pick one gun for the rest of your life.

If the rest were taken away? FAL cuz I'd be goin down fighting.
If there was nobody to fight and I was on my own for survival? Probably what the OP said or my CZ452.

id go with an ak with a colapsable stock.

Once upon a time, not many moons ago,
I, too, would have written "870".

Now, I've traded the 870 for a
Marlin 1894C in .357 mag.

Lighter to carry, quicker to point
(speaking for myself, of course).

SD with 9 rnds of canned lightning.
Reloads on the run without having to run out first.

Will take deer when close enough (30 - 60 m),
but will also take smaller game with little damage.

Fun to shoot, ammo readily available, smaller than 12 ga, reloads easy.

And, it's a lever gun, which is viewed as less evil than ... well, you know.

"If your ever in a Jam, take an M1 Garand, it wont"

and I do, till death do us part

Only one? Hmm

A .22 or a Shotgun are both pretty versatile. The Germans Invented drillings because of a long ago gun tax. So if for survival I'd take a Merkel or Krieghoff drillings 12x12 over .223-Plus if I am selling off my whole collection I will have some extra cash so why not go all out.

I'd want something I can carry daily, legally (so no long guns). If TSHTF, I'd be worried about defense for some time before I needed a gun specifically for hunting. I'd want something that is reliable. I'd want something that was comfortable and fun to shoot at the range. I'd want an M&P40.

...Oh, now that I mention it, that happens to be the one and only gun that I own I still think I chose well for my first gun.

I'm Torn

The S&W 586 (4", .357 x 7) is handier, easier to carry.

Sacrifices some range and accuracy, but will still hunt.

I think, however, I would eventually side with Nem on this, and take my Marlin 1894C (.357 mag & .38 special).

Wide range of loads. Game, up to deer. Accurate enough inside of 150 yards. Even birds if you don't mind stalking.

I contemplated my M1 Carbine for a little bit. Assuming ammo availability, it's also attractive in the same way, although the range of loads of more limited. Rifle is light. Ammo is light. Accuracy acceptable out to 150 yards. And far more firepower than the 1894C.

Trouble with the question is the lack of context.

If _I_ get to make up the context, then I can make a pretty good argument for each of the three I mentioned.

• Civilization on the rocks? I'll take the M1 Carbine.
• No breakdown, but rural environment? I'll take the 1894C.
• No breakdown, spend most time in towns/cities? I'll take the S&W 586.

Broadest possible context, with uncertain ammo availability? Gotta go with the lever gun.

Now maybe, once I actually own a shotgun, shoot a shotgun, and have some skill with one, my view will change.

Right now I'm better with a rifle than pretty much anything else. Shocker there, I'm sure.

BTW, the OP question is an exercise in sadism.

Yer on a gun board, dude, what on Earth would possess you to traumatize these good people, making them contemplate giving up anywhere from a few to dozens of guns?

I mean, that just ain't right!

marlin, 81 dl, tube fed, fires short, long , long rifle, holds 25 shorts at one time, comes with peep sites.

If assuming the possibility that there'd be no spare parts available for the rest of my life as well? Or that I'd have to be handloading my own ammunition for the rest of my life too? Something I'd want to be concealable, but capable of bringing down game animals in a survival situation?

I'd probably go with my 4-inch S&W Model 19-4. Only because I'd want an accurate, light handgun in a compromise caliber that I shoot well and know is supremely reliable and easily maintained ...

Although my heart says a parkerized 1911A1 with a bunch of Wilson 47D mags or a light lever-action rifle or carbine ...

Glock 17

Well since the OP doesn't mention Armageddon or food shortages or any other SHTF scenarios I guess the only criteria are SD and FUN.

I'll go with my P220ST, enough punch to get the SD job done and I love shooting it/them. It's also more concealable than a rifle or shotgun. The stainless keeps it less vulnerable to the elements.

If it is a SHTF/Armageddon scenario than I probably would want a lever gun in .357 or .44 mag if concealment is not much of a concern.

AK. Will hunt everything available and needed, and the ammo is ubiquitous here. Plus, it will work under any conditions.

Damn.. I'd have to choose the shotgun, just for its power, reliability and intimidation factor.

Pump action, any type, 12 gauge.


Ammunion is easy to find
You can blow off locks and hinges with one
They are extremley intimidating
They have a "spread" with shot, in which you have a greater room for error when aiming.

The list goes on.

Khar PM9 with 124+p Gold Dots.

I'd say no. I'm afraid you'll have to find me first , and then kill me.

But I suppose if I had to carry a single weapon "just because" I'd want my Bushmaster. It's fun , it's a hell of a weapon , and I can carry a lot of ammo at once.

Another Vote For

Remy 870 12 gague Marine Magnum~!

Only one gun.

If I had to do it, it would be a 12ga pump. Either a Rem 870 or Moss 500.

First choice would be an AR15- it's usable for self defense and big game hunting (well, as big as we have here,) and can be downloaded for small game.

Second choice would be the venerable 870. But, I sure would miss a 1911.

1. Strictly survival hunting, Custom SxS 28gauge/357maximum. According to sm a 28 gauge will do anything a 12 will do except long range waterfowl, and I believe a 180gr LFPRN out of a 357 max would put down most anything in eastern USA.

2. Living out in the wild without daily resupply, a Marlin 1894C in 357, My handloads will cover me with in 150yards.

3. SHTF, something belt fed or a good AR (yes I know oxymoron for most)

4. Lost in the wilds and looking to get home, Colt Woodsman, light weight, packs a good pop and the ammo is easy to carry.

Probably my 870. I really like my Mossberg 20" 8-shot Persuader better but with the 18 1/2" and 28" barrels the 870 is more versatile.

Anything chambered for a .458. That cartridge covers the full range of uses for most folks.

This is hard.

I am torn between a 12 ga pump (do we get multi barrels?) very versatile and my 30-30 lever.

I feel safe in thinking that I could trape or snare small game and I feel more comfortable with the 30-30. It is accurate I can reload it adn it will put down anything I need it too.

OK... I'm cheating.


A firearm is the registered part-- so it's simple for me.


AR-15.


Buy an M-4-gery. Now go buy:

-Dedicated .22 upper.
-6.5 Grendel (or 6.8 SPC for avalibility of ammo) upper.
-MAYBE a target varmit barrel


Now you have a ONE gun that is good for:

-Self-Defense (16" M4-gery)
-Small Game Hunting (.22 upper)
-Medium Game (6.5 or 6.8) Yes, I know .223 CAN kill a deer-- but I am not comfortable with it in that role.
-Long range shooting (Varmit upper) (optional)


And the list goes on for different roles...


Maybe a Bolt-Action .50 BMG upper for that extra "umph."

Maybe register the lower for a SBR and get a short barrel.

Maybe a dedicated supressor (ATF form)

Maybe a 9mm upper to have a pistol caliber upper.


The only thing missing in the mix is a scattergun. In my experience, any hunting I needed a scattergun for, I can do with a .22 rimfire and a bit of aiming. I prefer it really. I hate finding lead shot in food that I cook.



So, really a quality AR lower with the proper registrations essentially makes ONE firearm that has limitless options and capabilities.


It's on my list to do this very thing as soon as I get through a couple other projects.


-- John

I've changed my mind. Instead of the shotgun I've decided to go with my Marlin 1894C .357 magnum.

rem870