The best bug out rifle is the one you’re most capable with, and can get the most jobs done. We realize there are a lot of rifles that meet those conditions, but here is a list of our favorites.
Best Bug Out Defense Rifle
300 Blackout
The 300 AAC Blackout (300 blk) is our go to bug out rifle of choice. The 30 caliber bullet provides a lot of knock down power, and people use it for hunting. It was designed for clearing houses and to be used in the AR platform. I’m a fan of the fact that it uses about 95% of the same parts as an AR in 556, all you need is a new barrel.
Our favorite setup is a subsonic suppressed 300 blackout. This makes it movie quiet, great for staying Incognito in a SHTF scenario. We also like that you can make 300 blk cartridges from 556 cartridges. If you reload, its a nice cartridge you can get components for relatively easily.
556/223
This is the most common AR15 round. Military personnel like this round because it often wounds rather than kills. A wounded man takes the wounded out of the fight, and a person to take care of them. It shoots a smaller projectile at fast speeds. While it often is used to wound, it is plenty lethal. It’s a proven round, and is probably the most common rifle cartridge in the USA, and certainly the most popular in the AR platform.
9mm Carbine
A 9mm carbine is lightweight, and you can carry a lot of ammo. Our go to is the keltec sub 2000 carbine. It’s extremely light and folds in half Making it small and light weight, perfect for throwing in a bug out bag. We also love having both a rifle and pistol that can shoot the same round.
357 Lever Action
A lever action rifle is almost as fast as a semiautomatic rifle, but it is considered by many to be a bit more reliable and less prone to failure. The 357 is also a great round for defensive purposes. It also can usually shoot 38 special bullets. Its a round that can also be used for hunting, and is for many hunters in the mid-west where pistol cases are popular for deer hunting.
Best Bug Out Hunting Rifle
22 LR or 17 HMR
A book I read recently talked about how the people living and trapping a subsistence life style hunted primarily with a 22, including for hunting caribou. The 22 is a small game master, and for a good marksman can work for big game in a pinch as well.
The 17 hmr we ranked higher than the 22. While it’s still a rimfire cartridge, it has better ballistics and shoots much flatter than the 22. 22 Ammo is generally easier to find, but that aside, I prefer the 17 HMR.
30-06 or 308
I’m not going to get into which one of these is better. They’re so similar ballisticaly that it’s pointless to go back and forth. Both area ubiquitous. You walk into almost any gun store and you’ll generally find Ammo for either. Both of these 30 caliber shooting cartridges have been used to take down pretty much every single big game animal on the planet. It gets the job done, and you can find Ammo. For that purpose I want one or both of these in my safe.
Best Long Range Bug Out Sniper Rifle
300 Winchester Magnum
The 300 Win Mag is a big 30 caliber cartridge that really packs a punch. It’s also become a commonly used sniper cartridge in the US military. Think 308 with more power. It shoots flatter and faster, and while its not a 338 Lapua, the 300 Win Mag is a formidable monster of a gun.
6.5 Creedmoor
The 6.5 Creedmoor is a newer addition to the long range world, but has grown in popularity greatly since its inception. It shoots flat, fast, and accurate. It’s a common choice for recreational long range shooters who want to really reach out there. Many use it for deer hunting or elk hunting as well. It’s available in a bolt action, and is also available in the AR 10 platform.
6.5 Grendel
Pretty much the little brother of the 6.5 Creedmoor, the 6.5 Grendel is a little smaller and a little slower. Like the 300 blackout, you swap the upper receiver and you’ve got a new rifle. The power and long range capacity of the 6.5 Grendel in the AR platform. There have been a few other AR Wildcat cartridges, but the Grendel has stuck around, and has a lot of Ammo options.
The 6.5 Grendel is a fun gun to shoot, it hits what it’s aimed at, and it is plenty lethal. The 6.5 Grendel is my wife’s preferred deer hunting rifle.
Best All Around Bug Out Rifle
300 Blackout
If you’ve got an AR in 223 or 556, you can just swap the upper receiver and you’ve got a new rifle caliber. That sort of versatility is extremely nice in a SHTF or bug out situation. While it lacks the range of some of the others on this list, it’s the rifle we’d grab if bugging out in an urban environment, especially with the subsonic and quiet capabilities.
6.5 Grendel
Ballistics and accuracy of a 243 in an AR15 platform. The versatility and power of this little cartridge puts it high on our list of bug out rifles. If we were bugging out in a rural area, we’d grab the 6.5 Grendel every time.
Ruger 10-22
As mentioned above, the 10-22 has been around for a good little while, and the 22 can get the job done. It’s a proven hunting and sporting rifle. It’s fun and effective. A 22 can do about 80% of what you’d need in a SHTF scenario, and you can carry a lot of extra ammo with it as well.
Best Budget Bug Out Rifle
Kel-Tec Sub 2000
The Keltec sub 2000 is a carbine rifle that shoots pistol caliber bullets. It’s available in both 9mm and 40 S&W. They also take Glock magazines, and have a wide array of upgradable parts, though they come as a decent rifle right from the factory.
You can generally find this gun for less than $500, and I’ve found it to be reliable and a lot of fun for the price point.
Ruger American Rifle
The Ruger American Rifle took all of the modern improvements that have been made in a bolt action rifle and incorporated them into this rifle in a way that is still affordable. In fact, you can often find this rifle for less than $400. It’s extremely accurate, lightweight, and durable. I also have found the action to be incredibly smooth and it’s just a fun gun to shoot. The Ruger American is available in a lot of different calibers, and is my go to deer hunting rifle. I would get it in either a .308, 30-06, or 6.5 Creedmoor.
Ruger 10-22
That’s right, the Ruger 10-22 is on this list again. Not only is 22 ammo cheap to shoot, but you can easily find this rifle for less than $300, and I’ve seen some for less than $200 on occasion. It’s a great gun at a great price. If you bought this for a bug out rifle, nobody would think you were being cheap or cutting corners, and more importantly, it would be reliable and get the job done.
What Else Goes in My Bug Out Bag
We really take our weapon plan into consideration, and even use a bug out bag with a rifle holder. If you’re planning everything that’s going into your bug out bag, check out our extensive check list of everything you need in a bug out bag.
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