If you could only have three...

[scooter123]

My vote would go to a model 29 or 629 with a 6 inch barrel. It's a natural progession, 22, 357, and 44.

 

[khclark]

My three:

1. 686 4" 6-shot (for IDPA and home defense)
2. 642 (for carry)
3. 617 (for shootin' lots and lots of cheap ammo; I've even used it for NRA gallery bullseye matches)

 

[Japhy1]

As I only have 3 at the moment , easy .

48-3 .22 Win.Mag rimfire
65-3 3 inch .357
627-5 PC . .357

Now what do I do with the 2 on layaway ?

 

[canoesota]

I agree with Wayne M

You've already figured out the need for the 617. Last would be a 629, you decide which barrel and if it's to be Classic or Standard. If you're thinking these may be your last you've got the range pretty well covered with a 22/357/44. Later, if you CAN get more permits, start branching out into the more exotic and/or less common guns or specialties if you like.

 

[moses]

For you last Two of three. Bummer. I would get a Sig 220 45 A.C.P its a top of the line 45 auto you will loveit. and a browing buckmark 22 LR 10 shot semi auto great gun lots of fun trouble free accurate. good luck move over to Pa. we can have darn near any thing in any amount.

 

[Frank from jersey]

Welcome to the Democratic Peoples Republic of New Jersey.The worst in the country with "I'll protect you" gun laws. Highest crime rate in the country. Carry permits! I have one but you wouldn't believe what I have to do to get one. I live with in ten miles of Camden. Worst in the country drugs and crime.15 round magazines are legal in NJ. Three Guns!! They just busted a ex-LEO with 259 firearms for pulling a weapon on two state police detecives(investigating stolen farm equipment) opps! I forgot the 500,000+ rounds of ammo. Point is you can apply for as many permits as you want you just have 89 days to use them. I try to have at least two to three permits in the soup so they get sick of looking at me. I can go on but its only going to get worse. As far as three revolvers go with the calibers .44,.45,.357 and .22 and you can't go wrong. Welcome to NJ. Somewhere off Exit 3 NJ Turnpike. Hail Corzine.

 

[Frizzman]

If you are not a reloader or are wealthy, I would stick with .357.38 or 9mm. You have a 686 that can do many things well. It is good for target, home defense, personal defense and even hunting. If you add a .22 revolver such as a model 63 it would cover cheap target shooting and plinking, etc. Then if you can or do have a CCW in NJ, perhaps something light and compact for carry. In the auto department you might consider a compact DA such as a Glock 27/26/36/30 or S&W M&P Compact .45 or XD sub-compact(I have a Kahr P9 Covert that makes a dandy carry pistol).40/9mm or compact .45. Sigs are good also. The compact 1911's also are classics and a lightweight Commander size pistol is very handy. In the revolver choices, I might suggest something in a lightweight J Frame such as a M37/49/642 etc. It all depends what kind of battery you are trying to have. Are they a "do-it-all" collection or a S&W revolver collection?...Of course, the idea of getting out of NJ might be one to consider when you can!

 

[Bobwtn]

Only three, tis tis, hey, when you can, you are welcome to live in the South. TN, KY, we will treat you nice and let you have lots of guns.
I would be inclined to stick with the same cal or bullet type for at least two. Having a 22 for cheaper fun would be good. I have several handguns, but out of 7, 3 will all shoot the same 45 acp +p and 3 will handle 38spl. +p. I have a 32 pocket auto for going to church etc. I have 22 rifles and shotguns. If you had two in the same cal. then you could stock up on ammo. Two of my 45's are identical so I have several mags. It gives me a good feeling to have that "two types of ammo" approach.
I was under the impression from a few years back that NJ had limitations on the caliber for citizens, such as .380 and below. Was I wrong or did that change for NJ?

 

[Bobwtn]

As I thought a few minutes, can you defend yourself there? Can you shoot an intruder? If son, a 5 shot smith like a 642 etc, a pocket gun for going to the door, sitting around the house etc. I bet you can not have +p 38 ammo or hollow points either? Can you buy a snub nose revolver or have speed loaders there?

 

[celllman]

Ya know, this can be considered cruel and unusual punishment!!!

1 - S&W Model 27-2
2 - S&W Model 60
3 - S&W sw1911pd

 

[HEADKNOCKER]

You Need to look into a J Frame Snubby!!
Gary

 

[DGNY]

I would add a S&W 625, perhaps a Mountain Gun, and use inexpensive ammo for fun and HP for home protection. If you reload, a revolver is easier at the range when brass-retention is an issue.

Regards,

Dyson

 

[Ultraman]

I have given this topic a whole lot of thought over the last couple years and have sold over 50 of my handguns
with it in mind... a 3 gun arsenal. I decided that I had become a slave to my collection and although I owned
many quality and highly coveted hand guns, I really was not enjoying them the way I wanted. With the direction
our government has been heading over the years with gun right infringements, I thought maybe I should just thin
out my little armory to a very few that fit my needs best and just enjoy them. The "Less Is More" thingy. So first I thought
about my basic wants and or needs. I only NEED one gun but WANT a few. So what did I NEED? First and foremost
a Defense gun for carry and home. I want reliability and easily assessable ammo for it. Answer?
A small 8 or 9 shot .22LR revolver!
Next I want a utility gun. A gun for cheap target and range fun, plinking, hunting and could double for home defense too.
Again I want reliability and easily assessable ammo for it. Answer? A 10 shot .22LR revolver.
Last I want a true home defense gun in a popular caliber. Answer? A .357 / .38 revolver.
With either one of the first two and the last, I can shoot .22 shorts, long, long rifle, .22 shot, .38 special and shot plus .357 magnums.
In times of ammo shortages and black markets, I should do OK. So here is my primary arsenal... (I am still selling off more until
these are what I will have left.)

