What is the best gun?
What gun should I buy?

If you want the simplest answer, buy a Self Defense handgun. Then a FAL. And ammo. Practice.

Why do you want a gun?

Self Defense: Concealed Carry

If you are in a state that requires it, apply for a carry permit now, they can take a while (months) to process.
If you are only going to own one gun, this is probably a good place to start, because a handgun on your hip is better than a rifle you left at home or in your trunk. Basically, select something that is as powerful as you can comfortably carry on a regular basis. If you get something that is so large that you may grow weary of carrying it, it is of no use to you. A .22LR in the pocket is better than a .44 Magnum at home in a drawer. Semi-automatics tend to be slimmer and therefore more comfortable to carry than revolvers. Some people still prefer a revolver because they are more simple and therefore more reliable. You want a concealable handgun because not only are police not going to be there to protect you at every moment, they are not even under any legal obligation to protect you. www.SmallestGuns.com may be useful. You would probably benefit from reading A Simple Guide for Buying and Carrying a Self-Defense Handgun

Kimber 1911 Compact, .45ACP, $710

Kimber Compact The 1911 was named after the year in which it was adopted as the standard U.S. military sidearm. It is a thoroughly tested and proven design, and fires the very substantial .45ACP round. It also happens to be rather slim, and Compact (4" barrel) or Ultra-Compact (3" barrel) models can be very convenient to wear. It is also a single-action, which means that its trigger pull is much more responsive. The 3 largest manufacturers of 1911s are Kimber, Springfield Armory, and Colt. I've heard nothing good about Colt lately, and Kimber has the most modern machining processes.

Mine is overly susceptible to limp-wristing.
 

Kahr MK40, .40S&W, $680

Kahr MK40 A compromise between power and size, the Kahr MK40 is tiny, yet still fires the fairly formidable .40S&W round.

In the 1986 FBI Miami shootout the 9mm round proved insufficiently effective, so they switched to 10mm which had unmanageable recoil, so they reduced the powder, and then reduced case length corresponding to reduced powder, which resulted in the .40S&W.
 

Kel-Tec P32, .32ACP, $320

kel-tec P32 While the Kel-Tec P32 only fires the small .32ACP cartridge, it is extremely concealable. You will basically never have an excuse not to wear it. This makes it a "deep concealment" gun. You can also get a clip that attaches to the frame so you can wear it clipped inside the top of your pants, which looks like it's a folding knife.
 

Smith & Wesson Model 60, $560

Any small frame 5 round .357 or .38 really. Fine rounds, and tiny. A shrouded hammer design makes more sense for concealment, but I can't stand the way they look.

Although the .38 was found ineffective similarly to the 9mm in the above mentioned FBI shootout. And the .357 has a lot of kick for such a small gun.
 

Liberty

"To preserve liberty it is essential that the whole body of the people always possess arms and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them." -- Senator Richard Henry Lee, 1788

If purchasing a rifle for indoor use, consider shorter barrelled options (carbines) for maneuverability. This may reduce long range potential.

The AR-15 and AR-10 both have a Direct Impingement gas system, which will become unreliable if not cleaned after a few hundred rounds. In direct contrast, the rest of the rifles in this section use a Gas Piston system, which can go thousands of rounds without cleaning. (There are a few exceptions, of ARs with pistons.) No, I don't know why anyone would use DI in a modern combat rifle. There are a couple fewer parts, which slightly reduces the weight and cost, but I can't imagine considering that worth the cleaning requirement.

Do not buy a Century Arms (based) rifle, they are crap. They make copies of several of the below rifles (FAL, CETME, M14, AK-47).

I strongly recommend hunting with these in places where it is legal. Don't use them as an excuse to be sloppy, make every shot count.

Main Battle Rifles After WWII, Germany tried to license the FAL from FN and failed*. They then licensed the CETME from Spain and (HK) developed it into the G3. The HK91 is a semi-auto version of the G3. The PTR 91 is a copy of the HK91 using HK tooling which may be of better quality than the original. It is a shame that we do not know what would have resulted if HK had started with the FAL instead of the CETME.

FAL, 7.62x51mm NATO / .308, $1100, 10.4 lbs + mag

FAL, the best gun "The right arm of the free world."
The last NATO standard rifle developed under the mistaken belief that a soldier could be expected to be emotionally capable of firing an aimed shot at a human being.
Reliable. Accurate for a semi-auto. Good range. Substantial cartridge.
This is the rifle the US military should have adopted instead of the M14, along with most of NATO, before the (current) M16.
I specifically recommend the Austrian FAL Carbine from DSArms for quality and price. The longest barrel length is not the most accurate due to "barrel whip". If you want a scope, you'll need a scope rail, which does not need to be removed for cleaning.

