Now that the silliness of the 4 gun thread has passed.....

L_Kilkenny · Post by **L_Kilkenny** » Sun Mar 06, 2011 12:08 pm

I see all sorts of if you could only have one gun threads, what are your minimums, etc etc. And the 4 gun thread was just too easy

.

What if you could only have 2 guns? I don't care if their both long - both short, both rifles - both shotguns, - both centerfire - both rimfire. But you can only have 2!

LK

Old Ironsights · Post by **Old Ironsights** » Sun Mar 06, 2011 12:12 pm

A Savage 99C, Take Down configuration, with matched barrels in .358Win, .308 Win & .243Win

OR: a 12ga Drilling in a .358 Win with barrel liners for 12ga to .45/70 and .358W to .357Mag

and a .357 Revolver.

vancelw · Post by **vancelw** » Sun Mar 06, 2011 12:17 pm

Ruger 10/22

S&W M&P 45

If it wasn't for needing something concealable, the .45 acp would have lost to a Remington 870

L_Kilkenny · Post by **L_Kilkenny** » Sun Mar 06, 2011 12:25 pm

Old Ironsights wrote:A Savage 99C, Take Down configuration, with matched barrels in .358Win, .308 Win & .243Win

.357 Revolver.

Forgot to add: Switch barrel guns only count if the remain the same caliber or gauge!

No cheatin allowed!

For the Record: 10/22 and a 12ga (870 or 1300) are my choices.

LK

Catshooter · Post by **Catshooter** » Sun Mar 06, 2011 12:31 pm

Winchester 94 Trapper in .45 Colt for my long gun.

Smith & Wesson, either a Shorty 45 or my 25-2 in .45 ACP. Tough to call. I'd have to do all what needs done to the sixgun to make it concealable. Which is alot of work.

The Karh PM 45 could be a contender also. That little pistol is just so handy!

Cat

stretch · Post by **stretch** » Sun Mar 06, 2011 12:32 pm

Glad to see the silliness has been reduced to only 2 guns......

I'll bite, though - I think it would be hard to argue with the
old western concept of a matched revolver/levergun pair.

I'd take a 357 or 44 Mag DA revolver with adjustable sights
and a 3"-4" barrel, and pair that with a Marlin levergun in
the same caliber. If I chose the 357 wheelgun, I might just go
with a 336 in 35 Remington. I'd need two different powders
and die sets, but I could use the same bullets most of the time.
Could use 2400 as my powder in both too, I suppose.

-Stretch

Old Ironsights · Post by **Old Ironsights** » Sun Mar 06, 2011 12:35 pm

L_Kilkenny wrote:
Old Ironsights wrote:A Savage 99C, Take Down configuration, with matched barrels in .358Win, .308 Win & .243Win

.357 Revolver.

Forgot to add: Switch barrel guns only count if the remain the same caliber or gauge! No cheatin allowed!

For the Record: 10/22 and a 12ga (870 or 1300) are my choices.

LK

Then I'll take the Drilling.

Bigahh · Post by **Bigahh** » Sun Mar 06, 2011 1:03 pm

Browning BLR in 30-06

Benelli M2- 12 ga

Barcelona Rick · Post by **Barcelona Rick** » Sun Mar 06, 2011 1:04 pm

Remington 870 12 ga
S&W Model 17

rick

Post by **Old Savage** » Sun Mar 06, 2011 1:33 pm

Has to be three.

Ruger 77 R 6mm

Rem 870 Express 20 ga.

K22

Post by **Old Savage** » Sun Mar 06, 2011 1:33 pm

Has to be three.

Ruger 77 R 6mm

Rem 870 Express 20 ga.

K22

tman · Post by **tman** » Sun Mar 06, 2011 2:05 pm

Rem 870, Glock 27.

rjohns94 · Post by **rjohns94** » Sun Mar 06, 2011 2:27 pm

Well, we have reached a whole new level of silliness.

I carry concealled all the time. To go to two firearms is near impossible for me in the context of concealed carry and all the hunting I do but I will think this through as I ramble here. One of them has to be a shotgun. I have 4 of those. In this case, considering hunting and self defense, game laws and other considerations, I would have to choose the same shotgun I chose in the 4 gun scenario. I have a custom built 311 side by side that has rifled barrels and rifled sights. I would choose that shotgun. I could use the slugs its regulated for any big game on this continent, with in 75 yards. I could use any other 12 gauge ammo for the rest of the game animals. I could also use it for home protection. Makes a poor CCW though.

