I know gun owners who have unique pieces. I regularly see rare and beautiful firearms lining gun cabinet walls that would feel more at home at a museum than in a buddy’s gun safe. However, with as much time as I’ve spent collecting firearms, I’ve noticed some common denominators the majority of gun collectors have on hand. While they may not be rare gems, they certainly fill their role as useful tools quite well. A new shooter would do well to purchase one of each.
Mosin Nagant
The Mosin Nagant is one of the most common firearms ever produced. It’s great for all types shooting applications. It is reliable, reasonably accurate, and most importantly, they’re cheap. Ammunition for the Mosin Nagant is inexpensive, too. The audible blast these things make at the range makes other shooters stop and stare. When that huge 7.62x54R cartridge ignites and sends that 148-grain projectile downrange, everyone in your direct vicinity knows it. Americans can buy several different models of the Nagant family. Collectors find full length M91s, shorter M44s and Finish M27s at most surplus shops and gun shows around the country. The Chinese Type 53 Mosins are readily available as well. The Soviets mass-produced these rifles for nearly 75 years, resulting in 37 million units floating around the planet. They may not be the prettiest rifle in the gun closet, but with a little care and proper ammunition, a Mosin would make a fine deer rifle or range toy. I personally own two, and something tells me these robust bolt-actions will outlast most of my other firearms.
Ruger 10/22
The hugely popular Ruger 10/22 rests in the corner of over five million gun cabinets, closets and safes. Often, it is the first rifle novice shooters fire, and it stands as a unique icon of the shooting world. The 10/22 started production in 1964 becoming a huge success almost overnight. Further, it is one of the most customizable firearms in the market. Owners can add or remove any component on the firearm with simple hand tools, making gunsmithing unnecessary. Firearms enthusiasts often call the 10/22 the Honda Civic of guns. This is due to the low cost of many aftermarket customized parts and add-ons. Currently, Ruger has several different versions of the 10/22 available. This includes their latest takedown model, which is highly successful. Whatever type of shooter you are, you have use for this rifle. Heavy barrel target models, tactical versions with and without bipods—the options are endless!
Mossberg 500
Ah, our old friend the Mossberg 500. This old warhorse has been in service since 1961 and shows no signs of slowing down. Perfect for any shotgun application, the 500 has changed little since its early days on the drawing board. Police, military, hunters, home defense enthusiasts, and zombie hunters alike have all carried the 500—and with good reason. What makes this little shotgun so great? Price initially comes to my mind. How else can you get a gun with this much firepower for 250 bucks? Another huge advantage to the 500 is the ability to add many extras. There are thousands of ways to customize your shotgun. New stocks with adjustable lengths, pistol grips, rail systems, optics, flashlights, slings, you name it, someone has stuck it on a Mossberg. If that wasn’t enough to convince you, the 500 is a pump-action gun, so you can literally fire any type of 12 gauge ammunition you can get your hands on. I have two barrels for my Mossberg. One is an 18.5-inch barrel for home defense; the other is a 26-inch bird barrel I use for hunting. I have always said that if I could only have one gun, it would be a 12-gauge pump shotgun.
Glock 19
Customers often ask me to recommend a semi-automatic handgun for carry or home defense. When they do, I start by mentioning the Glock 19. The G19 is a medium-sized lightweight polymer framed 9mm. Its standard capacity magazines hold 15 rounds. It features Glock’s Safe Action trigger system with three passive safeties. Glock’s metal Tenifer-branded metal treatment and finish ensure that it is practically impervious to the elements. Additionally, the Gen 4 version features a smaller grip circumference than earlier models, but includes the Multiple Backstrap System allowing the pistol to accommodate those with larger hands. Glock’s sight options are the standard polymer fixed sights, steel fixed sights, adjustable sights and Glock night sights. These things are incredibly reliable and low maintenance. There is a reason why most police officers in the United States carry some version of a Glock—they go bang when it counts.
I agree with most of the lists. Unfortunately I had a boating accident off shore and lost all of my guns when the untitled boat my weapons they were stored in sank. Since I was floating for a few hours, the GPS coordinates have been lost as well. The sinking of the boat (which was untitled unfortunately) was reported. A real tragedy…..
Defense: Mossberg 500 cruiser
CC: Sig UT 1911 9mm
CC: 1911 45
CC: Sig 380
Long range: AR 15 Anderson L/Upper. 556
Plinking : Savage 62 22or
I’m good.
My choices:
Browning Stainless Stalker in .280Rem. (deer and elk)
Colt 1911A1 (45ACP of course} ( bedroom and range)
AR15 (bedroom and range and PD)
Ithaca 12ga. DB shotgun 26 in. tubes (quail and pheasant)
US M1 Rifle (range and military shoots)
I own and enjoy shooting more, but those are the ones that I’d pare down to if a Had to.
I too have my favorites.
Defensive pistol the G-19 is fine
Defensive shotgun Remington 870 tactical
Rifle H&K M91 in 308 good for hunting and as a defensive rifle, and with the 22 subcalibre kit installed no sight changes or second gun. While it is a heavy SOB recoil is reduced with the weight. I hunt with this setup now and am quite happy with the results. These three go everywhere I go and the wife is able to use them as well, she has her own G-19 as well.
Here are my choices, to each his own, I think it is most important to be proficient with whatever firearms you choose, I go to the range every week, I don’t fire every firearm listed every trip, but I can say I do well with all listed, my rimfire choice is actually a Savage bolt action heavy barrel in 17hmr that is extremely accurate out to 200yds on a windless day!
Remington model 788. 308
Mossberg 500 Cruiser 20ga
Taurus pt92af 9mm
AR15 Anderson lowerw/Magpul accessories. 223/556 upper and 7.62×39 upper for cheaper ammo and practice!
My selections are as follows:
1. Hunting – .308 Browning BLR Model 81
1a. Hunting – Remington Model 1100 in 20 gauge modified
2. per. Protection – ATI Omni AR Pistol in .300 AAC Blk – I have a 8.5″ barrel with a 6 position stock. Ease of operation!!
3. Long Range Defense – Remington 700 in .300 Win Mag. Portable Sniper Rifle
4. Tactical Rifle – 5.56/.223 Windham Weapon
5. Plinking – .22 LR Henry lever rifle, I have a Bushnell scope on it, my eyes are just not that good anymore.
Logan, hope you have that pretty $200 tax stamp to go with the AR pistol that has a 6 position stock.
Todd there is no other way to go.
if it isn’t legal I don’t own it!!!
J
My choices = Remington 660 in 308, Savage 24v 30-30 over 20 ga, 10/22 and sig 226. I have decided that the 10/22 is the main reason there is a shortage 0f 22 rimfire ammo
To each their own….
The 10/22 is a cool gun BUT extremely over-hyped/over rated unless you just enjoy dressing things up like a Barbie Doll.
Glocks though dependable always felt like cheap guns that rattled….
Don’t believe the HYOE, There are A lOT better guns IN ALL the respected categories listed/represented in this article.
I would go a slightly different route:
– Glock 19 w/Trijicon Nightsights
– AR 15 with 5.56, .22LR and .308 Uppers and Mags, Red Dot+swing-away Magnifier Optics
– Remmington 870 12ga Tactical Pump with 18″ and 24″ barrels
– Remmington 700 .308 Rifle with Leopold optics
Good balance of available ammo types, capabilities, and engagement ranges.
These would not be on my list of my “must haves” — even though I own 10/22s and a Mossberg 500.
The 10/22 is ok if I just want to do target practice or shoot small game. However, for my target practice, I much prefer shooting a .410 for skeet and trap. That brings up the subject of shotguns — while I have the Mossberg 500, it’s one I never shoot. A 20-gauge is much more versatile for hunting. I like the Browning Citori, it’s pretty and well-made. Beretta makes some nice semi-automatics as well.
Here’s the list that works for me, and why I chose these:
– Hunting Rifles –
30-06… Browning 30-06 in semi-automatic. All around great hunting rifle. Great for longer shots and kills larger game. Would also use for home defense.
7mm08 and/or .308 (I have the .308 in a youth model since it fits me better)
30/30… one of my first hunting rifles was a lever action 30/30 that my grandpa owned. So this one is sentimental for me. It’s great for deer hunting, but I would not take longer shots with it.
– Handguns –
My favorites, in order:
* .45 Kimber Ultra Carry – I can’t say enough good things about this gun. 3.5″ barrel, great CCW, accurate, light trigger, great quality, tritium night sights.
* Full size .45 – Colt, Kimber, are both good brands, but I’m probably forgetting some others here.
* .44 magnum revolver – I like shooting the S&W model 629. I took this with me hiking through Alaska.
* Compact handgun for concealment – I alternate between the Ruger LCP (.380) and the Sig P938 (9mm). Both are really small and have their pros/cons. But these are concealable for smaller people and good for people with smaller hands.
* Walther PPK/S – I just like having this one, but not necessarily for any practical reason
* Some others that I think are ‘ok’ – Beretta Nano (9mm), .38 special, .22LR handgun, Glocks (not a fan of the ergonomics and polymer everything, but if they work for you, great), and a derringer is always a nice one to add to the collection.
– Others just to have –
* AK-47 (7.62×39) – just because
* AR-15 – These (for me) are just for target practice and in the chance that they’re banned. Low recoil, ammo prices are going down finally, and you can customize it to suit you. You can hunt with these as well, and most people think they look pretty scary, even though they are less powerful than your typical hunting rifle.
* An engraved revolver with a nice leather holster – Mine is a .357 revolver with custom engraving, but I have seen some beautiful engraved Walthers.
Anything you pick should be something *you* want and something you’ll want to have for a long time. Weigh the pros and cons, find what fits your budget, be safe and enjoy!
Feel free to add to my list… always looking for suggestions!
I don’t really disagree with the above.
But would replace some.
Glock 9×19
Ruger 10/22
Remington 870
Enfield 303
Just another way to go.
While I have not tried the other, I do own a Glock 19 and I agree that it is a firearm that every gun owner should own. It is light and accurate and a good firearm for someone to learn with.
Where do I start? I wouldn’t own a Mosin if someone paid me. Those ear busting suckers don’t make people stare. They make people leave the range and go home. You can’t shoot if you’re next to one of those muskets. And they aren’t much better than a musket if you ask me. They are the most offensive weapon on the range. If you have one do everyone a favor and shoot it somewhere else.
Then there’s the 10/22. Why settle for second best? I have owned 3 Marlin 60’s. I sold one because I didn’t need 3. One has about 175,000 rounds through it and still works perfectly. The other is almost new relatively. I bought it because I liked the looks of the 60SS. I didn’t really need another one. They are more accurate than 10/22’s unless you modify your Ruger. And why throw away perfectly good parts? The idea of buying a gun then having to replace a lot of parts just seems like a waste to me. I’ll take Marlin every time. I’ve shot brand new Marlins against brand new Rugers more than once. The Marlins have won every single time I did that and that’s with the shooters swapping guns. Ever who shot the Marlin shot better.
I would own a Mossberg. But I don’t. I own a Remington 870 instead. It’s a nearly perfect firearm. It’s so versatile it would take an hour to explain why. BTW you asked where else you could get a gun that good for $250. I can buy shotguns just as good for $170. They’re made by Norinco for H&R and others. The same company owns them that owns Remington. They are clones of the 870 and they work just as well as the 870 which works just as well as the Mossbergs. Only cheaper. Much cheaper. I have two of those.
Then there’s the Glock. I started to buy a Glock once. I had the money in my pocket. I couldn’t find one that fit my hand and I tried pretty much every Glock on the market. I have nothing against them except their ergonomics which aren’t very good IMO. Give me a Sig or a Springfield or even a Taurus (certain models) any day. I have a Taurus PT-145 that has over 5000 rounds through it and has never failed a single time and isn’t likely to do so no matter what ammo I put in it. It’s extremely accurate out to 25 yards. It cost half of what a comparable Glock would cost. It holds more rounds in less space. It has great ergonomics. It has a lifetime warranty. What’s not to like? I kept half my money the day I went after a Glock because I bought that Taurus and I haven’t regretted that for one second. It is a fabulous firearm.
