Starting from Scratch, First 5 guns!

[Lastmohecken]

That Top Five Guns, post, sparked this idea. And of course, it's been done before. Let's just assume that you lost all of your guns, heaven forbid, for any reason, and you had to start over. Assuming that you are at least middle aged, as most of us are, and now we find ourselves without any of the guns, we have collected over the many years, and you are starting over. You couldn't replace everything anyway, and you probably wouldn't even try. But you at least need a basic battery of firearms to get you by. First 5 guns, what are you going to try to find and buy?

I am really torn, so I am going to think on it a little but, before I post. The bad thing for me is, I will have to look for older guns, pretty much, as I don't have much use for any of the current production stuff, in general.

[Scott Tschirhart]

1. Colt SAA in.45 Colt
2. Remington 1100 in .410 bore
3. Ruger M77 Hawkeye bolt action .308
4. Ruger M77-22 All Weather bolt action .22
5. Ruger MK IV Tactical

[AJMD429]

.
Beretta Centurion in 9mm (CCW and Home Protection priority)
AR-15 SBR 12" or so in 5.56 (Home Protection, 'OK' for most hunting)
Ruger Charger SBR in 22 LR (Small Game, Home Protection, Quiet/Tactical uses)
Ruger Redhawk in 45 Colt/ACP (or 44 Mag) (closest to one-gun-does-all)
Marlin 1894 in 45 Colt (or 44 Mag) (better for some hunting than an AR, plus I like leverguns)

Actually, the answer might depend on some other questions:

- what are the odds I'll be able to ever get more than just these five...?
- is there civil unrest...?
- am I still at my homestead, or in some urban area...?
- and as above - what is my family structure...?
- will I still get to hunt...and if so, small game, whitetail, or maybe elk/bear...?

If I still had young kids I would swap the big bores for 357 Mag:

Taurus Tracker in 357 Mag
Marlin 1894 in 357 Mag

It would sure be nicer if it were "First TEN Guns..."

Then I'd add in:

Ruger M77 Hawkeye in 375 Ruger or Big Horn Armory 89 in 500 S&W (in case I got to hunt really BIG game)
Marlin 1894C in 32-20 (because I just think that cartridge is FUN)
S&W CSX 9mm (more concealable option/backup)
North American Arms Mini-Pug in 22 WMR (deep concealment option)
Mossberg 950 12 gauge shotgun

This reminds me of Mel Tappan's "Survival Guns" book I read in my early teens.

[vancelw]

Ruger 20/22
Ruger MK II .22 pistol
Vintage Remington 870 in 16 g
Bolt gun in .308. Probably a ruger American Gen II
Browning 53.


That's a good start for the 1st 4%

[Bill in Oregon]

This is a pleasant exercise. I like all the fellas' choices so far.
For me, although this is likely a work in progress:
1. Ruger Mk IV 22/45 5.5-inch bull barrel (will put grouse and rabbits in the pot, but also be competitive at 50-foot NRA bullseye)
2. Ruger Blackhawk, .45 Colt (to do the closer-range heavy lifting with the 270-grain Keith from RCBS -- I think Scott likes this one)
3. A lever-action .22 rifle -- Heritage, Winchester, Savage, Henry ... (There is not a lot an accurate .22 rifle can't do with a good sneak and a careful shot)
4. AR-15 in 6.5 Grendel, but --fudging here-- a spare upper in .450 Bushmaster (I am not a huge AR fan, but that little Grendel can deliver effective mail well beyond 1,000 yards, and the dang Bushmaster will mop up hogs, bears, elk in timber within 100 yards)
5. Pump shotgun, a Mossberg if 12, a Winchester Model 12 if 16 gauge.

[jeepnik]

Since money is no object.
1. Webley Fosbery
2. Randall left handed 1911A1
3. Early production Remington left handed 700, 30-06
4. Springfield Scout Squad
5. Early production Remington left handed 1100 or 870, toss up

[stretch]

Oohh.... good question!

1. Ruger MKII pistol, long barrel.
2. Ruger 10/22 rifle with scope.
3. Browning HiPower.
4. Smith & Wesson 357 Magnum, 4" barrel.
5. SKS.

Not all need - some want in there as well!
We could substitute a Mini 14 for the SKS, or
take away the 357 and add a Mossberg 12 bore.
Could take away the HiPower and substitute a
Springfield Armory 1911.

