Author Topic: Best all round long gun ever (Read 3741 times)

LaOtto222 · « **Reply #30 on:** November 27, 2012, 08:03:17 AM »

If I were to only have 1 rifle, it would be a semi-auto 22 LR. If I could add a 12 gauge shotgun pump with two barrels, I would have every thing covered from the smallest game to plinking to big game and fowl of all kinds.

Good Luck and Good Shooting

Catshooter45 · « **Reply #31 on:** November 27, 2012, 08:39:08 AM »

Richard,

I've fired a twenty gauge shotshell through a rifled bore. Number 7 shot. At 15 yards it gave a nice, even, eight or nine foot spread. Very useful if your hunting six foot ballons at close range.

The more I think about my Topper in 30-30/20 gauge, the more I like it for all-around. It even breaks down easily to a 22" package.

Cat

Ranch13 · « **Reply #32 on:** November 27, 2012, 09:31:43 AM »

Best allround long gun would be a hard toss up between a 22 rifle and a 12 guage shotgun.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #33 on:** November 27, 2012, 09:46:11 AM »

I noted a combo gun as best but due to cost it might not be pratical. Pratical would be a 12 ga . I don't consider the 22 even close in usefulness it's main claim to fame is cheap ammo. I think alot of people are willing to discount it's short commings thinking what it lacks in being pratical they can make up with loads of cheap ammo. Not basking the 22 it has its nitch but it's not the BEST ALL AROUND LONG GUN IMHO.

cwlongshot · « **Reply #34 on:** November 27, 2012, 10:31:14 AM »

All these posts and no one has mentioned my favorite...

22Maggie!!

Everything said about the 22LR applies to the Maggie AND its got twice the power! This is my choice would the dudu hit the fan...

CW

LaOtto222 · « **Reply #35 on:** November 27, 2012, 10:33:19 AM »

President Reagan almost died from a 22 shot from a 2" stubby, a rifle is much more "powerful" than a small handgun. The 22 Rim Fire is much more than some people think it is. It will easily kill a deer as long as you get close enough and hit it in the correct spot. Some time ago an old lady trapper was confronted on the trail by a large black bear. She put seven shots into its head and killed it on the spot. She did not want to, but it is the rifle she had in her hands and made due. My neighbor has shot and killed 2 coyotes that were sniffing around his barnyard with his 22 rifle. I worked with a guy, that committed suicide, guess what he used, yep a 22 rifle. There has been untold amount of animals that have scummed to the lowly 22 including cattle and hogs for butcher. Do not tell me that it is too weak to do any damage. My father owned 2 guns, a Remington model 12 (22 pump) and an Ithaca Model 37 (12 GA. pump). He said there was not a thing in our state (Indiana) that you could not hunt or shoot, he did not need any more. He was an avid hunter and you know, he was right. He never owned a hand gun or a center fire rifle. You can easily carry a couple of hundred rounds of 22 LR with you, if you want to. I would be willing to bet there are far more 22 rim fire rifles than any other caliber in civilian life. If you only owned 1 gun and could not get another one at any cost, make mine a 22 rim fire. I will have all the ammo I would ever need already on hand, I can not say that about any other gun I own. If an Apocalypse hit and I could only have 1 gun to survive on, make mine a 22 rim fire. Hopefully a semi automatic with plenty of ammo and clips. Everyone does not think alike and that is a good thing, other wise we would all own the same things and there would not be any diversification in life.

Good Luck and Good Shooting

gcrank1 · « **Reply #36 on:** November 27, 2012, 10:44:10 AM »

I cant 'prove it', but I believe more pigs and deer (not to count all the other 'pounds' of meat in smaller critters) have been made into meat with a 22RF than any other caliber. As good as the LR is, I have to agree with CW that the Magnum would likely be even better.

jlwilliams · « **Reply #37 on:** November 27, 2012, 10:55:10 AM »

Well this is a neat thread.