But you did manage to plug all the fan boy guns. Somehow I knew you would.
Daniel great choice you will have lots of fun with it , about the price of the ammo , it is one of the cheapest ammo there is if you buy Tul-Amo It is Russian like the Rifle and the rifle loves that stuff and bulk ammo is the cheapest , Russian made too , and it runs about $ 85 to $150 x can depending on who you buy your ammo from , but you will have 440 bullets to have fun with….only thing is you have to clean your rifle veeeeerrryyyy good like you should do anyways cause of dirty and corrosive ammo , lots of fun though…..by the way get good shoulder pads , you are going to need them …..
well im only 15 and i own the ruger 10/22. my next weapon im going to get is the mosin nagant, only problem is the 7.62x54r ammo can get very expensive.
The list is spot on, Mosin Nagant, 870 remington a remington 22 rifle Glock 19 or whatever it is just a list of what will work.
Okay everyone has their opinion. Mine is a CZ-75 pistol, a Bernelli M1 Tactical, a DSA58 in .308, and a Marlin 60. The .22 is because those little bugger magazines for the .22 can get lost!
all good choices, and like someone said earlier it’s what works for each shooter, bolt action-remington 700 in .308, shotgun-remington 870, .22- although i have the ruger 10/22 i prefer the remington 597 because of the full size stock. and the pistol would be a ruger sr1911. fyi remington has a replacement trigger to fix the bump fire issue on the 700 model. so if you have a rem 700 that goes off when the safety is click off or the stock bumped, you might want to have you trigger assembly replaced.
I don’t think it is necessary to “tear that list apart”, Steve. I believe it is far more adult and mature for folks that disagree to just point out their own pros and cons. This can be accomplished without insults or mocking the author. In the long run, if your weapons systems work for you, no one else should care what model or caliber you use. Many of us gun owners wish that we could afford to purchase the firearms recommended on this blog. From my perspective, you have a most formidable arsenal.
Fun debate, but will always go the route of the .30-06 vs .270 discussion. Bottom line for me.. buy quality, reliable firearms ( sometimes expensive, but a one time cost), choose a caliber that has copious amounts of ammo commercially available, choose a firearm that you trust. I’ve one (or more) of nearly every one previously discussed. So for me personally, here it is:
1) Ruger 10-22 (or any reliable .22) (at worst, a FTF or misfire with an auto, still gives you a single-shot)
2) tactical 12 ga (I have an FN SLP Police, but having reliability issues with anything but high brass loads, so a pump is forthcoming very soon)
3) AR or AK style rifle with high capacity mags (I live in Texas) Mine is a DPMS AP4 with an Eotech sight. Shoots great.
4) pistol – I used to shun Glocks only because of grip, in favor of my 1911’s. Now with the Gen 4 grip improvements, I now own 4 Glocks. I realized the other day that after 1,000’s of rounds through all of them, not one FTF. My choice.. G23 40 cal. Fits my hand like a glove and when loaded, is lighter than my G21 45.
OK…. somebody have fun and tear that list apart.
I dont know the wisdom of telling the world what you own.
If not now , will it be easy to trace you and your collection by others in the future?
1.M1 garand 30-06 I’ll accept no sustitute.
2.Marlin model 60 I’ve owned 10/22s but the Marlin just feels better to me.
3.Ithaca model 37 I have a 12, 16 & 29ga. My preference is the 16. I’m ampidexterous and the bottom eject does it for me. All mine were made in the 40’s or early 50’s, better quality back then IMHO.
4.Smith & Wesson M&P .40
I bought a 91/30 one week ago because of this article.
Good to see it is back up and no longer hiding from the anti-gun nuts.
I have the mosin and lots of ammo. What a great buy. My 22LR is a cheapo Mossberg 702 but I wish I had the 10/22 for the availability of hi-cap mags and for no other reason. That being said the Mossberg works just fine for me. My Shotgun is a H&R Pardner Pump Protector and I am definitely happy I have it over the 500 because it is just as good a shotgun at a little over half the price. I have a Glock 22 instead of a 9mm I bought a .40 and stockpiled the mags and ammo. By the time I realized there is no real difference between 9, 40 & 45. it was too late. I am stuck with .40 and the lower capacity mags and more expensive ammo that goes along with it. I am Just happy I didn’t buy a .45.
I think an AK or AR should be on the list.
I do not have any long distant rifles. Have an Ak47, 4 MP 15s. Ruger mini 30 (7.62×39 cal.) a kel tec sub 2000, 40 cal. Carbines, folds up to 16 in. Model Saiga 12 ga12 ga. . 20 rd. drum. 10 rd mags.3 Maverick 12 ga. pump, 6 rounds.S&M 38 special. Cold model 70 ,1911 with 10 round mags. Glock 19, 9 mm., Glock 22, 40.ca. HighStandard 22 auto with Bull barrel. 22 rifle ,semiauto . Remington 1100 semiauto 12 and 16 ga. Have about 17000 plus rounds of ammo. 12000 of 22. Now just have to get my wife on board as a shooter and all will be good. I know that the future is in GOD’S hands but I want to be prepared to do my part of what ever goes on. Remember the old saying “Praise God and pass the ammunition”. Bless you all that are ready and able to protect this country and protect the Constitution of The United States Of America.
I concur with Pete and Bob, no need to berate or mock others on the forum. We can discuss ideas without poking anyone in the eye. There is definitely a wealth of knowledge and experience with gun owners that deal with Cheaper Than Dirt. You can share your opinions and avoid insulting those who follow a different thought pattern.
Excellent comments, Pete in Alaska and I fully agree. Yes, this should be a forum for exchanging information, not knocking the other guy’s viewpoints.
The old Gun Geezer in Mesa, AZ PS: I LOVE Alaska!!!
WOW, 143 comments most of them informative, worth the read and providing a number of valid and informed choices! This is what a blog like this should be.
I am a bit ashamed for those few who don’t seem to understand that this forum is designed to Inform, Educate, and offer options and different ideas. It is not, however,or should it be a forum for self- important, “I know whats best”, “you are wrong” kind of comments.
I have a few observations and thoughts after having read the comments above:
1] Shotguns are indeed very loud inside any enclosed space… farnkly, so is ANY un-suppressed weapon pretty much regardless of caliber. Dont belive me? go ahead and take a .22 pistol into an old house or any small enclosed space without hearing protection, fire it and see it thats ok with your ears. The weapon of choice for home defense should be what your comfortable with, proficent with, and can operate when not fully awake under a stress condition.
2] “Gun Control” is being able to consistantly hit your target, center mass is best, under some stress or duress when it counts. its not enough to stand at the range and punch holes in the target, Try running and shooting, get fairly good at snap shots with a high heart rate and out of breath and your on the road to handeling that split second, low light, late night, moment of desicion that I hope you never have to deal with but if so are prepaired for.
3] U,S,A,… U,S,A,… U,S,A,…… U,S,A, etc. I am a firm beliver that “Made in The USA” is a great idea and that we should buy our own products whenever possible. However, to say “I won’t own or buy a non-US weapon!!”…???? That simply shows a lack of education and knowlage. Sorry to burst some of the bubbles out there but a great many of the ideas built HERE were first developed and build over THERE and a lot of them were built better and still are. So just cause its made “over there”, may fire a “funny” caliber, be over 60 years old or not have an “american” walnut stock, in no way makes it a “piece of junk”. US arms manufactures have had their share of those too. Evaluate your need, reasearch whats available to you, get the best you can aford, then learn to use it proficently, accuretly, and under at least some stress. How many deer have been missed or wounded because of BUCK FEVER? All Buck Fever is, is a “stress factor” you havent prepaired for, just to put this into prespective.
4] It is of little importance if you have one or many of the types of weapons that are in the root post here. It is not important that your a beginner or an expert or somewhere in between. What is important is the sharing of information, the advancing of personal knowlage, and the broadening of our collective scope on this or any other sublect for the betterment of all of us.
Bottom line: drop the posturing, try and “share” you opinins in a manner that increases the pool of information without dictating whats “Right and Wrong”
if you want to blow off steam or be all knowing or take a posture position….Please…..find another site to do it on. Most of us dont need to hear the bulls**t, we are interested however in your personal choices of hardware, systems and so forth, just without the “I know better….” coloration. Most of us already are pretty smart about this subject, and we’re always interested in others opinions and choices.
I appoligies to a degree if my comment here rubs some fur the wrong way or causes others to perhaps think im commenting directly to them. However if your that thin skined your not listening anyway.
I own every one of these guns! My first gun was the trusty old Mossberg 500, I bought it on my 18th birthday (20 years ago), been around ever since. I got the combo kit with two barrels one 18.5 inch and one 28 inch. I have shot every kind of load out there with ZERO issues. I have put thousands of rounds through it and it never fails, it is my go-to gun next to my glock 19…Same with the Ruger 10/22, love it! It works in the field, at the range and in the home. It is a poor mans assault rifle. The Mosin is cheap to shoot and can reach out to better than 500 yards if you scope it up. I sporterized mine with an ATI stock and a drop bolt body and scope mount from Rock Solid Industries. It is indestructable, one of the most reliable, simple and dependable guns ever made. If the SHTF, the mosin is coming with me. I Love my glock 19, it is my range gun and back-up home defense weapon. Mine is almost dead stock, gen 3 and I like it that way. The only change I made was switching out the polymer recoil spring guide rod to a stainless steel one, I improved my accuracy by 1/2 inch at 15 yards…I daily carry a Sig Sauer P238 .380ACP only because it fits in any pocket no matter what season it is and no matter what clothes I’m wearing. I don’t have to taylor my outfit around my carry gun…
2 of 4,the Ruger 10-22 & the Mossberg 500a…Big game etc? The 1898 Springfield 30-40 Krag,(still can be found for under $200)& the good for anything,very reliable Ruger SRH .44 mag hand cannon.
I can see all …………….but Mosin??
I have Glock 9×19, for shotgun 870 Remington.
Ruger.22 is very nice. I have very old tube fed Marlin.
For bolt action I go with 700 Rem or 70 Win. not Mosin.
Great article. I love it when an author puts together something like this. Obviously, well thought out and undoubtedly prone to differences of opinions. I own 3 of the 4 but also about 30+/- others (I lost count). The one that I don’t have is the Glock. I have a good supply of 9 mm ammo, but have not got around to buy a pistol that shot it. Always wanted to, but still haven’t done it.
I’ll second the comment about the lever action carbine. These are an iconic American rifle, readily available, inexpensive, and reliable, so I wouldn’t rule it out.
One I haven’t heard is the good old double barrel 12 ga. Intimidation factor.
I like to see the self reliance that is reflected by the comments that come from the posts to these type articles.
In the end I think caliber is more important than which maker or style/action of gun. A good .22, 12 ga. shotgun (full stock only), rifle, and handgun in readily available, inexpensive ammo is the key.
The main point is own some guns and shoot them! The best way to do that is buy inexepensive guns and ammo.
For those starting out, the order you should probably purchase the guns (of course this will spark some debate) is probably a .22 repeater rifle, then a multi-shot shotgun. These at least will serve for self defense and survival with cheap and available ammo and will be fun to shoot and serve as a good introduction into gun ownersip. Next a good distance rifle, .270 or larger bullet diameter. And last a handgun.
Regarding the Handgun, get one that fits your hands and is comfortable to shoot! Not everyone has the same size hand and handguns are probably more susceptible to issues with fit and kick than any long gun. .22, .380, 9 mm., .357, .40SW, or .45ACP, or .44 rem mag. cheapest ammo is the .22 and 9mm, so probably one in those calibers, but you will probably find that you don’t shoot this as much as the others, so cost of ammo may not be as important a consideration.
