Four Guns Only: For Real

[sm]

I don't know your current inventory - and I don't want to know.
Public Forum and all.

I like simple, redundancy and versatility, personally.

I personally like Old 1911s, Old K frames, pump shotguns, bolt and lever rifles.
I feel like a .22 is a good thing, pistol or rifle , for plinking, inexpensive shooting, and keeping skills honed.

I'd condsider Two Old K frame revolvers , an 870 and Model 94 in 30-30.

K frames will cover shooting target loads to defense to small game hunting. A Snubby Mod 10 is fine CCW. 870 allows for fur and fowl, and varmits no matter how many legs. Model 94 needs no rationaliztion either- it has been doing so many duties for too many years like the others mentioned.

No mags required to run the guns, PC, and they just work. Ammo should be readily avail for any applications.

Just my .02.

 

[Paco]

great suggestions! Now here's the problem: which fine suggestion to run with. I'll add this: I really, really think that a gun collection should have either 1911 or BHP in it or just isn't a coolection or labor of love. It still might be a toolbox, but not a labor of love. I love glocks and think the world of them but you must have something with a heart, soul, and style in that collection. That makes me think: 1911, BHP, SAA, or some fine revolver.

-paco

 

[Bwana John]

Wow, I can come up with a lot of 4 gun choices depending on my mood that day. Am I feeling like kinda cowboy, mall ninja, GI Joe, Great Bwaja(!), country gentleman, or what?
Cowboy-.30-30, .45 LC, 12 ga pump, and your uncles weird old bolt action 16 ga single shot shotgun.
Mall Ninja-.44 Auto Mag, .25 cal raven back up, SWAS 12 ga auto shotgun, .50 cal sniper.
GI Joe-M1911, M4, FAL, AK 47.
Great Bwana-375H&H, 7x57 mauser,...
You get the idea, how many diferent personas do you have?

 

[buzz meeks]

First of all, I am glad that people like you live in places like New York and New Jersey. It is so easy for me to sit here in Montana and rant and rave about RKBA, etc. but the fact is because of where I live I don't have to fight for my rights unless I really want to. It's you and people like you who are in the trenches. You are in the vanguard of this fight. I am far to the rear.

Now, to your question. Sounds like you've made your mind up a bit but I could do it with the following:

A good 1911 in 45 ACP will cover basically any handgun need.
A Marlin 336 in 30-30 for hunting, plinking and politically correct self defense.
A Marlin 39 to serve as understudy for above.
A good repeating shotgun preferably with a field barrel and a shorter, defensive length barrel.

Good luck in your search and in your fight.

 

[LiquidTension]

-1911 - a commander frame is good for carry and for plinking
-Semiauto milsurp of some sort (M14, M1, SKS, AK, FAL - not sure about NYC laws regarding these)
-Remington 11-87 - mag extension and short bbl for HD, remove mag extension and swap for longer bbl for hunting
-Dedicated bolt gun for hunting if the milsurp can't fit the bill
-If you can use the semi for hunting (I'm thinking M14/M1A) you could add another of your choice that doesn't necessarily serve a purpose. If you can't have any milsurps, replace with a .22 rifle.

What are the laws re: FALs? They make 9mm conversions for them...

I also really like the idea of the CZs with interchangeable bbls/calibers.

 

[Paco]

buzz meeks,

Thank you very much for your kind words and understanding. Just joined the NRA, trying to stake a claim in the city (been living here for 6 yrs.), and always educating people about the RKBA. I'm very disarming too (no pun intended): I'm an opera singer living in NYC, so the anti-gunners are always taken back by that, and allow me to at least speak my mind. I do what I can.

-Thanks everyone for these recommendations. Definite(s) on the 4 gun list so far:

-1911

-so far!

-paco

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Taking this seriously and reasonably, it looks like this:

You need a defense gun. There are two basic choices, a carry gun and a shotgun for home defense. You also need a .22 for practice, plinking, hunting and so on. It would be nice to have both rifle and pistol in .22 LR. A deer gun is an essential for me -- I'm a hunter. And a varmit rifle.

