What should everybody have?

[itgoesboom]

Just curious what everyone thinks is everyone should have in the way of a small "arsenal" or collection of firearms.

I am not talking specifics (ie, bushmaster ar, or VEPR, ect), I mean, what type of firearm should every household have?

Right now I have 3 pistols, a .22, a .380 and a 9mm, 1 SKS as my rifle, and 2 shotguns. I am planning on picking up a Marlin or Savage bolt action .22 this month, and hopefully another centerfire rifle this year as well.

So what does everyone "need"?

I.G.B.

 

[Wildalaska]

Every human being in the known universe should own a Colt 1911 45acp of whatever size he or she chooses.

WildthatstheonlyrequirementforlifeAlaska

 

[Black Majik]

I gotta agree with WA. Everyone needs a colt.

Now the list:

-1911
-Clay gun
- HD Shotgun
- Sig Sauer
- Glock (to throw at the intruder once all the bullets are gone from the other guns)
- a .22 pistl
- a .22 rifle
- Long range Bolt Gun
- Revolver in magnum cartridge (.357, .41, .44, maybe .500)

 

[Preacherman]

Aha, a new list!

Seriously, though, IMHO, a minimum battery should look like this:

One "serious" self-defence handgun in an appropriate caliber (.38 Special or 9mm. Parabellum minimum);

One rifle, for dual use as hunting and self-defence instrument (in a caliber appropriate to the game you'll hunt, and an action suitable for defence - I usually suggest .30-30 or .308);

One shotgun, ditto (perhaps with two barrels, one short for HD, one longer with screw-in chokes for hunting - or two shotguns);

One rimfire handgun, for training, plinking, target practice, small game hunting, and backup use for defence;

One rimfire rifle, for the same uses.

That makes five guns, with two barrels for the shotgun if possible. As resources become available, I'd double up on the above battery before branching out into other weapons. The reason for doubling up is simple - if one weapon goes down for maintenance, or you use one in self-defence and the police confiscate it for testing/evidence, you've got something else to use!

Considerations for choosing the firearms would be:

- Reliability (essential);

- Fits all members of the family who might have to shoot it (it's no good your having a Desert Eagle in .44 Magnum if your petite wife can't get her hands round the grip! );

- Availability of ammo and spare parts in your area;

- Availability of spare feeding devices (speedloaders or magazines) - a gun with one or two is not well equipped, and you should have half-a-dozen spares per handgun and two to three per long gun.

As for ammunition, I recommend keeping a six months' to one years' supply of what you'll need. For the handgun, rifle and shotgun, this can be 100-200 rounds: for the .22's (given that they'll be used for a lot of practice) I'd suggest 5,000 rounds.

 

[duckfoot]

Must have in every home:

Revolver- 38/357mag

Lever rifle- 30-30/45-70gov

Shotgun- Pump/SxS- 20ga/12ga

.22lr Bolt rifle


Good to have:

Auto pistol- 45acp

Auto rifle- 5.56x45/7.62x39/7.62x51

Auto shotgun- 20ga/12ga


Then add:
lots "O" ammo, lots "O" mags

the first list doesn't need external mags to shoot lots of ammo

the second list won't work right with out mags

(its the whole "more moving parts" thing)

 

[Josey]

I agree so far as it goes. I think everybody MUST have a big 44 single action myself. Ruger. Reliable. Unfashionable. Great choices. Ergonomic. Roar of a 44. Ruger.

 

[Chuck Jennings]

Minimum IMHO:


Revolvers: One .22, One 357
Pistol: 1911, glock, mark II
A Bolt action with good glass in a versatile caliber
A Garand
An SKS
A good lever action. (30-30 .45-70)
Pump Shotty with various barrels
O/U shotty
At least one EBR
A .22 single six
A pocket pistol


Don't forget to train!!!

 

[cool45auto]

A Beretta, a 1911, a good revolver and at least an SKS.

 

[lycanthrope]

One 1911 in .45 ACP

One assault rifle or battle rifle

One 12 or 20 gauge shotgun

One high power rifle (30-06 or hotter - sometimes you need "the juice" to stop lareg animals)

One .22 rifle

 

[CAPTAIN MIKE]

At the Minimum...

Every home needs a SHOTGUN with 00 Buck. It is effective, it is powerful and it can be rapidly deployed.

While it's true that additional firearms (rifle / sidearm) can be helpful and accurate in a Home Defense situation, the Shotgun is probably the most practical if one had to "choose" between firearms specifically for home defense.

That said, it should have a Surefire Forend, Ghost Ring sights, etc. and the family members deploying the shotgun all need safety and use training so that it is capable of actual use by someone who knows what they're doing.

