If you could only have one gun for hunting what would it be and why ?

[Hunter007]

If you could only have one gun for hunting what would it be and why ?

[Red]

Mossberg 500 12 gauge with 28" barrel double bead for sight you can take any game in. NY with this gun.  

[sodfather]

Only 1 gun that’s crazy talk. First choice would be my bow Followed probably by my Beretta A391 can shoot anything from squirrels light load to deer 

[turkeyfeathers]

Ruger 10/.22. Not legal in a lot of cases but many a ducks and deer have fallen to the .22. Just hypo oligopoly speaking. And one heck of a zombie apocalypse gun too. I can carry thousands of rounds with little noise  And no , zero experience with zombies , deer and such under my .22 under mine. 

[grampy]

Ithica Model 37 in 16g.  From squirrels, birds, or any deer walking NY, this gun has it covered. And will never fail to cycle or go bang.

[rachunter]

always a tuff question but my ruger m77 3006 with my fathers Remington 1100 right behind it. very comfortable with both.

[Buckstopshere]

My preference is my Browning A5 in 12 gauge. Switch barrels for slugs…slug barrel with the raised sight for deer, 26-inch short barrel for grouse and doodles and pass shooting ducks,  or the 30-inch full choke for gobblers and goose. 

[Hunter007]

My vote is  any reliable multi-shot 12 gauge will do that can handle both 2 3/4  and   3 inch shells  . From birds to anything in north America at close range you are good to go with them .

 

[Robhuntandfish]

Glad to see it wasn't your Governor Cuomo posting this question first of all.....cause ONE gun,.....always need one more.....

But gotta agree with Red,  Mossberg 12 gets it all done. Big and small , kills em all.  

And buckshot for zombies and crowd control to boot!  

[Swamp_bucks]

Have to go with the Mossberg 500 in 20 or 12 gauge with the beaded sights, good for any game and always reliable.

Close 2nd would be a 22mag.

[Jdubs]

I'll stick with my Tikka T3X Stainless Lite in .308.  This rifle is capable of taking deer, elk and bear at a distance.  Carries and handles great plus no worries in wet weather.  I shoot it well so this one really checks all the boxes for me.

Outside of NY, I'd say a good AR-15 platform with .22LR, .223/5.56 and 6.8SPC uppers would provide a ton of versatility in one package.

[Gencountyzeek]

Id say my 6.5 grendel ar, if u guys picking shotguns can swap barrels ill swap out to a .22 upper. Maybe throw in a .458 socom for slow and big just because.

[Buckmaster7600]

My customized Remington 7600 in 35whelen. Loaded light it's perfect for bunnies and squirrels loaded up to potential plenty for the biggest bears.


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[wolc123]

This is a very easy one for me and grampy has already given the right answer.  My own grandpa's old, model 37 Ithaca, 16-gauge with a smoothbore deerslayer barrel, and a second barrel with a modified choke, will take any game in NY.   I hunted with it for a few hours last Saturday morning on his old farm and I passed on a small-antlered buck at 40 yards, broadside.  I am nearly certain that it would have put him down easily, just as it has on all but one deer that I ever shot it at.  He just needed to take another step or two to get off the neighbor's posted land.   I still have the weathered old 8-point rack of the last buck my grandpa killed with it nailed onto the front wall of our barn.  

The one miss was prior to mounting a 1.5X Weaver scope on it 34 years ago.  Every time I have pulled the trigger with those crosshairs on a deer, it has ended up in the freezer.  Only one of them took more than one shot. My biggest one took a slug for every antler point but that is a story for another thread.  The last time I fired it at a deer was 6 years ago, when it took my second largest antlered buck with one slug to the neck from 10 yards. I will try it again this weekend.  It's 100 yard effective range is just about right for a spot I have in mind, the ammo is cheap, and our venison supply is secure, so it is time for a little "nostalgia".   

12 gauges are a little too big and 20's a little too small, but the 16 is just right in the center.   This gun packs nearly the wallop of a 12 gauge and is almost as light to carry as a 20.  A shotgun is more versatile than a rifle, and a pump is about the most dependable action, so this one is could be the correct answer to the "one-gun" question by universal standards.  For me, it also has the sentimental attachment thru my grandpa.  That, coupled with it's 100% effectiveness, since mounting the scope, would make it the last gun I would part with.  There is not even a close second.  I might part with the matching serial number modified barrel though if anyone needs one.  It has not been on it since I mounted the scope.  The only time I used it, when I was 14, I fired 14 shots at 10 grouse and did not hit one of them.  The stock was a little too long for me then. Anyhow, that is the excuse I am sticking to.      

Edited December 6, 2017 by wolc123

[JALA RUT]

1 hour ago, grampy said:

Ithica Model 37 in 16g.  From squirrels, birds, or any deer walking NY, this gun has it covered. And will never fail to cycle or go bang.

That's my exact first gun and is saved in my gun cabinet for my first grandson or granddaughter 

[wolc123]

9 minutes ago, JALA RUT said:

That's my exact first gun and is saved in my gun cabinet for my first grandson or granddaughter 

Does that mean it would be your final answer to the "one gun" question ?  If so, then it looks like we have a clear leader.

[BigVal]

My first gun, 870.

[GreeneHunter]

My Winchester Model 94 30 - 30 .... its like an old friend !

[JRod 8G8H]

Mossberg 500 12g with a 2-7x32 nikon bdc shooting sabots.  Very generic but it has killed many a deer!  Prefer to take this out over my 30-06

[DDT]

T/C Encore with shotgun, muzzleloader, and rifle barrels. 

[Hock3y24]

Remington 1100 with a ribbed modified barrel. 

[MPHunter]

My Mossberg 500 with 24" rifled slug barrel and 28" smooth bore.  

[JALA RUT]

8 hours ago, wolc123 said:

Does that mean it would be your final answer to the "one gun" question ?  If so, then it looks like we have a clear leader.

My one gun choice would be my trusty 12Ga Remington 11-87

[Robhuntandfish]

3 hours ago, MPHunter said:

My Mossberg 500 with 24" rifled slug barrel and 28" smooth bore.  

just gave mine to a son of a friend of mine.  Had that shotgun for 30 years.  Its taken deer, turkey, small game.  It was a bit beat up and got so I never used it cause Ive bought others , but took my first deer with it and my first buck.  But moved it along to a new hunter who will get some use out of it.  That gun covers it all and ammo is cheap.  I just had a slug barrel without rifling and it was a deer killer out to 90 yards.  Im glad its out in the field again.  Went hunting with him last week and it was good to see it back in use.  Told him he could have the gun, the only caveat was that he could not sell it. If he needed to sell it or wanted to to come see me first.  

[G-Man]

Shotgun with screw in choke tubes.. You choice of gauge. Can kill Any game legally in North America where guns are allowed.