Best overall gun... Target, hunting, home defense, shtf

[Tex]

Why one gun? Have you done any research at all? There's no single gun that'll apply to all of those categories.

If for some strange reason you can only purchase one gun then a .22lr is the only way to go, namely a Ruger 10/22. Infinite parts and customizability. Honestly though, if you want to cover all your bases you'll need four:
.22lr rifle
Common caliber handgun(revolver or pistol)
12ga shotgun(rem 870 can't be beat)
High caliber rifle(.308, .270, .243, 7mm......)

 

[ckcanady]

For hunting large game I love my Weatherby .300 Wsm it will take down anything from a 2 pointer to a Bear. It's slightly heavy but once you shoot it you'll grow a little more hair on your chest.... Granted my wife seems to be a better shot then me with it. Haha

 

[haus88]

I have a ruger 10/22 and a my pops Remington 22lr. I'm not looking for one gun solve all I'm just looking to buy my next gun. I will be buying more as money is tight they are far and few in between.

 

[whoaru99]

For hunting large game I love my Weatherby .300 Wsm it will take down anything from a 2 pointer to a Bear. It's slightly heavy but once you shoot it you'll grow a little more hair on your chest.... Granted my wife seems to be a better shot then me with it. Haha

Shooting 12ga 3" mag slugs or heavy turkey loads will put about twice as much hair on your chest.

 

[phenry]

Shooting 12ga 3" mag slugs or heavy turkey loads will put about twice as much hair on your chest.

By that logic I should have shag rug carpeting on my chest from shooting 10ga 3-1/2" turkey loads. And an empty wallet.

But nothing beats putting a gobbler down at 40 yards every time.

 

[PapsD]

By that logic I should have shag rug carpeting on my chest from shooting 10ga 3-1/2" turkey loads. And an empty wallet.

But nothing beats putting a gobbler down at 40 yards every time.

How bad is the recoil on a 10 gauge? Is it worse than shooting a 12 gauge 3in slug? I like the idea of a 10 gauge autoloader for hunting turkies and geese but have never shot one.

 

[landshark]

I would say for this all this criteria your best bet would be a AR15 or other carbine. You can target shot with it, you can hunt small-midsize game (depending on your state), SHTF check, Home Defense with proper training you could manage this one as well.

However, would you build a house with a Leatherman tool? It can be done, but its not the best for any part of house building. No one firearm is going to be the best in all these situations. Narrow your focus, and I'm sure we could help you better.

This is my agreement. 1 gun can do everything, but not do everything well.

The AR can do a 9mm handgun, shoot 22, shoot 6.5, and shoot 223. But you need multiple uppers and a few other parts, but very all around. However, it's not going to those an excellent as guns dedicated to those purposes.

 

[phenry]

How bad is the recoil on a 10 gauge? Is it worse than shooting a 12 gauge 3in slug? I like the idea of a 10 gauge autoloader for hunting turkies and geese but have never shot one.

I have the Remington SP-10, and it does a really good job at knocking down a lot of the recoil. I'd say it's no worse than a pump 12ga, but then again, when you have all that adrenaline going through your system with a bird coming in, everything seems to feel a lot lighter. Not something I'd take to the range to shoot trap and skeet, but I have buddies that shoot the same shotgun for geese and they say the added recoil over a 12ga is definitely worth the price for the extra payload.

 

[brandonhagen1]

get a judge it shoots any 45 cal and 410 shells great for anything you need firepower for hunting for or two legged animals

 

[cwi]

If the racking slide sound doesn't scare you off, the sound of a round going off in a small room will.

A pump shotgun is generally agreed on as the best all around home defense weapon. A friend's dad bought one after getting burgled several times. He called his pump the 'slide trombone'. His favorite saying, usually while handling the gun, was- "First time they got the TV, second time the christmas presents, third time- they're gonna get the slide trombone."