1. Most important to me CONCEALED CARRY / PERSONAL DEFENSE = S&W MODEL 317 2"

2. Next for me is a UTILITY GUN = S&W MODEL 617 4" 10 SHOT

3. Last is for HOME / TRAVEL DEFENSE = S&W MODEL 65 3"

 

[lev83]

I hate these games but cant seem to lay off so here is my list:
1) Colt Gold Cup Trophy 45 ACP
2) S&W Model 586
3) S7w Model 41

 

[kmyers]

Smith & Wesson model 17.

Smith & Wesson model 13 or 686 +. Both are 3" barrel.

H & K USP in .45.

 

[Stainz]

My choices would be my 4" 627 Pro where you have your 686; my 4" 10-shot 617; and a 625. That last one is a bear to decide on. The nostalgia of my first-ever S&W - a 625 MG in .45 Colt - or the utility of a 625 in .45 ACP. Ammo availability is important. While I have a stash of homebrews in all calibers, thanks to my basement factory, that may not always be the case. In that case, my 4" 625JM would be the third... especially if I could keep that old .45 Colt 625MG as 'art'.

Belay my last... especially if I can keep my CCL 'in the future'. If I must include CCWs in the trio, make #3 my 642 - in a Mika pocket holster, it can go anywhere. If it isn't 'one of the three', back to that 625JM!

Stainz

 

[SuperMan]

This is not even pleasant to think about...but it may come....so...

#1 Gun is the Transformer Toy... Start with a Colt 1911 .38 Super. BoMar sights, BarSto match barrel, trigger job. Add barrels in 9mm and 9x23 Winchester to the same slide. Remove the matching .45 slide from the matching 1911 along with all the inner parts and ejector. This also has a fitted .400 CorBon barrel. It would also be fitted with a .45 Super barrel. One gun and 7 centerfire calibers if you count 9mm Largo for plinking from the 9x23 barrel.
Then add the .22 conversion units... Original Colt ACE, 70s vintage GM round top with matching BoMar sights and finally a Marvel Precision Long Slide with iron sight and flat top ribs... One gun, lots of options.

#2 is the carry gun... 1952 Colt Commander in .38 Super with added 9mm and 9x23 barrels. Already has MMC night sights added. Would then strip another Super with BoMar sights for target and combat competition duty as well as a matching .45 ACP slide and all the parts. Currently have a Pachmayer/Peters Stahl .22 conversion as well a Marvel #2 model.

#3..hard choice but would want some sort of heavy revolver. Caliber would depend on ammo availability, could I still reload...
S&W 657 Mountain Gun
S&W 629 5" Classic
S&W 625-7 5" PC .45 ACP
Freedom Arms 83 4 5/8" or 6" in .454, .45 Colt and .45 ACP
would be the top contenders.

With the #1 and #2 guns I also have MegTec Carbine conversions in .45 ACP and .38 Super. The .45 will take .45 Super and the .38 Super runs 9x23 like it was made for it...

If I only have a couple of guns they are going to have to cover as many bases as possible.

Bob

 

[44wheelman]

what's needed...an N frame 44 or 45 if not another revolver, then I would go with the 1911 45acp.

I think you ought to consider the model 41 for the .22 decision

 

[The Highlander]

I HATE these threads. But, I'd have to have a .22lr. Probably either a Ruger MKII or MKIII Hunter, maybe a S&W 41. Or a Ruger Super Single Six Hunter to gain the .22 WMR ability. Or a 617 10-shot, or one of those cool new 5" Model 63's...

Then a .357 magnum. Either an L-comp or my newest gotta have it a 627 Pro Series 8-shot. Or a tank-proof GP100.

Of course I'd probably want a big-bore. Don't like .44's anymore, too much shoulder damage. But I love those 6 1/2" Model 25's. And you can't go wrong with a good 1911 like a Kimber.

Then there is the 9mm, which I personally really like. So that one could either be a Ruger SR9 that fits my hand like a glove, or a Glock 17 that almost does. Or a M&P Pro Series. Or maybe even a 547 3".

Dang, I forgot the 342 Ti. Can't be beat for carry.

And another one, discounting ammo availability issues, would be my Glock 20 in 10mm. Oh my gosh, that thing shoots like a lazer and hits like a cannon.

And the .357 SIG is great too, so...

Wait a minute, what was the question?

 

[safearm]

Since this is a S&W forum, my choices would be:

1. S&W M&P 9mm, either full-size or Pro
2. S&W airweight J-frame w/2" barrel, either .38 Special/.357 magnum, or (my preference) 9mm (same ammo as M&P)
3. .22 LR, either auto (22A) or revolver (317)