"Tool" Guns

[dmftoy1]

I've been pretty blessed over the last 5-10 years and alot of times after paying bills out of my company bonus' I've had a little that I could save towards a gun or buy a gun with. I was thinking this weekend though that as much pleasure as I get shooting the various guns (Milsurps particularly) there's only one gun I've ever really used to the benefit of my family. (A remington 870)

In the last 5-10 years this gun has:

1. Put meat on the table (Deer hunting with slugs here in Illinois, pheasant hunting, etc.)
2. Killed a coyote that was trying to get at the family cat which had escaped the house.
3. Got rid of miscellanous vermin that may or may not have been rabid. (Skunks, etc.)

I see alot of threads on THR along the lines of "if you could only have one" or "disaster" or whatever and after reading them I always find myself NOT choosing the 870 for the proposed scenario . .the 870 is not my favorite gun, not the gun I "want" to shoot . . . .yet it seems to always be the first one I grab for "important" work. I've come to the conclusion that I view that 870 like I do my circular saw or sawzall . .not my favorite tool to do a job . .but one that I couldn't live without.

Do you have any guns that you don't shoot for pleasure/practice but which you'd immediately miss if they were gone? (How many do you consider to be "tools" versus something to take to the range?)

 

[Shung]

2

My SIG550 which I was issued, and my Mossberg500 only purchased for SD at home.

 

[doc2rn]

All weapon systems are but tools in the hands of men perfecting a craft.
You get back what you put into it. If you use the 870 the most it will pay off the most. I myself use a Ruger 77/22 the most. That doesnt make it the only tool in the box though.

 

[A-190]

Intresting, all the votes yet minimal response.

My duty weapon. Period. Was and still is a tool. No other use for it. cept now as a family heirloom

 

[Novus Collectus]

All my guns have a sporting use, self defense purpose, or a collectible/curio quality....except one.
I bought a .22 rifle from Walmart years ago for the pesky squirrels. I have never used it for fun/sport, it will never be a collectible in my lifetime and it is the last gun I own I would use for self/home defence. So I guess that is my "tool" gun.

 

[cpttango30]

none all of mine are for fun. Some may be used to defend ones self but all of mine are for fun shooting.

 

[un_lucky]

I view my pocket gun as just a tool. The rest are toys or have sentimental value.

 

[ShooterMcGavin]

I'm a little confused with this poll/question. I consider 2 of my guns to be "tool" guns. I admit, I only own those 2 guns. They were bought not for my attraction to their looks or for collection, but for their effectiveness at carry and SD. I consider them "tools" because, among the events I can foresee needing a gun, I will have/use one of those. They will take the required abuse, reliably perform a job if ever needed, and I will not cry if one must be sacrificed (i.e. defaced in "combat", seized for evidence, etc.). That is my perfect definition of a "tool".

Do you have any guns that you don't shoot for pleasure/practice but which you'd immediately miss if they were gone? (How many do you consider to be "tools" versus something to take to the range?)

My SD guns are the MAIN guns I would take to the range, even if I owned an assortment of guns. I think proficiency with them is much more important than any other gun in a "collection". If I had target-guns, they would go to the range too, but I'd never refuse a little practice with my carry guns.

All my guns have a sporting use, self defense purpose, ...

Again, I see SD as the ESSENCE of using a gun as a "tool". Maybe I don't understand the definition others are using? I'm not trying to be difficult, I promise

 

[Ragnar Danneskjold]

All of them. I don't attach emotions to my weapons.

 

[JesseL]

I don't think I own a gun that is purely utilitarian. All of them have at least some degree of fun, aesthetic, or sentimental value in addition to their usefulness for serious purposes.

If there was some utilitarian void I needed to fill, why would I shortchange myself by not getting something that works well and I can enjoy?

 

[North of 49th]

One shotgun and one rifle... the rest I don't really NEED. I don't get emotional with my weapons either; that is not to say I don't love having them

 

[rcmodel]

The only gun I have never been able to form any emotional or sentimental attachment with is my one lone Glock.

To me, it is just a tool, and it wouldn't matter if it get stolen out of my truck or something.

I could easily replace it with another one just exactly like it in a hour or less. All it would take is the money, which I normally have in my billfold.

It is the only gun in my collecton I could honestly say that about.

rcmodel

 

[Neo-Luddite]

I have a few purchased as utility weapons--but if they work well over time--they start to develop an 'aura' of value like any tool that has served well. My $150 Yugo SKS comes to mind. I bought it as a rifle that could be disposed of if need be (for whatever reason) but the clunky thing is so darn reliable I'd hate to see it go.

 

[SN13]

4.

XD45 - CCW/Competition Gun (Practice with what you carry i say)
Saiga x39 - Rifle matches
Saiga 12 - Shotgun Matches / Hunting
O/U 12 - Skeet/trap/Sporting Clays

.308 - Hunting but it's new and Deer season's not here yet so It's not a tool as of this post

 

[woerm]

hmm, what's the job at hand

SD/ Colt Browning 1903 .32

hunting , Carbine

bird hunting/skeet, 16 ga double.

That's most of what I do.

the Carbine doubles as a milita weapon if necessary (30 rd mags and supporting web gear).


r

 

[rhubarb]

How many combination wrenches do you own that are purely "tools"? Socket sets? How many hammers do you own are purely "tools"? My dad was, among other things, a carpenter and had a particular fondness for his favorite hammer. It was still just a tool. It wasn't something that gave him pride or was part of his identity. It just worked right. It was a useful tool.

You don't have an "All" option.

 

[arflattop]

I figure the single shot .410, the 12ga Rem 1187, the Mini 14 and my SP-101 are my workhorses. The rest are just too pretty to get dirty!

 

[RNB65]

All guns are tools.

 

[Oodin]

All of my guns were purchased for their 'fun' factor. I haven't encountered any jobs that a gun was the proper tool for.

I also haven't found a fun use for a hammer. However, I do have axes for both work (splitting firewood) and play (a throwing tomahawk). I would never throw my splitting ax nor would I try to chop wood with my tomahawk.

I guess that's how I understood your poll. Unfortunately you don't have a none option.

 

[Onmilo]

All firearms are tools designed to fulfill a specific purpose, though I have used combat rifles for hunting and target pistols for plinking and self defense.
However,,,,,,,

I would not consider buying a firearm to use specifically as a wrench.

 

[Old Grump]

Was hard to do

I thought realistically it would be at the most 2 guns but it depends entirely on the situation.

1. Mossberg - Feral cats, raccoons and turkey hunting.
2. H&R - Deer hunting and main defense arm if needed
3. Dan Wesson - Bedside gun
4. Colt 1911 - Main sidearm defense gun if needed
5. Smith Wesson 22 pistol - main practice gun and squirrel gun
6. H&R 22 single shot rifle - main practice long arm, training gun for new shooters, plinking, rabbits.

 

[subierex]

All but one.

 

[Eric F]

Killed a coyote that was trying to get at the family cat which had escaped the house.

That is baiting the feild illegal in most areas you sir should be charged with a crime!

I have 3 main tools my Remington mod. 8 for hunting, absolutly no pleasure shooting as 30 remington is no longer made and I can not find load data on it.
My double 20 by J stevens arms many a turkey rabbit and other small game have been had with this
My 1911 38 super, defense/game gun/daily carry gun

 

[ZombieHunter]

I have one gun

It serves the purpose of tool and prize possession.

 

[Griff]

Good analogy, OP! Sawzall lol

(2 - another vote for the 870 and a Savage Mk II .22)