Whether you are lost in the woods, broken down in the desert, or have found yourself in a disaster situation, staying safe or finding food may prove difficult without a proper firearm. You never know what could go wrong, and different survival situations call for different styles of weapons. Here is a list of five great survival guns and what kind of situations they are best suited for.
Chiappa Little Badger
The Chiappa Little Badger is a compact, single-shot rifle that comes chambered in .22 LR, .22 Magnum, or 17 HMR. If you’re using the .17 HMR caliber, make sure to equip the Chiappa Little Badger with a quality 17 HMR scope. It has an M1-style adjustable sight, and the gun folds in half to be easily stored and carried, with a weight of only 2.9 pounds.
Pros: It’s affordable, lightweight, and can fit inside a typical backpack.
Cons: The sights are made of plastic that can be damaged somewhat easily, and the peep hole is small, making it harder to look through.
Best Use: It’s best used for hunting and taking care of pests like snakes or coyotes.
Ruger 10/22 Takedown
The Ruger 10/22 Takedown is a semi-automatic .22 LR rifle that can push out rounds quickly. It contrasts the Chiappa by having a real stock and comb made from polymer to keep it lightweight, and it breaks down into two pieces for portability.
Pros: It’s dependable, accurate, and very customizable. The .22 LR ammunition is cheap and lightweight. It has a rugged synthetic stock, and since it’s an extremely popular gun, you can easily find 10, 15, and 25 round magazines for it.
Cons: It has a rimmed design that conflicts a bit with the slight bulkiness of the magazine.
Best Use: This gun is best used for hunting and defending yourself from predators.
Savage Model 42 Takedown
Weighing a little more than 6 pounds, the Savage Model 42 Takedown is a popular rifle that, like the 10/22, will break down into two pieces. It has a .22 LR or .22 WMR rimfire barrel on top of a .410 shotgun. Both are single shot.
Pros: It’s easy to use and easily breaks down with the push of a button. It has a rimfire barrel on top and a shotgun barrel underneath, which makes it more versatile than other rifles and great for hunting.
Cons: The patterns are small which makes wing shooting a bit harder.
Best Use: It’s best used for hunting small game.
Glock 19
The Glock 19 9mm pistol is semi-automatic staple for law enforcement and conceal carriers alike. It’s known for being a compact, reliable, and simple to operate weapon for personal defense.
Pros: It’s versatile, affordable, great for home defense, and has a moderate recoil. The 9mm has lower pressure rounds that cause less wear on the gun than the .40 S&W and the .45 ACP. With the ability to hold 15 rounds, you can more easily defend against multiple attackers. You can also swap the 15 round magazine for a 17 or 33 round magazine.
Cons: There is no trigger safety, and some people find the single-action trigger harder to learn. It’s also less powerful than a .40 S&W or a .45 ACP.
Best Use: It is best used as a defensive weapon—its not well suited for hunting.
Mossberg 500 FLEX
The Mossberg 500 FLEX is a widely popular 12-gauge pump shotgun with a tool-less locking system that allows for easy switching between stocks, forends, and recoil pads.
Pros: The 12-gauge pump is both reliable and intimidating. You can swap barrels, stocks, and forends without tools.
Cons: It’s a bit pricier than other 12-gauge shotguns on the market.
Best Use: Versatile and easy to accessorize, it can be used for defense, intimidation, and hunting.
You’ll likely never find yourself in a disaster or stranded in the middle of nowhere with nothing to eat, but if you did, a good survival gun could be the difference between life and death. So, consider your options and decide which gun would be best for your needs should something ever happen.
