Everyone who gets involved with guns has their favorites, and when I started this list, I had a nice, large collection of guns that I’ve owned, fired, or just plain fascinate me in every possible way…. and then I realized I have a life and I could easily spend hours making up this post.
So I’m going to keep this simple: my favorite long gun, my favorite semi-auto handgun, and my favorite revolver. And then you can tell me your favorites.
My favorite long gun:
Winchester Model 1892 – I’m Accepting Donations
Winchester Model 1892
I love shotguns and rifles with varying degrees of love, but there is just something special about the Winchester 92. The beautiful lever action and its widespread Hollywood-generated mythos just make for an awesome, gorgeous gun. I have to confess: I don’t own one. Yet. I do, however, accept donations.
Runners up: M1 Garand, Mosin-Nagant Model 1944
My favorite semi-auto handgun
Beretta 92fs – How a Semi-Auto Should Feel
Beretta 92fs
There are tons of great semi-auto fans out there and I know I’m going to step on some toes when it comes to those who prefer Glocks, Rugers, Sigs, or God help us all, Hi-Points… but the Beretta 92fs is one of those guns that just feels right. There’s a reason it’s been the standard sidearm for the US military. It feels like a handgun should feel. I’m not a fan of the feather-light semi-autos that are like air in your hand. I want a gun that has some heft to it, and the 92fs delivers. It’s accurate as hell, comfortable and simple to handle, and fun to shoot.
Runners up: Smith and Wesson M&P, Colt M1911A1 (again, accepting donations)
Favorite revolver:
Ruger LCR – Perfection
Ruger LCR
This one’s been a long time coming for me because I’ve toyed with revolvers for a while, but never bit. Revolvers, especially snubbys, always had too many shortcomings for me: lack of accuracy, too much kick, too tight on the double action pulls. I’d handled a few, but was never really impressed with them – until now. I put my hands on this baby for the first time this past February and, following that event, knew that this gun would be mine. I finally picked one up a couple of months later and I have to say: Ruger got it 100% right. It’s super-accurate for snubby, handles kick a lot better than expected, and the double action pull is smooth as butter. Not only my favorite revolver, this has quickly become my favorite gun. It’s a perfect balance of power and ease of use. The LCR comes in 3 calibers: .22, .38, and .357. I recommend the .357 simply because it gives you the option for .38 or .357 and the added few ounces weight help to reduce the kick even on the .38.
Runners up: Ruger SP101, Smith and Wesson Police Special
So what’s your favorite? What boomstick lights your fancy? What piece of 2nd Amendment awesomeness do you hope to add to your collection? Comment below (or on one of the places where this article pops up).
Thanks for tuning in this week to Gun Week. We’ve gotten some positive feedback and may do this again in the future. In the meantime, if you own guns, I’d love to get your feedback on these articles. If you don’t own a gun, but have considered buying one, I highly recommend that you take the advice of people far more skilled than I on the subject. Massad Ayoob is a master at understanding the laws regarding the use of guns, and any of his books on gun use comes highly recommended. My other favorite source of information (if anything, just for the great attitude he has towards the subject) is Hickok45, whose Youtube gun reviews and commentary are extremely popular for a reason.
This week’s articles:
1jason1
The Annoyed Elephant
ncmike72
