Never thought about it. But having seen plenty of stocks with bondo bits, and some really bad failures of said bits, I'm hesitant. Any autobody guys on here? Would the bedliner stuff stick to ABS plastic?

When I say scratches, I'm not talking about cosmetic ones. I have nice deep gouge in the side of the stock from being "petted" by a boulder.

Ya can't go wrong with a Contender, unless... you need a real quick second, third, etc. shot, then, a good semi-auto is hard to beat, rifle OR pistol. Make mine a pair, 1911 .45 and a 1022. Putting this in writing got me to thinking... how many out there (in a survival situation, of course) believe they could drop a deer with a .45? For the sake of brevity, lets specify; you're within 25 feet of said deer, and you've got seven in the mag, and one in the pipe, empty out if need be.

Troy

P.S. Think 'Danny DeVito in "Hoffa" '

A long time ago in the real world, one shot with either of those for me, but given a choice today at that close a range I would prefer the 45. Farther away is fine up to a reasonable distance. Prefered aim point is extremely different with those two calibers.

Tom

I wasn't refering to any sort of paranoia. What I was talking about was a SHTF event, and for some reason you aren't there or don't make it. Then, your family has all of this fancy gear that they get to use.

I figure that my wife could figure out how to use an M6 easier than any sort of pistol. She has shot my Beretta 21, but she is sort of afraid of my XD-9 (boom too big), and I am not sure that she would even have the strength to pull back the slide. Also, the sight radius on a rifle is much better than on any pistol, so that also makes it easier for a beginner to bag bunnies and squirrels.

Just my $0.02.

I agree entirely for me & thee, but very few people have the time or inclination to shoot as much as you must to be minimally compatent with a handgun. I shot 100 rounds a day minimum 5 or 6 days a week for several years (my mother got REAL tired of it) and after all these years I have to "tune up" from time to time.

A well known gun writer acquaintance was once asked what the best survival gun was. His laconic response was " What do you want to survive?" Is my late friend Bart the Bear going to attack us? Are we going to ignore the nutritional phenomenon of rabbit starvation and shoot bunnies instead of setting snares and all those jigsaw deadfalls in the survival manuals? Is the wild eyed stranger with a Tom Brown Tracker a direct threat? The late Mel Tappen wrote a exaustive book on the subject that is still relevant. Personally, I'd rather have 5 lbs of trailmix, jerky, Mainstay rations or a gummy bear frozen pizza than the Ithaca M6 we carried in our C-130s in Alaska. That, or find the WW2 Luftwaffe Drilling carried by crews in North Africa- a rimmed equivelant to the .375 H&H over 2 shotgun barrels. If I am going to pack iron for whatever practical and cultural reasons we value it's going to be real BIG! <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Re: "Pistol paranoia (or any gun paranoia, for that matter) really gets my goat."

Frankly, I'd prefer that those w/o training maintain their sense of paranoia. Better they keep their mitts off a gun if they don't know one end from the other.

Re within 25' feet of a deer with one in the pipe and a loaded mag ... well, I know zip about deer, but, yeah, I think might be able to. There might be some tracking involved (sans a decisive hit, I hear those buggers can go a long ways). But I've held my own in bowling pin and steel plate matches, so I'd tend to believe I could score multiple hits on an animal the size of a deer.

Frankly, for a survival firearm, I'd like a 12 ga. shotgun with a full stock or at least a stock that locks firmly into place. Give me some shells in No. 6 shot for critters that fly and scamper and some 0 or No. 1 buck and some slugs for dangerous beings. No one firearm will do everything, but i think that would keep me fed, as well as protected w/in close ranges.

It is always interesting to see the views on firearms in a survival tool. It reminds me of the Rambo knife. I always wondered why people would think that bigger is better. Yes I agree that a 44 mag or 12 gauge would be great to have, but in a situation as a BOB or a flight bag, why would you need a firearm so big? Also is the fact that if one has a firearm then one has the responsibility to be skillful with it and not just OK. A firearm doesn't replace the kit you have, it is one tool to help you. If in a fall I break my leg, it would be difficult to move around and set traps or even fish, but staying still I could get a rabbit, couple of birds, frogs, squirrel, heck even a skunk if need be. Why must one always think of getting the proverbial deer or think about bear hunting. Who cares! You would still be in the same situation without a firearm. A firearm just extends your normal reach. Shooting a 22 is a lot easier on the body then a 44 or even a 38. You can carry more ammo or the same in a smaller place then any other cartridge. Whether a pistol is eaier than a rifle is really up to the shooter. My mom of 58 couldn't hit the broad side of a barn with a shotgun, put a pistol in her ands and look out Billy the Kid. No she doesn't practice 1000 of rounds, but when we do get a chance to go out (1 a month maybe) we make every shot could and not just blaze away. My fiance' hates to shot a rifle, but loves my Mark II. So be careful of Rambo, he isn't a good example for knives and nor is he a good example for survival firearms. I have my Mark II set-up for my BOB in a modified CD binder. As for people touching my firearms I was taught that every firearm was loaded and treated them as such and I make sure that if anyone is in my house (lawfully) and might stay they understand this too. So careful thought must be taken into a survival firearm, mainly the asking of one's self if you are ready for the responsibility of having such a tool at your disposal.

Come on guys! Spread your American freedom and send me one! <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />
(Ive got the credit card and firearms training :P ) That rifle looks like a good laugh for a gun novice to take out in the weekends. All I can say is appreciate your liberties Americans!

Now, what I am a lot more excited about is the new Taurus repro of a Colt Lightning pump chambered in .357/38. 6.5#, 14 rounds in the mag, lots and lots of ammunition options -- real versatility --- everything from shot shells to 200 grains or so, small game with .38 mid range wadcutters, and on and on.

If the quality is there, and if it will feed, I'm getting one.