"One gun for the rest of my life"

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Sgt. Buzzard

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I know this question is often kicked around but this time it's getting serious. I'm at the range yesterday with my buddy who is 83. I'm 76 and we both are thining out the herd. Giving some to interested grandsons or selling less used guns to make it easier for our wives when that day comes.

As a revolver guy I don't really care much about my numerous bottom feeders and they will be the first to go. Probably because of shoot ability and size I'll hang on to the Glock 42. I'm thinking carry here.

Back to the range, I'm working out with four. A 4" 10-7, Kimber 3" DAO, 442 and a 340PD. There are other revolvers at home but 4" barrels or under .38 special are out of the question as my forever gun must carry and hit well when concealed.

So the 10-7 is out because of size and the Kimber due to weight. The 442 and 340PD are left. While I love the weight of the PD it does kick hard enough to slow me down and the trigger is just OK. It's been awhile since I carried the 442 regularly but familiarity breeds confidant competense. The trigger is wonderful. The groups much tighter and way faster. In fact I'm surprised on how much better I shoot this gun. There's a long history of BUG, off duty and retired carry. It shows.

Bottom line, a G 42 and my 442. Since I was brought up on revolvers and trust the safety factor of a DAO as well as the ability to shoot five in a pocket or with a compromised grip under SHTF conditions, the Smith 442 gets my win.

Serious thoughts about carrying into your last days. How about you?
 
I can't conceive of only having one gun for the rest of my life. I may be able to thin out my modest collection quite a bit, but when I leave this Earth I believe that I'll still be in possession of at least 10 guns: a couple of my favorite vintage S&W revolvers; some S&W and SIG pistols; a couple of shotguns; and a vintage rifle or two. What my wife and sons do with those will be out of my control and I don't think that I'll be worried about it.
 
It would be very difficult to get down to one caliber let alone one gun.

My 442 is my most carried gun, so I can definitely see you leaning towards yours.

The thing is, there really is no need to thin the herd, guns are the easiest thing to sell. One phone call and a dealer will come by and take them and write a check. Your wife won’t get top dollar, but it won’t be a headache.

It was harder to clean out the top drawer of my father’s dresser than to take care of his guns.
 
While I am not at that stage of my life yet I would think that a Model 66 snubby would cover the bases pretty well.
-small enough to conceal
-ability to go mild to wild on ammo & snake shot
-large enough to hold, even with arthritic hands, can be fired off-hand if needed
-not really concerned about reloads. If something really bad happens and I need more than the 6.....I have lived a good life and we'll call it good
-Sights are red ramp with white outline, can add laser grips if eyesight requires
-Won't scare the nursing staff.....it's just an old revolver - not tactical looking

If I could keep a 22 and some sort of shotgun that would be swell ;)
 
I'm in the same boat, 85 and trying to get to basic needs only. I've sold off over 100 guns in the past couple of years, and I an down to about what I just "need". I currently have 3 1911's, (one is a Springfield Armory I just won at a Friends of NRA dinner). a 617-6, Mod 25-2, Mod 469 9mm, Sig 365, Biakal IZH .22 Target, Ruger LCP2, My Browning shotguns, BT99+, Sporting Clays 12 Ga, and 20 Ga Skeet. a Sako .222, Anschutz 22LR.
I just don't think I could get by without any of them, they all have particular use for certain activities and times.
 
If it had to be a handgun, it would be my HK VP9, because I've got a 40S&W slide that I use often. This would give me some flexibility in my choice of ammo.

If it had to be a rifle, it would be my left-handed AR.

If it had to be a shotgun, it would be my Mossberg 500. It's simple, reliable, easy to disassemble and clean, and shoots the most widely available gauge. Also, it has the 18" home defense barrel, the 24" slug barrel, and 28" long barrel with three chokes.

I wouldn't like to be in the situation where I had to choose only one, but I think I could manage with either one of these.
 
