new guy with questions.

[fightingquaker13]

Hard to argue with any of the above. I would just emphasize what has been said. (And here I'm assuming a limited budget). What will you do the most of? Don't just go off buying tools. Start witth what jobs you need to get done and in what order.
 For HD, the shotty is fine. You're covered. If you can CCW do so. Even if you don't have a pistol now, take the class and get the permit (it can take weeks) so its in hand when the money fairy visits. If you can CCW, I'd start with the pistol, its something you can and will use every day.  I like glock as they are monkey simple and always go bang even if you're a clean it twice a year kind of guy. However, any of the usual suspects will work. Also don't overlook snubbies. Me, I like 1911s (gasp!, yes I admit it), but not for CCW. The reason is that I want simplicity in a crises gun. No saftey, DAO, point and click. The less there is to go wrong, the less likely I am to FU.
As far as hunting, the .308 is a good caliber. I use a Ruger .270, but I should have gone .308. My reccomendation (assuming you're right handed) is a Savage 110. They are the most accurate out of the box rifle out there and at about 3/4 the price of the competition. Don't believe me, research it. Try GunBlast.com, this site and many others. If you intend to customize, a Rem. 700 is probably the way to go, but out of the box, my money is on Savage.

An AR is a toy, and great for Zombies. Its the last rifle you need. I own one and love it. Need it, well, for large values of need.
I have a DPMS Sprortical I paid about $650 for. I'll end up adding an extra $150 to that to get it where I want it. Then there was the Eotech. Still a great rifle. Also check out AKs. Cheaper, sturdier and good enough for pigs, just a 200 yard gun. Bear in mind, an AR-10 IS NOT interchangeble with .556 uppers. It uses a different lower. You cannot interchange parts with ARs and the mags are pricy. Still a good gun, and with a five round mag you have your hunting and SD rifle in one. Just budget an extra 3-4 bills to buy lots of mags for your gun as they are proprietary and could dry up.
Good luck and rent before you buy if you can (probably harder with rifles)
FQ13 

[DylanPowell]

well i found a really nice springfield 1911 at a pawn shop for around $400. if i dont find anything at the gun show thats coming up ill probably get it. i was also looking at thompson contenders. my friend has one in 223 that i really like, so i may go with one of those.

[fightingquaker13]

well i found a really nice springfield 1911 at a pawn shop for around $400. if i dont find anything at the gun show thats coming up ill probably get it. i was also looking at thompson contenders. my friend has one in 223 that i really like, so i may go with one of those.

Dylan
The Springfield wold not be my first choice for CCW for the above reasons. However it is a great gun gun and $400 is a fair price. The TC Contender in .223 ? NO, NO and Hell NO! A: .556/.223 is an anemic cartridge for anything other than varmints. It won't kill a deer (or similar sized creature) clean with one shot (barring great skill). Its why they come with 30 round mags.Good for zombies with three followups, but I wouldn't take it hunting if my .270 were avalible. B: As far as a hunting calibers, get an oldie but a goodie. 30-06, .270, .308, .300 win mag, 30-30-., 44 mag etc. Leave the .223 to zombies and prarie dogs where it belongs. As far as the TC? Great guns. BUT.....You buy one for three reasons. 1) You can't afford anything else. 2) You want the interchangeability. 3) You want the challenge (note challenge, not practicality) of a single shot. All three are good reasons to buy one. But I doubt seriously that a TC contender, especially in .223 ,would make anyone's top ten in an "if I could only have one rifle" list. Get a lever .44 mag and a matching pistol (I like Win model 94s). Get a Ruger/Remington/Winchester/Savage bolt in .270,.308, 30-06, .300 Win mag.. Hell, get a freaking Saiga (the best bang for the buck out there rifle) in .308. But don't buy a boutique rifle in an anemic caliber. I have made my fair share of mistakes in both buying and selling guns. I have been justifiably mocked here for doing so. However, I doubt anyone will say me nay when I say, that for a one rifle guy, a TC .223 is the last thing you want. Just my .04 
FQ13   

[twyacht]

You could just consider an AK. A Glock 21, and a Savage, than your done.

