ArfinGreebly
Moderator Emeritus
It Depends
Sorry.
As someone else already said, that's akin to asking "what's the best tool."
For what?
In my current situation, right now, today, I could argue that the most practical gun I own is one I've never even fired: the S&W 586-7 (.357 mag, 4" barrel).
The only reason I say that is that I can think of more applications for it (in my current circumstances) than I can for the others. I could plink, hunt, or defend myself with it. It has, arguably, the broadest range of available loads of anything I own. In a pinch, it can be worn under a coat.
However, if you told me, "hey, we're expecting trouble in the neighborhood tomorrow and we need you on the line with us," that's not what I'd grab. In that context, suddenly my M1 Carbine is all kinds of practical.
The Marlin 1894C might stand well in that same situation, but not for any protracted engagement.
If I moved up the hill a couple of miles, I might suddenly find one of the 10/22s very useful. Place is rotten with fuzzy rodents.
So, yeah, it depends.
Kind of in the same way that the tool of the moment depends on the job at hand.
Sorry.
As someone else already said, that's akin to asking "what's the best tool."
For what?
In my current situation, right now, today, I could argue that the most practical gun I own is one I've never even fired: the S&W 586-7 (.357 mag, 4" barrel).
The only reason I say that is that I can think of more applications for it (in my current circumstances) than I can for the others. I could plink, hunt, or defend myself with it. It has, arguably, the broadest range of available loads of anything I own. In a pinch, it can be worn under a coat.
However, if you told me, "hey, we're expecting trouble in the neighborhood tomorrow and we need you on the line with us," that's not what I'd grab. In that context, suddenly my M1 Carbine is all kinds of practical.
The Marlin 1894C might stand well in that same situation, but not for any protracted engagement.
If I moved up the hill a couple of miles, I might suddenly find one of the 10/22s very useful. Place is rotten with fuzzy rodents.
So, yeah, it depends.
Kind of in the same way that the tool of the moment depends on the job at hand.