Saturday, July 31, 2010
Storm Damage - Ripped by a Texas Thunder Boomer
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Bushcraft - Central Texas Style - Javelinas
Some of the best survival tactics are learned by observing nature’s creatures. Many have learned to survive predators, harsh weather conditions and scarce food and water supplies by developing innate survival skills. With fossils records that go back over 20 million years, the javelina (collared peccary, Pecari angulatus) is an example of one of nature’s true survivors.
Javelinas also practice a very unique survival technique. This technique is called the “scatter response”. When they sense danger, they will scatter randomly in all directions. The “scatter response” is typical of most herding animals and will quite often confuse predators and make it extremely difficult to single out or attack any one individual. Many times this response will allow all the individuals in a herd to escape a predator without any harm.
Javelinas are strictly herbivores and contrary to some popular myths do not eat snakes, birds, eggs or any other type of animal. They generally stand about two feet tall and are about three feet in length and weigh anywhere from 30 to 60 pounds. They make an excellent survival food source and can be quite tasty when cooked.
Got BBQ?
Staying above the water line!
Riverwalker's Pics - Upside Down
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Bushcraft - Central Texas Style - Knowing the Hazards - Snakes
It is important to know the hazards that are present in your environment. Information and knowledge of those hazards will play an important part in your survival. One of the hazards you will face are the dangers posed by local wildlife. In
While the vast majority of snakes in
Knowledge of the hazards you may face in a survival situation is an important part of being prepared and may be critical for your survival.
Here are some links to help you be more knowledgeable about the snakes in
Staying above the water line!
Riverwalker
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Survival Kit Essentials - The Solar Powered Firestarter
Being able to light tinder in order to start a fire will always be necessary in a survival situation. Having a fire brings comfort levels back to normal. You can use a fire to provide heat for warmth, cooking food or water purification. A fire will also provide a certain amount of light at night and may offer some protection from nature's creatures that roam the dark hours of the night. If you have plenty of sunlight available, a simple magnifying glass will afford you a great way to start a fire.
Simple magnifying glasses can be found in small and large sizes that allow them to fit in your pocket or a small survival kit. The smaller variety that have plastic lenses are very lightweight and don't take up much room in your kit. They will usually require more intense sunlight to get your tender started. The swivel on most of the pocket versions will also allow you to attach a lanyard for easier carrying to help you avoid losing it.
The medium-sized and larger versions usually have lenses that are glass and will more effectively concentrate sunlight when lighting tender. This will make it easier for you to start your tinder when you need to make a fire. They still fit easily in your pocket or survival kit but do weigh slightly more in most cases.
In a pinch, you could even use magnifying eyeglasses that are used for reading, etc. If you end up in a survival situation, it's always a good idea to have an alternate method for starting a fire.
Got solar-powered firestarter?
Staying above the water line!
Riverwalker
Monday, July 26, 2010
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Bushcraft - Central Texas Style - Texas Persimmon
There are a great many things in
Its extremely tough wood was used by many Native Americans to make tools of various kinds, mainly for digging purposes. Tools made from persimmon wood have been identified in the
Cherokees used the fruit and its astringent qualities to treat sores in the throat and mouth and also chewed the bark of the
The fruit of
Knowing your environment and your available resources can be a critical in a survival situation.
Got edible wild fruit?
Staying above the water line!
Riverwalker
Friday, July 23, 2010
Bushcraft - Central Texas Style - Knowing Your Environment
One of the basic items involved in the practice of bushcraft is having a comprehensive knowledge of your environment. Your basic knowledge about the different areas of your environment will be a critical factor in your survival. This will be true in most cases involving both rural and urban settings. Knowing the resources in your area that are able to provide you with the basics for survival (shelter, water and food) will allow you to handle adverse survival conditions with confidence. Our environment includes a wide range of things that can have an adverse effect on our ability to survive.
One of the main environmental factors that will affect your survival is the weather. Your requirements for survival will be quite different in an extremely cold environment versus the needs dictated by a hot and dry climate. Your shelter needs can vary drastically in different types of environments and the availability of food and water can be similarly affected by the specific weather conditions in your area. It won’t hurt your chances of survival to become knowledgeable about the weather in your area and be prepared to properly deal with it.
