Gun Manufacturers Rifle Making Suggestion

me | May 18 2012 | Yosemitest

[Yosemitest]

Gun and Rifle manufacturers, I want your attention.
I've been looking for a rifle/shotgun to take on a long hike, and there's not many choices.
Take a look at Henry's U.S. Survival AR-7.



It's a good product for backpacking, but too small on caliber.
The fact that when it's packed inside its waterproof stock, it can float if dropped into water,
and can be retrieved and will still work, is a great deciding factor.
But being a .22LR is a detractor.

Now take a look at the Rossi Circuit Judge and their many different variations.



I like the 3-inch Magnum .410 gauge and .45 Colt varity that can also shoot 2.5-inch shotgun shells in .410 ga.
At 85 and 1/2 ounces, that's pretty good and a lot of choices, from shooting birds, to defending against bears.
A stainless steel model is a must on the trail, due to 100 percent chance of getting rained on, and on a long hike, probably getting dropped.
But, we need the capability of breaking the rifle down and putting it in the backpack, similar to Henry's AR-7.
Rossi's Circuit Judge doesn't offer this. Here's where someone can make some money, building a rifle that would fit this need.

The main goal is to keep the total pack weight down, to preferably under 30 pounds.

Rossi offers a model with a Black Tactical "Blued" barrel and a Black Synthetic Stock that only weighs 75 ounces,
but a hiker needs a stainless steel or weatherproof finish and prefers
"the pieces when disassembled, fit inside a impact-resistant, waterproof stock, which will float."


Okay builders, any thoughts?

[Yosemitest]

I had a Stevens 12 ga 36" single shot with hammer, when I was a kid.
It was full choke and kicked like a mule. It was a blast and I loved it.
But it burned when my parents home burned down.
One day I'm going to replace that shotgun.

[JDoutrider]

marker

[octex]

...compared to 8 shot in the AR-7...
*******************
I’ve had an AR-7 Explorer for around 30 years. In addition to the little magazine that came with the gun, I added a 15 round mag and a 30 round mag; both bought at a gun show. Gun and mags very reliable and accurate.

[Yosemitest]

Thanks.

[wtc911]

Ruger advises against Stinger ammo in the 10/22 literature. It leads to malfunctions. I bought one (10/22) for my 11 year old grandson for Christmas last year...he loves it but would rather shoot my Saiga .223....he likes the BANG!

[Joe Brower]

This thread has just added to the FreeRepublic "bang list" (firearms interest list) by adding the keyword "banglist".

Any time a firearms-related thread is created on FreeRepublic, please be sure to add the "banglist" keyword to it so that interested FReepers don't miss it. Just a suggestion.

Let Freedom Ring,

Click the pic to go to the Gun Facts v6 download page!

[Lazamataz]

[marktwain]

I would not recommend steel cased ammo in anything other than an AK type platform. I had a problem with it in my SU-16. Works great with brass, though.

[PAR35]

Thanks, reasonable answer.

[Yosemitest]

Okay, thanks.
I didn't know, and at my age, I probably won't remember.
But thanks again.

[Yosemitest]

That looks like a cap pistol I had as a kid, back in the 60s.

It came with 5 blanks in a round can.

[buffaloguy]

Probably your best bet is a handi rifle from Hr1871.com Go there and look around and you may find something you like.

The .45/.410 chambering is popular and it seems to work pretty well. You do have to use rounds that do not use a shot cup for the .410, otherwise the shot cup will spin the shot into a very wide pattern. Those rounds are available (Federal) or you can make them yourself which is a better solution.

If you are a reloader, there are many more options available to you than if you are “Stuck with factory loads”. And I used the word “stuck” after some thought on the right word to use.

When the .45-70 was issued in 1873 to our troops there were several different types of ammo in the wagons:

1. 405 grain. Black bear are toast with this round.
2. Shotgun rounds (no shotcup) that were included so the troops could get birds and rabbits for protein in the field. It worked quite well.
3. They can also be loaded with 144 grain round ball at 405 FPS for rabbit.
4. There is another round available from Western Bullets that is 150 grain that can be driven to slightly above 2,000 FPS. Or 405 FPS if you wish for rabbit. You have to look around for the loading information but it does appear on some of the reloading forums.

All of the above have to be hand loaded as they simply aren’t on the market as ammo.

Good luck...

[Frank_2001]

I think we need to sell New Jersey to the Chinese, and build a wall around it;)

[Frank_2001]

I think we need to sell New Jersey to the Chinese, and build a wall around it;)

[Ratman83]

I do not live in jersey, I have a brother there and friends from there. Relatives in New York so i understand it as well, both liberal pits.

[Ratman83]

Just drive all the liberals into the sea.

[Yosemitest]

Thanks. Here's that 45-70 for $313.69, but a little heavy at 7 pounds.
It looks very nice. At 38" overall length, it would pack outside my 42" external frame and I could probably get to it from over my shoulder.
I'll have to look for that ammo and check the prices.
The idea is to be able to carry a small amount of ammo of different types, but be able to pick it up at most medium sized cities.

The H&R Survivor at $326.55 also caught my attention, but again, a little heavy at 7 pounds.

[kitchen]

The is also the Valmet 412 series of rifle/shotgun double. The .222 Rem over 12 gauge was once the most prized turkey gun in Penn's Woods when there were 2 seasons (Spring and Fall) and one was rifle legal. Savage may have even marketed the Valmet at one point but I'm not sure if they were re-badged with the Savage name. They were definitely a level or two higher quality than the 24 models.

[MileHi]

They were definitely a level or two higher quality than the 24 models.

The 30-30/12 g I saw years ago was very nice with walnut and much nicer than the .22/410 versions. Modern threaded chokes would make it very versatile. Shame they don't make one, it would be a great truck gun.

Thanks for that.

[buffaloguy]

Leeprecision.com makes a full .45-70 reloading set up (Lee Classic Loader) for 25.95. All you need is a rock, or a branch or some heavy object to use as a hammer. You can make what you need and what the rifles likes rather than having to settle for ammo that is designed for the average rifle.

The Lee Classic Loader is an old design going back to the Civil War era and the design turns out quality, target level ammo for very little money. It doesn’t look like much but it held a world record for the smallest group at 1,000 yards for 7 years in the 1990s. This is what I use exclusively.

I would see if anyone in your area has some handi rifles so you can handle them. The need to handle Black Bear with a light rifle is going to be very difficult to meet and since it might be you life your life on the line, I would not necessarily go with a smaller round.

By the way, the Handi rifles are legendary as reliable, accurate rifles. And the price is right.