What Gauge or Caliber of Firearm Would You Choose If You Could Only Pick One?

 So I'm loving watching the show from National Geographic Ultimate Survival Alaska!  Check it out on the National Geographic channel on the internet for the older episodes and watch the newer ones on Hulu (internet).  I love the show because they don't have a lot of options of firearms they can carry in a survival situation and it got me thinking which gauge or caliber of firearm would I choose if I could only choose one?

Lucky you, I've figured out my choice!

Keep in mind, the situation where I would most likely be in survival mode is in the mountain areas.  Not like the desert areas where there is nothing in sight for miles.  With that being said my personal preference was to not choose a big game rifle or large pistol caliber because I don't feel like they are as adapt to as many certain situations as others.

Coming in as my 3rd choice is the .22 LR caliber.

 Who doesn't love to shoot a .22?  If you can find some ammo there's not much a .22 can't do in the right hands.  Especially in survival mode.  With good shot placement and a little bit of luck you can bring down big game as well as small game accurately.  You won't be weighed down too much either carrying a lot of bullets for your trusty .22 firearm.  I've shot coyotes and foxes well over 100 yards with a .22 Long Rifle while holding high above where I wanted the bullet to land and dropped them effectively.  I've also shot many a grouse, squirrels, and killed lots of trees with a .22.   It's not too good for fishing though.  Keep reading and you'll understand.  The main reasons I ruled out the .22 is because on a charging large predator it's not the most effective and not the best for shooting flying targets.

Coming in as my 2nd choice is the 20 gauge shotgun shell.

Why was this my 2nd choice?  Because if I can't have a 12 gauge I might as well have a 20 gauge.

My personal #1 Choice would be the 12 gauge shotgun shell.

Maybe more specifically I just like the 12 gauge shotgun because it is so versatile.  A 12 gauge can be a trusty companion for predator defense by throwing in some heavy shot or slugs but also just as effective for small game, flying game, and even fish with the right shot shell.  How do you use a shotgun for fishing.  One time when out hunting ducks on the Teton River with a high school buddy we were walking down the river bank when he spotted a fish not too far away and blasted at the water. To my amazement although the steel shot didn't make it down to the fish the force of the blast knocked the fish unconscious and it floated right up to the top.

While carrying around enough shells for 12 gauge can get a little heavy especially in a survival situation, if you're around any kind of game the 12 gauge can do the job in my opinion.  You can still reach out and touch the further big game with a rifled slug in a smooth bore and dispatch some flying critters with some smaller shot while not having to be Annie Oakley or Deadeye Dick.  You can be pretty accurate still with shot placement on a 12 gauge without destroying the game your shooting at.

If you don't have a slug with you and your only carrying bird shot you can still jimmy rig a shell to shoot like a slug.  We were shooting clay pigeons for an activity once with the men in our church group and one friend showed me how to do it.  Not that I recommend trying this because I've heard it will swell and expand your barrel as it travels out and can destroy your shotgun. Safety first :) He proceeded to take out his pocket knife and cut a thin line around the outside of the shell, at the base of the plastic wad tucked away inside the shell separating the powder from the shot so when the gun fired it would send a missile of everything intact above where he cut the line. He did this a few times and I was shocked to see that it penetrated a large solid tree stump a good 3-5 inches.

What I'm saying is, if you're ever on the show Ultimate Survival Alaska don't throw out the 12 gauge!  

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10 Things I Don't Go To The Great Outdoors Without!

The 10 things I don't go to the great outdoor's without!

Wether I am going down to the river to wet the fly line for a few hours or heading into the Sasquatch backcountry to connect with the wild outdoor's or even just to spend the night on a campout, these 10 items are always on me!  I can survive the zombie apocalypse with these items and so can you!

1.  Swiss Army Knife- This faithful Swiss Army knife is more trusty than man's best friend (dog).  I carry this in my pants pocket every day wether I'm at church or lounging around the house.  What can't a Swiss Army knife do?  Just ask McGeyvor.  I can't tell you how often every day this comes in handy with all of it's functions and what I especially love about it is that it easily fits in my front pant pocket and doesn't take up hardly any room. I've gutted elk with this knife, made hot dog sticks, filed my nails (you'll understand if you tie fly fishing flies), and built small kingdoms with this :)

2. Smart Phone- Who goes anywhere without their smart phone these days?  Even in the mountains you'll forget to turn your phone on silent and that unexpected text notification will make you feel like a rookie when it echoes through the next draw.  To it's credit though it does come in handy.  One of my good friends was involved a severe atv accident 12 miles into the backcountry and without a way to call in the life flight he wouldn't be here today.  Verizon service seems to work the best for me in the mountains.  Plus it comes in handy for all those sweet pictures!  With all kinds of apps to add now the list is endless what your phone can do as long as the battery has juice.