I hunt with BP most of the time and of the three flintlocks, the most versatile is the .62 smooth bore. If I could have only one of them, that would be the one to keep though my favorite is the .54 caliber rifle. I use it all the time in regular season for deer as well as special blackpowder seasons. Since they can be shipped right to my door, I"m going to assume that BP firearms are not "guns" for the sake of this discussion. If so, One of these two might make the list.

I hunt a lot with my .22s and one of them would be a consideration, either .22lr TDS or .22Mag Winchester. Both are levers. If I had to choose one it might be the .22 mag.

I could give up a centerfire rifle caliber if I had to.

This leaves a carry pistol. Currently primary is a Kimber 1911 commander size SS Raptor II. I have a caliber conversion kit to .22lr for it. In order to get to two guns, I would have to forsake the BP firearms, the centerfire battle rifles, centerfire hunting rifles, and the rimfires. To meet my hunting needs and my ccw needs, I would also have to give up the .22lr conversion kit.

OK, my choice, the sxs 311 regulated for slugs and able to use all 12 bore ammo, and the kimber .45. those are my choices today. I could use my bow still? and what about my pellet rifle? and then there is .......

Post by **Hobie** » Sun Mar 06, 2011 2:40 pm

L_Kilkenny wrote: What if you could only have 2 guns?

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Sun Mar 06, 2011 2:41 pm

Much as i`d hate to give up my lever guns it would have to be my AR-15 223 Bushmaster and a 1911-45.

SFRanger7GP · Post by **SFRanger7GP** » Sun Mar 06, 2011 2:42 pm

My 5 1/2" Ruger Blackhawk 44 mag custom by Clements and my Merkel K3 in 30-06.

Bogie35 · Post by **Bogie35** » Sun Mar 06, 2011 2:45 pm

Hobie wrote:
L_Kilkenny wrote: What if you could only have 2 guns?

bogie

Bogie35 · Post by **Bogie35** » Sun Mar 06, 2011 2:47 pm

Remington 870 12 gauge
Ruger SP101 357 Mag

bogie

soon 2 retire · Post by **soon 2 retire** » Sun Mar 06, 2011 3:52 pm

Hobie wrote:
L_Kilkenny wrote: What if you could only have 2 guns?

Hobie, you have a way with words.

Bob in NE Indiana

Grizz · Post by **Grizz** » Sun Mar 06, 2011 3:55 pm

I've thought about this a lot.

1- Marlin 39 Century .22lr

2- Redhawk .44 with 405g hardcast at 950fps

covers all the range I can see, all the food I eat, and anything I need to stop.

Grizz

rodeo kid · Post by **rodeo kid** » Sun Mar 06, 2011 5:01 pm

This sure changes things from the 4 up. If I could only have two, it would have to a self defense setup: 1. Colt AR-15 .223
2. Browning Hi-Power 9mm
Also these happen to be the ones I have the most ammo for, around 1,000 of .223 and a little over 500 of 9mm. God Bless.

2ndovc · Post by **2ndovc** » Sun Mar 06, 2011 5:08 pm

Grandpa's 30-06 Sporter '03 and Dad's 1911a1 that he had re-worked back in the early '60s.
Neither are worth much to the average person what they would have been in original condition but
they are priceless to me.
Plus, not only am I ready for any "Big Nasty" but I can load them down to plinker and small game levels.

jb

2X22 · Post by **2X22** » Sun Mar 06, 2011 6:26 pm

AAAARGHHHHH

TODAY, it will be a 71 in .348 and a 4 5/8" Ruger .44 special.

It may very well be changed tomorrow..............

2x22

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Sun Mar 06, 2011 6:43 pm

Let me say this as nicely as I'm capable.

Hobie's reply might be a tad over-stated... but, instead of looking at that as your casket; look at it as your gun-right's casket. For while these topics might be a simple mental exercise for us... for some gun-grabber, they just might be fodder or fuel to bolster the concept that "if we can't take 'em all, we'll take away as many as we can!"

Quite frankly, I have far, far more shooting interests than I have time for... but what time I do have I enjoy being the one to decide what I'll spend my time enjoying. Not some control freak that's successfully pushed legislation that limits my coices to what they deem acceptable.

By being "on-the-record" as saying, "if I can only have ___, then I'll keep ____," you're providing data and justification to that concept.

