Survival Homestead

There is no point in a "non combat' rifle, lower 48 states.

by John Russell
(Gillespie, IL)

A rifle weighs at least 3lbs, with some ammo, and that's an extreme (pc of junk AR-7. 22 potmetal clunker). Most weigh 7 lbs and their ammo can be as heavy as 1 oz per shot. Anywhere in the US but Alaska, all you really have to do is assure yourself some water, not freeze, and create and maintain a big, SMOKY fire and someone will come to check it out, long before you need any food. A pocket 9mm will suffice to keep animals from being a serious threat. The only states in the lower 48 with Grizzlies are MT and WY, and they don't get very big, like the Salmon fed ones in Alaska do. So they rarely create a problem for men, if you can make some serious noise, and a pocket 9mm can do THAT :-) Cougar, wolves, rabid animals, dog packs, black bears, can be handled with the pocket 9. None are any bigger than a BIG man and a brain hit will drop them like a rock. Unlike men, animals can't hurt you when further away than an arm's reach, and you can easily learn to hit the brain circle at 3-4 ft, in a big hurry, too. The 7 lbs is far better used on having proper clothing/shelter/bedding/water-treatment gear, firestarting- gear, lighting-solar-battery-recharging gear, 1 lb pocket 9mm (Keltec) instead of a "survival food rifle".