If I could only have one

[Whitey James]

If you could only have one firearm, whether it be due to financial or governmental constraints, what would it be and why? 

Me?  Ruger GP100 4 inch 357 magnum

Why?

If I can only have one then it has to fill many roles including daily carry. 

No magazines to lose.

Built like a tank so you can use it as a blunt object when you run out of ammo.

Easy to disassemble (can be done with a coin)

Ammo variety from mouse farts to nukes

[Blackwater 53393]

Para Ordnance P14-45.

 

Fifteen rounds of .45 without reloading, (I have magazines that hold twenty rounds).  Can be disassembled without tools.  You can buy ammunition in a grocery store. It’ll work packed in mud. When it’s empty you can beat the living s#!t out of your adversary with it!

[Widder, SASS #59054]

I guess because. 99% of my shooting is fun type practice and plinking..... it would probably be a .22 LR.

And that .22 would be the S&W model 41

 

If I were to choose a rifle, it would probably be the Marlin 1894 in .45 Colt.

 

..........Widder

 

[Creeker, SASS #43022]

Remington 870 12ga.

Absolutely nothing that a good shotgun cannot do.

[sassnetguy50]

M2 Browning.  

[Rye Miles #13621]

S&W model 19 with a couple speedloaders. I could shoot .38’s or .357! 

[Alpo]

Skeeter Skelton wrote a story where he was discussing this with Dobie Grant.

 

Dobie's reply went something like this - it's been awhile so forgive my memory.

 

I expect since you're a handgun editor you want me to pick one handgun, but one gun wouldn't do it. I would need to have a 44 Magnum revolver (it seems like he specified a Smith & Wesson but it's been a long time) for general carrying. I would need a bolt action 30-06 rifle with a scope (again, memory is saying that he specified a Winchester 70). I would need a 12 gauge pump shotgun (according to memory a Remington 870). And lastly I would need a good 22 pistol (I have no memory of him specifying which kind). There you are. I could not get by with less than those four guns.

 

But since you specifically said one gun, it would have to be at 22 rifle.

 

 

That story made a lot of sense. So I thought about it a bit. If I could only have one gun, it would be a 22 rifle. Bolt action with a tube magazine.

[Smokin Gator SASS #29736]

For general purposes hunting, home defence a shotgun is very versatile.  But for self defense capability at all times it would have to be a handgun.  For me it would either be my 1911 or a CZ75B 

[Seldom Seen #16162]

Well I don’t play into the only one gun choice as if it comes to that the Federal Government will make that decision for you. I think if you look across the pond to England the most common caliber they are allowing is the .22 rimfire.

 

As for me I’ll be dead or in prison by then. Sorry to kill the fun of your topic. 

[Ranger Dan]

I reject the premise of your question. Can't have just one.

[Hardpan Curmudgeon SASS #8967]

15 hours ago, Whitey James said:

If you could only have one firearm, whether it be due to financial or governmental constraints, what would it be and why? 

Me?  Ruger GP100 4 inch 357 magnum

Why?

If I can only have one then it has to fill many roles including daily carry. 

No magazines to lose.

Built like a tank so you can use it as a blunt object when you run out of ammo.

Easy to disassemble (can be done with a coin)

Ammo variety from mouse farts to nukes

 

Mine has a 6" barrel (yours is actually 4.2"! )

 

And you're right on the ammo part ~ but for some reason, mine reeeally doesn't like "cowboy" loads.  Oh, it'll shoot 'em all right, but accuracy just ain't the same as with peppier rounds.  But they're still fun to shoot!  

[Chickasaw Bill SASS #70001]

it be real simple : 

 

  if you have 1 , you can secure more 

 

  Chickasaw 

[Whitey James]

Just now, Hardpan Curmudgeon SASS #8967 said:

 

Mine has a 6" barrel (yours is actually 4.2"! )

 

And you're right on the ammo part ~ but for some reason, mine reeeally doesn't like "cowboy" loads.  Oh, it'll shoot 'em all right, but accuracy just ain't the same as with peppier rounds.  But they're still fun to shoot!  

Yeah, they added the .2 so they could sell it in Canada (at least that's what I have been led to believe). I have many other higher priced guns, but the ruggedness of the Ruger wins out for me.

A Mossberg 12 guage is a very close second choice but the portability of a handgun edges it out. 

[Subdeacon Joe]

Colt 3rd Dragoon with shoulder stock.  

 

Seriously,  I'm with Alpo,  a good bolt action .22 rifle.  

 

If limited to a handgun,  either a Ruger or Smith and Wesson .357 Magnum revolver with a barrel around 4".  

[Pat Riot]

After thinking long and hard about this… 5 minutes as I pondered whether or not I can put a scope on my new Henry .22 Mag… I think I like Alpo and Joe’s idea but I would take my Ruger 10/22. It’s reliable and has never let me down. 
 

After shooting my new Henry .22 Magnum today I could see me getting one in .22LR and putting a little 4x scope on it. Then I might take that instead of the 10/22. 

The 10/22 is sitting in my safe though. 
 

The gun is light. The ammo is light. I am assuming we’d be walking and carrying whatever it is we need, because if a truck is okay, screw it! I am taking more than one gun.  

[Subdeacon Joe]

42 minutes ago, Pat Riot said:

I think I like Alpo and Joe’s idea but I would take my Ruger 10/22. 

 

Good solid platform,  and lots of spare parts are plentiful.  Best of all,  you have it and are familiar with it. 

 

If I were to go with a semi-auto it would be my Marlin Model 60.  I have it, am familiar with it.  While not as popular as the 10-22, parts shouldn't be much of a problem. 

 

My bolt action would be my Mossberg 46a.  I let a guy try it at the range one time.  He tried with some of  my bulk box ammo,  then asked if he could put some of his match ammo through it. When hecwas done, he said that it would be great for use in their  .22 Sillouete matches.   