I won't be a party to it. I have legitimate uses and the freedom to possess and use what I have now and those that are on my "ned to have" list.

Carry on, back to your data collecting.

AJMD429 · Post by **AJMD429** » Sun Mar 06, 2011 7:12 pm

stretch wrote:If I chose the 357 wheelgun, I might just go
with a 336 in 35 Remington. I'd need two different powders
and die sets, but I could use the same bullets most of the time.
Could use 2400 as my powder in both too, I suppose.

I like that line of thinking...

Griff wrote:By being "on-the-record" as saying, "if I can only have ___, then I'll keep ____," you're providing data and justification to that concept.

I worried about that briefly, but "they" have more than enough 'justification' for eliminating or nearly-eliminating RKBA to the fools who vote, but NEVER enough justification to have gotten as far as they already have to anyone who understands the Constitution. Perhaps such topics should include a mandatory disclaimer along the lines of "...but if any legislator thinks I'm willing to be pushed that far, then [ insert politically-correct but adamant publicly-expressable threat of choice ]". Of course we've already been pushed farther than our nation's founding principles would allow.

Old Savage wrote:Has to be three.
Ruger 77 R 6mm
Rem 870 Express 20 ga.
K22

The 6mm Remington probably is as close to a "do it all" bottleneck round as there is (...along with the short-necked Winchester wannabe I think they call a ".243" or something like that...) Faster than most 'varmint' rounds, but potent enough for medium to large game at a fair (and flat-shooting) distance. Mine is a Ruger bull-barreled type they used to sell called the "M-77V" and is sweet.

-------------------------------------------------

I'd pick a .44 Magnum or .45 Colt Redhawk for numero uno, as it would be

a. concealable if needed
b. able to work for self-defense if needed
c. able to harvest medium to large game if needed
d. able to use a huge variety of powders
e. able to use a huge variety of bullets (maybe even .45 cal sabots?)
f. extremely rugged
g. not currently the subject of any imminent 'bans' or restrictions
h. cartridge-compatible with a few levergun choices and/or a Desert Eagle

If the choice were being made during stable political, economic and social times, for purely personal reasons, I'd choose a compatible Marlin 1894 in my "Night Scout" configuration (Burris Fastfire II holosight, LaserMax laser sight, and Coast LED-lenser light). I'd also consider the same "pair" in .357 Magnum for a bit of cost reduction per shot and weight reduction per shot if camping/travelling.

Too bad the politicians have to inject the "political" factors into these otherwise fun 'hobby' mental exercises - but I guess that's the perpetual nature of mankind to deal with the balance of power between government and citizen. It's been going on since the first 200-lb caveman killed the 100-lb one to take his food/woman/fire/shelter/weapon.

If the choice were being made during today's politically, economically, and socially unstable times, I'd either want to 'cheat' and have the other gun be something collectable or huge, and worth $20,000 so I could sell it and get several other guns, or I'd want something shooting .308 or .223 and pick either an M1A (slight edge over the AR-10 due to compactness and gas system) or AR-15 (slight edge over the Mini-14 due to generic parts availability and accuracy).

Bogie35 · Post by **Bogie35** » Sun Mar 06, 2011 7:57 pm

Griff makes a good point, but I don't think that even the most liberal-socialist-democrat-unAmerican moron who's perusing this forum would think for one moment that we would allow them to limit us in ANY way on gun ownership. Certainly they learned from the 2010 elections that our views ARE that of the American people and not simply some radical special-interest fringe group. It should be clear to them by now that "We the People" are not in favor of their socialist agendas.

bogie

olyinaz · Post by **olyinaz** » Sun Mar 06, 2011 7:58 pm

An AR-15 and an AR-10. Multiple uppers in various calibers to fit both.

Oly

Bogie35 · Post by **Bogie35** » Sun Mar 06, 2011 7:59 pm

Plus...I think these discussions are focused on what we think are the most versatile guns, not on what we are willing to settle for.

bogie

olyinaz · Post by **olyinaz** » Sun Mar 06, 2011 8:00 pm

L_Kilkenny wrote:Forgot to add: Switch barrel guns only count if the remain the same caliber or gauge! No cheatin allowed!

Hey, if you aint cheatin' you aint tryin'!

OK, OK, I'll play. A lever gun in .44 mag (load it up or down - very versatile) and a bolt gun in 6.5mm Norwegian (same comment, load it up or down - take anything in North America with the versatile 6.5 in a modern action).

