A different approach

[Mayo]

I've read numerous posts regarding ideas for HD and virtually all say get a shotgun. That being said I'll take a different approach---IF there were no such thing as a shotgun what would you all choose as your HD weapon? Keep in mind this will be your ONLY gun, not multiples for different situations. 1 rifle to serve as HD as well as perimeter, hunting, SHTF scenarios

 

[thereisnospoon]

M1A

 

[Preacherman]

One of the good .308 Win./7.62x51mm. rifles. M1A, Garand, FN/FAL, Galil, etc. I could live with just about any of those, although my personal preference would be the .308 Galil.

 

[DMK]

My preferred HD long gun is my AR carbine and that would be my choice if I had to choose one gun to do it all (especially if I could keep my .22LR and 7.62x39 uppers).

However, right now my pump Mossberg, my FAL, and a compact AK are right there next to it, just in case.

 

[Gewehr98]

We have a layered approach in Casa de' G-98...

Intruder penetration is first facilitated by a pair of AK's, a sidefolder SAR-1 and a straight-stocked SLR-95, loaded with CorBon 125gr JHP fodder, every fifth round being a tracer. A Remington 870Mk1 trench gun loaded with Winchester full-brass 00 buck stands ready when needed by the bedside, and in the nightstands, there are a Caspian Officer's ACP in .45 ACP and a S&W Model 696 in .44 Special. One gun, my a$$.

Wired a bit tight? Yes, but we've weathered a couple attempted home invasion robberies, and then a particularly nasty bout of post-hurricane looting last year after Jeanne and Frances paid a visit to our village on the seaside.

 

[cslinger]

AR variant of soe kind or another. Lots of options and choices here.

Chris

 

[Mayo]

Boy there is some cheatin going on here. 1 gun to choose---you can have 20 of the same kind if you wish, but 1 rifle and NO shotguns---pick!

 

[pauli]

which rifle? whatever i could most easily trade for a shotgun.

shotguns are a bit like god - if they didn't exist, it would be necessary to invent them.

i like rifles too, mind you.

 

[Larryect]

I guess I have a little different view. Shot guns are good if you know something bad is happeneing.

However, I think a pistol can be more discreet when you don't know what is going on. I have answered my door a couple of times with pistol in hand. Turns out, everthing was okay and no ones the wiser.

 

[SnakeEater]

An M14/M1A carbine, like the Socom, loaded with Hornady TAP.

 

[esldude]

carbine

I think you are looking for a carbine. Depending on ranges for perimeter and hunting use as to whether I go with a big handgun caliber or simply the 9mm.

Okay say a Ruger PC9 or Beretta Storm in 9mm. You have something very easy to shoot. No real recoil, can get on target and stay on target quick. Not so overpowered or loud that indoor use is out of the question. Yet it can be lethal at 100-125 yards. Easy to make hits at that range.

If some potential hunting uses is for bigger game, then something like a 44 mag in Marlin lever gun or a Ruger semi-auto in 44 mag. Plenty for bigger game, plenty for two legged varmints. Also easy to make hits out to 125 or 150 yards. The Marlin is available in .357 mag too.

These also have the benefit of being very short and handy for indoor use or outdoor carrying. Don't discount how unintimidating they are for users that normally don't use rifles in SHTF situations.

So while not as good as full powered rifle, I think for a general purpose one gun choice you describe, they are a pretty good choice. Finally if you did have a handgun you could choose a carbine of the same caliber to compliment it.

But a carbine is your best choice.

 

[Malamute]

For my neighborhood, the Browning 45-70 levergun will about cover things. scoped bolt gun would do also, 30-06, 35 Whelen, or 375 H&H.





Guess I'm not up to speed, I thought shotguns were for bird hunting and clays shooting? Wouldn't be on my list for anything other than those chores, tho I usually shoot grouse with a .22 pistol or light loads in a rifle.

 

[Mayo]

whatever i could most easily trade for a shotgun.


Shotgun?, what's a shotgun?

 

[TMM]

STG58 FAL, with a carbine barrel to attach for HD, and the 20" for "edc".

~TMM

 

[~z]

No such thing as a shotgun... I will invent the shot gun and sell it to you as the best home defense weapon. How many would you like?
~z

 

[Tokugawa]

The other night I went out to check out something, took the shotgun, and a flashlight, and a walky talky.What a pain! A handgun is much more handy and can be kept hidden till you need it, plus you can use the light, cellphone etc. as well. I can just imagine if I had walked up to an undercover cop car with longgun in hand...

 

[Dr.Rob]

since hunting is on the list of uses... a semi auto .308... maybe an M1A.

 

[student]

I am perhaps the only person who dislike the shotgun for home defense. True I have no super shotgun with special choke tubes etc. Mine is a Mossy 500 with either a 26?" barrel I use for clays, or an 18.25" cylinder barrel. I have used the short barrel with slugs (just for kicks ) and 00 and 000 buckshot. Basically the guns would kick a$$ at about 0-10 yards or a bit further but the spread is amazing, far more than I expected. Forget about aiming this thing at something specific to shoot. With a wife and a 2 year old in the house I prefer the concept of something I can reliably predict where the rounds will go. Imagine a nightmarish knife to the throat of your loved one scenario at 10 yards. No problem (in theory) for a rifle or pistol but my shotgun would hit em all. To specifically answer your question of what gun for HD, perimeter, hunting and SHTF I would personally prefer a .223 round, probably out of my mini-14 (low sight to bore so no major adjustments when shooting close up like on the ARs). Second would be my SAR-1. I love my M1 but the gun is a hulk and I can't say it is ideal for home defense. As far as hunting goes the largest thing around are medium to small deer down here (except for the obese human population). I love the carbine idea for home defense (my sub2000 works well) but in the realm of hunting or SHTF 9mm would not be my first choice. Life is a compromise

 

[GunGoBoom]

If I understand the question correctly: One rifle for ALL imaginable uses, and no other guns of ANY type (centerfire rifle, rimfire rifle, shotgun, handgun, or airgun), then I'm gonna have to say a DSA SA58 FAL-style rifle in .308 win/ 7.62mm NATO. Second place would be M14-style in .308 win. Third place would be a DSA FAL in .260 Rem.

If the question were instead, what gun for home defense if no shotguns allowed, then the answer is CZ 75 SP01 Tactical - 18+1 rounds of 9x19mm +P 147 gr Double Tap ammo should do the trick.

 

[Dionysusigma]

For HD use only, I'd have to go with an M1 Carbine Para. Short OAL with the stock folded, but still fire-able. Cartridge is decent enough without overpenetrating, and it has both soul and style.

However, for all the reasons you listed, I might just have to go against all that I believe in and get a lever .44--great for HD and "perimeter" (which, to me, is the same thing as HD) work, lever guns are reliable for SHTF scenarios, capacity is decent, and I'm pretty sure that .44 could be used for hunting, in a pinch.

I've never liked lever-actions, but it would do everything I'd need it to do.