If it’s an AR-10, that’s a (restricted) range queen here. To take it into the bush it has to be non-restricted.

It would be easier to mod out a made in Canada non-restricted BCL-102 for a lot less money!

I agree with Jonesy on his point. To be a Survival Rifle I think it has to be able to go with you and not under the scrutiny of the CFO's I have a few that would fit my ideas better. An SVT 40 is a larger caliber semi auto that can put heavy rounds (203 gr) I'm not sure how it reaches out to those ranges though. Any other number of rifles while not in the same price league there Ruger Precision as one name that will not set you back fully decked out with optics at 1/2 the price. And they are not on the governments radar YET. The biggest thing is it cannot be tracked by the current system, and that has a net worth of a bunch

We have a very different idea of what a serious survival rifle is....I would pick a .22, any 22, even a single shot .22. that thing is going to make a mess of a squirrel.

Yes and there in lies the crux of the problem. Will you really need 800+ m and that muck kinetic energy. My thinking is a smaller shorter range round, either a .22lr or a pistol caliber carbine. Both are light and easy to maneuver, carry & sling or off a pack. Ammo is and always will be the crux of the issue what to use. How much will be enough. Granted it is a nice combo, but the way the present government is I can see that sort being put into prohib eventually sad to say. I like the thought of semi auto but a Ruger rimfire bolt action or XT22 are both very good ideas if I could find a Cooey I'd be happy with it. I am pondering a Cricket in .22lr but I would make sure to make sure it runs the ammo I store for it. I hear say the firing pin & spring has been problematic now and then.

Small animals like squirrels and rabbits are easily snared. If ammunition was limited, I wouldn't waste it in this manner.

I have several firearms, but if I was to have only one, this would be my choice. Having said that, I wouldn't discard what I have. Firearms are tools and different tools are used for different jobs.

In my mind, there's an advantage to anything that's designed for a 100% guaranteed grouping within 2 inches at 1000 yards). Moreover, it can perform at this level of performance on a target moving at 20 mph cross field. With this rifle, someone who has never fired a firearm in their life can outshoot a trained sniper. I find value in that as well, as my wife hasn't had my training and the hundreds of thousands of rounds of experience. Again, with this optics system anyone can outshoot anyone else on the planet (within the system parameters) who's shooting witht a conventional weapon system. It's that good.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-wRdVcmkd0

If it’s an AR-10, that’s a (restricted) range queen here. To take it into the bush it has to be non-restricted...

In an actual SHTF scenario, I think the Police would have more important priorities than wasting their time with you over the transportation of a restricted weapon (city wide looting perhaps). I don't imagine that they'd be on patrol "in the bush'" hoping to grab you. In my ase, I'd be transporting it to the range for target practice. Here is my Authorization to Transport (ATT). Why am I on foot and in the bush? The traffic is bad, so I decided to walk. Am I lost?... 🙂

$10,938.65 Canadian?

For that price I could buy a semi-automatic bull pup like the Norinco T-97, two to three good bolt action rifles of various calibers, and one or two combo guns - tax included - and shoot a variety of food that's within a reasonable walking distance. As for self-defence applications, that rifle 's a purely offensive weapon, it's a sniper rifle. The reason most military services went the direction of assault rifles is because most firefights happen at ranges of 100 metres or less. For applications of survival, which is food harvesting and self-defence, that rifle is the equivalent of buying a Ferrari to haul bags of cement.

$10,938.65 Canadian?

For that price I could buy a semi-automatic bull pup like the Norinco T-97, two to three good bolt action rifles of various calibers, and one or two combo guns - tax included - and shoot a variety of food that's within a reasonable walking distance. As for self-defence applications, that rifle 's a purely offensive weapon, it's a sniper rifle. The reason most military services went the direction of assault rifles is because most firefights happen at ranges of 100 metres or less. For applications of survival, which is food harvesting and self-defence, that rifle is the equivalent of buying a Ferrari to haul bags of cement.

It's a matter of perspective and personal opinion. All the weapons and ammunition in the world doesn't do anyone any good unless they can hit the target with precision. If you have the skill that's one thing. The skill you have becomes useless unless the weapon chosen has the legs for the distance. Even the best snipers have their limit (skill/operational envelope).

If I was injured or killed, this would be the only weapon that my wife (and most others on the planet) could use to make an 800 yard kill in any weather conditions. Given a finite ammunition supply, every round should count.

As far as defence is concerned, this too is specialized. A handgun (another restricted weapon) is my choice for most in-home scenarios. Shotguns and sub-machine guns are too indiscriminate for most situations. Like I said, firearms are tools that ideally require the right choice for the job. There is a place for any firearm that is guaranteed to bring down meat for the table in a single shot at long range.

The cost of this particular unit is high, but long-range equipment is expensive. A Nightforce NXS 8-32×56 scope for example, will run you in the neighbourhood of $6,000. Add another $4-5000 for the rifle, bipod, jeweled trigger, etc. It mounts up. That doesn't include night vision, so this unit is reasonable for what you're buying.