No one's nominated the lever action 30-30 yet. May not be the best ever, but it's certainly a practical choice.

ncloader88 · « **Reply #38 on:** November 27, 2012, 11:04:57 AM »

The 22lr is cheaper and easier to come by. I have a savage 22mag bolt and I wish every day it was a 22lr. 22 mag ammo costs nearly as much as centerfire pistol ammo and it's still going up. I can spend less than $50 to get 1000 rounds of 22lr, which would last years if used only when it is needed. As far as it's use to me right now, most things I would hunt with a mag can be hunted with an LR. So, IMHO the LR is what I need now or in the future.

Ranch13 · « **Reply #39 on:** November 27, 2012, 11:05:16 AM »

Quote from: SHOOTALL on November 27, 2012, 09:46:11 AM

I noted a combo gun as best but due to cost it might not be pratical. Pratical would be a 12 ga . I don't consider the 22 even close in usefulness it's main claim to fame is cheap ammo. I think alot of people are willing to discount it's short commings thinking what it lacks in being pratical they can make up with loads of cheap ammo. Not basking the 22 it has its nitch but it's not the BEST ALL AROUND LONG GUN IMHO.

There is no cartridge available today that is older than the 22 short. The 22 long followed shortly afterward, and the 22 lr is the long case loaded with a heavier bullet. More ammo, more guns than any other cartridge available commercially, and has been in continuous production for nearly 175 years.
The longevity in and of itself should speak volumes of it's percieved usefulness... And in its day it was thought of as a fine target and small game cartridge to 200 yds..

petemi · « **Reply #40 on:** November 27, 2012, 12:57:16 PM »

"Ever" is a long time. No one thought to mention the Pennsylvania or Kentucky long rifles

Pete

gcrank1 · « **Reply #41 on:** November 27, 2012, 01:34:36 PM »

I considered a ML, too; we have experimented with chert as the rock in a flintlock and got fire, but realistically, loading cases with smokeless is far more efficient, the primers are WAY cheaper than caps for a caplock , and ya have to mould R-Balls as well as conicals for a fixed ammo gun, so thats a tossup.
The tip-up shotgun is the 'modern' version of the NW Trade Gun type, and a good replacement it is, too.
As an old muzzleloading (is that redundant?) guy I want to believe they are still the thing, but, for other than sport, anybody in the bush with one would trade his (pick fav. whatever) for our breechloaders (though he would keep that ML in reserve).
Best is sooooo relative....
Most of us, in a survival sense, would be better served knowing how to make half a doz. snares and run the trapline everyday, if we want to eat regularly. There are a lot of daily tasks that take time away from hunting for the pot that it gets too iffy to spot and bag game. In travel, it is a meal of opportunity, of course, but slow enough travel to be still hunting is low mileage.
Even so, boys do like to carry guns, dont we?

Jimbo47 · « **Reply #42 on:** November 27, 2012, 03:50:00 PM »

If I had to grab and go, I'd take my .22 lr. and my 30-30 Winchester.
You can find .22 ammo just about anywhere and the same with the 30-30 and most folks would be carrying a .223 so it would just leave more 30-30 ammo for me.
I'd also try very hard to make room for my pellet gun which would be my first line tool to put fresh meat on the table, in a very discrete and economical way.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #43 on:** November 28, 2012, 01:54:27 AM »

Quote from: Ranch13 on November 27, 2012, 11:05:16 AM

Quote from: SHOOTALL on November 27, 2012, 09:46:11 AM
I noted a combo gun as best but due to cost it might not be pratical. Pratical would be a 12 ga . I don't consider the 22 even close in usefulness it's main claim to fame is cheap ammo. I think alot of people are willing to discount it's short commings thinking what it lacks in being pratical they can make up with loads of cheap ammo. Not basking the 22 it has its nitch but it's not the BEST ALL AROUND LONG GUN IMHO.
There is no cartridge available today that is older than the 22 short. The 22 long followed shortly afterward, and the 22 lr is the long case loaded with a heavier bullet. More ammo, more guns than any other cartridge available commercially, and has been in continuous production for nearly 175 years.
The longevity in and of itself should speak volumes of it's percieved usefulness... And in its day it was thought of as a fine target and small game cartridge to 200 yds..