The sound of a cycling a pump shotgun is unmistakeable, and that alone is enough to send most would be bad guys running. If not, in a dark room the 3 foot flame and noise from a warning shot will.

There are a few ranges here that allow shotguns.

If your town is big enough to have a rifle range, it will have a skeet/trap range, usually in the same place. If not, you likely live in a place where you don't need a range for some fun with guns, especially the 100-200yds needed for a typical shotgun load.

 

[whoaru99]

100-200 yards for a shotgun load? Not unless you're shooting slugs, and sabots from a rifled barrel at the far end of that range.

EDIT: Ahhh, in hindsight perhaps you mean reasonably safe range, not effective range.

 

[whoaru99]

I have the Remington SP-10, and it does a really good job at knocking down a lot of the recoil. I'd say it's no worse than a pump 12ga, but then again, when you have all that adrenaline going through your system with a bird coming in, everything seems to feel a lot lighter. Not something I'd take to the range to shoot trap and skeet, but I have buddies that shoot the same shotgun for geese and they say the added recoil over a 12ga is definitely worth the price for the extra payload.

Yeah, under actual field conditions you don't usually sense the recoil as much. However, on a bench as in shooting slugs, there isn't much worse than that. Even some pretty big rifles don't have the felt recoil as max load shotgun slugs off the bench.

 

[cwi]

100-200 yards for a shotgun load? Not unless you're shooting slugs, and sabots from a rifled barrel at the far end of that range.

EDIT: Ahhh, in hindsight perhaps you mean reasonably safe range, not effective range.

Yes, that's the range where you aren't likely bust a window or something with bird shot. Even less room is needed to prevent doing a person real damage, as long they have glasses on. I think our agreed upon range for peppering someone when dove hunting as teenagers was ~70yds. The time and distance is just about right to only have time to turn around and duck your head, but still sting through jeans. Yes, we were stupid, but it probably hurt less than paintball, though I wouldn't know.

 

[PapsD]

Yeah, under actual field conditions you don't usually sense the recoil as much. However, on a bench as in shooting slugs, there isn't much worse than that. Even some pretty big rifles don't have the felt recoil as max load shotgun slugs off the bench.

True, but it depends on the gun; brand of ammo and how sensitive the shooter is to recoil. The 2 3/4" slugs and buckshot aren't bad I don't think. Hornady SST slugs were the hardest to shoot recoil wise IMHO.

 

[whoaru99]

Guess I'm not sure what that point is. I figured it was assumed talking relatively apples to apples (as in same shooter, relatively same weight of gun, etc.) not a comparison of extremes in variables.

FWIW, I used to shoot Win Partition Gold sabots out of my Rem 870 with rifled slug barrel. Hardest kicking gun I've ever shot. 385 grain bullet at 1900fps. Ouch.

OTOH, 3" mag max load punkin' ball slugs out of the Mossberg 500 smooth bore were pretty brutal too.

 

[PapsD]

Guess I'm not sure what that point is. I figured it was assumed talking relatively apples to apples (as in same shooter, relatively same weight of gun, etc.) not a comparison of extremes in variables.

FWIW, I used to shoot Win Partition Gold sabots out of my Rem 870 with rifled slug barrel. Hardest kicking gun I've ever shot. 385 grain bullet at 1900fps. Ouch.

OTOH, 3" mag max load punkin' ball slugs out of the Mossberg 500 smooth bore were pretty brutal too.

The gun and load does make a difference I think. But those Winchesters sounds pretty nasty.

A 7lb pump shotgun with a John Wayne edition hard rubber recoil pad will feel like it kicks a lot harder than a 7lb gas operated autoloader with a good recoil pad when shooting the same load.

The Hornady SST slugs felt the worst out of my Ithaca 37 with a rifled barrel. The Remington copper solid premiers I shoot aren't soft shooters by any means but they have a manageable amount of recoil. There is a difference in muzzle velocity of about 300 fps but both are premium sabot slug loads and both will do the job on a deer.