3. Flashlight- Your phone might have a good flashlight but it's best to save your battery use on that for when you really need it.  I love these flashlights and they are only $1 at Cal-Ranch or your local dollar store.  They're even glow in the dark so are easy to find in a dark tent or when you're half asleep and need to go see a man about a horse in the middle of the night.

4. Multi-tool- A good multitool will come with attached pliers good for pinching barbs down on a fish hook and bending wire, cutting wire, picking up hot dutch oven lids, etc. It's always nice to have an extra tool that can back up a swiss army knife in case a blade or tool breaks.

5. No Fail Fire Starter- I learned this one from watching too many episodes on the hunting channel.  Grab some cotton balls and rub them around in Vaseline real good, then stuff them in a container.  I use an old film canister (who remembers what those are) and can get about 5 vaseline soaked cotton balls in there.  Wether these have been rained on or not these things will catch any sparks and each cotton ball with burn for a good couple of minutes and give you plenty of time to ignite some kindling.

6. Blast Match- I don't even carry around matches anymore and a lighter is tough to start when your fingers are frozen or the wind is blowing.  Press down on the thumb piece and shove the pointy end into a vaseline ball or some dry tinder and you'll be impressed with the torch of sparks this will send out.  It can get wet all it wants and it'll still work.  You won't be bored anymore trying to see what stuff you can light on fire with this blast match.  I like the florescent orange color so I can find it when I set it down on the ground.

7. Ziploc bag- Make sure to pack this one to keep your electronics or wallet dry if you go for a swim or get caught in a mountain thunderstorm. Among other things it can pack any mountain huckleberries to camp as well.  If you forgot yours at home, check any dumpster or road side gutter and you've got a good chance of finding a spare :)

8. Belt- Among keeping your pants up this comes in handy if you forget your wading belt.  It will literally save your life if you've forgot your wading belt and slip on a mossy rock up to chest high water.  Wading belts will help minimize filling up your waders with water and sinking straight to the bottom.  It can be used as a tourniquet, a whip for fiesty dogs, carry all kinds of dead birds on a string, and even your trusty side arm or favorite hunting knife.

 9. Water bottle- The water is of course essential and I dump an electrolyte pouch in mine that has twice the electrolytes as gatorade (4 vs 2) to keep me hydrated, 1/5 the sugar as gatorade, and it tastes better than gatorade.  Once the liquid is gone the bottle can be used to boil unsafe water if your careful not to melt it, transport water as a temporary solution to a radiator problem, it can be cut in half to be used as a cup, carry all kinds of other treasures and then be washed out to be used for a water bottle again.

10.  Allergy pills (medication)- I can't hardly see anything once I get rubbing my eyes from allergies and I am sure to ruin any hunt if I don't take my allergy medicine with all my sneezing.  The pure joy of being in the outdoors gets taken right away the second I feel a sneeze coming on. These are the exact same number of pills and formula as Claritin but I get them for about $7 less along with all my other over the counter meds at discount.  Don't forget any other medications that you can't live without.  It will make all the difference!


These are all just my essentials that I carry on any given day in the field.  What do you carry!?

Connect with me on Facebook as well.  Reel Rad and Radley Jay Buxton

Radley Jay Buxton from the Teton Valley Clan

Welcome to my new blog! I've always had a passion for the outdoors and business among many other things and this is where I can post all those things that are too long for Facebook.  Thanks for stopping by to check it out.  Just a little about me for those of you who don't know is I grew up farming and ranching in Driggs, Idaho (Teton Valley).  I still remember when we got the first stop light in town and all the buzz about what it meant for our little valley.  I never thought I'd leave Teton Valley but then left in 2005 to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in the Indiana Indianapolis Mission.  One of the best experiences of my life!  When I returned home I tried my hand at many things including ranching, farming, construction, real estate, horse training, finance and a few other business ventures.  I married the prettiest gal I ever did see and moved away from the changing Teton Valley economy and lifestyle and became a banker in Idaho Falls and Rigby, Idaho trying to make a little bit more money than riding horses and moving irrigation pipe allowed.  I became an auctioneer on the side as well and started looking for a lifestyle like the farm and ranch gave me where I could provide for a family and have the flexibility to pursue my goals and dreams on my terms!  I left the banking world about 6 months ago and haven't looked back since and am able to enjoy working from home and helping others reach their own goals through alternative income strategies. I'm finally able to get back on track and back to what I was made for; being in the outdoors, helping others, and spending time with family!