Only one gun?

[2ndAmendmentNut]

First off I would like to make it clear that I have no intention of getting rid of any of my guns, this is just a theoretical thread. If you could only have one gun what would it be and what caliber? A gun to defend and to feed. No cheating, no combination guns, no interchangeable barrels. Just one gun in one caliber.

I have thought long and hard about this, and if this was a decision I had to make I guess I would go with a 12ga pump, with a Marlin 45/70 for a very close second.

[azrednek]

12 gauge pump would be my choice as well.

[HWooldridge]

Either 12 ga (any action) or a .22 rimfire rifle - the latter would probably be my choice.

[357maximum]

THIS ONE :mrgreen:

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=135932292



I am not sure what I answered the last time this came up...so I will remain silent. :roll:

[BIGGUNGOBOOM]

Id have to say my S&W model 29, 8-3/8 44 mag. gonna do bout everything that I would need.

[stubshaft]

.22 rimfire. Probably my Marlin 39. I can carry alot more ammo than the .12ga.. It just shaded out my 45/70 Guide Gun also...

[Lead Fred]

Even tho its heavy, my M1 Garand. Id prefer the lever 30-30.
But the M1 will save my bacon everytime

[Matt_G]

Since you said "defend" and I have to assume that would include an urban setting, that means it needs to be easily carried.
So my choice would be a 3 or 4 inch barreled double action revolver in .357 magnum.
As others who are smarter than I have said before, it's not the best gun for some applications, but it is good enough for so many different jobs.

[Jbar4Ranch]

There is no "best choice", as everyone's pick will be different depending on their locale and theoretical scenarios. I'd go with a .22 rifle, probably a Marlin 39A or maybe a quality bolt action such as a Ruger 77/22 with iron sights.

[1Shirt]

I would be going along with Jbar4Ranch1
1Shirt!

[Trey45]

I'll be the odd duck here, if it came down to choosing just one gun to defend and feed, I'd have to go with my VEPR 7.62x39. It's the most accurate AK variant I have ever seen, or fired.

[RU shooter]

I'll be the second odd duck, My AK47 gets the nod also!

[exile]

Since I come from such an anti-gun family some of your responses on "my first gun" post make me jealous. So, on this one I have something to offer. If I could only have one gun, it would be my S & W .44 Mountain Gun. I suppose it would do just about anything I needed doing and I enjoy reloading for the .44 special. On top of that, I was telling my wife about seeing it at the gunshop and she said, "I think we should go get it." We went up and put 1/2 deposit down and left. I could not wait, so I went back the next day and paid for the rest of it. She wasn't too happy about that, but I enjoy it for that reason nonetheless. I asked the guy at the shop if I was the fastest layaway he ever had and he said,

"no, one guy made a downpayment in the morning on the way to work and paid off the rest the same day on his way home."

Having said that, I am looking seriously at a Glock 21SF. I have never owned a .45 ACP, and have finally been bitten by the bug. I suppose if not for the .44, that would make a good candidate for the "one gun" catagory as well.

exile

[dale2242]

I`m not sure this qualifys as one gun, but a TC Contender with multiple barrels.---dale

[JIMinPHX]

Ma Duce - end of statement.

Just kidding. :mrgreen:

Seriously though, depending on where I was living at the time, it would either be a Browning lever gun in .308, a 12 ga pump, a Browning High Power in .40 cal or a K-frame .357. Most likely, it would be the lever gun.

[jonk]

If this is an end of the world scenario, a flintlock rifled musket.

Otherwise a bolt action mauser. Caliber not so important. Very hard to break or jam a Mauser.

[wildwilly]

T/C Contender carbine with three barrels: 22lr, 20 ga, 223 Rem.

[BarryinIN]

S&W K frame .357.
Specifically, a 4" model 19 or 66, or a 3" 13 or 65.

If it's just one gun for everything, then I would just about be forced to choose a handgun for portability/concealment/storage reasons. A long gun may have all the advantage in shooting, but it does little good if it's not with me.
I can conceal the handgun.
I can carry it easier, even if I have to travel by canoe, bike, etc.
I can store it easier. I can even stick it in an ammo can or gallon ziploc if I had to.

As much as I prefer a semiauto for defense, I'll go with a DA revolver for a do-all gun. A K-frame is small enough to conceal, but big enough to do some work.
With a .357 revolver, I can feed it anything that will go in the chambers. I can use bullets in a weight range of at least 75 grains to 200. I can use at least half the canister powders out there, plus black powder, and can load the cases with homemade black powder if I really had to.