I don't really hunt anything big right now, so I don't need a 308 or better
at the moment. Do air rifles count? A good RWS in 22 would be a nice addition
as well. Might have to take that instead of the 357 to start.

Choice, choices.

-Stretch

[Scott Tschirhart]

2. Ruger Blackhawk, .45 Colt (to do the closer-range heavy lifting with the 270-grain Keith from RCBS -- I think Scott likes this one)

You are right! That bullet is special and I find that it is just as useful in just about any .45 Colt chambered sixgun.

[rock-steady]

Marlin 336C 30/30
Remington 870 12 Gauge
Marlin 39a .22 rimfire
Ruger MkII 22LR
Colt 1911A1 .45acp

[barbarossa]

1)Browning 1886 45/70
2)Winchester 1895 carbine 30/06
3)Ruger 77/22 RSI
4)C Sharps Highwall 22lr
5)Anschutz 1418 22lr

[Griff]

Just five you say? Not sure I could get by with just 5 as I need a couple of pairs to play cowboy action.

1 - Winchester 94 .30-30 with heavy Numrich octagon 26" barrel.
2 - Pair of Colt SAA in 45 Colt, 4-¾"
3 - Cimmaron 1878 12 ga hammered coach gun.
4 - Pair of Colt 2nd Gen 1851s.
5 - Taylor's 1873 Comanchero in 45 Colt.

From there the list would broaden out some... maybe I could live with the 1st 10! LOL! NOT!

[Steve in MO]

It's interesting to think about, and I've been running it through my head all morning. This is what I came up with, but of course it is subject to change:

-Colt Lightweight Commander 9mm
-Ruger Blackhawk 4 5/8" 357/9mm.
-Smith & Wesson 1854 Stealth Hunter .357
-14" Remington 870 Police 12 gauge
-10.5" AR15 5.56mm w/suppressor and .22 conversion kit.

Why these picks? At this point in my life, recoil is not as fun as it used to be. I've carried a 1911 for a long time, so that makes the most sense, and there are some really effective 9mm loads out there, plus I get ten in the gun. I can carry it all year long with minimal effort.

The Blackhawk gives me versatility and compatibility with the 1911. I can also bump up the power in the .357 if I'm out in the field with it.

The Stealth Hunter .357 gives me the look of the levergun for those places where anything military styled is prohibited, but with some modern upgrades like a mounting rail on top and a threaded barrel. .38s out of a suppressed barrel are a lot of fun to shoot! I can also load them for dirt cheap.

The 870 is pretty self explanatory. For inside the house, in low light, I like the power of the 12 gauge. And since the NFA tax went away, there's no sense not to get the short barrel.

The AR? I've used one since I was 18 years old, know how to keep one running, and it might be useful if the US goes down the crapper (which it slowly is.)

I could probably give up the shotgun for something like a Ruger LCR .22 or a Smith Model 43 .22 for deep concealment. That's a tough call.

[Streetstar]

1) -- personal defense pistol ------ Glock 19 any generation
sentimental favorite ---- Colt Python 3" -- or SW 686+ --

2) -- personal defense rifle --- Colt AR 6920
------ sentimental favorite --- retroish AR 6520, SP1 -- whatever

3) 22 rifle -- Ruger 10/22 takedown --- thats it

4) 22 pistol - Also Ruger -- mk series pistol
-- honoarable mention -- 22 revolver like a single six or a wrangler or SW Kit Gun -- but the modern MK 4 Ruger beats them all

5) Centerfire hunting rifle -- would actually depend on my AO

My AO (central Oklahoma ) almost any 30-06 would do and could poke around with longer distance western stuff a bit


So basically ive got 9mm, 357, 223/556, .22 lr and 30-06 ----- takes care of anything in the lower 48 for the most part




Noteworthy in that i dont have a levergun in my top 5 ---- love em but it is what it is

[AJMD429]

.
I hadn't thought of the 'several-guns-in-one' you can do with an AR-15... just these four add-ons I've had make a very versatile set of 5-in-one...

5.56 NATO - plentiful ammo and standardized trajectories, expectations, etc.
22 LR - quiet without needing a suppressor, inexpensive, plenty for small game but ok for defense
300 Blackout - better for inside a home, easiyl suppressable vs full-velocity 5.56 (which would be not much better than 22 LR subsonically)
50 Beowulf - 45-70/500 S&W ballistics in a carbine is hard to beat when something needs hammered
338 Lapua (as a single-shot upper) - extends range incredibly

Then there's all the 'shotgun adapters' people can get...