 

[Brian Williams]

Minimum
a Self Defence handgun
a Bird hunting gun
a Deer rifle


Here is what I feel should be a good general collection of handguns with what I have
Mouse gun -------------- some little 25 auto.
22lr Revo/auto --------- Ruger Singlesix & MkII comp target
Snubbie ----------------- S&W 940
Kit gun -------------------S&W 60
Combat Revo ----------- S&W 13
Target/Range Revo --- S&W K38
1911 --------------------- Sistema Colt
WonderNine------------- Glock 19
Target/Range Auto -----?????????
Large bore DA --------- S&W mod 27-2 for now, I want a S&W 58 someday
Large bore SA ----------- not yet but? Ruger Blackhawk 45 conv

Shotguns should have
a great pump gun------- Mod 1300
an O/U or SxS ----------- Not yet

Rifles
Very accurate large game rifle -------- Win 70 compact in 7mm-08
Very accurate 22lr
AR
Battlerifle

 

[Lennyjoe]

Looks like the only thing Im missing is an SKS.

Hmm, I even have a C&R license. What the heck am I waiting for>

 

[Hutch]

While I think Mel Tappan was way too opinionated, I did take some note of what he wrote in Survival Guns. My take on what is needed follows:

.22 rifle small-game getter/plinker/trainer. Ruger 10/22.

12ga pump shotgun w/ both a short, rifle sighted "deer" bbl and a long bbl w/ choke tubes. Remington 870

Scoped centerfire sporter suitable for hunting the biggest game in your area. For most folks, a .308 would be fine. Remington 700.

Pocket handgun for "always" use. I prefer a J-frame S&W .38

Full-sized adjustable-sight field revolver, preferrably in stainless. Depending on the part of the country you live, either S&W 66, or 629

A full-sized service autopistol. 1911, Glock, CZ, Beretta, Sig, whatever.

Anything after that would be nice, but gravy. Note that this doesn't really address any specialized fun-'n-games guns, like Cowboy shooting, or benchrest, or sporting clays. It only addresses what a person MUST have in order to address the vicissitudes of life. I'd sell a kidney, if I had to, to make sure all the above were in the locker.

 

[Black Snowman]

Something old, something new, something wood, something tacticool

Some pretty good suggestions so far. Here's how my collection has progressed.

Rem 11/87 Premiere
Ruger 10/22 - sold to brother
Glock 24P
Browning Model 84 single shot .03-06
Taurus 669, .357 Mag
Weatherby .340 Wby mag
Desert Eagle .50 AE
Century Arms R1A1
CZ 550 Varmit Laminated in .308
.44 Mag barrel for Desert Eagle
HK USP 40C - traded off
Bushmaster M17S
Colt Delta Elite
CZ 40B - selling to fund a RAMI purchase

 

[geekWithA.45]

I'm a minimalist:

Dead minimum:

2 handguns, appropriate for self defense (imo: 9mm, .38spc/.357 mag, .40, .45, 10mm)

1 mil pattern autoloader, in .308, 7.62x39, or .223 (preferred in that order)

1 other long gun:
- pump 12 guage
-another mil pattern autoloader
-Carbine "companion" to your handgun
-lever or boltie

500 "sacred stockpiled" rounds for each.


Anything else is gravy.

 

[armoredman]

I guess I am way out of touch, and doomed to be swept away into the dustbin of history....
One handgun - EAA Witness 40. Does eveything I want it to do.
One shotgun - Winchester 1200 pump - ditto above.
Two rifles, niether here yet, SKS and Mosin Nagant, cheap, reliable, plentiful ammo.
Have no desire for 1911, sorry guys, had a few, just don't like 'em that much.
Would like to add another handgun, preferably a CZ75, and a 10/22 carbine.
Hell, I'll be lcky if I can come up with the $60 for the Mosin!

 

[Tamara]

1 12-ga shotgun
1 .22 handgun
1 .22 long gun
1 centerfire semiauto long gun
1 centerfire scoped long gun
1 medium or large frame magnum revolver
1 CCW-able centerfire handgun

 

[Baba Louie]

Well, let's see.

Since I'm from America, United States of, I'd say...
ya gotta have a .30-30
and since this here's America, ya gotta have a .22
and since this here's America, ya gotta have a .30-06
and since this here's America, ya gotta have a .45
and since this here's America, ya gotta have a .38/.357
and since this here's America, ya gotta have a .44
and since this here's America, ya gotta have a smokepole
and since this here's America, ya gotta have something with acp after the caliber designator

And since we all come from somewhere else, ya gotta have a 9MM
and since we all come from somewhere else, ya gotta have a fowling piece

And since ya oughta own something by the oldest gun mfg in the world, ya gotta have a Beretta or two.

