If You Could Only Have 1 Single Firearm...

[Beatnik]

For logistical reasons only, it would be the same one that the rest of you would be carrying alongside me as we go fix the problem of only being able to own one firearm.


But if it was a personal money thing, it would probably be a 4" 357, 'cause that could go with me pretty much everywhere and still take down a deer if I needed to.

 

[jad0110]

A mid sized to j-frame sized handgun. If I can only have 1, I want it to be something concealable.

I couldn't justify a firearm that wasn't concealable and always available to me on my person.

Me too. I do like my 12 ga for HD duty, but I can't CCW it! Of my guns, my choice would be the S&W 642. Though I don't own one (yet), a 3" 357 Ruger Security Six or S&W K Frame would be pretty ideal as my only firearm.

 

[Claude Clay]

-my kimber gold match with match target 22lr conversion and left grip easy-on & off L&G 2moa red dot. also a 3x9x42 pistol scope on own mount.
if only 1 gun i would want accuracy, concealability and as much power & ammo as can be carried. 12 mags (8x8 +4x10) 4 on my belt & others in backpack and 3 mags for the 22. 45acp good out to 100 yards 'minute of BG' and 22 for small game. anything else i will, err, acquire as needed
-if it had to be a rifle--sporter H-Bar 1-in-7 .223 with long-range scope & Colt 4x21 illuminated ranging (200 to 1000 yards) ocular spot-on to 300 yards and with 68 gr, can go further. 3x30 mags of 62 gr & 2x20 of 68 gr. 1 of each on person & another 30 loaded.
plus all the other goodies any trained outdoors man would be carrying.

 

[The Annoyed Man]

Hmmmm.....

Does it have to be one that's already in my safe? If that's the criterion, then it would have to be either my S&W Model 29 or my Bushmaster Varminter. My heart is in my bolt rifles, but for all around survival use, I'd have to go with a semi auto rifle or a large caliber handgun.

Dangit, now you've got me considering weather I need to add a shotgun to my safe, and shotguns just don't call my name.

 

[JesseL]

For logistical reasons only, it would be the same one that the rest of you would be carrying alongside me as we go fix the problem of only being able to own one firearm.

Best answer yet.

 

[Bud Tugly]

Savage model 24 with .22LR over 20 gauge.

 

[paintballdude902]

a nice remy 870 pump

 

[doc2rn]

Minigun would be my first choice,
AR with a bunch of different uppers would be my second.

 

[jakemccoy]

I'm going to take a different approach.

Define "gun".

Does "gun" mean the receiver? If so, I'll still take the Rem 870 12ga receiver. Then, I'll have a variety of stocks, barrels, scopes, magazines, chokes and ammo on hand. My favorite setup would probably be 20" barrel, wood stock, improved cylinder removable choke.

 

[Ed Ames]

A mid sized to j-frame sized handgun. If I can only have 1, I want it to be something concealable.

My thoughts are very similar.

If I can only have one, that implies either an economic situation that is very limited or a socio-political situation that is very anti-gun. In either case, here are the parameters:

Concealable
Repeating
Non-ejecting of brass (in an uncontrolled way...I don't want to spread expensive reloadable cases around and/or leave traces)
capable of taking small and medium game, plus effective for dispatching larger animals at need
easily reloaded (fed with a magazine, stripper clips, speed loaders, etc.
reliable
maintainable

If we are talking about off-the-shelf guns that says a double-action revolver in .38sp/.357, .44sp/.44mag, .45 colt, etc.

You could design other guns that would also work. Semi autos don't need to throw brass around, squeeze pistols could be made to work, etc. but a standard ruger/S&W/etc revolver fits the bill today.

Depending on the political situation I'd then look seriously at a shoulder stock. There is a good reason why many pistols from the 1850s until the 1930s had clip-on shoulder stocks. If properly designed that would really expand the usability.

But concealability would be priority 1.

 

[The_Shootist]

Easy

.357 7 shot pre-lock S&W 686+

 

[RPCVYemen]

Ruger Blackhawk Convertible in .357/9mm

We think alike. But mine's in .45 Long Colt/45 ACP. I shot 45 ACP once just to do it, I like .45 Long Colt too much to shoot much ACP. I may never that other cylinder again.

Mike

 

[easyg]

Well, I don't need a firearm to put food on the table...I can always fish and bow hunt.
Heck, even an airgun or slingshot can harvest small game like squirrels and such.

And while a long-gun would be nice for home defense, they're not so practical when you hit the road and travel, or even just go to work in many cases.

So it would definitely be a handgun.

Probably my Glock 22.

 

[DFW1911]

I'm with the 870 crowd for the reasons already mentioned.

Honestly, I think I've added nothing to this discussion

Thanks,
DFW1911

 

[Eyesac]

Yep, .357 revolver for me.

If I couldn't have that, second choice would be a 10/22...

 

[-terry]

I'd want to have something I could carry lots of ammo for, that could be used for hunting (if desperate) as well as self defense. Needs to be concealable, light enough to carry 24/7, durable enough to shoot anything in its caliber, stainless for longevity (who knows when I would be able to clean it), and that could be shot by wife, older children, others in the group. For me, this would be a .357 Ruger SP101 with 3" barrel.

 

[swifteagle]

It is hard to decide on which gun, I love them all so much. I think I'd go with my AR-15, it is the ideal "utility rifle" - self defense, hunting, competitive shooting - swiss army knife of guns.

I'd miss shooting trap & sports clays though, and I need a concealable weapon too. I need 3 guns at least: AR-15, shotgun, & handgun.

 

[george29]

Just checked the calender....yep....time for this kind of thread.... AGAIN...I like the game though, so I"ll play....I would take my Ruger Single Six Convertible.

 

[Stevie-Ray]

Colt Delta Elite

 

[redactor]

When I bought my first gun, I only had one gun... A Commander length 1911.

 

[ndolson]

Probably an AK-47 due to the fact I know if I couldn't clean it for months or even years, it would still work 100%.

 

[jerkface11]

AR15 with a bunch of lowers. Just ask the ATF it's only one gun.

 

[bigun15]

M1A. Matter of fact, M14.

 

[Kind of Blued]

GAAAAAAH!! I CAN'T DO IT! :banghead:

Three please?

I'll stick by my decision on my "Your End of the World Gun Collection".

M1A1

If I could have two, I'd add a J-Frame.

Three, I'd add a Remmy 870.

 

[ArfinGreebly]

Missing Context

What's not clear is context.

Day-to-day routine as usual? Infrastructure still in place? Repair and maintenance of chosen gun still available? Everybody still has a job, goes to work, raises a family, gripes about the school board?

In that scenario, something suitable for HD & SD, something that can be carried and even concealed, should the need arise. For this, I'll take something in 9mm, like my Taurus PT911, or a Beretta, or a BHP. Heck, if I had more experience with them, I might actually go with a 1911-patterned pistol in .45 ACP.

Change the scenario a bit, remove repair support, mess with the infrastructure, add an element of having to provide certain things for myself, then we change to a different pistol: a 4-inch .357 like (my) S&W 586-7. Exposure to failures should be substantially lower, and the broader range of ammo covers more applications, from defense to provisions.

Continue to degrade the civilization aspect of things, and I would continue to go with the .357 revolver.

Past a certain point, however, where living in town settings has become a bad idea, where hunting has become routine, where it's simply unthinkable that anyone would go anywhere unarmed, I'd have to seriously consider switching to a .357 carbine. It eats the same food as the revolver, but it provides more reach and accuracy. Having a bigger magazine doesn't hurt, either.