Got to thinking the other day about something Skeeter Skelton wrote years ago. (If you don't know who Skeeter is, you need to read more). In one of his stories, he asked his good friend Dobe Grant, retired lawman and cowman (if you don't know who Dobe Grant is...see above...) what ONE gun he would keep, if he could keep only one. Never mind the reason, its not important. I know, none of us want to think that this could ever happen to us, but I kinda enjoyed the cogitatin' that this required. This is MY One gun for all of MY needs and percieved needs. Actually, it was easy, as this gun already lives here. My 4 inch Combat Magnum. The .357 chambering is obviously extremely versatile, especially with handloading. It can and already has been used for hunting, especially with handloads. Small game, using lighter, semi-wadcutters. Big game (deer, bear in my neck of the woods)
can be taken with heavy soft-points or "Keith" bullets. Daily, general use with mid-range loads (any bullet). Defense against 2-legged varmints, any of the wonderful 125 grain factory loads or equivalent handloads. The 4 inch barrel, with attendant sight radius is enough for long-range work, yet short enough for daily carry IWB. Mine happens to be "factory stock" except for a flat-faced patridge front sight, which is easy for my eyes to pick up. The Combat Magnum is light enough for daily carry, which mine is really familiar with, and steady enough for precision shooting. Anyway, I don't expect everyone to agree, but again, this is MY choice, after some fun cogitatin'. Anyone else ?

i agree very much. i've always thought a 19/66 with a 4" barrel would be my "one gun". for some climates/conditions the 66 might hold up to exposure better. couple that with a marlin 1894C in blue or stainless and you've got all you would ever need in north america. lee

That was my choice too. But it would have to be the M66, as stainless is much easier to maintain.
I've read that story dozens of times. Skeeter was hoping Dobe would pick one of his favorite revolvers. Everyone was shocked when he said "If I could only have one, it would have to be a..........."
I ain't gonna give it away. You should read the story. It's in "Good friends, good guns and good whiskey" and "I remember Skeeter".
Jim

My Model 66 4" was my first handgun at age 21.

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SV,14,17,21,28,29,39,66,586

P&R Fan, thanks for not giving it away ! I'm also interested in seeing if others have read Skeeter's wonderful stories !

Sir, I also remember Dobe's answer, and if I lived out in the boonies, I might answer the same. I live in town, though, and for the things I actually do, the 1911 is my preference.

Hope this helps, and Semper Fi.

Ron H.

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Wishin' don't make it so.

For me in the urban environment I live and work in, I'd have to go with the Glock 17. In my area, the 9mm is the most available, after .22 it is the most affordable round to practice and plink with, while at the same time the Speer Gold Dots 124 Grain +P make for good self defense ammo. The long sight radius makes it lethal to shoot at longer distances, and the recoil allows me to get back on to the sight picture quickly when seconds count.

You cant go wrong with a 4" 19 or 66. I am fortunate to own many of both colt and smiths. They are all good. Many people will say a model 27. While I have owned them forever I dont agree. If I really am going to carry a N frame, it will be my .44 special model 24-3 in 4". I think I recall dobies answer, and I can agree with it too. While I also own a 3" 66-3 I got to say its fine, but not my 1st choice. If I want to hunt to eat I want a slightly longer barrel and larger caliber. That brings me back to the model 24-3 4". Its lighter than a 6", less bulky and weighs less than a 29, I belive it doesnt weigh any more and even maybe less than my 66 for cc. Hell, they are all good .38 and up.

As much as having only one would pain me, a 4" K frame .357 would do all a handgun would need to do.

And I remember Dobe's answer well, made a lot of sense for him.

Skelton got paid for writing such, and I don't begrudge him the money. But if he'd asked me such a question, I'd have replied that it was like asking a carpenter if he could only have one tool, what would he choose?

My 586, 4" over my M-19, cause I like the extra weight. Now if I can finally get used to my 5" M-27 that would be my choice.

Lots of .357 fans here, and I'm among them! However, only 1 gun it would be my 870. Useful for self defense, forage, and if you run out of ammo you can use it as a club. If I could have two, the second would be my 3 1/2" model 28.

