[Fat Boy]

Not sure this is the right forum, but I am struggling a bit with some things. I own a few firearms, a shotgun, a few revolvers, (38 and 357 mag, both double and single action) and a 22 semi-auto. Not to go into lots of boring detail, but I grew up in a family where one gun was enough for pretty much everything. Problems with accuracy were attributed more to the shooter than the gun. Now, as I research and consider options, I am learning about shallow rifling (S&W 1917), bullet size and makeup; questions like how long a gun can reasonably be expected to last (round count), parts availability for replacing parts when they break, and the list goes on and on. Whatever happened to the "good old days?":eek:

I would like to get back to the "one gun for all things" approach; maybe a shotgun and one handgun...am I crazy?:uhoh:

Thanks for the input!

[MrBorland]

Maybe some useful info here:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=228172&highlight=life

[19-3Ben]

So.....what's the question? Are you looking for suggestions for a "do it all" gun? or are you asking how to fix up the old guns you have? or are you asking how long to expect them to last?
I want to help. I just don't know what you're getting at.

[Dienekes]

Not really. The old adage, "Beware the man with one gun--he may know how to use it" is basically true.

If the big meteor hit my gun safe in my absence, I could easily struggle along again with a "few good guns". To wit, a .30 caliber bolt rifle, a .22 LR rifle, a .22 LR pistol, a .357 revolver, and an AR rifle.

Sometimes less is more.

[Fat Boy]

19-3Ben;

I apologize for lack of clarity; I would like to settle on a "one gun for pretty much everything"...to that end I have looked at various scenarios; defense, hunting, plinking, pack gun, SHTF gun...and in trying to figure that out, I have considered lots of options, but keep running into the various issues. Most recently, I have been looking at a S&W 1917 in a local gun shop, but then I read that these guns were "shallow?" rifled, and require jacketed shells. Also, being older, what about life span?

I know this is a long answer, but as I hoped to state at the beginning of this post, I am trying to settle on the "one gun" answer...maybe it isn't possible.

Sorry if this is a dumb question...

[Iggy]

Somebody get a rope!!

This feller has got to be stopped!

He's goin' plumb against the grain and settin' a bad example!!:D:D


Seriously, there is nothing wrong with finding "the" gun for you and taking care of it.. It will probably be just as good for your grandkids as when you got it.

[wcwhitey]

I am not familiar with the "shallow rifling" situation of the 1917. My only comment is that you have taken a liking to a great revolver and would fit well as the "one gun". Check the revolver check out that is stickied at the top of the revolver section. It will tell you all you need to know about inspecting a used revolver. Good luck!

[19-3Ben]

Oh ok then. Well, no gun will do it ALL. But there are guns that can do MOST.
Allow me to introduce the 3"bbl .357 magnum revolver.
The .357mag is a great chambering if you are looking for a "do it all" round. It can be loaded heavy enough to hunt medium sized game, or light enough that it is very fun range practice. The .38 spl provides great fun, practice, and is cheap.
I'd look into a Ruger SP101 or GP100 with 3" barrels. I can CCW my SP101 during the day, and at night it sits by my nightstand.
Team one of those up with a Marlin 1894c, a .357 mag lever-action rifle, and you have a fantastic SHTF gun combo with shared ammunition. And out of a rifle length barrel, the .357mag has ballistics more like a 30-30 or 7.62X39.

To me, my SP101 is truly the do it all gun.

[MikePGS]

If the opinions of magazines mean anything to you, the S&W model 29 was said to be the best gun for everything, due to the fact that you can load it down to .44 special for Self-Defense purposes. That being said, i'd imagine it might be a tad difficult to conceal a model 29 for ccw purposes :D

[Shawnee]

Hi FB...

"defense, hunting, plinking, pack gun, SHTF gun."

Will humbly suggest you ask yourself two questions;

1. What shooting activities have you been most involved in to date ?

2. What shooting activities are really the most likely you will be involved in ?

You may discover that some of the "potential needs" have about the same potential as you winning on American Idol... and that will remove some requirements from your purchasing criteria. That's a good thing because it will prevent you from wasting money on some mythical "do-it-all" guns that are the "worst of all" choices instead of the best.

Example: A .22 rimfire revolver may not be the "best" SHTF gun but it is one whale of a finer gun for plinking than a .44 Magnum with a short barrel or an AK-47.
And a field model shotgun with interchangable chokes may not be the coolest-looking "defense" gun but it is imminently better to hunt with than a cool-looking black gun with a cool-looking pistol grip and a cool-looking 18" barrel.

Of course, local opinions may vary. :cool:

[Joe the Redneck]

I have the South American version of the S&W1917 45 acp (Unless I'm thinking of the wrong gun, the brain ain't what it used to be.) It was designed to use 45 fmf ammo. If you use the 45 auto rim with lead bullets, it isn't as accurate. At least mine ins't. My converted Webley is the opposite. It does "better" with lead, but it is still slightly undersized, so accuracy is so so.

