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Thread: If you could only have four guns, what would they be?

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    Senior Member fm2176's Avatar
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    Default 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.

    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?

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    Mega Bore Atomic's Avatar
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    Since I only own two guns it'd have to be them. A .22mag rifle and a .45 pistol.

    For a SHTF list I think a couple of tools that would be nice to have would be carrying the same type of ammo. So I think the .22 mag rifle would stay and add on a .22 mag revolver. I'll keep my XD .45 and get a 12 gauge shotgun. If I'm going to have to hunt for food the 12 gauge will take care of any flying game and some bigger game. The .22 mag rifle can pick off rabbits, squirrels and even deer.

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    Senior Member fm2176's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Atomic View Post
    For a SHTF list I think a couple of tools that would be nice to have would be carrying the same type of ammo.
    I'm set to get a "cowboy" combo when my father-in-law passes. I gave him a Winchester '94 years ago chambered for .45 Colt. He also has a Ruger Vaquero in the same caliber. Two handy trail guns that would pair up nicely.

    It is always hard to pick just one gun, which is why there are four categories for this thread. A .22 (long rifle or magnum) is ideal for hunting small game, plinking or survival situation. A handgun can be used for carry, home defense or even hunting, though few pistols or revolvers are adept at all of those things. A rifle is great for long range hunting, defense or even offensive situations, while nothing beats a shotgun for close-in shooting; more powerful and accurate than a pistol and more forgiving than a rifle.

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    Mega Bore Atomic's Avatar
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    Yeah the cowboy combo would probably be better and I could then swap the .22 magnum revolver for a long range rifle.

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    Senior Member smith357's Avatar
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    I would choose my Kimber Hunter .22 sporter, The Sporterized Swede Mauser, the Browning Citori Hunter 12 guage, The hard part would be choosing just one handgun, do I want the J, K, or N, frame .357 or 38 Hmmm.......I guess it would be the 4" K38.
    Green is the new Red.

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    Senior Member crunker's Avatar
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    10/22
    PTR-91
    GLOCK 17
    ...Striker-12

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    I loves sausage festival! djwolford's Avatar
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    Kel tec su-16
    AK-47
    Springfield Armory XD9
    ?????
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    AR-15
    My Taurus PT100 (.40 S&W)
    M1 Carbine (Id really like it to have a collapsable stock if Im sing it for SHTF though.)
    And the shotgun I plan on getting with my tax return. Remington 870 with 18 in barrel and 6 shot tube mag.

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    Senior Member Killuminati's Avatar
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    I mean why would you need more than 4 guns anyway? How about a "if you could only have 1 gun what would it be".

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    I have 12 or 13 guns.

    And I need more.

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    Senior Member Syme's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Killuminati View Post
    I mean why would you need more than 4 guns anyway? How about a "if you could only have 1 gun what would it be".
    ...are you serious?

    EDIT: In answer to your question, one of the reasons people own multiple guns is because there are many different types of hunting and shooting sports, each of which requires a different type of gun, so a person who wishes to hunt different types of game or engage in different types of shooting sports needs a number of different guns. Deer hunting generally requires a medium-powered centerfire rifle, or a slug-barreled shotgun. Larger game needs more powerful rifles. Some people also enjoy hunting with powerful revolvers. Hunting waterfowl (ducks, etc.), turkeys, and small game birds all require different types of shotguns. Hunting small game usually involves a .22-caliber rifle, although some people use smaller-bore shotguns. Some people have shotguns used more or less exclusively for sporting clays rather than hunting. Then there are all the diverse forms of competitive shooting; three-gun matches, service rifle competitions, HP rifle matches, bench-rest rifle matches, conventional centerfire pistol competition, rimfire rifle and pistol matches of various types, and on and on. Certainly not all gun owners participate in all of these activities, but many participate in at least a few. Then there are people who like collecting, maintaining, and shooting historical weapons of various types; it's a collecting hobby based on historical interest, so it doesn't make much sense to ask them "why" they need more than a few such weapons. And of course, many people buy certain guys just because they like them and enjoy taking them to the range and shooting them recreationally. And of course I haven't even touched on the fact that in addition to all the sporting/recreational reasons to own multiple guns, there is the very legitimate issue of self-defense and/or home-defense, which necessitates another gun or two for those who care about it. So that's why people own more than four guns. A few guns for the various hunting/sporting activities you enjoy, maybe another couple that are historically interesting, family heirlooms, or just fun to shoot, and one or two for home/self defense, and you're already up to about six or seven guns.
    Last edited by Syme; 02-04-2009 at 01:57 PM.