If you still had an itch for another gun, the fifth rifle I’d recommend is a small caliber “varmint” round like the .223, which is really only good for practice, and medium sized game or injuring larger game. These would be the more traditional “black rifles” like the AR-15. This would be a distant #5 in my book.
hi.. well im doing kool i guess, i have the mosin in a m 44 thats been reworked by myself, and a good old “chinese” workhorse, the norinco 45 acp, a 22 ruger with a synthetic stock, and a 590 mossburg shotgun with alot of ati goodies on it. the nagant will stop a car pretty quick, is cheap to shoot and its LOUD. the 22, hey its all been said. the 12 guage is a real crowd clearer, blast and go..lol…well have a merry xmas all, and watchout for the zombies…LOL…:)
There is a bit of Geardo in all of us. We all like to defend our choice in gear.
1. I can see the Nagant, but would substitute the M1 Garand in its place.
2. I’d prefer Marlin Model 39 over the Ruger 10/22.
3. One needs a full length shotty, skip the 500 Cruiser. Benelli or Beretta autoloaders.
4. Take any one 1911 pattern over the Glock. If eight rounds won’t do the job you should have brought a rifle.
Ok,ok. This is a good assembly of weapon types. Everyone has their favotites. Having numerous of each weapon type,I believe ones that you are most comfortable with is the key. Today’s selection is as follows;
Springfield Armory M1A SOCOM 16
Kimber Raptor compact ,45
Mossberg 530-A1 military issue pump shotgun
Ruger 10/22 takedown (just got it and love it).
That’s today’s list. Tomorrow’s list depends on my needs for that day.
Good choices all the way around though I will not own any striker fired pistol myself. My Mosin Nagant is not a ‘tack driver’ but fun to shot and can easily hold a 1.75 inch group at 75 yards or more from a rest. I will point out though that putting a pistol grip on shotgun signficantly degrades it as a self-defense weapon. 20 years ago I told this to my local poilice department when they put the pistol grips on their Remington 870 shotguns. It was a disater, one offcier knocked himself out cold when he fired at a felon and the gun recoiled and hit him in the face. In the next incident the offcier fired the pistol grip shotgun at a fugitve killer who had broken out of prison. None of his three shots fired from about 30 feet hit the convict. But he did manage to destroy the bar’s outdoor neon sign with one blast. There is a reason rifles and shotguns have stocks on them it is so you can quickly and easily point them at things and hit them.
I have none of the four, but variations on the theme.
My Mosin is a Finnish M39
My Shotgun is a Remington 870
My 9mm is a SIG P229
My .22LR is a Marlin 60
Personally, I believe all my choices are a step up, but others may disagree and just say its a Chevy vs Ford thing.
A Mosin would never make a fine deer rifle. Has Rob ever been deer hunting or tried to hit a deer sized target over 100 yards away with a Mosin and any other common deer rifle? Just about any other choice in this category would have been better. And let us not forget that the old lever action 30/30 is a fine battle rifle in its range.
I personally have no use for a Glock. Do double stack pistols point well for anyone? I think the reason night sights and lasers are so popular these days is the double stack plastic pistols make good old point shooting too difficult. Get a rattle-trap 1911 or revolver so you don’t have to hang a bunch of gadgets off it to hit something. Personal defense shooting is not an extended fire fight. It’s up close and over in a flash.
I might argue the specific choice .22 rifle, but a .22 rifle is a good choice anyway you slice it. A 10/22 needs some work to equal a Marlin Model 60 out of the box.
Nothing wrong with the Mossberg 500, except that pistol grip model in the pic is about useless for anything except snakes.
I resent the fact that the writer believes we are all the same in our needs . Being an individual , I have made my own collection based on local terrain , local availability of resources , and my own knowledge of what goes on around me on a daily basis …….
10/22 yep plus 2 other 22’s mossberg 535 and a winchester 1200 defender, garand instead of the mosin, but if your in keeping with a bolt gun the 308 works just fine. I prefer a good 357 mag to a 9 but that’s just me. I might entertain a mosin down the road.
4 out of 4. They are all great guns, and well worth the money. I also have many other guns that are just as useful in their own way. If I could have only one gun it would be my Colt AR-15.
To anyone considering a semi-automatic weapon, I would suggest buying it right away before we see new gun control legislation. This includes shotguns that hold more than 5 rounds. A renewed assault weapons ban is lingering. Who knows, the next theft of our Second Amendment rights may be worse than the last one under Clinton. If I am wrong, you bought your gun early. If I am right, you may never own one.
Assuming this is a start up list of firearms for the budget minded consumer, I would pretty much agree on the choices for the 4 arms to have. However I am 0 for 4 with these choices. My suggestion to any beginner would be to start with one firearm at a time and save your money for high quality. Start with an all-around firearm and work your way to a more special use weapon. I think an AR 15 would be the ideal starter, with it’s low cost ammo it works very well for hunting and self defense, you could go a long time with this one without having to move on to your second choice. All sorts of gadgets and add on features will keep you busy on this one. My second choice would be a longer range, higher caliber scoped rifle. My choice is a M1A with a long range scope, but if I really had to choose a rifle for this category and live with it for life I think a Win Model 70 in 3006 would be it (much longer range then .308). A good choice here for versatility is a model 94 with a scope in 30 30. (If you have an AR then there isn’t much need for another semi auto). Not big on shotguns but I think you gotta have one for hunting winged food. My pistol choice is a USP in .45. Recently got a Sig P250 Compact in 9mm. It’s 1/2 the weight and bulk of the full size H&K and holds 50% more rounds. With practice you can hit a target at 100 yds, not going to happen with a .45. The size and light weight factor of the Sig wins out if you are going to carry it around. Also you can get swap the barrel out for different calibers between .22 and 40 S&W.
For Fred, Agreed with 870’s track record, 700 though… has bump shot issues. PS. Mossberg 500- what we use in the military.
To each his own! Personally i prefer the Glock model 21, .45 cal w/ 2-13 round mags. Also, i prefer the 12 gauge Rem. 870 mag. if it’s good enough for the cops, it’s good enough for me. I also like my AR-15, w/bipod, scope, and Magpul 30 rd. magazines. For bolt action, I prefer the Rem. 700 in either 30-06 or 308 cal. or I could be persuaded to purchase a Winchester Model 70 in the 308 cal.
Ah, not a bad write up, actually been looking as Nagant’s at our local fleet farm (they carry alot of surplus)
My weapons, well hell I only get 1 outta 4.
Ruger 10/22..
I have S&W mp40
Mossberg 385T (Look it up, funny little shotgun)
A .270 wsm for long range and a 5.56x45mm AR with a leupold 3×9 tac for mid ranges.
Really looking hard at a Nagant, Mossberg 500 and a Rem 870 wingmaster though.
Its a pretty good list.
All guns are affordable and reliable.
Only change i would make would be glock for a 1911.
Moisins will out shoot any AR and not only that moisins wont be on any “assault weopons” list ever, unlike AR’s & AK’s.
Mustang75,for so many years serving.You sure are Long on Mouth and Short on Brains.
Try holding back a little on your personal thoughts.I know that’s tough for you officer types,but what you think you might know…..You don’t.Brag is unbecoming.
Try sticking to the topic and not your own minds personal war games.
SF
The 870, XPS and Browning BPS are all superior in performance, so why get a 500. Any European Mauser (Swede, Hungarian, Yugo, German, etc) is a much better surplus bolt action than the Moisin, for personal carry a preferred choice would be the Smith MP 40,the Remington 1911 compact or a Sig 40 thank you and as far as the the Ruger 10-22, it is a fine plinker , but needs to be modified to make it an adult rifle due to short stock, I suggest the Marlin or Savage bolt or semi autos with already better triggers, bull barrels, etc as better buys.
The 870 and Browning BPS are superior in performance, so why get a 500. Any European Mauser (Swede, Hungarian, Yugo, German, etc) is a much better surplus bolt action than the Moisin, for personal carry a preferred choice would be the Smith MP 40, thank you and the Ruger 10-22 is a fine plinker , but needs to be modified to make it an adult rifle due to short stock, I suggest the Marlin or Savage bolt or semi autos with already better triggers, bull barrels, etc as better buys.
As a Police Officer who carries a Glock 21 I can tell you the reason that the majority of Law Enforcement agencies are carrying Glocks has nothing to do with reliability and everything to do with cost savings. The are literally half the cost of the next cheapest competition. If I had my choice of a duty gun to carry, rest assured it would not be a Glock, it would be a 1911.
I agree with all of your choice as good to have, but I don’t agree the the “Glock” or any other make of hand gun(,unless maybe a bird shot in a 410) for use as “Home Defense”. Anytime a round can cut through most of the walls in your home it may not be the best thing to fire. Nothing you can say will make the people you live next door to feel good about you shooting rounds into there home, trying to protect your home. For “Home Defense” I’d suggest a “Pump Shotgun” using a light load( maybe some kind of bird shot). Remember in order to get the job done right, you must 1st. use the right tools….. Be safe…. Peace<
Several people have said they question the accuracy of the Ruger 10/22:
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I took one of my spent circular saw blades and drove it into a stump approximately 100 paces from my firing line.
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I believe there were 15 of the teeth still showing above the stump. At that range, I had all of the teeth off of the blade with only two reloads. Several teeth were stubborn. In thirty rounds, I think I totally missed the blade on three rounds.
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For anyone who is not enamored with the 10/22, the importance is not in how much you love it, but in how well it puts meat in the pot.
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If I had a full arsenal and the only weapon that would fire is the 10/22, I would feel well-armed still.
No need to rank on me for letting the arsenal deteriorate. It was a hypothetical statement.
interesting list although brand name/model specific isnt necessarily what all shooters should or could handle without some comromises. I do agree with having a 9mmm due to readily available ammo but that is far from the best caliber for a handgun. During my 55+ years experience my favorite 9mm is one the millions of p35 high powers produced since a couple year before my birth altho my safest carry guns are Glocks, m20C and an m29 for backup. My favorite 12 gauge is a well modified 870, backed up with a Saiga equiped with a kushnapup bullpup stock which is pending BATF Form 1 approval as an SBS. My MN is a darn good gun although not quite the equal of my SA58 .308 sniper rifle. 10-22 is an excellent plinking/varmit shooter; equiped with a 1 in 9 twist barrel and a GEMTEC suppressor. My 10-22 is backed up with a winchester 190 which handles all .22 shells from cap, short, long and long rifle, something impossable with the 10-22.
My point is not what gun recommended by others is suitable to the experience and training of the individual current generation shooter but which gun or guns are you as indivuals trained, experienced and confortable with?. Way back when I qualified as expert marksman my weapons were M1 garand, M-3 greasegun and of course the 1911 but times change. One final thought is against the 5.56 mattel toy, an inferior weapon to the Kalisnakov 7.62×39 but reasearch the reality of weapon use and reliability for your own selves rather than relying on the thoughts of someone who is not familiar with both weapons. Remember that our current need is the defense of home and family, not loading a battle pack with 560 rounds for an excursion into harms way. Best wishes and a safe sane holiday season to you all.
I agree with everything faultroy had to say if you are talking about beginners or experienced shooters who care to only own 4 guns. New gun owner? Stick to revolvers!!! I can’t tell you how much time I’ve spent trying to figure out why this gun stovepipes, and that gun strikes too light. I enjoy that stuff, but it’s a hobby. If it’s not a hobby and you just want it to go bang every time I suggest you buy a .357 that also shots .38 for a carry/defense. Taurus 605 is a small 5 shot in steel or polymer and about $350 out the door. .22lr will work if that’s what you want to use. In fact 93% of the time an armed citizen de-holsters a weapon for defensive purposes, the threat is gone at the sight of the gun. For this reason a .22lr is a good choice. If you ever had to shoot someone, bigger is better. At home a pump action shot gun with 00 buckshot will actually move a person in the other direction where a .22, .38, 9mm may not immediately impede an attacker. I think this article was focused on people who own several guns chosen for other reasons, with these 4 being additional guns you should own. I just ordered a nagant because I have an interest in history, and at $129, why not? Best shotgun I’ve ever owned? model 97 Winchester, built in 1907. It’s a coveted wall hanger now. I need to replace it, and will look at the 500 as an option. Thankfully; the author didn’t list the AR-15; what a bandwagon! In closing I’ll say, no matter what guns you own, practice with them, keep them clean and support your local gun range.
stick with NATO and Warsaw Pact weapons and munitions. when the S H TF happens, these will be the most common rounds you will find. The 22 LR platform is a no brainer. I personally shy away from 22 conversion kits. you may need your primary defense weapon at it’s full caliber when you least expect it.
