The only readily available sub 500 gram take down rifle available in Australia is this little beauty. It is available in .22LR only and single shot. However if you need a bunny or perhaps a duck for the pot, or some protection from wild dogs (which are becoming ever more dangerous) in the High Country etc, it may well be your choice.
‘Pack-Rifle is an incredibly light weight, take-down, utility rifle. The receiver, and most other parts, of the Pack-Rifle are machined from high strength aluminum, while most wear parts and fasteners are constructed of stainless steel. The barrel is a precision button rifled, Cro-Moly liner with a carbon fiber composite outer. Carbon fiber is also used for the butt stock tube of the rifle. This construction makes the Pack-Rifle not only the lightest rifle out there, but very weather resistant as well.
But the feather-weight of our Pack-Rifle is only part of the story. In addition to being light, the Pack-Rifle also takes down to a very small size. The same mechanism that allows the loading and extraction of spent shells also enables the rifle to take down into two pieces, in less that 2 seconds without tools! It reassembles just as fast.
Other features include, but are not limited to, storage in the handle and butt stock tube of the rifle.’
Takedown Length: 17″
Available eg: Magnum Sports Oz Gun Sales & etc from A$655 (June 2019)
There is one other alternative I am aware of which is RutaLocura’s offering which also comes in .22 Magnum using a Crickett Single Shot Rifle action and may also be available in a 7 shot repeater using Keystone’s Model 722. I am not sure of the repeater or the weights of it or of the Magnum model. The single shot model is just 15 oz (428 grams)in the most basic configuration. You will need export and import licences to get it over from the States. You are looking at from US$225 (kit) plus a Crickett Rifle from US$163 plus licences, shipping, etc.
I am working on one right now for my 70th birthday which is (unfortunately- or fortunately) coming up soon. Even in the single shot model, being a bolt action it would be much easier to reload than th epack rifle whose action looks rather cumbersome to me. If the repeater will not work I will go for the magnum model which though it will add a couple of more ounces (and make the ammo more expensive) will provide much superior stopping power. The muzzle velocity of the Magnum round is 50% up on the .22 long rifle, so much more suitable for mid range game such as small deer, wild goats, foxes, wallabies etc with a well-aimed shot.
You can buy the Keystone rifles from Melbourne Gun Works. Getting the barrels might be a more difficult exercise unless you have a friend in Melbourne who has a firearms dealers licence.
Before John Howard’s draconian gun laws many other choices were available. I had a lovely .22 automatic Armalite AR-7 which used to go everywhere with me and which weighed just over a kilogram for example, but I may only use it around the farm nowadays.
I also own a .410 Rossi single-barrel shotgun which weighs just on 1.5 kg. Using solids this has considerable stopping power and of course you can also carry other rounds more suitable to different game you may encounter – but 1.5 kg is a lot more than .5 kg when you are my age!
Thought it is also illegal (what is not?) a shanghai can be an interesting lightweight alternative for birds and small game. This ‘pocket’ model is very compact and light (at 55 grams).
There is a choice of a number of other ‘survival’ or pack guns such as Chappa’s ‘Little Badger‘ (also available in Australia from A$330) but all of these are at a considerable weight disadvantage than the two I showcased at the beginning. The ‘Little Badger’ no doubt an excellent firearm, (also available in .22 Magnum) weighs in at 1.33 kg for example.
For the DIY enthusiast an 18.9 oz (538 gram) repeater:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBlslx76l40
See Also:
https://www.theultralighthiker.com/2017/07/24/pocket-slingshot/
https://www.theultralighthiker.com/2015/06/15/the-ultimate-survival-gun/
https://www.theultralighthiker.com/2018/08/02/packable-rifle/
Heya Steve,
Great post! Wondering if you ended up following through with the Keystone single shot Crickett setup? I’ve had a good look through your post and done some searching, I think this setup would be a fantastic addition to the hiking/hunting kit, Im at a loss though as to where I can source it! Gave Melbourne Gun Works a call and while they use to import the rifles it sounds like they no longer are. Any other suppliers you are aware of?
Tom
Hi Tom, I had some communication with Josh at rutalocura about him putting the whole thing together for me (he would) then importing it. His advice is that the export licence from the US would be more than the total cost of the rifle though. Reluctantly my wife bought me this one for Xmas (https://www.theultralighthiker.com/2019/06/23/the-pack-rifle/) which will do the job. Cheers Steve.
Really is an idea with a lot of merit especially if the cartridge can sort of also stretch to medium game. Even outside of a foraging, hiking or possible survival context there is a very extensive practical use in having a gun you can have with you when you would typically leave other guns behind because the bulk and weight getting in the way of whatever else you are doing. Quite frankly such a gun would be the most useful type of all. Rifle handling and ballistics with pistol like portability.
I am still working on it – update soon. Thanks Ben. Cheers, Steve.