Oly

iceman · Post by **iceman** » Sun Mar 06, 2011 8:17 pm

Remington 870 20 ga for small game, deer with slugs if needed and #4 buck for up close protection.
My 99F in 300 savage for large game and sniping purposes if needed.

txpete · Post by **txpete** » Sun Mar 06, 2011 8:23 pm

1.

2.

6pt-sika · Post by **6pt-sika** » Sun Mar 06, 2011 8:25 pm

I could probably get by with one of my 444's and my grandfathers old W.C.Scott 10 gauge SxS !

The old W.C.Scott can do it all !

From Morning Dove ..............

To whitetail deer !

And the 444 is great for deer ..........

And target work !

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Sun Mar 06, 2011 8:27 pm

My 629PP, and the 1894 .44mag....keeps it simple. If I only have two, I assume that it's dire straits and I won't need a .22 to plink with.

Or another direction could be my 9422M and the Single Six, both cyls.....

cshold · Post by **cshold** » Sun Mar 06, 2011 8:40 pm

Piece of cake…

gak · Post by **gak** » Sun Mar 06, 2011 9:37 pm

I'll go with the pistol/rifle
combo:
- Browning 92 .357
- S&W 65LS (Lady Smith) .357
This set up might (?) change to calibers starting with .4__ if I lived north of the .40th parallel

Honorable mention - and possibly swappable every other day with above.
- Pre 64 .30-30
- Ruger Montado .357 - "just because."

Of what I don't have,
- The new Ruger Mini 30 Tactical looks interesting as one gun of a two gun scenario if "social work"/HD is a required focus. A nice compromise toward the "black gun" without having to go whole hog (meaninf as your only rifle).
- Still residing south of the 40thP, the pistol part would likely remain a .357 revolver, possibly a pre lock 686+ - still at 3". With all the talk lately of "with a .44 Sp, who needs the ol' .357?" - and as a huge .44 Sp fan myself joining in - the mid-bore remains the one to have in one of these only one or two gun scenarios IMO. I still don't like it as much as the .44 Sp, but there's nothing more versatile than the .357 and its platform, especially when factory/store shelf ammo cost and availability is factored in.

El Chivo · Post by **El Chivo** » Sun Mar 06, 2011 10:49 pm

I would go with the classic set, 30-30 and 22 lr.

A variation might be 35 Rem and .22 pellet gun, or 30-30 and 22 revolver, but basically one big and one small.

Another variation might be .243 and .22 lr. This gives maximum distance for getting game, but one of the others might be better for defense than the .243.

I don't believe in having a combo where you carry two guns to shoot the same cartridge. If I'm going to carry two heavy guns around I'd want a variety of capability, not the same capability.

One thing, we seem to be thinking only of use in the wild, but for me the 22lr is practical because I can use it at the indoor range for recreation. Can't do that with the rifles cartridges.

shooter · Post by **shooter** » Sun Mar 06, 2011 11:15 pm

Tough one. If we can have any two guns, not just ones we own, I might have to go with a Redhawk in .44 or .45 Colt, and a Rossi/Win/Browning model 92 in the same cal.

If it's guns we own, it would either be my Redhawk .44 or my custom Clements Vaquero in .45 Colt (still can't make up my mind), and either my Marlin Guide Gun in 45/70 or Win 94 in 30-30. It's hard to make the final decision between those four guns. (Guess I should have participated in the 4 gun thread

). I'd take a combination of any two out of the four.

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Sun Mar 06, 2011 11:23 pm

Both Boge & Doc make good counter points... So with that in mind, I think the most versatile pair I could own would be:

A Pair of Winchester 94s (carbine and rifle)

A Pair of Colt SAAs

A Pair of 12 Gauge side bys... 20" & 26"

A Pair of toggle link Winchesters (1860 & 1873

A Pair of Colt 1911s

ok, you get my drift, but the list much more lengthy!!!

AJMD429 · Post by **AJMD429** » Sun Mar 06, 2011 11:26 pm

El Chivo wrote:A variation might be 35 Rem and .22 pellet gun

Your inclusion of a "pellet gun" made me think about something interesting thought. . .

There is a "Convert-a-Pell" that allows .223 shooters to use a modified .223 case (O-ring-sealed 209 shotshell primer) to fire .22 cal pellets fairly accurately from a .223 gun at short range.