I agree with much of what the last poster said. If I had only one or two handguns, they would both be revolvers. Tv guys (outside of Clint Eastwood) carry semi’s, but who cares! I love my Sig P238 and my newer Ruger SR 22, but my snub-nose 38 and my NA Arms Black Widow and Pug are easy-carries, cheap to operate, and easier to maintain. I agree, too, that the 22 mag is a great round, and priced good as well. As someone said earlier, and rightfully so, different strokes for different folks(my terminology). We should go for what suits our handsize, meets our specific reasons for buying and our budgets, and that we’re comfortable firing. But if I could have one gun and one gun only, it would be my S&W 38-special airweight revolver
I realize we are talking to gun nuts here, but the choices really do not fit the average American. If I were making this list, I would state that the first rifle one should get would be a 22lr in a bolt action. The reason being that one could shoot any form of 22lr while a semi auto may not. I would certainly take a pass on the Mosin Nagant in favor of one of the excellent inexpensive used rifles such as the Savage 110 in a large caliber like 308 or 30-06–in a fiberglass stock which would make it pretty close to a sub-6 lb gun–as opposed to any military firearm that weighs in at least 8lbs (close to 10 lbs in a Mosin)and the Savage being twice as accurate. Why would anyone be stupid enough to take a chance on a heavy old used firearm made by a third rate country–with no warranty whatsoever–when they can take advantage of a state of the art firearm manufacturer by paying at most maybe $250.00 more? It makes absolutely no sense. In addition, you have far more opportunities to load different bullet weights with this caliber than the Mosin should you decide to reload in the future. As far as handguns are concerned, again go with a good 22lr revolver, but pay a lot of attention to its weight. I own a S$W 22lr 4 inch barrel which weight 1 1/2 times the weight of my 357mag Model 66. For reasons that I am not sure of, Mfgs love to make 22lrs handguns weigh more than their higher caliber duplicates–it makes absolutely no sense. Someday a manufacturer is going to get wise and recognize the general public does not want to carry a 22lr revolver that weighs as much as a 44 mag. For the average American, they would be much better served with a 357 mag revolver than any semi auto–regardless as to its make or price. 38 special ammo is some of the cheapest on the market and it has quite a range from a handloading perspective. While I own two Glocks (used to own the 10 mm now only 9 mm and 45 cal), and one Kimber (45 cal), these are all pretty much a waste and useless. The gun I use the most is my S&W Model 640 snub)with a crimson trace. Today, snubnoses are much lighter than my 640 made of stainless steel. You can get them as low as 14 oz and they shoot 38 plus P ammo. You certainly don’t need any more gun–unless you are hunting. The shotgun advice is solid, and I too would opt for a Model 500 or a Rem 870–not just because they are good shotguns, but because they are the most popular and have the most aftermarket parts manufactured for them. While there are many good shotguns out there, they do not have the same range of aftermarket products and it is be only for this reason that I would opt for one or the other(I don’t own either one but shoot a Browning BPS which I also like but one cannot get nearly that same add-on aftermarket products). One last point. You should probably NOT purchase any of the firearms mentioned until one has a lot of experience shooting the 22s. Why? Because firearm balance to someone that is knowlegeable enough about guns is the most important and least discussed issue in firearms. How a gun balances is far more important than who made it. That is why you rarely see experienced shooters buy into these kinds of juvenile discussions. For example years ago I owned a Colt HBAR 223. A wonderfully accurate firearm long before the new AR craze (this was back in the 1980s) But I would never be dumb enough to own an AR today–why? Because I can purchase a Keltec SU 16 (and have by the way) that does exactly the same thing an AR does but about 3-4 lbs lighter. Why would I be stupid enough to carry an extra 3 lbs for no reason?–and to pay 30-50% more for the privilege?…again…it makes absolutely no sense… So in conclusion, 1) never listen to anything a gun nut says because in 90% of the time it is accurate information, but untrue. 2) Become gun savvy with both a bolt action rifle and a 22 revolver BEFORE you start investing in any other firearms because you want to look for a firearm that fits closest to your particular size, strength and balance points (it’s just like purchasing a piece of clothing–you want to make sure it fits and conforms to your lifestyle). 3) Weight, balance, comfort, sizing and accuracy are the first things to consider–caliber is the last. Unlike most of the gun nuts that prattle their likes and dislikes, I am perfectly comfortable with only owning 22lr (though I admit that the 22 mag is the best survival round in the universe). I certainly would not feel under gunned carrying a 22lr for personal defense. And 99% of the American gun purchasing public would be much better served with revolvers than ANY semiauto. The fact that we have so many effeminate shooters that wax poetic about which semi auto to purchase because of trigger pull,reliabilityand caliber when they could easily purchase a much less carridge finicky revolver is a testimony to the ever increasing metrosexualization of our country. And lastly, train as you live. If you are the type of person that really only wants to carry a firearm for self defense and shoots only occasionally, you are just as “properly gunned” as the guy carrying the latest super dooper handy dandy whiz bang state-of-the-art semi auto in the 45 cal auto. You can pick up a 22 cal snub cheap and they are light to carry. Furthermore you can stay out of the mindlessly childish rants about which gun is the best knowing that you pull your firearm, shoot and holster–just that simple–no safties, failure to fire, no cocerns about whether the round may jam etc and no concerns about accidental discharges. Furthermore you can practice with 22 cals at 1/10th the cost of any other kind of bullet…and I have never seen nor heard of a bad guy yet that has volunteered to take a 22 bullet to the chest because he thought that you were “under gunned.” …like I said at the beginning…it makes no sense…–LOL!!!! My apologies if I have stepped on some peoples’ toes, but someone has to be the adult in a room.
Totally, agree everyone should own some form of all four. Mainly for their safety and preservation. They will provide food and protection. The way things are going, we will have to hunt our food and fight to keep what we have.
I have three of the four. I have Rem 700 in 30-06 instead o Mosin. I agree with the glock,I own three glocks and also three 1911’s.All three Glocks have proved to be more reliable than the 1911’s. The 1911’s are Rem,Springfield and Kimber. The proof is in the shooting of these firearms,and I mean hundreds of rounds not just a box or two with each. I do lean to the 45 over the nine, but do not worry when having the 9mm. Shot placement is the key.
4 for 4! Woo hoo!! But I don’t agree with any of the picks though unless your on welfare. I think the list title or the article should be the 4 most popular guns on a for those on Obama handouts. When “the man” outlaws my guns, I will find a way to keep my Benelli M4, AR-15 (any one of them), AR-10 (or M1A), and my Sig 40. My favorite gun is my Kimber 1911 SIS, although it’s too big for Concealed Carry. Can’t we make it 5??? A 1911 HAS to be on the list somehow. The Ruger 10-22 is a fun plinker, but would never make my final 4. The Mosin is ugly, but great long range on a budget, but no way my final 4. I don’t see ANY reason to pick a 9mm over a 40 cal. Best compromise of size and power. Thanks for the story, lots of fun reading everbody’s picks.
Any 9mm of a quality would do as well, glock is more trend then truth.(shot capacity another thing to consider)
The Nagant, another fad gun cheap yes,Ammo? in bulk yes but, the real thing to think about is how common and or application.
.30-06,.308,.30-30(load range and platforms are made to fit most any user and application.)( dont forget shot capacity)
Prices from $50-$5000 fit any budget’
All of which are more easily found localy,
not every one has internet, not every town has a gun shop, but there IS a Walmart 20miles Every direction.
Your in the U.S.A
The Ruger and the Mossberg Never a bad choice!
Both are solid, they are the AK-47 Tote’n Cockroaches of the USA, Reliablity that make all others pale and weak by comparison.
Whew! Feeling pretty good.Got 2 of the 4, and a few other good choices instead of the Glock 19. Got to look into picking up a Mosin Nagant. Ruger 10/22 and a Mossberg 500 are already standing guard. Don’t have a Glock but-Smith-Wesson’s Sigma 9ve, Sig Sauer’s P250c and Beretta’s P-X 4 Storm, are all good, dependable pistols that I carry. So far at the range, all of them fire every time and perform well. Loving Beretta’s P-X 4 Storm right now. Feeling confident with the pistols I have.
Doing real good until, the Glock…..No…If I can only have one sidearm, it will be a Ruger .357 mag or .44 mag revolver…A one piece gun (no magazine issues) simple field stripping (no frame screws, like S&W) A solid workhorse, that you learn to HIT a target with, not rely on spraying ammo. 357 will shoot cheaper 38 Special reloads, 44 mag any kind of bullet and powder combination that works will do the job. Get a Lee $30 hand press and stuff your own. My family own multiples of the MN, 10-22, Mossy 500, and Ruger DA wheel guns. Not a Glock to be found. If you must have a pocket “sprayer”, a Ruger P89 9mm, Ruger P94 40 S&W, as I have. But those semi auto are for specific purposes, the top of the must have list, is the revolvers. And I’d spend money on a solid SKS with CANS of ammo before a Glock.
I only own the Ruger 10/22 out of the 4 guns you listed. I have a Mossberg 930 SPX Semi-auto .12 gauge and a Maverick 88 pump. I also have a 7-shot Remington 870 in .20 GA and a Savage 24J .22LR/.20GA. Truthfully, I have no interest in owning a Mosin Nagant, even if they are cheap, reliable and accurate as everyone says. Although I think .223 is a varmint round, I feel that the rate of fire and magazine capacity for both the M4 and Mini-14 will suffice in defending my property. Please forgive me, but I can’t get behind the statement “every shooter should own”. As a “Prepper”, I frequently recommend that prudent folks have a battery of firearms in event we experience a crisis or long term disaster scenario. Of course, each person’s particular situation dictates their priorities. Overall, my advice to folks just getting started (in order of precedence) is to obtain the following: 1) Shotgun (.12 or .20 GA, to tolerance and experience). Remington 870 and Mossberg 500 or 590 are great choices. 2) Semi-auto .22 LR (Ruger 10-22 or similar model from Marlin or Savage). 3) Assault Rifle in .223/5.56mm (Colt, Stag Arms, Bushmaster M4 or Ruger Mini-14). 4) Handgun (M1911.45 ACP – urban, .357 MAG/.38 SPL – rural). 5) Bolt or Lever Action Rifle in .308, 30-06 or 30-30 (Remington 700, Ruger 77, Winchester).
First of all if I could only own 4 guns you can bet your backside all 4 would be made in the U.S.A. That being said a bolt action a pump and a plinker followed by a gun every one either loves or hates not my picks . Get yourself a good used hunting rifle my pick a Winchester Model 100 in 308cal a classic getting harder to find but there still out there . #2 Ruger Mini 14 223rem / 5.56 another American classic less moving parts than a AR and not as accurate long range but will fire any round you can buy and never miss a beat . #3 A year ago this gun would not even in my top 100 a Smith & Wesson 686 4″ 357 mag my local gun dealer recomended one and it is first in the range bag every time out . #4 American classic over 100 years of production J.M.B. 1911 any list of must have guns that does not have a 1911 on it is wrong . Any one who has fired a well made 1911 knows what I am talking about . The bottom line is you can argee with my picks or the other ones posted or be some where in middle my list works for me . I can hunt small or large game and protect my family and property .
Shotgun for home defense? Really!?! Firing a 12 gauge inside the house is the same as setting off a flash bang…only it affects everyone…plus the collateral damage.
C’mon folks, let’s tone it down a notch. First, anything other than a handgun can be very difficult to manipulate in home defense. PLEASE don’t count on a loud, collaterally destructive, often poorly manageable, flash bang, i.e. shotgun be your home defense weapon.
In opposition to the Mosin-Nagant I prefer a slightly quieter and easier on the shoulder weapon, i.e. the US M1A1 cal. 30 carbine. Mine was made by GM HD in 1944. I thought it meant General Motors Hydromatic Division, but it’s not listed in the ref books. Your long gun needn’t be over 200 yds…you know, gang-bangers, zombies, mother-in-laws, and such. Civilian snipers, in Revolution to the US Govt. and Military Forces? Remember, you CAN NOT hide from thermal imagery sights issued to US soldiery. Besides, that would be wrong, and suicidal.