As you mention in its day

Horses have been around longer than most other modes of transportation other than man walking . They have provided power for work and farming longer than recorded history and in fact still do all they ever have in some places today. But I don't believe it is either the best all around type of transportation or best power source aval. ever. Same for the 22 rimfire it has a place but that is limited and always has been . 22 RF's as a group from 22 LR to CB cap are the most likely the least powerful rounds to be found even some pellet rifles are more powerful. As I noted the draw is cheap ammo. and it still is . I love shooting the 22 rifle and pistol shoot them more these days than other guns , why CHEAP AMMO. I would not even think of one being my first choice for self defense . Long term survival it would not be my first choice either.
We could get together and list all the +'s for both shotgun and 22RF then list short commings of both and would agree on most. But consider after the Civil war when America expanded west most people carried a shotgun not a 22 RF and both were aval. If you read enough about that period in history you will note that people often mistake the lack of period shotguns aval. from that period as evidence they were seldom used but the fact is most were worn out from use . Most farms had a shotgun or two and often a 22 RF. but in most cases if only one then it was a shotgun most often a single bbl. My family had only one 22 rifle until I came along and got one then we had 2 , this included 4 uncles a grandfather and my dad and brother but all had shotguns as we hunted Birds deer, rabbit, limb rats etc. The first rifle was for killing hogs . There are many center fire and other type rifles that one could consider but the shotgun existed long before most and still does so if one goes for length of service the shotgun is right at the top of the list. Same for length of time they have been made 100 , 200 or more years than the RIMFIRE anything ?
To be honest one type gun that should have been in the running is the parodox gun . It has a smooth bore up to the last 4-5 inches or so then rifled . Some may be called cape guns maybe. But it became more enomical to have cheaper built guns and both rifle and shotgun could be had for less money. I came up with a similar idea ( still on the cheap) years ago, I took a remington 870 pump , got a rifle sighted bbl and had it threaded for rem chokes. I got both stright and twist rifled tubes ( if you have not tried stright rifling do so it delivers some really tight patternd with most all shot sizes). The got some standard smooth chokes. While hunting if I'm deer hunting and flush turkeys I can switch chokes and call in turkeys . If I see limb rats switch chokes and shells. etc etc .
HUM maybe the best all around is the shotgun with interchangeable chokes ...........

Ranch13 · « **Reply #44 on:** November 28, 2012, 03:27:57 AM »

Shootall , despite the best of the western myth, most settlers in this part of the world had a shotgun and maybe a 22. Centerfires were expensive to own and shoot, so the average joe didn't really have much to do with them until the prosperous times between about 1900 and the depression. After wwll everything changed.
So leaving out doomsday scenario's and the occasional freak attack of the zombie grizzly bear in the midwestern urban areas, the contenders for "best all around long gun ever" would still have to be a shotgun or a 22.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #45 on:** November 28, 2012, 03:32:20 AM »

I think we agree ? I just feel the shotgun has more application . Which would make it more " ALL ROUND " best.
Yea in a real doomsday time I would think there will be alot of guns laying around for picking up. Man I hope those zombie grizz don't cross the big muddy.

Ranch13 · « **Reply #46 on:** November 28, 2012, 03:39:36 AM »

I have the double barrel 12 that was the only firearm my paternal grandmothers entire family owned when they came west from Iowa prior to 1900.I have my paternal grandads single barrel 12 and my baby brother has the single shot 22, that grandad and his brother carried from Iowa , to Kansas, to the Rosebud in Mt, and then finally settling in se Wy..
My wife's paternal grandfather was a longtime drover and roundup cook in the northeastern Colorado country, we have the single shot shotgun he owned, and one of her cousins has his Colt.

ironglow · « **Reply #47 on:** November 28, 2012, 04:02:54 AM »