El Chivo wrote:I don't believe in having a combo where you carry two guns to shoot the same cartridge. If I'm going to carry two heavy guns around I'd want a variety of capability, not the same capability.

Good point...

A .44 Mag Redhawk can do the same thing a Marlin 1894 in the same chambering can do, or nearly so, and vice versa.

On the other hand, A .44 Mag Redhawk and .22 LR 10/22 would cover MORE bases than the Redhawk & 1894 pair or a Single-Six & 10/22 "pair"would.

Likewise, a .22 LR Single-Six or Mark-II handgun and a .44 Magnum 1894 Carbine would cover a broader range of needs than the same-cartridge pairs available.

Plus - although there is weight/storage savings with a shared cartridge, if you have two cartridges, but one of them is the diminutive .22 LR, that 'extra' 1,000 rounds you have to store/tote isn't all that big a deal.

Old Ironsights · Post by **Old Ironsights** » Mon Mar 07, 2011 8:41 am

Bogie35 wrote:Plus...I think these discussions are focused on what we think are the most versatile guns, not on what we are willing to settle for.

bogie

Thus the Drilling.

RustyJr · Post by **RustyJr** » Mon Mar 07, 2011 9:47 am

AR15 for HD and hunting and a Glock 23 for CCW.

RustyJr

tman · Post by **tman** » Mon Mar 07, 2011 6:01 pm

I'd go with my m4, except in Penna it's verbotten for either small/big game hunting.

.45colt · Post by **.45colt** » Mon Mar 07, 2011 6:19 pm

Provided I have My reloading Gear it's quiet easy. My marlins in 32-20&45-70..............................from Bullfrogs to Bufflerlos

. just shoot birds on the ground.

6pt-sika · Post by **6pt-sika** » Mon Mar 07, 2011 6:29 pm

.45colt wrote: just shoot birds on the ground.

SACRALIGE

Catshooter · Post by **Catshooter** » Mon Mar 07, 2011 7:49 pm

Griff,

To me, the most realistic cause of this sort of thing (reduced to X number of guns) is personal finances. I have twice been reduced to just one and for just that reason. Although I could see the political end of things too.

I could also go with either of my levers in .38-55 too, they are wonderful. But the last is always, always, always a CCW piece. For me that's job 1 for a weapon.

I've shot small game with my .45s over the years though, and it does a great job. Pokes a .45 caliber hole right through 'em, no muss, no fuss.

Cat

71fan · Post by **71fan** » Tue Mar 08, 2011 2:58 am

OK. I got this one nailed....

Dan Wesson 15-2 357, with two grips and three barrels (same caliber per rules

). 2", 4" and 8" would cover conceal carry / home defense, plinking, and silhouette / hunting. I'd probably keep a scope on the 8".

I have a rule of always being able to knock an elk down, and I still want versatility, so a ho-hum Remington 700 in 30-06 would be number 2. Varmints to moose. I don't plan on ever being without a 30 caliber bolt gun....ever.

I guess I'd be out to of the bird hunting business....oh well.

Jahrs · Post by **Jahrs** » Tue Mar 08, 2011 8:41 pm

I haven't read this entire thread but has anyone mentioned the Savage 24 in .223 Rem/12 ga. combo? And to complement it a nice revolver in .357 To me that rifle shotgun combo could put a lot of meat on the table from just one gun.

Streetstar · Post by **Streetstar** » Tue Mar 08, 2011 10:10 pm

(with apologies to my leverguns)

1) I'll take either an M1A or an AR-10 variant ---- neither is perfect for everything, but they are good enough for a lot of things and .308 has a bot more long range punch than my leverguns

2) either a current production mini-14 or an AR-15 in carbine format with a "can" --- anything a .22 LR can do, a .223 can too -- and with a can, noise is not much of an issue

WCF3030 · Post by **WCF3030** » Wed Mar 09, 2011 6:30 am

My MicMarlin 30-30
XD subcompact 9mm

earlmck · Post by **earlmck** » Wed Mar 09, 2011 11:53 am

Now the only way this 2-gun thing happens to us is very big political badness. Sooo

1) Ruger 77/22 (suppressed)
2) Walther P22 (takes same suppressor)

With which I'd figure on re-arming myself with more potent weapons...

And for anybody who thinks along these lines with me, be warned that Ruger, as of 11/09, went to a screwed-in barrel for the 77/22 instead of the held-by-block barrel they'd used for many years. (Guess who learned this the hard way?)