Under 100 yds, try the Kel-Tek sub 2000. I use the cal. 40 model and have put over 1,000 rds through mine with not one failure using both ball, and hollow-point ammo. If the hollow-point is good enough for both *FEMA and Social Security, then it’s good enough for me. I am concerned about the plastic trigger, though it still works fine.
Hand guns. I love my Soviet Era weapons. I have 2 Romanian Tokarevs, and 2 Bulgarian Makarovs. THEY NEVER FAIL TO FIRE!…and the ammo is pretty cheap. The Toks are very loud so I wouldn’t grab one for home defense unless I had earplugs. Danged things sound like a cannon. The Maks, however, are ideal for home defense. The Makarov barrel is permanently affixed to the frame. It literally is “Point and Shoot”. If you can’t put every round center mass at 20 meters, then please have a professional teach you how to shoot.
*FEMA name has been changed, but not officially publicized. It is now the Federal Emergency Management Service. That justifies the 1.2 B…B…Billion rounds of cal. 40 hollow-point ammo. Ball ammo could loosely be called a bit less lethal, but Hollow-Point is meant to KILL (us).
Also please note that the US Military, during peacetime has an inventory of 1.2 Billion small arms rounds. Not, HOWEVER, HOLLOW-POINT. Our military uses Ball ammo.
Bona-Fides: 35 years in the Army. 10 years enlisted to E-7, and 25 years Officer to LTC.
May God have mercy on our souls, though I cannot see why he should…
I have all of these models in triplicate. Couldn’t agree more.CTD gets it right once again.
I have all of these models in triplicate. Couldn’t agree more.
Great set of firearms. I have fired the Nagant (friends) and you WILL see heads turn at the range. I have a 1942 Enfield .303 a fine
substitute, but man what a brute to fire! I also have the fine 10-22, which is quite hard to find a cheaper gun to shoot (plink all day for pennies), also the500 with the folding pistol grip stock, and I love my Bushmaster AR15. When it comes to pistols and revolvers I prefer the Springfield over the Glock. I have a XD .45 and that baby holds 13+1 in the pipe- that is 14 rounds of .45 bad mammajamma! I am a little sad that I did not see the famous Winchester 30-30, a great plinker and hunting rifle. I have more.
I am currently saving for a small Ruger 9mm or xdm 9mm carry and a Saiga .410 shotgun. I know, I know .303 ammo is very
pricey. Gotta get into reloading.
RB
I will keep my Remington 870, Savage 64 & Beretta 92FS. If I were to get a older rifle, it would probably be a M14.
I don’t have exactly the same guns, except for the 10/22 and the Glock 19 which I have been a fan of since the early 90’s. I do however have a Rem. 870 which is certainly the equal of the Mossberg and I have several Ruger rifles in various calibers that make the Nagant look like a piece of junk. Yes I paid more, but since I have been acquiring guns for over 50 years, the price is a non-issue. If you are just starting out this is a good starting place, but I think you can do better on the used market than the Nagant.
I agree with most of the choices. I own the Nagant, but I believe the Remington 870 a better 12 gauge. Love the 10/22 also. Pistol wise, I choose the Taurus PT845 just for the larger caliber over the Glock as I feel it’s just as reliable. I also own the Ruger SR9C as it is a great backup.
saiga 12 w/ 20 round drums and folding stock
Saiga 308 w/ vert grip and folding collapsable stock
AR10 20″ BBL with Vais muzzle brake (if you miss on the first one you get 19 more tries)
AK 47 /w 2 30 round mags jungle clipped
4 10/22’s one suppressed, one target barrel
Springfield compact 45 (’cause you only want to shoot once)
Draco AK 7.62×39 pistol (because nothing says “we’re not interested” like a basketball sized flame coming out of a 12″ barrel)
If money grew on trees, I’d have a much larger arsenal and stockpile of ammunition.
Until such time, the hardware I have is working just fine:
2 Mossberg 500s with 18″ barrels
Ruger LC9 and P95
Smith and Wesson 357 8 shot
2 Windhim AR rifles
Marlin Model 60 22LR
and my Remington 700 270 WIN
Either an SKS, or AK47, and Mosin are on my list along with a 40 Caliber.
Gotta get back to tending my money trees.
THIS IS A GREAT TALK ABOUT GUNS AND FIREARMS AND ALL THAT. many PEOPLE Take it for the proven goodness . There’s only one and it means don’t be the dumbffart at my party, I do not like Glocks. Is it because we (I) don’t like blocky firearms. They may try to be here but I still like USA made firearms. Escp if I have to draw down on them.
Great article! Although my four vary slightly. Two words Nineteen-Eleven! I’m also an 870 man. 10/22 is a must must have for anyone that is interested at all in firearms. The Moison I have little to no experience so I can’t judge that but personally I’ve never gone wrong with my 30-06. Thanks for the article CTD. Good read.
Rob, What right do you have to demand that your chosen firearms are the ones we accept,? Especially the freaking Glocks. I have a S/W 39 and an 1911 USS Gov’t pistol. I also have a Tokarev auto pistol from the the VietNam era I beg to differ as to which pistol is better. Personnly I’d a thought that fireaems choose shoulg be s choose. I’ve never shot a Glock so I can’t say. Most of the time I use a single action pistol anyway.
Nice article!
Would suggest better title, “Four Can’t Go Wrong Weapons.”
When it comes to choice of weapons I used to believe that if you looked in a mans gun cabinet you could tell a lot about the man,but it was the one on the wall that showed the depth of the man..
That was back then when most with more than one or two guns had money in the bank.
I like the premise of article but as usual gotta add the but.
There needs to be one more weapon added to the list and should be a prerequisite to owning a weapon by all who want to be a shootist.
One needs an original weapon from our nations past that represents Nations Historical record.
Makes no diff if the thing is even a shooter or primo military or sporter? Lever or bolt or single shot, for it is a mark of your heritage.
No it won’t do much to your bloodline but your ideals.
I take that last statement and make a new one . I’ve never been to war, I think that what I could get away with and with my neighbors we might could survive. AT LEAST THOSE ATTACKING WOULD HAVE A GODDAMN ROUGH TIME. We all have weapons. Maybe not on this list but, A Country Boy Can Survive.
My 30-30’s would beef up the local militia.(4 ea.) My Mod 70 Win in 30-06 would take out the opposition. There may be better and newer with more gadgets out there. BOTTOM LINE THEY all SHOOT and KILL….I really don’t buy in to this “must have ” gun BS> What I have will protect me and mine.
I can’t agree or disagree with any firearm mentioned by the author or the commenters as I either own or have owned all of them. What I can say about the Mosin is, for personal reasons, I will never have one in my collection again. For a curio weapon I think the Mauser’s or 1903’s are a better choice for quality. The Ruger 10/22 is a utilitarian, lightweight, durable and easily maintained semi-auto 22. The Mossberg line, well, being utilitarian, and inexpensive, my preference is the Remington 870, I’ve never had an 870 fall apart on me. I have about half the Glock models and conversions and while the Glocks don’t perfectly fit my hand, they are durable and reliable, every one of them. I can’t say the same about the 1911’s, even though I went Distinguished with the 1911, my first choice will always be a Glock or a Springfield XD, they don’t have to be worked to be reliable. As for comments about the .308 lines, I had a Remington 700 dropped from a height of 200 yards out of a helicopter and the only part that broke on it was the stock, can’t beat that. Besides the Marines have used the 700 line continuously since Viet Nam and are still in use today; like a Timex, they take a liking and keep on ticking.
Cheaper/inexpensive is not always better; you will find you have to give up some quality for expense.
I read this with interest and also the comment section. I have none of the guns on the list. However, I do have a .303 Enfield Lend/Lease made by Savage. Bullets are not quit as cheap but they are out there. The gun is an excellant shooter. I know the Brits used them for sniping. My .22 is an old Winchester pump gun. A take down model. I picked up a mod 61/62. Acurracy is exellent. As far as shotguns go…. I owned! nothing but Winchesters for a long time. I had the late ,’60’s era guns. They were good for the money and the application. Still, something wasn’nt there. I found a Remington 870 with 2 bbbls. Bought it and my Winch’s kinda set at home in the gun cabinet. It’s a great shooter with the rifled bbl or shotgun. I don’t play with pistols that much. I have a .45 colt and a.38 colt agent and etc. Also there may be one or two semi’s(9mm). The last line should read dual ammo guns. I recently purchased a Mod 1894 Marlin in ,44Rem Mag. That seems to speak to me and is now my go to gun. If when the end comes I could bring them all, I’d be stymied. So MY thoughts are a damn good proven battle rifle in .30 cal., An excellant shotgun, seems Mossberg and Remington have a tie. I personnally think that whatever you want to carry for a personal sidearm should be able to do the trick . I do not care for anything under .38. In this scenario we are lookimg to win. “Course if I boogied out the riff raff who checked my house would end up with about 4 30-30 Winch and a .375 cal lever action Mod 1894. I suppose I’d have to make two trips to get all the damn guns that I wanted…
I personally could not disagree with any of the items on the original list. Each of them is a good cost effective choice for their intended purposes.
My own assortment is a bit different and listed in order of acquisition:
1) Winchester Model 1200 12 Gauge. (16th birthday present)
2) Kentucky Long Rifle .54 Caliber (flintlock muzzleloader college graduation present)
3) Blackheart International BHI-15 (5.56 NATO w/ACOG attached)
4) Springfield Armory XDM (.40 Smith and Wesson)
5) Lee-Enfield Model 4 Mark I .303 British (manufactured in 1943 in Fazakerly England)
6) Mosin Nagant 7.62x54R (manufactured in 1942 by Sako in Finland)
I’m still looking to eventually add a M1A1, a Ruger 10/22 (for cheap plinking), a Ruger 22/45 bull barrel(also cheap plinking), a tactical AK47, and some variety of SBR for CQB applications. I also wouldn’t mind getting a lever action like a Henry Rifle just for historical shooting fun.
I did spend a couple years shooting an 1861 Springfield replica when doing US Civil War Reenactment, but I sold it when I got too busy and left the hobby. I’m interested in some pricier weapons as well, but those will have to wait a long number of years before I can afford to pick them up.
Meant Closet in my post.
What is your opinion of the Mossberg .22LR US44 – I recently acquired one that
a friend gave me. It sat wrapped in a towel in his closed for over 20 years.
Only problem is, I have to find a clip for it – like looking for a needle in a
haystack!
I own a Nagant a Polish version carbine, a glock? not on your life Rugers yes, I own handguns in a lot of differant calibers a >41 mag is my favorite, 20 and 12 Mossbergs, as well as 20&12 Remington 1187, 3 Ruger 10/22’s one I bought in 1966 and never any paper work on it outside of bill of sale, I wont get into all I own and I want to comment on comment #26 John I disagree with your statement on a National I.D. The goverment knows all they need to know about me I am a free man and do not want to be enslaved, a national I.D. isn’t the way to go and the feds knocking on my door taking my guns for any trumped up charges no way!
Glock? Really? The reason police carry them all over the country is because of *marketing* .. Not because they are “incredibly reliable.” Because they’re not near as reliable as their reputation claims. M9 or a CZ would withstand a torture test a lot better than a glock.
Interesting list and good choices, though I went with different guns for each slot:
1. Mosin-Nagant M44 carbine
2. Marlin 995 .22LR
3. Maverick 88 (by Mossberg) upgraded with 18.5″ security barrel, heat shroud and Phoenix Kick-Lite tactical buttstock (the Kick-lite is AMAZING!)
4. CZ-75D Compact PCR (one of the finest shooters ever made)
Not really sure everyone should own a glock.
I personally can’t stand them and find xd’s to be a better polymer pistol instead of the new bandwagon
I would opt to replace the Glock with the Beretta 92. Much better piece and would add a .22 revolver, as well. If you use a “rifled” slug the rifle isn’t needed…
Had the Nagant for over 7 years,great rifle to shoot.This year I updated the stock
and added a scope.The rifle is now a good long distances on target shooter every time.
