It's always a topic of discussion ... what revolver would you keep if you could only have one. However, as I continue to scale down my own modest collection, I often think about what I would purchase if I was starting from scratch ... one handgun, one rifle, one shotgun. A lot depends on personal usage, geography, etc., but I think I could be very satisfied with a 4" 629 or 4"-5" Redhawk, a levergun in .44 Mag with a 18" barrel, and a Rem 870 or Mossberg 590A1. Matching calibers for the revolver and long gun, and a shotgun for general purposes. I think all my bases are covered with that trio.

Thoughts?

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I'm with the banned ...

revolver 45 lc 5 inch, mossberg 590, bolt action 308 sako, you only said 3 but i would have to have an assault rifle also

* Colt SAA - .44-40, 4 3/4", Blue/CC, Ivory grips
* Winchester Model 21 - 16ga Skeet grade
* Winchester Model 1895 - 30 US, with Lyman Receiver Sight (original rifle, not modern repro).

I know, 3 only, but I have to add:
Probably need a .22 also (just because) - Winchester Model 52 Sporter (original, not modern repro).

I'd be pleased as punch with that lineup.

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Been up since before breakfast

If I was to start over the very first gun I would buy would be an LCP. It's the gun that I chose above all others to take with me wherever I go and that isn't going to change.

I would not again buy multiple centerfire full size guns like my Colt and Kimber and Glocks and all the rest, but just one high-end example like a Wilson Combat. In fact, I'm thinking about selling some guns and doing just that.

For rimfire plinking I have the perfect Savage rifle and Ruger pistol for suppressed shooting, and now hardly shoot anything else. So I would not buy the other half dozen rimfire rifles and pistols I now have.

Centerfire long guns ... I just have one lever, pump, bolt and autoloader so that would not change.

More than three...

If you had to choose, which finger on you hand would you keep and chop off the rest ??
About the same as your question as it would be painful to choose..

Starting over I'd probably buy a S&W 99 or PPQ or HK45. One of those 3 is fine. Not big into shotguns so a model 870 is fine for whatever. Still go with either an AK or VZ58 for a rifle and I have no interest in 22lr

20 ga 870 with both barrels but..... Have always wanted a 20 ga Citori or Ruger Red Label just because.

3 inch Mod 65 or 66

10/22 with target barrel & fancy wood.

Have the first 2, do't have a 10/22 right now gave one to my son several years ago and haven't replaced it.
But there is one due out of pawn in my shop, might have to come home with me.

I’ve said this before but my ideal set up would be a subcompact, full size gun and carbine in the same caliber that take the same magazine. That way I’d only have to stock up on one caliber of ammunition and one type of magazine.

I actually have spent the last year or so dumping all my oddball calibers and all my SAO handguns and I’m down to 1 .40 S&W , 3 9mms, 1 .380 and a couple of rifles.

Given what I have right now I’d keep my Mini 14 because I already have ammunition and accessories for it. I’d keep my S&W 4006 because that has always been my grail gun and the only way I’m getting rid of it is if God Himself tells me to. I’d keep my M&P 9 and my 9mm Shield and if at all possible I’d replace the wife’s LCP with a Shield also in 9mm.

So I'd be down to five.

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Retired Career Security Guard

I could get by with these;

S&W 686 4"
Rem 870 20 ga.
Win 70 (.308)

I don't have any of these.

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That's just somebody talkin.

I like your choices. Living in South Florida, I would follow your lead, but with .357 Magnum in the revolver and carbine. Remington 870 is my choice in shotguns, too.

Carry; my 337
plinking-woods gun; my 63 and my grandfather's Ruger pistol
bedside gun; 681
desk gun; 686+ 2.5"
Long guns:
Benelli SBE II
WInchester model 94
Ruger Mini 14
Ruger 77/22
870 riot

That's about as small as I would care to make it.

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Forum consigliere

Would one TC Contender with a bunch of different barrels be cheating?

Larry

To do it over I would keep the first gun I ever bought, a 586, that some damn fool thought was a good idea to sell. But I might prefer it in 4".