As for the one gun, that's hard. You need a longarm and a sidearm. Long arms for the "reach out and touch someone" and the sidearm is always on your belt. Even it you are in the potty, sleeping, gathering firewood.

Two thought:

Bolt action, 308, 4x scope. (It doesn't have to be in the "Scout" configuration)
Revolver, 357 magnum

or

Mil-Style semi-auto with 4x scope
Semi-Auto Hi-Cap

For me its my AR and my Glock 17, but any of that type would be fine with me.

Joe

[earplug]

Messing around with a 90 year old service gun, such as a 1917 revolver. Trying to make it your one and only handgun that does it all is not a wise move. Replacement Parts, sights, grips, holster, size, weight, all are done better with newer firearms. The newly reintroduced S&W 610 might be what your looking for if you like your one and only big and flexible.

[Katana8869]

Just bought a 3" GP100 and my reaction upon getting it home was "Where have YOU been all of my life?" It is just a great combination of power, versatility and simplicity.

19-3Ben, I have already decided that the Marlin 1894C will be my next purchase for the exact reasons that you stated. Here in FL it's always good to have dedicated weapons for hurricane duty that are simple and effective and I think these two guns combined with my 18" Remington 870 pretty much would cover all the bases.

[Majic]

Those same questions were considered in the good ol days. The answer was to get a popular model in a popular chambering. It wouldn't be popular if a lot of folks didn't like it meaning it has been made for a while and have a good base for parts and is quite rugged/dependable.
The phrase "beware of the man with one gun'" usually applied to a rifle shooter. He would be able to do things with his rifle/chambering combo that others would not even consider. He learned to make do out of necessity. This can still be done today. Own just one gun and use it for all purposes. The longer you use it the better you will get at making it work for whatever job is at hand.

[Diggers]

One gun for it all is hard.

I like what 19-3Ben had to say. .357 revolver and a 1894 in same cal. sounds like a great combo.

The 180 grain bullet out of that rifle has to hit pretty hard, good enough for most anything.

With that combo you have a lot of options ammo wise to cover your needs. :p

You could do the same with the .44 also. (Just more $$ to shoot it though :()

[19-3Ben]

Katana- I actually plan to get an 1894c to go along with my 3"SP101 once I get through finals and make it to winter break!!! I also feel like they are the perfect combo, and will go along with the 18" 870 that I also have. (I've got others, but those three would be my main guns if something went down.)

[Stainz]

I applaud the choice of a .45 ACP revolver - just go for a more modern SS variant - like the 625. My 625JM, a 4" with some added goodies for very little more ($40 MSRP), will be three in Feb - what a fun piece. I literally got back from a quickie trip to my club's range at noon, evaluating some .45 Colt (250gr LRNFP) loads.

You can buy ammo from Wally World, etc, on a Sunday afternoon. It is a reasonably mild recoiling, frugal, big bore. It will bounce a bit more than a typical 1911, as, although the barrels & mass are essentially equivalent, there is no mechanism to eat up some of that recoil energy. Still, it is no more bouncy than a .44 Special with standard loads. It, unlike a bottom-feeder, couldn't care less what style bullet you use, either - or, if you handload, how meek or wild your loads are - within proper spec's, of course.

I would get fresh new Starline .45 ACP brass and keep it as revolver-only brass, using any range-sweepings I had for bottom-feeding-case-tossers. Steel moonclips and a nutdriver-style demooner help. I would load my plinker loads this way.

The .45 Auto Rims make great cases for hunting ammo - no moonclips are necessary. Self defense can use either, although the rapidity of reloads with moonclipped ACPs can't be ignored. The HKS #25 speedloaders fit the 625 & .45 Auto Rims, although the bullets are so short, while the cylinder's and the speedloader's axle pins are so long, they have to be 'dropped' into the chambers. Still, little practice is needed.

As for the barrels... my 625MG in .45 Colt from '96 appears to have the same rifling as the 625JM - just a lot cleaner (I just got home from a total of 136 lead .45 ARs through that 625JM!). I use 'Lewis Lead Removers' to keep my grooves, etc, clean.

I can't think of a better 'one revolver'... a frugal to feed big-bore, at that.

Stainz

[SaxonPig]

The fewer guns you have the less you can do.

If you don't have a .375 H&H or a .458 Winchester you can't hunt buffalo. Do you plan to hunt buffalo?

If you only have one shotgun and one handgun I assume all you need your guns to do is be available for self-defense and do some recreational shooting. In that case one or two guns probably will suffice. Most people on a forum like this would find being limited to so few guns rather boring. But if two guns suit your needs and that's all you want, then pick two good ones and be happy.

[MCgunner]

Not really. The old adage, "Beware the man with one gun--he may know how to use it" is basically true.

