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One gun to rule them all?
- Thread starter Darteres
- Start date
- Joined
- May 25, 2007
- Messages
- 15,113
have you seen the crossover ? It is a 12 gauge and 223 combination rifle. Has a 4 rd magazine for the 12 gauge and will accept AR-15 mags for the 223. . It could be anything from the ultimate entry gun to the ultimate coyote rifle. It has rails for mounting optics or accessory's for the ultimate in versatility.just FYI , this is not my gun...just seen one at the gun show
- Joined
- Apr 25, 2007
- Messages
- 990
i believe that is called a crossfire....
meh.....i will do two rifles first...
meh.....i will do two rifles first...
12 gauge would be good, a pump, SXS or O+U.
Kinda off-topic but has anybody here tried the new Mossberg lever 30/30 yet?
Its fairly inexpensive and it has a tang safety instead of the crossbolt affair seen on the Marlins.If one must have a safety then i personally much prefer the tang type.
I'm really hoping they will keep the price low and expand their caliber offerings.
Been wanting a lever gun in .357 for a looong time.
Kinda off-topic but has anybody here tried the new Mossberg lever 30/30 yet?
Its fairly inexpensive and it has a tang safety instead of the crossbolt affair seen on the Marlins.If one must have a safety then i personally much prefer the tang type.
I'm really hoping they will keep the price low and expand their caliber offerings.
Been wanting a lever gun in .357 for a looong time.
- Joined
- Dec 13, 2005
- Messages
- 6,105
Top guys in my book have always been:
-.22 bolt action
-levergun, .357, .30-30, .44 mag
-12 ga pump, single shot
-'Scout' rifles (that are truly scouts)
Most of the above are pretty light, versatile, and bomb proof. 'Handiness' is so very important to a field gun and often overlooked.
I stopped trying to do it all with one firearm, just like with one knife, so I carry a pistol for 2 legged problems, and either a 12ga or .22 for game/fun. Usually the latter.
-.22 bolt action
-levergun, .357, .30-30, .44 mag
-12 ga pump, single shot
-'Scout' rifles (that are truly scouts)
Most of the above are pretty light, versatile, and bomb proof. 'Handiness' is so very important to a field gun and often overlooked.
I stopped trying to do it all with one firearm, just like with one knife, so I carry a pistol for 2 legged problems, and either a 12ga or .22 for game/fun. Usually the latter.
- Joined
- Nov 13, 2007
- Messages
- 1,410
Browning A-bolt in a WSM .270
But we can never forget the sexy AR-15 that is completely customizable.
But we can never forget the sexy AR-15 that is completely customizable.
I only have 2 rifles and they are both .303 scout rifles. 1 is a Parker Hale custom no 4 with a 3x9 Tasco(until I can afford better) and the other is a WW1 SMLE that was sporterized
in the 1960's that I have been intending to bring back o military spec but is such a nice handy rifle with a Canada legal 10 round mag(all other centerfire rifles are 5) and charger loading that I keep putting it off.
.303 Enfield sporters have been the staple of hunters here in Sask since the end of WW1 so there are lots of tricks for making them more versatile. My personal fave is using 7.62/39 bullets (which are also .311) as 55 grain varmint bullet.
in the 1960's that I have been intending to bring back o military spec but is such a nice handy rifle with a Canada legal 10 round mag(all other centerfire rifles are 5) and charger loading that I keep putting it off.
.303 Enfield sporters have been the staple of hunters here in Sask since the end of WW1 so there are lots of tricks for making them more versatile. My personal fave is using 7.62/39 bullets (which are also .311) as 55 grain varmint bullet.
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- Mar 8, 2007
- Messages
- 554
FN Five-seveN
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- Nov 10, 2007
- Messages
- 2,337
Agreed.
12 gauge.
Many good ones to choose from.
Kill birds to bear with the same gun.
- Joined
- Nov 28, 2001
- Messages
- 770
AK47.
Actually an AKM because I prefer the stamped receiver.
It's reliable, easy to use, and the 7.62x39 has sufficient punch for most needs.
Actually an AKM because I prefer the stamped receiver.
It's reliable, easy to use, and the 7.62x39 has sufficient punch for most needs.
