Shortlist of firearms to own

[cruisin]

Originally Posted by Aragorn

Limit of 5 or 6?

- Ruger 10/22
- 9mm H&K
- 9mm Hi-Point Carbine (it's better than you think)
- Remmington 870 Wingmaster 20ga
- 7.62x39 SKS Paratrooper
and if I get a sixth, a nice Ithica 20ga double-barrel...

Can't argue with that one bit. I got mine in December and love it.
The first 60 rounds I fired through it went like this:

A friend of mine got me access to a gun range he is a member of. When we arrived the only slots open were at the 35-yard pistol range. I thought; "that's fine seeing as how the carbine's primary use is home defense, not long range hunting."

I took some targets that I ran copies of as registration test pages from the days when I serviced copy machines. They are printed on 8.5 x 11 paper. The largest circle is 7" and the center bullseye is 2" with rings in 1/2" spacing out to 7".

first target: all 10 shots on the paper, fartherest out from center were two shots just touching the 6" ring and almost dead on the center line, one shot just touching the bullseye at the top and on the center line & one shot about a 1/4" down from that. Not bad for a new to me rifle in a short carbine style. Add to that it was my first experience with the peep sights using a small opening at the rear looking at a spike at the barrel tip. The rest of the shoot went pretty much in line with the first target. All total I fired 6 magazines (60 rounds). On the fourth target, my buddy had placed three standard clay pigeons under the target boards and failed to hit any of them with 10 shots from his Hi-Point 45 carbine. I asked if he would mind if I gave it a go. First shot hit bottom center and destroyed the clay, second shot apparently hit dead center and just took out the center of the clay leaving the rim in tact. Third shot I dropped just under the clay and destroyed it with the fourth shot. The next six shots from that magazine saw 4 in the bullseye, one center line at the 2.5" ring and one just slightly left of center at the 4.5" ring.

All in all, I fired 56 rounds at targets and got 100% on the paper with only three slightly outside the 7" ring but very close to the center line. 29 were within the 5" ring and 11 of those were inside the 2" bullseye.

That was from a bench; we'll be shooting off-hand on the next outing.

[Taz's Master]

Pistol caliber carbines are very fun, and very flexible. I shot one of the Puma/Rossi/Taurus/Braztech Model 92 clones, a 16" in .357 magnum, and it was fantastic. Fed both specials and magnums, lead swc's and Hornady XTP's without issue. It was accurate, fast handling, light recoiling, and tons of fun (and if you cast your own, about as cheap to shoot as a .22). Plus the right .357 mag load will get you nearly 2000fps, and makes a very adequate round for medium-sized game (but you need to keep it to about 100 yds). Once you get beyond the absolute minimum firearms, a pistol caliber carbine would quickly make my list of firearms I'd like to own. And certainly has more utility for me than an AR.

[Seahawk]

Specific weapons? Out of the guns that are available to me:

- 870 Express 20 gauge pump with an extra slug barrel. I bought the gun for my son 11 years ago for $100.00 from a friend of mine, used. I thought it would be a good little gun to learn on. We still use it. Over 2000 rounds out the nose without fail. I've got many more shotguns, but for simplicity and utility, hard to beat.

- M1A Carbine. I bought this gun on a whim from a fellow here, thinking, novelty act, enjoy it as a classic. Wrong. There is no gun I'd rather shoot. Give me this and a .45 and I am good to go for every occasion. Again, I have a lot more rifles, lever action, AR, bolts, etc., but for toss-ability, weight, and up tempo rounds out, my absolute fav.

- Kimber .45 Desert Warrior. Had it 13 years. Never a problem, much more accurate than I am. It has been a great weapon.

- Marlin 39A Carbine in .22. I have owned this gun for over 40 years, given to me by my grandfather. Perfect for small game, light, accurate and dead reliable.

- Sportarized Springfield 1903 in 30.06. Again, purchased from a fellow here. Perfectly bedded, great scope, a bolt action thunder stick.

That's my story.

[Rick V]

I have shot Paul's Kimber and that one is on my list as well, I almost wanted to throw my Ruger in the garbage after driving Paul's.

[lane912]

any that I am comfortable and proficient with shooting

I like simple-

I like my Remm 700 in .308 with a Leupold 3.5-10x40
I don't like my rossi .44sp - 2"

[red-beard]

I would base my list on expected availability of ammo.

.357 revolver (.357 magnum and 38 Special)
45 ACP 1911
Maybe a 9mm pistol (I love my Browning High Power and my Sig in 226)
30-06 - Bolt Rifle. I love my 1903.
.308 (Probably a FAL or AR10)
.223/.22 (AR15 platform with a .22 conversion upper)

I might be convinced to leave behind the 9mm. If I did this, I think either a Ruger 10-22 or an AR-7 would be the replacement.

