If I thought the wilderness was a real option to access and that it would not be overrun by people fleeing the city, (which I think it will be) the idea would be shoot, move and avoid people / crowds. I would want a .22 rifle, a shotgun and MAYBE a pistol and a backpack with a water purifier / filter a good knife and fire making material. and here is why:
I can fit 1000 rounds of .22 ammo in a pair of cargo shorts. I would survive off small game. (squirrels, rabbits, etc.) a deer would be of little or no use for me, given the ability to process a whole deer, the ability to preserve the meat, and the ability to transport. it just isn't practical.
I want a 12 gauge for bigger game, birds and self protection. I prefer a 12 gauge to a pistol for self protection whenever possible, Just because it feels better to me.
If I had the capacity, I would add a 308, to kill people far away, and a pistol, when I am just too close to people to adequately wield the shotgun.
Consider a 30-30. A bit more dual purpose than a .22. Deer are not hard to process as long as you aren't trying to make ground meat out of it.
Like many complex questions, the answer to this one is "It depends." If it's a minor SHTF for less than a week, I'm sheltering in place. If it will be longer, I'll retreat to the family farm where people I trust can share the workload of survival. I've lived for 2 weeks in the woods with people hunting me and traveling light. It is a shit ton of work. I'm not leaving my wife and daughter who have essentially zero survival skills other than shooting, so I'm going to be doing the work of 3 people. That is much simpler if I can shelter in place where I have a good supply of fresh water and wild game and easily defended. The trade off at the farm is it is a much larger area and the home sets in the lower areas and you could keep concealed to well within small arms range. You will run through ambush lanes to do it though. Having family there to work gardens, pull water and protect livestock with a well supplied shop to work with or without electricity makes it very appealing. I would need to travel about 1.5 hours to get there by normal roads, there are multiple alternatives to travel there that get up to 2 hours. It would take a very specific fire to hurt me as I am on a peninsula. I have a solid basement for a tornado. No significant tactical targets for war other than the dam that makes the lake, so it gets pretty strange to plan around after that. The key is a wide skillset, the possession of appropriate assets, ability to prioritize, and the mentality to survive. In that sense, I'm far better off than most.
Can you carry a 1000 rounds of 30-30 in your cargo shorts?
You shoot small game with a 30-30... The noise alone is a reason against the rifle.
Have you ever shot a squirrel with a 30-30? How much damage was done to the meat??
How are you carrying and storing that deer meat? You don't have refrigeration? are you lugging around a cooler and running to the stop & go for ice?
Sure, you can make some NICE jerky, but how much time do you have to do that? You got a smoke house somewhere and a week?
A deer is fine in a fortification, it is not practical in a move and evade situation (TO ME).
The closet thing I've lived through is Hurricanes, and true grid lock. Like old folks dying on the roads in Houston, because there was no way to move them due to traffic and abandon vehicles blocking all roads and no gas available. This Bug-out situation would likely look like that.
But Mike Tyson said it best "Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth" And everybody has a plan until there is no fuel available, no roads that are passable, and no power.
Right now, How many of ya'll have enough gas in your junk to bug out in the fashion you are talking about???
A thousand rounds in my shorts? WTF would I do that? I've ate for a week straight and not even needed to reload. You don't plan on changing your shorts?
You think an animal doesn't hear your stealthy .22?
Yes, I've shot many squirrels and rabbits with a 30-30 and the meat is no less damaged and even easier to prepare than when I shoot them with a preferred .410. It's not a fuckin howitzer. Ideally, a pellet gun works best in my experience. I didn't say the 30-30 was best at anything. I said more versatile. One of the things a lot of people underestimate is what happens to pet dogs in a long term situation. A lot of people talk shit about how they would do anything for their dog. I've lived out long enough to see hundreds of abandoned dogs in my day so I'm going to say not everyone actually lives that out. One of the most terrifying things in the world is a pack of domestic dogs that have gone feral. I'd dam sure rather be defending with something that has some knock down.
First off, I don't have to carry and store shit. It's a survival situation, ethics change about using everything. I can cut the backstraps out grill the steaks and leave the rest for the wildlife. If I don't go far, I may even kill off that bait. If I choose to, I can filet and smoke salted meat over night while I sleep so long as I leave the raw carcass out of camp. It will keep for a while like that without going full jerky. All I need is saplings and a tarp. Like I said, I'll be feeding 3 people on the move burning calories. I deer is only going to give about 70lbs of meet if I take everything.
Where I live there is no gridlock and the only place I'm going to go is only marginally better than where I start from so I'm in no hurry to hit the road until I can figure out there is a way. My oil burner will burn a lot of shit if needed. Mike Tyson is right. That's why you have to be flexible and able to think on your feet. Plans change.
Here is the debate.I don't change my shorts now, why would I do it in an apocalypses??
I am not worried about noise because of 4 legged animals, it's PEOPLE I am trying to avoid. And have you shot a modern pellet gun? not much quieter than a .22 (especially not a .22 with a can).
I've finished a few road hit deer with a 22. You have to be very accurate for a clean kill but its doable.5.56 - If that's too big of a round for what you're hunting, find bigger animals.
Naw, I'd say 22. Can't imagine deer hunting with one though.
Meanwhile I got a through and through with a 30-30 and trailed it for 2.5 miles only to lose it.I've finished a few road hit deer with a 22. You have to be very accurate for a clean kill but its doable.
That's the poachers favorite round. They sneak up on 'em and shoot them in head.5.56 - If that's too big of a round for what you're hunting, find bigger animals.
Naw, I'd say 22. Can't imagine deer hunting with one though.
No shit. huhI grew up in the Ozarks. I would bet there have been more deer in that area killed with a .22lr than any other caliber.
My friend Joe has an AR-7. The only thing I don’t like about them is that the stock feels super fragile.A .22 rifle is light and inconspicuous, especially if it is something like the 10-22 with removable barrel or an AR-7. An AR-7 with everything stowed into the stock will fit into any small backpack or gym bag.
Yours is probably a little better built being older.I have had one since the 70s Never had a problem with the stock. The early ones had a rep for misfeeding but that is fixed with a Dremel and long nose pliers. I expect the new Henrys have that sorted out.
The Mexicans slay deer herds with .22lr in California.5.56 - If that's too big of a round for what you're hunting, find bigger animals.
Naw, I'd say 22. Can't imagine deer hunting with one though.
I have had the Henry version for about 2 years now, bought new, and haven't had feeding issues. Stock seems fine for what it is, not flimsy but not Garand solid either.Yours is probably a little better built being older.
That sucks. But you pushed it. That's on youMeanwhile I got a through and through with a 30-30 and trailed it for 2.5 miles only to lose it.
Shotgun? I couldn't disagree moreAdd me to the .22 list.
That being said, a shotgun over a rifle if you could only have one.
Shotgun? I couldn't disagree more
Yawp. Lesson learned for sure.That sucks. But you pushed it. That's on you