OK, we are going to jump into the future here with a idea of what could happen. This is only for fun and not any implication of reality but just food for thought.

The Single Voice political party is in power. The Supreme Court says citizens can own firearms but only one. It can be a long gun or a handgun but you can only own ONE.

So what would your one gun be? Type? Caliber?

Mine would be a 1911 in .45acp. It would be large enough to take wild game, small enough to carry and be useful in self defense. It would hold enough ammo to make a worthy stand against multiple intruders and be easy enough to reload in moments.

It would be a toss up between my 5" or 61/2" 629 DX.

Model 65, 4" bbl!

mini 14 with a folding stock in 223 it will kill anything in north america its easy to reload.and i feel very comfy with it buy my side.

Very hard to argue your logic in choosing a 1911. But since this is suppose to be a discussion not simply a bunch of "me too's" I'm leaning toward a 20 gage pump with a 18' to 20' bbl, stainless and ghost ring sights. (870; Super Nova; 1300; etc)

Fits under a rain coat.

Effective from birds to big game.

Between 2' and 100yds

Can be fired by young and old a like.

Built in less lethal noise maker that say "go away, go away now..."

Then there is also M-4, but I'll let someone else pick up that one.

Just my two cents

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always trust your cape...

Phased plasma rifle in the 40 watt range.

I hate this "one gun" idea, but I'll play.

I suppose if this ever came to be, it would have to be my 3" M65. Of course I would also have to have a "chief's special" hidden somewhere

Chief38

ak47, nothing more needs to be said.

M-1 Garand....period I'd rather be able to reach out and "touch someone" or something.

the best a Kar 98 8mm mauser.well the garand is sweet too.

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God save the SOUTH

12 Gauge 870...with a variety of barrels.

And, a large family.

Also 12 ga older 870 with extended magazine, regular stock, sling, rifled slug and scope barrel, 28" barrel with choke tubes, 20" smoothbore barrel. Good for small game, birds, deer, bad guys.

Smith and Wesson 686P 4"

My S&W 686 4" would be the one. I've gave this thought over the years.

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Regards,
Windjammer

Thompson M1A1, or an AK-47. If I can have only one, it's going to be one that throws a lot of lead.

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Wayne
Torn & Frayed

Ah, we have found the work around.

For me, an 1894 Winchester in .30-30

For the wife, a model 48 S&W with an aux. .22LR cylinder

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Lost it all in a boat accident

An N frame, preferably in 44 magnum caliber but acceptable in 357.

Small enough for close in defense, suitable for ranges out to and beyond a 100 yards in the right hands, easy to load and cast for, robust, concealable, powerful and accessible.

The posited scenario leaves a lot to be desired; but I can envision a lot of very practical situations where my Garand or 870 12 gauge would not be available or practical. On the the other hand, those weapons (especially the Garand) fill a niche that cannot be filled with the substitution of a hand gun. Life is about choices, probabilities and outcomes.

One gun is not enough, but I've learned to shoot and make do with what I have at the moment.

I'll be the odd man out here. I'll go with my Ruger Mk III 22/45 with a red dot sight. The .22 lr can kill squirrels and rabbits and other small game without tearing up the meat. It can be easily concealed, the ammo is cheap and you can carry several hundred rounds rather easily in a back pack or such. While it's not a preferred "man stopper" round, five or six CCI Stingers to the face will probably make most folks stop and rethink their position on things. While it's not big enough to take deer or turkey unless you're really close up and an excellent marksman, it would probably be versatile enough for me.

Good thought provoking question!

i would chose an m1 carbine with the folding paratrooper stock

S&W model 629 Mountain Revolver. Large enough to take any animal in North America, diverse enough to take small game with shotshells and small enough to conceal. Not my ideal choice for either purpose but it's the one that does everything.

Not practical to carry a shoulder fired weapon as we go about our daily lives. So, for me the answer would be A 5" 1911 in 10MM, with a 22LR conversion top end. The 10MM for daily carry, capable of taking large game (better than a 45ACP IMHO), & self defense, & the 22 LR for fun plinking & small game. Thankfully, at my age, I don't believe we'll see the day in my lifetime that this comes to pass. Some of you young people, on the other hand..............................

I have also given this some thought. Although I would really want a long gun, they're kinda hard to conceal, so I'll choose a handgun. Has to have enough power to be a good fighting gun, but be useful for small game. Must be concealable and rust resistant. For me that would be a 4" M66 S&W. Obviously powerful enough for human adversaries, but can be loaded down with .38 wadcutters for the small stuff. Small enough to conceal and stainless.
Skeeter Skelton had a Dobe Grant story about this years ago. Dobe picked a .22 rifle.
Jim

One gun? Shades of "old europe," that'd be a hard pill to swallow. Given the gathering storm facing America, it is a reality that may well come to pass.

So, one gun? I would choose either my S&W 18-3 or my Ruger Mk. II. Why? Because if a "one gun" situation ever came to pass, it would almost certainly entail a restriction on the availability of ammunition. If that should come to pass, I would be better able to afford to buy and store .22 LR ammunition rather than centerfire ammunition/components. Additionally a .22 LR handgun would be more portable than a rifle and more effective for use in small-game hunting. As far as HD/SD is concerned, I'd just have to do a good job of aiming and firing. If as the time of decision drew near circumstances dictated more concern for HD/SD, then I would have to reconsider my choice. But at this time, this is how I would approach the decision. Sincerely. bruce.

