If you had just enough money, right now, to buy any one firearm this instant, what would it be?

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I think we have two very different types of answers. The first type is the "what gun do I really want." This might be for sentimental reasons, or it might be a fascination with that particular firearm.

The other group is looking at it from the point of, "what gun can I turn into the most cash, or into a steady stream of cash." The steady stream might be from having something that people will pay to shoot, or by some sort of a commission on the gun crews income.

I am not saying either is right or wrong, but it produces a very different sort of answers.

You forgot the third type: 'wildly impossible' like the ones posting railway guns and M134s (either of which would delight me to no end). Personally, I'd love a WWII 75mm pack howitzer to play with, or even one of those 37mm infantry support guns that are out there.
 
Anything associated with the battle of the Little Big Horn. Either side but preferably a Winchester used by the Indians.
 
A select-fire MP5, which naturally would require the 'tax stamp' to be "legal". A friend has one and allowed me to use it, and even though it's suppressed and very quiet, I would prefer the version which is Not suppressed.

What puzzles me is why police in both London Heathrow and Amsterdam Schipol who carry MP5s stand in a small group, making themselves an easy target. It doesn't seem to make sense-unless terrorists would Not want to hit them first.
Just passed such a tight group two days ago doing so in Schipol, inside the main front doors.
 
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I have been lightly thinking of this since first posted. I take the question as "whatever gun you always wanted, you now have that much money — totally free and clear and no problem from your family et al spending it — to buy that. What is it?"

Having /exactly/ enough money is causing me heartburn. I wish I could find the original, but somewhere not too long ago I read a story (in an audiophile magazine, or other such context) by some actor or other, who had at the time of this just started making it big. So he's at the house of some much, much more famous (and rich) person, and they have some insanely awesome stereo. He thinks how he's always wanted one, ogle it, and then thinks... I could have one. I just bought a house in cash.

Goes to the high end stereo store. Finds out its however much it is. He can write such a check today. But... he's not used to writing checks like this, for things not a house, or car. He's fundamentally not raised that way, and is not used to the money. He realized he'd never be able to enjoy it, because he would always think "is it /that/ much better sounding?" etc.

It's a nice admission, and while I have some nice stuff, and make good money here and there, I tend to abide by the same. I do not stretch to barely afford something like a really nice precision rifle, all at once. I would always look at it and say "$5700? Man, I better get you out of the rain." And that's no fun.

YMMV. I will now stop spoiling everyone's fun.
 
I'd love a WWII 75mm pack howitzer to play with, or even one of those 37mm infantry support guns that are out there.
I like this thinking.

Mind, if you had an M3A1 37mm gun, this would just force, force I say, to get a WC-52 3/4ton 4x4, just to tow it around [:)]

If you go with the M1A1 75mm howitzer on M8 carriage, the unobtanium is the pneumatic-tired limber/cassion; but, this was often omitted in field and the 1.5 or 2.5ton truck used as a prime mover also provided ammo support.
With the M1A1 on M1 carriage, you for sure need the limber. You'd also need six pack horses, too, with saddle and tack for all those. You'd need another 6 horses or mules for the ammo cassion as well. The gun captain, naturally, will need full kit with riding boots and a mount, too. ("But, honey, I have to have all this...")

Ok,ok, so the hobbyist artillerymen get by with a trailer to haul the weapon around, and stow the ammo in the truck, but still, the OP was a premise of being able to get it all, complete, just the once. [:)]
 
I like this thinking.

Mind, if you had an M3A1 37mm gun, this would just force, force I say, to get a WC-52 3/4ton 4x4, just to tow it around [:)]

If you go with the M1A1 75mm howitzer on M8 carriage, the unobtanium is the pneumatic-tired limber/cassion; but, this was often omitted in field and the 1.5 or 2.5ton truck used as a prime mover also provided ammo support.
With the M1A1 on M1 carriage, you for sure need the limber. You'd also need six pack horses, too, with saddle and tack for all those. You'd need another 6 horses or mules for the ammo cassion as well. The gun captain, naturally, will need full kit with riding boots and a mount, too. ("But, honey, I have to have all this...")

Ok,ok, so the hobbyist artillerymen get by with a trailer to haul the weapon around, and stow the ammo in the truck, but still, the OP was a premise of being able to get it all, complete, just the once. [:)]
Yeah, my woman would just love seeing that pull up. I'd go with the power wagon, but wouldn't turn up my nose on a period deuce. Although those little things could be pulled by a Jeep, too.
 
Unrealistically, I’d get ground towed 40mm Bofors.

Realistically, A brace of S&W K-32s
Rock Island Auction sold a towed 40mm Bofors at their last auction. Or, at least, they had one up for sale. Don't know if it met reserve.

Too bad it was de-milled.:(
 
Anything associated with the battle of the Little Big Horn. Either side but preferably a Winchester used by the Indians.
You mean like these? Four rifles, two sharps, a 73 Winchester and a trapdoor Springfield. All forensically identified as actual Indian weapons used in the battle. These four guns are far and away the ugliest and most thoroughly neglected weapons in out entire 1,216 gun display. None of the four is capable of being fired. But they are among the most valuable weapons in the entire museum simply because of what they are and where they were.