No Ruger 10/22.Savage has a nice .22LR semi-auto,that shoots great out to 50 yds(no scope)and it was a cheap buy too.I do own a Ruger SR22,nice little semi-auto hand gun.I’ve had my 500 15+ yrs and it is the best home defense shotgun anyone can shoot and be on target with 00 shot.Glocks are nice,but I’m an old soldier,1911 .45 with extentsion mags give me 14 tries on hitting something and added CTL helps to save ammo.My on person carry,.380 Beretta 84F also allows me 14 chances at hitting something if need be.Always good to have another backup around the house just in case.A XD .45 does the trick and having 14 tries at hitting something is a bonus and again to save on ammo, an added CTL helps.Now if you are talking inner city street fighting,then nothing beats an AK47 with as many fully loaded mags as you can carry.And for a back up to the AK47,nothing wrong with a SKS that can reach out,but also be up close and personal with 20 chances.Ya got to love our 2nd Admen..
Funny, but the Glock 19 is a gun I have always considered but never bought. I’m a handgun guy, mostly revolvers. I have none of the guns you list, but two I do have for home defense are the Taurus Judge PD with Hogue grips(great addition) and my just recently purchased Ruger SP101 in 327 Federal Magnum (very hard to find). I would think that the SP101 in any version would be worth adding to anyone’s list!It feels and looks quality.
Good list, and generally agree with the philosophy behind it. Personally would pass on the Glock however in favor of a quality revolver, but again it comes down to personal preference.
I read a lot of people talkin about 1911s and ar-15s while they are both great guns there are reasons they are not on this list. Though ar15 ammo is cheap. Ar’s like to jam; a lot, they just are not reliable. Also glocks are usually cheaper than a 1911. And a glock 19 has much cheaper ammo (compare prices of 9mm compared to .45 acp)
Well! Mark Solheim appears to be a bit of a gun snob. I suppose none of those guns cost enough to suit your taste for “quality”. I do not believe that this was supposed to be a list of the 4 most expensive weapons, but more a list of the 4 weapons everyone should own and could probably afford. I carry a Glock 22 (.40 S&W) as a deputy sheriff and have a Mossberg 590A1 in my trunk as a deputy sheriff. I trust my life to those two weapons (We also have an AR-15 patrol rifle in the truck, as well) every day. Don’t have a Mosin Nagant but I understand that it is a very shootable rifle that can often be purchased at a reasonable price. The Ruger 10/22 is recognized by most reasonable people as a very good semiautomatic rifle that can be adapted to many different uses. I have two Colt 1911A1s and love to shoot them but many people cannot handle a 1911 .45 and most people are not accurate with it. The Glock will work for pretty much anyone who has an open mind. While certainly not a “perfect” list, these four will work very well to fit the author’s intent.
Got them all with backups….great guns, fun to shoot…especially the Nagant and yes it is loud! I like the SKS too!
Wow, my dad, who would be 107 if he were still alive must have really been pretty sharp. Back when I was 12 (in 1970) he bought me a Ruger 10/22 for my birthday which I still consider the best birthday present I’ve ever received. Two years later again for my birthday, I received a Mossberg 535. When he passed, I inherited his gun collection which included the Mosin Nagant. As an Adult, I purchased a Glock 30, as an old Navy man, dad would have chafed at buying a 9mm as a primary weapon. So, from my dad, I have 2 3/4 of the 4 on the list. The Mossberg 535 is pretty much just a fancier 500.
To think of classic weapons like these as “trailer trash” guns is pretty small minded “Mark Solheim”. Just because a gun doesn’t cost a grand or more doesn’t mean it has no quality. In the case of these guns, it means they are icons that generations of shooters can afford and actually use.
You had me all the way up until you said Glock.
I’d suggest that a 1911 or H&K USP45 would be much better guns then any Glock. A lot of this is going to boil down to personal preference though and I’m sure Glock owners feel the Glock is a better handgun.
What a joke!!! Only trailer trash would take pride in owning the guns you mentioned! What a bunch of low class guns. There is no “Quality” in any of the guns you mentioned.
I have 3 of the 4. I don’t have a Glock 19. I understand the versatility of this gun, mid-size for consealment and not a sub compact for better accuracy and a bit more velocity. But I don’t need that. I have a G26 for consealed carry. I figure my XDm9 is on par with any pistol that caliber and for big power my nightstand G20 10mm will do just fine in that department.
Nice list. I guess i wouldn’t be so specific as to brand, but the basic idea of a shotgun, pistol, 22 rifle, & centerfire are good recommendations. I’d probably go with a 30-06 or 308 for my centerfire, & the 870 is probably in more gun safes that the mossies, so can’t be discounted. Also, a 1911 is just as reliable & serviceable as a glock for a handgun. But overall, i like the list, & have all but one (870 & stevens for my pump 12).
I think a shotgun is the most important firearm, if you can only have one. It can fire slugs for large game, shot for birds & small game, & is good for home defense. If you could only have one, go for the shottie.
Next is the 22 rifle. It is quieter, you can carry lots of ammo, it can take most any game, & is a deterrent for home defense.
A pistol & centerfire rifle are good extras, to fill in the gaps the others don’t fill perfectly. But 90% of any survival shooting can be done with the shotgun & 22, imo.
As a 1911 collector, I was surprised to find no mention of John Browning’s classic firearm. However, as a full time carry weapon, I prefer the Glock 30. There is more comfort knowing you have .45 instead of 9 mm. Regards.
Don’t have a Nagant but the other three are part of my collection. Biggest note: High brass in a Mossberg 500 “Rolling Thunder” will really hurt your feelings. Kicks like a mule of steroids… After initially breaking mine in I switched to a low recoil round which will still take care of business.
Good article, I too own 3 of the 4. One disagreement, if I could only have one weapon, it would be the 10/22. It can be used for most anything and the ammo is a lot smaller and lighter. Try to carry a 12 guage and two thousand rounds on a bugout. The 22 will seem sensible then.
Just a quick addendum to my last post. Instead of a Moisin Nagant, I would offer using either a .308 or 30-06 bolt action. Why? Because the ammo is easy to come by, plentiful for now, easy to reload (if you wish), and in a zombie attack, you could pull their ammo of like caliber and use it, too. That and both calibers have some advantages over the 7.62×54 of the venerable old Russian.
Great read on the original article!!
I, too, own 3 out of 4 – not the Nagant. I also own a .357 handgun – a GREAT substitute for the Glock. It too, goes BANG when you pull the trigger – the only draw back is 6 rds instead of 15+1. The 10-22 is indeed a great and accurate little shooter. Mossberg does indeed make a great, if not superior shotgun. I’ve had 3 so far. Another good substitute for the Glock could be the Springfield XD in 9mm or .40 S&W. It would all depend on your personal preference. As to Obama’s socialist agenda – gear up, load up, and stock up before the black BDU zombies come looking for them.
I have one of the four listed; the Mosin-Nagant, specifically the Russian 91/30 in 7.62x54R. It was the first large-caliber rifle I ever purchased, & I seriously doubt I’ll ever be in a hurry to give it up.
I like some of the suggestions given by a few of the others as to alternative firearms to own.
1)An AR-7 survival rifle in .22LR is one I am seriously considering since it can be easily broken down into a compact size & stuffed into a bug-out bag for that SHTF eventuality.
2)I’m torn between the Mossberg 500 & the Remington 870 pump action shotgun because both are quality weapons suitable for the SHTF scenario or as an everyday home-defense.
3)As to semi-auto handguns, my choice would be something in the .38/.357 caliber, since one firearm I plan on acquiring for my bug-out preps is going to be a lever-action Rossi Ranch gun in either .38 or .357 caliber (that way I only have to carry two varieties of ammo in my bug-out bag).
4)While I’ve never owned an AR-style rifle, I was a pretty good shot with one while I was in the Army (the AR-15A2), so that is one type of rifle I plan on adding to my collection.
BTW, to those who have had issues with corrosive M/N ammo in the past, I would suggest you do a bit more seasrching for quality ammo. All of the ammo I’ve used in mine I bought from Cabela’s & are made by Wolf Performance Ammo, & none of it has been corrosive, including the steel-cased, Berden-primed ammo or the brass-cased, Boxer-primed variety.
Ruger 10/22 – perfect SHTF rifle, buy the factory 25 round magazine.
Mossberg with GRS – nothing says I love you like 12 gauge 00 for home defense!
Ruger .357 gp100 – goes BANG every time and the 6 in barrel gives it Accuracy.
SkS battle tough , cheap to shoot and easy to Maintain
Just my 2 cents worth!
Lets see …. Make the Mossburg 500 a Remington 870 and the Glock 19 a Springfield XD or XDm in any of the caliber offerings and keep the Mosin Nagant and the venerable Ruger 10/22 THEN maybe add a Ruger Mk II or III .22cal pistol along with perhaps the SOCOM16 or an old school 1903A3 Then consider . . . . .but I digress. Further all the picks made in the root post are on target and in the X ring!
Here’s my vote for four firearms everyone should own…
Ruger 10/22 – Agreed! Best plinking rifle ever invented.
.12 gauge pump shotgun – Agreed, but not brand specific.
.45 auto pistol (1911) – Forget 9mm, and get the real deal.
.30-06 Garand – Go American! Get the definitive WWII classic.
Just replaced my mosin with a Ruger American in .308
Smith&Wesson SW40 (Glock clone)
Stevens model 69 (Vietnam Nam era) 12ga pump
Ruger 10-22 carbine
AR-7
Charter Arms 12ga break barrel single shot
S&W 22A
Kel -Tec. P3AT
PHOENIX .22 Saturday night spec.
3air rifles. All in for around the price of a mid range 1911.
“…I’ve had everything on the list except a Mosin… and I might consider one if a deal presents itself….”
“…I wouldnt even use a nagant for a boat anchor…”
A Mosin Nagant is around $100 today!!! The ammo is cheaper than WW2 Spam. When will a better deal present itself?
If you consider an M/N a “boat anchor”, I need to ask if you have ever handled and shot a Mosin Nagant?
The first time I shot a M/N, I hit 10 (not quite X) at 100 yards. The grouping opened up a bit more than I would have liked, but all shots would have brought deer meat home or stopped a bad guy.
For $200, you can stock a good battle rifle and ammo for covering fire for your family or outfit your Liberal neighbor as a Rifleman.
I do hope that everyone realizes two major points about M/N Rifles:
1. Do not use military ammo for hunting. You will need to reload or find hunting ammo if you want to use your awesome, inexpensive Mosin Nagant to hunt.
2. When you DO shoot your inexpensive M/N military ammo, realize that it uses corrosive chemicals in the primer. You need to clean that gun immediately.
Viva America! We won the Cold War and now we get to buy their weapons on the cheap. 🙂
Buy a $100 Mosin Nagant and a bunch of communist ammo. There will never ever be a rifle deal like this again.
this is my two cents always have weapons that your police, civil law and military have as main battle weapons so this means 556/223 nato, 9mm, 45acp, 12ga, and possibly 762 nato. so heres the list
AR style weapon any ones thats reliable 223/556
semi auto 9mm and 45acp all metal construction no plastics
12 ga pump shot gun tactical if possible have some extra barrels
22 ok any bo;t most reliable
then for that monment wheel guns in any cal 357 44
a good kinfe both swing and fixed
thats my list
I’m only 1 for 4, I’ve got the Mosin-Nagant. I had a 10-22 but it had an MG42 Chassis on it, wasn’t great for target use. I have a Glock 22 but I have a 9mm Conversion Barrel for it, so I have a Glock with 9mm capabilities. I also have a Remington 870, which I like better than the Mossberg.