3 inch slugs out my 870 with POS hard rubber recoil pad feel pretty brutal also.

 

[707]

Target = whichever gets you in the bullseye.

Hunting = whatever size brings down your prey

Home defense = the most intimidating sound ever is the "cha-chuu" of a pump action shotgun being chambered.

Pistol = .357 magnum can shoot heavy loads and can also shoot lighter cheaper .38 special ammo.

 

[grouperdude]

yall are watching to many movies. The action of a shotgun is not going to scare away anyone thats actually posing a threat to you. Its going to give away your position. It might scare a thief away, but hes not really a threat to your life.

 

[jungatheart]

yall are watching to many movies. The action of a shotgun is not going to scare away anyone thats actually posing a threat to you. Its going to give away your position. It might scare a thief away, but hes not really a threat to your life.

This. Play the Cha Ching game and the next sound you'll hear will be the shot that kills you. The ONLY place that works is on TV or movies.

 

[cwi]

yall are watching to many movies. The action of a shotgun is not going to scare away anyone thats actually posing a threat to you. Its going to give away your position. It might scare a thief away, but hes not really a threat to your life.

Isn't dealing with robbers/burglars the nature of home defense, unless you believe in the zombie apocalypse? Many burglars, if caught in the act, will run if you just mention that you have a gun, even if they are armed.
If you are banging some other guy's wife, and he is coming to hunt you down, I wouldn't consider that in the normal range of home defense needs.

 

[cwi]

This. Play the Cha Ching game and the next sound you'll hear will be the shot that kills you. The ONLY place that works is on TV or movies.

Your description of the consequences sounds more like movie fiction than the original premise.

I had a friend keep a burglar (that he couldn't even see) frozen in a room until the cops arrived, just by cocking a 30-30 at the top of the stairs. The burglar wasn't armed, but even an armed one would know he is at a disadvantage, and look for a way to get out. The smart move is to give him an exit.

 

[707]

If I was creeping someone's house and heard a shotgun action I think I'd be exiting the nearest window or door. It's surprising that y'all would feel differently. I guess it would depend on the perp's motive... If dude is just looking for drugs and money then yeah I'd bet dollars to donuts they would get out. If dude is looking to murder, he may be a little less deterred.

If dude already had a bead on ones location then yeah the next sound would be his shot. But nobody knows my house the way I do. And I'm pretty confident that I could intercept him.

And in the case of home defense I think it would also be safe to say that that the average person would be shaking uncontrollably from adrenaline surge and find it hard to aim. A shotty spray offers much wider margin of error still resulting in a hit. Don't cha think?

Regardless of hypothetical gotchas my Bull Mastiff would probably be enough to get most crims away from my property.

 

[rpe290]

Isn't dealing with robbers/burglars the nature of home defense, unless you believe in the zombie apocalypse? Many burglars, if caught in the act, will run if you just mention that you have a gun, even if they are armed.
If you are banging some other guy's wife, and he is coming to hunt you down, I wouldn't consider that in the normal range of home defense needs.

Your mistake is assigning rational thought to someone that has already decided its OK to invade your property and take your stuff with no payment.

I prefer not to lump them in with "rational" thinking like you are. My primary "handy" HD weapon is a pistol, but if it were a shotgun, I would not be "racking the slide" to scare them away, it just doesn't seem like there are a lot of positives to it.

To the original question, nothing does ALL of those things really well, but the most versatile is the 12 guage though, because all the loads you can use from smallest birds (#8 shot in 2 3/4" shells) to Kodiak size bear (Full bore rifled slugs) to home defense (00 buckshot or slugs). Use with slugs is range limiting, and you wouldn't really want to "target shoot" with it.

 

[rpe290]

If I was creeping someone's house and heard a shotgun action I think I'd be exiting the nearest window or door. It's surprising that y'all would feel differently. I guess it would depend on the perp's motive... If dude is just looking for drugs and money then yeah I'd bet dollars to donuts they would get out. If dude is looking to murder, he may be a little less deterred.