These rifles are at the Rock Island Arsenal Museum, along with over over 100 captured Indian weapons (firearms) from various Indian wars. It is the largest collection of captured Indian weapons in the world.
 

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A select-fire MP5, which naturally would require the 'tax stamp' to be "legal". A friend has one and allowed me to use it, and even though his MP5 is suppressed and very quiet, I would prefer the version which is Not suppressed.

What puzzles me is why police in both London Heathrow and Amsterdam Schipol who carry MP5s stand in a small group, making themselves an easy target. It doesn't seem to make sense-unless terrorists would Not want to hit them first.
Just passed such a tight group two days ago doing so in Schipol, inside the main front doors.
Guns like that leave a single user as a target for an attacker to go after the gun itself. Crews of users cover each other to a point where an attacker ending up with the gun is highly unlikely.
 
You mean like these? Four rifles, two sharps, a 73 Winchester and a trapdoor Springfield. All forensically identified as actual Indian weapons used in the battle. These four guns are far and away the ugliest and most thoroughly neglected weapons in out entire 1,216 gun display. None of the four is capable of being fired. But they are among the most valuable weapons in the entire museum simply because of what they are and where they were.

These rifles are at the Rock Island Arsenal Museum, along with over over 100 captured Indian weapons (firearms) from various Indian wars. It is the largest collection of captured Indian weapons in the world.
Indian weapons are in such bad shape because they didn't want to spend money on gun oil and just used 10w30. ;)
 
You mean like these? Four rifles, two sharps, a 73 Winchester and a trapdoor Springfield. All forensically identified as actual Indian weapons used in the battle. These four guns are far and away the ugliest and most thoroughly neglected weapons in out entire 1,216 gun display. None of the four is capable of being fired. But they are among the most valuable weapons in the entire museum simply because of what they are and where they were.

These rifles are at the Rock Island Arsenal Museum, along with over over 100 captured Indian weapons (firearms) from various Indian wars. It is the largest collection of captured Indian weapons in the world.

Yes like those. Some amazing pieces of history there. I'll have to stop and see that collection if I ever get down that way. Maybe an excuse for a road trip sometime. Thank you!
 
Yes like those. Some amazing pieces of history there. I'll have to stop and see that collection if I ever get down that way. Maybe an excuse for a road trip sometime. Thank you!
The Museum is on Arsenal Island, an active duty military post. There is only one way on the Island and you will have to get a visitors pass. Your vehicle may be searched, so absolutely NO weapons of any kind, not even ammunition.
This is a view of one wall from behind the glass
 

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I suppose it would be Italian, as in Perazzi. In unsingle/o/u combo with it being personally fitted to me and with a full set of skeet tubes in 20, 28, 410 and delivered in a bespoke Ferrari also fitted to my dimensions. (With shoes, suits, etc). You said, "if you had enough money...".
 
Although those little things could be pulled by a Jeep, too.
Could, sure enough--even though the pack howitzer is running 1500#, so you need another for the ammo, and a third for the crew.

That M3 37mm is entirely Jeep friendly; only 900#; was meant to have a Jeep as a prime mover, even if training & doctrine was to use a 3/4ton WC (I know I've seen a WC53, the panel truck version, powerwagon, used to pull a 37mm, but danged if I can find the photo now).

The 37 was meant for a small crew (5, IIRC). It also has the virtue of readily accepting solid shot, so it's polite to keep and shoot in our modern times.

Now, just had a rememory--there's a Motor Gun Carriage M6, which is a 3/4ton WC52 with an M3 37mm gun all as one. Two birds, one stone. "See hun, it fits in the garage..."
 
Could, sure enough--even though the pack howitzer is running 1500#, so you need another for the ammo, and a third for the crew.

That M3 37mm is entirely Jeep friendly; only 900#; was meant to have a Jeep as a prime mover, even if training & doctrine was to use a 3/4ton WC (I know I've seen a WC53, the panel truck version, powerwagon, used to pull a 37mm, but danged if I can find the photo now).

The 37 was meant for a small crew (5, IIRC). It also has the virtue of readily accepting solid shot, so it's polite to keep and shoot in our modern times.

Now, just had a rememory--there's a Motor Gun Carriage M6, which is a 3/4ton WC52 with an M3 37mm gun all as one. Two birds, one stone. "See hun, it fits in the garage..."

A 900 to 1500 pound towed howitzer would be a dream come true from someone used to horking around 10-15,000 pound warpigs.

All in one sounds nice too, but I'm firmly of the belief a gun isn't properly laid unless it's down in the dirt, because 'dirt's your friend, private'. And I guess since Uncle Sugar doesn't like us civvy types slinging HE over the horizon, a 37mm shooting solids would satisfy my arty kick.
 
Most of the guns I want, I really could afford. The problem for me is I can't afford ALL of them, so I dither over which to buy and end up not buying anything!

Probably the closest to a gun I don't buy cause I can't afford it, as opposed to a gun I can't decide on, would be a Nighthawk Custom Browning Hi Power (starting at $3,195);

hi-power-010.jpg
 
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