If you could only have four guns, what would they be?
This is one of the little things I got to thinking about in my dark days without unmonitored internet access a few weeks ago...
Of all the firearms I currently own, it would be a hard choice to decide which four to select if I had to. For the sake of this thread, let's suppose that I did have to choose. One .22, one centerfire rifle, one handgun and one shotgun.
For the .22, I have a few choices; single shots and semiautomatics. The venerable Marlin Model 60 has the advantage of being both semiauto and having an integral magazine, and the single shots are as low maintenance as they come. However, if I had to choose just one, it would be the Marlin Model 70PSS Papoose. More reliable than the AR-7, and much more packable than the Model 60, the Papoose offers semiauto "firepower" (is that a proper term when talking about a rimfire?) and a handy take-down feature for times when an assembled rifle is not desirable. If I had a Ruger 10/22 the Marlin would probably still win out due to its design. And, yes, I am one of the few who have never owned a 10/22, though I have been eying a pink one "for the youngest daughter". Hey, if I have to go pink to justify a gun purchase, so be it. :shifty:
The centerfire rifle choice gives me a larger selection of weapons to choose from. That said, one springs to mind immediately. The Gibbs No.7 is built on an Ishapore 2A receiver, combining the availability of .308 ammunition with the smoothness and quickness of an Enfield. It is somewhat light, well-balanced, accurate, and has always been a pleasure to shoot (though its steel buttplate can get painful when rapid-firing a few magazines). The M59/66 is a little muzzle heavy but still a tempting choice, while the numerous Mausers, Mosins and other Enfields have their own reasons for not springing to mind. The Winchester '94 is a tempting choice, but offers neither the power nor the range of the .308.
My pistol choice is by far the easiest. The Para-Ordnance Tac-Four is powerful, high capacity, and yet compact enough to carry concealed with minimal wardrobe selection. At the same time, it is large enough to carry open or as a service pistol, without looking silly. My other pistols are either larger in size and smaller in caliber, such as the M92/96, or smaller and more mousy, such as the Kel-Tecs or other Berettas.
Finally, the shotgun. My Winchester 1200 Riot has been my mainstay since I bought it. I have numerous other shotguns, from singles and side-by-sides to automatics and lever actions. The Mossberg holds nine rounds and has both a Speedfeed stock and Sidesaddle, making it tempting to say the least. In fact, I'd have to say that either the Winchester or the Mossberg would satisfy me, the Winchester is nondescript and compact while the Mossberg is not much bigger but packs more punch. Both are reliable and rugged enough for extended field use.
Granted, this is a fantasy thread. I am a packrat when it comes to most things, especially firearms, and own very few that are worth selling. Most are carried or used and display the scars of such use. Others were handed down by my father and will be handed down to my children. Still, it is nice to think about which weapons are most important from time to time. So, my selections are as follows:
.22 - Marlin Papoose
Rifle - Gibbs No.7
Pistol - Para-Ordnance
Shotgun - Winchester 1200 or Mossberg 590, hard to choose.
What weapons would you pick of the ones you currently own? If you don't own them, which ones would you buy in each category?
