If You Could Only Have One Gun

Just little old LibKill | October 26, 2001 | LibKill

[LibKill]

Yes, this is another firearms vanity.

The fantasy condition is this:

For whatever reason, you have to choose one firearm to keep.

This assumes that you also have a decent supply of ammunition to go with it.

For purposes of this discussion we will assume that there is no change in current laws. You are limited to one gun by financial circumstances.

I have narrowed my choices down to a handgun, one small enough to conceal. That still leaves a lot of room for consideration.

[LibKill]

2" barrel, sq. butt, S&W Model 60

OK. But if I was buying it would have to be a pre-kneepad S&W. Like the model 63 I recently bought.

Old Smith & Wessons are OK. New ones bad.

[Citizen Tom Paine]

A good, old 22 calibre bolt action rifle. Maybe with a scope. The adversary won't know what went thru his eye. It doesn't make much noise. It is light, and very accurate. An old geezer can carry 1,000 to 1,500 rounds without noticing. Say an old Winchester Model 69. It will never wear out.

Keep your powder dry.

[Delta-Boudreaux]

Is that a Real accessory? Is so, who makes it? Web address?

[amadeus]

Have you seen Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels?

[PatrioticAmerican]

ah, a gun thread. Nothing like the subject to clog a forum...but, what the Hell, I like it!<>p>Only one gun: AR-15. A decent home defense, a decent close battle weapon, popular such that parts and ammo are widely available, and it has tons of optionals. And it is American made!

[LibKill]

That 12ga keeps coming up. I think it may be the "all around" gun.

[absalom01]

A fine choice, but I'll stick with my ParaOrd LDA 45, in basic black, 'cause black can be worn with anything, in any season, and never goes out of style...

[Brewer]

Just curious, do you guys keep your shotguns loaded or unloaded? I keep mine unloaded with the ammo within arms reach. However, I am always afraid my wife would forget how to load it if an intruder were breaking down the door.

Mine is unloaded, but ammo near by. It's a big belt and my wife can load and shoot better than I can.... Lots of practice..

[Doctor Freeze]

Just curious... what brand 12 gauge do you have? I have a Mossberg Persuader. What brands are the best?

[Psalm 73]

I ran a similar vanity post several months ago - got some great ideas, boiled them down to two:
1) Bolt-action .308
2) Semi-auto, AR-15 or mini-14 were mentioned most often.
Heard great cases for both basic types, think I would opt for the bolt-action .308 - large enough cartridge to take down any game from a distance (including "blue-helmets"), don't need semi-auto - trying to stay away from fire-fights, but can jam 5 rd clips in and out pretty quick if the need arises. Less likely to run into mechanical problems during rough treatment/weather with the bolt.

[101viking]

Add me to the 12 gauge pump list, but just thought of being limited to one gun gives me the willys!

[tacticalogic]

Just curious, do you guys keep your shotguns loaded or unloaded?

I keep my BPS with the chamber empty, the mag loaded, and the selector set on Single. Anyone who's not real familiar with the gun can pick it up and work the slide all day without ever chambering a round.

[SERE_DOC]

Yea 45's are good, real good

[ctdonath2]

At home, keep it loaded, nothing in the chamber. One pump, ready to go...as opposed to insert-insert-insert-insert-insert-insert-insert-insert-pump during the one event when you may have only a couple seconds.

[SlaveNoMore]

I just traded an SKS for a Winchester Defender last Sunday. Haven't shot it yet.

Anyone have any experience with the Defender, or did I get the short end of the stick?

[Arkie2]

12 gauge pump shotgun

[TheRealLobo]

Well, to stay PC, I keep my shotgun unloaded, disassembled, locked in my gun safe, and the ammo is kept in a different house in a different state.

[Anitius Severinus Boethius]

I keep mine unloaded and cased in the closet. Only use it for range work or hunting (it's been years since the last hunt though). I keep 2 axes for home protection, a short handled kindling axe near the couch, and a half-handled wood axe near my bed. I'll help the police fill out their paper work if there is an attempted home invasion. (3 machete's, a viking longsword, a saxon battle axe, and a set of Cutco kitchen knives make up the rest of my easily accessible armory needs. A blade (or three) in every room.)

[Brewer]

Well, to stay PC, I keep my shotgun unloaded, disassembled, locked in my gun safe, and the ammo is kept in a different house in a different state.

Of course, me too....Heh..

[Cliff Dweller]

Reeeeeally a tough question

For high powered performance and durability a .303 Enfield Mk III (simple, rugged, and accurate), for stealth a .22 BA, for firepower an AR-15, for crowds a 12GA (auto or pump), for carry a high capacity 9mm, .40 cal, or .45, or for superior knockdown a poor man's 50. cal... a muzzleloader with a 325 grain conical bullet and a long (33") barrel....

For me Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm. I'd go with one of each.