Which gun should I buy to round out my collection?

Question

I have a Glock .40 S&W and a barrel that I swap to shoot .357 Sig. I also have a cheap 9mm pistol (I am ashamed to say it's a Jennings) and have access to my fathers P89 Ruger 9mm. I also own shotguns, .22, 30-30, and 7.62X54R.

I want to add another gun to my collection primarily for target shooting, but the right gun might double as a secondary hunting/defense weapon. I am primarily interested in a handgun or 5.56/.223 AR-15 or similar style rifle.

I am considering two options.

1) Buying a cheap Taurus or other backup handgun for $350 or so in a 9mm or .45. This will probably be a compact. Or buying a revolver (I do not own a revolver) in a snub nose .38 special or a longer barrel .357 or .44 mag.

2) Expensive route: saving for a larger purchase and either buy a 1911 style .45. Rock Island Armory is $375 if I go cheapo or Colt in $600-$800 range. Rifle would be 223/5.56; Olympic Arms makes an A1 plinker for $600.

Which gun is needed in everyman's gun collection?

Answer 1

Bound's hubby here:

Let's talk rifles first. If you are looking at (serious) target shooting, I would suggest you get an AR15-type rifle from a reputable manufacturer (Colt, DPMS, Armalite, Bushmaster) with a 1x7 or 1x8 twist barrel. With a little work, any of these will be seriously competitive, but should be limited to varmint hunting ... to use the .223 on anything larger than varmints would be inhumane! If you want a target rifle that can double as a hunting rifle, look at either a Garand or a severely modified Remington 700 ... depending upon your concept of target shooting. By the way ... Olympic Arms and Quality Hardware (the same company) does not make a quality rifle ... it has a poor following in the competition circuit.

With respect to handguns ... if you may use the handgun for self-defense, cheap should never find its way into your vocabulary! Your dual barrel Glock is a good start (personally, Glocks are not my cup of tea).

About back-up guns. Ideally, a back-up gun should be chambered the same as your primary arm, that way if the primary arm becomes disabled, you still have a useful supply of ammo. Carrying two calibers of ammo is a give-away if you get jumped and searched. That being said ... back-up to me means last-ditch/close-up ... so I would consider a Smith & Wesson revolver as a back-up, either a Model 36 in .38 Special or a Model 13 with a 3" barrel in .357 Magnum. Either the Model 36 or Model 13 would be a must in my collection ... they are small enough to pick-up and carry all the time, so you will have them when you need them most!

For a larger purchase, I would look at either a Springfield M1911A1, ideally a Trophy Match in .45 ACP ... it is a great gun, but beyond your price range! If you want to venture into a multi-purpose revolver, I would suggest you look at a S&W Model 686 .357 Magnum with a 6" barrel. This would be a perfect revolver for target shooting (bulls-eye, silhouette, PPC), hunting (varmint, bunnies, boar or deer), or defense (home or auto).

Two points you must keep in mind in this day and age:
1) You only get what you pay for.
2) With the potential that ammo could become scarce in the "not too distant democratically controlled future", the revolver will ensure you have your brass at hand for reloading.

Good luck!

Answer 2

The Taurus is inexpensive, but not cheap. My backup/concealed carry gun is a Taurus 745, a seven shot .45ACP auto. I paid $285.00 for it. This is the compact millinum series they offer. Also available as the 145, a ten shot version that is the same overall size, but a quarter inch wider.
With revolvers, you really can't go wrong with a .357 mag. Taurus, again, makes some nice subbies. The Smith 686 is another nice revolver as a snubby, Ruger makes the SP101, a five shot available in either .38 or .357 mag. Colt still has the Detective Special, a .38, or the Cobra, also a .38.

If you are considering a full size 1911, you might want to look at the Taurus 1911 (Taurus should be paying me for this), an excellent value for the money.

The AR-15 style rifle is nice choice. I have two. One is the old style carry handle type. The other is a flat top. I have two other uppers, one in .204 and the other is a heavy barreled varmit upper. Very veristile gun. Buy the rifle and pick up an extra upper when you get the chance.

As to which gun is needed in every collection. . ., well, I'm up to 38 rifles, shotguns, and handguns. I pretty much have at least one example of every handgun caliber. But I'm looking to add another .45 Long Colt Revolver even though I have three already.

That said, everybody should have at least one single action type revolver in 44 or 45lc.

Have fun. . .