So:

Carry gun -- M1911 (mine is a Kimber) with a .22 Conversion kit (two guns for the price of one.) I like the old Colt Service Ace kit, but some of the modern conversion kits produce something close to match accuracy.

The shotgun would be a M870 Remington. You can get additional barrels -- icluding a short, cylinder-bore "riot" barrels for home defense, a rifled barrel for deer hunting in "shotgun only" areas, and a multi-choke barrel for everything from dove to geese.

For a .22 rifle, I'd go with a Kimber. Other good choices depend on your preferences, from the 10/22 Ruger to the CZ 452.

For a varmit rifle, I'd go with either the Kimber or the CZ 527 in .223 Remington. (Personally, my favorite is my Kimber M82 in .22 Hornet, though.)

 

[s&w 24]

I would agree with some that a scout type rifle is a good choise also you could look in to the H&R handi-rifle you can have the factory fit other barrels to your liking (shotgun,rifle,rifled slug) and if you go 1911 you can get single shot conversions in some rifle cartriges. Since it's NYC maybe you need a S&W 520 or an old model 10.

 

[Preacherman]

Hmmm... no semi-auto rifles, no magnum handguns... OK, here goes.

1. Glock 23, with barrels for .40 S&W, 357 SIG and 9mm. Parabellum, and a .22 conversion kit. This gun should last forever, based on its track record so far.

2. A .308 bolt rifle, probably a Steyr Scout for overall handiness, but with a conventional scope. I'd want the 10-round mag conversion kit and a few 10-round magazines to supplement several of the standard 5-rounders.

3. A decent 12ga. shotgun, probably a Remington 870 Wingmaster, with at least two barrels, one for hunting/target use, one for self-defence (with mag extension), and perhaps a specialised one for slug use.

4. A decent .22LR rifle, probably a CZ452.

 

[Standing Wolf]

I've never seen anything about four guns in the Second Amendment.

 

[buzz meeks]

Very true, Standing Wolf, but the guy lives where he lives and apparently wishes to obey the law.

 

[NMshooter]

Pick three handguns (1911, BHP, and Glock 17 would work) and a .22 rifle and you should be set.

Get the BHP in .40 and a BarSto 9mm conversion barrel.

Learn how to use other firearms and practice with them every chance you get.

 

[ksnecktieman]

I will choose by a little different situation, if I may? My house just burned, and left me with nothing,, including insurance money.
The things I would get, and the order I would get them is;

Remington 12 ga, 870, or 1100, barrel swaps can change it from a bird gun to a home defense gun to a deer gun.

Concealed carry pistol, for me it would be keltec P3AT, your choice will vary, but I want one that will and can go everywhere. Note I have 12 ga for home defense purchased first.

Ruger 10/22, for small game, target and tinkering with.

Next is large caliber handgun for ccw, and entertainment.

My thinking is,,, the remington CAN do anything, except ccw. The BUG can cover that, always. The 10/22 is cheap to feed, and politically correct most places, and a lot of fun. The full size handgun is what makes us "free men" instead of "subjects".

I will feel deprived, and under equipped until I can acquire a REAL rifle, in a caliber suitable for deer.

 

[mhdishere]

Paco,
I might be mistaken, but I don't think the four-gun limit is for both rifles and shotguns, they're seperate licenses in NYC. I had a pistol permit but no rifle permit when I lived there, you had to go to Queens to get the rifle permit. I recall a four-gun limit on pistols.

That also doesn't include muzzleloaders or cap-and-ball revolvers, or at least it didn't.

 

[Jacobus Rex]

OK, I'll play.

1. .22 rifle - A good bolt action with box mag.
2. .308 - Bolt action with scope.
3. .357 - A smallish revolver.
4. 12 gauge - A pump with extra slug barrel.

 

[DWS1117]

I'm an opera singer (no, I'm not a fat dude with a horned helmet on my head) so when I'm not temping between gigs, I travel the country.

