Beware the man with one gun ...

[dbriannelson]

... he probably knows how to use it.

Comments?

-Don

[Glanceblamm]

I am thinking at least three guns if not four.
Used to be a time that I would be highly content with my traditional .50 muzzleloader for still or stand hunting ranging from Squirrels to deer. I really like my shotgun & Varmint rifles though but for food, I would be quite content to use one of my handguns.

[dbriannelson]

Maybe I'm replying to my own post too soon, but here's what got me thinking.  It's been over forty years since I owned only one gun.  That was a Winchester Model 52 and it did everything that needed doing.  It came along on the trap line, plinked, took rabbits for furs and gophers and cans for fun. 

At some point I bought a Bearcat so I wouldn't have to carry the rifle while checking traps, then it sort of expanded from there.

The first time I was stationed overseas, I couldn't have my personal firearms along of course, so I was back to my issue weapon, a Gov't 1911A1.  It was a CI billet, so I could carry anything from Airweight Chiefs to Uzis and Swedish Ks, but the .45 I could take to the range anytime and shoot as much as I wanted.  Because the shooting wasn't rotated through other guns I got pretty good - good enough to be tapped to shoot on a team in the Far East Division Matches.

Then after a second consecutive overseas tour I got rotated back to The States and started shooting ... whatever I wanted to.  And I haven't shot anything as well again (except for a scoped bolt rifle off a bench, which I discount as a test of skill).

So I have a safe full of stuff now, and wonder if I wasn't happier and a better shooter when I needed to make one gun do it all.

-Don

[Cookiemann]

You make a good point...the ole 12/20ga sitting by the back door or hanging over the mantle was the firearm of choice for most homes for many years.  Always ready for action when the varmits came or for those days when hunting game was one of the chores that needed to be done to feed the family.  Yep, our beloved Pardners and Handis.

I only have a 22 pistol, a Buckmark, and an assortment of Pardners in 410, 20ga and 12ga and 22 VersaPak.  I guess, if I had to, the VersaPak 22 with a 12ga barrel instead of the 410 would be what I would keep, if the rest had to go.

It sure would be nice to return to those simpler times.

cookiemann

[StrawHat]

So I have a safe full of stuff now, and wonder if I wasn't happier and a better shooter when I needed to make one gun do it all.

-Don

I, too, have been a one gun shooter.  Mine was a Winchester M69.  Then the rest of them started to call to me and many never left.

Realizing I could only shoot them one at a time, I started to just take one with me.  Soon I realized that I was taking the same firearm with me to the exclusion of many others.

So, in answer to your wonderment, yes.  If you were to just use one (of a type say one revolver, one rifle and one shotgun) you would become more proficient with each one. 

The fun starts when you try to decide which one!

Mine are still being refined but the Winchester M1895 will be here for a long time.

[Badnews Bob]

I think you're right, But man it sure is fun owning a safe full aint it.

[Redhawk1]

I say,  Beware of the man with a bunch of guns, that knows how to use them all. 

[Badnews Bob]

You don't have to reload as much that way and you can keep the barrells cooler.

[Mikey]

Don - Geez.  Here alla time I thought owning more than one gun was the male gender equivalent of multi-tasking. 

Dang!  I knew there was something wrong with all the hold over attitudes from our late friend, the Sensitive and Caring Man of the 90s. Yet I feel our (male gender) return to our earlier roots of The Pre-90s Man in which we were 7' tall, had brains the size of walnuts and absolutely refused to ask directions no matter what, in conjunction with our daily use of both our Opposing-Thumb hands, meant we could use both hands at once, indicating the possible ownership of not one, but two guns..........................

I think it's too early inna morning....................

[williamlayton]

Roy Rogers and most of my heroes had two guns, a Winchester and a rope, maybe a silver bullet, bullwhip.
The coffee will take effect/affect soon, I hope.
I would agree with the one gun rule.
I would also say that if you own more than one kind be sure you can gab either and know from feel which it is.
Now if you own two or three of the same type the same rule applies.
Please don't suggest this again, you never know what liberal sob (sill ol boy) is reading this and he may have an Epiphany. 
Blessings

[coyotejoe]

I'd say the man who owns only one gun just isn't interested in guns. He probably isn't a very good shot because he never practices and the gun likely doesn't work very well because it's been neglected for years.
I grew up in central Ohio and that would describe most of the farmers I knew and their "one gun".
 I find no difficulty switching between a 12 gauge Winchester pump, a 16 gauge side by side, a 20 gauge over & under, or a flintlock fowler and I shoot one as well as another. After all, the basics are still the same regardless.