The simple .22 LR has to rate high..as an only gun... The OP said "one gun"..so In my earlier post , I relegated it to the Versa-pack..because it was technically, still one gun. When he mentioned "preppers" the .22 LR sprang to mind because of the logistics..500 .22 rounds in the same space as 100 of many centerfires.
Let's face it..even for "preppers" at least 90% of the time we would be considering the harvest of a coon, rabbit or possum... for other needs a smooth bore shotgun would work very well..they have been used for big game for years. Where I live, until a few years ago, slugs were all that were allowed until a few years ago...and a few years before that..smooth bores only. My Dad harvested many a deer with a 20 ga...and my wife's aunt harvested a nice, big black bear with a single shot 20.
Incidently, with a rifled shotgun..factory sabots rule themselves out (IMO) by virtue of their cost. If you find sabots costly, consider regular Brenneke slugs. http://www.brennekeusa.com/cms/h_faq.html
CW made a good suggestion of the .22 Mag..although there is some "selectivity" to be done there (X-plain later)

MSP Ret · « **Reply #48 on:** November 28, 2012, 04:13:52 AM »

Quote from: twoshooter on November 06, 2012, 01:56:54 PM

Larry beat me to the post, only I actually had the one I would pick now, and I SOLD it , it was a 3" 20ga with 357 mag on top. That has to be one of the most versatile guns ever.

I read this post with interest and I do have a lightweight H&R in .223. However I also have a Savage .357 over 3" 20 gauge and it will really do most of everything that might be needed with many different loadings possible. The only difference is mine is now a .357 Max over 3" 20 gauge, even better in my mind....<><....

jlwilliams · « **Reply #49 on:** November 28, 2012, 06:12:36 AM »

How come the AK hasn't been mentioned? OK, it's NOT a good hunting rifle, and it's not the best rifle for most of us. Fact remains, it has been the most successful rifle in history. That means it's the best for quite a few, even if not you or I.

While it's not a great North American game rifle like the 30-30, it's not the all around, everybody's first and favorite gun that the 22 rifle is, it is still the best rifle for millions and millions of people who need a rifle. Many have been used to take freedom from people; many have been used to take freedom back. Both one way and another, the AK has been there when the price of freedom is paid. That counts.

45-70.gov · « **Reply #50 on:** November 28, 2012, 06:23:52 AM »

Re: Best all round long gun ever

unless you are on a H&R forum
that would be a pump 12GA......either long full or modified or short with rifle sights your choice

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #51 on:** November 28, 2012, 09:17:33 AM »

Quote from: jlwilliams on November 28, 2012, 06:12:36 AM

How come the AK hasn't been mentioned? OK, it's NOT a good hunting rifle, and it's not the best rifle for most of us. Fact remains, it has been the most successful rifle in history. That means it's the best for quite a few, even if not you or I.I think when it was ask - ALL ROUND BEST it discounted all rifles .

While it's not a great North American game rifle like the 30-30, it's not the all around, everybody's first and favorite gun that the 22 rifle is, it is still the best rifle for millions and millions of people who need a rifle. Many have been used to take freedom from people; many have been used to take freedom back. Both one way and another, the AK has been there when the price of freedom is paid. That counts.all true but you ever see a 94 in a duck blind or quail shoot

thumper113 · « **Reply #52 on:** November 28, 2012, 11:59:44 AM »

For "preppers" one thing to consider is humidity and moisture take their toll on rim fires and the shelf life on them is the shortest, plus I'm thinking shots shells reloading supplies will be more plentiful.

gcrank1 · « **Reply #53 on:** November 28, 2012, 12:19:43 PM »

Ive shot 50yr. old 22RF's (shorts, longs and LR) and if they have looked good they have all gone off, and so have some pretty poor looking ones.

cwlongshot · « **Reply #54 on:** November 28, 2012, 12:29:19 PM »

Quote from: 45-70.gov on November 28, 2012, 06:23:52 AM

Re: Best all round long gun ever

unless you are on a H&R forum
that would be a pump 12GA......either long full or modified or short with rifle sights your choice

Roger that brother!!

The name of the thread is what threw me too...

Mine was not the best all around long gun ever....

