Use the survival bow!!!

[GarlicPops]

For long term survival, rifle cartridges are a valuable resource, the only option of weapons you have in the game for hunting (excluding the rocks) are either the survival bow or the hunting rifle. But keep in mind that cartridges are 100% non-renewable, and basically 1 bullet = 1 kill and that's it.

The survival bow, however, can be crafted as long as you have maple saplings and cured guts, and the arrows can be crafted with arrow heads, arrow shafts and crow feathers (being crow feathers renewable), and since when an arrow break you retrieve the arrowhead and some crow feathers, basically the only thing you'll need are arrow shafts, which can be crafted with birch saplings.

But let's get deep into the calculations:

Hunting Rifle: 1 bullet = 1 kill.
Survival bow: 1 arrow can kill 3-4 animals before it breaks if you kill all of them with 1 shot.
Bonus: 1 cured birch sapling = 3 arrow shafts

So think with me, if you have only a single arrow (100% durabitly) and a cured birch sapling you can repair the same arrow 3 times, one arrow can kill up to 3-4 animals, 1 cured birch sapling = 3 arrow shafts, 3 arrow shafts = 3 repairs, 1 arrow + 3 repairs = 4 arrows in total, 4 arrows = 12-16 animals killed, 12-16 animals killed = 12-16 cartridges saved.

So guys, use the survival bow as much as you can and save your cartridges, they will make a huge difference in the late game, only use the rifle when absolutely necessary.

[markwars]

Not to mention that the bow weighs 8x less than that bulky rifle.

[JiffyPopKids]

Why save the rifle for late game? Personally the bow is easier to shoot and renewable to an extent so I use the bow late game and all the bullets earlier on.

Also, I think there's a small chance of finding a rifle bullet when beachcombing? Correct me if I'm wrong.

[markwars]

You are correct Jiffy