SHTF Long Gun for Petite Girl?

[Darguth]

So, I'm looking for some advice. My girlfriend and I have begun to take emergency preparations more seriously in the last year or so. Included in that has been the acquisition and training of several firearms as well as "bug out" bags, as you might call them. Ideally I want to have 2 weapons for each of us that are "ready to go" in an emergency situation along with our supply bags. One being a handgun as a secondary fallback weapon for self-defense, and the other being a general purpose long-gun for hunting and longer-range combat.

She already has her handgun and I already have my long-gun and know what I want for my handgun (once the funds are available), so what I'm angling for is to determine what would be the most appropriate SHTF long-gun for my girlfriend. She's a 5'3" Asian girl that weighs barely 100-105 lbs. This make size and weight of a long-gun for such a purpose pretty restricted. She took my AR-15 out for the first time at the range a few weeks ago and complained about the weight after only a short period. It only weighs about 7.5 lbs or so.

Aside from that we have two other long-guns, both shotguns. One is my home defense Mossberg 500 and the other is her Beretta sporting shotgun. The former doesn't seem to make a great SHTF weapon because I want to keep it configured for close-quarters/home defense. Which makes it ill-suited to be "ready to go in an emergency" as some kind of all-purpose gun for emergency situations. Similarly her Beretta doesn't fit the bill because the thing is huge, heavy, and has a plug in it's mag tube to make it legal for sporting competitions that only allow 2 rounds at a time.

The criteria I'd like the weapon to fit would be:
- Lightweight: Close to 5.5 lbs or so, if possible. Preferably after including a scope's weight.
- Hunting Capable: As a SHTF gun it needs to be dual-purpose for hunting and self-defense. I live in Michigan, so if it can hunt any kind of game from bird to buck is fine with me.
- Midrange Lethality: It needs to be able to--with the proper ammunition--be plenty lethal to humans at up to 200 yards at least.

Thoughts? Any advice is appreciated.

 

[Confederate]

Does she shoot already? I'd start with a Ruger 10/22, you can never go wrong with that. Light, no recoil, cheap, cheap ammo (for practice), and infinitely customizable.

 

[acptulsa]

Does she shoot already? I'd start with a Ruger 10/22, you can never go wrong with that. Light, no recoil, cheap, cheap ammo (for practice), and infinitely customizable.

Notoriously accurate, too. And uses the least expensive, most varied ammo.

 

[Confederate]

Notoriously accurate, too. And uses the least expensive, most varied ammo.

Damn, can't believe I forgot accurate in my description!

You're completely right on .22lr. It (still) unbelievably cheap and comes in so many different varieties. You can shoot 500+ rounds at the range each time.

.22lr out of a long gun also has a significant amount of power for self-defense at around 100 yards. I've seen it penetrate through 6 layers of thick denim and 6 inches of meat at 100 yards.

 

[Darguth]

Yes, she shoots. As I mentioned she already owns a handgun and a shotgun, and she's shot my AR.

I'm not sure a 10/22 would fit the bill as the .22LR to me (and please correct me if I'm wrong) would be ill-suited for both hunting and midrange defense?

 

[Pericles]

Probably have to go old school and build something lake this with the lightweight barrel:

5 and a third pounds without magazine.

 

[dannno]

Does she shoot already? I'd start with a Ruger 10/22, you can never go wrong with that. Light, no recoil, cheap, cheap ammo (for practice), and infinitely customizable.

Wow, neato

 

[airborne373]

Do not underestimate the 22 long rifle caliber and any rifle that can fire it.

 

[Darguth]

Does anyone have any experience with Kel-Tec SU-16's? I'm thinking this might be a decent weapon for my criteria. It's lighter than most AR-15 builds are going to be, yet still would be compatible with my 5.56 ammo and STANAG mags making anything we carry with us interchangeable.

 

[Koz]

Yeah, .22 would fit the bill weight wise, but you're not bringing down many deer that you can actually find with a .22lr. And, accuracy out to 200 yards will suck unless you get a match barrel. That round is just not made to be shot accurately at that distance.

I think a .223 mid length customized with the lightest components you can find is about as good as you are going to do for a battle rifle that can take down large game. You're not going to get much below 6.5lbs or so in my opinion, then add in a magazine. If you are that serious about it, I would have her start hitting the gym and lifting for strength/power. Lift short sets with heavy weights.