So, you're saying, the more guns a person owns, the less of a marksman he becomes? Wonder how many firearms Jerry Miculek owns, or Rob Leatham, or maybe even Tom Knap? They must only own one gun 'cause God knows they know how to use 'em! :D

You can own one 12 gauge pump, but my God, whadda boring life that would be. :rolleyes: First of all, I have to have a good .22. I own five rifles and I forget how many .22 handguns, but I HAVE to have a good .22 rifle and would prefer not to live without a .22 handgun. I'd never gotten to be as good as I am (however good THAT is, won't wanna be worse, put it that way) with a rifle and handgun if I'd never owned a .22. Okay, I can live with one hunting pistol, so long as it's a Contender with barrels in whatever calibers I choose, unlimited barrels, just one frame. I could do that with the rifle, too, for that matter, just an Encore and whatever calibers, really would prefer every caliber available if I could afford it. :D But, I need a high powered rifle for hogs and deer. The .308 would do fine I reckon. I could live without the others, but I kinda like the 7 mag and ain't selling my Grandpa's old .257 Roberts ever for any money. Okay, I need a waterfowl gun. My Mossberg does a fine job. But, I sure like my doubles and that 12 gauge Winchester autoloader is just SOOOO sweet on dove. But, I could do all my bird hunting with one Mossberg 500 pump, but God, how boring. I need a variety of caliber/sizes of carry guns for dress restrictions. Smallest, a .380 like the P3AT I reckon up to include my .357 magnum Ruger SP101 and my Kel Tec 9, my .38 Special Taurus fit in between in power and cocealment. The more concealment guns I have the better IMHO. You never know when you're going to have one held for evidence and need to switch to another, if nothing else. I want my revolvers for hiking. I have a .45 Colt Blackhawk that can handle any bears I'll ever cross, but I reckon if I had to I could give it up and keep my Taurus 66 4" .357 magnum for a hiking gun (when they pry my cold dead fingers from the barrel). And then there's this black powder itch I have........

Get my point? You might want one gun, BUT I SURE THE HELL DON'T!!!!!! But, yeah, you can get buy with a pump shotgun and a couple of barrels. You can defend your home, you can hunt deer (to 100 yards, forget any thing out west, stick to the woods) and you hunt birds and small game. I'm not sure how you're going to conceal it to go down to the Dairy Queen on a hot summer day in south Texas, but hey, maybe there's a way? You'll look a little goofy in a long coat on a 102 degree August day.

[SwampWolf]

One gun for all reasons? My standard answer for this age-old proposition is a well-made (Merkel?) drilling. Two twelve gauge barrels on top with choke tubes and the bottom barrel chambered in something like a 30-06 or .308 should cover most scenarios, though, admittedly, it wouldn't serve too well for pocket carry.

[theNoid]

I suppose if I had to be stuck with a single firearm, it would have to be TC pistol with ALL of the barrel and stock options...yup, that would cover most situations I reckon. :neener:

Noidster

[cyclist]

Define your parameters, check local regulations, shop from there.

In some states you can't use a handgun smaller than .40 caliber, so that would rule out the .357Mag.

If a carry gun is a requirement then you rule out longer barrels due to practicality.

Sometimes it's easier to rule out first what won't work, then sort out the remaining options from there.

Your SHTF requirement pretty much rules out single shots.

I did just fine when all I had was a model 94 30-30, not too big, not too small, just about ideal for an all-arounder-onegunner.

Plenty of people have done just fine with a revolver and a pump shotgun, some have done just fine with a lever action rifle. And some do just fine with a bow & arrows along with a knife on their side. YMMV

[cyclist]

Define your parameters, check local regulations, shop from there.

In some states you can't use a handgun smaller than .40 caliber, so that would rule out the .357Mag.

If a carry gun is a requirement then you rule out longer barrels due to practicality.

Sometimes it's easier to rule out first what won't work, then sort out the remaining options from there.

Your SHTF requirement pretty much rules out single shots.

I did just fine when all I had was a model 94 30-30, not too big, not too small, just about ideal for an all-arounder-onegunner.

Plenty of people have done just fine with a revolver and a pump shotgun, some have done just fine with a lever action rifle. And some do just fine with a bow & arrows along with a knife on their side. YMMV

[ACP230]

If you are really serious you might look at a Mossberg 590 with rifle sights and a modern .357 revolver. (I would find it hard to live without more than two guns, but believe it could be done if absolutely necessary).

A 12 gauge pump can fill a lot of roles. My Mossberg 590 shoots slugs well to 50 yards and pretty well out to 100. So deer hunting would be covered. It's a good self-defense shotgun, and can also be used for bird and rabbit hunting. (I missed a couple grouse with mine just this fall).

I am a big fan of .45 autos and .41 Magnum revolvers and own a Smith 1917. 45ACP. The 1917 is older and there are some issues with spare parts although to date it hasn't needed any. Larger magnums are more capable on deer size game than a .357, but you'd have a pump 12 gauge for that.
A .357 is cheaper to load for and .38 Specials are relatively cheap for practice and small game hunting. Additionally there are quite a few former police .357s available on the used market now.

[jakk280rem]

i dont have the money or the machismo to buy one, but why not a s&w 460? it can fir the 460, 454 casull, or the 45 colt. its like the3 1/2 in twelve guage of revolvers.