Top 10 Must-Have Guns

GunNews.com ^ | Nov 7, 2013 | Tom Hudson

[Kip Russell]

The other day I was at Gunnews.com HQ when the owner, Manny DelaCruz, came out of his office and asked me this question; “If you had to make a list of your top 10 must-own guns what would be on it?” So we started a lively discussion about which guns should be on this list. We came to the conclusion that making such a list is more difficult than it would seem. On my drive home, I started to think that this topic would make a good article, because it would allow you, the reader, a chance to post your top 10 list in the comments section, and we could all see what other people think. This is the only form of “group think” that I approve of! So I came up with some caveats for this list; no class 3 style weapons, they must be moderately accessible to the masses and they can’t cost more than $5,000. My feeling is that for a gun to make the top ten list, it must be one that the average shooter can acquire at some point in their life. This list is in random order; there’s no reasoning behind the order, so don’t read into it. Here we go.

1. M1 Garand—Any soldier will tell you that wars are won on the ground and WWII was no exception. This rifle was adopted by the United States Army at the beginning of WWII and by the Marine Corps shortly thereafter. The M1 rifle makes the list because it was a game changer during the great battles of WWII. While the Germans and Japanese fought us with bolt action rifles our men were able to return fire with a semi-automatic .30-06.

[Kip Russell]

Here's the complete list:

1. M1 Garand
2. Colt Peacemaker
3. Smith & Wesson Model 629
4. Colt Model 1911
5. Colt Python 6" barrel
6. Remington 870
7. Remington 700
8. Glock 17
9. Colt AR-15
10. AK-47

I'll nitpick his list a bit in that I don't think you could acquire all of the above for only $5K...my rough estimate is that it would take at least $7K or $8K to purchase all of the above at today's prices.

By the strictest definition, I have four out of the ten in my collection. If you count an AK-74 and a Glock 22, I have six.

[skeeter]

Three out of ten.

[Antihero101607]

I like the selection.

[jsanders2001]

I love the Glock 17; highly accurate and lightweight, and easy to handle in a gunfight though I carry a Sig Sauer P229....

[Salvavida]

3 out of 10. And the Ruger .22LR should be on everyone’s list.

[Mathews]

4 of 10.

[Mouton]

4 here but not sure what his category must have means. Must have for what? I don’t see a 45 peacemaker as a defensive weapon these days, historical definitely.

A few not on the list I view as must have: Rugar Mark 1,2, or 3 and the Winchester 94.

[Elderberry]

1. M1 Garand
2. Ruger Blackhawk
3. M1 Carbine
4. Colt Model 1911
5. Browning semi-auto 22
6. Remington 870
7. Remington 700
8. Scar 17
9. Browning M1918
10.Benelli M4

Have 8 of 10.

[weps4ret]

I had them all until a tragic boating accident on the lake in Jackson Hole when the boat overturned and they all sank to the deepest part of the lake. I barely survived the cold waters. I am greatly saddened by my loss.

[Tailback]

agreed, a ruger 10/22 should be owned by every shooter.

[Resolute Conservative]

Take off the pos AK-47 and Remington 870 and put in a Thompson .45 machine gun (Tommy Gun for all those in Rio Linda) and a Winchester Model 12 pump shotgun.

[Oberon]

And the Ruger .22LR should be on everyone’s list.

Some kind of .22, anyway. A Smith K-22 would not be amiss.

[Elderberry]

My Remington Sportmaster 512 .22 was my first gun.

And still my favorite.

[caver]

And there’s not a .22 on the list?

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

Let’s not forget...

Browning Hi-Power
Remington nylon 66.
S&W Highway Patrolman.

Years ago in Shooting Times magazine, Skeeter Skelton wrote that if he was allowed ONE HANDGUN, it would be a S&W 19 .357 mag with a five inch barrel.

My experience with the Colt Peacemaker is that it broke the bolt (cylinder stop) too many times to be reliable. I would replace it with a Ruger.

[Oberon]

I have a 514 in the closet... similar, except it’s a single-shot.

[antidisestablishment]

That was my first thought. The 10-22 can’t be beart for a utility gun.

[Kip Russell]

agreed, a ruger 10/22 should be owned by every shooter.

Or at least a quality .22 LR rifle of some kind. Not having a .22 on list is a glaring omission.

[RC one]

I think it depends on why you “must have” the firearm and furthermore, that’s a “want to have” list, not a must have list. For example, I want to have a colt python but, for the price, one can purchase several true “must have” guns. I would argue that the Glock 21 and or the Glock 30 is more of a must have than a colt peacemaker, colt python, or a S&W model 629 given their ability to easily convert to 10 mm, 40 super, 45 super, and the all mighty 460 Rowland. I think a 40 caliber Glock would be more of a must have than a straight up 9 mm Glock for the same reason, the ability to shoot, 40 S&W, .357 sig, and 9 mm from the same gun. The Glock 17 is pretty much limited to 9 mm or 22 LR. I will agree with the M1 Garand, the AR15, the AK47, the Remington 870, and the Remington 700. The colt 1911 is a “want to have” is debatable. I have one and wouldn’t give it away but it just sits in a safe. As far as revolvers go, a smith and Wesson .357 magnum is probably more useful, especially if it is of the 7 or 8 shot varieties and concealable. The Ruger Mark series of 22 LR pistols and the Ruger 10/22 are both absolute must have guns IMO. You should have more than one of each in fact.

[MrB]

I agree - the 10/22 needs to be on the list.