Another major environmental factor that will affect your survival is the terrain. A rugged, mountainous terrain will be a lot more difficult to traverse than a gentle rolling plain. The type of terrain in your area will greatly affect the time and effort required for travel. Whether you are traveling on foot or by mechanical means (car, truck etc.), the ability to travel safely and efficiently may be hindered by the terrain. Travel may be required in order to find food and water resources or it may be needed to find suitable shelter.
The basic philosophy of bushcraft has always involved making use of your available resources. A proper and thorough knowledge of your environment will allow you to utilize the benefits and maximize the resources in your environment whether they are natural or man-made.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Polishing Your Blade
Keeping your knife cleaned and polished is an important part of properly caring for your blade. Like any good tool you should always find some time to perform the proper maintenance. Here’s an old trick for keeping that special blade cleaned and polished.
There are a lot of good products on the market that can help you do this but they can be expensive. If you are on a tight budget, one of the best ways to clean and polish your blade is to use wood ashes. Just place some wood ashes on a soft cloth or rag and polish away. Wood ashes will remove stains without scratching the blade. You can even use wood ashes on your blade instead of oils or waxes to keep the blade nice and shiny while you have it stored. Simply wrap it in a soft cloth after cleaning it with wood ashes and it’s ready to store. There’ll be no scratches on your blade and your knife can be simply wiped off when you need to use it.
Got a use for wood ashes?
Staying above the water line!
Riverwalker
Monday, July 19, 2010
Mountain Souvenir
While hiking in the mountains of
Staying above the water line!
Riverwalker
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Surviving Your Fears - Spiders and Snakes
Fear of the unknown is a common problem and one that may cause irrational behavior on our part because we generally are afraid of those things which we don't understand. One of the more common fears that people have trouble dealing with is their fear of spiders and snakes. Many people are deathly afraid of these simple creatures who usually go out of their way to avoid contact with people. This is true despite the fact that most people may go their entire lives without ever having a single dangerous encounter with either one of these creatures. Many people make ever effort possible to avoid any type of situation where they may come into contact with any type of snake or spider and may end up limiting their enjoyment of outdoor activities or may needlessly put themselves at risk.
While there are some spiders and snakes out there that can cause you a lot of grief if you have the wrong type of encounter with them, the vast majority are also beneficial. Many spiders are beneficial in reducing the insect population and can be of benefit to your gardening efforts. Even the common rat snake works hard to keep the population of disease carrying rodents at manageable levels.
Here is a weblink with information on the four deadly snakes found in
The-Venomous-Snakes-of-North-America
Our own sense of survival often leads us to pass our own fear of spiders and snakes to our children or others and thus perpetuate many myths about these simple creatures that may be inaccurate or untrue. This is due mainly to ignorance on our part about these creatures caused by a lack of knowledge and an understanding of the role they play in nature. There are very few types of snakes and spiders that are actually poisonous and the vast majority of snakes and spiders are quite harmless. Many are an important part of our natural environment. Learning which snakes and spiders are dangerous and how to avoid them will allow you to be better prepared to handle a chance encounter with these creatures.
Developing an understanding of these creatures and a firm knowledge about the role they play in our natural environment is probably one of the easiest ways for you to combat a fear of spiders and snakes. Even though a great many people allow their fear of spiders and snakes to affect them in a negative manner, making sure you are knowledgeable about spiders and snakes will help you to deal with them in a positive manner.
Developing a little respect for these creatures in nature can go a long way in helping you defeat a fear of spiders and snakes.
Staying above the water line!
Riverwalker
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Riverwalker's Pics - Turbulent Waters
Friday, July 16, 2010
Simple Survival Tips - Snakes and Spiders
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Bushcraft - Central Texas Style - Nopalitos
Hunger is a great motivator in a survival situation! I was hungry and needed food now. Thus, I set out on a journey to find sustenance for my body. Armed only with my trusty blade, I went in search of food...in my own backyard!
Nopal means cactus in Spanish and nopales is the term used to describe the "cactus pad". The term nopalitos refers to the cactus pads when they have been prepared for use as a food item. This cactus (Nopal in Spanish) is a member of the Cactaceae family (genus Opuntia) and is most likely a plant native to
Nopalitos can also be grown easily as a container plant for those people living in an urban environment. They can also be grown in your yard and even the spineless variety can scare some people. All they see is cactus and say, "No way am I going anywhere near that stuff."
