What would it be it doesn't matter single shot, revolver, or auto. You have to think about what you would have to hunt with the gun you can't buy another gun for ever. I was sitting in my tree stand yesterday afternoon and thought of this question. I thought it would be interesting what everyone would pick.

It would have to be my T/C in 30 Bower AK. I've shot everything from varmnits to boar with it. I wouldn't hesitate to use it on elk or bear. It has dropped antelope out to 300 yards, and probably has accounted for 20-30 head of game for me. I shoot pistol silhouette with it, and it has given me more 40x's then any gun I own.

Yup, that'd be it.

Bill in OR

in a revolver I would pick the 475Linebaugh, you can use 480 ruger loads for deer and other small to medium game and the full house hard cast loads have taken everthing that walks the planet, up to and including elephants. the other nice thing about the 475 is unlike the big x frame s&w is that in a custom ruger platform it is exceptionally easy to pack.

I would have to go with a Contender in .45-70. You can find ammo pretty much anywhere. If you reload, you can take anything from mice to elephants. I know you can load an Encore hotter, but I prefer Contenders.

1-7 Lilja or 1-8 twist Broughton barrel in 7mm WSM or the 7mm Dakota in a center-grip XP-100.
It will take anything in North America (quite a bit of African game too) and can also be used for 1k and 1 mile shooting.

Well, I'm happy with .44 mag. I doubt if I've ever hunt anything that would require more killing power. However, a better choice would probably be .454 Casull or .500 Linbaugh.

I'd take up golf.

I sure am partial to my TC Custom Shop 15" 6.5x55 Swedish Mauser barrel on my Encore. I had The Gun Shop (in Gilbert, Arizona) make me some nice wood for it and it wears a 2-7 Burris scope. My confidence level is very high when shooting this handgun. I've only taken deer with it, but I wouldn't feel undergunned for elk or even moose and black bears. It's a winner in my book.

Quote:

---

I'd take up golf.

---

If only 1, I'm with you!!!!!!

Alright, I'll play but it's just for fun right????

The 357 Max in my DW revolver would cover all I will probably hunt in my life time. Load it down with light bullets for small game and load the 200+ grain bullets for the bigger critters.

ahhh.....no way i can pick just ONE

all i can do is list my favorites.

in contender deer chambers.....30-30AI, 35rem, and 7-30 waters.

ANY of the calibers on the .308 case in the encore, such as .358, .308, 7mm-08, .260 n .243 etc.

ANY 6mm.....whether it's a .243 or 6BR in the encore, or 6tcu, 6x45 or 6x47 in contender.

for doing what i do HERE n now..... the 300 win mag, 7-08, 30-30AI, 35rem, and the small sixes will serve me well.


ok, ok .....encore i'll take 7-08 as ONE.......and in contender i'll take 30-30AI as ONE.

but i'm mad about it. only a fool would try to steal my small 6mm handguns.

well my handgun battery currently only consists of 2 calibers and thats 44 magnum and a 6.5JDJ THATS A TOUGH ONE!! If i could only have one I think my 44 mag would edge out the 6.5 because there seems to be a lot more reloading stuff for it, and I think a 44 magnum can handle a lot of different game. I can hardly ever find any 6.5mm bullets locally where I live. I've always had to order them or make sure i pick some up when I make a trip to cabelas in michigan. 225 winchester brass can be hard to come by sometimes but so far I haven't had a problem because I've looked in the right places. But man I love how accurate that 6.5JDJ is.......way more than I will ever be.

ah yeah.........revolver? thats easy.....i'd pick a 44 magnum all day long, every single time.

15" scoped Encore barrel chambered in 7mm-08.

Ike

Only 1!!! Only!!!. It would have to be a 44 magnum. Could hunt with it and also defend myself. I don't think a T/C would make a very good defensive pistol.

44 MAGNUM period can be laoded for any job in North America

After reading all the posts, what comes to mind is a phrase, "Do you feel lucky?" , from a Dirty Harry movie.

It's been my experience that a person with only one gun, is forced to learn to use it regardless of the caliber. Pick a caliber that's comfortable for you to shoot and learn to use it. For me, it's the .44 mag in a revolver.

41 mag Ruger SBH. it was love at first shot back in 1988, though I might have an affair with my 44 Ruger SRH.

I would pick a .357 mag. for everything that I hunt. Dennis.

It would have to be my custom Savage Striker in 300 WSM. It shoots like a dream and one of the most accurate handguns I own.

ditto on the 300 WSM!!!
nmhunter

HMMM that's a tough question. I guess if I was limited to only 1 barrel, it would be my Gary Reeder 378 GNR Encore. It would handle anything from deer to big African game.

I'd be content with a 6-1/2 or 8-3/8 S&W N frame chambered in 44mag. if I was limited to one gun.

hangunnr