I worked as a stagehand for 9 years and my wife was in wardrobe.We still maintain our I.A.T.S.E. memberships as a back up should we loose our jobs. I know the New York is where its at for the theatrical world. While I only worked a few operas (dang y'all like to do things big), she worked opera almost exclusively.

Have you considered looking into a priciple posisition with one of the many city operas? The Houston Grand Opera stays busy enough that we have stagehands that work no other gigs but opera and earn a fairly decent living. I know your a performer, but while the hands are building, the singers are rehearsing and getting paid. It would seem that this would be an alternative that would allow you to live in a less restrictive location and still travel when the opera is in the off season.

Houston Grand is but one. It is certain that there are some very good opera companies in other cities.

As to you question and current situation, the suggestion made others are very good. A nice 1911 in commander size with .22 conversion kit, Remington 870, and a nice scoped bolt gun in .308 or 30-06 should do you well. The suggestion of the M1 Garand for fun is also a good one.

Good luck in your search.

 

[SapperLeader]

Since concealed carry isn’t a big daily concern for you, Id say one handgun, a 1911 commander with .22 slide will cover the bases. A .22 rifle, probably a marlin lever or taurus pump would be gun 2. A Remington 870 with 18.5 and 28 inch barrel is gun three. Gun 4I would like my Enfield .308 scout, Spanish fr8, or a m1 garand in .308. Any of those would fulfill my rifle needs.

Gun four could also be whatever gun you can’t live without, or a fun gun.

If you lived in free America (sorry couldn’t resist), this would be a intellectual exercise, since you could own as many guns as you wanted.

 

[Paco]

Thank you all for the great ideas!

mhdishere,

Hey there! Do you have anymore info. on gun limits here? I guess I'm maybe misunderstanding it, but even in the best case scenario, it's only gonna be 4 pistols and maybe a shotgun and rifle.

So best, best case due to limits( possible 4 pistols) and financial issues, as well as justification to the lady and the law, is gonna be six total: 4 pistols, 2 longarms.

Worts case: 4 guns total.

 

[Paco]

How are the enfields in 308?

Anyone have experience with them? They seem to be the perfect solution to a shtfâ„¢ rifle and a good hunting piece without breaking the bank with a steyr scout.

 

[OEF_VET]

My suggestions:

1) 1911 with .22lr conversion AND one of the CCU carbine conversions for it. Yeah, it's not the "Ultimate SHTF Rifle", but for the distances you're likely to encounter in NYC, I'd imagine it would suffice.

2) 870 with several barrels

3) NEF Handi-Rifle, sent to the factory to be fitted with as many barrels as you can afford (.22, 12 ga., 20 ga., .270, .30-06, .223, .308, etc.) see here

4) Whatever happens to blow a breeze up your skirt. Leave #4 as a space to be filled with the gun du jour. Let this be a flexible gun, by which I mean it's the one you see at the gunshop and want to try out. When you tire of it, transfer it to your safe in NJ and swap it out with something new. It mustn't be THAT difficult to have your license amended to show the change in guns.

 

[Sam Adams]

Paco, I grew up in NJ (which later turned into the PRNJ) and worked in NYC for quite a while (before slipping past the guards in the PRNJ to live in TX, Free America 4 years ago). I'm not going to address the 4 guns issue, simply because you've had some excellent suggestions from everyone else.