The nopales cactus pads are usually harvested starting in the spring and the harvest continues well into late summer. The best nopales for harvesting are thin pads that are roughly the size of your palm. This will give you pads with good texture and flavor. You will probably need to wear heavy gloves when harvesting the pads, especially if you aren’t using the spineless variety. The cactus pad will usually snap off quite easily or you can speed up the process by using a large knife to sever the stem of the pad.
Watch out for the large thorns (spines) and the small hairy thorns (glochids) and take adequate precautions to keep your hands protected if you aren’t using the spineless variety. The spines on the spineless variety are quite soft and they can be easily removed with your fingertips although glochids may be present on the fruit (pears). Preparing the pads is fairly simple. Just remove the thorns and the "eyes" with a vegetable peeler, a paring knife or you can simply cut them out when dicing the cactus pad. You will need to wash the pads with water and trim off any bad spots.
You can slice the pads into thin strips for frying or pan grilling, cut them up into chunks for soups or stews, or leave them whole for grilling on your pit or campfire. If you want to get creative, you can batter the strips and deep fry them.
Nopalitos is very similar to bell pepper but has a firmer texture and is not as bitter, though it can be a little slimy (similar to okra) if it is overcooked. If you rinse it well in a colander after you have diced it, you will be able to wash off most of the slime. Fresh nopales can be stored in the refrigerator for up to two weeks if it is kept tightly wrapped to prevent it from drying out.
Here’s a link to a simple recipe using nopalitos:
http://simplyrecipes.com/recipes/nopalitos_with_tomatoes_and_onions/
Even if you don't have a green thumb, you can just throw a cactus pad on the ground and let it grow all by itself.
Nopalitos also has a beneficial quality also that makes it an important food item. It seems to help in keeping blood sugar levels well regulated and this could be an important factor, especially for people with diabetes. It also has a high moisture content.
It also makes a great breakfast dish when cooked with scrambled eggs and butter. Just add a little salsa!
Nopalitos can also be found in cans or jars at many grocery stores that specialize in Mexican foods or you can find it fresh if you’ve got some growing in your backyard.
A good survivalist knows which foods occur naturally in his area and are available as sustenance in a survival situation.
Got cactus?
Staying above the water line!
Riverwalker
Fly Fishing on the Rio Pueblo
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Riverwalker's Pics - River at Night
Monday, July 12, 2010
Simple Survival Tips - Passive Solar Lighting
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Bushcraft - Central Texas Style - River Cane
Native Americans were the ultimate survivalists and always made use of those things in nature that were both plentiful and offered the widest range of uses to enhance and support their lifestyles. River cane (Arundinaria gigantea) is one such resource that was used by many Native American tribes, such as the Cherokee, Choctaw and Caddo, for a multitude of purposes. This, along with its shorter cousin, switch cane (aka, Tecta) which normally reaches heights of about 10 feet, were the only native bamboos found in America. River cane originally had a very wide range but extensive clearing for farming purposes and the raising of livestock have actually brought this native form of bamboo close to extinction, even though it is a non-invasive species of bamboo.
River cane and its smaller relative, switch cane, are the largest members of the grass family that are native to the
Here is a link to a map of the distribution of river cane in the various states:
http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=ARGI
Native Americans used river cane as a resource for all aspects of their lives. Since the principal locations for living were along rivers and streams which provide a source for water, the abundance of river cane in these areas made river cane a widely used resource by Native Americans. They made arrows that were both strong and lightweight and were feared by early Spanish explorers because of their effectiveness against their breastplate armor. They were also used to make excellent spears, knives and longer hollowed-out sections of river cane were also used to make blowguns. The very nature of river cane made it easily worked for a wide range of items in addition to making weapons.
Here is a link to an excellent pictorial with instructions on how to straighten river cane when making arrow shafts:
http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=000071;p=0
River cane was also used to weave baskets and is one of the harder of the indigenous Native American skills to acquire. Hollow sections of river cane were also used to make storage containers for spices, seeds, and water. Its resistance to fire when green also allowed it to be used as a cooking vessel.Green river cane does not readily burn and was used to make a grill of sorts that could be used over a fire for the smoking of meat and fish. The cooking of food by stuffing it into sections of green cane and placing these sections over a fire is a common practice that is currently used in many Asian countries to this day.
Here is a link to making river cane baskets:
http://www.angelfire.com/ok3/basketry/rivercane.html
River cane not only provided poles for fishing and the construction of fishing weirs, it was also used in the construction of shelters as well. It was also very useful in that in provided a building and construction material that could be found in virtually identical sizes that were uniform in their nature. This aided greatly in the construction of numerous items from weapons to shelter and included such items as flutes and pipes.
