One gun to rule them all?

D

Darteres

Joined
Feb 4, 2008
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380
I know we're a bit about having all kinds of options for all kinds of situations around here. I mean, come on, who doesn't like a new knife? There are probably hundreds of threads on what you would carry if you could carry just ONE knife. What about one gun? I was doing some reading about Col. Whelen late one night, and came across more than a few articles saying that he often carried one gun with multiple load bullets. Some low powered for small game, mid and high for the various sized critters out there. Anyone else do that? Think it's a good idea? What would be the ideal gun to do something like that with? Probably a lever action of some sort? My uncle reloads shells/cartridges of his own, so it would be no problem to get him to load some for me. Thoughts?
 
My vote would be for a Remington 870. With different loads, a shotgun can take down anything in North America, from big to small.
 
I'm more of a rifleman myself,but I agree with moonwilson on the 870 regarding shotguns.


Up to 150 yds.Winchester 30-30 Lever Action

or

Up to 300+ yds.Remington 700 in 30-06
 
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yep the 30-30 an i like the new 6.8 spc hogs,deer,goats,sheep,an a rat or 2,aloha
 
I'd be concerned about changes in POI, but I know someone who did something similar when I was a teenager. For his .30-06, he had 110gr. hollowpoints loaded light for coyotes on his farm, 150gr. something for Southern whitetail, and 170gr. softpoints loaded hot to standard .300 Win. Mag. velocities for elk.
This guy had dozens of rifles from 5mm Remington to .378 Weatherby, but apparently still had a fascination with a "one-gun arsenal".
I had a A-bolt in .30-06 at the time, and even having shot that .378, I got my only scope cut ever from accidentally mixing one of those 170 grainers into a mag of 110gr. hollowpoints. Thought I would never live down getting cut by a .30-06:o
 
For a handgun, a .45 long colt revolver would be a good choice. You can load .45 long colt from wimpy cowboy-action all the way up to "Hammer of Thor" wrist snappers. And use shot for the really little stuff. The Taurus "Judge" is pretty interesting. But I'm still dubious about that long jump the .45 loads have to make to get to the barrel.

I like the Ruger Vaquero, but the sights are no good.
 
Well, a Rem 870 with their 20" barrel that has rifle sights and choke tubes would be a great choice. IC choke for slugs and buckshot, Med choke for waterfowl, Full choke for small game/upland bird loads -- sight the rifle sights for the slugs at 100 yards, and pattern your other shot loads so you know where they go in relation to the sights. That's about as versatile as it gets. You can also have a second rifled barrel for sabot slugs, that'll give you a 200 yard gun, but I wouldn't bother carrying two barrels, but it gives the option before you head out.

For pure versatility a .357 or .44 levergun works well. You can shoot the Spl level ammo fro smaller game. The .357 is pretty impressive from a rifle, and does well to 100 yards, the .44 to 150 yards.

It doesn't answer the question, but I'm really dying to pick up a Marlin 1895 in .45-70. Couple that with my Ruger Single Six, I can successfully hunt anything.
 
I'd have to agree with the Remington 870 as well as the 30-06. BUT, has anyone looked into the 270 WSM. The ballistics for that caliber far outdo most other guns on the market. Or for that matter, look up what Chuck Hawks says about the 6.5x55. It's more of a european claiber tho.
 
moonwilson said:
For a handgun, a .45 long colt revolver would be a good choice. You can load .45 long colt from wimpy cowboy-action all the way up to "Hammer of Thor" wrist snappers.
I like the Ruger Vaquero, but the sights are no good.
Click to expand...

+1:thumbup:I got a couple of them.I love that caliper,second only to the .357mag.(for me),& that's only cause I'm so used to shooting it.
 
I gotta say that I agree with both Moonwilson and JTR...they provide good options.

Model 870;

.30-.30 Winchester; I have one in .45LC also

I do have a Ruger Vaquero in .45LC and since I shoot Cowboy Action the sights have not been an issue.

If I were to have just ONE...

It'd be that .30-.30.
 
If we're going to talk about calipers,I've used a Remington 700 in 7mm(7X57) Mauser for Deer,most all my life.Flat trajectory & dead on accurate.Shot placement is very important considering it's not a very large round.Otherwise you can't go wrong with 30-06.You can buy it just about anywhere in several different variants.
 
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I'd say a single shot.22. Nice and simple (almost indestructable action) I can do squirrels to white tails with that (if the chips where down) and I can carry 1000 rounds of different potency (cb longs to velocitors) in my ruck easily. and .22 ammo is one of the most prlific cartridges out there, making it easy to get a hold of.
 
mossy 500 with tube extension and youth stock.


glock 21 sf


there you go...long gun and pistol options.
 
IMHO the Shotgun is the most versatile firearm you could own... If it could be only one it would be a 12G Rem 870 for me. You can put down the biggest of animals at fairly long distances with slugs, and fill the pot with small game without destroying the meat with game loads. Nothing is as intimidating to 2 legged animals as the sound of racking a shotgun too:thumbup:
 
I would agree with the shotgun if I was supported by my house and I could reload as necessary. If I was on the hoof I would go with the .22 rifle. Although I have carried a .223 rifle with my round in the chamber a .22lr in a chamber adapter. If I needed the .223 I would just cycle the bolt. It worked well for me.
 
moonwilson said:
For a handgun, a .45 long colt revolver would be a good choice. You can load .45 long colt from wimpy cowboy-action all the way up to "Hammer of Thor" wrist snappers. And use shot for the really little stuff. The Taurus "Judge" is pretty interesting. But I'm still dubious about that long jump the .45 loads have to make to get to the barrel.

I like the Ruger Vaquero, but the sights are no good.
Click to expand...

I like the 44 mag in Ruger Redhawk, you can load down or up and recoil is managable with the right loads.

I shoot a Vaquero in .45 and its a great gun, I mostly shoot cowboy loads with very little recoil but have loaded it up. I have several .45's and also have .45LC rifles (win,rossi,puma) and love the round. It can def be loaded hotter in rifles but if you find a nice medium load that works well in both a rifle and pistol then your in BANDALERE countrys baby:D

I used to shoot cowboy action comp, and still love shooting them for fun. I reload and find the strait brass easy and forgiving when handloading.
 
As fieldtesting ornothing says a sub caliber sleeve can give a lot of versitility to one gun.

Mel Tappain offered them as as a aplication to make a 12 Ga highly versitle.
 
My 870 would be my go to gun. It came from my dad and it will one day go to my son. That's how reliable and useful it is (and versatile, as the others mentioned). Anything from birds to deer to home defense. I think F&S listed it as one of the 'greatest guns of all time', right up there with several much much more expensive rifles and shotguns.
 
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