Answer 3

I do understand the term “Budget”
But remember either your making an investment or your wasting money that will never be recovered.
The Cheap weapons seldom if ever go up in value.
Where as a Quality weapon only goes up in value, I have several that are worth more now then when I first bought them.
If you have to save up more money before buying something you will not like or louse money on.
I would recommend a revolver in 357 Magnum with a 6 inch barrel (no snub nose).
You stated as hunting and personal defense.
Most states have a barrel limit for hunting of 4 inches but 6 is so much better.
Do not buy a revolver with fixed sights, you wont to be able to adjust the sights for you.
There are a lot of good Quality revolvers out their, I would highly recommend the Ruger GP100 6 inch 357 Magnum.
I have this same model and it’s accuracy will amaze you.
I use the very model for home defense, deer and hog hunting with great success.
The 357 Magnum is a flat shooting hand gun compared to all others.
I have had and hunted with the 44 Magnums and got rid of them due to their poor trajectory.
Hope this helped.

D58

Answer 4

A Ruger GP-100 in .357 will go good in your collection. My blued 4" bbl. fixed sight GP is an excellent handgun and you can shoot .38 Specials for practice. It's dead on accurate, ultra-reliable and should never break. It's a handsome gun too.
If I was getting a new 1911, it would be a 10rd., 3" bbl. micro gun like the Para-Ord "Warthog" or new Springfield micro. You can't get the inexpensive but good Llama Mini-Max 10rd., 3" bbl. 1911s unless you get lucky and find one.
An AR would be my last choice since I heard a bad rumor about availability/price of near future .223/5.56 ammo.
Might be interested in a CETME or FN FAL in .308 better than the pipsqueak .223 ARs. I have a CETME which I like pretty well.
You might want to get an AK-47 while the extraordinary Yugo AK-47s are still reasonable. They are THE best and most improved models made on modern equipment using superior metals than all the rest.

Answer 5

Well, you failed to mention the .357 Magnum and the .30-06 Springfield. Of course, you also lack the .45acp. These three should be in every man's collection. Save for the .45acp you want next. Then the 5.56. Unless you hunt a whole lot of big game the 7.62x54(R) and .30-30 will hold you over until you can add the '06 to your collection. And be looking around for a good used .357 Magnum. The Ruger comes to mind. I have a Ruger s/steel Security Six adjustible sights, 2 n 1/2" barrel that is one of my nightstand guns.

Good luck.

H

Answer 6

Do not buy an Olympic arms AR-15, they bite big time.... Check out Bushmaster or Colt. Our Olympic arms that the city bought us were horrible. They had to go back to the factory a bunch of times, they were total junk! They shouldn't be sold at all.
The Bushmaster and Colts I've owned have NEVER had a mechanical problem. I say if you want a compact pistol, seriously consider an airweight model 37 S&W it's like they aren't even there. I carry one in my pocket all the time, it's my "I'm not looking for trouble" gun. When I'm working then it's the XD 45 Springfield Armory full size with 14 rounds of 230 grain hollow points, they discourage most all prey 2 and 4 legged.

Answer 7

I always go for quality revolvers and Semi autos S&W I have two 686 combat magnums 4'' and 6'' they perform well and i also have the same in S&W M29 44 MAG. 4'' & 6'' and the perform great as well. Personal conciled carry a Colt agent 2'' 38spl i like it because it's light weight and unlike most 2'' they carry 6 rounds and are quite accurate up to 25 yards. I also like the Ruger mini 14 .223 very reliable even in adverse conditions.

Answer 8

if you want a cheap back up gun go wih a bersa thunder.380 it is dependable concealable and around 230 bucks. if you just want a military plinker buy a yugo m59/66 from dunhams for 100.00 its an sks receiver shoots 7.62x39 which you can get surplus cheap. lot cheaper than the x54. and they take 30/50 rd magazines. if you want target rifle you need a bolt action semi autos are not known for accuracy. Savage arms makes the 110 or 111 depending whether you like wood stock or composite for 360-420 bucks. the action is dual pillar bedded all barrels are free floated and the triggers are adjustable from 1.5-6 pounds of pull. just bought one you can put them in the same hole at 200 yds comes with a bore mounted simmons scope.

Answer 9

All this time I thought I had a reasonable (if too small) collection, but mine doesn't resemble yours at all. I'd suggest you go with the wheelgun. Considering what you have already, I don't see the sense in a 38 snubby, but a magnum (357, 44, and don't leave out the possibility of a 41) would be different but within your apparent interests.

Answer 10

For revolvers, go for the Ruger GP100 4" in 357mag- excellent handgun and not too expensive.

or

45 - Here are a few to select from...
Taurus PT1911
XD 45 Tactical

Here are a few new pistols coming out later this year, also in 45...
Glock 21 SF
Beretta Storm
S&W M&P