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    Senior Member Killuminati's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Syme View Post
    ...are you serious?
    Yea actually I am. I understand collecting guns and everything is a legitimate hobby and I'm not hating on it. I just thought that narrowing it down to 4 guns seems easy, I feel like if you had to narrow it down to 1 gun it would be a tougher decision and more reasonable. I mean you can't argue that anyone could needs more than one gun in the first place.

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    Senior Member Syme's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Killuminati View Post
    Yea actually I am. I understand collecting guns and everything is a legitimate hobby and I'm not hating on it. I just thought that narrowing it down to 4 guns seems easy, I feel like if you had to narrow it down to 1 gun it would be a tougher decision and more reasonable. I mean you can't argue that anyone could needs more than one gun in the first place.
    Ahh, I see what you mean. Well, I edited my previous post to give a more thorough explanation of why narrowing it down even to 4 guns could be tough, even for those who don't collect them as a hobby but only use them for various practical purposes. I think it's a reasonable and fairly difficult dilemma for gun owners, given all the different things that people use different types of guns for. But yes, of course it would be even tougher to narrow it down to a single gun.

    As for whether anyone "needs" more than one gun, that would probably hinge upon what your definition of "need" is. Even if you're talking about purely defensive use for the purpose of saving your life from a violent attacker, you could legitimately argue that you need at least two guns for that--one for concealed carry for self-defense outside the home, and one for home defense (good CCW pistols and good home defense guns are two different things, and while it's possible to pick a single gun that fills both roles, it's going to be an imperfect compromise that's less than ideal for one or both roles, and falls victim to the "jack of all trades, master of none" syndrome).
    Last edited by Syme; 02-04-2009 at 04:29 PM.

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    Senior Member fm2176's Avatar
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    We've done the "only one" thread in past incarnations of the site. Syme hits on a good point, choosing even four is tough for many gun owners.

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    Senior Member Killuminati's Avatar
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    Yea I see your point. I didn't really take hunting or recreation into it but I interpreted what you guys were doing incorrectly. I'm not a gun person at all, the only kind of gun I have ever wanted would be something concealable for self defense. Well then carry on.

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    Senior Member John Galt's Avatar
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    If limited to four, I'd maximize my SHTF survivability:

    Two for close/short-range combat:
    1. My Ruger P-944 .40-cal
    2. Remington 870 Tactical, 18" barrel & extended tube

    Two for medium- to long-range killin':
    3: AK-47 (or my RPK, perhaps)
    4: Something scoped, Remington 700 or even a Barrett .50BMG.

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    Journeyman Cocksmith Mr. E's Avatar
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    Assault Rifle
    Rocket Launcher
    SMG
    Covenant Carbine

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    I guess it depends on the situation,

    If its SHTF

    .22: Ruger 10/22, Its light and durable with the after market stock and the high capacity magazine is a plus.
    CF Rifle: M1 Garand. . . . Greatest battle rifle ever. 'nuff said. (though my tiny handi rifle in .243 was a very close second.)
    Handgun: S&W 686-3 .357 reliable, accurate, and good stopping power, plus the other option is a .22
    Shotgun: Probably my Winchester Model 12, a take down 12 Ga. though If I had an aftermarket folder stock and mag extension for my Mossberg 500 I'd take that, but I don't so it would probably be the Win M12.


    If its just what would I keep if I could only keep 4

    .22: Winchester 52C
    CF Rifle: This is a tough one, I have a Winchester Model 70 Featherweight in .30-06 which is a very fine rifle, but I also have my Mauser that I built myself so there is a strong personal connection there. I think I have to go with the Mauser, The Winchester is a very fine gun but the Mauser is something I can hand down to the kids and grandkids and say "I made that with my own two hands"
    Handgun: S&W 686-3 for pretty much the same reasons as above, plus its much more collectible and valuable than the .22
    Shotgun: The Winchester Model 12, 12Ga., collectible and I just like it better than my other shotguns.

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    Senior Member Killuminati's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mr. E View Post
    Assault Rifle
    Rocket Launcher
    SMG
    Covenant Carbine
    Terrible list.

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    Senior Member ozzy's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mr. E View Post
    Assault Rifle
    Rocket Launcher
    SMG H1 Pistol
    Covenant Carbine
    Fixed.
    You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to Mr. E again.

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