Les Jones: Crossing America II Survey

May 10, 2006

Guns > Crossing America II Survey

Kim du Toit has posted results from the second edition of "Crossing America." He asked his readers what longgun, handgun, and knives they'd use to cross North America circa 1605. Modern implements were allowed. The rules were that you got 800 rounds of longgun ammo for an unscoped gun, 1,000 rounds of handgun ammo, and two knives in addition to a Swiss army knife. The trip would be expected to last two years.

Here are the results for knives, handguns, and longguns.

I'd probably go with a .357 or .44 revolver. As much as I like S&W I might go with a Ruger for the edge in ruggedness (especially in .44) and ease of disassembly. For the longgun I'd thinking I'd go with a 12 gauge shotgun with rifle sights and a mix of birdshot, buckshot, slugs, and sabots. The shotgun's range is more limited than a rifle, but this would mostly be a game-getting gun, and it's easier to hunt small game with a shotgun. Likewise, the shotgun ammo is heavy, but that's what the pack mule is for. Failing that, I like Kim's idea of a levergun chambered in the same round as the revolver. If one breaks, you can use its ammo in the other gun.

Posted by lesjones | TrackBack

Comments

Actually if you check old lever guns and pistols out at gun shows or in the price guides you will find many were chambered for the same rounds. .44-40 and .45, for that very reason. The long guns guns gave you more velocity, and better sights while the handgun gave you something you were more likely to have on you at all times. No body leans their handgun up aginst a tree while making like a bear in the woods.

Posted by: shawn at May 10, 2006

As a kid I had fantasies along those same lines, except mine always included a jeep but I could never get past the gasoline problem. ;)

Even as a kid, one of my choices was a Ruger in .44 mag.

Posted by: Marc at May 11, 2006