The one gun

BAMAAK · May 2018

What's the one gun everyone should own? First I thought G17 but too many people can't shoot Glocks well. Next I thought maybe an AR but while it can do most anything and may be a good choice, a lot of people are afraid of them. Not antigunners necessarily but even people that like guns, many don't care for the platform. Shotgun? Same thing as the AR. Lots can't handle the recoil. A 1911 is a good choice, comes in lots of calibers So recoil should not be an issue. But what about older people or people with hand issues? Pretty tough to rack the slide. Bolt action rifle? To many limitations. So it must be a .22 pistol right? Everybody can shoot a .22. But who wants a .22 for SD? So I guess it comes down to a SA/DA revolver in whatever caliber and size you prefer. The one style of gun I don't own. I have a few SA only but I don't consider consider them anything but gaming guns. They would be the last thing I would reach for, especially since I don't have SD ammo for them. So do I need or want a DA revolver. I guess but they are low on my priority list.

Big Al1 · May 2018

Smiths are like potato chips, ya can't stop at one!! Just ask WBY!!

Old Ron · May 2018

Everyone that wants to own a gun has to make there choice alone. They need to try different guns & see what will fit there own needs & abilities. A .22 will kill ya just not to big of a hole. And it sounds like a cannon fired in a house.

Antonio · May 2018

Hard to find one that can fit all roles, but regarding practical use, I think a good bolt-action .22LR rifle is a basic "must" for reasons everyone here seems to know. A shotgun comes in a CLOSE second. My choices would be a CZ rifle and/or a Remington 870 pump shotgun.

tennmike · May 2018

For carry and HD it's hard to beat a DA or SA revolver. And don't overthink the ammo for either. Wadcutters make a big round hole and penetration is more than adequate. Caliber selection depends on the person and the recoil they can handle. In the last couple of decades in my county there have been three people killed with .22 LR pistols, and two of them were one shot stops. And a .22LR on up shot in a house makes a LOT of noise, so the .32 to .45 calibers will be even louder. Thinking you have to buy a $50 box of 20 or 25 rounds of high dollar 'personal defense ammo' is the best marketing hype going; bullet placement is the ONLY thing that really counts.

earlyagain · May 2018

The old K-frame S&W M&P 38sp that comes up for sale all over the place for $300.00 or so is probly the incarnation of the ultimate SD revolver ever made. Keep it clean, and how can it fail? Wad cutters or the old FBI load or any number of others will get someone off you as good as anything else.

BAMAAK · May 2018

All of them are lost in a tragic boating accident that happens to so many of us. You can only save one and that's all you'll ever have. Discounting value and sentiment, which one do you NEED in today's world (and tomorrows)

earlyagain · May 2018

Somehow I had the impression the OP was considering an SD revolver as the one gun he didn't own.

horselips · May 2018

Probably over 150 guns have gone into and out of my collection over the decades, but the ONE gun I ALWAYS make sure I have, that I NEVER do without, is a good .357 Magnum revolver with fully-adjustable sights.
Nothing else is as flexible, versatile, accurate, reliable, strong, cost-effective, adaptable, durable, easy to clean and maintain, and all around useful for home, school and office. If any one gun can be considered a jack of many trades and master of them as well, this is it.

Elk creek · May 2018

If for some reason the “one gun” was a mandate, I would have to go with whatever “one gun” those that enforce that mandate use........

BAMAAK · May 2018

I'm thinking the .357 would be the wise choice, with a .22 being second. 1 or 2 well placed shots will kill most things. You may need 10 or more with a .22, especially a pistol but you can deliver them fast.

Uncle Fester · May 2018

Taurus Judge

Linefinder · May 2018

One gun. No picking the intended usage... Just one gun....period? For whatever? Okay, I'll play. Mossberg 12 ga pump. I don't own one. But if one was all I could have...that's what I'd have. Mike

earlyagain · May 2018

Finally someone picks a long gun.

I'll take a Ruger 10/22.
One gun.

zorba · May 2018

NAA .22s...

Seriously, probably my CZ-75

Bigslug · May 2018

BAMAAK said:

Bolt action rifle? To many limitations.

How you figure that? https://video.search.yahoo.com/search/video?fr=mcafee&p=Lee+Enfield+Mad+Minute#id=2&vid=3da90930971af61bbb47e0e3fe5b1297&action=click

Zee · May 2018

I would not feel limited with a handy 16-18” barreled bolt action in .223 Rem or .308 Win.

In fact, my Ruger Scout rifle is damn adequate.

Tugar · May 2018

I mirror BAMAAK. A good 357 with something like a long barreled SR22 pistol as a second choice. The 357 is VERY versatile and can be used for anything from plinking up to take medium game. 38 special wadcutters make my Model 28 feel like a cap gun and Buffalo Bore makes some hard cast 180 grain 357 that clocks at 1400fps. Not for the faint of heart. You can get anything from a 5 shot snub up to an 8 shot from a few makers.