[PartsMan]

This can go the other way too.
I know some people that own dozens of guns and can't shoot worth a darn.

[bilmac]

Coyote and Parts are both right There ain't no accounting for some folks.

I had what could have been the perfect one gun if the object is to feed yourself. A Savage 24V  30-30 over 20ga. I had a reduced load for the 30-30 that shot like a 22 rimfire but you didn't have to fiddle with sights, it shot on at 35 yds with the same setting that the full power 30-30 shot. I even had a 130 spire point load that moved a little faster than the 172 gr cast bullet that was the full power load.

[John R.]

I tend to agree with Redhawk; Beware the man with a lot of guns that can shoot them all.

[Graybeard]

Once upon a long time ago that old adage probably was a truth. These days I'd say it's likely just the opposite. A fellow with only one gun is far more likely to be someone who pretty much never shoots and seldom hunts so most likely does not know all that much about using it.

I'd say the folks with lots of guns who do a lot of shooting are more likely the ones to beware of as they are likely folks who shoot a lot and perhaps quite well.

[ButlerFord45]

The one to be very aware of is the old gray guy who is never more than 10 feet away from a gun, he obviously has a passion for guns and shooting!
Ain't that right GB? 

[Badnews Bob]

Looks pretty comfy restin against thats fence to don't he.

[StrawHat]

I'd say the folks with lots of guns who do a lot of shooting are more likely the ones to beware of as they are likely folks who shoot a lot and perhaps quite well.

The emphasis is on the ones who do a lot of shooting with all those guns.  I own a bunch but generally only shoot a couple of them a lot.

[Graybeard]

The one to be very aware of is the old gray guy who is never more than 10 feet away from a gun, he obviously has a passion for guns and shooting!
Ain't that right GB? 

Yup.

[coyotejoe]

This is referred to as being an "old saying" but I doubt it is really all that old. It's only since the later half of the twentieth century, say post WW ll, that most Americans have enjoyed the prosperity to own many guns. That saying wouldn't have made much sense earlier because one gun was the norm, maybe one rifle, one shotgun and one handgun at most. How many guns did Wyatt Earp own?
Today I'd say, "beware the man who owns but one gun, he likely doesn't know how to handle it safely!"

[cbl51]

Hello.

This is my first post here, I've lurked about a bit on some of the gun forums, just to keep up some on what is going on in the shooting world. I usually don't join, and I don't read any gun magazines exept for the American Rifleman. I gave up on the gun magazines a long time ago. But I joined this forum just to respond to this post.

I'm a one gun man.

Okay, one handgun, one rifle.

I've been in the shooting sports for most of my life, and I'm in my early 60's now, as is my better half of many years. I once had one handgun and one rifle when I was younger, but as I went through life I accumulated more than I really needed.

A few years ago, we deceided on  a downsize of our life. Like most couples, we had a house full of stuff we didn't use anymore, and had no need of. The kids are grown and gone, and we're empty nesters. It was time to get rid of stuff. Clothes, tools, garden stuff, extra cars, motorcycles, and guns. Yes, most of the guns went.

I haven't hunted in over 25 years, never was a big fan of it. Not against hunting, just didn't bake my cookie. For years though, we loved to go to the range every Saturday morning, and we'd shoot a brick of .22's. Once in a while we'd shoot some center fire, but as time went by, it was less and less. I had sold my Marlin 30-30 years ago, and I went ahead and sold off the rest of my guns that didn't get given to the kids, exept for one handgun, and one rifle. The better half did the same. I have my old Ruger standard model I bought in the last year I was in high school for 39.95, and my old Remington Speedmaster. Katie kept the Smith and Wesson K22 her dad gave her for high school graduation, and her Marlin 39 mountie. These were the guns we had since we were kids, and we loved the most. They were the ones we shot the most in recent years. The .357, 9mm Glock, 12 ga, all went. Reloading press gone. Since we live in Maryland, we can't CCW, so I don't need a concealed handgun size of gun. I can't begin to think of how many rounds I've had through my Ruger, or Katie has down the barrel of her revolver, but at this point in our lives, we feel we don't need much.

For the last couple years all we've shot are our .22 handguns. In spite of aging eyes, our shooting has gotten better than ever. katie has gotten so good with her K22, that she pushes me, and sometimes beats me at some of the shooting games we do with Necco waffers at 20 yards, and clay birds at 50. For anyone to make a statement that someone with one gun is not a shooter, or is probably not a good shot,

Looking back, we feel like a giant load has been taken off us. All that stuff was just too much. Not just the guns, all the stuff. We're happier than ever, and really enjoy our shooting. With both of us being retired now, we go to the range twice a week, and we use about 4 to 5 bulk boxes of Federals from Walmart a month now. We don't miss the center fire stuff at all. We still have a handgun apiece, and when we travel we take them. Katie has her K22 on her side of the motel bed, and I have my Ruger on mine. At home we do the same. 