My top 4 would probably be…
1. AR-15
2. Ruger 10/22 TAKEDOWN
3. Glock 22 (With options for conversion)
4. Remington 870
I’ve owned or own all except the Glock… Not a Glock fan, I don’t care for the ergonomics. I prefer a 1911, or for a 9mm, a Browning Hi-Power. Then again, I gravitate to Browning designs. I love the Winchester 1892, and it’s modern clones.
other excellent choices for a must own four…
Enfield No.4 MkI. The best bolt action battle rifle ever designed. 10 round capacity, with a much faster action than the Mosin or Mauser. More than accurate enough.
Henry model H001. Simply the best .22 caliber lever gun on the market, all American made with the best customer service on earth. Very reliable, more accurate than the standard 10/22. 15 round tube mag compared to the 10/22’s standard 10 rounds. In some states, 10 rounds is the maximum, except for tube mags. I’d take the Henry over the Ruger every time, and I own both.
Remington 870 shotgun.. Iconic. You can also buy several different 870 clones for considerably less than the Mossberg. The IAC Hawk 982 and the H&R Pardner Protector can be found for under $200. Both are 870 clones and extremely durable shotguns.
1911A1 Pistol… What it gives up in magazine capacity, it makes up in hitting power. No pistol that I’ve ever handled felt more natural and pointed as readily as a 1911.
A mosin is a GREAT choice for a bolt action. they shoot good and are solid. Ammo is plentiful yet. I myself have an 870 as I prefer the steel frame, but both are good choices. I care not for the 10/22 due the to rotory mag. I prefer a good stick or tube mag. But a .22 is handy to have around for plinking opportunities or hunting small game. I would never own a 9mm. I prefer my 1911, because lets face it….shooting twice is just silly!
Similar list, but a bit different.
1) AK47 or SKS
2) Marlin Model 60
3) Mossberg 500
4) 1911
and if there is room for a #5, a lever action carbine (mine is a Marlin 336 in a .30-30)
Mosin – Yes, 10/22 – No Sr-22 – Yes, Mossberg 500 – Yes, Glock – No XD-45 – Yes. I have a couple of others but I’d rather not list them on an open thread. You never know who’s watching.
“…#5. everyone should own a lever-action carbine. They should be issued at birth for Americans. Stamped with your Social Security Number. When you get a job, apply for benefits, apply for a loan…you should be asked to “show YOUR gun”…”
A diamond sentiment I can’t agree with more.
Make mine a .357 and include the revolver- single or double action- to go with it, or a Coonan (my bank account should be so flush).
As to ‘big’ guns… .308 or 30-06 with plenty of ammo and reloading supplies. Any of the afore-mentioned pistols: XD, Glock, 1911 (though it isn’t hi-cap), M-9 (though I’m not a fan of DA semis), etc. Shotguns… Though I love shotgunning and bird hunting of all types, especially ducks, I still have problems with considering one for anything larger. The Marlin I carry is 40+ years old, reliable and accurate, and the single shot from Grampa is as well.
In the ‘end’, I’d want a rifle and pistol that are ammo-compatible with accompanying reloading materials.
I agree with the first two. Those are inexpensive guns that are fun and inexpensive to shoot. I always recommend a Mosin Nagant for a first rifle. Mossberg 500 is a good shotgun, but there are other good comparable shotguns. For instance, the Remington 870. So I wouldn’t say the Mossberg is a must-have. Similar with the Glock 19. It’s a nice weapon, but it’s not for everyone. I don’t like how it fits in my hand. I prefer my Springfield XD9 over the Glock 19 (the Springfield is basically a clone of the Glock 19, but the grip is a little bit different and more comfortable in my hands. Just a matter of preference, really). So, for those last two, although they are both good weapons, they’re not a one-size fits all, like the first two are. Different people may prefer different weapons, and I would never recommend a Glock to someone who doesn’t like the feel of a Glock. If they don’t like the feel, they’re not going to shoot well with it.
2/4 not bad. Although i have a different shotgun and handgun i carry. Mosin Nagat is a fun rifle. Recoil was alot less than i was expecting. If you live in/around phoenix,AZ, BearArms in scotsdale has Mosin Nagats for sale. About $140 out the door w/ bayonet,sling and ammo pouches. I recently purchased 2. sanded down the wood stocks and refinished them to my liking.
3 out of 4 isn’t bad. I personally prefer a pistol with a physical safety latch so I have a few of the tried and true Colt 1911s. I have a Chinese type 53 and the nickname “Boomstick” is very accurate for a metaphor. The Ruger 10/22 has so many after market bells and whistles it is just fun to trick out and a blast to shoot. Looks like Great Prepping minds generally think along the same path. 🙂
I would think it is more importent to have the type of weapon than the brand or model number. Yes I have all of these listed types, but I would add a few. You need a small pistol that is easily concealable. I have a Sig 229 40 S&W that I carry in my vehicle, etc., but my conceal pistol is a KelTec PF9, my wife carries a S&W 38 special airweight. The big ones are not too easy to carry.
I definitely like your choices. These arms together could probably be purchased under $1000 if you look around at the gun shows. Each has a purpose, that together covers a lot of abilities that would come in handy in a SHTF situation. High Capacity Handgun with the Glock for concealment and close range, Long range kills with the Mosen Negant, Short range food gathering with the 10/22, Short range/home protection with the Mosberg. For each you can find cheap ammo deals all day long. Only think I would add to my collection, and I think it was mentioned above already, would be a SKS since it makes a good close range brush gun for moderate size game and the 7.62×39 ammo is available surplus everywhere. Adding a SKS wouldnt break the bank either. My only concern would be the availability of cheap ammo for the Mosen Negant. But to have all these abilities in a collection that would cost less than a single good quality AR platform is a big plus for a lot of us.
i used to have a ruger 10/22 but wouldnt own the rest..gimme my M1 Garand, my AR 15, and my 1911
well i have pros and cons for this artical, every one should have a 22 rifle of some type i have a old bolt action i used in high school rifle team that has killed a lot of rabbits. i have a 10/22 they are nice but the stock barrel is to short to be accurate at longer ranges. for a shot gun mosberg 500 has been around forever and great and versital for home defence, and for me i like a varity of pistol calibers but my every day is a 1918 build date 1911 with crimsontrace, nothing will make them piss there pants like a hole that is almost 1/2 inch around and a red dot.
now for rifles, there is a reason that those old foreign fire arms being sold here in the us, besides they are cheap and a lot are new, but for some reason if there is a ammo shortage which do you think will come up short first 30-06 or 7.62x54r? or 7mm mauser or 8mm mauser. dont get me wrong i love my k98 mauser i dropped a antelope at 350 yards on the run with it, using a 195 grain bullet not some 145 grain like the mosan, but the bad part of owning a 8mm mauser is the brass is hard to get, but reloading is the way to go on that.
one poster mentioned everyone talks about the gun but not the ammo, so when you are buying your “exotic” africa elephant gun and thinking you will be able to use it as a home defence gun, you better stock up on ammo.
and for me my mauser is better than a mosan, i know they were both pitted against each other, but so was our enfield rifle, and to tell you the truth after doing reloading all 3 rifles are close, and all 3 make very good hunting guns. in the end it is like a car what ever fits you right.
you have
#1 affordable large caliber rifle
#2 semiauto hi cap .22 (multipurpose/good for everything)
#3 pump shotgun (very reliable, great for defense/home protection)
#4 hi cap handgun (very reliable, affordable to shoot)
but i would add one more spot
#5 battle rifle, and of coarse id say a reliable ar15 like spikes or bcm
or an ak, mini 14, m1 carbine, sks
my personal setup for the above is
#1 finnish 91/30, 91/30 w/ pu scope, m1 garand, r700 .308 (.3 moa), enfield m1917
#2 s&w mp15-22, marlin m60, remmy 121 fieldmaster, p22
#3 mossberg 500 20″ w/ 8 rnd tube, browning bps, marlin 1895gg
#4 g21, sa 1911, sw 629
#5 spikes tac ar, m1 carbine
also a baby browning for last ditch effort
this is a great list, all affordable practical guns. the only one i dont have is the 10/22 (but i love my marlin 60 and s&w mp15-22) only thing i would change is the glock model. the 19 is great, it has a high capacity and is pretty affordable for target, but id consider a .40 or .45 like my g21
can’t agree with you more , but you are not in the same range of guns with the article , Don’t get me wrong , AR’S are proved to be super , they are still in service today , Mossins used to be the Sniper rifle back then (WWII) so is long range , accurate to to about 1500 hundred yards and probably 2000 if you are really , really good , try that with an AR and is a piece of history if you are into collecting guns ,come on men you’ve got to love that , a piece of history that you can still shoot and have fun with it , best of both worlds , shotguns are about how much damage short range ….I guess at the end is all about what you can afford and what’s your purpose with it .
I’ll see your Glock and raise you a 1911 .45 and a Ruger LC9. The 1911 for those heavy days and the little 9mm LC9 for light days … lol.
If you never remember anything else remember this, NEVER buy a cheap gun! The Glock is one of the best and IMO is the best pistol out there for a whole list of reasons like accuracy, accessory availability, size, ergonomics, weight, reliability etc etc etc. Most 1911’s, Sigs, XD’s, S&W MP series are great too. It all comes down to personal preference really.
The Ruger 10/22 is probably the most tried 22 out there and it has a ton of accessories and is light weight, so it is A-rated IMO.
I would scrap the Mosin Nagant for an AR any day. Save your pennies and buy a great rifle since it is the most important gun in your arsenal. You don’t see anyone on the battlefield use their pistols or shotguns to win the battle. It’s all about the rifle.
I would have to disagree with the pistol grip shotgun. Although they are super fun to shoot I would not want to shoot a gun from the hip when defending my life. You can shoot from the hip with any gun, but it doesn’t make it a good idea. You will never hit anything with that kind of stress on you in a panic situation. The Mossberg is actually a good brand though, just get one with a stock on it. I recommend the 590A1 over the cruiser. Also, spend as much on optics as you do the gun, sight everything in, use good quality ammo, and buy lots of it, and practice, practice, practice, and then practice some more. Also, don’t be all guns and no groceries.
2 out of 4 here , don’t disagree with selection though , I own a Mossin 1942 and the Mossberg , agree with the article about the Mossin , you shoot that thing at the range and everybody looks at you like is that a cannon or what…lol…for sure you need shoulder pads though , first time I shot like 20 rounds and I had a black and blue for a week , boy it is powerful , .22 ahhh! don’t care much about them , handguns , well do not own a Glock , maybe one of this days , I do own a .380 semi auto , anyone that knows guns know it’s a short 9mm , It will do the trick and is very concealable , finally for home defense , I’ve got a good old school , always reliable .357 Magnum revolver , the tendency is to go for semi auto , they jam , a revolver will always go boom ! Don’t know about you , but at my house , looters will be shot !…no doubt about it…
My list would be
1) m1 garand: 3006 can take down any animal in North America and is at every Walmart that sells ammo in the country.And you can store loaded clips and keep them loaded indefinably.
2) Smith and Wesson M&P 15-22: It is a very reliable 22 lr rifle that offers a great degree of accuracy. It serves great as a trainer for the AR 15 platform rifle.
3) AR 15 variant rifle: Very accurate and controllable weapon. It’s only limits for customization is your imagination. Have become more reliable and affordable in recent years. Ammo is very common. A great small game weapon as well as home defense weapon.
4)Smith and wesson m&p 9mm: The late 1980’s are over my friends you no longer have to settle for a glock with a ridiculous amount of muzzle flip in any given caliber for decent reliability. The Smith and Wesson m&p 9 has learned from the mistakes of glock and offer more control and the same capacity as a glock 17 with nearly identical accuracy (dont get me wrong I love glock barrels). This weapon uses the 9×19 pistol round that is available at almost every gun shop in the nation. The the serrations on the slide are very aggressive and easy to grip compared to the glock. Also the stippling of the interchangeable back straps offer more traction than the glock. And Smith and wesson backs this pistol up with a life time warranty. Any manufacturer That does this is not selling you junk. it is primarily about personal preference considering most all pistol are more accurate than the shooters. And reliability today is often a wash because once in a while even glock and Smith and Wesson puts out a few lemons that dont get enough attention from quality control. The difference is smith and Wesson stand by their products for life while glock only stands behind it product for one year. personally I prefer more security in my investment so I would recommend the smith and Wesson m&p 9 over the g17 primarily for that reason.
