Les Jones: Kim du Toit Gun Survey

May 01, 2004

Guns > Kim du Toit Gun Survey

Kim du Toit has a new survey: if you could only own one handgun and one rifle for the rest of your life, what would they be? This is a tough one. Here are the conditions:

(Parameters: Assume that both concealed- and open carry are legal where you live. Also, disregard all thoughts of "the gummint" saying you can only own one -- for whatever reason, poverty, spousal insistence, whatever, you can only own one handgun. Pick one that works for where you live, of course: if you live in the city, you may not want a Ruger .44 Blackhawk, but if you live in the country, that may be the perfect gun for you. Also, this could be a gun you don't currently own. Assume that ammo and spare parts would always be available.)

Same rules for the rifle (no shotguns allowed).

My choice of a handgun

I'd pick a .357 magnum revolver for the handgun. I like revolvers for their reliability, simplicity, and ability to shoot a variety of ammo. As I get older, I'll probably prefer milder loads. With a .357 I could shoot full-power magnum loads, or I could shoot milder .38 Special +P, or the even milder .38 Special. The light loads are also good for target shooting, and for teaching new shooters, which would help offset the lack of a .22. (If I could only have two guns, I'd really miss my .22s.)

As for specific models, I've said that a 4 inch Smith &Wesson Model 686 would be a gun I'd choose to last a lifetime. I bought a tricked-out 6 inch 686 because it was a bargain. Now that I have a carry permit, I'd go for something between the 686 and my 642. A 2.5 inch, 7-shot S&W Model 686P is an improvement (35 oz. instead of 40 oz. for the 4 inch). I might go even lighter and choose the 3 inch, 5-shot S&W Model 60 (24 oz), both in .357 Magnum and stainless steel.

And the rifle?

I'm still thinking about that one. I may email Kim and see if he considers a Thompson/Center Contender with interchangeable barrels kosher. (LATER: Kim put the kibosh on that idea.) Some other possible choices: a .30-06 M1 Garand, a .308 bolt action, or my Winchester .30-30 lever action. And if I'm simplifying anyway, I might go for a lever action in .357 Magnum so I'd only have to stock one kind of ammo.

The ammo for all of those centerfires gets expensive. I only need a rifle for target shooting and possibly deer hunting. Heck, if I can borrow a friend's rifle for the deer hunt I'd get a .22 rifle for myself. Fun and cheap to shoot.

Posted by lesjones

boone country linked with One Gun Conundrum

Comments

Errr you forgot the link to my site.

http://www.kimdutoit.com/dr/weblog.php

And no, when I said one rifle, I meant ONE rifle. The Clintonian weasel "many barrels" nonsense is OUT.

Damn gun geeks... always looking for an angle to have more guns.

Posted by: Kim du Toit at April 30, 2004

Sorry about that. Link added.

Yeah, the multiple barrels was too easy. Oh, well. If I could only have one rifle I doubt I'd settle for a single shot anyway.

Posted by: Les Jones at April 30, 2004

Not fair! One of each?

Let see. As far as rifles go, i'm fond of my Winchester Model 70 bolt (30.06). It's a robust caliber that would take down most game around here (Knox County).

Pistols, hmmm, probably my Glock 31 (full size .357sig).

However, it would be nice to be able to have something that would fit in between these two. Like you said, Les, a good lever action rifle would do the trick.

Posted by: F-Stop at May 02, 2004

one rifle... for the USA a hunting rifle in 30-06 probably a ruger m77 or winchester classic m70 with a leopold varix III in 2.5-8 with the boone and crockett crosshairs... having grown up in grizzly country in alaska, this will hunt anything on the continent.
pistol, browning buckmark in 22lr, use as a rimfire for small game and any number of other things.

Posted by: jason hamilton at July 31, 2004

pistol
Ruger 357 stainless, adj sights, 6 inch bbl double action.

rifle
Winchester 70 30 06, 4 power scope

Posted by: John Williams at August 03, 2004

Mosin-Nagant rifle with sniper scope

glock 34

Posted by: Herbet J. Yates at August 08, 2004

Colt .45 Govt Model, either stainless or a corrosion-resistant bright matte surface. Ambidextrous safety, superb 2-to-3-lb pull.

Semi-adjustable sights with protective ears that are virtually unbreakable. Black, front and rear, with rear white outline and choice of red, yellow, tritium and white ramps fastened with dovetail and screws. Moderately-tricked-out safety, slide release, magazine button, countersunk magazine well--nothing overdone. Flat and arched mainspring housings with issue checkering/grooving, the most durable checkered Colt-style wooden grip panels--teak, whatever it is. Half-accuracy job, the kind that doesn't cause problems with dust and mud. Easy deactivation of grip safety; no magazine safety. Series 80-type or equivalent firing pin lock.

If I can have a .22 LR rimfire kit, fine; otherwise, no problem.

Rifle: an M-14, match grade, in an unbelted .338 caliber with a long neck and an OAL to accommodate 275- and 300-gr bullets seated far out. Powder capacity should be enough to equal a 150-gr .308 trajectory with a 250-300 gr BT match bullet. Barrel 24", in addition to a flash hider that won't catch on brush. Weight w/scope, military leather match sling w/removable padding, unloaded: under 12 pounds.

The finest (Swarovski?) 1.5-6X scope available with illuminated duplex recticle and a 40- to 50mm objective. Either quick-detach or swing-aside mounts that return to zero reliably. It wasn't very thoughtful, IMO, to use ears that don't quite come up high enough to protect the rear peep; fix that and take out all the notorious slack those sights have.

Posted by: john edwards at July 29, 2005

I would have to stay with one of my 10mm handguns for knockdown and velocity combination for a moving target. Either my Kimber or Glock and for my rifle; my Savage 16 in .204 Ruger with the Sightron 4-16x scope for small to moderate game. It shoots extremely flat so MPBR (maximun point blank range)is extensive with out a lot of guessing or adjustment. That way I can reload both and either will keep me fed and secure.

Posted by: Bill Tinsley at September 18, 2005

For a long gun I'd stick with my Enfield No4 rebarrelled in .308, with it's current peep sights and the addition of a decent, durable 6x50 'scope.

For a short I should like the P35 back that the UK government stole from me, when they took all our pistols away...

Posted by: Chris L at June 15, 2007

This is a tough one. I am actually on the hunt as my wife has given me run of the credit card since I am in Iraq. If I had my choice I would pick as a combo the Glock 19 and Steyr AUG in 9mm. While most hate the 9mm ammo choices make it more than formidable.

Posted by: LT Rob Lyon at September 18, 2007

For a rifle I'd either go old-school with a Springfield A303 .30-06 or more modern with a Remington 700 with synthetic stock in either .270 or .30-06. All I'd need is a decent scope in 3-9x40mm.

Pistol is tougher, it would come down to a choice between a 1911 .45 and some form of a .40 in a medium frame. (I currently own a Taurus PT940, excellent gun for the money)

Posted by: Sebastian M at May 10, 2008