Compared to the M16/AR-15, which is the current standard rifle for the U.S. and NATO military, the FAL:
+ Is more reliable.
+ Has greater range.
+ Does more damage per aimed shot.
= Has equivalent accuracy.
- Magazine contains 20 rounds instead of 30.
- Is roughly two pounds heavier.
- Ammunition is heavier.
- Ammunition is larger.
- Ammunition is more expensive.

It looks like I will be putting a 1-4x scope on mine, using Leupold quick release low rings.

10,000 round FAL torture test
 

PTR 91, 7.62x51mm NATO / .308, $1200

PTR 91 A parts compatible copy of the HK91 made with HK tooling and more modern machining processes - possibly higher quality than the original. Choosing between this and the FAL will mostly be personal preference. Versions are available with a scope base. An aftermarket scope rail is available. The magazine release is "...considered awkward by many owners." - Wikipedia. "I simply shift the gun to my left hand and use my right thumb to release the mag" - Stormfront forum. This is a result of the conversion to semi-auto. A paddle release conversion is available. Fluted chamber damages brass so it's not reloadable.
 

CETME, 7.62x51mm NATO / .308, $700 used

CETME The Spanish design HK started with when creating the G3/HK91. A good price compromise. Make sure you don't get one chambered for 7.62x51mm CETME, which can crack if you use .308 Win. / 7.62NATO in them. Fluted chamber damages brass so it's not reloadable.
 

M14 / Springfield M1A, 7.62x51mm NATO / .308, $1500

M14 The M14 was the standard U.S. infantry issue Main Battle Rifle before the M16. The Springfield M1A is a copy of it. Comparisons between this an the FAL can be heated. Optics rail options are either partial, not covering the receiver, or require removing a couple bolts to field strip the rifle. Obviously irrelevant if you will only use iron sights.
 

AR-10, 7.62x51mm NATO / .308, $1400

AR-10 Direct Impingement sucks.
This is a larger caliber version of the AR-15.
There are plenty of optics mounting options, particularly for flat-top rifles.
 
Assault Rifles, or semi-automatic versions thereof These are the best examples of military rifles designed to fire larger numbers of intermediate (smaller than most rifles, larger than handgun) cartridges as a result of research which has shown that "...very few troops are mentally prepared to direct aimed fire at the enemy, preferring instead to spray bullets in the general direction of the enemy." - M16 History

AK-47, 7.62x39, $400-600

Arsenal SLR-108 Nothing beats the reliability of the AK-47.
It is one of the most common firearms in the world. It is stereotyped as inaccurate, but this is less true in current models, especially the milled receiver models from Arsenal Bulgaria. 30 round detachable magazines are commonly available, and the ammunition is cheap, roughly 25 cents per round in 1,000 round cases.
 

Bushmaster AR-15, 5.56mm NATO, $900, 9.78 lbs

Bushmaster AR-15 Direct Impingement sucks.
The semi-automatic civilian version of the M16 Assault Rifle (current U.S. military issue). It is more accurate than the AK-47, but is stereotyped as very unreliable and prone to jamming, but like the AK, modern versions are less prone to the old stereotypical problems. The two biggest names in ARs are Armalite and Colt, but the equivalents from Bushmaster tend to be less expensive. 30 round detachable magazines are commonly available. Many versions of the AR are available. "Match" versions are intended to be as accurate as possible for sport, without regard to the effects on reliability. For this reason I would suggest a standard no-frills version. I don't mind the U.S. military adopting this miniscule cartridge if soldiers can't be expected to aim at humans, but the direct impingement system bothers me.
 
Best Price

SKS, 7.62x39, $200 used

If you want a reliable, war tested combat rifle for the best price, this is a good place to look.
10 round NON-DETACHABLE magazine fed by stripper-clips. Yes this one actually uses "clips". This is the predecessor to the AK-47, and fires the same ammunition.
 

Sniping

A long range variation on the previous theme. A very precise bolt action rifle with a good scope. I suggest .308 winchester caliber, because it is effective and common - also known as 7.62mm NATO, it is one of the major ammunition types used by the U.S. military. Effective range of about 800 yards. You may want to spend about as much money on your scope as you do on the rifle. Or not. Leupold makes good scopes. I recommend a 10x fixed power scope. This is identical to a deer hunting rifle.

If you'll want to be able to practice using one of these to its limits, look around for a local range over 300 yards. If they are hard to come by, consider the possibility that you will never have a practical need to make a shot over 300 yards, and consider giving up a little accuracy for capacity and getting a battle rifle instead.