River cane was also used to make torches to provide light. Large river cane torches were sometimes constructed to provide light for ceremonies or other festivities. Hollow sections of river cane were also used by some Native Americans to harvest pitch from pine trees and stored it in the hollow sections of river cane as well.
Here is a link on how to make a torch from river cane:
http://www.primitive.org/lighting.htm
River cane also provided a food source as well as its other uses. The young shoots of river cane, which are similar to bamboo shoots, were also used in salads and stews and the nutritional value of river cane seeds rivaled that of both wheat and rice. River cane thus provided all the necessary elements for survival. From its use as a food source to its use as a tool or making weapons and traps it was truly a multi-use item for survival.
A good survivalist knows that being familiar with all the available resources in your area can be critical to your survival.
Got river cane?
Riverwalker
Riverwalker's Pics - Shadows on the Mountains
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Survival Skills - Fishing - Part One
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Bushcraft - Central Texas Style
The basic thing about
Now it would be virtually impossible to get lost in
There are quite a few places for the public to go camping and hiking, most of which are quite beautiful and natural areas. These are mostly state or national parks and usually have large numbers of people taking advantage of the services they provide. There’s not a lot of privacy in these types of settings. Many of these parks offer primitive areas for you to camp and hike but even in this case you’d still have a hard time getting lost. There are some private hunting leases available in most areas but this can be a very expensive way to practice your bushcraft skills.
The weather in
The main problems you run into in South Central Texas is the creepy crawling critters (snakes and spiders) and the plant life (poison oak and cactus). There aren't any real dangerous types of wildlife, although you might run into a feral hog that could be pretty aggressive.
There are some things you should know about the different areas of the state, as far as bushcraft is concerned, and many of the basic techniques are the same no matter where you are. Some of these items will be covered in future posts.
The good thing about
Staying above the water line!
Riverwalker
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Riverwalker's Pics - Following the Mountain Stream - Part Three
Following a mountain stream is a great way to enjoy nature but may not be your best course of action if you're lost. Use common sense survival techniques that will serve you a lot better if you become lost. These simply involve being prepared ahead of time.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Choosing a Hydraulic Log Splitter
Fireplaces are great as an alternate heat source but require a lot of wood and you may want to consider using a hydraulic log splitter to ease that burden. You could also use it to create an alternate source of income. When you are purchasing a hydraulic log splitter, you must keep in mind the following considerations: service, loading, horsepower, the capacity in tons, and the maintenance requirements.
A hydraulic log splitter is a good investment for those who own a fireplace and need to cut wood in large quantities. They are especially useful to those who may want to operate a business cutting wood to make extra money. If you have such a business, then you are quite familiar with the long hours of back-breaking work involved. A hydraulic log splitter can do everything you need in a smaller amount of time and save you a great deal of labor in the process. These powerful machines not only chop and split firewood, but they can also be used to prepare pieces of wood for other types of wood-working projects that could generate additional income for you.
1.) Service
Your first priority in selecting a hydraulic log splitter is to understand how it would be of service to you. Select a high-end model if you will be using the splitter to split logs that will be used for commercial building projects. If you need to chop firewood, a cheaper model is a better option for you and will save you money. Don’t be fooled by fancy extras on certain models, especially when they don’t suit your needs.
2.) Loading
Another consideration when using a hydraulic log splitter is how the logs are loaded. There are two ways to do this, either horizontally or vertically. When you do your work on a sloped terrain, a log splitter that loads horizontally will be the better choice for you. This type also ensures your safety and makes it easier to operate.
3.) Horsepower
One of the things you’ll need to know is the rated horsepower capacity of the splitter. If it will be used for chopping and splitting wood, you can settle on one with about five to eight horsepower. If you need to use this for commercial or business purposes, you will probably need to purchase one with a larger horsepower capacity and a much stronger engine. This is mainly for safety purposes. Overusing a weak log splitter with a heavy load can create unsafe working conditions, cause damage to the machine and may also overheat or burn up the engine.
4.) Capacity in Tons
The capacity in tons of your log splitter should also be part of your consideration. A hydraulic log splitter’s ton capacity is generally in the range of one to twenty-five tons of splitting power. One to five ton capacity is capable of splitting logs and wood to be used in a fireplace. One that ranges from five to twenty-five ton capacity or higher is better suited for professional or business use.
