If you were poor like me and found yourself in a position to get just one long gun that would be the best compromise to do everything you wanted to do, what would it be? Shotguns are great for close range defense, but lack the ability to reach out and the ammo is expensive. Bolt action rifles are great for hunting and target shooting, the ammo is a lot less than shotgun shells, but the rifle isn't good at close range. ARs and quality AKs are just too darn expensive. There's something to really put thought into. What do you do, and why?
If you could only have one long gun for all purposes
- Thread starter jkmurry
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Shopping A Round
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I would probably get either a bolt gun in .308 or an M1A in obviously .308. I would probably lean towards the bolt gun because in the case of bans, it is lacking features that are most likely to get banned like a magazine and semi-auto capability.
Close range I would keep a pistol.
Tactical reason being that I don't know how hotshot I would be in a firefight so I would certainly plan on being sneaky, stealthy, and far away protecting my woman.
Close range I would keep a pistol.
Tactical reason being that I don't know how hotshot I would be in a firefight so I would certainly plan on being sneaky, stealthy, and far away protecting my woman.
ChuteTheMall
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I'd get an AK.
Even the cheaper ones are pretty darn reliable.
Even the cheaper ones are pretty darn reliable.
ByAnyMeans
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I would go with an SKS with tech-sights. If the rifle was put into a stock with a rail up front I would put on an adjustable 1-4 scope.
This may run you more than you want to spend. I personally saved for an AK (can get a Romanian and they will do the job) as a all use survival gun but the SKS is as best as you can get, if only they were still a hundred bucks.
Another option is to find a nice lever action in 30-30 or a 357/44 magnum to combo with a revolver.
This may run you more than you want to spend. I personally saved for an AK (can get a Romanian and they will do the job) as a all use survival gun but the SKS is as best as you can get, if only they were still a hundred bucks.
Another option is to find a nice lever action in 30-30 or a 357/44 magnum to combo with a revolver.
armoredman
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vz-58 in 7.62x39mm. Why? I already have one, and it works fantastic. Great for plinking, SD, light and handy, and I reload for it, too. 
slabuda
Member
Shotgun, there aint nothing you cant do with one.
Birds, duck, geese, deer, elk, coyote, bear etc and not to mention HD it can do it all.
Birds, duck, geese, deer, elk, coyote, bear etc and not to mention HD it can do it all.
GunsAreGood
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My vote would have to go to a Marlin 336 in 30-30 iron sights. great gun for hunting and even an HD situation.
stevelyn
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M1A
DFW1911
Member
It's hard to beat a shotgun for multi-purpose work, especially if you get gun with a couple of different barrels.
Birds, bad guys, bear; they can do pretty much all of it .
Birds, bad guys, bear; they can do pretty much all of it .
Armored farmer
Member
+1 on the shotgun
everything that slabuda mentioned, plus all kinds of shooting competition sports
everything that slabuda mentioned, plus all kinds of shooting competition sports
doberman
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.22LR
wadcutter45
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I have lots of long guns. The last one I'll ever get rid of is my Marlin Model 1894 in 38/357. Cheap to shoot, powerful and compact. Don't need no AR or AK or M1 anything. Don't plan on going to war again
Sunray
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"...everything you wanted to do..." A great deal depends on what that is.
"...the ammo is a lot less than shotgun shells..." Nope. Roughly $30 per 20 for .308 hunting ammo, of any brand or bullet weight and you need to try a a box of as many brands as you can to find the ammo a rifle shoots best. Roughly $7 to $8 per 25 for bird shot. Slugs are more expensive, but you don't need 'em for HD. They're not great for HD anyway.
"...lack the ability to reach out..." Isn't an issue for HD. HD isn't about long range. Knowing exactly where any shot you fire ends up is far more important. You are responsible for it.
A used, rifled sighted, smooth bore, pump 12 guage, shotgun. Won't cost you a ton of money and will give you a deer gun. Typical accuracy is about 2 or 3 inches at 100 yards out of any 12 guage shotgun. Plenty accurate for deer sized game.
A new Mossberg 3 in 1 combo may be worth looking into. Gives you 3 barrels with multiple chokes for not a big pile of money. Runs about $500Cdn, up here. Less Stateside. Might as well be a grand if you don't have it.
Don't worry about buying used either. It takes a great deal of abuse to damage a modern firearm of any type.
"...an M1A..." Not on a small budget.
"...the ammo is a lot less than shotgun shells..." Nope. Roughly $30 per 20 for .308 hunting ammo, of any brand or bullet weight and you need to try a a box of as many brands as you can to find the ammo a rifle shoots best. Roughly $7 to $8 per 25 for bird shot. Slugs are more expensive, but you don't need 'em for HD. They're not great for HD anyway.
"...lack the ability to reach out..." Isn't an issue for HD. HD isn't about long range. Knowing exactly where any shot you fire ends up is far more important. You are responsible for it.
A used, rifled sighted, smooth bore, pump 12 guage, shotgun. Won't cost you a ton of money and will give you a deer gun. Typical accuracy is about 2 or 3 inches at 100 yards out of any 12 guage shotgun. Plenty accurate for deer sized game.