Mossberg 590A1
CAR15
M1A
Browning HP

It wasn't my first Smith but it's my favorite by far.
That would be my Model 19 that I bought in Guam
And carried in SEA.

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NRA LIFE MEMBER

If i was to start over Id get:

A Hi-Standard 22 auto pistol
A Winchester Model 74 22 auto rifle
A Ansley Fox double 12 ga shotgun
A S&W Model 39 9MM pistol

If these selection seem unusual to anyone I'll point out that they were my 1st acquisitions by type and I'm still comfortable with them to this day.
The one item I would add,as it really wasn't an option 30+ years ago, is an AR15 type rifle as a "just in case" weapon.
Jim

Glock 9x19, AR rifle, 20ga shotgun.

My choices are a bit unrealistic at this point, simply because I would need to divest myself of too much x39 ammo to truly start from scratch. Thus, I would practically keep my Kalashnikov, and pare down to the single revolver and shotgun. But I have always had a hankerin' for a short lever gun in a pistol caliber. A .45-70 brush gun might suffice too.

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I'm with the banned ...

You said what one revolver, right? S&W 627 PC Eight Times.

Out
West

If I were to start over my .40 Sig P226 would be a 9 mm.
Easier on the hand, the ears and the wallet.

Nice guns I recently let go to greener pastures:

.243 Winchester 88
12 Ga. Baker Batavia Leader
.257 Roberts Kimber 84M
Winchester Model 12 Riot from the Washington State Patrol
12 Gauge Ithaca NID
1934 .30-30 Winchester 94

I did buy a 1927 Savage 99G and a 1927 collector grade Ithaca NID 12 Ga.

Anything else I even think of getting is going to be something I really want and don't need

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Buy American
Vote Responsibly

My Holy Trinity?

1. .22 S&W kit gun
2. .357 mag 3" K-frame model 65
3. 12 ga. Remington 870 pump

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NULLI SECUNDUS

I have a dire straits, essential list of 6 firearms, but can not seem to even pare down to a baker's dozen!

One Revolver is tough too, but would be a M1950, .38-44 Outdoorsman, based on how surprisingly well it shoots out to 50 yards and beyond with my handloads.

I believe in simplifying, streamlining and consolidating but when it comes to guns, variety is the spice of life.

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Be Well

Three just isn't enough. Five would be minumum , and a sixth would add a lot of flexability.

By catagory :

Small handgun.

Semi-concealable belt gun , with enough power to be at least marginally suitable for hunting.

Utilitarian 12ga pump

Rifle #1

Rifle #2


At least one of choices be a .22lr.

A lot of lattitude within catagories, and possably have a gun meet multiplt roles.

Small pistol could be .38 J frame , .380 , pocket 9mm , rimfire accurate enough for plinking duty , etc. Larger pistol would scream out to be a 4in .357 , but could be a 10mm , big bore revolver , squint enough , could be a 4 5/8 BlackHawk.

Rifle could be your preverence in action in a cal suitable for all around hunting.

A second rifle could be specialived : varmit , EBR , pistol cal ( if a .44mag lever action wasn't already first rifle) , .22lr if somthing else above isn't already in that cal.


If you had said TWO guns , that would be easier. Semi concealable handgun of above discussion , and 12ga shotgun , with slugs handling big game , and you learning to stalk within range.

CZ-97 in .45ACP
Remington 870, 12ga with 20" barrel and extended magazine
Savage Model 10 FCP-K in .308

That pretty much covers all my bases.

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A closed mouth gathers no foot

Ruger SR40
Arsenal SAM7xx AK
Mossberg 590SP Flex

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I'm Proud To Be An American!

It puzzles me why so many people consider a 12 gauge shotgun being the only gun they really need for protection, big and small game hunting. I am NOT saying that is a wrong choice. Where we live few people even have a shotgun and if they do, and don't trap shoot, it is under the bed somewhere and hasn't seen daylight in a few decades. Most small game is shot with a 22 rifle and big game is shot with a scoped high power rifle. The average distance for that big game is shot is in excess of 200 yards would be my guess. Many times the one shot you get per season may be at 400 yards. I have only one experience with slugs and game and had a poor results. I would really like to talk to people who use these. After 50 years hunting in the west and Alaska, and knowing hundreds of hunter I can tell what about every hunter here has.
Big game rifle 270 Win or bigger with 2x7 scope
12 gauge pump shotgun
22 caliber rifle with 4 power scope
High power revolver
22 caliber handgun

First choice would be my 686 for revolver for range and home. That's the last that would go from my huge 'collection'.

