What is the BEST Farm or Camp Gun?

[Adam Helmer]

I have been retired to my 60-acre farm for 20 years here in Northcentral Pennsylvania, I have some opinions. I live in a very rural area and happily have bears, deer, turkey and all other critters for neighbors. I carry various handguns on the tractor, when working in the gardens, etc., but my constant carry arms in my Polaris Ranger are a Savage .22 Magnum over 20 gauge and an SKS.

The SKS is a fine arm. Happily, I bought five NEW SKS arms in the early 1990s for $85 each with chest pouch, sling, cleaning kit and stuff. I reload for the SKS and the Lyman #311410 cast plain base bullet is "Ball Substitute" with IMR4198 powder. That load reliably cycles the SKS and the coyotes like it, too.

The Savage .22M over 20 gauge is my favorite. Whenever I see vermin up in the trees, I use the 20 gauge with shot loads to dispatch critters without a worry about a solid projectile. My other necessity is loyal hound in the cab of the Polaris as we patrol about.

Technically, a semi-auto rifle is not legal for hunting in PA. The SKS is the best coyote "medicine" I ever saw. I tell the coyotes it is a bolt gun. Country Matters.... The PA Game Commission allows semi-auto shotguns afield, but NOT semi-auto rifles or pistols. Whatever.....

Adam