The .22 For Survival

I read a really interesting discussion at one of the social networking sites, where one participant opined that .22s are not really very important, because big game is a better use of resources (time, effort etc.) than small game, and small game is better harvested by trapping anyway. The other participant in the discussion disagreed and offered some very well-thought-out commentary in favor of .22s. I asked and received permission to reprint his comments here:

"Yeah, this is all correct info. But I still rely on .22LR as a staple of my supply. I also store a good volume of large bore centerfire for rifle and handguns, as well as a goodish supply of shotgun shells (but not many). My preference is largely regional. I'll get to that in a couple paragraphs.

The 16" ideal barrel length is broadly cited for optimal velocity of the .22 LR, but it is 17" that is the optimum for precision. We see Anschutz and Walther presenting rifles with extended bloop tubes to create a "legal" target barrel length, but their crown is set at almost preciscely 17". That one inch of barrel length slows the bullet to reduce harmonics, sending the vibrations back to the action screws. A well-tuned .22 will actually ring through the wood into your ears as a bullet passes the 16" mark, but that is just before or after the bullet leaves the barrel. That is the stabilization of the bullet, and it is part of what makes the .22LR the most accurate round on the market.

A wise survivalist is looking at teams, not arsenals. Much meat can be had while simply gathering, and seeing a squirrel. One squirrel can feed two people easily on top of a pile of veggies. OK, it is not a moose steak, but it is something. With one person carrying a big bore gun, the moose is down. With another carrying the .22, more meat for the pot. And, right now, with a brick of .22 starting at around $11, that is 500 squirrels for next to nothing. The other fire power is on the scene.

Regionality. I have been in plenty of places where a .44 handgun is not nearly enough to protect against bear or moose. In those areas, I would certainly have someone in charge of a shotgun or rifle of appropriate gauge or caliber for the task. But here in the Great Basin, well, the most meat on foot is in the form of rabbits. A head shot to a rabbit with a .22LR is going to net a good chunk of food. I have served over 8 individual meals on one jackrabbit. 6 on a cottontail. That does not include stock useful in fortifying rice with protein which, individual for individual, small game does better than large.
Many among the survival community promote the .22 magnum. I see this as an expensive waste for most critters. I could go into this more, but would be way off tangent.

Disease within small game populations. Yes, it exists, especially in warm climates. Tularemia is one of the worst. It effects the liver first, causing white spots. It is wise not to shoot a warm weather rabbit that is sluggish or slow to flush. Every rabbit must be field autopsied to see if the liver shows ANY signs of discoloration. Tulermia spreads through blood contact, and enters open wounds common to any outdoor hands. Whether caught with a snare or otherwise, avoid contact with rabbit blood until a full autopsy is done. Parasites, such as bot flies, can affect rabbits and also make them sluggish. A big bloody, bloated, wolf is certainly not appetizing, but it is not gonna transmit any disease...so scrape it off. A slow rabbit is not necessarily off the menu, especially in warm climates, unless you have reason to not care.

Ability on big game. For most of the year, I would not go after big game with a .22. That said, in the winter, I would prefer a .22 within 50 feet...with a spotlight. In survival situations, here in the Great Basin, Hell yes...I would do that. The winter herds clump up and get dumb. You can walk into the middle of a herd without them knowing it, especially at night with a low moon. You do not need an eye shot at that range with a .22 on a mule deer, or a white tail. And if one gets away wounded, ethics be damned. This is survival.

And 50 rounds in the pocket weighs, what? the same as five big bore rounds, or less?
A .22...rifle, handgun, whatever...has a large range of uses, and in its absence there are few tools that can replace it. It is cheap, and everyone owns at least one. What is the harm in $100 of stockpiled ammo, just in case. It cannot be reloaded, but so what? How many meals could escape the pot if only one person in a party did not carry a .22? Penny for pound of meat, okay...a large animal is worth more. But for convenience sake, I would never neglect a .22 for anything. I'd not rely on it. But I bet it would bring me more surprises in take than anything, anything else.
To clarify, by "legal", I meant for competition. Those bloop tubes are also meant to stabilize harmonics further, and increase sight radius. Not really the stuff of survival.

I carry a .44 a lot of the time back country, with 305 grain CorBon flat penetrator loads. While I do not underestimate it, perhaps I underestimate myself. I'd feel much better facing a bear with a shotgun or rifle. Your .45-70 would be perfect. When in a place where an encounter is probable, not just possible, that's when I feel a .44 is not enough.

Your consideration of animal defense is wise, especially in Alaska. But a .22 need not be a second long gun to lug around. A .22 handgun can be used to dispatch squirrels and such pretty neatly.

One other thing I forgot to note is the use of CB rounds. They are quieter than an air gun, but can punch through a 2x4. I keep a couple boxes on hand. A novelty item, perhaps, but it's NFA legal and a good way to take care of coons without waking up the neighbors (as if they really would care, but still).A .22 cb that Aguila of Mexico makes (the Super Colibri) is a real light bullet (about 20 grains) in front of just a primer. The volume of this round going off is about that of a popcorn kernal, and the bullet striking its target is often louder than the report. This is a serious 50-foot and under round. CCI makes a cb round that has just a touch of powder, increasing its effective range out to around 25 yards. They cost around $25/500 and would be great for trap work where silence is important.

Jim (click to visit his site)