5 Utility Guns to Own?

[Triumph]

So here is an interesting question. My wife's Aunt & Uncle called me and asked what 5 guns they should by, if they will only have 5. They are both in there 50s and familiar with firearms. I thought this would be and interesting question for the group. Nothing fancy or special - just 5 guns & no budget breakers.

I was thinking something along these lines.

1. Pump 12 Gauge shotgun. Either Rem 870 or similar
2. Ruger 10/22
3. Bolt Action Rifle in 308 or 30-06
or lever action 30-30
4. Revolver - 357 or Taurus Judge (Aunt & Uncle don't strike me as SA pistol types)
5. Maybe a Ranch Rifle in 223. Ruger Mini 14 or similar.

I'm also trying to stick with guns that will not be very difficult to find right now.

Please share your suggestions with utility, ammo availability, price in mind and brand name & model.

Thanks for suggestions.

 

[sidheshooter]

Hard to say without knowing why they want them, where they live and what they have experience with.

With that caveat, your list looks good to me. I'd say:

1. Pump 12 Gauge shotgun. Either Rem 870 or similar
2. Ruger 10/22
3. Bolt Action Rifle in 308 or 30-06
or lever action 30-30
4. Revolver 4" medium frame .357
5. Something fun, unusual, crazy, black or whatever. Could be an AR, could be a Ruger Mk II, could be a pocket .380, the judge, or a muzzle loader.

 

[Triumph]

Good suggestion on the MKII. I didn't think about a 22 pistol.

I don't think they could find an AR now and its probably a bit beyond them.

Thanks for reply.

 

[chris in va]

What, no Garand?

 

[Sheepdog1968]

I think you have a good list and I can't really improve on it. I can offer a few other suggestions that are just other ootions Alternates to the mini-14 would be an M-1 carbine. Did your uncle serve in the military? If so he may have a rifle preference from his military days. As for the Ruger mark 22 pistol, I would suggest a 22 revolver instead so it more closely resembles their other revolver and allows possibility for cross training practice.

 

[Onmilo]

I think the area of the country would dictate some leeway in what would be considered "Utility guns".

My utility guns are:
H&R Single Shot 12 guage
H&R Single Shot .410 bore
Marlin Model 60
Mossberg 500 w/ 20" Choke tubed barrel and 24 cantilevered rifled bore deer barrel
Winchester Model 70 featherweight .243

I live in Illinois and these long guns are the ones that do all the bang up work.
All have synthetic stocks and only the deer barrel and the .243 are scoped.
With the exception of the Winchester, all can be run over by the tractor or destroyed in some horrific faction of accident and I won't lose sleep over the matter.

 

[BLB68]

Where do their interests lie? Self/home defense? Hunting? Any of the zillion shooting sports? Collecting/speculating? Non-competitive recreational shooting?

Hard to answer without more info.

I'll give it a shot from my perspective. I don't hunt. So, for me, it's SD/HD and recreational shooting.

1. Handgun suitable for concealed carry. This will vary by individual. Could be a tiny .380, a .38 snubby, a small 9mm, on up to a service-sized sidearm. Main factors here are getting something that fits their lifestyle and dress styles, reliability, and something they are capable of putting multiple hits on a torso-sized target at close range.

2. Same thing for the other half of the couple. Alternately, if only one can carry, then one pistol can be smaller for all weather carry and one larger for carry under a cover garment.

3. Rimfire pistol. If there's a matching one for their CCW choice, that'd be a good choice. Otherwise, the typical choices are all great: S&W Model 41, Ruger .22/45 or Mark II/III, Browning Buckmark. Wheel gun if they chose a wheel gun for CCW. Fun for plinking and cheap practice.

4. Rimfire rifle. Really, any. Ruger 10/22 to a CZ bolt gun. Whatever strikes their fancy. Tons of fun for a low cost.

5. HD long arm. A shotgun offers a lot of flexibility in filling other roles, and is very effective. Pump or semi-auto preferably. Or a semi-auto carbine or a lever action. Whatever they're comfortable with.

ETA: Note on one and two: If CC isn't an option in public where they live, then a small, concealable handgun is still a good choice for around the house. It's something you can always have at hand, and you won't look quite so odd as you would answering the door with a shotgun in hand.

 

[huntsman]

.22lr rifle pistol
shotgun
9mm pistol
.30cal rifle

For me I'll never give up my pocket pistol, 12gauge SXS and .45 sidearm

 

[breakingcontact]

Good list.