I have a 5943 for a full size 9mm.

My 30-06 rifle that I could do without if I had to, but I don't want to.

A shotgun. I have a Browning A5, but that wouldn't be the one I'd want to keep as it has a full choke. I'd like something more akin to a pump riot gun.

The only thing that I really lack is a carry gun that would also double as a back up around the house.

That would be a minimum 'collection' for me, what I need and use. I need nothing to 'look at' or invest. Shooters all.

If I wanted to add more, it would be handguns for rotation.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

It's an almost impossible question for me to answer definitively given that I don't have a single favorite color, movie, song, ice cream flavor, etc, etc.

Handgun: Glock 19 (close second, 3 inch model 66)
Shotgun: Benelli M4 (close second, Mossberg 590A1)
Rifle: Fulton Armory M14 (close second, Colt 6920 carbine)

.....at least that's my list this afternoon. Tomorrow.... who knows?

Why people want a 12 or 20 ga shotgun? Many of us live in areas where hunting with a rifle is illegal with the exception of 22's for small game like rabbits or squirrels. In Iowa we hunt deer with slug shotguns, we don't need to take 300 yard shots. 100 yds at the most. I have dropped a whitetail at 80 yds with a 20 ga. 870
Ducks, geese and pheasants are shot with shotguns. These are what we hunt and what we eat.
Off to cook a pheasant for supper.

I watched a guy today at the rifle club with a very nice military grade type semi auto 12 gauge with ghost ring type sights. We were shooting muzzleloaders at 50 and 100 yards. He set up targets at 50 and 100 yards and prompty started shooting the 6"black out of the 50 yard target, then went over to the 100 yard side and granted did not do quite as well but when were talking minute of deer he did very well indeed. Nothing as close to the precision of our muzzleloaders but that wasn't his objective, I've known guys to take bear with their shotguns while out grouse hunting and usually the range is very close but having never done it before because I've never shot a grouse with a shotgun in my life...I think I was seventeen or so before I found out a grouse could fly. I've never had much use for a shotgun except back during my duck and geese hunting days, pheasants when I was a kid.

It would be a tough choice between my 28-2 and my 686-5 both 4". I have a Rossi stainless pre lock 92 in 357. Over the years I have had (and still had) quite a few pistol/rifle "sets". 22 RF, 357 mag, 44 mag, 45 Colt and 45 ACP. The idea of not having a "set" just seems unthinkable. It is just my opinion, but I've has several 9mm "sets" and do find them to be the least effective of the bunch (but if it is what you've got, go with it!). I am very much a fan of 45-70 (I've narrowed it down to 4 of them already) I would start and finish with a Browning 1886. I have the 26" but go for the 22" after my good Guide Gun experience. I've only had a K-22 (17-5) for about 6 years, but think this is a gun to be buried with! A rifle to go with that would either be my 10-22 Deluxe (1973) or my Weatherby/Anshutz Mark XXII (probably the later). I'm down to 24 shotguns, to pick 1 to do everything would be a Browning Superpose 26" 20 gauge, second choice would be a Browning Citori Superlight (26") 20 gauge. They have durability and versatility beyond measure. A couple of honorable mention shotguns would be a Savage 24 357/20 ga., Savage 24 Camper 22/20 ga. and the Winchester 97 (I have a 1904 production that is still going strong, so my like new 1954 gun should be good well into the 23rd century!) Ivan

For me it would be the 460 S&W with 8-3/8" barrel . This is the gun I use during shotgun season so it takes the place of my shotgun, although I do own a few shotguns. Its also my pistol of choice, as i can use any pistol to hunt during late muzzle loader. As for rifle, I shoot the Rem 700 in .308, but I'm not saying I cant live without it. Its just what i use and it works for me.