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<><

This is next to impossible to give a right answer to. But of what I own, it probley would be either my winchester 94 30-30 or rossi puma winchester clone 92 in .357. My reasons are they are about my most portable rifles in a powerfull enough caliber for defense or hunting and both calibers ammo should be available. One? okay, the .357 92 clones.
Light, easy handiling, powerfull enough, ammo availability, accurate and lots of rounds in the magazine. Actualy, I also have a browning 92 in .44 mag too. It would be just as good but 95 % of the time in a rifle, the .357 will do the same job as the .44 with less kick and is sweeter to shoot. Dont have a picture of the .357 by itself, so here is both.
The .357 gets the nod.

My old work gun--a Ruger Security Six .357, stainless, adjustable sights, nylon grips. Lots of spare parts (none of which would probably ever be needed); reloading gear to include bullet molds, lots of powder and primers.

Heck, an old serviceable Model 10 isn't that far off either if pure function is the goal. "Your mind is your primary weapon".

I think I'll just keep my Springfield XDm .45 around; 13 in the mag, 1 in the chamber, match grade barrel, crazy accurate, and proven ammo.

One thought of mine, I might have to consider buying one of those SIG P250's for this case. That would give you multiple calibers for a single "gun". Perhaps better than just one?

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"... shall not be infringed."

surprised noone has mentioned the T/C encore....you could have ONE gun and lets see........probably hundreds of barrels

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Kris
OGCA, NRA LM

Binelli M4, of course! (and I'll hide .44 Special!)

Pete

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NRA, GOA Lifer

probably an AR carbine.

I'd go with a good tactical shotgun, probably a Benelli M2 or M4. Good defense gun, and suitable for hunting small-game, birds, waterfowl, or big game with slugs.

If it's conjecture - and not limited to what's on hand - or ammo on hand - make mine a Ma Deuce - good old Browning air-cooled M2. "What black helicopters?"

Okay... I'll play fair. If I can keep my basement factory - and components - I guess I'll make my one and only a 2 5/8" PC627 UDR. Manually loaded .38/.357M - moonclips - speedloader. Enough oomph for protection - and some hunting. Without my basement ammo factory - make it my 3" 63 - 8 shot .22 rimfire. I have some rimfire ammo...

Stainz

"Za state vil NOT allow dis ! Take him avay !"

Best Smith I have ever owned as far as reliability and accuracy, for me at least. definitely a deer popper. 158 grain Hornady XTP JHP's.
Peace,
gordon

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better have that checked

Can it be any action? If so I'll be taking a Colt M16 and a dozen 20 round mags.

Hasn't changed in the last 100 of these threads. CZ 75 9mm with Kadet upper. Joe

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Wisdom chases me; I'm faster

Either a Ruger Mk II Target Bull Barrel,

My Glock G17 with .22 lr kit,

My Glock G20 with .22 lr kit,

Ruger GP-100, 4" Adjustable Sights, SS, and Tuned by Gemini Customs

Long gun choice it would maybe be the Steyr Jeff Cooper Scout Rifle, or maybe the new Ruger version (haven't held one of those yet, but it looks good).

Honestly though, the 870 with several barrels might be the winner.

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I hope I copied that right

Ha ha - Nice!

If I had to pick just one gun to own, it would have to be able to take big game, small game and defend my home.....

Chalk up another vote for the ol' 870!

The OP said that you were allowed one. Are we still allowed to CCW that one? If not, that changes things. Not allowed to carry said gun around, the 12 gauge Mossy 590-A1 with the 9-shot capability and set up with ghost ring sights gets the nod. Some folks are talking survival in the great outdoors here, and talking about blastinating squirrels and rabbits for food. Will the markets be closed? Don't recall that in the OP either. So, I will have to assume that all is as it is now. CCW allowed, and no survival tactics necessary.

1911 A-1 with plenty of 10 rd. magazines.


WG840

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Freedom above all else.

To mix things up, I'll say Winchester 1300, 18" barrel, 8 shot. It's hard to screw up with that, regardless what the task is.

(But probably 1911.)

I will also chose a 5" 1911.

Mine would be a Model 19.

Wife's would be a Stevens 311 double 12 gauge.

Daughter would have a Model 10 2".

Dog would have a Marlin 1894C in .38/.357.

If it came down to one gun per household, it would probably be a tossup between the double gun and the Trapper.

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Georgia On My Mind

In real life, a Model 94 Winchester.

In the "future," a Hellbore. Mounted on a Bolo to carry it for me (and to ride in).

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and what his trumpet saith

Kahr PM 45.

Or, Smith Shorty 45.

Or, my shortened Smith 25-2. That might could be the one. Pretty versitle.


Cat

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Think for yourself.

Since it's the future, I will take a ray gun!

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Thirty characters. Exactly...

Just one, huh... I don't think I like the future!

I'd say it would have to be a Colt AR carbine (m4), with an Aimpoint. Just one handgun, would be a Colt 1911 Government. But, I would not go with only a handgun, if I had the choice to only have a rifle...

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NRA Life Member

I will hold onto my Colt Combat Commander in 45 ACP. I unfortunately do not own any long guns and to tell you the truth I am just really learning about handguns on this forum. I know nothing about long guns, but hope to learn.

Tough call, can I keep my bow? If so, i guess I'd have to go with the 1911 as well. Although the Ruger Charger looks like an interesting "survival gun".

[IMG]http://www****ger.com/products/22Charger/images/4901.jpg[/IMG]

I'll try this again. My vote goes for my personal favorite the S&W 3" Model 65. A no nonsense fighting handgun.

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No Fear is lack of experience.

Interesting thread. Although I like the idea of a handgun I think that I will go with an 870 with a couple of barrels and several chokes. It would do for most situations I would encounter.