5 Guns only?

[KHornet]

About 3 years ago I home hosted a Rotary team leader for three days. He was a professor from the University of Pretoria, South Africa, and a hunter, and member of their equivalent of the National Guard. When I met Hank at the airport, one of the first things he asked me, was if I hunted, and that was followed by how many guns I owned.
At the time it was about 40 or so. When we got to the house the first thing he wanted to see was 40 guns. In SA at the time, individuals were allowed a total of 5 guns, of which one could be a hand gun. Recently I got to thinking about having only 5 guns and what I would be forced to choose if I were limited to just 5. Here is the list I came
up with.
10-22 Ruger
870 Remington, 12 Gage
357 Ruger Blackhawk(4" bll)
223 Savage Axis
308 Win, Rem 700

My logic for selection for me, is the utility I would consider most practical for me as a hunter, reloader and target shooter. Would handle small game, big game thru deer, and all the paper I would care to punch. In addition, I would have numerous very effective molds to cast for 357, 225, and .309. Just wondering what you folks would select
if you were limited to just 5?

Paul

 

[waco]

Interesting question.
Stoger M300 12ga
Kimber .22 Hunter Rifle
S&W 29 5"
CZ527 in .221 Fireball
Bergara .30-06
I would really hate to have to make this decision, but here it is.....
I think this would cover all of my needs.

 

[Hawk]

Okay:
I agree with most of your selections:
Ruger 10-22
870 Remington, 12 Guage
Glock Model 17, 9MM
Rock River, 16" Barrel, 5.56 Nato
Remington 700, 308 Win.

The first two are pretty obvious. 22 and shotgun.
The next three were chosen because of their military round status and availability of ammunition in case of an emergency.
I like wheel guns, expecially the .357, but 17 round avaliable versus 6 tips the scale to the semi handgun.

 

[Wasalmonslayer]

That would be a tough one but if it was required to just keep 5 of what I already owned here’s my list -

Ruger 77/22 bolt gun
Ruger GP100 4” in 357
CZ 527 in 223
Win Mod 70 30-06
Rem 870 12g 3”

 

[fiver]

thankfully I have 4 people that reside here.
even that would make it difficult to pare things down to just 5 per person. [from stock on hand]
I would pair up a same caliber revolver and a lever gun for everyone for starters then a deer and varmint rig.
the last would be a shotgun.
if I had to pick and stay with those choices.
44 mag.
308
223
12ga

 

[Jeff H]

I've thought about this for years and have my own battery set up such that I know which one I would cull each time things got tighter or tougher until I was left with the ONE I'd let go last*, if at all. This will make me spend some money though because two** are not yet in my battery.

Mossberg 500 20 gauge**
Ruger SP101, 3", 357 Mag**
TC Contender Carbine, 357 Mag*
TC Contender Carbine, 223
TC Contender Carbine, 30-30

That leaves all my most favorite cartridges and guns out, all in the name of pragmatism, and assumes I could still cast and handload, I'd be where I am now geographically and not wandering to places where something else might make more sense. No, no rimfire. I've never gotten excited about them and have only one - for the sake of having one.

 

[Intheshop]

"Probably" get everything done with a 223 bolt gun here.But it HAS to be a tackdriver.

Would be way more concerned with other avenues...... tactics,concealment,geography sort of things.With that taken care of,I'd just head shoot everything from a safe distance and break out the skinning knife?

 

[Gary]

I really hate to leave my RPR 6.5CM off the list, but;
Ruger 10-22 Takedown
Ruger American 308
Ruger SP101 357
Mossy Maverick 18" barrel with extended tube mag.
H&R 22 Hornet

 

[RBHarter]

06' bolt
223 bolt
45 Colts DA
12 ga recoil ops
12 ga slide

On second thought the recoil 12 gets cut for the 45 cal rifle . But PCC or buffalo slayer becomes the challenge .

 

[Ian]

If were to immigrate to Pretoria, I have no idea what I would need.

However, for North America:

Glock 17
Mossberg 590
AR-15 5.56 of good quality, with heavy barrel.
Springfield M1A National Match
Ruger 10/22


If extra barrels for caliber changes and supporting ammunition were allowed, I would have magazine and barrel options for the Glock, Mossberg, AR.

 

[Bret4207]

Only 5? Jeeze, it's like deciding which of your kids you'd kill first...

 

[Jeff H]

"Probably" get everything done with a 223 bolt gun here.But it HAS to be a tackdriver.

Would be way more concerned with other avenues...... tactics,concealment,geography sort of things.With that taken care of,I'd just head shoot everything from a safe distance and break out the skinning knife?

Perish the thought - let alone saying it, but.... yeah.

They said we can have five though, so I'm running with that.

 

[RicinYakima]

Browning Model 53 32/20
CZ 527 .223
Springfield Armory NRA Sporter in 35 Whelen
J.C. Higgins 12 ga. SxS with Tenite Stock
S&W 25-5 in .45 ACP

 

[freebullet]

Ar308
ar223
p238
p938
srh454........

Wait...did you mean five revolvers, five rifles, five shotguns, five muzzleloader, & five pistols? I carried 3 muzzleloaders (2 rifles & 1 pistol) on 1 hunt last winter.
Because I can't live & be me with just 5 total. I would have to start burying/hiding them, or just be an outlaw at that point.

Cruel & unusual punishment is now defined.

 

[RicinYakima]

OK, now tell us your rational for your choices? Where do you live and what will you do with them? Otherwise it is a meaningless list.

 

[Rally]

Browning A5 Lt. 12 with 26" BBL
Marlin 336 SS in .30-30
S&W 624 .44 Spl.
S&W 60-4 .38 Spl.
Marlin 1894 CL in .32-20

 

[Rally]

Ok Ric.
I'm a pheasant nut so the A5 is my bird gun, and a barrel change puts me in ducks or a house gun. I also cast the Lee 7/8 oz. slugs.
My 336 .30-30 is what I use for deer and carry in my truck during deer season while running traps. It loves the 165 Ranchdog bullet in dimple point. I could cast and load lighter for small game if I felt the need, and can use it to shoot contract beaver.
I've got both a 629 and a 624, but prefer the 624 for my hunting handgun for deer or bear. Just used it yesterday to qualify for my CC renewal. We live in the country and it's just the wife and I so this could also be used for a house gun.
The 60-4 is always with me and I shoot a lot of snared beaver with it, in fact shoot it more than any gun I own. I've got a Star press and sizer in ,38 which also helps.
The .32-20 would be my small to medium game rifle. Wouldn't be worried shooting a squirrel or a coyote with it. To be honest, I considered my fifth choice the longest, with a Marlin 336 in .44 mag being a close runner up. The .32-20 is just more fur and meat friendly.

 

[oscarflytyer]

AR 15
M1 Garand
Colt 45 SAA (clone)
Win Mdl 12 16 ga
Henry Lever 22 LR

 

[fiver]

my why is simple enough.
it's because everyone here already has those combinations or something very close to it.
they have already proven themselves to be handy.
they all have a wide range of loads using just about everything from the fastest pistol up through the medium burn rate rifle powders, and they are all efficient for several situations using either lead or copper projectiles.

 

[35 shooter]

Bond Arms 45/410 derringer
.308 Zastava mauser
TC Encore 35 whelen
Mossberg 12 gauge pump
Benjamin 392 .22 cal pellet rifle