I'd substitute the 3030 for the ranch rifle though.

 

[KC&97TA]

Just had this conversation with a co worker today, almost the exact list's except I said 7

Pump 12 ga
22lr rifle semi auto or bolt
Bolt Action Rifle in 308 or 30-06
AR15 5.56mm
4" Revolver .357
Glock or XD 9mm
1911 .45acp

 

[Warp]

1. Every day carry gun: Glock 26

2. Rifle suitable for defense: Colt LE6920

3. .22lr rifle: Ruger 10/22

4. Another carry gun, shares a lot with the first one: Glock 19

5. Shotgun. 12 gauge

 

[USAF_Vet]

12 gauge pump: Maverick 88
.22lr semi auto rifle: Savage 64
Bolt action rifle, standard battle cartridge:M-44
Service pistol: S&W 469
Black rifle, intermediate cartridge: AR-15 in 5.56

 

[gbran]

Here would be my 1st; Crossfire 12ga over .223



# 2 .308 or '06 bolt gun
# 3 .22lr rifle
# 4 Glock or other sub-compact for SD/CCW
# 5 1911

 

[Teachu2]

It sounds like they are thinking about a SHTF scenario - why else suddenly want to consider options on 5 guns?

If I were going to pick 5 just for utility TODAY, it would be
1) Beretta 3901 12ga w/chokes. Capable of feeding you and defending you. Alternate choices: Mossberg 500 combo, Rem 870 combo
2) Ruger 10/22. Small game and practice. VQ accurizing kit. Alternate choice: Used Marlin 60, Savage .22lr bolt with accutrigger.
3, 4, 5) S&W M&P 22. S&W M&P 9c/.40c - two of them, one for Aunt, one for Uncle. Practice and training.
Alternate choices:
CZ75 (x2) (Kadet kit is an option, freeing the #3 spot)
.22lr revolver with .38/.357 revolvers of their choice
any other three sharing common manual of arms

If I could only take five for the wife and I, those would be my choices. As much as I'd like to have a .243/.270/.30-06/.308 or an AR-15 or AR-10, I believe that defending ourselves at close range and eating would be priorities.

 

[1911 guy]

My thoughts are that general utility can be covered with nothing more than a good shotgun, but that would first be boring and second not the most efficient or even best.

So, my pick of five;

pump shotgun in 12 or 20 guage. 12 is more common, but 20 if anyone has issues with recoil. Mossberg 500.

.22 rifle. I happen to like bolt guns. A lot. But any good .22 repeater will do. Marlin bolt gun.

A .30 caliber centerfire. My top pick would be a .308 or .30-"06, but a .30-30 would satisfy as well. Pick one of three, Savage 10, Remington 700 or Marlin 336

Concealable handgun. While a concealable handgun can do double duty as a HD gun, an overly large or heavy HD gun cannot easily be used by most as a CCW. I don't like recommending handguns without some feedback, because it's so subjective, but I'll say RIA 1911.

Flip a coin for the fifth firearm, either another handgun or another rifle. See below:

Varmint rifle. While it may seem superfluous if you're not really into varmint shooting, it does fill a void between the .22 and the .30 cal. Savage or Remington. CZ is a lot better looking than the Savage, though.

Another handgun, however, would suffice to arm both spouses should they need or want to leave home armed.

 

[joeschmoe]

1) AR15 5.56mm
2) semiauto 12 ga
3 )22LR auto pistol
4) 9mm Glock
5) .308 bolt

 

[Warp]

My thoughts are that general utility can be covered with nothing more than a good shotgun, but that would first be boring and second not the most efficient or even best.

Of course it isn't the best. For most people it becomes useless and inaccessible as soon as you leave the house.

 

[swathdiver]

1. Concealed Carry - Glock 26/27
2. Personal Defense - Glock 17/22/19/23
3. Home Defense - Ithaca 37 Shotgun (2 barrels-1 long for hunting)
4. Hunting - Remington 700 .243
5. Standoff - DPMS Panther Carbine 5.56 NATO

or

1. Concealed Carry - S&W Model 36
2. Personal Defense - S&W Model 14/15
3. Home Defense - Remington 870 Shotgun (2 barrels-1 long for hunting)
4. Hunting - Remington 572 .22LR
5. Standoff - M1 Carbine

I think it's important to minimize the amount of calibers for the budget conscious, choosing the most popular for obvious reasons. If practical for your situation and area, try to confine #4 and #5 to the same caliber.

