Long range-Presently a choice between a custom 700 in 7.62, or a custom 700 in 7mm mag. 7.62 ammo is everywhere, but the 7mm mag rounds have some amazing ballistics. If I have to go with one shot, would have to be the 7mm mag. .308 just doesn't have enough knock-down on elk-size game and larger.

Shotgun-My Benelli SBEII has an amazing operating system, and the choke tubes for all of the newer shotguns really make shotguns very versatile. My old 870 that I bought with hay-hauling money when I was a kid is still a durable standby; problem is that it is an old model, pre-choke tubes. The benelli came camo; I had the 870 coated. Would go with the benelli.

Small-bore-I would have to pick my Ruger 10-22 for an all-around gun. I have been in the market for one of the Savage over/unders, but the price on those things has went through the roof.

Pistol(home/personal defense)-My old government has been ported and throated, and is pretty reliable. P2000 SK is much more comfortable to carry. Tough choice-probably go with the HK

Pistol(bear woods)-Probably load up my S&W Governor with .410 self-defense rounds. I have no live-tissue experience with the round, but Spousal Unit did prove that they do a helluva job on sheetrock.

Battle rifle--I've been meaning to pick up a good M4, but there are so many companies making them, it's hard to decide which to go with.

Bow-I presently have a Bow-tech compound, which shoots amazingly fast. Problem is, if one were ever to run out of pre-fab arrows, it would be next to impossible to make replacements from scratch. Very difficult to find wood that could handle the velocity. Talked at lunch with a guy who makes his own longbows and arrows. One choice-have to be a longbow.

1) mumble some cuss words. (pause, be sure it is not a hang fire) same with any other firearm.

2) recap and try again.

3) fix bayonet, use it as a pike or club with a spike on the end.

4) if all of that fails, run like hell.


Important part do not mix up the steps in the Load in 9 times.

I was t/o on the M14, just love that rifle. I would stick with the AR family. More ammo is preferred to less.

Don't get me started.

When the Garand was issued, cruits were expected to kill at 600 yards instead of wounding an enemy every 6000 rounds.

Well mine probably won't turn any heads.

1. Remington 700 300 WINMAG in a Mcree stock, S&B PMII with H59 reticle and Micro T1 w/side mount.

2. Larue OBR with S&B PMII with H59 reticle and Micro T1 w/side mount.

3. Colt M4A1, Giesselle NM trigger, SOPMOD buttstock, with a Elcan specter, BUIS, carrying Handle, PEQ15 and Gemtech HALO suppressor.
-M261 conversion kit ( I can kill a lot of game up to deer with this setup)

4. Winchester 1897 Pump cut to 18 inches.

5. Glock 17

6. AWC Badlander(integrated suppressed Ruger Mark II)


Additional if authorized:

-Mk12 upper for carbine with SB Glass.
-CLE Nationalmatch upper.

Ha ha ha, very cool!!!

That's fine but remember that the Secret Service moved away from the 7mm Mag and went 300 Win Mag sometime ago. They have since gone 6.5 I believe, don't quote me. Reasons, belted mag will throw odd rounds due to being head spaced off the belt. Used the 7mm Mag in Saudi while training the Royal Guard Counter Snipers, nice round but would rather have something a bit heavier. The best round in 7mm Mag is the 168 gr for ballistics (or it was when I was playing with it, have not for some time now. Me for long range I would stay with the 300 win Mag for being able to get ammo but the 300 Ultra is a bit nicer. Barrel life on all of them suck though. :D

The 7.62 is strictly a medium range weapon (less than 800 - 900 in unknown conditions) or a battle rifle weapon. In my mind, 7.62 vs 7mm Mag is apples and oranges.

My thoughts only and as I have told bunches, go with what you are comfortable with as you will always shoot better if you like and trast your bang stick. ;)

Left out, if time permits remove nipple, charge with BP, reset nipple, re-cap, hang on. :munchin :D

Sort of what Dusty eluded too, I think there is a advantage of learning to shoot on single shot rifles. Each shot counts. When the Peterson revolver came out, IIRC, it was not referred to as a six shooter, but 5 extra shots.

I never had to pull a nipple on a misfire. Beforeloading, I will place the muzzle near some blades of grass/weeds and fire a cap. Seeing movement, shows that the vent is clear. My Charlieville has given me several "Flash in the pan". Re-prime and GTG.

If anything, I have a lot of respect for those old timers and their muskets going into battle.

BTW, the 1818 was also rifled for the Civil War, a .69 cal Minie ball is a monster. Maybe falls in the category of lite artillery.

Hollis I too fire a single cap to clear the system. HOWEVER, have failed to do when BS'ing on the line at a fun shot a couple of times. :D

It is embarrassing, love the razing you get when you have a dry fire.

I learned to shoot on a single shot Winchester .22 my Dad bought at the local Army Surplus in 1962 for $12 to teach my brothers and I hw to shoot. Front blade sight and really fine rear peep sight. The Army used to use them for BRM training before putting soldiers on heavier caliber weapons. We still have the rifle and - with the .22LR - it is one of the most accurate weapons I have ever fired.

Hunting quail, dove, and pheasant growing up, I used a .20Ga side-by-side - my Dad used to say that if we couldn't hit 'em in two rounds, we sure wouldn't hit 'em in 3, 4, or 5 shots and just waste ammo.

IOW - I agree with the make each shot count philosophy.

Richard :munchin

Or even worse, Ball then powder. As person was said, "I know where the Devil is, he is in the details".


My first rifle was a single shot .22 Win. Probably had more fun with that rifle than any other firearm that I have own.

My dad would say the same thing.

My father bought me a single shot rolling block .22 with octagonal barrel in 1955 for my 8th birthday. It was a great little rifle and I dearly wish I still had it. When I joined the Army my parents were in Okinawa and the weapon was left there. I still have the .22 J.C. Higgins Model 31, with scope, Dad and I shot for competition and bragging rights on my Grandfathers farm. Fun gun to shoot. It was also the rabbit and squirrel gun. :)

Hollis brought up a point that I found kind of interesting - given that these six guns have to make it the rest of my life, it seems like I'd put a pretty high premium on maintainability of parts and availability of ammunition/components. Would something like a blackpowder rifle, with a simple lock (flint?) be a good addition to the list of six?

Ability to manufacture black powder from available materials, mold balls from a wide variety of scrap metal sources, shoot shot or projectiles, and with few moving parts - might be a good idea to have a gun like that on the list if it has to go the distance.

My list would be (stuff I already own, anyways):

1.) Remington 597 .22LR,
2.) Tikka T3 .308 Win,
3.) Remington 870 12ga, 18" and 22" barrels, and also mag tube extension,
4.) S&W M&P 9mm
5.) RRA AR-15 16" mid-length, .223 Rem, and
6.) Lyman Great Plains Hunter, .54 cal percussion (with my molds and a *lot* of caps)

I'd be tempted to swap the 597 for a bolt-action .22LR, but that's neither here nor there. All of those guns I've detail-stripped and done basic maintenance work on, but manufacturing replacement parts for a lot of them is probably beyond my ken. I'm reasonably certain I could make the GPH go 'boom' if I needed to, even if it meant sticking a lit Bic into the nipple hole. Thoughts?

My first "firearm" was a Stevens Model 15 single shot .22 lr my Grandpa gave me when I passed Hunters Safety class. I think this is a great way for young people to learn to "make it count" when learning to shoot.