Only One: Shotgun, Rifle, Pistol

[oneounceload]

Seems tacticool rules here as well...........the majority is planning for the zombies, the gamers think everyone needs SD/HD guns.........and the rest of us know better..............oh well.........it is interesting to see how the newer generations have NO idea about what and how their grand parents used guns......wow.............seems a lot more educational activities are necessary

 

[Airburst]

Would we be scrounging for ammo or do we have all we need?
If we have all the ammo we need:
Polish Tantal
Mossberg 500
S&W 4046
Scrounging for ammo:
Winchester Lever gun 30:30
Mossberg 500
S&W 5906

 

[TonyDedo]

Seems tacticool rules here as well...........the majority is planning for the zombies, the gamers think everyone needs SD/HD guns.........and the rest of us know better..............oh well.........it is interesting to see how the newer generations have NO idea about what and how their grand parents used guns......wow.............seems a lot more educational activities are necessary

I think you're jumping to conclusions regarding what the OP is asking. He just said "pick three," not "pick three for SD/HD/SHTF."

Sure, there are plenty of people out there who are delusional enough to think they need tacticool ARs with everything but the kitchen sink bolted on for self defense or SHTF scenarios, but the rest of us think it's a very practical platform and would choose it over any other rifle. My AR costs me half as much to shoot as my .30 cal rifles, ammo weighs half as much and takes up half as much space, the rifle is smaller and lighter, and it's just as accurate out to 600 yards. It's the longest serving rifle platform in the US military, so I'm sure it will stand up to MY needs. Ammo, magazines and accessories are plentiful. Plus with the modular design, I can strap on a .22LR upper and shoot for next to nothing, or a large caliber and hunt next to anything.

So if I could only own one rifle, it would be an AR. It's not a primary SD/HD gun (my revolver and shotgun cover those needs just fine), but for competition, precision shooting, plinking, even hunting, it does everything I need in a reliable and efficient manner. And G*d forbid I should ever NEED to use it for SD, I know it'll work for that too.

So tell me what rifle YOU would choose, and why it's better than an AR.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

Obviously a tough choice, and we've done many variants here, but ok...

1. Rifle: DPMS LR .260 light (CZ 452 varmint .22 mag is close runner up)

2. Handgun: pre-lock S&W Mountain gun 4" in .45 colt (close runner up is CZ 75 SP01 in 9x19mm)

3. Shotgun: Probably a Remington 870 with a 22" bbl and multi chokes, but this one is tough as there are a lot of good candidates from Benelli, Remington, Winchester, Browning, Beretta, & Mossberg. Tough call between semi and pump too.

But it wouldn't matter what I chose, because I'd probably die from missing my rimfires.

 

[RX-178]

Seems tacticool rules here as well...........the majority is planning for the zombies, the gamers think everyone needs SD/HD guns.........and the rest of us know better..............oh well.........it is interesting to see how the newer generations have NO idea about what and how their grand parents used guns......wow.............seems a lot more educational activities are necessary

I am going to bet that most everyone here chose the three weapons they're the most familiar with. I know I did. And I'm a pretty good example of someone that chose 'tacticool' weapons.

HK USP45 Tactical

PTR-91

Remington 870 Express Super Mag


That USP is the first firearm I chose for carry. It's been my primary carry for over 3 years (I'm 24). I have many other handguns. I don't run any of them as well as the USP. I shoot it better, I reload it faster, and can draw and reholster it without thinking, which isn't true with my other handguns.

Now I'm going to have to choose one single handgun for this topic. Do you think I should go trade my USP, the handgun I am the most familiar with, and get a Model 19 so I have something less tacticool? If you do think so, you're crazy. If that makes me a mall ninja or a 'Gamer', then at least I'm going to be a Gamer with the weapon I know how to run.


Same with the PTR-91. I like that rifle better than my others, and believe you me I have plenty of rifles. Guess what? They're all semi auto centerfires. I have been meaning to get a .22lr rifle, but I haven't gotten around to it yet. I like semi autos. I like .308s. I like shooting targets at long distances. I'd barely know what to do with a bolt action rifle, let alone a .22lr. I plan on changing that in the future, but as for this poll? I'm going with my PTR.


Now the 870. I'm going to be honest with you. I'm not a very good shotgunner. I don't know how to point a shotgun, I don't bird hunt, and clay pidgeons would be awfully safe if I was on the range. I put an AR-style stock on mine, and use rifle sights or an Eotech, and I can hit silhouette targets as quick as I can with an AR. To me, a shotgun is a home defense weapon, and I know how to use my shotgun for that purpose.


If you want to argue that I chose my weapons for the wrong reasons, that's fine you have the right to that opinion. But I know how to run those three guns, and I know what they can do, and I know what I can do with them, and what I can't do with them. And there is no 'educational activity' out there that's going to show me otherwise.

 

[oneounceload]

If you want to argue that I chose my weapons for the wrong reasons, that's fine you have the right to that opinion. But I know how to run those three guns, and I know what they can do, and I know what I can do with them, and what I can't do with them. And there is no 'educational activity' out there that's going to show me otherwise

And maybe you should also broaden your horizons to see what the other choices are, how well they work and what can be done with them. You might find out how much fun they can be....unless you're unwilling to learn new things, and that would be a shame.....

 

[Shadow Man]

And maybe you should also broaden your horizons to see what the other choices are, how well they work and what can be done with them. You might find out how much fun they can be....unless you're unwilling to learn new things, and that would be a shame.....

The man (RX-178) knows his weapons, knows how they function, knows what he can and can't do with them, and is (I can almost guarantee it) a very safe shooter with those weapons because he is so familiar with them. The same with me. I chose the weapons I did because I am more familiar with them than I am with the inside of my own home...and if I can be faulted by someone who "knows better" because I chose what I did for the reasons I did, then so be it. However, let me show you something...

Seems tacticool rules here as well...........the majority is planning for the zombies, the gamers think everyone needs SD/HD guns.........and the rest of us know better..............oh well.........it is interesting to see how the newer generations have NO idea about what and how their grand parents used guns......wow.............seems a lot more educational activities are necessary

I am not a believer in "zombies" and the like. I have never had to defend my home from an invader, and only had to use my carry piece once. Should I have "known better" and let him steal my car? Maybe...but I'm inclined to not think so. I was taught how to shoot by my Grandfather, because my father was never around. In fact, I own most of his (my Grandfather) guns because he knew I was a responsible shooter. I was a hunter, but am no more. I tried trap and skeet, but did not find it to my liking. I found what I like, and what I am good at and will stick to it...and I don't see how a reasonable person can find fault with that.

 

[RX-178]

And maybe you should also broaden your horizons to see what the other choices are, how well they work and what can be done with them. You might find out how much fun they can be....unless you're unwilling to learn new things, and that would be a shame.....

I'm all for that. In fact I say often enough that I would buy every firearm on the planet given the chance, and beyond that it's all a matter of priorities.

But this thread is about picking only one handgun, one rifle, and one shotgun. Not about broadening horizons.