Take a 12ga/223 or other over/under combo-gun and you can extend the capabilities with various adapters.

And of course the breakopen switch-barrel options like the Thompson Center Encore or Contender Pistols/Carbines... over the years I've had barrels in:

22 LR
22 Hornet
222 Remington
223 Remington
280 Remington
300 Blackout
32 H&R
357 Magnum
357 Maximum
44 Magnum
444 Marlin
45 Colt
410 Shotgun
50 Cal Muzzleloader

That would be a lot of mileage from 'one' gun. However unlike the AR system, these would all be more hunting/target/sporting type applications versus any great home or self protection purpose.

But if a person had an AR-15 and Encore on their list, those two would provide a bunch of good things for protection and hunting, so toss in a couple handguns (maybe a Ruger Charger 22 LR with shoulder-brace, and a 9mm, 357 Mag, 44 Spl/Mag, or 45 ACP/Colt for CCW), and you'd still have ONE MORE to complete your set of 'five guns'.

So...if you wanted to take full advantage of interchangeable uppers/barrels, and wanted to maximize protection and hunting and target shooting options, you could certainly do this:

1. AR-15 with 22LR, 5.56, 300 Blk, 50 Beo, and 338 Lap
2. Encore with 22 LR, 5.56, 243 Win, 6.5 Creedmore, 300 Blk, 35 Rem, 50 Cal Muzzleloader
3. Beretta 9mm Centurion (my current fav CCW)
4. Ruger Charger 22LR with thermal scope, integrally suppressed barrel, and shoulder brace/SBR setup
....and.... ???????

What would one add to that....??? On THIS forum the answer would be OBVIOUS - some kind of LEVERGUN...

For me it would be a Marlin 1894 in something.... 218 Bee, 32-20, 357, 44 Mag, or 45 Colt are the easier choices - of those, I'd pick

5. Marlin 1894 in 57 Mag

...due to ammo availability and already having heavy-hitters for whitetail with the AR and Encore options.

[piller]

Ruger 10/22
3030 in either an older Winchester or Marlin for the quality
30-06 bolt action. Manufacturer to be determined.
Ruger Standard model mark 2 with 6 inch tapered barrel
Pump shotgun in 12 gauge, probably Benelli if I can afford it

I would again round it out with a few others, but those 5 are what I would use most.

[jeepnik]

Am I the only one that has to have at least one firearm that is pure whimsy?

[Lastmohecken]

Wow! Lots of different responses. This is the first time I have been able to get back on here, as the site seems to be down, every time that I have tried. 5 guns is tough. I think, I would go this way. But since most of the guns that I would choose would need to be found on the used market. I couldn't just go in and order what I wanted or generally depend on finding what I wanted.

!. A decent 45 caliber Colt Lightweight Commander, because that's usually my primary carry gun.
2. Used Marlin 4570 lever action, because I could hunt both the regular gun season, and the Alternative Straight wall season in my state with it.
3. A Belgin Browing A5, Light Twelve with a vent rib barrel.
4. A Ruger 10/22, preferably one of the nicer ones with a checkered Walnut stock.
5. This is where it get's tricky, because I would hate to be without a Smith and Wesson Airweight J-frame, shrouded hammer, like a 442 or similar.
But that sure leaves a few big holes in the lineup, like a good .357 mag revolver or a pre-Hillary Hole, 4 inch Model 29, or even a Ruger Old Model singleaction, or one of the New Model singleactions.
But I didn't specify that five guns was all you could ever have, just what would you be looking for first, to get you by for a while.

[Streetstar]

My response above was practical but if 2 legged predators were not in the picture

The 5 i would LIKE to have


1) shotgun --- Winchester 12 or 1300 defender -- i just like the smooth action compared to Remington 870's and 500 series Mossbergs - and cant believe i left a shotgun off the list earlier - most versatile platform by far )

2) Winchester model 94 30/30

3) handgun - for 5 til the end of time -- probably pick my 686+

4) .22 - still a 10/22 - i like the takedown version

5) still gotta have an AR -- pick your flavor but i like 'em pretty basic