Now in retirement, we just don't want alot of stuff. Nothing more than what we really need. When we want, we toss the camping gear in the car and go. Last year we did a big counter clockwise trip around the U.S. hitting all the national parks out west, and stayed on the road a month. Didn't worry about the house getting broke into and our guns being stole, they were with us. The rest of the stuff at home is just stuff.

I'm enjoying shooting now as much as when I was a kid plinking in the woods with my sole .22. I haven't been this happy shooting for a long time. Katie and me are enjoying a simple life, and loving it.

[Badnews Bob]

Great story. Thank you fpr sharing your life with us, I hope you and your wife have many more years of enjoying yourselves together.

  Merry Christmas
       Bob

[hillbill]

wow...... very impressive story. i think we could learn a lot from this guy.Ive been thinking bout doing what he has done.one big auction, keep the necessities for fixing the car, hunting the food and growing the garden. build a little cabin on a few acres of woods i own and rough it till the undertaker shows up.very thought provoking story, thank you!

[drdougrx]

Oh-Oh!!!!

I've got more than one gun.....makes me....a...gurlyman......

[cbl51]

I guess if I lived in a CCw state, I'd have a little J frame S&W .38 around, but I don't so its a moot point. Pigs may fly some day, but I doubt the Maryland state police are going to start aproving permits in my lifetime. Till then, the better half and I made a pact, we buy nothing that we don't really need, and if we don't need it, we get rid of it. It's all about taking a look at your life and putting all greed and ego aside, and getting just what you need to do the job. By all means stay comfortable, but don't overdo it. When I was living in trinidad Colorado, I knew this old retired railroad worker. He had a little cabin in the foothills of the Sangre De Cristo mountians outside of town, a decent pickup truck, a good deer rifle and a jug of good whiskey on the table. He was happier than most other people I knew. He lived a simple life.

Since we don't hunt, theres not need pf a center fire rifle. But since we love to break up necco wafers, crackers, and play bounce the golF ball, we shoot the heck out of rimfire ammo. It's all we need.

I don't think we'd ever have done this in our younger days. I think you have to get to a certain stage of life, where you loose the overdrive materialism to have and have more.

Is this approach good for everyone? No, of course not. It's something each and everyone of us has to deceide for themselves. For us, it was not till retirement that we looked at the lifetime of stuff we had built up and said enough was enough. The kids got alot of it, friends, and charity got the rest. We used the money to do alot. heck, for what my '66 bug sold for, we bought a new Honda element, and a huge downpayment on a 2002 tacoma.

Maybe the only gun I miss sometimes, is my Colt 1911 that I had the real Colt brand .22 conversion kit for it. It was a nice setup, but I sold it for a good price. Since my shooting is 99.999% plinking/informal target shooting, the old Ruger does what i need. God willing, I won't be in a defensive position that me and Karen can't handle with both of us shooting.

[Savage]

Like most of the persons on this board, I have guns I haven't shot in years. Mine are not for sale. They will be passed on into the keeping of the next generation, as has been tradition in my family. It's what they represent that is important: The right of free men to own and use firearms, that is so essential to the preservation of liberty. Mine are kept in a fireproof safe, secure from all but the most determined and well equipped thieves. The safes are but one layer of security, so I don't worry while I'm away. I'm certainly not wealthy, but don't need the money they represent to do the things I want to do. I enjoy owning them all, and hope to continue doing so for the rest of my time.
By the way, I shoot more than one of them pretty well!
Savage

[Mohawk]

  Kind of reminds me of the story behind the NYPD detective that walked around working vice, constant .10 BAC on his breath, has an old model 10 2", grips were held on by duct tape, and was involved in 6 shootings, with 6 rounds, and 6 dead bad guys. That's what I call a "street cop" God Bless them.........

[Lloyd Smale]

the one to beware of is the one holding my kimber! or even my colt,ruger,ect

[mray]

I say, beware the man with no guns... Because he doesn't want you to have one either.

[Larry Gibson]

Agree with graybeard.  These days that quippy little saying means little. Perhaps it never really did, even in the "old days".  If an individual understands weaponscraft and can shoot well it doesn't matter how many guns he has as he'll shoot all of them far better than most one gun owners will shoot their one gun.

Note I did not qualify the number of guns as all that takes is money.  Shooting well takes dedication, time to learn and time to maintain the skill developed.

Larry Gibson