- Joined
- Jul 4, 2007
- Messages
- 915
.308 win / 7x57 Mauser / 7mm-08 / .260 rem on a Remington VLS
with a Leopuld Mark 4 6.5-20x50mm LR/T M1., a Harris bipod and a web sling.
heavy yep, but it's an AT&T gun ... it'll reach out and touch someone (or some game!)
:foot:
:thumbup:
with a Leopuld Mark 4 6.5-20x50mm LR/T M1., a Harris bipod and a web sling.
heavy yep, but it's an AT&T gun ... it'll reach out and touch someone (or some game!)
:foot::thumbup:
- Joined
- May 5, 2003
- Messages
- 2,494
I was immediately thinking a carbine-length AR-15 in .223 would be the perfect all-around one gun... from varmints to medium game to self-defense, etc.
But I guess the 12ga. shotgun would be the practical way to go. Small game, birds, and waterfowl up to medium game with shotshells (7-1/2s to 00 buck) and big game with slugs.
I thought about the the Savage combo rifle/shotguns, but I think what you gain with having the rifle barrel is lost with the single shot action.
Stay sharp,
desmobob
But I guess the 12ga. shotgun would be the practical way to go. Small game, birds, and waterfowl up to medium game with shotshells (7-1/2s to 00 buck) and big game with slugs.
I thought about the the Savage combo rifle/shotguns, but I think what you gain with having the rifle barrel is lost with the single shot action.
Stay sharp,
desmobob
- Joined
- Mar 8, 2008
- Messages
- 636
Having spent a lifetime around firearms as both a hobby and profession, I would chose the Remington 870 for a shotgun, and either a Ruger M77 or Remington 700 30-06 for a rifle.
- Joined
- May 25, 2007
- Messages
- 15,113
I really like my Mini 14 but I have been eyeing a Double barrell 12ga. "Coach Gun" w/20" barrels exposed hammers...man that gun looks mean...
- Joined
- Jan 28, 2006
- Messages
- 7,035
There's downsides to a SxS shotgun, but I'd like one of the "Coach" guns -- but it's gotta have the "rabbit ears" (exposed hammers) like you describe!
Every weapon has weaknesses, so the most important thing to do is to decide which job is most important in your particular situation.
Some weaknesses-
Big bore handgun- limited range, difficult to shoot well
small bore handgun- very weak on large game, limited range
.22 rifle- weak on large game, placement critical
military style semi-auto rifle- heavy, not versatile load choice, bad for edible small game
Shotgun- heavy ammo, limited range
Combo guns- single shot, heavy
After thinking about this dilemma for several years, I have settled on an answer I like, but it probably makes sense to explain the reasoning I used to get there. Also, I understand that other people in identical circumstances might make different choices AND be very successful with them.
The areas that I find myself in most often include typical Mid-western farmlands and woodlots, Northern conifer and mixed conifer-deciduous forests, and Southeastern lowland hardwoods and swamps. Because of the amount of time I sped there, I am most likely to need a firearm for long-term use in the big north woods. This environment can provide both large and small game (as can farm country and swamps) ranging from black bear and moose to grouse and red squirrels.
After considering what one gun would best serve me for LONG TERM foraging, I have decided that I really need two guns to be most effective. The first is a bolt action, center fire rifle chambered in a traditional hunting cartridge. I prefer a .30-06 or .308, although anything from 6.5mm to .375 would work. I want the action to be a military style if possible- preferable a ’98 Mauser or a derivative. I want the stock to be synthetic, and I want a simple scope (generally a 4X fixed) mounted in Weaver rings and bases. The rifle should have fixed sights, best if the rear is an aperture, and even better if this is part of the rear scope base. It should have a simple sling, and the recoil pad should be removable to allow a few spare parts (extra screws, firing pin, etc) to be stashed in the butt.
This rifle should be consistent able to place 3 shots into no more than 2” at 100 meters in the field- and better than that is nice. It should function in poor conditions (this is the goal of the military action) and be portable. It is simple to enhance this reliability.
