What Survival Rifle Suits You Best

Whether you are prepping for the zombie apocalypse or the aftermath of a hurricane, self-defense is an important aspect of surviving any disaster.

Everyone has their preference as to what qualifies as the best survival weapon. History has proven the rifle to be the best all-purpose firearm to face a variety of combat and self-defense scenarios.

However, a rifle should only be part of what many preppers refer to as a layered defense system. It doesn’t matter if you are bugging out or sheltering, your need to arm yourself with a variety of weaponry, self-defense skills and training is the same. With that said, if you could have only one firearm in a survival situation it should be a quality rifle.

Though handguns and shotguns are also to be considered, a rifle will give you the most versatility for handling a variety of post-disaster needs from hunting to perimeter security. However, the options and varieties when it comes to choosing a survival rifle are nearly endless and even the most avid shooters and preppers struggle to choose a favorite.

Ultimately, the choice comes down to your own personal preferences and needs, as there is no such thing as the perfect survival rifle.

Read more to discover Top 6 Survival Rifles…<<

Will an air rifle work?

Does the air rifle have its place in today’s modern survival weapons cache, or is it of use only to those that want to shoot holes in paper or hit tin cans?

I believe that today’s air rifles do have their place in a modern survival weapons cache. This weapon can be used in small game hunting to hunt doves and other birds, rabbits, squirrel, and other small game animals.

There is also historical evidence that air rifles were used for a number of purposes. For example, the Girandon was used during the Lewis and Clark Expedition around 1780‘s. It held 22 rounds of 40 caliber bullets in a bullet reservoir.

This weapon had to be pumped over 1200 times to supply the air pressure needed to fire all the bullets one at a time. The bullet velocity of this weapon was equal to black powder rifles of this period (450-650fps).

Why Should You Use an Air Gun?

Here are some advantages associated with using an air rifle:

  • Air rifles are very quiet – there are no loud bangs to scare off other game in the area.
  • Easy to shoot – this weapon points nicely, and is not too heavy or large for the beginner or inexperienced shooter.
  • It is an excellent, low cost training rifle with a simple design and cheap pellets.
  • Air rifles come with iron sights and are very accurate. When used with a scope, the shooter gets very tight groups (where multiple pellets hit). When hunting with a scoped air rifle, small game may be taken safely up to 50 yards away.
  • They are legal to own and shoot in most states. Because an air rifle uses only compressed air to fire the pellet (and not powder and a primer) most states do not classify them as firearms.
  • Air rifles make an ideal stash gun. It can be buried in an air and water tight container with a couple of tins of pellets and then easily retrieved at a later time.
  • Ammunition will not go bad. The only ammunition an air rifle needs is a pellet, nothing else. There are no cases, powder, or primers to worry about.

Find out more about the best options when it comes to self-defense air rifles…<<

You’ll need a scope too…

There is a sheer volume of different scopes and rifles on the market, so it can take some research to figure out which one will best match the types of shooting you intend to use it for.

Some hints can be followed though, so you could choose the best for you.

Read the article below to find them!

Overall, there are three basic steps to take when choosing a rifle scope:

  • Start off by deciding what kind of shooting you plan to do.
  • Look at basic scope features and make a list of those that will best meet your needs.
  • Study manufacturers, models, and testimonials to determine which scope will give you the best quality for the lowest price. Speaking of price, since some scopes can cost hundreds to thousands of dollars. Rather than cover all possible options, I will focus on features that you can get on most scopes for under $500.00.

Discover 12 aspects to consider when buying your rifle scope<<

Written by

Henry is an army combat veteran and wilderness survival specialist. When he's not fiddling with his prepwork, he can usually be found out on a hike or camping in the backwoods near his home.

Latest comments
  • Air gun is ok for small game, but to defend your bol……

  • One positive aspect of owning any type of air gun, whether it be rifle or pistol is the deterrent factor. Most attackers will not be able to determine whether the weapon you are pointing at them is an actual firearm or not and may decide to pick on someone else rather than taking a chance of dying. It’s called bluffing. Most modern air guns look very realistic and it could cause your attacker to back off or pause long enough for you to escape. I know that is not the best action to take if you have other more lethal options. But it sure beats shaking your fists and yelling. IMHO. Besides, if all else fails you can use your air rifle as a club.

  • Interesting article about using an air gun for self-defense. I suppose an expert marksman could, with a scope, take out the eyes of an opponent, if he had time to aim. Some people are so large that even a .22 long rifle, unless hit in the head or heart, will not stop their advance. There are records to that affect. My survival rifle was designed in the late 1800’s by Marlin. The 30-30 Marlin lever action serves multiple needs. Hunting or self-defense. Descent range and the power of .30 cartridges, like the military rifles of the past. Easy to load and no need to carry extra magazines. I have a Bushnell Trophy 2-7x36mm for the rifle. I live in the Northwoods and that is enough for hunting or personal protection. Whatever a person chooses, it should be simple and comfortable to fire. The .300 Winchester Magnum adopted by the military sniper program may not be a good choice. I know the AR-15 variants are the new star of the show. Most of those I served with, didn’t like them, having grown up with Winchester and Remington bolt actions (.22 or centerfire).
    I still prefer the M14 over the M16. Heavier, but more potent in power. Just stand for America and our Constitutional rights.

  • I Completely Agree with Gary S. ! Amen to the Marlin 336 – Always a Great choice – and his note about the M14. The Only way I would carry a AR-15 – is if it was barrelled for the AAC .300 Blackout cartridge. No 5.56 NATO for me.

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