Best three guns (Rifle, Pistol, Shotgun) to have.

Rifle - I'm going to stretch the rules and take an AR with all the uppers from 22 lr to 50 Beowulf

Pistol - SP 101. Because the rifle and shotgun can cover all the hunting and defensive needs for home, I'd like something that I could conceal.

Shotgun - I'd stick with my Super Nova in 12 gauge. Its simple, pleasant to shoot and I put the tube extension on it so I can hold 7 shells. However I'd probably get an 18" barrel for it for defensive purposes.

rifle=308 decent round for protection opr hunting ammo fairly to find shotgun= 12 gauge a5 browning fairly easy to find ammo and trouble free pistol= gotta go with 45 acp 1911 style for stopping power

figures that someone would mention glock and AK in the same post.

Here's what I'd pick.

AR-10 style rifle-308 has good range and power. Don't bother whining to me about how much it might weigh, I wouldn't be carrying it any measurable distance.

Pistol-Sig P-series. Any centerfire caliber is fine.

Shotgun-12 ga Remington 870

Rifle: The one you shoot the best
Pistol: The one you shoot the best
Shotgun: The one you shoot the best

Since everybody is different, their opinion of 'best' will likewise be different.

Gotta agree with Mainsail....

I don't have a rifle preference, but the current AR-style guns (the M4, I believe) would suit me. The .223 is an easy round to shoot, and the whole "system" is good....

Pistols: I'm a 1911 guy. Kimber pre-Series II, most Colts, Paras after some break in (or older ones) would suit me fine. I don't see the need to spend $2000 for a handgun.... JHP's, of course.... Stay off of "+P" stuff unless you're into killing cars, or people across the street....

Shotguns? My el-cheapo Mossberg 500 is pretty good, but a semi-auto would have been a better choice. Everybody's got a decent one in the $500 range, give or take. 12ga, of course. I prefer birdshot "indoors" - not quite as good an instant kill, but it will do less damage to adjacent rooms/people, and the BG won't enjoy it. In the "field", "00" is probably a good choice.

I'm a semi-retired rent-a-cop, among other things, and worked some seriously bad areas with a couple of .38's and no radio. The above list would have been heaven....

And finally my stock advice: For handguns, or even long guns, avoid the "gun of the month" issue. EVERYTHING you carry should work more or less the same way. Safety lever goes "down" or "up" to fire, etc. If your BUG lacks a safety lever, going for it and missing will probably be less of a problem than remembering to flip it the other way.... Long guns should be on the tang, or crossbolt, consistently, too.

Regards,

Easy....

M4, 1911, Rem 870.

Hello friends and neighbors // Of the firearms I own.

If I'm staying home:
Rifle--Remington 760, .30-06, Scoped with dropdown see through rings and night glow iron sights.

Revolver--Ruger Secutity Six, 4", 357/38

Shotgun--Remington 870 Wingmaster, 28" ventilated rib, 7+1 with extension.

If I'm leaving home:
Rifle--Marlin 795.22lr // I have a pouch attached to stock with four exta mags. and a film canister holding 70 mixed rounds--- 120 rounds of varying types on /in rifle.

Revolver--S&W 586 6" 357/38 /// Good for hunting/SD wide variety of ammo options.

Shotgun-- I'd have to cheat here if on the move, a shotgun with enough shells to matter is too heavy, I'd prefer: Interarms 357/38 Model 92 /// Using shot shells

Of the guns I own, I would choose the 760 in .308, the 870 12 gauge 3", and my S&W K-22 Masterpiece.

In my case...

Rifle--Converted Saiga in 7.62x39. AK reliability is no joke, a Saiga is as accurate as the less expensive AR's, and this will take any game in my area. Moving north a little may warrant something in .308.

Pistol--my CZ 75D PCR. CZ's are just awesome guns that neither 1911 or Glock shooters can find any worthwhile fault with. And this one has refused to stop working, aside from my own reloading mistakes. Plus mine has really nice night sights.

Shotgun--a Mossberg, with a Limbsaver. Mine's a Maverick 88, but a 500 of 590 would be even better. 20", 7+1 12-gauge. Nothing wrong with a Remington 870 or Winchester 1200, though. I wouldn't mine a 1200; my friend's are like glass. Mmmmm. I just like the layout of the 500's controls best.

Pistol - Glock 19 in 9mm (what else ).

Click to expand...

I think you're going to be surprised by the answers you get here. Here's a spoiler. I'd bet that the number of people who pick a glock, while they will be many, will still be less than half. Not that there's anything wrong with Glock. It's just that Glock is only one of many good choices.

For me:

Good quality AK47. Maker is irrelevent as they are all pretty much the same once you get to a very good quality level. But think something like Krebs.

Shotgun- Rem. 870.

Pistol- Ruger SP101 3"bbl.

any good .22LR repeater semi-auto with hi-cap mag preferred (for me) due to more ammo store/carry capable.
any good center-fire pistol .32 up for concealed weapon
any good 20 or 12ga shotty sxs, pump or semi with a variety of ammo types for game and defense.
this is based on a 'hold the fort' scenario in suburbia or rural area.
mercenary types doubtless will opt for larger rifle & pistol my list is what I figure could be available to a home owner that is given a reasonable amount of time warning of a 'collapse'.
I own a semi-auto .22LR clip fed that's a tack-driver (scoped) and one of my nephews with much younger eyes has a Marlin with the under-barrel ammo tube he did a clean and tighten up to and mounted a 4X Burris. practices on walnuts at 50 yds standing offhand. never misses. any man sized target at 100yds is in deep kim-shoiee.

