Hi all. Newbie, Ex UK Marine. Familiar with escape, evasion, and basic survival, I appreciate my son’s concerns and desire for a good bug out bag and weapon. As an ex HC deputy sheriff in Florida he had some idea of what might be required if/should things break down for whatever reason, and his chosen firearm is a Glock 27.
Concerned with the weight of .40 ammunition he felt necessary to carry, I felt that a small compact survival rifle could perhaps expand his survival envelope and reduce the amount of .40 carried. The calibre choice was .22 the cheapest, lightest, most readily available in quantity, quiet, and lethal when placed correctly.
Looked at others but weapon of choice, 10/22 Ruger take-down. Built in huge numbers, the 10/22 is the most available dependable and customisable rifle in the US, with the widest range of individual parts. It can be built to be very compact, light, quiet, dependable and accurate. (cheap, or as expensive as you can afford.)
To build from scratch or buy one and customise? What parts? Basic questions on which I hope to get feed back from this forum. Everyone has their own ideas on what to put on, these mine. I know that all probably have drawbacks, aspects I might not know about, competitors that are simply better, cheaper, better quality or lighter, and finally newer products I do not know about.
One can buy ready prepared interpretations of the ‘ideal’ 10/22 survival rifle, but decided against other peoples ideas, and, paying a premium for their ‘assembly’. The choice was to build, and joining the forum, as an ideal source of informed opinion.
Ruger does not sell just receivers, and some custom receivers cost as much as the basic rifle. So I will possibly look for a stock receiver for sale from gun shop, pawn shop, or gun fair, or, just buy a basic takedown and sell the parts I do not use.
With a basic receiver, I would want a better than standard trigger/trigger pull, so have considered the Volquartsen trigger assembly with auto bolt release, polyurethane buffer, extended bolt handle and exact edge extractor. Magazines Ruger standard 10 round or VX25 Magazine or VX25 x 2.
Next consideration the barrel. Light and not too long. I would like to look for 16.5” blue/black alloy steel barrel with typical Sporter profile fast-tapering from 0.920in at the receiver down to 0.498in at the muzzle tapering. 1 in 16 twist, 1/2X28 threaded, with a front sight dovetail.
To go with that barrel would be the Williamson Ace in the Hole sights which will allow a quick remove optic and also a suppressor. Suppressor and optic, quick on and off extra features if/when needed/afforded.
The stock I would choose would be the Magpul X-22 stock. About the most compact way to carry/store in a backpack, with space in the stock for extra ammo, cleaning gear, tools, and extra small personal survival EDC items. I would add a paracord 2 point sling with Magpul quick disconnect swivels.
A Silencerco Sparrow with a 1” diameter fits in front without obscuring the Williamson front sights, and can screw on and off easily. Sparrow is expensive, but quality product, small and light and can be used with all kinds of ammo, but, also requires a second Fed permit and tax.
Comparable suppressors, the AAC Element 2 and SWR Spectre II. SWR cheaper, Sparrow easier to clean. Ease of maintenance, cost, weight, and impact shift, all variables to be considered.
Optic. Small, light, cheap, rugged. Probably a Micro Red Dot rather than a scope. Lots to choose and a wide range of prices and quality. I gather the new Bushnell TRS25 is not as good as the older model which set the standards for value for money. Holosun 403g is nice, but, twice the price. A two step quick release mount for quick on and off of the optic.
Hopefully this is a KISS light basic setup, with the scope and suppressor nice to have’s but not vital. You can get quite/ subsonic ammo and the two hole Williamson peep a great sight that is better than the basic Ruger sight.
It is an initial attempt at looking at some parts that address some of the issues involved in a small light compact survival rifle. Not the cheapest, lightest, but incorporating features I thought perhaps deserved looking at. Be most appreciative for feedback. Thanks.
Concerned with the weight of .40 ammunition he felt necessary to carry, I felt that a small compact survival rifle could perhaps expand his survival envelope and reduce the amount of .40 carried. The calibre choice was .22 the cheapest, lightest, most readily available in quantity, quiet, and lethal when placed correctly.
Looked at others but weapon of choice, 10/22 Ruger take-down. Built in huge numbers, the 10/22 is the most available dependable and customisable rifle in the US, with the widest range of individual parts. It can be built to be very compact, light, quiet, dependable and accurate. (cheap, or as expensive as you can afford.)
To build from scratch or buy one and customise? What parts? Basic questions on which I hope to get feed back from this forum. Everyone has their own ideas on what to put on, these mine. I know that all probably have drawbacks, aspects I might not know about, competitors that are simply better, cheaper, better quality or lighter, and finally newer products I do not know about.
One can buy ready prepared interpretations of the ‘ideal’ 10/22 survival rifle, but decided against other peoples ideas, and, paying a premium for their ‘assembly’. The choice was to build, and joining the forum, as an ideal source of informed opinion.
Ruger does not sell just receivers, and some custom receivers cost as much as the basic rifle. So I will possibly look for a stock receiver for sale from gun shop, pawn shop, or gun fair, or, just buy a basic takedown and sell the parts I do not use.
With a basic receiver, I would want a better than standard trigger/trigger pull, so have considered the Volquartsen trigger assembly with auto bolt release, polyurethane buffer, extended bolt handle and exact edge extractor. Magazines Ruger standard 10 round or VX25 Magazine or VX25 x 2.
Next consideration the barrel. Light and not too long. I would like to look for 16.5” blue/black alloy steel barrel with typical Sporter profile fast-tapering from 0.920in at the receiver down to 0.498in at the muzzle tapering. 1 in 16 twist, 1/2X28 threaded, with a front sight dovetail.
To go with that barrel would be the Williamson Ace in the Hole sights which will allow a quick remove optic and also a suppressor. Suppressor and optic, quick on and off extra features if/when needed/afforded.
The stock I would choose would be the Magpul X-22 stock. About the most compact way to carry/store in a backpack, with space in the stock for extra ammo, cleaning gear, tools, and extra small personal survival EDC items. I would add a paracord 2 point sling with Magpul quick disconnect swivels.
A Silencerco Sparrow with a 1” diameter fits in front without obscuring the Williamson front sights, and can screw on and off easily. Sparrow is expensive, but quality product, small and light and can be used with all kinds of ammo, but, also requires a second Fed permit and tax.
Comparable suppressors, the AAC Element 2 and SWR Spectre II. SWR cheaper, Sparrow easier to clean. Ease of maintenance, cost, weight, and impact shift, all variables to be considered.
Optic. Small, light, cheap, rugged. Probably a Micro Red Dot rather than a scope. Lots to choose and a wide range of prices and quality. I gather the new Bushnell TRS25 is not as good as the older model which set the standards for value for money. Holosun 403g is nice, but, twice the price. A two step quick release mount for quick on and off of the optic.
Hopefully this is a KISS light basic setup, with the scope and suppressor nice to have’s but not vital. You can get quite/ subsonic ammo and the two hole Williamson peep a great sight that is better than the basic Ruger sight.
It is an initial attempt at looking at some parts that address some of the issues involved in a small light compact survival rifle. Not the cheapest, lightest, but incorporating features I thought perhaps deserved looking at. Be most appreciative for feedback. Thanks.
if you're thinkin" survival rifle, there are wayyyyyy too many variables to consider. my survival needs may be completely different than yours....:bthumb:
