7 Best Survival Firearms: Which is Right For You?
Gun owners tend to be the prepared type. They tend to have generators, water stashed, food, and beyond. Most tend to be outdoor types who embrace adventure. I hike, hunt, kayak, and camp as frequently as a busy schedule allows. If you like to adventure and you like to be prepared, you’ll have a plan of what to do in an emergency. That prep can include lots of things, but this is Gun University, so we are talking firearms. Today, we are talking about the best survival firearms.
What’s a Survival Firearm?
A survival firearm is a weapon that can be used in a pinch to harvest game or to protect the user. We can use most guns as survival firearms, but some excel at the role. A good survival firearm is often purpose-built, with many features that make it better suited for survival situations. These firearms are not your typical defensive firearms. While any gun can be used defensively, survival firearms are usually designed and oriented for hunting.
Survival firearms are well suited as a secondary thought on your adventures. Something you keep in the back of the boat, on the kayak, or in the bottom of the bush plane. It’s not used daily, but it’s insurance to cover your butt in case things go wrong.
It’s also a gun you can shove in your bug-out bag or strap to your bug-out bag and kind of forget about. If the wildfire, tsunami, or zombies are coming your way, you grab the bag and go. It’s not a gun you shoot all the time, and it’s not the best gun for every task, but it’s a gun, and having a gun is more important than having the perfect gun.
The Features of Survival Firearms
If it’s a survival situation, you are likely on foot, and ounces equal pounds and pounds equal pain. You want a lightweight weapon that’s easy to tote and easy to pack out. You might not always be able to have hands on with your weapon, so you likely want the ability to toss it in a pack. This requires the weapon to be lightweight and very compact. This makes takedown and folding guns very attractive.
You also want to find a weapon that can be used in your area to take game and defend yourself. In big game county, a .22LR might not be enough. In the southeast, a .22LR might work extremely well. You need to find the right caliber and configuration that not only works for you but for your environment.
You typically want a weapon that’s versatile and can be used for a variety of situations. You don’t want to be boxed in if you can avoid it.
Gun University’s Choices of the Best Survival Firearms
Best Survival Firearms
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Best Survival Firearms
Here is our list for the best survival firearms:
- Savage Model 42 (Best combo gun)
- Rossi LWC (Best single shot)
- Henry AR-7 (Best semi-auto 22LR)
- TPS ARMS M6 (Best shotgun)
- CZ 600 Trail (Best bolt action)
- KelTec Sub 2000 5.7 (Best Folding Rifle)
- Any AR-15 Carbine (Best semi-auto)
Best Survival Firearms – Reviews
1 Savage Model 42 Takedown : Best combo gun
Savage Model 42 Takedown
A break action over under featuring both 22LR and .410 barrels.
- Shootability A
- Reliability A
- Ergonomics B
- Accuracy B
- Value B
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B+
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Savage Model 42 Takedown Specs
- Barrel length 20 in
- Overall length 35.75 in
- Weight 6.1 lbs
- Action Single shot
- Caliber .22LR / .410
Savage Model 42 Takedown Review
The Savage Model 42 Takedown is the successor to rifles like the M6 used by pilots way back when. This modernized combination gun mixes a rifle with a shotgun to provide a diverse, powerful weapon for survival. The Model 42 features either a .22LR or .22 Magnum top barrel and a .410 lower barrel. Both are single-shot guns that share a hammer.
The Model 42 has a take-down feature that allows it to break in two. The barrel separates from the receiver to make a very compact and easy-toting package. Weighing six pounds, it is surprisingly light and easy to shovel into your bug-out bag. The furniture is polymer, so it shrugs off the elements, and you don’t have to baby the gun.
Rimfire rounds and .410 shotshells aren’t powerhouse cartridges by any means, but they are very capable. The .410 shotgun can take deer and even small hogs with buckshot, especially since it can take 3-inch shells. Throw birdshot in the .410 barrel, and you can kill small game with ease. The .22 barrel offers you more range for small ground-based game.
Using these smaller calibers makes it easy to carry a good bit of ammunition. Carrying 500 rounds of .22LR or Magnum is easy. .410 shotshells are considerably larger, but small for shotgun shells and also easy to carry.
It won’t be great for bear country, but to scrape by, it works. The Model 42 is a break-action weapon, and that does make it inherently slow to use, so make those shots count. It comes with plastic sights, which aren’t great, but an optics rail is available for better sighting options. The little, lightweight Model 42 is easy to shoot and well-suited for survival.
Savage Model 42 Takedown Pros and Cons
- Take down design
- Dual claibers
- Lightweight
- Flimsy sights
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$399.99
2 Rossi LWC : best single-shot
Rossi LWC
The Rossi Lightweight Carbine Lives up to it’s name and comes in multiple calibers.
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Rossi LWC Specs
- Barrel length 16.5 in
- Overall length 31.5 in
- Weight 5.24 lbs
- Action Single shot
- Caliber 5.56/.300 Blackout
Rossi LWC Review
LWC stands for Lightweight Carbine, and it’s become a sleeper option for survival use. These are single-shot Rossi Rifles designed to be as small and lightweight as possible while still being NFA-free. I’d pick two variants for survival in the Rossi LWC world. We have the 5.56 variant and the .300 Blackout variant, and both come with minimalist folding stock designs.
This helps keep the gun small and compact and easy to attach to a pack. I would choose the 5.56, but if you intend to run the weapon suppressed, then I can see the argument for the .300 Blackout variant. The 5.56 variant offers cheaper, more common, and lighter ammunition. The overall weight of these guns is about five and a quarter pounds.
That’s light for a rifle. The barrels are kept as short as legally allowed, and the minimalist stock cuts weight at the cost of making the gun front-heavy. The Rossi LWC series is optics-ready, and a micro prism would be my go-to to take advantage of the range of a rifle round while keeping the gun lightweight and easily transportable.
I was thoroughly impressed by the trigger and the lack of noticeable recoil. The gun barely moves and shoots nicely. The minimalist stock still provides a decent cheek weld and allows you to shoot the gun accurately. The lock-up of the stock could be a little tighter, but it’s fine overall. The Rossi LWC is a great centerfire rifle option at a price point that’s tough to beat.
Rossi LWC Pros and Cons
- Lightweight
- Extremely compact
- Optics Ready
- Slow to fire
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279.99
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273.99
3 Henry AR-7 : best semi-auto 22lr
Henry AR-7
Henry’s version of the U.S. Survival Rifle, a semi auto 22LR, originally designed by Eugene Stone at Armalite.
- Shootability A
- Reliability B
- Ergonomics B
- Accuracy A
- Value A
Our Grade
A-
Reader’s Grade
B+
Based on 4 Reviews
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Henry AR-7 Specs
- Barrel length 16.125 in
- Overall length 35
- Weight 3.5
- Action Semi-auto
- Caliber .22LR
Henry AR-7 Review
The AR-7 was originally an Armalite design, and much like the AR-15, it still bears the AR namesake, even though Henry now owns the rights and produces the gun. The original AR-7s were designed for pilot survival, and the rifle has passed from manufacturer to manufacturer. Henry was the first company to make it function mostly reliably. The Henry AR-7 is one of the few dedicated survival rifles that has a repeating design and semi-auto action.
The AR-7 is a blowback-operated, semi-automatic .22LR rifle. It feeds from a single stack eight-round magazine. The rifle is still very small and compact. It weighs only 3.5 pounds and breaks down into two pieces. The action and barrel are separate from the stock. The barrel also separates from the receiver. Users can then put the action, barrel, and two magazines into the stock of the rifle.
This creates a more compact package and also protects the action, barrel, and magazines. The stock can float and is made from hard polymer. It assembles in seconds without tools and jumps into action. The semi-auto design makes it perfect for fast follow-up shots and even allows it to be a defensive weapon in a pinch. The Henry AR-7 features some nice sights, as well as an optic rail. However, an optic will make it impossible to store the rifle in the stock.
The Henry AR-7 is reliable but a little ammo-picky. It works best with hot .22LR ammo, like Mini Mags, Federal Automatch, and similar full-powered .22LR loads. The AR-7 works fine with those loads but chokes with lesser loads. Keep that in mind when equipping your bug-out bag with an AR-7.
Henry AR-7 Pros and Cons
- Breaks down easily
- Great sights
- Semi-auto action
- Ammo picky
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$235.74
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$265.37
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$267.99
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$277.50
4 TPS Arms M6 Survival Rifle : best shotgun
TPS Arms M6 Survival Rifle
A break action over under featuring both .357 Magnum and .410 barrels.
- Shootability A
- Reliability A
- Ergonomics B
- Accuracy B
- Value B
Our Grade
B+
Reader’s Grade
TBD
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TPS Arms M6-150
- Barrel length 18.25 in
- Overall length 32.25 in
- Weight 5.1 lbs
- Action Hammer FIred
- Caliber .357 Mag/.410
TPS Arms M6-150 Review
The M6 Survival rifle was originally designed for military pilots who had to bail out or crash their aircraft. The originals are long out of production, but a company called TPS Arms has revived and modified the design. While they produced replicas of the original, I am looking for an original TPS Arms model, which replaces the 22 Hornet barrel with a .357 Magnum barrel and is known as the M6-150.
This gives us a double-barreled firearm with a .357 Magnum barrel and a .410 barrel with a 3-inch chamber, which gives us a lot of versatility. The .357 Magnum barrel can kill most medium game at close range with proper load selection. Deer and hogs are easy fodder for .357 Magnum rounds. The .410 offers small and medium game potential with birdshot and various buckshot loads.
Additionally, rifle adapters allow you to shoot various pistol calibers from the .410 barrel, which opens up your ammo options even further. Personally, I think a .22LR adapter would be the way to go. The M6-150 provides you with a very versatile gun for survival situations, and I haven’t even mentioned that it folds.
Yep, it folds in half to create a compact package for easy toting. It’s very lightweight, so the folding design is just icing on the cake. The gun offers you a versatile survival option with multi-caliber appeal. It’s an OG of survival rifles. With that said, they can be tough to find, so be willing to shop and keep your eyes open.
TPS Arms M6-150 Pros and Cons
- Folding design
- Muli-Cal
- Versatile
- Slow To Reload
TPS Arms M6-150 Deals
-
$540.99
5 CZ 600 Trail : Best bolt-action
CZ 600 Trail
A magazine fed bolt action rifle with collapsible stock and a threaded 16 inch barrel.
- Shootability A
- Reliability A
- Ergonomics A
- Accuracy A
- Value C
Our Grade
A-
Reader’s Grade
TBD
Based on 0 Reviews
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CZ 600 Trail Rifle Specs
- Barrel length 16.2 in
- Overall length 35 in
- Weight 6.1 lbs
- Action Bolt-action
- Caliber .223 / 7.62×39
CZ 600 Trail Rifle Review
The CZ 600 Trail is a very compact and lightweight bolt-action rifle that comes in either 5.56 or 7.62×39. The 5.56 variant uses AR magazines, and the 7.62 variant uses Bren 2 magazines. For a bolt-action rifle, it’s a rather odd design, but the Trail moniker gives you some hints about its use. It’s designed to be incredibly lightweight and easy to carry on the trail. The CZ 600 takes a minimalist stance to create a short and lightweight bolt-action rifle.
The CZ 600 Trail doesn’t break down or fold, but the stock collapses to help make the weapon quite short and compact. It’s only 27.2 inches long and weighs 6.1 pounds. It’s not easy to shove into a pack, but it is still light and enough to be strapped to one. The forend features an M-LOK rail, and the rifle is optic-ready.
The 600 Trail Series uses AR-like ergonomics, and the pistol grip is even replaceable and compatible with AR pistol grips. Ergonomically, it’s mostly ambidextrous, and the stock’s cheek rest can be swapped for left-handed use. In my testing, the rifle delivers sub-MOA accuracy and is quite pleasant and easy to shoot. Toss on a lightweight LPVO, and you have a super handy, super accurate, and very reliable rifle.
The CZ 600 Trail rifle’s calibers aren’t super powerful but can reliably take medium game, including deer and hogs. It’s a lightweight caliber that’s easy to store and quite common. My rifle is the 5.56 version, and AR mag compatibility is great, but it, oddly enough, doesn’t work with aluminum mags, so keep that in mind.
CZ 600 Trail Rifle Pros and Cons
- Lightweight
- Super accurate
- Great ergonomics
- Polymer mags only
CZ 600 Trail Rifle Deals
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$879.99
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$999.99
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$1,011.79
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$1,041.99
6 KelTec Sub 2000 Gen 3 : best folding rifle
KelTec Sub 2000 Gen 3
Reminiscent of a modernized Sten gun, this one-in-a-million style PCC is designed to be light, handy, and compact.
- Shootability A+
- Ergonomics B
- Reliability A+
- Value A+
- Accuracy A-
Our Grade
A
Reader’s Grade
TBD
Based on 0 Reviews
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KelTec SUB 2000 5.7
- Barrel length 16.15 in
- Overall length 29.2 in
- Weight 5 lbs
- Action Semi-auto
- Caliber 5.7x28mm
KelTec SUB 2000 5.7 Review
The KelTec SUB 2000 series is famous for its ability to fold in half. This effectively cuts the overall length to 16 inches and some change. Traditionally, the KelTec SUB 2000 comes in pistol calibers, but the 5.7x28mm is a little different. It sits between a rifle and a pistol cartridge. It’s PDW round, and while much smaller than a pistol, it’s a longer-range cartridge with some rifle-like qualities.
Survival scenarios imply that weight is significant. You want something light and easy to carry, and the SUB 2000 in 5.7 is just that. When chambering the 5.7 cartridge, the SUB 2000 weighs less than five pounds. The ammo itself is very compact and lightweight. You can fit 20 rounds in a flush-fitting magazine, and this rifle uses the FN 5.7 mags, which are common. Extensions for these magazines can get you to 30 rounds.
In most situations, I’ve taken my Gen 3 SUB 2000 out to 200 yards with excellent accuracy. After doing a little math and relying on online calculators, I came up with a maximum point blank range for the 5.7 round from my gun with my optic selection. This allowed me to zero at 17 yards and still accurately hit a six-inch target out to 147 yards. So, within 150 yards, I can hit a six-inch target without compensating for drop.
This makes the weapon perfect for small game out to extended ranges and a capable defensive weapon. In a pinch, it could kill a deer with a properly placed shot. There is hardly any recoil, and the gun barely moves. While it’s a straight blowback gun, the 5.7-round cartridge has hardly any recoil. It’s an excellent survival option, and Gen 3 even makes it easy to mount an optic.
The biggest downside is accuracy after the gun gets hot. You won’t notice this at ranges inside 50 yards, but the dispersion becomes noticeable at 50 yards and beyond. In Florida’s spring, after four mags in 20ish or so minutes, the gun was hot enough to mix a 10-inch gong at 200 yards.
KelTec SUB 2000 Gen 3 Pros and Cons
- Folding design
- Excellent Range
- Lightweight
- Accuracy Falls Apart At Range
KelTec SUB 2000 5.7 Deals
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$379.24
-
$436.99
7 BCM Recce-16 MCMR : best semi-auto
BCM Recce-16 MCMR
Bravo Company Manufacturing rifle with 16 in barrel with mid length gas system and M-lok handguard.
- Shootability A
- Reliability A
- Ergonomics A
- Accuracy A
- Value A
Our Grade
A
Reader’s Grade
TBD
Based on 0 Reviews
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Any AR-15 Carbine Specs
- Barrel length 16 in
- Overall length 35.5 in
- Weight 6.1 lbs
- Action Semi-auto
- Caliber 5.56 NATO
Any AR-15 Carbine Review
Finally, our last choice is one of the more versatile and common options. Any standard AR-15 rifle makes an excellent survival rifle. Particularly an AR-15 carbine that tends to be on the lightweight side. Most weigh around seven pounds, and that’s fairly light. AR-15s are quite common, and they come in every budget imaginable. An AR-15 carbine is a very accessible and capable survival firearm.
It’s not the lightest or smallest, but it does break down. The ability to separate the upper receiver from the lower receiver makes the AR-15 easy to pack and stash. The semi-auto design and rifle calibers make them very competent weapons for a wide variety of tasks. Most chamber the 5.56 caliber, and that’s common and easy to locate. Magazines, spare parts, accessories, and more make the AR easy to outfit.
Shooters can hunt medium game with ease and have a very capable weapon for self-defense. It’s easy to accessorize, but they will start to add weight to the platform. The AR-15 carbine design is also quite reliable. The biggest downside will be the weight. This is a heavier rifle than most on this list and tougher to pack out. Read our complete article on the best AR-15 rifles.
Any AR-15 Carbine Pros and Cons
- Super reliable
- Excellent versatility
- Common and affordable
- Heavier than most
Any AR-15 Carbine Deals
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$1,466.98
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$1,690.99
The World of Survival Firearms
Before we end the article, let’s dig a bit more into the topic of survival firearms at a deeper level. Let’s go a little deeper into the world that rotates around survival firearms you might not be considering.
Caliber
Caliber matters a lot and in more ways than you think. When choosing a survival firearm, you have to look at the caliber and what you need it to do. We need to consider the game we’re likely to hunt and the threats we are likely to face. Bear country might be a great place for a .44 Magnum lever gun or a 12-gauge shotgun.
Outside of the power, you need to consider the logistics of your weapon and the ammo you’re using. A shotgun’s great, but 12-gauge shells are bulky and heavy. The same goes for the .308 versus 5.56 argument. There is a reason why the 5.56 was such an effective option for soldiers in Vietnam and today. It’s lightweight and easy to carry.
More ammo is better than less ammo. Carrying a few hundred rounds of .22LR is really easy to do and offers you tons of extra shots if you need them. It’s about finding the right balance of a round that suits your needs and won’t weigh you down.
Must-Have Accessories
One of the big positive features of a survival gun is its ability to be lightweight and easily packed. Once you start tossing on accessories, things can get heavy quickly. At the same time, are you getting the most out of your survival rifle without some necessary accessories?
For example, if I go with the AR or CZ 600, am I getting the most out of it without a magnified optic of some kind? It’s likely not, so I might start looking for a microprism. If I’m rolling with a Savage Model 42, I don’t need a 1-6 LPVO, but a micro red dot is pretty handy. Your accessories need to make sense of your weapon.
The one accessory I will advise for all survival weapons is some form of sling. It doesn’t need to be fancy, but a sling is a godsend. It helps you retain your weapon of choice and provides a supportive strap to carry the weapon. A sling is 100% necessary, but everything else just needs to make sense.
What About Handguns?
I’m sure you’ve noticed that every weapon on this list is a rifle or shotgun. It’s handgun-free. Does that make handguns poor survival weapons? They are admittedly compact and lightweight by nature. Handguns can be great survival tools, but they are much more challenging to use. Handguns are tougher to shoot accurately.
I also didn’t include handguns because, in my world, I’m already carrying a handgun. It’s just a daily accessory for me. A survival firearm tends to be a long gun because of its capability, accuracy, versatility, and the fact the handgun is there by default.
Survive On
Survival firearms are an entire genre these days. There are tons of great options out there, and hopefully, we’ve helped you narrow it down and made your pick even easier. With that said, what gun would you take into the great outdoors if faced with a survival situation? Let us know below!
About Travis Pike
Travis Pike is a former Marine Machine Gunner and a lifelong firearms enthusiast. Now that his days of working a 240B like Charlie Parker on the sax are over, he's a regular guy who likes to shoot, write, and find ways to combine the two. He is a "simplicisist" when it comes to talking about himself in the 3rd person and a self-professed tactical hipster. Hit him up on Instagram with story ideas.
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