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Even older, even crankier....

As much as it pains me Dobe was right.

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Front sight and squeeze

The 3" 686. This platform offers all the flexibility I need.

I'm with A10, a shotgun would my choice. Slugs for big game, buckshot for bad guys and normal shot for small squirrely things.

Guess that's why I have so many 357 guns.

But if it was the end of the world scenario type thing I would go with a Glock 19 even though I really don't like it. Ammo, parts, maintenance, reliability all that stuff. Drop it in the sand, mud dirt, just rinse and go. Revolvers don't do well with sand or junk in them.

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Still Running Against the Wind

Although my real-world #1 is a 4" 686 I really wish I'd have found a 3" when the 686 bug bit....
The budget won't allow for another gun this year so I may look to trade - Otherwise, the 4" will do for now

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In dog years I'm dead.

I not only remember the article but I remember the readers comments that appeared a few months latter. While I greatly appreciate the L frames I still agree with those Shooting Times readers of 40 years ago. If I have only one it will be a short barreled pump action shotgun with extended magazine.

Toss-up......

4"66 or 1911. Can't decide. Although I do agree a shotgun is a great choice....

Pete

A shotgun and a couple of barrels.
Remington 12 gauge 2 3/4 870 with a cylinder bore 18", a full choked 24" and a 20" with a rifled choke.
That should handle most of the issues an old gimpy fat guy could survive.

There'll never be another Skeeter! He, in my opinion, was the best gunwriter that ever lived. "Good Friends, Good Guns and Good Whiskey" and Hoglegs, Hipshots and Jalapeno's", I have worn my copies out reading them over and over again. As to the "If I could have one gun" question, I agree with Dobe, a .22...rifle. Mine would be a Ruger 10/22.

Skeeter was quite a guy. He sold 100% of his writtings, very, very few authors can say that. I wish he was still alive!

I recall the article and I disagreed with both of their choises.

A Smith for me, either a shortened 1955 (in 45 auto/auto rim of course) or one of my Shorty 45s. Very tough call.


Cat

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Think for yourself.

... it would be a Glock!


















Naaaw, just kidding

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Jorge

If I could only have One Gun it'd have to be a good quality pump shotgun with a couple different barrels. If we're talking just one Handgun then for what I generally use a handgun for (CCW, Plinking) I could do ok with my 642 but if I could open carry I'd go with a 686, 4".

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S&W M642-2,
ATI 1911a1, 4.25"

Combat Magnum is the P-E-R-F-E-C-T combination of size, durability, and a lot of sex appeal.

ONE gun? You guys been snuggling up to Charles Schumer? There's no way on both counts!

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Term limits!

Ok boys, I know this is a Smith forum, and I do own a few of them. However, I would have to take one of my Rugers.

4" Highway Patrolman would be mine........

Shoots cheap .38 spl for plinkin' and HD.

Shoots full-house .357 for packing into the woods.

No votes yet for a good old standard flattop AR-15 ??
I believe this would be my personal pick.
Ammo easily found, and i've got lots of brass, components, etc..
Can and has taken just about every critter on the continent 2 legged or 4.
Shoots 40 gr. bullets to 69 gr.
Sling it over my shoulder and i'm good to go.
The guy with a handgun is dead at 400-500 yards before he gets to me
with bad intentions.
Just my choice because i've shot them so much, from groundhogs
growing up to coyotes to prairie-dogs in S. Dakota.


chuck

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They hold no Quarter

The way the political climate is going these days, we may one day have to make the one gun choice.

As to which gun I would choose, it would be the same gun I carry all the time. It is effective, it works well, stops anything I need to stop, had 30% more ammo than a revolver, less recoil and is pleasing to the eye, as well as being American made.

This one gun is the S&W SS model 1911.

Now if I am allowed two guns, the Model 66 comes into play.

As to Skeeter, I still have most of his articles and writings in my collection of gun literature. He was a proficient writer with a sense of humor.

One gun = 870 Remington
Two guns add a good 22 rifle with a bolt action
Three guns add a 3' model 65

Think I would chose a 1911

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JR