If you could only have one gun - redux

[ISCS Yoda]

I love that type of thread but limiting us to a choice between a 1911 and a .22 rifle is just that - too limiting. But fun! Every answer so far is the same. 1911. So, let's do this another way. You can only have one gun for home defense. Maybe you own it now, maybe you wish you did. Pick one. If you must, give your reasons. One gun. Home defense only. You can play with it if you want to but this is for home defense. One gun.

My choice:

S&W M686+ 2.5" barrel

My reason:

Well, I do own it, but that's not the point. Same number of rounds as a 1911. Easier to operate (and I am very much a wheelgun guy!). And I am very good with it. It's better than a shotgun SOLELY because it's handier; I can tote it from room to room, etc. YMMV, of course, so let's see what the audience says!

***GRJ***

 

[gen3guy]

My choice? My beloved 33 year old Ruger Mini-14. (I know, I know). Unless a rampaging rhinoceros escapes from the zoo, I pretty much have everything covered with that old gal.

 

[Rpg]

Colt 1911 government model. I prefer the '70's

 

[Mushki]

I will take a shotgun if only allowed one gun, I just can't quit bird hunting cold turkey.

If I can keep my hunting guns I would just take my carry gun, currently an m&p 9mm compact. No real love for it, I have a few other pistol I'd rather have but it versitile and shoots well.

 

[don5]

Home defense only? No contest- my 870 with 18 inch barrel, flashlight, extended tube loaded with 8 00 buck rounds and a Blackhawk collapsible stock. The SOUND of it being racked is why most police departments use this weapon. If it is good enough for them then it is good enough for me.

 

[GKC]

If I could have but one gun, and one gun only, and we aren't talking about a world-end, SHTF scenario, so normal parts and services are available, I would pick a M&P 45 midsize. The midsize has a 4" barrel, so it's just slightly more maneuverable in my hands (which is probably illusory, but I like it better than the full size) and it has the full size grip, which holds 10 rounds normally and will accept the 14 round magazine.

I don't have one currently, but I have owned one...and will again someday.

 

[Cal44]

I'd pick my M625 in 45 acp.

Good for HD, but also a nice range gun.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

The most common intruders into my home are raccoons! For that reason a model 17 has come in handy. 3 times last week alone! For serious home defense I'm an 870 fan. Skip the extended tube, because of function and balance issues. I have Sure Fire 2 cell flashlight mounted on a mag cap rail. Added a butt stock ammo sleeve. Always leave the chamber loaded, this way I'm ready to go silently but if I want to rack the slide I still can.

If you require a pistol: 1911
If you require a revolver: 1917 (almost the same answer)
Racking the slide on a 1911, got me out of a tight place one Saturday afternoon some years back! (can't do that with a 1917) Ivan

 

[SAFireman]

You JUST CAN'T have one gun!

But if I was forced.....Colt Commander

If it had to be a revolver - S&W Mod 58

 

[swsixgunner]

686 4" loaded w/ FBI 38 load. Recently round changed from 357 hydro shocks(you didn't ask for ammo choice but I think its a good question with what gun)
Reason--Simple gun don't have to worry about safeties or racking a slide. All the attention can go to what's the threat.
Gun I don't have but would consider great is a 45acp revolver

 

[LimaCharlie]

Same answer as the other thread, a 1911. One of my 1911s goes on my belt when I get dressed and goes on the nightstand when I go to bed.

 

[ben1]

Since this is a S&W forum and I can't reply "if I only had one safe full of guns......" I will say my 13-3 3 inch. It does it all with style and simplicity. Though I have my 870's and my others. My 13-3 can be relied on and that is what I would need.

 

[Mule Packer]

If I had only one gun for self-defense, it would be one of these...probably the CZ (the one with the hammers).

There are a couple of reasons for my choice. First, while I have a short-barreled Remington 870, my wife can't handle that one as well as the more diminutive double-barrels. She has no problem, cocking the hammers back on the side-by-side, snugging it up to her shoulder, and pulling the trigger.

If there was an intruder at our home and I wasn't there, she'd probably fumble around with the pump action, especially with fear and adrenalin kicking in. Not so with the coach gun. Easy to use. Less moving parts. No trying to figure out if the pump action goes forward or backward during the heat of the moment.

Second, a sawed-off double-barreled shotgun is a tad easier to maneuver than the longer, heavier Model 870.

And while the double-barrel doesn't make the ominous sound of a shell being racked into the chamber, there's something about the "snick-snick" of two hammers being cocked in the dark that would possibly make someone think twice about being aggressive.

Granted, it doesn't have the magazine capacity of a pump shotgun, but you'd be surprised how fast a person can shuck the empties and slip in a pair of ready-to-go buckshot when they've practiced extensively.

Yeah, I agree, there's probably better choices out there, but for our homestead, I think I'll go for the side-by-side.

 

[Waywatcher]

Well, I've made my choice:



20 gauge Remington 870, 18" barrel, loaded with #3 buckshot.

 

[Golddog]

One Gun

CZ 75 SAO 9mm - great trigger, great ergos, and I love to practice with it.

 

[Kanewpadle]

Home defense? I got it covered!

 

[klausinak]

I'm with Mushki, (@ least when it comes to the shotguns), now which shotgun I keep would be a subject worthy of pondering for quite awhile...

Just my .02

-Klaus

 

[g8rb8]

....... You can only have one gun for home defense. Maybe you own it now, maybe you wish you did. Pick one. If you must, give your reasons. One gun. Home defense only. You can play with it if you want to but this is for home defense. One gun..........

Any decent pump action shotgun with a shorter barrel would be okay with me. I would like the 1897 Winchester takedown the bad guy used in the movie Bullitt.

John
Scoundrel and Ne'er-Do-Well in Training

 

[Cyrano]

I designed this as a street gun but got a good home defense gun at the same time. Colt series 70, 45 ACP, lightly tweaked by Clark Custom Guns. Most of the time it wears the other slide, which has night sights on it. It sits in a holster on my bed and another holster like it when I'm traveling. I manage to shoot it some so I stay in practise with it.

 

[CatSnipah]

Home defense? I got it covered!

Love it! Can I borrow?