I'll play, again

Glock 23 -40 S&W

Remington 870 or Mossberg 590

Ar-15 probably m4 Bushmaster

Rifle was the hardest choice, there is something to be said for the AK/Saiga.
I own at least one of all of my choices. Some guns are hard to leave out. I chose the G23 for carry because I like the added punch of the 40 over the 9mm so even though the 9mm is a military round and sometimes easier to obtain, I have to stick with the 40. Flip a coin on the two shotguns I picked though I do like the 870 a little better. The 590 is heavier and not as smooth. Even though I have 4 1911's and only two Glocks I would still choose the glock as an all around gun.

Tough choice.

Rifle: .308 or 30-06 bolt

Pistol G17, XD9, a nice revolver, I don't know, not much of a pistol person

Shotgun: Rem. 870 or Moss. 500 or 590

I agree with Mainsail,

What's good for you isn't what may work for anyone else.

Also, what you currently own may not even be what's best for you.

Those of you that have answered this thread: Do you currently OWN the 3 guns you listed?

If not, why not?

If these 3 guns make up the most basic 'essential battery,' then why don't you own them now ?

I'm with Slomo...

"Easy....

M4, 1911, Rem 870."


-Matt

Best three all around/do all guns on a budget: 6" Ruger GP100*, H&R HandiRifle in your caliber of choice and have a 12ga barrel fitted to it. All will last a hundred years with minimal maintenance and give good service.

Best three with a little more to spend: 6" S&W Model 27/28, or a Ruger Redhawk .357 (either barrel will do)*, Benelli Super90, Savage Scout in the caliber of their choice.

Unlimited budget? Why restrict yourself to three. Buy two of everything and call it good!

*I suppose, if you're not a revolver person, a (place favorite semiauto brand here) in 10mm could replace the wheelgun.

I've had a Saiga12, and while it's a fun gun no doubt, the mags are just a pain. If you keep a loaded mag in the gun all the time it will eventually mash the top shell enough that it becomes hard/impossible to chamber. They also haven't seen enough rounds downrange to asses their long-term reliability. The 870 and the Super90 are well proven.

**I have everything but the Scout. I make do with a SOCOM16. The Scout is much lighter and that's why I listed it.

Rifle: Bolt action 308 (Remington 700)if we're talking "survival" (nuff said)
M4 style 223 rifle if it's a zombie apocalypse (parts and ammo availability)

Shotgun:Remington 870 (reliability,parts and ammo availability)

Pistol:Glock 17 (reliability,parts and ammo availability)

Those of you that have answered this thread: Do you currently OWN the 3 guns you listed?

If not, why not?

If these 3 guns make up the most basic 'essential battery,' then why don't you own them now ?

Click to expand...

I do own all of the ones I listed (except the ar...I have a pile of AR parts waiting to manifest themselves into an evil black rifle). I think most people will not own all the weapons they mention. We're talking "essential," not necessary or preferred. My Glock is a great "essential" tool that I only recently acquired. Various 1911's and 22 target pistols that I own are far more fun to shoot and own, not to mention they can pull double duty as "essential" if need be.

Of those I currently own:

Sig 556: AK-like reliability with AR-like accuracy.
Sig P250: it's my CCW.
Rem 870: can be configured any way I need it configured.

OR

Socom 16: .308 is sure nice to have
1911: my favorite handgun
Benelli M1: just to change things up a bit, not to mention wicked fast

OR

Russian AK: the original
CZ-75: all around fantastic 9mm
Mossberg 500: it has to make this post somehow!

Thanks,
DFW1911

Ah yes. We seem to play this game once a week. Here are mine:

Rifle: Colt 6920 AR-15 with 16" upper, plus a 24" varmint upper

Handgun: Ruger GP100 4" stainless .357 revolver

Shotgun: Remington 870 Marine 12 gauge with 18" cylinder, 24" rifled, and 28" choked barrels

There isn't really an issue of what situation is this for, as the OP states if you could only have 3. Therefore, if you only have 3, you need to cover all your bases.

And if someone picks something, why get offended? No one is insulting your pet rifle/revolver/shotgun/pistol. That is the beauty of individualism. If there was only one type of gun to own, everyone would have it and only it.

/end rant

Anyways- my turn:

Handgun- Smith and Wesson 686 with 4" barrel. Lots of different ammunition options, works great for self defense, and in a pinch could even be used for hunting some game.

Shotgun- Remington 870 Wingmaster with 28" vent rib barrel, 3 chokes, and a separate rifled slug barrel. Could hunt whatever walks in my state and most others.

Rifle- FN SCAR H or a great quality AK. Either way, would be a solid, reliable rifle that would be fun to shoot, good for defense and could even be used to hunt.

I'd go with a 1911, an AR-type rifle either 5.56 or .308, and a remington 870 12ga.