 

[Neo-Luddite]

Good list--but make it 2 revolvers ~ they each need one.

 

[bannockburn]

1) Pump action shotgun-Mossberg 500 12 gauge
2) Rimfire rifle-Ruger 10/22
3) Semi-auto pistol-M1911 .45 with a .22 conversion kit
4) Revolver-Ruger GP-100 .357
5) Centerfire rifle-AR-15 (if available)

 

[mdauben]

Nothing fancy or special - just 5 guns & no budget breakers.

Well, for me I'd go with this:

1. Scoped, Bolt-Action in .308 or .30-06. Hunting, sniping, long-range target. Savage would be my first choice, although if money isn't too tight something from Winchester or Browning would be worth considering.
2. Iron Sight/Red-Dot, Semi-auto in .223. Home defence and varmint hunting. One of the scores of AR platforms would be my first choice but if unavailable the Ruger Mini-14 is another option.
3. Bolt-Action or Semi-auto in .22LR Small game hunting, pest control, plinking, target. The Ruger 10/22 has been mentioned already and is a good choice. Others might be the Savage Mk II, or for a bit more money the CZ 455, Browning SA-22 or similar higher end rimfires.
4. Pump or Semi-auto in 12ga Home defence, hunting. A Mossburg 500 or Remington 870 are usually at the top as well as relativly inexpensive of the list but there are lots of other choices.
5. Pistol or Revolver in 9mm or .357mag. Self-defence, pest control, hunting, target. I would probably lean towards the pistol in more urban settings, the revolver in more rural ones. For the pistol, I'd look at S&W, Ruger or Glock first. If you have more money Sig and HK are excellent choices. For a revolver, a Ruger SP101 or GP100 are hard to beat for the price.

 

[DAP90]

12ga – 870 or similar
CZ 455 Lux (22lr and 22mag barrels)
4” 22lr revolver
4” .357 revolver
CZ 527 carbine (7.62x39)

If revolvers aren’t their thing a similar auto combo would be just fine. If they aren’t already I wouldn’t expect them to suddenly take up big game hunting so I’d skip the 308 or 30-06 personally. I could see a 30-30 instead of the CZ527.

 

[Triumph]

5. Something fun, unusual, crazy, black or whatever. Could be an AR, could be a Ruger Mk II, could be a pocket .380, the judge, or a muzzle loader.

Thanks - AR probably hard to find right now. Like the Ruger MKII & Judge

 

[Triumph]

What, no Garand?

That's on my list. Need advice on buying but will post a separate thread.

 

[Triumph]

Did your uncle serve in the military?

No military experience

I think the area of the country would dictate some leeway in what would be considered "Utility guns".

They are in Texas

Where do their interests lie?

STHF - and holding up in Texas Hill Country

S&W Model 41

On my list

I'd substitute the 3030 for the ranch rifle though.

I love my Marlin 30-30 straight grip. Probably my favorite gun & easy to find ammo even in crazy times like these

It sounds like they are thinking about a SHTF scenario - why else suddenly want to consider options on 5 guns?

If I were going to pick 5 just for utility TODAY, it would be
1) Beretta 3901 12ga w/chokes. Capable of feeding you and defending you. Alternate choices: Mossberg 500 combo, Rem 870 combo
2) Ruger 10/22. Small game and practice. VQ accurizing kit. Alternate choice: Used Marlin 60, Savage .22lr bolt with accutrigger.
3, 4, 5) S&W M&P 22. S&W M&P 9c/.40c - two of them, one for Aunt, one for Uncle. Practice and training.
Alternate choices:
CZ75 (x2) (Kadet kit is an option, freeing the #3 spot)
.22lr revolver with .38/.357 revolvers of their choice
any other three sharing common manual of arms

If I could only take five for the wife and I, those would be my choices. As much as I'd like to have a .243/.270/.30-06/.308 or an AR-15 or AR-10, I believe that defending ourselves at close range and eating would be priorities.

Good suggestions. Yes SHTF and easier ammo to find right now. I too would prefer miliatary rounds & black rifles but very scarce right now.

Varmint rifle. While it may seem superfluous if you're not really into varmint shooting, it does fill a void between the .22 and the .30 cal. Savage or Remington. CZ is a lot better looking than the Savage, though.

Good thought

Guys - That gets me up to date throught post 16. Gotta run - will get to the rest later.
Great topic & feedback really appreciate all the responses.