And since ya gotta have one or more of the above, ya gotta make sure that ya got a revolver, a lever action, a semi-auto and a turnbolt, a slide action, maybe a falling block or a trap-door or a side by side, too. Single shots are good too.

And because it cheeses off our elected politicians so much, ya gotta have something that uses a standard capacity (more than 10 rounds) detachable magazine and a bayonet lug.

And since ya love firearms, ya gotta have something designed by John Moses, Sam, Horace and Daniel and maybe Eli (I was thinking Rem but it could be Whitney) and Eugene. (I'd add Oliver, but he wasn't really a designer type). Don't forget Paul and Georg if you're thinking along European lines.

I know I left out a few, but we are talking about bare bones minimum here, right?

Now, if I was European or Canadian or from Down Under or Russia or China, it'd be a whole 'nuther ball o' wax. But since those guys sometimes spell their names funny and use really wierd caliber designations, I won't go there... yet.

 

[NoHarmNoFAL]

For the economically challenged:

Bulg. Makarov $150.00
1000 95gr hp $110.00
Romanian Training Rifle M69 (I think) $75.00
1000 Win. Wildcats $18.00
Mosin Nagant $100.00
800 7.62x54 Czech Silver Tip $75.00
----------
$528.00

 

[Double Maduro]

The absolute minimum:

SD handgun (depending on your size and preferrance- Ruger P90, Makarov, .38spl/,357 revo)

.22 Rifle bolt action or semi auto

12 ga pump shotgun


If I would ad one more it would be a .22 pistol for cheap practice and fun.

DM

 

[Eskimo Jim]

I'm with Preacherman on this one.

I like to go with high quality firearms so no Jennings etc on my list. Here's my opinion which is probably worth what you paid for it:

*Handguns:
S&W 686 4" 38special/357 magnum or a S&W 66
S&W 17/18/617 22lr for small game and practice

or

*Ruger Mk II 22lr self loader
1911 design or quality 9mm/40cal

Long arms:
*Pump Shotgun 12 guage: Mossberg 500, Winchester 1200 or Remington 870 make sure it comes with screw in chokes and the slug barrel

*Bolt action Rifle or Lever action rifle:
Savage, Ruger, Winchester, marlin or Remington in a common caliber 308 or 30-06

Self loading military type rifle
M1 Garand, M1A, AR15, AK-47 clone, SKS, FN-FAL

*Some sort of 22lr rifle, bolt, lever or semi doesn't matter. I'd suggest a savage, marlin, ruger etc. Preferably one that is an understudy for the centerfire rifle above.

The * is for bare minimums. Take your choice in handguns.

I'd prefer Iron sights on all long arms and handguns with the option of putting a quality scope on them. If the scope got damaged, I'd like to be able to go back to Iron sights.

Luxuries:
A long arm and a handgun for each person in the family and possibly a Back up gun too.

Maybe some sort of carbine like the Marlin Camp Carbine, M1 Carbine or something like that.

Back Up Gun: S&W J frame, K frame or Ruger SP101 snubbies or a Baby Glock, etc.

I think that the above firearms will cover just about any situation you have from informal target practice and instruction, up to hunting game and birds, as well as concealed carry and self defense.

-Jim

 

[MeekandMild]

IMHO everyone should have a .22 pistol and a centerfire rifle in the .243 to 30-06 caliber range.

A voucher for their purchase should be issued by the public schools as part of a civilian marksmanship program and their proficiency should be a requirement for graduation from the eighth grade. They might as well teach something useful.

Everything else is gravy.

 

[azrael]

what should everyone have?? A POCKET HOLSTER MADE BY ME!!!!

hahahahahahahahahahahahahaaaaaaaa

Ok back to business:
you should have....
a .22lr pistol
a 1911 .45
a m1a .308
a .223 semi
a ak-47 or clone
a saiga 12 or 20 gauge shotty
a .22 lr rifle
a .32acp or .380 Bug

1 custom pistol or rifle or both

 

[Ktulu]

Every freedom loving American should have at least one AR-15.

 

[Chupacabra]

1. Semi-auto or revolver in any caliber from .38sp on up

2. .22LR bolt action rifle with scope

3. Bolt action or semi-auto rifle in .223, .308, or 30-06 with scope (or any other standard rifle caliber)

4. 12-guage pump or double-barrelled shotgun

Everything else is, as they say, gravy.