One Gun.A Hypothetical Situation

[Commander Quan]

Lets say for whatever reason, you were only able to have one gun. This gun would be all that you would have access to for hunting, target shooting, and self defense.

For this particular situation you can have access to multiple calibers for the same gun, such as .357 &.38s or .410 & .45 but not swap out barrels or any other modular part of the gun to change calibers.

What would you choose?

 

[Jimmyinkedup]

.357 revolver..ill get back with a specific make/model shortly. Wanna give that some thought....

 

[Commander Quan]

A .357 with a 6 inch barrel is a good compromise, although it would be difficult to conceal. I haven't hunted in years, but do like to blow up some clays so I am currently leaning towards my 16 gauge Wingmaster, which would cover me for everything except a CCW, but then again neither would my second choice, a .50 Beowulf.

 

[PugslyCat]

Am I allowed to change choke tubes on a shotgun? If so, I would go with a 12 gauge pump action shotgun, probably a Remington 870 or a Mossberg 500 just because of the variety of accessories available. Are we allowed to swap out accessories that don't change the caliber of the gun or is it one set up and you're done? Can we swap out barrels for longer, shorter or rifled?

Between the different chokes and shotshell loads you can deal with a wide variety of situations with the shotgun. You can also hunt anything from small game and upland game birds to geese and deer.

Ammunition, at least for skeet loads, is inexpensive and hasn't been as tough to come by as metallic cartridges have been in the recent panic.

I haven't tried my hand at it, but reloading shotgun shells with the Lee Load-All appears to be fairly straight forward and inexpensive. At least that's my hope since I already have everything except the shot. I think reloading passable shot shells might be easier and cheaper than reloading pistol cartridges. There just aren't as many tools involved.

 

[xjrob85]

Easy decision for me. Smith and Wesson 686, .357 Magnum. It's my very favorite gun, and all I really need.

 

[auk1124]

12 Gauge.

 

[Face Bannon]

Pump action 12 gauge.

 

[Jimmyinkedup]

A .357 with a 6 inch barrel is a good compromise, although it would be difficult to conceal. I haven't hunted in years, but do like to blow up some clays so I am currently leaning towards my 16 gauge Wingmaster, which would cover me for everything except a CCW, but then again neither would my second choice, a .50 Beowulf.

6" barrel was my thoughts as well. Anything less would sacrifice too much in the way of accuracy and any bigger , well 6" is hard enough to conceal as it is. Can shoot 38 rounds as well. If I had to have one gun im certain that a revoler would be the type and I cant think of a more versitile caliber than that.

 

[uncarich]

I think you could survive with a 12ga. However, if you were in an area with real long distances involved I would pick 243 Winchester in a Ruger bolt action.

 

[Neognosis]

The 12 Gauge Beretta a400 I already have.

 

[garyg]

An interesting question, I am making the assumption that concealment isn't an issue, so +4? on a 12 gauge pump. You can do birds with birdshot, targets with target loads, bucks with buckshot or sabot slugs (or those only for shooting Dutchmen?), slugs of the two-legged variety with any of the above .. the handguns don't work for flying things too very well, or at a hundred yards

 

[Rockminer]

If we're talking about a ROL situation? 12 ga.

WROL? AK-47

 

[Okla1911]

AKM - SLR 107 SF



-Have to pick a rifle over a pistol. A rifle can do just about anything a shotgun can, but the reverse is not true.
-Accurate up to minute of man 500 yards
-Have successfully hunted w/before
-Fine for defense
-No CCW, but could fit folded under a heavy jacket - that or a tennis racket bag.
-Ammo is widely available and reasonable $.
-Sheer reliability

 

[Heespharm]

Savage 24f over/under .223/12g combo

 

[garyg]

Think we missed on reading the OP .. his clue was .410 or 45, so must be short-legged. There's enough AK's to end the world Thus has to be revolver, hence .. .454 Freedom Arms. Rather the AK's were used overseas

 

[hawgsquatch]

12 gauge pump with a 24" rifle sighted barrel, side folding stock, and a 3 1/2 inch chamber. This will kill hummingbirds to elephants and is short enough to maneuver in a tight spot. Reloads can be accomplished with a pin, dowel and hammer and components can be secured from match heads, rags, and nails. A piece of re-bar can be used for a slug. It can fire flares, less than lethal soap slugs or even a handful of gravel to kill a bird for something to eat. Most can be repaired with one flat headed screwdriver and a punch or nail. I would go with an older model 535 Mossberg or a Remington. A machinist can make brass adapters that will allow this to fire any pistol ammo and some rifle ammo. I have seen guys in the Philippines mold modeling clay type material or bondo around 9mm shells to make them work in a 12 and they illegally hunt monkeys and sea turtles with them.

 

[Acmemfg]

12 gauge pump. Remington 870 or Browning BPS.

 

[PFP_Dad]

I lean toward my Glock. Indestructible, reliable, but holds more than a revolver. I don't want to meet the zombie apocalypse with 6 rounds. It'll shoot people, mammals, or grounded birds just fine as well. In addition, they make a drum magazine, whats not to love.

As far as a shotgun, they get heavy after a bit.

 

[bilkay]

If I can only have one, it's got to be a Glock 19.

 

[oldbluelight]

My big, old Ruger Redhawk. I can load it hot or light, solids or shot. I don't have to chase down shells to reload them. If I need more than six in a social context I've pulled a George Armstrong Custer - i.e. picked the wrong fight. It'll holster under my arm leaving both hands free for other work. I've used it successfully in IHMSA competition so I know its bullets will fly true a long way. It imposes the discipline of six rounds and I'm willing to leave spray and pray to the 'action stars of the silver screen'.