Henry Rifle Forums

there is an old axiom that says “beware the man with one gun; he probably knows how to use it” or something to that effect .... I'd hate to ever be forced to make such choices but if you could only have one rifle, one handgun, one shotgun, what would you choose

for me :

one rifle === I'd choose a 300 WBY Mag .... it is a caliber that is capable of taking any game on the North American Continent .... it can be loaded with a wide rage of bullets from 125 to 220 grain bullets, if many different configurations, that exit the muzzle at speeds which generate extremely flat trajectories out to distances most people can't even visualize .... my favorite round is 180 grain Nolsler Ballistic Tip, Accubond, or partition bullets with a muzzle velocity of 3,100+ fps generating over 4,000 ft lbs of energy with an amazing point-blank range of 498 yards on an elk size (18") vital zone .... at 800 yards it is still carrying 1,500 ft lbs of energy

one handgun === I have no need or desire for a concealed carry handgun so so for me its a Ruger Redhawk 44 mag .... most folks consider it to be a very powerful cartridge but most don't really understand just how powerful .... in Mag-na-port's showroom they have a head mount of an elephant taken with a 44 mag handgun .... I favor loading it with Nolser 240 gr JHP's .... with just under 1,500 fps muzzle velocity, have never had a deer, bear, or boar fight one off

one shotgun === Remington 11-87 12 ga .... that will remain the case so long as I don't find a need for more than a 3" shell ....


for special circumstances I could certainly make different choices but if I could only have 1 the above would suffice

For me, the center fire caliber that I selected for both rifle and pistol is the .357 magnum. Like you I don't carry a concealed weapon, though I'm permitted to, and I can't imagine that I ever will. But, unlike you, I haven't yet hunted, so for target shooting and reloading, I'm very happy with the .357 that I selected when I started this hobby. I prefer 158 grain Jacketed bullets and H110 powder for reloading and both guns like the "milder" load that I use.

I hope to hunt soon. I'm very much looking forward to it.

I only have 1 rifle and 1 revolver that will go with me to the grave!

RR, no secret on which ones those are.

Me, no way. I'm way too diverse a shooter to even come close to picking one gun.

Geez, one gun? If I was forced to choose, I would guess i'd pick my M4. Yeah, yeah, I know. Not beautiful... but very accurate. Parts would be available, and ammo as well. I have fixed and optical sights, and forty years experience with the platform.

Handgun? I have several I would be tempted to choose, but would go with a Glock. Again, parts and ammo would be available. Probably choose my Glock 23c, the mid-frame compensated 40. Choosing the mid-frame over the full size makes two size mags work. The 40 will shoot 357 sig ammo with a barrel change, they drop in. The mags, extractor, and ejector are the same since the 357 sig is a necked down 40 case.

Shotgun? Any of my 12 gauge tactical pumps. (8 round tubes, slings, peep sights for slugs, but full stocks.)

I expect this would only occur if the shtf....

Neat question. Of course it has come up on other forums from time to time. Since it is here, I will answer here.

Rifle: Remington 7600 30/06 pump action rifle.

Handgun: Glock model 21 .45 acp pistol

Shotgun: Mossberg 930 semi auto 12 gauge.



I can't wait till you ask for the "One" gun.

daytime dave wrote:I can't wait till you ask for the "One" gun.

now that would sure take some thinking .... I know for me the answer would bounce around over time .... right now, I'd probably have to go with the Remington 11-87, its hard to shoot trap with a rifle or handgun ..

Decisions, decisions, decisions. Make Forum chats fun!
Three firearms, out of the five I currently own, nicely fit the bill for me.
If I had to pick just the "ONE" gun, then I'm not sure which that would be....

Shotgun: Benelli 20-ga Nova Pump

Rifle: Henry Steel .357 Magnum BB Carbine

Handgun: BASS IV Derringer. The versatility I have in five different calibers makes this O/U handgun especially cool to shoot.

For a couple of decades I only had one gun. It was both my pistol and my rifle. 10.5" Ruger Super Blackhawk in 44 mag. It's still the ONE!

To add a rifle it would be my 44 mag Big Boy.

Ok now wait are we allowed to reload for these gun choices or can we only buy over the counter ammunition.

So if were allowed to reload

Rifle of choice would be my Henry 45-70 CCH

Handgun would be Freedom Arms 41 mag


Shotgun Benelli Super Sport 20ga.

as far as I'm concerned, the type of ammo you pick is up to you

As of today:
Rifle: Ruger Model 1 in 25.06
Handgun: Sig Saur P220 (45 ACP)
Shotgun: My dad's Ithaca Model 37 Featherweight in 16 ga.

Shakey Jake wrote:Shotgun: My dad's Ithaca Model 37 Featherweight in 16 ga.

now there is a true classic .... in the 60's I had a Model 37 Featherweight 12 ga .... most accurate slug gun I've ever fired .... hardest kicking long gun I've ever fired ..... I've never seen a 16 ga

I would probably go with an AR in 7.62mm and a .357 side arm, neither of which do I own because these scenerios never actually happen

Lets see I was hunter many years ago with 308 Winc in both rifle and pistol . They both were good in a hunting and matches .. 1911 or 23 Glock would make good gun combat matches and CCW gun . You need a good wheel gun like 357 or 44 mag for hunting . You need a 22 in a rifle and a pistol too . Black Powder rifle and pistol is a must in my book . For me it will take 12 guns is my bottom line . Below these are the guns I need to just shoot SASS/CAS matches .

JEBar wrote:

Shakey Jake wrote:Shotgun: My dad's Ithaca Model 37 Featherweight in 16 ga.

now there is a true classic .... in the 60's I had a Model 37 Featherweight 12 ga .... most accurate slug gun I've ever fired .... hardest kicking long gun I've ever fired ..... I've never seen a 16 ga

I took a picture of it but can't figure out how to post it. Anyway, he used it for quail hunting. That's about all the hunting he did. I got it passed to me when he died. It's in pretty good shape considering how much he used it hunting.

Shakey Jake wrote:Shotgun: My dad's Ithaca Model 37 Featherweight in 16 ga.

Two of the seven Ithaca Model 37s in my safe are 16-gauges – one made in 1941 and the other just a few years ago. I've also got three 12s and two 20s. The newer 16 and a newer 20 are my favorites for upland hunting.

For my three-gun set, I'd take one of the 12s over the 16s just due to ammo availability. My rifle and handgun would both be .357s – the Henry Big Boy (brass) and a S&W 686+ revolver.

If just one, it would be this one.It put many meals on the table.
A 1952 Browning A5 16 ga. My father bought it the year he got out of the service in 1952.
$125.00 I still have the receipt, and I still shoot it.

Jdl447, that's a great gun. Very nice looking wood.

ditchparrot wrote:

Shakey Jake wrote:Shotgun: My dad's Ithaca Model 37 Featherweight in 16 ga.

Two of the seven Ithaca Model 37s in my safe are 16-gauges – one made in 1941 and the other just a few years ago. I've also got three 12s and two 20s. The newer 16 and a newer 20 are my favorites for upland hunting.

Didn't know they started making them again. I went to their site and looked around. Look like nice firearms but would need to see on in hand. I'm not interested in another shot gun at the moment. I sold my Citori skeet gun a few years ago as I stopped shooting league. All I've got left now is my Dad's Ithaca, a Remington 11-87, and a Westernfield (JC Penny) 12 ga that my uncle (father's dad) gave to me.