Takedown Survival Rifles

A takedown rifle would be a fun addition for camping, travel, hiking, etc. Key purposes would be hunting game and/or defense against bears or bad guys.

 

Key Considerations

• Caliber: A .22 LR is inexpensive,  you can carry a lot, but it wouldn't take down a deer. Larger calibers are costly, more bulky, and could destroy any meat on a small game.
• Reload speed: Options include semi-automatic, lever action, or single shot. Semi-automatic is nice of course, though it is something else that can break.
• Complexity of Takedown: The shorter and simpler the better. Do you need special tools? Any tools required is something else to loose.
• Weight, Size: Every pound or cubic foot of rifle is one less pound or cubic foot of anything else that you can carry.
• Cost: What comparison excludes cost?.... especially for a rifle that may see little use.

Potential Options - Every list of potential rifles has several of these, but not ALL of them. There have also been new releases in the last several years.

1. Henry AR-7 - Completely takes apart and fits in the shoulder stock. It's definitely the most compact and lightest of the group, weighing in at 3.5 lbs. Henry supposedly has made updates to improve the failure to feed, failure to fire, and failure to eject issues. Buy new from $220
2. Ruger 10/22 takedown - Classic semi-automatic .22 with magazines that hold 25 rounds. 4.6 lbs, $350
3. Marlin Papoose - Officially the Model 70PSS. Requires a barrel wrench to tighten the ring on the barrel to the receiver.Weighs 3.25 lbs and costs $330.
4. Chiappa M6 - An update of the M6 survival rifle. It's chambered in .22 LR / 20 gauge. Most comparisons of the AR-7 and M6 are comparing against the original M6 chambered in .410 bore. The ability to get that M6 was rarer since it wasn't in production. The stock is foam, which makes me question how long it will hold up. New at $390.
5. Savage Model 42 takedown - This is the new kid in down. A over/under combo, it can be chambered in 22 LR /.410 or .22 WMR/ .410. The advantage of the .22 LR is cheaper, lighter ammo, though the .22 WMR will pack a bit bigger punch. It would have been really nice if they had designed the .22 WMR such you could shoot a 22 LR in it, like you can the .357 or .38. However there are a lot of bad reviews on the non-takedown version.
6. Kel-Tec SU-16 - Chambered in .223, it looks like a takedown AR without a pistol grip, though it's a long-stroke piston design.
7. TNW AERO - An AR-style carbine shooting pistol calibers in a blowback design. Weighs 5.5 lbs and costs $800
8. Chiappa Alaskan Takedown- A takedown lever action in .357 or .44. It's a little heaver than some at 5.5 lbs. Not many are made so they are expensive - $1200.
9. Browning BLR Takedown - A takedown lever action. Available in many larger calibers, it is the heaviest at 6.5 lbs and costs $1200