A new Mossberg 3 in 1 combo may be worth looking into. Gives you 3 barrels with multiple chokes for not a big pile of money. Runs about $500Cdn, up here. Less Stateside. Might as well be a grand if you don't have it.
Don't worry about buying used either. It takes a great deal of abuse to damage a modern firearm of any type.
"...an M1A..." Not on a small budget.
Sunray
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"...Colt M1911..." Isn't a long gun.
paintballdude902
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.30-30
Sheepdog1968
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One for all purposes is a tough order, especially since you are on a tight budget. If I had to pick one and only one I'd pick an M1A but I suspect that's out of your price range. Two other firearms jump to mind.
The mini-14 or 30 (hunting) would do the job. I'd look for used.
I think another viable rifle and I might rank it higher (especially if you have a pistol as a back up weapon) would be a lever action rifle. I'd look for a used Marlin 336 in 30-30. If ammo is too costly, I'd consider the Marlin lever action in 357 Magnum as you can shoot 38s out of it and hunt w the 357s. .
The reality is that we are not going to get into high volume rifle fights. If anything it would be snipe a few shots and run. The lever action would be fine for this.
The mini-14 or 30 (hunting) would do the job. I'd look for used.
I think another viable rifle and I might rank it higher (especially if you have a pistol as a back up weapon) would be a lever action rifle. I'd look for a used Marlin 336 in 30-30. If ammo is too costly, I'd consider the Marlin lever action in 357 Magnum as you can shoot 38s out of it and hunt w the 357s. .
The reality is that we are not going to get into high volume rifle fights. If anything it would be snipe a few shots and run. The lever action would be fine for this.
ScramasaxDurango
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I sure like my Mossberg a lot, as far as a one-gun policy goes. Got it for $160 bucks with the long barrel. For sheer versatility, it's hard to beat a shotgun.
Now, if you're in a more rifle-y mood, I just bought a Mosin-Nagant off another user of this site, and I love it (so far). It doesn't shoot as well as my Mauser, but I wasn't expecting it to. From what I can tell, it's going to be very rugged and reliable, which sounds like what you're looking for. I paid $100 for it.
I feel your pain, as far as finances go. Trying to pay for school isn't any fun, and it's sometimes hard to justify extraneous expenses, like firearms. I just love 'em so much though
Now, if you're in a more rifle-y mood, I just bought a Mosin-Nagant off another user of this site, and I love it (so far). It doesn't shoot as well as my Mauser, but I wasn't expecting it to. From what I can tell, it's going to be very rugged and reliable, which sounds like what you're looking for. I paid $100 for it.
I feel your pain, as far as finances go. Trying to pay for school isn't any fun, and it's sometimes hard to justify extraneous expenses, like firearms. I just love 'em so much though
Tallinar
Member
You're going to have to sacrifice something, given your criteria. If you're concerned with close range, while at the same time wanting to be able to at least SOMEWHAT reach out (100-150yds, 200 if feeling ambitious), then a Marlin 336 in .30-30 is a great choice, or even a model 92 in .44 magnum (.45 Colt is another great choice if you're willing to handload). Brand new Rossi 92's can be had for a little over $400 these days.
Ammo cost will eventually seem expensive to you with nearly everything but .22 LR. If you find yourself only able to get one gun, you might also try to invest in reloading equipment for one caliber.
Ammo cost will eventually seem expensive to you with nearly everything but .22 LR. If you find yourself only able to get one gun, you might also try to invest in reloading equipment for one caliber.
Chainsaw2
Member
If I could reload: .30-30 Marlin.
If I can't reload: .22LR
jim
If I can't reload: .22LR
jim
Go shotgun, you could buy a tactical one, and the ammo is so cheap. I buy 200 rounds for shooting clay for around 20 bucks if I'm lucky normally around 40. Plus if you want to reach out and touch something most tact shotguns can chamber the mighty 3 1/2 mag. Buy a 200 buck rifled barrel for it and let the slugs fly. Good for home defence with 00, change it up, to shoot clay at little cost, and take down big game with the slug I mentioned earlier.
W.E.G.
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No single gun can perform every task.
FWIW, Señor Varela is parked in the front of the safe.
Sighting device selected depending on the event.
FWIW, Señor Varela is parked in the front of the safe.
Sighting device selected depending on the event.
Hatterasguy
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Siaga .308.
Its an AK in .308 for $400-$500.
If you can't afford that buy the rifle of the people, the Mosin Nagant. Don't worry about HD with the MN, the bayonet is long enough that you won't even have to get out of bed to stick someone at the doorway. If that fails just the blast of the round going off will blow everyones eardrums out and send the robber packing.
Its an AK in .308 for $400-$500.
If you can't afford that buy the rifle of the people, the Mosin Nagant. Don't worry about HD with the MN, the bayonet is long enough that you won't even have to get out of bed to stick someone at the doorway. If that fails just the blast of the round going off will blow everyones eardrums out and send the robber packing.
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