Mine was my choice should everything go to hell and practile limitations necessitated a single caliber. Rifle pistol (Multiple) all 22 Mag. I, can drop ANYTHING I would need to. A 40g in the brain box is lights out, period. I can do that on"änything"

out to mid 150 yards. Ammo is not quite as light and compact as the LR but its a heap more powerful.

CW

ironglow · « **Reply #55 on:** November 28, 2012, 11:16:22 PM »

.22 Mag is a fine cartridge, but it would seem all rifles built to shoot them are not so fine (read accurate). For a few years now, I have been in the process of passing my guns to my grandkids. Sometimes I give a gun away and then realize I still had use for such a cartridge/gun combo. Such was the case a few years ago, when I gave my Anschutz .22 mag to grandson #1. So I bought a couple standard brand guns and could hardly get 2" groups at 50 yards..I finally traded a nice looking laminate stocked marlin .22 mag for a Savage 93R17. I had given up on the .22 Mag...and I wasn't going to spring for another Anschutz!
Then one day, I stopped by my favorite gun shop..there sat a new base model Savage .22 Mag w/accutrigger...and the tag said $179..
I was very pleased with my Savage 17HMR..so I said to myself;... "myself, at $179...you're not risking much!"

....That Savage shoots as good or even better than my Anschutz..or another Anschutz I used also!!

Years ago, when I would often sight in rifles for friends..I found the old Mossbergs (1960s-1970s) to be accurate .22 Mags.
The .22 mag is a great round...just be sure to get a rifle that handles the round to it's potential...

petemi · « **Reply #56 on:** November 29, 2012, 12:21:21 AM »

I hate to sound Un-Handi, but I think my shortie Savage 24V 18.5 inch Maxi over 20 with screw in chokes is going to be it. (thank you West Texas) Shotgun and .38s for the little guys and birds; Mags and shotgun for the mediums; Maxis, slugs or buckshot for the big ones. Short, light and fast swinging.

Pete

cwlongshot · « **Reply #57 on:** November 29, 2012, 02:18:43 AM »

Quote from: petemi on November 29, 2012, 12:21:21 AM

I hate to sound Un-Handi, but I think my shortie Savage 24V 18.5 inch Maxi over 20 with screw in chokes is going to be it. (thank you West Texas) Shotgun and .38s for the little guys and birds; Mags and shotgun for the mediums; Maxis, slugs or buckshot for the big ones. Short, light and fast swinging.

Pete

A Savage 24 combo gun in something like 22Mag over 20 Ga WOULD offer allot of practicality!!

Maybe I should start lookin...

CW

Ranch13 · « **Reply #58 on:** November 29, 2012, 04:47:30 AM »

I'ld think the 22 hornet over a 20 would be about as ideal of a combo gun as there might be. At least the hornet you can reload. The 22 mag at 12$ per 50 rnds, just doesn't strike me as cost effective.

45-70.gov · « **Reply #59 on:** November 29, 2012, 05:15:54 AM »

Quote from: cwlongshot on November 28, 2012, 12:29:19 PM

Quote from: 45-70.gov on November 28, 2012, 06:23:52 AM

Re: Best all round long gun ever

unless you are on a H&R forum
that would be a pump 12GA......either long full or modified or short with rifle sights your choice

Roger that brother!! The name of the thread is what threw me too...

Mine was not the best all around long gun ever....

Mine was my choice should everything go to hell and practile limitations necessitated a single caliber. Rifle pistol (Multiple) all 22 Mag. I, can drop ANYTHING I would need to. A 40g in the brain box is lights out, period. I can do that on"änything" out to mid 150 yards. Ammo is not quite as light and compact as the LR but its a heap more powerful.

CW

hard to argue that point
500 22 mags will fit in your pack pocket....tho not as nicely as 22lr
my marlin 22mag is stainless...my 12ga is blue and i live on a salty beach
mine really likes the CCI FMC the best

CW....what is you prefered load?...and prefered load for ''who knows what will happen''?

~~what drew this line through my text?~~