Break down/camping rifles?

[RainDownmyBlues]

Just wondering what my options are on break down rifles? I do a lot of tent camping, mostly on private land. On my dad's land along the river there are some coyotes that are getting pretty pesky, they've seemingly grown some huge balls while I served my time in the Army.

A nice reliable break down rifle would be nice, even a .22 would get the job done. But I don't know what's out there for break down rifles.

I'm going to be building an AR later on this summer, but just looking for a little camping buddy

 

[chicharrones]

Here are two common picks.

http://www.marlinfirearms.com/firearms/selfloading/70PSS.asp

http://www.henryrepeating.com/h002_survival.cfm

However, if you have the cash and want a centerfire look at a Thompson Center Contender Pistol. It's always short and ready to fire. http://www.tcarms.com/firearms/g2ContenderPistols.php

 

[little joe]

I have a Marlin Papoose which has been a really nice little rifle. Thing is very accurate out to 100 yds. I can down Coke cans, clip after clip out that far with open sights. One of my "funnest" guns.

I think one of the Taurus or Puma slide action 22LR or 22Mag rifles would also be great. 22Mag better for close in Coyotes. I think certain models of those two are take down and they even make a short barreled one.

Lj

 

[375shooter]

Another option may be the Handi Rifle in 22 hornet. http://www.hr1871.com/Firearms/Rifles/handiRifle.asp

 

[dmazur]

Browning makes a "classic" take-down .22 semi-auto, the SA-22

http://www.browning.com/products/catalog/firearms/detail.asp?value=022B&cat_id=021&type_id=001#center

The quality is top-notch on these, with very little difference between the ones made in Japan and those made in Belgium.

Scope mounts generally attach to the barrel, so that the take-down feature doesn't affect zero. However, the iron sights are adequate unless you have problems with iron sights.

They can be field-stripped without tools, and they are generally trouble-free. The one I have likes CCI mini-mags for accuracy, but it will digest almost any LR ammo I feed it.

They are a little expensive, compared to other .22's.

While no longer made, Winchester had a Miroku 1895 in .30-06 for a few years, as a take-down. If you can find one of these, it makes for a different kind of camp gun. Browning's BLR is a currently offered lever action, and it is available as a take-down, too. Choose your caliber, depending on what you want it to do. .243 would handle coyotes, and would also be a nice light carbine for deer.

 

[MarineOne]

That's just one of the reasons why I bought an M1 Carbine. Great camp gun, decent power out to 100 yards if needed, lightweight, and fun to shoot.



Kris

 

[Aint Life Garand]

Have you considered one of the Keltec Su-16 rifles? Folds in half, lightweight, and would make a great rifle to throw into a backpack.

 

[powerline]

I'll second the suggestion of a KelTec, but I've got a different model in mind. The Sub 2000. What makes it great is that it folds in half and fits places no one would expect a long gun to fit, and when you want to use it it goes from folded to ready to fire in a few seconds. It comes in either 9mm or .40, and you can get it to use the Glock, Beretta, or Smith & Wesson mags you may already own.
The price is pretty reasonable, too. I bought one new for $280.

 

[bhk]

Put a folding stock on a Ruger 10/22 or a M1 carbine and you have the perfect travel/camping rifle. They open instantly and can even be fired with the stock folded if you are in a hurry.

 

[7.62 Nato]

Some great suggestions already. There is also the Ruger Charger pistol (mini 10/22). I havent shot one yet but it's on my want list.

 

[RatDrall]

Why bother with a rifle that needs to be taken down, why not throw a handgun in your pack?

A 6" S&W 686 or a longer barreled Ruger Mark III would be my choice....

 

[Marlin 45 carbine]

another vote for the Kel-Tec. one of my nephews has one the 9mm. shoots good. the manual actually recommends 'performance (re: +P) ammo'. which ain't no slouch out of a Carbine length barrel.
another option you may consider is a Ruger Mini. it breaks down fairly quickly by dropping the trigger gaurd and pulling the assembly out of the receiver. you would have more range than a 9mm with either the 5.56 or the X39 round. the Ranch model has built-in scope mounts. and folding stocks are available for them.

