
Not rated yet
Well lets see mine has expensive but needed parts.
AK 47
-Full rail system
- krebs safety(m4 style)
-krebs piston
-m4 style flash hider
-folding ...
Rossi .22/.410 Matched Pair ( for Youth)
Not rated yet
Rossi sells a single-shot .22 rifle/.410 shotgun made by Taurus in Brazil. The .22 rifle barrel OR the .410 shotgun barrel attach to the same black stock ...
WASR-10 (Romanian AK 47) semi auto
Not rated yet
While its not the best rifle for ranges over 400 yards, the WASR-10 ak47 in my opinion, is the best survival rifle you could buy. Jams and failures are ...
Marlin Papoose take-down in floating case
Not rated yet
This is the only semi auto you should choose for survival use.
S/S barrel and action with a high density plastic stock, it is the rifle i wish i would ...
Ruger 10/22 Bullpup
Not rated yet
I do a lot of camping/hiking in upstate NY and Maine. Having to travel light I tend to get my food "On the way..." I disliked the weight of my stock ...
MossBerg 702 Plinkster
Not rated yet
This is an accurate, lightweight and reliable 22, that does not require lots of maintenance. Clips change out quickly as well. It's excellent for rabbit,...
8MM MAUSER
Not rated yet
It is hard to sacrifice anything when it comes to your rifle. Next to your brain it is the most important survival tool you will ever own. I found out ...
#1 Lt wt win 30/06 McMillan stk 2x7 lepld wvr rings and bases still has iornsites/Nylon 66 rem 22lr and a 44 mag SW
Not rated yet
The Win 30/06 barely weighs 7 lbs the wvr rings and bases can be quickly detached to use ironsite, The Nylon 66 is dependable lite and more accurate than ...
High Power Air Rifle
Not rated yet
Nobody has really mentioned using a high power air rifle as a survival gun. If you just need a weapon that will put some meat on your campfire, a good ...
USGI M14/M1A Federal Ordnance...Smith and Wesson 1911 .45
Not rated yet
Full size, 7.62/51mm (.308) carry at least when backpacking for 2 days plus, or in situation where I may need a rifle to feed/ defend. Usually in un-familiar ...
H&K model 91 .308 winchester
Not rated yet
My rifle is a stock H&K 91 chambered in .308 Winchester. It has 20 round magazines, built in folding bipod, and the best factory sights on any rifle ...
Remington 700 - .308 Winchester
Not rated yet
ADL. Floated barrel. Trigger lightened to about 4 pounds. Forward scope mount with Leupold scout scope. Williams aperture iron sights. Blackhawk ammo carrier....
armalite ar-10
Not rated yet
chambered in the venerable .308 its only 8.2 lbs it shoots sub moa meaning it will out shoot many hunting rifles. it has 20 round magazines. its a breeze ...
Modified Marlin .22 MAGNUM Bolt Action Rifle
Not rated yet
The .22 MAGNUM is a sensible survival cartridge for the man who just has what he can carry: all the size and weight advantages of a .22 long rifle with ...
My Auto Ordnance M1 Carbine
Not rated yet
I choose the M1 Carbine because it seems to possess the benefits of both worlds or extremes if I may call them that. The rifle itself is lightweight at ...
my 30-30 Roebuck & CO rifle
Not rated yet
This is an old rifle. My grandpa gave it to me as a birthday present for my fourteenth birthday. However, it shoots like a brand-new gun. All it took was ...
Browning BAR .308
Not rated yet
This is my survival rifle simply because it is the rifle I own and use the most. It is from the 1970s and I bought it used for about $700 (I don't know ...
My Tullie Fusil DeChase Trade Gun
Not rated yet
Ive caried a .62 cal.42" flint lock for the past 15 years.It has put a fair bit of meat over the fire. From squrrl.rabbit.phesent.goose.deer.and elk. Ive ...
My Remington nylon 66
Not rated yet
My Fellow Americans,
Sorry, but that really hits the mark.I am a police officer and
ex-military. God bless and send those over there home safe ...
Henry AR-7/ AR-7 Industries custom
Not rated yet
Henry AR-7 Survival,, black teflon coated. AR-7 Industrie's target crowned 161/4 bull barrel with 3/4 length aluminum heat shield/ forend. AR-7 industrie'...
Mauser .300 win mag
Not rated yet
Iown an Interarms Mark X mauser action rife in .300 Winchester Magnum.
It is the perfect survival rifle to go ALONG with a .22 of your choice.
It will ...
Best overall survival rifle is...
Not rated yet
To me, the best overall survival rifle is a civilian legal clone of an AK-47. The rifle should have a folding stock and a side-mounted 4X or 4 power magnification ...
Savage 93FSS .22WMR
Not rated yet
The Savage 93 is light, rugged, simple and accurate. The .22mag ammo adds a little weight but nothing like centerfire and adds considerably to punch without ...
Winchester Model 94AE Trapper, .357 mag. cal.
Not rated yet
The versatility of this rifle is it's strength. For "survival" scenarios, this is the one I have.
Size: It weighs 6lbs. 10oz.(with a sling). Not ...
Henry .22 lever action rifle
Not rated yet
I use this because I can shoot shorts, long, long rifle, which makes for the ability to have lots of ammo on hand. I have killed deer with a head shot ...
My marlin model 1894 carbine.
Not rated yet
I think it would make an ideal survival rifle because mine holds 10 rounds of 44 mag or 44 spl its fast light weight and easy to manuver i use mine for ...
Hi Standard 7-18 12 gauge Riot Gun.
Not rated yet
When using the right ammunition in the Hi Standard 7-18, for the task at hand, this weapon, in my opinion, is second to none for close quarter survival ...
Taurus Thunderbolt .357 magnum
Not rated yet
14+1 capacity. 26" barrel. The new leverevolution ammo is faster and more acurate than most. Safe, simple and fun. Probably longer and heavier than ...