20141210_112747.jpg

I'm with Phil, more than 3:

Ruger 10/22
A real nice 1911
My 442
Remington 870 with two barrels
Pre 64 Model 70 in '06

That would cover any SD/Survival/Hunting situations

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Even older, even crankier....

I've started over about a dozen or so times. That's why I have 3 shotguns, 9 rifles, 2 muzzle loaders and thirty or so hand guns.

John

Ruger SP101, 4" Barrel

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Stay protected my friends.

My 686. And my 3rd gen. The other stuff I can live without.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

You had me going until you said one shotgun. That's impossible!

If I had to it'd be a 4" model 66, Remington 700 in 30-06 and Benelli SBEII. And I'd be bored to tears with the pure utility of it all!

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War Eagle! '10 BCS & '13 SEC

-- 3-inch M60-10 TARGET in .357 Magnum. (A most vestal handgun)
-- Browning B92 lever action carbine, chambered the same. (Lever actions are such a hoot, and it's a JMB design)
-- Benelli Montefeltro in 20 gauge. (What a joy to carry and shoot)

A couple of bases are left uncovered, though. Clearly, in need of a .22 LR and a real high power rifle.

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~ S&W aficionado in training ~

While I lived in Germany, I had a (German) Hunting license. I was restricted to two handguns. I also had a sport shooting license, which also allowed me four, combined. Two I had already owned, so I was restricted to two more of choice. After this complicated turn of events, here is what I ended up with;

Ruger MKII competition with Aimpoint micro
SIG/Sauer 229 9x19
S&W 619
S&W 547

I got a great deal on the 547 or else I would have replaced that with a Colt Commander or 4" S&W 22-4. Now I'm back in good ole' San Antonio, I have all of the above and then some. However, that set of four served me well for years over there. I really liked carrying that 547 in the woods when hunting. Plus, it has some pretty cool proof marks.

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Si vis pacem, para bellum

My 4" 29-2, especially now that the "spitting" problem is fixed.

There isn't much you can't do with a 4" 29-2.

I'm too old to start over so I guess I'm keeping them all.

All I know is.... I'd never part with my model 18

4" 686, 870 and Colt AR. that's about as bread and butter as it gets.

I can't limit it to 3. Four is the best I can do.
1. Colt or USFA Single Action, .44-40, 4 3/4" barrel, ivory grips
2. Winchester 1892 in .44-40
3. Winchester 9422 in .22LR
4. Browning 1886 in .45-70

I can live without a shotgun.

2 3/4" SS Speed Six .357 Magnum
Marlin lever action in .357 Magnum
20" 7 + 1 12 gage Mossberg pump

Close call on the Speed Six and a 3913, but the advantage of having the same caliber as the rifle makes the difference.

exactly.....

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There's nowt so queer as folk

Living in South Florida, my "one gun" and the centerpiece of my imaginary three gun collection would definitely be the 4" m66-2 that I bought this past winter. If I lived in bear country I'd opt instead for a model (6)57 or (6)29 in similar barrel length. I would next choose a lever gun in the same pistol caliber as the revolver and round off the mini-collection with a more easily concealable j-frame revolver – preferably a .357-capable 3" pre-lock model 60. I would happily trade off my Rem 870 and various pistols to secure such a 3-gun collection.

Sako Forester .243
CZ 75 Compact
S&W 27 snub.

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Halfway and one more step

5" 627

Remington 1100 or 11-87 12 gauge w choke tubes.

Ruger M77 (the original with tang safety) .308 or .280 Remington.

A Pietta 1858 Remington clone, preferably one of the shorter bbl ones. Then I would get a conversion cylinder and a Kirst .22 conversion. Even at "cowboy" loadings a .45 Colt should work for most things.

For a rifle, I would get a Heym double with barrel sets in .470 N.E., .30-06, and 20 ga.

For a nominal shotgun, I would get a 20 gauge flintlock trade gun built.

A Model 15 in 38 Special. Good for plinking, self-defense, and not to big to carry.



A Ruger 10/22 for squirrel hunting.



A Sears/Roebuck 12 ga pump gun for everything else, from bunnies, to bucks.



Oh...I've got those.

But I really got started with that Sears pump gun.

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John 3:16 .