See how easy it can be???

 

[fightingquaker13]

You could just consider an AK. A Glock 21, and a Savage, than your done.

See how easy it can be???

 

+10000. If only I could turn back time, (and been RH) I would have taken this advice and been better for it. Love my AR, but it is a toy (one I have grown to love), but a toy. The AK is a tool. The Glock, same report, its the AK of handguns. Ugly, cheap and good enough for what its for. I own and love a Ruger M77, but an out of the box Savage will out shoot it every time for less money. Three good, affordable, and versatile guns. My only quibble would be a G26/G27/G30 instead of the G21 for CCW purposes. Otherwise, I would give TW the comment of the week award. No frills, no BS, just get the job done guns. Ignore his post at your cost, and I speak from experience.
FQ13

[Sponsor]

[tombogan03884]

Grab the Springfield 1911 if it is still there !
T/C Contender ? I spent 6 years making them, at $350 plus just for the barrel it is NOT a case of "It's what you can afford !  I would not go 223 unless you are getting the pistol.
If you want a TC Carbine I would go Encore with .308, .45BP and 12 Ga barrels. For a bolt action I would check out the T/C Icon.
I got done there before they started working on it but I was looking one over in a GS recently.
With the reputation that T/C has for accurate barrels and a bolt that is like silk it could challenge Savage on anything except maybe price.
Another bolt gun to consider is the surplus Schmidt Rubin, K 31 in 7.5 X 55 .
Concealed carry ? How about a Tokarev and a case of ammo for $250 ?

Classic Arms has both.

[fightingquaker13]

Grab the Springfield 1911 if it is still there !
T/C Contender ? I spent 6 years making them, at $350 plus just for the barrel it is NOT a case of "It's what you can afford !  I would not go 223 unless you are getting the pistol.
If you want a TC Carbine I would go Encore with .308, .45BP and 12 Ga barrels. For a bolt action I would check out the T/C Icon.
I got done there before they started working on it but I was looking one over in a GS recently.
With the reputation that T/C has for accurate barrels and a bolt that is like silk it could challenge Savage on anything except maybe price.
Another bolt gun to consider is the surplus Schmidt Rubin, K 31 in 7.5 X 55 .
Concealed carry ? How about a Tokarev and a case of ammo for $250 ?

Classic Arms has both.

[DylanPowell]

i dont plan on using the springfield for a CCW. If i got a thopmson contender it would be in 308. and i will have more guns than i need, i see now that i made it sound like i dont have any. i have a marlin 30 06, a 10/22 and 22 lr/22mag single action revolver, a browning buckmark, and i remington 1100. im just thinking about selling the majority of them and geting the 3 that i said before.

[ellis4538]

I would probably keep the Contender.  In an AR I'd get a Stag.  In a bolt gun I'd get a Remington Model 7 in .308.  I have a CZ Phantom in 9mm (poly framed) which has a decocker.  I will have better sights put on it (for my old eyes), but for carry I would probably (if I was looking at poly) pick up a Glock 19 or 26 (probably both).  I don't like finger grooves so it would need to be an old model (1st. gen.) new or nearly new if I could find one.

Please see the thread concerning "carry Ammo" for my disclaimer!  LOL

Richard

[Walter45Auto]

I'd snatch up the Springfield first while it's still there. Worry about the rest later. But then, I'm a pistol guy. Always did like handguns best. Never owned a bolt gun, so I don't have much opinion on that. I like GLOCKs for carry and defense. Revolvers too. Both of those are monkey simple, and the revolver is even more so because it can't jam due to a failed magazine. For an AR, I wouldn't turn down a Stag (Have a Stag Lower that I'm gonna get an upper on.), But I think I'd go for a DPMS in .308 if I were going out to buy another AR. Go get that Springfield!