If you're a backpacker going on a 4-5day trip and are carrying all your gear, food and water with you while keeping your pack weight under 35lbs (ultralight backpackers tend to keep pack weight to 25lbs or less) then here are some options for you in the 16oz - 3lbs category. These are all single shot long-guns which are capable of shooting 22.lr, long or short. Most of these are youth models so the shorter LOP shouldn't be a problem in a real world situation where only a few shots would be taken to put meat in the pot. I don't have a Pack-Rifle so I can't comment on it. I do own the Cricket and the Hot Shot and in my opinion, the Hot Shot is a better gun overall. However the Crickett can be modified with a lighter stock or you can remove the stock (one action screw) from the barreled action for compact storage. Out of the lightweight options I would pick the Crickett.

Standard Off the Shelf Options

Crickett - 2lbs 7oz weight; 16.125" Barrel length; 30.6" overall length; 12.25" LOP
http://www.crickett.com/shop_by_brand.php?manufacturers_id=27

TC Hot Shot - 2lbs 11oz weight; 19" Barrel length; 30.5" overall length; 11.5" LOP
http://www.tcarms.com/firearms/rimfireHotShot.php#

Specialty or Modified Options

The Pak- Rifle - 15.5oz weight; 33" overall length
http://www.packrifle.com/aboutpackrifle.html

Modified Crickett
http://www.rutalocura.com/PRK.html

Other Options

There are a number of other options in the 5lbs category which include, but are not limited to, Browning SA-22 (Norico ATD clone), Ruger 10/22 Takedown, Winchester Model 62 (Taurus 62 clone), Springfield Armory M6 Scout, and the CZ 452 Scout. If I were to carry a 5lbs long-gun on a backpacking trip it would be the CZ 452 Scout and that's only because I'm partial to it. I hope this information helps. Good luck.

Here are pictures of the T/C Hot Shot (Top), Crickett (Mid), CZ 452 Scout (Bottom).

CZ 452 Scout (Left) , Crickett (Mid) and T/C Hot Shot (Right)

Springfield Armory M6 Scout (Top), Taurus 62, Norinco ATD, Ruger 10/22 TD, Savage Model 24C .22/20ga

 

Wow, your Model 24 has lived!!

 

Because it's ultra-lightweight (less than 4 lbs), very accurate, takes down into a small packable package (without needing tools), and does not rely on a bunch of mechanical parts that coud fail.

Rossi Youth Model .22/410bore "Matched Pair" takedown single shot (pictures do not show the .410bore barrel). Sometimes available at phenominal sale prices (I paid $69 new for this one 1-1/2 years ago). I added a Williams WGRS peep sight and a shooting sling.

 

Excellent photos and posts gentlemen !

:bthumb:

One model I haven't heard mentioned - the AR7. Probably because of many having 'issues' of various sorts, but if can be tuned to function reliably - a worthy choice!

 

For a short walk in the Blue mountains, my Henry AR7 will do. If I am going to camp and cook real food, my Marlin 1894 44 Mag. I don't think my little AR7 is up to the job of stopping a bear.
FM

 

... my Marlin 1894 44 Mag. I don't think my little AR7 is up to the job of stopping a bear.

I wouldn't want to be armed with only a .44mag for stopping a bear either. If it's a small bear, a .44mag might almost be a bare minimum (but I wouldn't trust it!) For the small bears that a .44mag might be able to slow down, you can probably scare them off by yelling at them and waving your arms anyway. I'd want something bigger if I were going someplace that I thought I would need to defend myself from large bears. .45-70 or larger. But I'd do everything in my power to escape without firing at the bear. Most rounds, short of something launched from the turret of a tank, might just annoy the bear into a more heated attack.

 

backpacking rifle

I would have to pick my 99-M 1 or CZ 513. Both are compact and light, plus very manoverable.

 

Of my rimfire rifles I believe that my new takedown 10/22 would make the most serviceable backpacking/woodsbumming rifle seeing as it isn't too terribly heavy and capable of decent accuracy, also the overall length is very very short when taken down. With that being said when I'm out rambling in the woods and not hunting I usually opt for a pistol of some sort like my Browning Buckmark Camper.

 

Count me in for a Rossi 62SAC or Short Barreled Marlin lever

 

I have the conventional Ruger 10-22 and I am debating wether I really need the Ruger 10-22 takedown or if there are better options then either.

