(01.0) FIREARMS - FOR MEAT or FOR SURVIVAL: One Dozen Good-Old-Dependable American Firearms

FOR MEAT or FOR SURVIVAL

One Dozen Good-Old-Dependable American Firearms

"[T]here's two reason to kill - survival and meat" - John Wayne (1971) as Jacob McCandles (1909) 

Whitetail deer from canoe 

 An Information, Opinion, Photos, & Sources Report

Compiled by Ocklawahaman Paul Nosca

Created:  06 July 2013

Moved to This Website:  25 June 2015

Last Revised:  16 March 2025

Duck hunting from canoe 

Whenever Ocklawahaman is questioned about his preferred firearm choices 

FOR MEAT or FOR SURVIVAL 

Anywhere in the U.S.A. from Florida to Alaska 

Some firearms and equipment for a November 1974 hunting trip in the Ocala National Forest (Ocala WMA)

https://sites.google.com/site/ocklawahamanpaulnoscareports/1973-74-ocala-wildlife-management-area-hunt-map-and-regulations

This is my in-alphabetical-order WISH LIST of twelve different American-classic guns  

All of them are quite reliable and most would be considered LEGENDARY! 

CENTERFIRE HANDGUNS

Colt Government Model (M-1911 / M1911A1-type) .45 ACP caliber, 5-inch barrel, 8-round capacity, single-action, semi-automatic pistol (maybe with an optional 15-round capacity extended magazine).

Colt's Government Model 45 Automatic Caliber (stainless steel) Series 80 (5-inch barrel)

https://sites.google.com/site/paulnoscasbassfishingphotos/the-legendary-and-reliable-colt-m1911-45-acp-autoloading-pistol

Colt Python Model .357 Magnum caliber, 6-inch or 8-inch barrel, 6-round capacity, double-action revolver.

Note:  The Colt Model 1873 Single Action Army (a.k.a. The Peacemaker or The Gun That Won the West) .45 (Long) Colt caliber, 7.5-inch barrel, 6-round capacity, single-action revolver is an acceptable substitute.

CENTERFIRE RIFLES

Colt Model AR-15 .223 caliber (5.56 mm) semi-automatic rifle.

Note:  The military issue fully automatic Colt M-16A1 .223 caliber (5.56 mm) rifle is an acceptable substitute.

Marlin Model 336 .30-30 caliber lever-action rifle.

Note:  The Winchester Model 1894 .30-30 caliber lever-action rifle is an acceptable substitute.

Remington Model 700 .30-06 caliber bolt-action rifle with 3-9X variable-power scope.

Sharps Model 1874 .45-70 Government (also .50-70 and .50-90 Government) caliber falling-block-action single-shot rifle with extreme long-range Soule-type rear sight.

Note:  The World-famous far-shooting Sharps 30-inch (or more) long barrel sporting rifle can be skillfully aimed to hit targets at over a half mile away--maximum effective range possibly up to 1000 yards (or more).

CENTERFIRE SHOTGUNS

Winchester Model 1897 12-gauge pump-action shotgun (with exposed-hammer). It is the only shotgun that I am aware of that can be "SLAM FIRED!" And probably because of its "SLAM FIRE" capability, the Winchester Model 1897 shotgun was used by the U.S. Armed Forces from the Spanish-American War and up into the Vietnam War.

Note:  The more modern Mossberg Model 500/590 or Remington Model 870 12-gauge pump-action shotguns would be acceptable substitutes.

Savage Stevens Model 311 12-gauge side-by-side double-barrel, break action, shotgun.

Note:  Savage Fox Model B 12-gauge side-by-side double-barrel, break action, shotgun is an acceptable substitute.

RIMFIRE HANDGUNS

Colt Government Model (M-1911 / M1911A1-type) with the .22 caliber LR (floating-chamber conversion unit), 5-inch barrel, 10-round capacity, single-action, semi-automatic pistol.

Harrington & Richardson Model 999 Sportsman (H & R 999) .22 caliber LR top-break, 6-inch barrel, 9-round-capacity, double-action revolver.

Harrington & Richardson Model 999 Sportsman .22 LR caliber (6-inch barrel)

Note:  The Colt Diamondback Model .22 caliber LR 6-inch barrel, 6-round capacity, double-action revolver would be an acceptable substitute.

RIMFIRE RIFLES

Marlin Golden Model 39A .22 caliber LR lever-action rifle with 3-9X variable-power scope.

Note:  The Marlin Model 60 .22 caliber LR semi-automatic rifle  would be an acceptable substitute.

Ruger Model 10/22 .22 caliber LR semi-automatic rifle (maybe with 50-rd. magazine). 

On the range with my first .22 caliber rifle (Remington Model 33 bolt-action, single shot) at age 9 

 There are many similar variations of the following post-bellum original-author-unknown slogan: 

Almighty God created all men 

And Abraham Lincoln may have freed all men 

BUT Samuel Colt made all men EQUAL. 

A few lines of lyrics excerpted from "A Country Boy Can Survive" sung by Hank Williams, Jr.: 

I'd love to spit some beechnut in that dudes eyes

And shoot him with my old 45

Cause a country boy can survive

Country folks can survive 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cQNkIrg-Tk 

A few lines of lyrics excerpted from "The Devil's Right Hand" sung by Waylon Jennings: 

My very first pistol was a cap and ball Colt

Shoot as fast as lightnin' but it loads a mite slow

It loads a mite slow and soon I found out

It'll get you into trouble but it can't get you out 

About a year later got a Colt 45

Called a Peacemaker but I never knew why

Never knew why, I didn't understand

Mama said, "The pistol is the devil's right hand" 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKN631r8-4s 

https://sites.google.com/site/ocklawahamanandothertopics/for-meat-or-for-survival-one-dozen-good-old-dependable-american-firearms 

Email:  ocklawahaman1@gmail.com 

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