Can you make it work?

Guns & Gear
1

Say you’re short on cash, or maybe you live out in the middle of nowhere or for some other reason you can’t run out and buy the latest wonder nine or short barrel battle rifle. To make the scenario more interesting, say your only available firearm defines everything you wouldn’t even consider for a home defense firearm----maybe an Iver Johnson break action single barrel shotgun? Or a Ruger Single Six you were gifted as a teenager? Or .25 acp Baby Browning inherited from a spinster Aunt?
Let your imagination run wild with this, but the “sell it and buy a Glock” response isn’t allowed.
The point is: could you employ such a firearm to defend your home and family if that was all you had? And how would you deploy it?

Let’s hear some problem solving
The point is, could you make it work?

9 Likes
2

Let’s settle on this one first.

I once owned a Single Six convertible 22LR/mag, not my first, second, or eighth choice for self-defense. But, in your scenario, beggars can’t be choosers. It’s versatile enough in the short term.

6 Likes
3

My absolute last gun I would grab for home defense would be my single shot .410

If it was the only gun I had, it would absolutely work with a pocket full of buck shot rounds!

Second to last would be my .25,…. I only have one magazine, it only holds 8 rounds,….. but you definitely do NOT want to be on the receiving end of that little pea shooter!:zany_face:

8 Likes
4

Absolutely, my collection is either 9 or 45, I grab what is closest and have trained with them all.

8 Likes
5

Mine would be a Mod -06 22LR Rifle. I imagine I could make it work, depends on how thick the perps coat is. I’d had to try to put his eyes out or something…

7 Likes
6

But, that’s against the rules of the game​:red_exclamation_mark:

In real life, there are no referees.

7 Likes
7

My 34th and 35th best home defense guns are probably the .308 RPR and .300wm Thompson. One shot in any direction with the Thompson will deafen and disorient the perp, and the all metal chassis on the Ruger will make a good club. Guess I don’t need the Glocks and AR’s after all.

7 Likes
8

You heathen, how dare you not own a .22LR?!?!

6 Likes
9

Arsenal Dad's Rifle
Arsenal Dad's Rifle1920×1440 761 KB

At one time the only weapons I had for home defense were an SMLE #5, mk1 (Jungle Carbine) chambered in British .303 and my own “By Mattel” brain. (Hush, Don.) It was all I had.

I have a pretty deep history with martial arts though my 63 year old body has seen better days and I no longer train nearly as hard as I did in my 20’s.

I trained nearly every weekend with the .303 back then. Ammo was cheap, I was a rich, young Staff Sargent, living on my own in downtown Clovis, New Mexico, and I could afford to spend a whole day at the range with my gun nut buddies.

I practiced something called “The Mad Minute” to see how many rounds I could get on target in a minute. 300 yards, 6 inch target and iron sights. My best when I was a young’un was 28. Now, with my old eyes, I might be able to get 15 - 20.

But that was 28 rounds ON TARGET at 300 yards. Inside, home defense style, I can load and shoot about 1 per second. I still have 50 or so full stripper clips in a sling pouch.

I also practiced what we in the Air Force called “Army Drills” ( Right Shoulder Arms, Left Shoulder Arms, Present Arms, that sort of thing… ) to build the muscle memory to be able to use the weapon as a club or shield if I ever, heaven forbid, ran out of ammo or if the bad guy was so close I couldn’t draw a bead on him.

Times are better now and I have more choices.

As far as the pic above goes, I have removed the scope and the home-made cheek riser, I found out the B-Square scope mount wasn’t so square

A Marlin Model 60 did eventually make it into my arsenal.

4 Likes
10

Currently, I own 4, but I would not use one for SD, I cannot rely on a .22 cartridge to ignite continuously each time like my 9/45’s do.

6 Likes
11

But, wasn’t that the point of this thread?

1 Like
12

I have a Chinese T53 I haven’t shot yet, probably never will unless I move to NV and have access to the desert. It’s an impulse buy when I got dragged into a Mosin Nagant thread and too weak to resist the urge to buy from Budsgunshop. It’s my one and only firearm with a bayonet.

2 Likes
13

So I answered the question. :zany_face::grinning_face:

3 Likes
14

image

I best figure it out soon, as you just described my humble repertoire, minus the G48. Does force me to think, prevent, be more covert.

1 Like
15

I do have one!

3 Likes
16

Sweet, lil’ things, aren’t they?
That was the only gun my great-uncle Joe owned, in .410 no less.

4 Likes
17

…able right now to get rid of your only available firearm that “defines everything you wouldn’t even consider for a home defense firearm,” which one would it be?

2 Likes
18

There’s two ends on that, the too small and ineffective end, something like my Rossi single shot 22LR barrel, vs the .410 barrel I can put on the same gun,….

Vs simply too cumbersome to use in a CQB situation like home defense, like my stepdads 45-110 sharps rifle or my Barrett!

The real question is why would you get rid of any firearm if it was your only weapon for defense?

2 Likes
19

That is, if right now, before SHTF, you have a chance to upgrade? Which one’s the “worst” in your safe?

Just a spin on your original post.

1 Like
20

VP9SK
:grinning_face:

1 Like