As much as I like .22 rimfires for general use, the best “ survival rifle “ would actually be a 12 or 20 gauge shotgun, even a single shot, if one is talking food gathering only.
I've got one, its one of the ones that you can take apart and store together in the but stock... haven't shot it in a very long time, and if I remember correctly I couldn't hit the broad side of a barn with it, was never accurate.
My other is my Ruger 10/22 take down stainless, I love that little thing....
My 1970 Marlin 39 Carbine for the small stuff. And though I have an abundance of centerfire rifles including ARs, my Jungle Carbine .303 always comes to mind as a rugged, capable, do-all centerfire.
Crossbow? I don't have one. It just entered my mind as a possible alternative. In what I got......hmmm... 581 Mini 14 223. And it's not my favorite caliber or rifle.
You guys got me thinking about mine. Broke it out and made some minor mods.
Winter camo paint job, sling and mag pouch addition, and the cheapest and easiest mod that made the most difference to me: a nut for the stock screw to stop making noise.
I rubber washered the sling mounts and mag pouch. Now I have four mags on board and several more in a small waterproof case with some ammo and earplugs.
It shoots pretty well, but length of pull is long and I had to stake the front sight because it moved a little too easily.
It is perfect for its intended application, but it sucks as a rifle.