I could not agree more with a post its not often that I can say that. I also own and use all on the list. The mosin’s I have 15 of and love each one of. The most often over looked guns are on the C&R list and most can be had at a great price and have been tried and tested many times by many army’s also have and love the tokarve pistols. At 200.00 the 30 cal bullet really moves steel plates a lot better then any 9mm the ammo is a reloaders dream and very cheep to get. Everyone always speaks guns and not enough about different types of ammo. I have just bought some sniper grade ammo for the mosin’s witch is brass cased and reloadable at 30 ct a rnd I can not believe the accuracy of this ammo and gun its like being reborn, 7MM 8MM are as well often over looked and a lot of their ammo is surplus available as well as store bought and match grade, The 22 has a wide range of ammo that is often over looked from tracers to sub sonic 20 gr and up to 50,The shot gun ammo has more to offer then most people can even dream about. Exotic loads and flame throwing bird bombs, flairs, salt rock, buck shot, bird shot. Hand gun ammo has its limits but if you reload it opens up a lot more and you can custom load to suit you’re needs or you can just go on line as well and order what you want. I guess the point im trying to make is you really don’t need a lot of guns and do not need to spend a small fortune on them and ammo. You still have plenty of opportunity to get good rifles and ammo and I suggest looking at some surplus and ammo availabilities as much as the guns
Roger and Steve, while a .308 is a great round, saying it’s better for long range over the 7.62x54R is incorrect. Up until the advent of the .50 Cal sniper rifle, the 7.62x54R maintains the distance and accuracy records. Remember a .308 is a 7.62x51mm so, the 54R has roughly 3 mm more powder behind it. And anyone who blames a gun for being inaccurate, is a lousy marksman. A marksman can compensate for any manufacturing imperfections, unless it’s a gun prone to catastrophic failures such as blowing up. You may not always be sure where the first shot will go but, if you can’t compensate by your second shot you don’t know what you’re doing. I agree with a lot of others, drop the G Lock and get a 1911 it’s coming up on 102 years of perfection. And John an sks over a mosin, slap yourself. If you said an M1, I’d take you seriously. Other than that, a .22 rifle is the only thing I have yet to acquire. I have two Mosin’s, multiple shotguns, rifles and pistols. I would make the list 5 must have guns though and add a sold revolver in .357 or .45 Long Colt. If adding a .45 Long Colt, I would also make a point to get a Remington model 94 or a Henry chambered for the .45 Long Colt as well.
Alternate list:
1) SKS
2) Remington 700
3) Remington 870
4) 1911 .45
Meh, I have the 590A1 instead of the 500 – heavy barrel, bayonet lug, 7+1 capacity. I’m with the 1911 school, too.
I keep meaning to pick up a Moisin, but end up getting more 7.62×51 guns instead (two M1As, Savage 10FPLE, looking at various AR .308 models lately…
But of course we have a couple of 10/22s ^_^
I own a Mosin.
My Mossberg is an 835, not a 500
My .22 is an AR-15 that I have a .22lr conversion kit for
and I do not like Glocks, so I have a Colt .45acp 1911 instead.
I bought a Chinese type 53 a month or so ago. I simply love this piece of history and the 7.62 x 54 round is cheap and plentiful.
a ruger 10/22….. yay, made by perhaps the only gun company on earth that DOESN’T support gun ownership!
if you are wondering about the previous statement, google “bill ruger ten round magazine” or “bill ruger in congress”
“no honest man needs more than then rounds in his rifle” -bill ruger
swap the glock for a beretta 92 and its perfect. first four guns I ever had. as a matter of fact i got them in that order.
I am sorry I disagree, should have been 98k mauser, 10-22, mossberg and 1911. Just my thoughts because I wouldnt even use a nagant for a boat anchor
1911 should be on there not the Glock 19…
Great article, and I agree 100%. All of those firearms are cheap, reliable, safe firearms that are readily available, and good to shoot with. I’ve owned 4/4 at one point or another, the m91 and 500 were some of my firsts. I learned alot about long range shooting with iron sights with that rifle, and got into clay shooting with the 500. Still have the 10/22, scoped in an archangle stock, and carry my glock 26 daily.
I agree in the direction of your list, and I do like how you place your stake in the ground, but I would keep it less specific
Here is my list:
1. A military long rifle. SKS, 1903, M1 Garand, Mosin Nagant. I disagree about pushing the M/N because of the corrosive ammo issues. I think it should be mentioned along with the EXCELLENT selection of an M/N as your rifle choice.
2. A .22. Pistol or rifle. Preferably both.
3. A 12-gauge pump shotgun. Mossberg, Remington, Benelli, Browning (for lefties) or Winchester.
4. A simple, high-powered pistol – 9mm to .45. Glock 17/19/21, Ruger SP100, Springfield XD, S&W .38spl – .357mag, CZ75
My only specific arguments on your list are:
1. I would choose an SKS over M/N
3. I would choose a Remington 870 over a Mossberg
AND … #5. everyone should own a lever-action carbine. They should be issued at birth for Americans. Stamped with your Social Security Number. When you get a job, apply for benefits, apply for a loan…you should be asked to “show YOUR gun”. The only National ID I will ever support.
I own the 10/22 Ruger – scoped.
I have it backed up with a Henry 22 lever and a Savage HR17 – scoped.
In place of the Nagant, I have my grandfather’s Remington 30-06 – scoped.
Backed up with an M1 – Carbine.
I have seen several of the Nagants offered for sale, but the folks around here are wanting some diamond prices for them.
I have not gotten into the Glocks yet. Just recently getting into pistols: S&W 9mm, backed up with a Hi-Point 9mm, then a Ruger 38 +P and a S&W 22 Automatic.
Again, I haven’t gotten into the shotgun side of things heavily. I am currently reblueing an Argentine 410 single break over. I was looking at a Mossberg 500 at Cabela’s yesterday. Just can’t get comfortable enough to jump off my wallet to spent the money.
I have enough firepower. I just need to be more proficient with it all.
2 of 4 A Norinco Hawk model stands in for the Mossberg and my S$W Sigma 40. on the pistol side. I’m in good company.
My first gun is a Mossberg 535, very similar to the 500 but it has the slightly elongated receiver so it can eat anything that says 12 gauge on it. Unfortunately, aftermarket parts can be a little more difficult than it’s cousin depending on the part. My second is a 1936 Mosin. Once you get past the cosmoline on these things you’ll never want to stop shooting them.
I own 25% – I’m doing just fine with my personal collection though
Too, I would like to differ. Instead of a 9mm, it should be a .45ACP on the list
I don’t know that I agree with the selection of these four guns as the selections everyone should own. I would be somewhat more generic in my selection. Everyone should own a serviceable .22LR rifle, a semiautomatic pistol that is relatively lightweight and easy to conceal, 9mm, .40 or .45ACP, any or all will do. Everyone should probably own a shotgun as well, a short-barrel or one with an extra barrel. I don’t care for the design of the particular Mossberg 500 that is pictured. The shotgun itself is fine but that rear pistol grip makes the weapon extremely difficult to control for someone unfamiliar with the recoil of a 12 gauge shotgun. I have a S & W, Sigma 9mm, a S & W .357 revolver, a .45ACP Springfield, a Rock River Arms AR-15, Stevens short barrel 12 gauge and a Stevens semiautomatic .22LR. I figure that these firearms ought to see me through a crisis. I also have been buying ammo and stockpiling it for some years.
3 of 4 here, no large mag Glocks allowed in the People’s Republic of Massachusetts.
Hmm…don’t have a single one. Gonna have to get crackin’. I’ll pass on the Glock, though; just don’t like the way they feel.
i only one one… i own the Mosin Nagant and i am very much in love with it. I have the m44 carbine and it makes a very ideal pickup rifle. for my shot gun i have a smith and weston model 916 pump. for my hand gun needs i have a h&r 9 shot .22 revolver. I also own a model 120 merlin .22. semi auto with a simmons scope
Decent list, but Glocks are overrated. Not saying they are bad, just overrated.
GOT to have a 1911! GOT to throw in 1 “Black Rifle” maybe a cheap SKS!? An AK-47 copy or better yet a AR-15. Mosin is the best deal on the market in a rifle! Check out the CZ-82 and CZ-83, best pistol deal on the slurplus market! I LOVE my 82! Shoots like a dream! $250 with spare mag and old holster out the door!
I agree with Roger in having a .308 at hand. Nothing quite like it for distance targets. Mossy and Glock are good choices as well, if we’re talking close range defense weapons; although I prefer my Bersa Thunder .380 with Crimson Trace handgrip laser. Easier to conceal and absolutely efficient with the laser added.
Like many others, I also own three out of the four firearms listed. I first purchased the Mosin Nagant as an eighteenth birthday present in October of 2011, and following Christmas purchased a Mossberg Maverick 88 (basically a Mossberg 500) at a local pawn shop. And the next spring I purchased the Ruger 10/22.
I’ve had everything on the list except a Mosin… and I might consider one if a deal presents itself. My Ruger SR556 and Winchester 70 30.06 take care of longer distance work for now.
I am a little surprised a 1911 of some type isn’t on the list. I think everyone should at least try one- it’s truly an icon.
Mosin…check, Mossberg 500…check, Glock 22…check, Ruger 10/22…not yet but it’s on my list and I do own 4 Ruger handguns one of which is a 22LR.
I too have 2 of 4,& 2 Glock 23’s, about a dozen various shot guns and a partridge in a pear tree.
The problem with the Mosin is that it has to be cleaned very good at the end of every shooting day or they’ll rust and corode.
The 10/22 is a good gun and I suggest that you shoot CCI or some other clean ammo it helps in the longevity of opperation. Also I wish the barrel was longer.
The 5th gun I think should be a long range gun like a .308 or equivelant.
2 out of 4, not bad. Actually I was expecting the 1911 and AR. (both of which I do not own.)
I have 2 of the 4 the 500 and the 10/22 I own an HK USP 40 for my end all pistol and an AR as my cheap ammo rifle
Wow, I have reasonable facsimiles. Bought a Mosin Nagant for $99. made in 1939 and had it checked out by my gun smith……..the rifle had not been fired, ever! It sat in storage for 73 years and was in perfect condition! Instead of a Glock, I have a Springfield XD40 caliber and a Colt 45 auto. Instead of the Mossberg, I have a Winchester model 120 rifled for slugs in 12 ga., plus three gaming shotguns. And I have several 22 rifles and handguns. Although the guns you mention are by far good guns, they are not the end all, be all of good guns. One of my favorties is J.C Higgin 22 single shot bold action rifle that belonged to my Father-in-law when he was a young boy, one of my prized guns. I don’t see any long guns in your list besides the Nagant. 30-06, 308, 7.62×39, 223? Wouldn’t have a collection without one!
WOW 3 OF 4 my self – I have an 870 instead of a 500…. I’m IN with the cool kids!
I never thought of ugly old WWII relics as being desireable to own. But I can see the wisdom in the author’s selection of the Mosin Nagant — especially if Obama and his henchmen (try to) confiscate my assault rifles. Maybe I’ll see if I can find a decent Mosin Nagant at the gun show this weekend.
P.S. I do own each of the remaining “must have” selections, IF I may be allowed to count my Glock 22 instead of the 19.
I aint doing to bad. I have 2 of 4.
I more or less own 3 of the 4 as well, if I can be allowed to count the Glock 21 instead of a Glock 19. I wasn’t too excited by the Glock until I actually took it to the range for the first time – it really is a great handgun: reliable, accurate, easy to use.
I’ve never owned a Mossberg 500 – I bought a Remington 870 as my first shotgun instead and never thought of trying something different – but I’ve fired a Mossberg 500, and it seems like a fine shotgun.
I own three of the Mosin-Nagants. They’re inexpensive, powerful, reliable, and, though quite ugly, I have a soft spot in my heart for the beasts.
I can only second everything said about the 10/22 – it’s a great first gun for anyone to own or shoot.
I own three of the four and used to own a Mossberg, I’m feeling good about this 😀