[Skillet83]

S&W 357 Mag.
Benelli super 90 20 ga.
Benelli ultra light 12 ga.
Browning A5 12 ga.
Sig 516 Patrol

Lots of ammo

[Don Ro]

Probably my S/A 1911 and my lever .22 mag.
Have to think about selecting the other(s).
.
This is like trying to select your favorite child.

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by Don Ro

This is like trying to select your favorite child.

If traveling with small children, put your mask on first, then assist your child. If travelling with more than one child, decide now which one you love more...

[MT930]

1. Bolt action .22 Rifle.
2. 12 Gauge Pump shotgun
3. Bolt action 30.06 / .270 Rifle
4. .45 ACP 1911 Frame Pistol.
5. 44 Mag Revolver Ruger+ / Smith & Wesson

Basic Entry level starting Top 5

[berettafan]

Beretta 390 or 391 12 ga
quality 22lr bolt action
Wingmaster 20ga
quality 1911
Colt AR

[jyl]

I decided to add an alternative list of five guns I would like to own for the pleasure for it - my prior list was more functional.

Parabellum P-08 "Luger" - modified w/ target barrel and sights
Mauser 1896 "Broomhandle" - if its good enough for Winston Churchill and Han Solo . . .
Infinity SVI 1911 .45 double stack racegun
Benneli MP90S .22 target pistol w/ optical sight, custom grip
Ruger Blackhawk stainless .45 Long Colt 4" barrel

Glock 9mm or .45 - this is the main pistol that always works

S&W titanium/scandium .357/.38 - this is the light/small/big bullet gun that is always with you

FN-FAL .308 w/ scope - this serves as your zombie rifle and can pinch-hit for some hunting

Mossberg 500 or similar 12 ga, pref stainless - this is your bird gun and zombie alternative

AR7 .22 scoped - this is your survival rifle

[weseeeee]

Ruger MKII Heavy barrel
Ruger 10-22
Glock 22C 40 cal
Les Bear 1911
M4 .223

[Z-man]

Originally Posted by Taz's Master

A good rule of thumb is that unless you're swimming or on fire, you cannot have too many firearms, or too much ammo.

Counterpoint: "Fear the man who owns one gun and knows how to use it."

Thus, my top 5 choices would be:

Heckler & Koch P30 in 9mm
Heckler & Koch P30 in 9mm
Heckler & Koch P30 in 9mm
Heckler & Koch P30 in 9mm
Heckler & Koch P30 in 9mm.

If I needed to chose a 6th spoon, it was likely be an Heckler & Koch P30 in 9mm.

I heard a recent podcast. (Gun For Hire Radio - Anthonly Colandro). Anthony stated that he has three identical gun safes all set to the same combination in his home in different locations throughout his house. In all three of those gun safes, he has the exact same revolver. His reasoning is that if he needs a weapon for home defense, there is no need to figure out which spoon is in which safe, and there would be no adjustment necessary to switch from one spoon to another.

Of course in my case (as with Anthony as well), the primary purpose of a spoon is for home defense.

-Z-man.

[scottmandue]

12 Gauge HD pump (mine 870)
9mm auto handgun (mine Star)

Want:
.454 Casul revolver
.45-70 lever gun
.308 auto rifle

Notable:
.357 revolver
.223 auto rifle
1911

[Aragorn]

Seems like a few people like the Ruger 10/22 and the Remington 870. Some have said a nice 30-06 (my shoulder likes a .270 better.)

Very interesting to read what most people would choose if only allowed a few.

[dntlft]

I've always considered availability of ammo as key in choosing what guns to own. Here is my current list of firearms which I enjoy shooting regularly...
-H&R .22lr revolver, 9 shot
-Sig P226 mk25, 9mm
-Ruger lcp .380acp
-Springfield Armory Range Officer 1911
-Benelli M2 tactical 12 guage semiauto with extended tube mag.
-SKS with folding compsite stock, MANY 30 round mags
-Winchester Model 94 lever action 30-30

[jschmidt63]

my picks would be:
Mosin Nagant w/ Archangel
AR-15w/ optic
JR Carbine
1911
Beretta M9
Glock 17

[Jim Bremner]

The 40mm Machine Gun!!! - YouTube

M1 Garand.
870 with several barrels
1911
a 22 rifle

[tabs]

TSK TSK TSK..U alll forgot to include a Black Powder Muzzle stuffer...for when all the fixed round ammo is all shot up...