Intro / Defining Survival
The whole industry of survival and wilderness preparedness has become hugely popular within the last few years. More and more people are realizing how fragile our society is, and in the event of a global catastrophe, how will we survive?
Being the site ‘Best Handgun’, we are now going to look at the Best Survival Handgun for a wilderness survival situation. Please note that we are talking about ‘wilderness’ and not urban, and will focus on the best gun for surviving in the wild if you could only have ONE gun.
Let’s get into it!
Type of Handgun
So the first thing we will talk about is what TYPE of gun you should look at getting. Although the increased capacity of semi-autos is appealing, we are going to have to recommend revolvers for this situation for one reason – reliability.
There are very few things you can do to a revolver to render it inoperable. A single-action revolver is one of the most reliable guns out there, and in a wilderness survival situation, you definitely will want that reliability. No feed issues, no jamming, no slide locking up – it will just shoot when you pull the trigger.
Size of Handgun
For a wilderness situation, you are going to be looking at a tradeoff between two things – the size/weight of the gun and the barrel length.
Your end goal is to get a gun that is very lightweight, and easy to carry while having as long of a barrel as you can, to make longer-range shots and hunting much easier.
For this, we are going to recommend looking into a medium-sized revolver, with as long of a barrel as you can find. The medium size will make the gun a bit lighter to pack and carry, yet large enough to shoot comfortably at a distance. Too large and you will feel like you’re lugging around a brick. Too small and you won’t be able to shoot very well.
Caliber
For a wilderness survival gun, there is only one caliber that we would recommend – .22 LR. If you could only have ONE caliber, this would be it. While it probably isn’t the best caliber to defend against a charging bear, it’s the most versatile, light, and cheap caliber to use in survival.
The rounds are so small, that any ‘bug out bag’ can easily fit thousands of rounds and the gun itself, without weighing much at all. You could take 1,000′s of .22LR rounds for the same weight at 100 .45 ACP rounds. The goal here is to survive for a long period.
For hunting purposes, these things are still bullets, and can still take down game. Plenty of deer are killed with a .22 LR every year, and if you make your shots count, you can as well.
Manufacturers
For manufacturers, it will mostly come down to personal preference. It’s really hard to go wrong with a .22LR revolver. But if we had to give our opinion, we would recommend either Smith & Wesson or Ruger, because of their long and highly successful careers with revolvers. You can’t go wrong with either.
If you are looking to spend a little bit less than their sticker price, we would also recommend checking out Taurus, who have been making great jumps in recent years in quality, while staying at a lower price than many other brands. They have some great larger frame hunting revolvers that can be great for survival.
Recommendations
In our search for the Best Survival Handgun, the Ruger SP101 emerges as a top contender. This revolver is a blend of medium-size and rugged dependability, distinguished by features that make it ideal for field use. Priced between $600 to $700, it’s an investment in reliability and longevity.
Built Like a Tank
The SP101’s construction is exceptionally robust, featuring a stainless steel frame, cylinder, and barrel. This full-steel design, devoid of a side plate, contributes to its reputation as being built ‘like a tank’. Such construction ensures durability and a level of ruggedness that can withstand harsh conditions, making it a reliable choice for wilderness survival.
Overall Value
Considering its durability, reliability, and potential for customization, the Ruger SP101 stands out as a valuable choice for a survival handgun. Its ability to withstand tough conditions, combined with its shooting comfort and customization options, make it a suitable firearm for both beginners and experienced shooters seeking a dependable survival tool.
Best Survival Handgun
So in conclusion, we’ve gone through all the different parts of what make up the Best Survival Handgun out there. We’ve covered the type and size of gun to look for, what caliber to have it chambered in, and what manufacturers to look for.
It’s important to be prepared for situations like that to happen, and instead of being a victim, you can be a survivor. So go out and get prepared today.