That said, long-range shooting isn't for everyone. As far as a combat situation is concerned, it's my preference that the bad guys are unable to see me and be unable to hit me if they did (I've been shot at and don't particularly like it). Hopefully the world will never come to this point, but if it did, well I suppose that's what preparing is all about...

My problem is I took it seriously when you said a SERIOUS “survival rifle.” This rifle has nothing to do with survival, and the only thing serious about it is the price.

The optics system leans too heavily on technology to make it a good survival rifle. What are you going to do when the battery on that expensive optics system dies, or if it’s dropped in a stream and the seals fail to hold? What if you drop it off the back of a truck and it doesn’t work when switched on? EMP…? In a SHTF scenario, I don’t think you’ll have the three weeks to a month it’ll take to return it to the manufacturer for repairs, provided there’s a postal service to send it by, and provided the manufacturer isn’t a radioactive pile of rubble by then.

Someone else said it’s a restricted firearm in Canada. I’m not sure about that (I don’t think the AR-10 is), but if you live in Canada and it is a restricted firearm you can forget about using it anywhere but at the range. Speaking of ranges, do you know of any 800-yard ranges in your area? There are four ranges within a 2-hour drive of my house, and the longest range – and furthest away - is only 200-yards long. Practice makes perfect, but where can you go to practice shooting out to 800 yards?

In my estimation, a “serious SURVIVAL rifle” (putting the emphasis where it should be) meets the following criteria: Low maintenance, reliable, simple to operate, 10-round or higher magazine capacity for self-defence, and chambered in a widely available cartridge to ensure a good supply. For me, that’s anything in the scout rifle class that’s come into vogue lately. That class is defined as a bolt-action, 10-round capacity, short-barreled, .308-caliber rifle. Some, like the Ruger Gunsite Scout, the Mossberg MVP Patrol and the Savage Model 11 Scout come with a PIcatinney rail for mounting a long eye relief scope. I think all have traditional sights as a backup. Slap a $350.00 scope on it, and with some practice, you can kill a deer just as dead as the next guy at the usual range deer are shot in North America, anywhere between 30 and 200-yards. Don’t believe me? Read the hunting blogs for average shot distances, 300 to 400-yard shots (half of what you’re talking about) are considered “long-distance.”

Hey, if your hobby is long distance shooting, more power to you. But I wouldn’t call that rifle a “survival rifle.”

Gallows,

You make some good points. I have several pieces of equipment that are dependent on remaining undamaged. mechanical or electrical malfunction can make them inoperative. This is especially true in a SHTF situation, where manufacturer replacement isn't available. They're fallible, but they're still important to me. These include but are not limited to generators, battery chargers and solar panels.

It could be said that the military snipers of today all carry equipment that would fall under the same shortcomings as the trackingpoint system. Items like the Leica rangefinder, Kestrel ballistic calculator, as well as communications equipment. This equipment however only enhances their lethality. They've been carried in the field for many years successfully. Extra batteries can be carried and they can be stored in waterproof cases until required. For that matter, most scopes would suffer the same fate if they were dropped-off the back of a truck (using your example). Looking after your equipment is one of the first lessons you learn, but as you point out, equipment isn't indestructible.

As far as ranges are concerned, there are two ranges within close proximity to me. A 600 meter range in Bedford and a 800 meter one outside Lower Sackville. The latter is on a 1900 acre property owned by the Nova Scotia Rifle Association. With this rifle, practice isn't required. That's the point, you don't require any marksmanship skill to make a one-shot kill.

As I've mentioned, this wouldn't be the only firearm that I would keep, as you select the right tool for the job. I realize that not everyone is as excited about long range shooting as I am. The trackingpoint system doesn't turn a novice into a qualified Sniper (there's much more involved than being a good shot). It does however turn a novice into an expert marksman which could make a difference in a survival situation.

Because this system can be used at 800 yards doesn't mean that it's not just as lethal at distances less than that. Given its day and night capabilities, it could offer advantages in home defense as well, I wouldn't want to face anyone so equipped in a combat situation (unless I was over 1000 yards away) and expect to survive.

I've been shot at on a few occasions. If the shooter had this rifle, I'd be dead. From my perspective, it doesn't get any more SERIOUS than that...

Gallows,

You make some good points. I have several pieces of equipment that are dependent on remaining undamaged. mechanical or electrical malfunction can make them inoperative. This is especially true in a SHTF situation, where manufacturer replacement isn't available. They're fallible, but they're still important to me. These include but are not limited to generators, battery chargers and solar panels.

It could be said that the military snipers of today all carry equipment that would fall under the same shortcomings as the trackingpoint system. Items like the Leica rangefinder, Kestrel ballistic calculator, as well as communications equipment. This equipment however only enhances their lethality. They've been carried in the field for many years successfully. Extra batteries can be carried and they can be stored in waterproof cases until required. For that matter, most scopes would suffer the same fate if they were dropped-off the back of a truck (using your example). Looking after your equipment is one of the first lessons you learn, but as you point out, equipment isn't indestructible.