5.) Maintenance Requirements
Before making your purchase, inquire about the maintenance requirements of the hydraulic log splitter. It is advisable to purchase one that is self-lubricating and can maintain itself without too much time and effort on your part. Otherwise, you’ll have to deal with constant sharpening of the blades because regular usage makes them dull rapidly.
Always remember to follow the manufacturer’s safety precautions in handling and using your log splitter. You should also learn from a professional operator or one who has experience with this machine before handling one yourself. It also won’t hurt to do a little extra research about hydraulic log splitters in order to have as much information about their use as possible.
Staying above the water line!
Riverwalker
Monday, July 5, 2010
Power Outage Preparations
Preparations for a power outage need to cover the disruption caused by both short term and long term power outages. A power outage can be either a major inconvenience or a serious threat to you and your family. Some power outages can be expected, such as those caused by thunderstorms, blizzards, tornados or hurricanes, while other types of power outages due to a failure of infrastructure can happen suddenly and be totally unexpected. A power outage can be as little as a few minutes or as long as several weeks.
Our dependence on the current power system can actually become a life-threatening event in our modern society. The advent of all-electric homes that are totally dependent upon grid power could have devastating effects upon you or your family. If you don’t have some source of power that is independent of grid power, you may find yourself in a position where you have no light and no heat. If a blizzard or thunderstorm were to down power lines, it may take days or even weeks to make repairs. In an era of high-tech gadgets, people can actually die in their own homes due to a power outage if they are not prepared.
There are quite a few things that you will be missing during a power outage. The first one is light. If you don’t like stumbling around in the dark, you will need a good light source. The second thing you will miss is heat. If it’s cold outside or you get wet from a downpour, you will need some way to stay warm or to get dry. You will also need some way to cook meals or be prepared to eat your food cold. You will need a safe and reliable means to cook. You may even need water if the municipal water system malfunctions during the power outage.
Most of the items you will need for a short term power outage are already in your home. Things like extra clothes, blankets, food and water, a good first aid kit, a fire extinguisher and an emergency radio are all items you should already have on hand. If you have a wood-burning fireplace, you are ahead of the game but if not you will need an alternate source for heating and cooking. A propane heater or propane-powered camp stove will help to solve this problem. Just remember to always have proper ventilation when using these items. An outdoor grill can be used for cooking but remember why they call it an outdoor grill. Use it outdoors and never use it indoors!
For long term power outages, you may want to consider a small portable generator that can be used to run power to a freezer or refrigerator. Make sure you have plenty of power cords available to run from your generator that will handle the load and extra fuel for the generator. During short term power outages, just refrain from accessing items in your refrigerator or freezer until needed to help them maintain their temperatures. You can also cover them with blankets, quilts, etc. to provide a little extra insulation. You should also make sure you have some type of hand-crank or solar charger for your cell phone or access to a land-line in order to maintain communications. Be prepared to leave if a power outage looks like it is going to become a serious long term event.
Just remember to keep a clear head, remain calm and don’t take unnecessary risks when using your heating or cooking equipment during a power outage.
Staying above the water line!
Riverwalker
Saturday, July 3, 2010
The Survival Arsenal - The Pistol, the Shotgun and the Rifle
There are countless firearms available at very reasonable prices, both new and used, even in today’s market. Certain factors will need to be addressed in order to maximize the benefit of your survival arsenal while minimizing its cost. Creating a survival arsenal can be a daunting task, especially if you are on a tight budget. Trying to figure out what and how many firearms you need is quite simple if you approach the problem with a little common sense, knowledge of your own limitations and a firm realization of the intended purpose of your survival arsenal.
There are three basic purposes for any type of firearm. These are for protection purposes, hunting and for sport. While shooting firearms can be quite enjoyable as a sport, in a survival situation you will want to conserve your ammunition as much as possible and limit the amount of wear and tear on your firearm. That leaves us with the other two basic uses…protection and hunting. These two main uses, protection and hunting, should factor prominently into any decision you make when building a survival arsenal.