[J-BAR #18287]

 

No contest.  My S&W Model 18 .22LR.

 

It will be the last to go.

[J-BAR #18287]

...although, the Model 18's great grandfather, a K22 Outdoorsman made in 1939, might have a valid argument.

 

[Forty Rod SASS 3935]

I believe I'll stick with a 5 1/2" .45 SAA.

 

 

And maybe, hidden away, an Ithaca 37 in 12 gauge and a bolt action .30-06....a Remington ADL if available.

[Widder, SASS #59054]

If ya want to go 'lightweight',  don't overlook the Marlin model 60 and especially the Remington Nylon 66 (no longer made).

The Nylon 66 can still be found at gun shows or pawn shops and is super light and handy.

 

I have both, along with a few supped up 10/22's by Volquartsen and KIDD.  Great for accuracy.

 

But I probably enjoy shooting my model 60's as much as any .22 'rifle' I have.

 

..........Widder

 

[Eyesa Horg]

I like my model 60, but my Widder soft stroke Henry is more fun!!

[Whitey James]

20 hours ago, Seldom Seen #16162 said:

Well I don’t play into the only one gun choice as if it comes to that the Federal Government will make that decision for you. I think if you look across the pond to England the most common caliber they are allowing is the .22 rimfire.

 

As for me I’ll be dead or in prison by then. Sorry to kill the fun of your topic. 

There are other reasons why a person would only have one gun. When I was much younger and my kids were small, money was very tight so it was hard for me to afford to buy guns so I, like many others, had to play the game of " I can only afford one, what should it be"?

[Rye Miles #13621]

I wouldn't rely on a rimfire for self defense, I prefer centerfire ammo. Much more reliable, you just never know about a rimfire!

[PowderRiverCowboy]

14 hours ago, Pat Riot said:

After thinking long and hard about this… 5 minutes as I pondered whether or not I can put a scope on my new Henry .22 Mag… I think I like Alpo and Joe’s idea but I would take my Ruger 10/22. It’s reliable and has never let me down. 
 

After shooting my new Henry .22 Magnum today I could see me getting one in .22LR and putting a little 4x scope on it. Then I might take that instead of the 10/22. 

The 10/22 is sitting in my safe though. 
 

The gun is light. The ammo is light. I am assuming we’d be walking and carrying whatever it is we need, because if a truck is okay, screw it! I am taking more than one gun.  

 

I would go with my HK 416 in .22 for many of same reasons  longer range then pistol or shot gun and with the silencer it has a db of 87 average you hear the action of rifle and bullet not the bang and red dot sight on it shoot it all day

[Pat Riot]

1 hour ago, PowderRiverCowboy said:

 

I would go with my HK 416 in .22 for many of same reasons  longer range then pistol or shot gun and with the silencer it has a db of 87 average you hear the action of rifle and bullet not the bang and red dot sight on it shoot it all day

I am considering a Ruger 10/22 takedown with a threaded barrel. I’ll need to research silencers/suppressors. It’ll be light and fit in a pack that doesn’t scream “gun bag”. 

[PowderRiverCowboy]

38 minutes ago, Pat Riot said:

I am considering a Ruger 10/22 takedown with a threaded barrel. I’ll need to research silencers/suppressors. It’ll be light and fit in a pack that doesn’t scream “gun bag”. 

 

I went with the Rugged Mustang 22 nice , light and quiet highly recommend . 

[bgavin]

One wife I can understand.
One gun?  That is simply not generous.

In a long gun, it would be my Remington 870 with extended magazine.
In a hand gun.. a tough choice between my 1911 and 44 Alaskan.
Both are for End Times environments.

Today, I do the vast majority of my shooting on 22LR.

[Okie Sawbones, SASS #77381]

BAR in the venerable old .30-06.

[sassnetguy50]

55 minutes ago, Pat Riot said:

I am considering a Ruger 10/22 takedown with a threaded barrel. I’ll need to research silencers/suppressors. It’ll be light and fit in a pack that doesn’t scream “gun bag”. 

Also look at the 11/22 takedown for easy cleaning with a can.  A DLC bolt wipes clean, so smooth.  

[Cold Lake Kid, SASS # 51474]

12 gauge pump action, model 870 chambered for 3"

 

 

And shells.

 

Lottsa shells.

[Rip Snorter]

11 minutes ago, Okie Sawbones, SASS #77381 said:

BAR in the venerable old .30-06.

Do you remember this? https://search.brave.com/search?q=Browning+Automatic+Rifle+assault+belt&source=web&summary=1&summary_og=36804391834956e0f9b944

[Alpo]

5 minutes ago, sassnetguy50 said:

Also look at the 11/22 takedown for easy cleaning with a can.  A DLC bolt wipes clean, so smooth.  

11/22?????

 

Is that a typo or is that some gun I've never heard of?

[sassnetguy50]

17 minutes ago, Alpo said:

11/22?????

 

Is that a typo or is that some gun I've never heard of?

No typo, you must not have heard of it yet.  Has been out for a few years in the USA, under license to Fletcher.  

 

Build it as a Charger and you'll be able to fit it in a large shaving kit bag.

[Alpo]

Interesting.

[Pat Riot]

1 hour ago, PowderRiverCowboy said:

 

I went with the Rugged Mustang 22 nice , light and quiet highly recommend . 

Ooh, that’s a nice one. Thank you. It’s on my list. 
 

It’s tough to pick out these things when you know zilch about them. If you ask a gun store clerk it either becomes a living ad for their favorite or a macho fest of blather. 
“I just came in to look at suppressors, Man. I don’t care about your exploits at survival camp…” (He was never in the military…)

Yes, I actually had to say those words.