Another What If...

[Deanimator]

.44 Magnum. I've already got a 4" and a 6" S&W Model 29-2. I've been thinking about a Cimarron Model 92 "Trapper".

 

[Yo Mama]

.22LR

You can hunt with it fine if you know what you're doing. You also have a pretty good survival round.

If the gun is a tool, the .22 must be in the toolbox.

 

[RainDodger]

Odd man out here. One gun for everything. .30-'06.

Second place, I'd go with MachIVshooter and pick a .308.... in fact, .308 may be a better choice because there's probably more of it around.

 

[Onward Allusion]

.357 mag.

 

[MachIVshooter]

Second place, I'd go with MachIVshooter and pick a .308.... in fact, .308 may be a better choice because there's probably more of it around.

I actually like the .30-06 better. The reason I say .308 are the firearms so chambered; If I could only pick one gun, it'd be my Armalite AR-10A2 carbine. Can't think of a situation requiring a firearm that rifle wouldn't be qualified for, from Home defense/combat to big game and everything in between.

 

[Broken11b]

just throwin it out there, .50 BMG

 

[Ed Ames]

I like my .454 casull pair. 20" stainless puma M92 and 2.5" ruger alaskan. The casull can do anything a 44 mag can do, and a few things it can't. From plinking/cowboy loads that would be OK for small game, into 45/70 teritory.

 

[PandaBearBG]

5.56 most familiar with and just sentimental for. It's got the range, it's light, available, versatile, and hey I can always pick up an AR pistol to match the rifle.

 

[PT1911]

i've never been a fan of the ar pistols... seem quite impractical.... like pistol grip only shotguns, and the like.

 

[chuckusaret]

12 gauge

 

[kd7nqb]

I think I would go with 12 gauge. However 20ga might be tempting too. Because I bet you could get a revolver built in 20gauge. Kinda like a super judge.

 

[PT1911]

a revolver in 20 Ga? Never seen one or heard of one... How would that be legal? (without special taxes and papers) maybe built as a slug gun? rifled barrel? eh.. I dunno...and here I was thinking I finally understood our rediculous laws.

 

[middy]

12 ga

 

[Innova]

.44 or 12ga. Probably .44, just because of the concealment possibility.

 

[DFW1911]

Another vote for the 12 gauge!

 

[mgkdrgn]

If I had an unlimited supply of ammo? It would be the .45 Long Colt. I have a Rossi Puma lever action rifle and a Ruger Blackhawk chambered in that caliber.

That would be one of my choices as well. Very versatile, easy to handle/reload, capable of taking down anything that walks in North America.

 

[GRIZ22]

any other input? anyone have an argument for another round?
__________________


Not from me. I agree 357 magnum.

 

[DirtyHarry31]

.357 mag. My setup for me when I retire to NM for my GMC is my Rossi 92 rifle, My S&W 686 4" for my side & My S&W 360 M&P for conceal/backup. The combo covers all situations up to 200 yrds, and that's enough "personal space" for me!

 

[PT1911]

happy to see I am not the onlyone who would go .357 mag. I just need to get the rifle now... I am sure i will be the proud owner of one before too long.

 

[Ed Ames]

The combo covers all situations up to 200 yrds

Have you tried shooting the 686 at 200yds??? OK, I kid... but aim high 'cause at 200 you've got to hold about 17" over the target with the M92. 125 yards would be my outside limit if I actually cared about hitting cleanly.

I think the .357 is a great choice if you already have and like .357 guns. The main reason I went with the .454 is that I already had and like .45C guns. The rossi feeds .454 and .45C with seemingly equal ease.

Modern 45C and .357 are pretty similar in a lot of ways, with the edge going to the .357:

.45C energy @ 100yrds= 630fpe, drop @ 100=11"
.357 energy @ 100yrds= 700fpe, drop @ 100=6.5"

Both are basically 125 yard guns.

Of course, full house .454 loads are another beast.

.454 energy @ 100yrds= 1890, drop @ 100=5"

The full house .454 loads kick like a mule. Well, like a magnum centerfire rifle. With 10+1 rounds of those you don't have any reason to feel undergunned. It's still at most a 150 yard gun.

 

[Publius1688]

12 ga, double aught buckshot.

 

[federalfarmer]

12 gauge -- what doesn't it work for?

 

[wpsuth]

Forget the handgun. 30.06.

 

[Ed Ames]

12 gauge -- what doesn't it work for?

Concealed carry. Antelope. Transvaal Lions. Probably a few other things.

 

[Acera]

12 gauge for the variety.

A 12 gauge slug will stop a boat load more things than any of those pistol calibers.

Not gonna wing-shoot too many birds with any of those other calibers, but a 12 will.

If I am down to just one gun, probably not real worried about concealing it, probably worried about who I am gonna be fighting with to get another gun, food, shelter, gas, etc............