Aside from 38 Spl and .357 Mag and their precessors, I could make other cartridges work in it IF I had to. The 38 Super is a tad large in diameter, as is the 38 S&W. The 9mm won't work due to it's taper. But if one of those was all that was available, then I'd open up the chambers to fit. Cut-off .223s might even work. If I had to open some chambers for one caliber, and some for another, I can. I'd at least have something even if I'm ejecting empties with a stick.

[sojerguy]

valmet 412 .30-06 over 12 Gauge

[rvpilot76]

My M1A; no question.

[Hip's Ax]

I have thought about this a lot, my answer has to be an M1 Garand.

[mroliver77]

Not enough details for the scenario If I can hand load it would have to be a .30 cal. Prolly my M14, 03A3 or M1 Garand. I can load these down to shoot squirrels or up for elephants. Now if it is an apocalyptic scenario and I have no extra parts or logistics to aquire them, a simple gun like an NEF 30-30 would do.
Jay

[KCSO]

50 caliber flinter no question, everything from mouse to moose and primers are free!!!

[Marvin S]

Ill go with a 62cal smooth bore flintlock. Round ball and shot.

[Jeff Davis]

I would pick my Marlin 1894cs .357 Magnum. Lightweight, easy to carry, 10 round or 11 round depending on Mags or Specials. Easy to find components or factory ammo, two calibers to use in case of shortages or scrounging. Accurate and powerful.

Not to mention that it is one fun rifle to shoot!

[Rooster]

Just one? US Cal .30 M1. You didn't say anything about restricting handloading or cast boolits!! I also like the .22 crowd as well, but I can only have one.

[bmblong]

357 magnum levergun.

[johnny356ER]

Handsdown....Ruger 10/22

[cbrick]

Easy question actually,

I would have no choice but to . . . .

Cheat and have several.

Rick

[bearcove]

Puma92, 454 Casull.

Light, handy, and big boolit BOOM!

[plumber]

Just One!! :groner:

As much as I'd like to say my AR-15 pistol, I would have to go with my Model 66 Smith because :castmine:. .357 would be easier to feed than .223, and more reliable.

[Noxi0uS]

Remington 870 3 1/2" magnum pump with my choke tube collection.

[Heavy lead]

Easy question actually,

I would have no choice but to . . . .

Cheat and have several.

Rick

Oh yeah, that's right, I only have one now dear.........................oops!

[krag35]

Garand, no question in my mind

[Combat Diver]

My 1911 in .45 ACP along with my Colt .22LR conversion kit. Lived in Germany for 3 years and that was my only personal firearm (course had the Government guns) A second choice would be also for S&W K frame 3-4" .357 Mag.

If I had to choose one long gun than a Drilling in 12ga/30-06/.22LR.

[Ohio Rusty]

I'm waaaay out of the mainstream on the one gun theory. I only have a couple of firearms that I actually use and shoot. I do have one gun that I depend on for everything all year long.
I use a Jim Chambers custom made .54 cal. flintlock smoothrifle. It's a .54/28 gauge, 46 inch LongHammock smoothbore barrel with front and rear sights, Siler flintlock lock, full maple stock with a sliding wooden patchbox. Here is the gun: http://www.flintlocks.com/RK-07.htm
This gun shoots either a .520 patched round ball for larger game, or shot loads for small game like rabbits and squirrels. It is an excellent gun for many hunting and shooting applications. I do have a .40 long rifle, and a 12 gauge SxS BP percussion shotgun. All are excellent guns and have taken their share of game. If I could only have one ... It's the smoothrifle that gets the nod.

I noticed several other posters mentioned the 12 gauge shotgun or smoothbore muzzleloaders. These guns will shoot shot for small and flying game, or slugs or round ball for large game like deer, elk and bear. I use my smoothrifle in the same applications as the modern 12 gauge. I knap my own flints, thus I'm only dependent on having loose blackpowder. either 2F or 3F.
Ohio Rusty ><>

[1Shirt]

Well, on second thought, guess I would have to specify location. If it was Africa, would have to be a 375H&H. If Alaska, would have to be an 06. For the rest of the lower 48, would probably go with 7x57.
1Shirt!:coffeecom

[JRW]

12 gauge, any action, any length (with tubes if possible) can go from slugs to shot to improvised , easy to reload, (really don't need tools) and can be made most any size.