The ammunition for this rifle will be loaded with a moderately heavy for the caliber controlled expansion bullet. The .30 cal 180 grain Nosler Partition is a fantastic choice. It will be sighted to allow good hits reliably to 300 meters without making short-range shots tricky- let’s say 2” high at 100 meters. The goal here is to kill things from the size of a beaver to a moose with little fanfare. IF a reduced load can be found that has a usable point of impact at 25-50 meters, it will be included. Something like a 115-180 grain cast lead flat point at a velocity of 900-1300 fps will work nicely on small game.
The other gun is a small handgun- either a .22 rimfire revolver or self loader or a centerfire revolver chambered in anything from .32 S&W to .357 magnum. This gun has to be portable and shootable. I need to be able to group less than 3” at 25 meters ideally. This gun will be for small game targets of opportunity while I am engaged in activities other than hunting. Have you ever had an opportunity at a rabbit while hiking, or at a porcupine while looking for firewood?
Some weaknesses-
Big bore handgun- limited range, difficult to shoot well
small bore handgun- very weak on large game, limited range
.22 rifle- weak on large game, placement critical
military style semi-auto rifle- heavy, not versatile load choice, bad for edible small game
Shotgun- heavy ammo, limited range
Combo guns- single shot, heavy
After thinking about this dilemma for several years, I have settled on an answer I like, but it probably makes sense to explain the reasoning I used to get there. Also, I understand that other people in identical circumstances might make different choices AND be very successful with them.
The areas that I find myself in most often include typical Mid-western farmlands and woodlots, Northern conifer and mixed conifer-deciduous forests, and Southeastern lowland hardwoods and swamps. Because of the amount of time I sped there, I am most likely to need a firearm for long-term use in the big north woods. This environment can provide both large and small game (as can farm country and swamps) ranging from black bear and moose to grouse and red squirrels.
After considering what one gun would best serve me for LONG TERM foraging, I have decided that I really need two guns to be most effective. The first is a bolt action, center fire rifle chambered in a traditional hunting cartridge. I prefer a .30-06 or .308, although anything from 6.5mm to .375 would work. I want the action to be a military style if possible- preferable a ’98 Mauser or a derivative. I want the stock to be synthetic, and I want a simple scope (generally a 4X fixed) mounted in Weaver rings and bases. The rifle should have fixed sights, best if the rear is an aperture, and even better if this is part of the rear scope base. It should have a simple sling, and the recoil pad should be removable to allow a few spare parts (extra screws, firing pin, etc) to be stashed in the butt.
This rifle should be consistent able to place 3 shots into no more than 2” at 100 meters in the field- and better than that is nice. It should function in poor conditions (this is the goal of the military action) and be portable. It is simple to enhance this reliability.
The ammunition for this rifle will be loaded with a moderately heavy for the caliber controlled expansion bullet. The .30 cal 180 grain Nosler Partition is a fantastic choice. It will be sighted to allow good hits reliably to 300 meters without making short-range shots tricky- let’s say 2” high at 100 meters. The goal here is to kill things from the size of a beaver to a moose with little fanfare. IF a reduced load can be found that has a usable point of impact at 25-50 meters, it will be included. Something like a 115-180 grain cast lead flat point at a velocity of 900-1300 fps will work nicely on small game.
The other gun is a small handgun- either a .22 rimfire revolver or self loader or a centerfire revolver chambered in anything from .32 S&W to .357 magnum. This gun has to be portable and shootable. I need to be able to group less than 3” at 25 meters ideally. This gun will be for small game targets of opportunity while I am engaged in activities other than hunting. Have you ever had an opportunity at a rabbit while hiking, or at a porcupine while looking for firewood?
- Joined
- Jan 28, 2006
- Messages
- 7,035
Well, the OP specified one single gun. I can't think of one more versatile than a shotgun.
However, to cover all the bases, I agree with you. For many, many years, all I had was a Rem 870 (Police trade-in that I got for $120), a Ruger Single Six, and a Mosin Nagant. Other than birds on the wing, there's nothing I couldn't hunt with the rifle and .22 handgun.
Which is why when on other forums, the topic comes up every other day "what ONE rifle for survival?", everyone jumps on the .22 bandwagon, and I list a centerfire -- because they didn't specify I couldn't have a pistol.