With a .308 and a flat scope base, your maximum range will be limited by your scope adjustment range. To fix this, and for their quality, I recommend a Badger Ordnance 20MOA canted scope base and rings.
 

Remington 700P, $870

Remington 700P Previously known as the Remington Police Sniper Special - it is one of the most accurate out of the box rifles in a reasonable price range. It is known to do less than 1" diameter groups at 100 yards without modification.
 

Remington 700VS, $560

Remington 700VS Remington 700 Varmint Synthetic - the two significant differences from the 700P are a cheaper stock, and a significantly lower price. Since everything else that's important - the barrel, receiver, trigger, etc., are the same, it is an excellent option if you want the best but would prefer to save some money. Also available left-handed, which the 700P is not.
 

Long Range Anti-Material

This stuff will break trucks at a mile. .50BMG is the standard round. The rifles are really big. Bolt-actions are, once again, most accurate. You'll want a rugged scope for it, as the recoil is extreme.

The .416 Barret round was designed in 2005 as a replacement for the .50BMG in rifles. The .50BMG was never designed for long range accuracy, it was designed for machine guns.

Serbu .50BFG, .50BMG, $2200

BFG-50 The Serbu .50BFG is an accurate, well designed, attractive bolt-action .50BMG rifle. I believe it is the least expensive .50BMG rifle. I'd love one.
 

Target Shooting - Pistol

It is very useful to have a .22LR pistol for target practice, since the ammunition is extremely cheap. Select a semi-auto or revolver to match the most common handgun(s) you use for other purposes.

Sig Trailside Target, .22LR, $600

Sig Trailside Target Designed by a major company known to make exceptional competition .22LR pistols to be sold in the more common plinker price range, it has exceptional accuracy for its price.
 

Browning Buckmark, .22LR, $400

Browning Buckmark Another common quality choice.
 

Ruger Mark II, .22LR, $300

Ruger Mark II Probably the most common choice, but a pain to clean and assemble.
 

Home Defense

Pick something from the Liberty section. Yes, each individual shot will waste more energy in over-penetration than a shotgun, but you'll have a lot more ammunition to fire, and a rifle is far more versitile than a shotgun due to its vastly superior range. "...the maximum effective range on a man size target with the 12ga buckshot is 18yds." - Shotgun Ammunition Assessment. The primary exception is where you have nothing but paper walls between you and your closest neighbors, in which case you may want to go with a shotgun to reduce over-penetration.
 

Mossberg 590, 8 round magazine, $400

mossberg Mossberg 590, with an 8 round magazine. This is a combat style shotgun with a large magazine capacity.
There is also the military version, the 590A1, with a heavier barrel, aluminum trigger guard and safety, but it is not compatible with the barrel shroud.
 

Home Defense - Pistol

Some people specifically want a handgun instead of a shotgun for home defense for various reasons. Some like the increased maneuverability, some like that it is easier to hide. Get something with the most firepower (powerful cartridge, large magazine capacity).

Para-Ordnance P14.45, .45ACP, $810

Para-Ordnance P14.45 The Para-Ordnance P14.45 is a variant of the 1911. It uses the formidable .45ACP cartridge, and has a capacity of 14+1 rounds (14 in the magazine, one in the chamber).
 

Smith & Wesson Model 627, .357, $1000

Any 8 or 7 round .357 Magnum. .44magnum recoil takes too long to re-acquire your target, and the additional power is of no benefit. .357 Magnum has plenty excessive over-penetration and recoil.
 

Entertainment

Desert Eagle .50, .50AE, $1210

Desert Eagle This had to be listed, primarily to say what it is not. It is not the best of anything practical (in .357 magnum, .44 magnum, or .50 action express).

It is not the best carry gun. It is far to big to reasonably carry. It holds the most rounds in .357, only 9. The Para-Ordnance P14 holds 55% more, of similarly powerful rounds. In .44 mag. it holds 8. In .50AE it only holds 7. .357 is appropriate to take out an attacker, the rest are overkill, and just less magazine capacity.

It is not the best home defense gun. Its ammunition is all significantly less effective at indoor ranges against attackers than a 12ga shotgun, including less area of effect.

It is not the best gun for use in multiple areas, because it's not well suited to any of them. For this, go look in the self or home defense sections.

So what is it? A hell of a conversation piece. It's the biggest pistol you can get. There's reasons it's popular in movies. If you do get one, go all the way and get it chambered in .50AE. Oh yeah, and it has a fascinating gas blowback system, more common in rifles.
 
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Mon Dec 22 23:45:24 EST 2008