A Brief History
On this holiday when thoughts of children are wandering to their Christmas and Hanukkah lists, for those among us that are hunters, law enforcement officers, military people, recreational or competitive shooters, interested in self defense and the preservation of liberty, or just into the history and technology of firearms, we present to you our “Bucket List” of guns we would like to own before we are too old to enjoy them. (Although some may be out of production, they are still out there for sale.) Obviously, such a list is pure opinion and is not relevant to everyone else, but we can use it as a starting point to hear from our readers which guns they would put on their bucket lists. Apologies to Muzzle Loading Rifle, AK-47, .38/.357 Revolver, Snub Nosed Revolver, Derringer, M-1 Garand, M-1 Carbine, 9mm Pistol, and all the other many worthy choices!
Digging Deeper
10. Bolt action .30 caliber center fire rifle.
Okay, here we will bend a bit and say a lever action center fire can do as well. In a typical caliber such as .308 or .30-06, this would be enough gun for anything in the US, and with a proper scope a decent rifle could be your long range weapon. A magnum caliber may be appropriate if you know you are going to be going after Moose or Brown Bear. (An older Remington 788 or new 783 is an inexpensive way to a quality gun.)
9. Pump Shotgun (12 or 20 Gauge).
Ultra reliable and packing enough punch for any North American game, from Buffalo or Bear, to Deer, small game, and all types of birds. Also a dandy and intimidating home defense or survival weapon, with easily changed barrels (rifled for use with slugs, short for home defense) and many have optional stocks such as folding, pistol grip, or telescoping. If you have only 1 firearm, this may well be the best choice. (The Mossberg 500 family is my choice.)
8. M-16/AR-15 type Rifle or Carbine.
In its original 5.56mm X 45mm NATO caliber, this rifle is dandy for shooting varmints such as woodchucks and coyotes and can even take feral pigs. They are also now available in many other calibers and configurations, with an endless variety of accoutrements available to dress up your personal rifle. (I am partial to the M-16A1configuration with fixed stock and 20 inch barrel, but admit that the A2 sights are better.)
7. .44 Magnum Revolver.
Although the Smith & Wesson Model 29 is the most famous, there are other good quality revolvers out there that are just as good, notably from Ruger, Taurus, and Colt. An excellent hunting pistol, a .44 is not particularly well adapted for concealed carry or for self defense due to its size and recoil, as well as muzzle blast. Used for home defense, employing .44 Special rounds instead of the more potent .44 Magnum rounds may be the ticket. This caliber is often used as a backup gun for hunting dangerous game. (My favorite is the Ruger Redhawk.)
6. .380 ACP Compact Semi-Auto Pistol.
Although not as powerful as some guns, these are definitely better than a .22, .25 or .32 as a concealed carry handgun and are just about as small. Certainly effective at close range, a .380 is less likely to be left behind when you go out as it is small enough to carry comfortably. A new generation of great guns are available, notably from Ruger, Taurus, and Smith & Wesson along with innovative holster devices. (My pick is the AMT Backup, either in double action only or single action.)
5. .22 Caliber Pistol or Revolver.
Again, so many to choose from it will be difficult. You have to decide if you want a tiny hideout gun, or a long barreled target model. The automatic pistol has the advantage of rapid reload, while the revolver can operate normally with underpowered CB Caps or with shot shells. Useful for plinking, varmint control, or even self defense. Great for younger shooters or squeamish recoil shy adults to train with. (Ruger, Smith & Wesson, and Browning make dandy semi-autos.)
4. 1911 Type .45 ACP Pistol. There is a reason these pistols are still in use after over 100 years. You can cheat a little and get a high-capacity pistol (13 or 14 rounds instead of 7 or 8) or a double action such as the Colt Double Eagle. (My choice.) Incredible reliability, plenty of knockdown power without being overwhelming, and again, something to keep you in touch with History. (By the way, We are all about History, after all!)
3. .22 Caliber Rifle.
There are so many to choose from it will make your head spin! From military reproductions of famous rifles and carbines (usually semi-automatic) to single shot target guns, this is a must have weapon for anyone that owns a gun. My favorite is the Ruger 10/22, but many other high quality or serviceable and cheap rifles are out there.
2. Side by Side Double Barrel Shotgun.
These are perfectly useful for hunting purposes, and make an intimidating home defense weapon, by looks alone and certainly by firepower. Owning such a shotgun makes you feel that much closer to the Old West and its heroes and villains. (The Stoeger Coach Gun is a good choice.)
1. Tommy Gun.
Although its original name, Thompson Sub-Machine Gun, tells you this is an automatic weapon, and is still legal to own, we are referring to the semi-automatic version built and sold today by Kahr Arms that owns Auto Ordnance, the original maker of these guns. Whether you opt for the “Chicago Typewriter” with the drum magazine and Cutts Compensator, or the M1A1 military type from World War II, you feel like you own a part of history. Only marginal as a hunting weapon, the Tommy Gun is useful as a home defense gun, but mostly as an historical keepsake. (I favor the M1A1.)
Question for students (and subscribers) to ponder: So, which guns are on your list?
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Historical Evidence
For more information, please see…
Fowler, Will, Anthony North, et al. The Illustrated World Encyclopedia of Guns. Lorenz Books, 2010.
Supica, Jim, Doug Wicklund, et al. The Illustrated History of Firearms: In Association with the National Firearms Museum. Chartwell Books, Inc., 2011.
The featured image in this article, a photograph by Hmaag of a Model 1921 Thompson with vertical foregrip and 100 round Type “C” drum magazine, is made available under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication.
