It is recommended to start with a precise and dependable .22 caliber rifle. There are lots of .22 caliber rifles on the market, so it is simply a matter of personal choice what type and model you prefer. The .22 is probably the best gun for survival a survivor can have for foraging in a survival condition, permitting the taking of both small game and bigger animals, with correct shot placement, and narrow self-defense. Poachers have been getting deer for years with no more than a well placed .22 caliber LR round behind the ear.