 

[seapilot]

This is a pretty nice rifle. Its a Ruger M77/357 I do not have any experience with this model but always wanted an excuse to get one. It uses .357 mag rounds( same as the revolver) and another one they have uses .44 which can easily take down a deer under 100 yards. It claims to be a flat shooting up to 150 yards. It claims it weighs 5.5 pounds but with a scope probably tipping over 6 pounds.

http://www.ruger.com/products/rotaryMagazine77357/models.html

 

[foxtrotterz]

Maybe Savage 110 in .223 or .556? I handled one last weekend and liked it. Light weight and long range may guide you to a bolt gun. Are bolt guns out of the question? Not to knock her, but at her size, have you seriously considered getting her a decent spotting scope and having her as a spotter. A spotter plays a critical role to scan and see the bigger picture while a shooter is engaging targets. Just a thought.

 

[tangent4ronpaul]

How about a Hello Kitty AR in .22LR? It's undersized and made for a kid to handle.

Either that or see what you can find in .22 Hornet. The M7 survival rifle is a over/under .22 Hornet/10 gauge (there are similar ones). Light, breaks down well, waterproof and it floats. Good for hunting and sniping, but you probably don't want to be in a fire fight with one.

The M7 is also available in .22LR, but .22 Hornet is center fire and you can reload on the go with one of those small, pocket sized reloading presses.

You could probably re-chamber one for .223

-t

 

[erowe1]

Yes, she shoots. As I mentioned she already owns a handgun and a shotgun, and she's shot my AR.

I'm not sure a 10/22 would fit the bill as the .22LR to me (and please correct me if I'm wrong) would be ill-suited for both hunting and midrange defense?

You're not going to have a single gun that's ideal for every use.

But I'm thinking in a SHTF scenario, squirrel would be on the menu a lot in Michigan. A .22 rifle is a good thing to have. And I think most survival gurus (which I am not) would say that if you don't have one, you need one.

They also have that break-down model of the 10/22 now that is pretty ideal for portability.

 

[mortepa]

Another consideration could be a 22lr, 22 mag, or 357 lever action. A Marlin Mare's leg is a really cool option too, although technically still a pistol.

Marlin, Browning, Winchester, Henry...

 

[Athan]

If I was you, I would do the regular arms. The most I would fit her with is a small carbine like the M1 carbine (.30 cal). A 10/22 is probably a better set up.
Definitely get guns her size. A .22 is ideal for hunting purposes.

 

[Darguth]

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone, they're greatly appreciated. I particularly like the breakdown AR-7 survival rifle, we might give that some serious consideration. Though I'm still intrigued by the SU-16 because of it's interchangeability with my own rifle.

 

[Confederate]

If you already have something in a larger caliber get your wife a 10/22. You will never find one gun that does everything and in a SHTF situation a .22 is a must have.

 

[XNavyNuke]

Yes, she shoots. As I mentioned she already owns a handgun and a shotgun, and she's shot my AR.

I'm not sure a 10/22 would fit the bill as the .22LR to me (and please correct me if I'm wrong) would be ill-suited for both hunting and midrange defense?

Your GF sounds about the same size as my youngest daughter. I suggest the 10/22 in .22 Magnum. Unlike .22 LR, this can still be found in quantity on our local shelves. Drop at 200 meters is in the 8-14 inch range. The round can take coyotes and feral hogs, but is generally ILLEGAL for any equivalent massed GAME animals. YMMV.

XNN

 

[GunnyFreedom]

no gun owner should be without a .22

that said, I really like the Benelli R1 in .270 but the stock will be slightly too long, and it does weigh 7.1 lbs. It FEELS lighter though, and perceived recoil is a lot less... an R1 in .300 WSM feels like a .270 when shooting. A .270 feels lighter than a .223 AR.

Still have a weight issue at 7.1 lbs though, and still have an issue with the length of the buttstock. The ergonomics may make all the difference though. Don't get one until she has a chance to try it (they are awful expensive, but interchangeable calibers? Really? One rifle with extra barrels in .270 .308 .30-06 and .300 WSM?) but they take a different ergonomic approach to the R1 and so she may be able to handle it at 7.1 lbs you never know.