I will address the issue of your residence. My first job out of college was in NYC in Columbus Circle. I could have gotten an apartment in NYC, but I purposely chose to live in Jersey City and take the PATH train and NYC subway to get to work. Why? Lower taxes, cheaper housing, lower food prices, lower crime rates (imagine that, Jersey City having a lower crime rate than somewhere else!), less noise and far fewer restrictions on guns (imagine that, the PRNJ having less firearms restrictions than somewhere else!...but you know about that). The sacrifice to obtain those benefits was about 35 minutes of commuting each way, and the fares for the trains (which were more than balanced off by the savings in either income taxes OR housing, and dwarfed by both). I used the commuting time to read the paper or a paperback book, or else to get a little bit of shuteye, so it isn't completely wasted time. I had more money available to buy guns and more of a choice of guns to buy and, in fact, I got my S&W 5906 and a Ruger Mini-14 from a gunshop in Jersey City. I later got rid of the POS Ruger, but that's another story, and I still have the S&W (and a few newer friends to keep it company). Yes, the PRNJ's system for purchasing a handgun is a PITA, but it is both cheaper to get the permits in the PRNJ and you actually do get the permits - and there are no limits on the absolute number of handguns or any other guns that you can have. NYC doesn't have to approve you for a handgun permit, and from what I've heard you'll actually be lucky to get it (and yes, I know that it is only a permit to own, not to carry). NYC is Hell to live in, even if it is a great place to find a good job or to be entertained. Take advantage of the best of the PRNJ and NYC by living in the former and working in the latter. That way you'll have more money and more guns.

In short, IMHO you should reconsider your decision and leave NYC. It is a minor time sacrifice, in return for which you'll have substantially more money and somewhat more freedom to own/buy guns.

 

[thatguy]

Limited to 4 guns? Hell, I have more than 4 guns ON ME at the moment. Can you live somewhere else, like maybe a place where the Second Amendment is still in effect?

 

[mhdishere]

Paco,
I moved out of NYC almost seven years ago, so what I know is dated. I recall there being some sort of limit on number of pistols unless you belonged to a club or something and needed a different pistol for a different type of shooting. I don't know about rifles, never had one there. There is an assault weapon ban that makes the recently-expired national one look like it was written by Thomas Jefferson. IIRC correctly the determination of what was and wasn't an "assault weapon" was made pretty much arbitrarily, I'm pretty certain the Garand was on the list UNLESS you removed the bayonet lug, and at one point the 1903 Springfield (bolt action) was also classified as an AW because of the bayonet lug.

Once you get your pistol license (which took nine months when I got it, may be longer now) don't forget to renew it (every two years, IIRC, on your birthday). If it expires NYPD will be more than happy to send a couple guys in blue suits to your house to collect them, you'll probably never see them again and you may end up on a weapons charge. You're also not allowed to possess a cartridge for a weapon you don't have on your license.

I don't know about bringing already-owned weapons in from another state, but when I bought mine I had 72 hours after purchase to bring them to 1 Police Plaza (where you apply for the license) for "inspection", where the serial number is recorded and they kept my bill-of-sale. After the first one I got smart and copied the bill-of-sale so I had a copy for my records. It seems I've heard since then that they don't keep the bill anymore. The application has to be done in person, not by mail. They're keeping NYC safe you know, by making it real hard to get a pistol. Legally anyway.

If I were you I'd live in NJ, the Hoboken/Jersey City/Weehawken area is close to NYC and SO much less hassle. That's just my nickles worth of free advice, guarenteed to be worth what you paid for it. Since I escaped you couldn't pay me enough to move back.

 

[Paco]

Sam Adams and mhdishere,

Thank you for your advice guys. Mr. Adams, it's good to hear that your still alive after all these years! It's just not an option to move at this time, for soooo many logistical reasons beyond the obvious ones. Remember, I had NJ residency, that I gave up.

My girl ain't gonna be to keen on leaving NYC so that I can have a my guns a bit easier, when I can jump through the hoops and have them in the city. I can still keep and shoot my guns at my dad's in NJ perfectly legally, I just can't buy more.

I want access to the range in downtown Manhattan for convenience as it is a HUGE drag going to dad's then the range. Our apartment is uber-cheap and huge AND in a nice neighborhood. We aren't going anywhere soon.

-Again thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts. Sounds like a shotgun like an 870 is a 'needs to happen' thing. How about the 1100 competition master, and what about an enfield in 308. I'd really like to hear about those, or similar.

-paco

 

[Vitamin G]

Me personally?

Keep my Kimber TLE (and .22 kit)
Whatever the full size 10mm glock is...
SAR-1 (Already got it)
AR-10 (308) with 9mm, .223, and dedicated .22 uppers (Hey, its still one gun)