As far as ranges are concerned, there are two ranges within close proximity to me. A 600 meter range in Bedford and a 800 meter one outside Lower Sackville. The latter is on a 1900 acre property owned by the Nova Scotia Rifle Association. With this rifle, practice isn't required. That's the point, you don't require any marksmanship skill to make a one-shot kill.

As I've mentioned, this wouldn't be the only firearm that I would keep, as you select the right tool for the job. I realize that not everyone is as excited about long range shooting as I am. The trackingpoint system doesn't turn a novice into a qualified Sniper (there's much more involved than being a good shot). It does however turn a novice into an expert marksman which could make a difference in a survival situation.

Because this system can be used at 800 yards doesn't mean that it's not just as lethal at distances less than that. Given its day and night capabilities, it could offer advantages in home defense as well, I wouldn't want to face anyone so equipped in a combat situation (unless I was over 1000 yards away) and expect to survive.

I've been shot at on a few occasions. If the shooter had this rifle, I'd be dead. From my perspective, it doesn't get any more SERIOUS than that...

Hi Wayne,

You're lucky you have ranges that shoot out that far. With respect to a survival gun, though, let me ask you a question. If you had to bug out and could only take one of your guns with you, and you didn't know if you'd be able to come back, what gun would it be, and why?

For me, considering what I have right now, it'd be a toss up between a .30-30 Marlin 336C and a Savage Model 42 Takedown (.22LR over .410 combo). If forced to choose, though, I'd grab the Marlin. It's chambered in a popular (thus widely available) hunting round, I can load on the fly through the side gate if I'm forced to have to defend myself, it's powerful enough to knock down a deer, and its short enough to make good brush gun. I would be sad about leaving the Savage behind, though. I find those little combo guns quite versatile. It's a great small game gun that's light and can be broken down and hidden in a backpack, Unfortunately, it doesn't have the reach and penetration power to make a good self-defence rifle. And as one other poster pointed out, you can always set snares for small game.

Thanks for your feedback Gallows. I think that combination weapons are brilliant. They make a great compromise in many instances. In a bush survival situation, I haven't missed not having a .22 or a shotgun, as long as ample snare wire is available. This has provided a reasonable amount of meat for consumption without the need to hunt for small game.

The 3030 Marlin 336, like the Winchester 94 in the same caliber is an excellent bush gun with a shorter barrel length to facilitate easier travel through obstructions and a light carry weight. A good overall choice.

To answer your question, for me my weapon of choice would be my Remington 700. With this I feel confident performing a one-shot kill up to 600 yards on a moving target or 1000 yards on a stationary one. The 308 has the legs although I'd prefer a 300 Win Mag or a 338 Lapua for this shot. My grouping is about 6 inches at this distance (worse than when I was practising regularly). With the Trackingpoint it would be 2 inches or less (the same as my 12 year-old Grandson) stationary or moving. 🙂

Large game would be the target, but like you've correctly mentioned, hyper-distance shooting isn't usually necessary. For me it's my defensive preference. In a life and death survival situation, if a group of people wanted to use force to take what I have, I'd give it to them. I'd return and employ my long-range skillsets on my terms.

I understand your preference for the Remington 700. I have a 700 SPS Tactical in .308 and it's a tack driver. The only reason I wouldn't have picked that over the Marlin is that it does not have iron sights; if something happened to the scope I'd be screwed. There's that, and because it's a bull-barrel it also weights a lot once you mount the glass on it. Humping it around all day over the relatively light Marlin would give me pause for thought. The more weight in gun I'm carrying, the less weight in supplies I can carry. Unfortunately, I'm still trying to get the optics back to where I had them when I first mounted the scope (an inexpensive Bushnell DOA) . I got one of those 700s with the bad trigger group, and so had to strip off all the accessories (scope, rings, sling, bi-pod) before sending it back for trigger group replacement. I don't get a lot of time to get to the 200-yard range (2-hour drive one way) so I'm still in the process of walking the cross-hairs back to where I want them. I've got it to about an inch at 100 yards, but that's not near where it was before. I could easily hit a dime before, or at least seriously nick it.

I'm waiting for my dream bug-out gun to come in right now. So enamoured with the Scout gun concept that's been developed, I just ordered a Savage Model 11 Scout Rifle (it helped that they were on sale, too). While I plan to mount a UTG long eye-relief scope on it, it does have a protected front blade sight and a rear Williams peep sight for backup. I especially like that it's a .308, a very popular and available round.

As far as scopes are concerned, I like the Nightforce ATACR 7-35 x 56 F1 with Ultralight titanium rings. It can back down to X7, which makes it ok for shorter ranges and provides a maximum of X35 which's what's needed for longer range shooting. It's a lot of money to have tied-up though.

My next long range shooter will likely be a GA Precision Custom .338 Lapua Mag. I'd like a light 50, but the costs are crazy.

It's always been hard for me to pay a lot of money for firearms, extensive modifications and specialized ammo when I've become use to the taxpayer providing it all for me... 🙂 You hate to lose the skill level you've attained over the years. Perhaps it's better to opt for a Trackingpoint and forget the ammunition maintenance cost... lol