If dude already had a bead on ones location then yeah the next sound would be his shot. But nobody knows my house the way I do. And I'm pretty confident that I could intercept him.

Yet, they could be on drugs and not thinking clearly if the are actually looking for drug money, no?

Why not just shoot him when you need to? Why give him a chance to find you first?

And in the case of home defense I think it would also be safe to say that that the average person would be shaking uncontrollably from adrenaline surge and find it hard to aim. A shotty spray offers much wider margin of error still resulting in a hit. Don't cha think?

You should look up how much "spray" you are going to get at typical HD distances, I doubt its as much as you think. (probably the size of your hand at most).

 

[707]

Why not just shoot him when you need to? Why give him a chance to find you first?

Haha!! Who said anything about letting an intruder find me!?? Allow me to clarify: no matter what entrance the guy came in, I would be able to circumvent his path and take him down before he even had a plan of action. When it comes to my family being at risk there would be no 'hide and seek' as you are assuming.


You would compare the (maybe) 3/4 inch entrance wound of ...? to a "hand size" wound of a shotgun spray. And still prefer the 3/4 inch hole!??

Moral of the story: as many home defenders as there are, is also as many weapons of choice.

 

[whoaru99]

You might be surprised at what one can do with a slug these days. We're well beyond the can't hit the broad side of a barn at 50 paces.

Not saying youre going to win a high level target match against a target rifle with a slug gun, but even a relatively mundane slug gun with rifled barrel and sabots can group 3-4 inches at 100 yds, maybe better with a well-matched load and a well-tuned gun.

 

[whoaru99]

You would compare the (maybe) 3/4 inch entrance wound of ...? to a "hand size" wound of a shotgun spray. And still prefer the 3/4 inch hole!??

Depends. A though and though 3/4" hole might well be more deadly than a hand-sized wound with only a few inches of penetration.

Regardless though, that didn't seem to be reason for the rebuttal. Your point seemed to be an implication that a shotgun pattern will be wide thus mitigating the need for aim. At home defense range that isn't necessarily so.

 

[cwi]

Your mistake is assigning rational thought to someone that has already decided its OK to invade your property and take your stuff with no payment.

Your mistake is believing that someone willing to break into your house is somehow devoid of all rational thought. Most are looking to get in and out quickly without any confrontation. Most are not armed, and many when they are have it merely as a visual deterrent, and do not have it loaded. The most irrational robbers to the average person are the 'home invasion' guys, who are actually the most rational, since they know to get rid of witnesses.

I prefer not to lump them in with "rational" thinking like you are. My primary "handy" HD weapon is a pistol, but if it were a shotgun, I would not be "racking the slide" to scare them away, it just doesn't seem like there are a lot of positives to it.

The positives are that it is a lot more convincing than putting a finger in your pocket and pointing it at them. If you are in the 'make my day' camp, it may not make sense. If you are just wanting to avoid confrontation if at all possible, then it does.

to home defense (00 buckshot or slugs).

What movies have you been watching? OO and slugs are among the worst loads for home defense. As mentioned before, smaller shot is beneficial if an errant shot goes where it isn't intended. Also, in the confines of a home (<20 ft), any load will suffice, and <10ft any load behaves essentially like a slug assuming the barrel still has a choke present, and not much different if it doesn't. It's still easier to aim than a pistol.

 

[707]

Ok.... I was just saying that some people may be very calm during a home invasion and be able to crack off a very well aimed shot. Others may prefer to have the large margin of error if they were in an episode of adrenaline rush and finding it difficult to stay calm and aim proper.

 

[Jacob_Marley]

Miss my M-1 Carbine ... a fun gun in the sun if there ever was one.
But had problems with jamming ... finally got rid of it.

Had a Remington 1100 3" Magnum that was a great all-round gun. (also shot 2-3/4)