The reason I specify the SR22 for the 22LR is that it behaves like most larger centerfire SD pistols. Not exactly what I'd prefer to carry but in a pinch, I can put some serious number of rounds downrange in a short amount of time. Mags are very small. 3 in a back pocket disappear.

I own the 3.5 inch but a 5 or even 6 inch would get the velocity up some.

If ammo were cheaper that odd Kel-tec 22mag pistol with the 30 round magazines might also be a choice.

BAMAAK · May 2018

I think for most, running a bolt action for SD would have a low level of success vs more than one or two targets, especially at close range. For all other things it would be a good choice, especially for the reliability factor. Losses points for capacity too unless it takes high cap mags. Capacity is a revolver issue too unless your Jerry Miculek.

Axe · June 2018

12ga enough said. Will kill just about anything, best defensive weapon and can be handles and shot pretty well by most.

Tugar · June 2018

Axe said:

12ga enough said. Will kill just about anything, best defensive weapon and can be handles and shot pretty well by most.

Is that a 12 ga in your pants or are you just happy to see me?

I disagree on the shot well by most. 12 ga can be pretty punishing.

rberglof · June 2018

The one gun I would have a very hard time being without would be my Colt 22 Match Target. If I had to grab just one as the boat was sinking that would probably be it.

Axe · June 2018

Tugar said:

Axe said:

12ga enough said. Will kill just about anything, best defensive weapon and can be handles and shot pretty well by most.

Is that a 12 ga in your pants or are you just happy to see me?

I disagree on the shot well by most. 12 ga can be pretty punishing.

True, but you can just change your desired load to reduce recoil. My 12 year old and 23 year old daughters who are petite shoot them proficiently and with the youth models they have available today, they are more viable.

Big Chief · June 2018

The .357 Remington Magnum is King hands down in my book.

A good S&W or Ruger revolver in .357 is the very best all around centerfire cartridge in handguns for many reasons. Being able to fire .38 Spl in them is only one of many reasons I pick the .357 Magnum.

For those that don't reload there are umpteen choices available for ammo off the shelf and if you do reload, the sky is the limit for power levels and bullet weight/style choices. Easy to practice with, and a good caliber to start new shooters who are ready for centerfire.

You can load it down with .38 Spl/+Ps for the house or family members or those low recoil mild blast/muzzle flash SD loads on the market. Recoil is very manageable in all but the lightweight models.

Sometimes I put three .38 Spl +Ps followed by three .357 JHPs in the cylinder for HD in case for whatever reason I need more oomph.

Others try, but only imitate the .357, like the .357 Sig (actually a 9mm bullet driven fast) or the .327 Magnum which approaches .357 velocities with lighter weight/smaller diameter bullets, but doesn't have the versatility once outta its weight 'Range'.

Ammo availability is plentiful. Much as I love my .44 Spls/Magnums hardly ever see many if any ammo choices on the store shelves and they are $$$$. Same for the .45 Colt, usually a 25 rd box of lead 255 grain RNFPs that cost more than a 50 rd box of .357 JHPs.

The .357 has a good track record and is capable of very good accuracy. So at home or on the firing range it is hard to beat. For woods or highway loads I like the 158 grain JSPs. Unless you expect to or unfortunate enough encounter big bears it will handle most situations you may likely come across. Even then I'd much rather have a .357 than any 9mm or .45 ACP semi-auto or .22 LR.

My everyday all around plinking/ range load is a 158 poly-coated grain hard cast SWC atop 6.5 grains Unique powder for about 1100 FPS or so. More than any .38 Spl, but enough to be in the low end magnum range.

I'd hate to be limited to 'Just One Gun' but for my life situation and style the .357 would be my #1 choice.

NCFUBAR · June 2018

Flexibility ... my first thought is a 12 gauge w/ anything from light bird to heavy buck plus slug ability.

Big Chief · June 2018

Hard to pick just one of anything. Used to see a shotgun a single shot, double bbl or pump, a .22 rifle bolt or semi and usually a 30-30 or maybe a .35 Rem or .32 Spl lever in most folks living rooms when I was growing up on a 3-gun rack made in wood shop class or from a store.

A pump shotgun. I own a couple Mossbergs, a Mariner and a 500 field. So a Mossberg 500 or Rem 870.

Then a .22 LR like a 10/22 or Marlin mdl 60 (I have) and then maybe a bolt .22 of some kind. Mine is a Ruger American.

Centerfire rifles...........well a bolt .223 like a Rem 700/Savage and after that ............man a lot of choices and differences of opinions on make/model and caliber..........................

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