 

[MachIVshooter]

If a .22 will suit you:

Browning makes a "classic" take-down .22 semi-auto, the SA-22

It is about the highest quality take-down rimfire you'll find. Additionally, there were the Remington versions of it, the 24 and 241, with more slender forearms. They weigh about 4 pounds. I have one in .22 Short (yes, the image in Wiki is mine, I didn't pirate it)



If you want more power in a compact design, I'll second the other recommendations for a Kel-Tec SU-16C or Sub-2000. Also the PLR-16, classified as a pistol, is one helluva lot of firepower in a 3 pound package, and quite accurate. But you'll not ever wanna touch it off without ear protection (same for the SU-16)

 

[kar6man]

You want a Springfield M6 Scout .22/.410for that if you can find one used. They stopped making them a couple years ago for some reason.

 

[Bud Tugly]

Just about any break-open gun will fit in a backpack when taken down, especially if the barrel is fairly short. You might want to consider a 12 gauge or 20 gauge shotgun with slugs or buckshot for the coyotes. If small game season is open and you are in an area with pheasants, grouse, etc. you could carry some bird shot too.

 

[bigfatdave]

Rossi makes an inexpensive single shot rifle/shotgun that breaks down and can be fitted with a number of barrels from .22lr to 12gauge. I've shot one in youth .22LR and 20gauge, it was surprisingly comfortable, and the works seemed to be simple, so probably reliable due to there being nothing to go wrong.

http://www.rossiusa.com/product-list.cfm?category=3

You could have one action and a pair of barrels to do different things, if I remember right it came in a little carry case that would have room for ammo, too.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

Can I ask you, why does it need to break down? If you're *backpacking* in, then yeah, sure, maybe, if you're not gonna carry it in your hands. Otherwise, just tent camping near the pickup, no reason for a breakdown.

But if you do want one, you'll need to decide rimfire vs. centerfire first. In a centerfire, Browning has a submodel of the BLR lever action available in several chamberings. I have an IMI Timberwolf which would make a righteous backpacking rifle, and breaks down, but these are discontinued and therefore getting pretty pricey.

In a rimfire, you have more options, most of which are covered above. I sold my Springfield/CZ M6 Scout in .410/.22lr, but with the trigger guard removed, it would fold in half and fit into a pack. But another example of discontinued and thus priced beyond what it's intrinsically worth (arguably).

 

[winchester '97]

The Kel Tec designs apparently only have a system life of a few thousand rounds. I would say an M1 carbine with the paratrooper stock, or the already mentioned Marlin papoose.

 

[bigfatdave]

Kel Tec designs apparently only have a system life of a few thousand rounds

Possibly true of the springs in some pistols, do you have a cite for that lifespan in the carbines?

you'll need to decide rimfire vs. centerfire first

Not with a single-shot, in the case of the cheap Rossi

 

[jmorris]

I have a few of the browning 22s and the henry copy of the ar7 but I think the savage 24 would be a real good choice in 22 over 20ga as it can do just about anything.



My SBR 10/22 is also very compact, ready to go faster than any of the above and very quite with the suppressor on.

 

[nipprdog]

Kahn folding shotgun.

 

[zxcvbob]

If the Browning SA-22 is too rich for you, you might can find a Norinco knockoff. They were imported until Clinton (or maybe it was Bush the First) banned them. They should still cost less than a used Browning.

 

[leftyson24]

I bought my daughter and son as their first rifles savage-stevens o/u .22 mag-.410 ga and .22lr-.410 guage. They cut their teeth on these single shots to learn accuracy and fire control at very young ages. They are take down models and I liked the idea of having a rifle and shotgun combo as a camp/survival gun so much, I bought one in .223-20 guage. I'm sure someone still makes these. Mine are all 30+ years old. Try pawn shops.

 

[Guvnor]

You can get an H&R single-shot "sportster" model in .22lr or .22mag, or one of their single-shot youth model shotguns. They all break down in a few seconds with a Phillips head screwdriver.

They are good dependable guns, and will only set you back less than $200.

 

[MachIVshooter]

The Kel Tec designs apparently only have a system life of a few thousand rounds

That holds true of the sub-sub-compact pistols they offer. Not so for the folding carbines, PLR-16/SU-16, RFB and yet-to-be-released PMR-30. Those guns are built to be shooters.