 

although i do not backpack (yet) i would go with my savage 24 22lr over 410, accurrate weighs in at 6 pounds (give or take a pound due to my garbage scale) ammunition is light weight and it is the most versitile gun i have ever seen

 

My old Armalite AR-7 and hi-velocity ammo is reliable and reasonably accurate. I' m also using Armalite mags that I bought with the rifle in the 60's.

 

The light Ruger 10/22 models would do nicely for backpacking scenarios, but I'd most likely just take my Ruger Mark II Target pistol. It's lighter than the rifle, more compact than the rifle, and I can do everything I want to do on a backpacking trip with it.

Cordially,
Lesley

 

Marlin Papoose, stainless with a synthetic stock. :bthumb:

 

For me I'd take my Neos pistol. If I felt like I needed a long gun I'd pack in the carbine kit with it - just barrel and stock. The full carbine is under 4 lbs, but since I'd be taking a grip and barrel for the pistol as well it would probably be just over 4 lbs.

As for why this option.. Unless I was planning on living off only what I could hunt, I would take a pistol and MAYBE a rifle. To me, backpacking gun means plinking, maybe take a quirrel, small caliber, light weight.. I'm not worried about Bears so a large caliber defensive gun is not on my list. For me it would come down to Neos pistol and maybe carbine kit vs. SR22 pistol and maybe 10/22. Advantages to both pairs, but really I just like shooting my Neos better than my other guns.

I suppose SR22 and no long gun might be possible as well if my priority was to minimize size and weight.

 

Find a Rem. Model 6,about as small,light,and simple as it gets!

 

Very nice tribe of Savages . . .

. . . my compliments. :t The 24 combo is a very versatile design indeed. The last versions made (24F Predator) were heavy brutes, almost 9 lbs unscoped in 30-30 Winchester / 12 gauge. Versatile but no lightweight.

 

If I had the money I think this would be a sweet one to have for backpacking:
http://www.grizzlycustom.com/custom_lever_action_rifle_backpacker_lite_scout.html

 

Honest answer........ None. After a few attempts at finding a good pack rifle (including a POS AR7 and a folding stock 10/22) I decided that I really didn't need anything. I always had thoughts of potting a squirrel or bunny and impromptu plinkin but it just doesn't happen. Still, I like having a gun with me so I go with a handgun, most times a MKII 22/45 I had. Now split between my Bersa T22 and my .32H&R Single Six.

CB

 

I agree on the nice trio of Savage 24's above.

I 'cut my teeth' on my dads 20ga/22LR Savage, taking a number of grouse and rabbits with it while growing up. When I was a kid I always thought it as sort of clunky, but later on I came to recognize its strengths (plus I was mildly surprised how expensive/valuable they were). My dad still has the 20ga. slug that he recovered from a caribou he got with it way up the Porcupine river in AK. Great guns. :bthumbs:

I know that they came in a lot of flavors and it's always fun to think about the possible combinations, but I still think that the 20ga/22LR is probably the best compromise for a 'utility gun'. Good choice.

 

If I need to tote bear defense, I'll gladly hump my FAL w/ 20 rounds of Barnes X bullets in it - sure it weighs just over 10lbs loaded, but for defense against bears you can't beat a reliable 20 shot battle rifle, unless you can bring friends and their battle rifles.

If i just want a plinker, you can build a light weight 10/22 to around 4 1/2 lbs, but I think a real neat one would be a NAA revolver converted into a "bicycle gun" format like a member here did.

 

I wanted to comment on this thread sooner but i didnt want to derail the thread i to a different direction.

If im just a walking through the woods its going to be a pistol for me... 22/45, .38 LCR, or .357 4" Security Six.

If i was to backpack, which i do not, it would still be a pistol with a long gun in the backpack. I have a model 24 in 30-30/20 ga that would be not to bad choice but i think i would choose a shotgun for a backpacking gun.

I have a single shot 20 ga that is a youth model... Its very light and i have carried that a many times while lurking threw the outdoors... I would choose this for a simple camping trip.

But if it was to protect myself/hunt on a backpacking trip it would be a double barreled shotgun. I have a stoeger coach gun that has interchangable chokes and 2 triggers... Its breaks down in seconds and doesnt weigh too much and the 20" inch barrels are easily stores... If i needed to carry it assembled it would be no problem because it is short enough to carry with an extended arm and no drag the ground. I could use bird shot, buckshoot, or slugs. I think versatility is a major player in a backpacking gun, which includes weight... But as all things their are compromises as the coach coach weighs a little more than some guns, i dont remember exact weight.