Only 1 Handgun? One Rifle?

[Catshooter]

Smith&Wesson Shorty .45 for a short gun. Light weight, stupid accurate and dead reliable. Eight rounds of goodness.

CZ 527 bolt gun in 7.62x39. Incredibly versitle weapon.


Cat

[NVcurmudgeon]

Lord, and current events willing. S&W Model 27, .357 Magnum and Ruger 77/Lilja .35 Whelen. Ammo flexibility through the magic of .35 caliber and cast boolits. Should things turn ugly, Colt Woodsman Sport and Ruger Mini 14 Ranch, .223 Rem.

[gds]

The same answer I always give:

1911 .45 ACP

AR15 M4 style

[ronterry]

Well, I guess I'm an older fart than Pat, and I'll stick with my revolver, too. At least I come home from the range with all my brass (unlike you young buck auto-shooters). I'll take my S&W M-57 .41 Mag., but I'd like to have the barrel cut down from 6" to 5".

And I'll take my Rem. M-700 stainless synthetic in 30-06. Given the right bullet or boolit and load it will do anything required of a rifle on this continent.

Regards,

Stew

OK OK, I will admit that after I had my back surgery I've been shooting my wheel guns more to avoid leaning over to reclaim my brass. I even bought one of those fold up dollies to tote my gear around, and I'm a young 40, but I was called an old bastard once!
BTW: My 70 year old step father I shoot with is in better shape then me!!!!!!!!!

[RayinNH]

Since it wasn't stated under what conditions we would make our decision, I will choose from the enjoyment standpoint. My blackhawk .45 Colt and the 30-40 Krag would stay. If the choice was when the bleep hits the fan it would be something I could make from a 30-06 case, maybe 7x57 and a .45 Auto...Ray

[testhop]

i i guess iwould keep the 45 auto for the handgun .
and a 270 winchester pre 64 if push to shove .
altho i would like one of the 22 pistol and rifle

[phil218b]

You never will have the right gun at the right time, just as you cannot possibly have enough security (money). That is why it is extremely important to have the Lord on your side at all times. ... felix

My bible,prayer book,1911,garand. And hope for the rapture before all I could have is the my last two guns.

[3006guns]

As was already mentioned, no conditions were specified......so let's assume the worst. Catastrophe, hurricane, terrorists, riots, BO's second term,etc. You will NOT be able to give your guns constant, adoring attention and replenishment of ammo and parts are concerns.

You're limited to one handgun so something you can feed with standard ammo is called for. Anything exotic can make you look foolish (and empty) after awhile. Many good calls have been made so far....personally I'll take my S&W 65. It's been with me for many years to some rather wild places and alway goes "bang", especially with my handloads....either .38 special or .357. Ammo is widely available, even in bad times. My .45 auto is in the same category......just depends on which I grab first.

Rifle: Okay, I'm going to be the odd duck here, but it's based on over 40 years of collecting and shooting just about everything. I have quite a few rifles to choose from, but a bolt gun would probably win out over a semi auto such as an SKS, AK or AR, assuming we're not going into combat. Why? Simplicity. And which bolt gun would I choose? Brace yourself.....

A Japanese type 99, 7.7mm Arisaka......

Fired conservatively, my ammo would last a long time. A Lee hand press and a couple pounds of components round out the list. The rifle itself is dirt simple (I think the bolt has four parts), overly rugged and has a chromed bore. I can strip/clean it quickly and even fabricate parts if need be. As much as I'd like to pack a 1903 out of national pride, I don't need target grade sights. Just durability, reasonable power and accuracy. The Arisaka was designed to have the crap beat out of it and still shoot. Yeah, they're ugly to some folks but after studying them for quite a few years you become impressed......the original designers already answered the question.

[MT Gianni]

BLR in 308, 45 Blackhawk, mine is a dual cylinder but I could live with the Long Colt only if pushed.

[pumpguy]

I've read so many of these "if you could only have one or two guns, what would they be?" and my answers have never changed.

For the handgun, hands-down it would be a six-inch Smith & Wesson Model 686. The .357 Magnum round is tested and proven beyond anyone's doubt whatsoever. Six inches is long enough to hunt at short ranges, yet still concealable via a shoulder rig. The stainless alleviates worries of rust and pitting prematurely and broadens the spectrum of cleaning solutions and techniques. The L-frame is large enough to handle a full and steady diet of magnums with no adverse affects for a long time.

For the rifle, hands down it would be a Winchester 94 in 30-30. And THAT one doesn't even need explanation.

Right calibers, wrong guns.

I would choose my 6" SS Ruger GP-100. More accurate than a Ruger ought to be and tough as nails.

For my rifle I would have to take my 1968 336C. 'Nuf said.

[mtnman31]

Pistol - "88 Magnum, it shoots through schools"
Rifle - "Phased plasma rifle, in the 40-watt range"

Sorry, had to throw out a couple movie quotes for fun.

Seriously, not knowing the circumstances, I'd want the following based solely off my favorites:
Pistol - .45 H&K USP
Rifle - M1A or FAL (like my .308's)

If it was a survival situation, I'd want a .357 revolver and a .12ga shotgun. The shotgun would be versatile enough for hunting of fowl, four legged creatures and works to protect you from two legged animals.

[Hardcast416taylor]

Since I seem to be an older "old Fart" than you other young "old farts" I would have to say my 2 picks would be my 5 1/2" Ruger BH in .45 LC that I worked over and one of my `17 Enfields in .338/06. Robert

[wildwilly]

Ruger Mark ll, 22 lr
T/C Contender carbine 223 Rem

[legend]

i cant believe you can ALL be so wrong...

handgun would be the mod 57 41 mag

long gun the mod 700 30-06

cuz thats what i have faith in.

[Jim]

Answering roll call of Old Farts Club, "Here, Sir!"

My .45 Colt Judge for the bedside, My old .bolt action .30-06 to feed my family and if you don't mind, may I keep my LeFever double 12? It's a family heirloom and nothing can escape that left hand barrel.

[Jim_Fleming]

A Marlin 1894, and a nice Ruger (read that big, probably a Super Red Hawk) both chambered in the same caliber. If not a Super Red Hawk and the 1894 in .44 Mag, some other service revolver in at LEAST .357 Magnum and the 1894 in the same caliber.

[Bret4207]

Since youse guys are adding the 22 then I'll add my 22 Kit Gun to my list. Or maybe better ,my Savage 22/410.

[AZ-Stew]

Since I seem to be an older "old Fart" than you other young "old farts" I would have to say my 2 picks would be my 5 1/2" Ruger BH in .45 LC that I worked over and one of my `17 Enfields in .338/06. Robert

Looks like it's turned into an "old fart"ing contest!

i cant believe you can ALL be so wrong...
handgun would be the mod 57 41 mag
long gun the mod 700 30-06
cuz thats what i have faith in.

And some folks don't read all the other posts before spouting off. You're in good company, young man. And your justification is absolutely correct. Maybe we can share ammo.

Regards,

Stew

[longhorn]

Ooooh, I hate this game. Makes me queasy just to contemplate........as of this morning, I'd go with the slicked Ruger SP101 in .357 (extremely concealable and capable) and the Anschutz bolt .22 with Leupold and open sights. Killing deer around here with a .22 is no big feat. Now, by later this afternoon I may decide a big centerfire is the way to go.......

[ph4570]

HK91 (.308) & Sig P226 (9mm)