The next factor that enters into the equation is who will be using the firearm and what their abilities are and their level of training. Most men have no problem shooting a 12 gauge pump shotgun with 000 buck, a high-powered rifle or a pistol with a lot of kick. The bigger question here is can your wife, your daughter or your son or other family member use the necessary firearm with confidence if you aren’t there to do the shooting for them. Don’t sell the ladies, the senior citizens or the younger ones short when it comes to using firearms. With the right training, knowledge and firearm, other family members can build skills that may become equal to or even greater than your own. Knowledge and training in the use of the firearms in your survival arsenal will be a critical factor.
The next factor to consider when building a survival arsenal is the reliability of the firearm you will be using and the ease of maintenance and repair for that particular weapon. In a survival situation, there may not be a gunsmith available and you may have to rely on your own ability to effect repairs. If you don’t have sufficient knowledge to effectively do minor repairs on a particular firearm, you may need to consider a different one. A rifle you can’t fix or easily repair, if it becomes non-functional, will be little more than a club in a defensive situation and may wind up being just so many spare parts. Firearms that are reliable and have ease of maintenance and repair should be ranked high on the list for your survival arsenal.
In addition to the factors above, you will need to consider the limitations of certain firearms and their practical uses when it comes down to your two basic needs in any type of survival situation…protection and hunting. Firearms generally have a usefulness often designated by their range. The pistol is usually considered most appropriate at close range, the shotgun at intermediate distances and the rifle for long range purposes. Any survival arsenal should include at least one firearm that will be appropriate for the range and distances its use may involve.
With the exception of certain pistols, the .357 magnum being one of those exceptions, most pistols are basically for protective purposes at close ranges and do not figure in as significant weapons for use in hunting. Pistols of the right caliber can be effective hunting weapons but require a great deal of skill and expertise on the part of the user to be effective. The question here is do you go with a revolver or a semi-automatic pistol? Most revolvers are very reliable and many have been proven trustworthy in the field by either the military or law enforcement over an extended period of time. The same can also be said for many semi-auto pistols as well. In the majority of cases, a good revolver in a common caliber will be sufficient for the average person. More experienced shooters may find the same to be equally true of semi-auto pistols. In this regard, it therefore becomes more of a personal choice and will be dependent mainly upon your shooting skills and your knowledge of the firearm when making a choice between a revolver and a semi-auto pistol for your survival arsenal.
Shotguns are probably the best weapon ever designed for the combination of hunting and protection which is only limited by their effectiveness at short or intermediate distances. A good shotgun alone can satisfy the two basic needs in a survival situation and there are many used and new models available that are relatively low cost. This makes them another must have firearm for your survival arsenal. Your main choices in this area will be the single shot, pump action or the semi-auto shotgun in either of the more common 12, 20 or .410 gauges. Each type has its advantages and disadvantages. Single shot shotguns usually have very reliable and simple mechanical actions but lack the extended round capability of a pump action or semi-auto shotgun. Once again your skills and expertise should be considered when deciding which type will be your best choice. With a wide range of ammunition available that is suitable for both hunting and protection, shotguns are quite simply a must have for any survival arsenal.
A good rifle should be your next consideration. Most rifles are designed to be highly effective at longer ranges and can be effectively used for hunting purposes but can also be used for protection. Some rifles are more specifically designed for use in hunting and this will probably be one of its more important uses on a day to day basis in a survival situation. Their effectiveness will generally be limited only by the proficiency and skill of the user. When it comes to choosing a rifle for your survival arsenal, the choices become harder. Bolt action, lever action or semi-auto rifles can all be good choices for your survival arsenal and the only real limitation here is your budget, your knowledge of the firearm and your proficiency. There are many reasonably priced surplus military rifles available and a great number of very reliable lever action rifles as well. Most semi-auto rifles tend to be a little more costly but there are still bargains that can be found if you keep an eye out for them. Hunting will be one of the critical uses for your rifle in a survival situation and their long range capability will factor significantly into the protection factor as well. A rifle that is both reliable and trustworthy will afford you the necessary means for providing value in both hunting and protection at longer ranges that will be a necessary part of any survival arsenal.
Remember to keep in mind that ammunition supplies may become critical and you will probably need to keep your choices for firearms in your survival arsenal based on the more common and readily available calibers and types of ammunition. This will vary depending upon the type of firearm and your budget restraints. The more common calibers will be easier to procure in a survival situation than specialized ammunition that may end up being extremely difficult to find, if not impossible. If your budget allows, a pistol, a shotgun and a rifle that is suitable for use by each member of your family will form a solid foundation for a survival arsenal.
Staying above the water line!