It would be one of these...
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I'm at that point in life also. I don't have a huge number of guns, I'm 81 and I did a pretty significant thinning around 10 years ago but still have plenty left. I haven't been to a gun show for probably 3 years, I used to love going with the thrill of what I might find to pick up, but now taking guns up there to drag around and try to peddle just don't sound like so much fun. The only person to help my wife move them when I'm gone will be my son. He likes guns but not anywhere close to the same level that I always have. My wife used to go to the Casino when I went to gun shows but she can't do that anymore and any time I mention taking them to a show to try to get rid of them she just says "leave them where they are at, they aren't hurting anything", so time just marches on.
 
Lots of factors to consider.

I fear having arthritis issues with my hands, as I have some minor issues now. Also being able to pick up the front sight as eyes age.

Would probably want something a little bigger and easy to manipulate.

Probably hang on to a SIG 365XL with a dot sight and a Model 64 with 2 or 3 inch barrel.
 
It would be one of these two, depending…..

If the eyes start to go, this Glock 19 with a dot will be it. IMG_3170.webp

If recoil is the problem, this .22 Beretta will do. IMG_0925.webp

It is also super easy to rack, its reliable, and accurate.

I’ll give some away, sell the rest, and go on a cruise with the missus.
 
I note the OP is 76. I just turned 74, so just two years behind.

I started getting into guns seriously when I turned 50. I had been living abroad, in Japan, since my mid thirties, so even after getting into guns I couldn’t shoot them except when back in the US on vacation. Acquired a good gun book library, and read a lot. Accumulated guns back in the US which stayed in storage except when I was back.

I retired at 60 in Japan and for a while was going back and forth between the two countries, but when covid hit I wound up setting up more or less permanently here in the US. After covid, moved a lot of my stuff back to the States. After a two year wait, was able to join a gun club and to shoot, and train, on a fairly regular basis.

At 74, I am becoming, slowly but surely, a better shooter. I am very pleased to find something I enjoy and can get better at at this age. (I realize I will never be as good as I might have been when younger, but…. so what?)

Long revolvers only, from two years or so ago I have gotten into semis. While I try keep my collection to about a dozen handguns, I feel I am in the midst of my shooting life.

My latest acquisition is a1911, and I am loving it.
 
Last edited:
Sgt. Buzzard said:
I know this question is often kicked around but this time it's getting serious. I'm at the range yesterday with my buddy who is 83. I'm 76 and we both are thining out the herd. Giving some to interested grandsons or selling less used guns to make it easier for our wives when that day comes.

As a revolver guy I don't really care much about my numerous bottom feeders and they will be the first to go. Probably because of shoot ability and size I'll hang on to the Glock 42. I'm thinking carry here.

Back to the range, I'm working out with four. A 4" 10-7, Kimber 3" DAO, 442 and a 340PD. There are other revolvers at home but 4" barrels or under .38 special are out of the question as my forever gun must carry and hit well when concealed.

So the 10-7 is out because of size and the Kimber due to weight. The 442 and 340PD are left. While I love the weight of the PD it does kick hard enough to slow me down and the trigger is just OK. It's been awhile since I carried the 442 regularly but familiarity breeds confidant competense. The trigger is wonderful. The groups much tighter and way faster. In fact I'm surprised on how much better I shoot this gun. There's a long history of BUG, off duty and retired carry. It shows.

Bottom line, a G 42 and my 442. Since I was brought up on revolvers and trust the safety factor of a DAO as well as the ability to shoot five in a pocket or with a compromised grip under SHTF conditions, the Smith 442 gets my win.

Serious thoughts about carrying into your last days. How about you?
Click to expand...
I recently bought a 3 inch S&W mod 30 .32 S&W Long for my old age when I can't carry or shoot anything bigger.
I've had the trigger smoothed and cylinder reamed for the .32 H&R magnum. A Tyler T grip adaptor some speed strips and a few rubber bands around the grip to keep it from slipping down my waistband and we're all set.
 
I'm 'only' 64. Well, for a few more weeks, and find myself in a similar line of thought. I am thinking of going back to my 'first loves': revolvers and 1911s. That means getting rid of A LOT of polymer handguns: except for my M&P .45 Shield, and maybe my Kahr CM9. Decisions, decisions, decisions...
 
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