One Handgun, One Rifle, One Shotgun. You are able to choose just one of each for self defense with NO modifications.
Note the criteria: for self-defense.
Handgun – I’d go with Springfield XD-9, mostly because that’s what I already have and use and am heavily enough invested in (e.g. lots of magazines).
Shotgun – Mossberg 500 series, probably in 20 gauge and then probably their “bantam/youth” setup. If I was thinking shotgun for self-defense, it’d likely be a “home defense gun”. Around my home I have a mix of right-handed and left-handed people, and the Mossberg is a bit more ambidextrous than the Remington 870. And I’d go with a smaller gun (20 gauge, bantam size) to fit the wider range of potential users within this household.
Rifle – AR, chambered in 6.8 Remington SPC or 5.56 NATO. This is where the meme criteria break down a bit, because when it says “no modifications” well… please tell me what a stock/factory AR would be and does that include building your own from scratch. 🙂 But as for the chambering, I’m falling more and more in love with the 6.8 SPC round and know it’d be good for social purposes as well as light hunting (e.g. may not take a moose at 500 yards with it, but for most Texas game and distances it’ll be ample). The only debate about maybe going 5.56 NATO instead would be how “self-defense” are we talking? like social breakdown? if so, a more common chambering like 5.56 has advantage. Plus I’m still trying to research up on (over) penetration issues with 5.56 vs. 6.8, because the 5.56 is theoretically “safer” in that it should fragment and reduce issues whereas the 6.8 is certainly going to keep on truckin’… but I suspect in this area it really won’t matter as they both have big enough issues.
Stuff From Hsoi 
I always find the answers to these memes interesting, because it always depends on why the choices are being made. Plus, I ~never~ play by the rules.
Three guns for social destruction and chaos:
Glock 19 with .22 LR, .40, .357 Sig uppers, a box full of G19/17 mags. SBR the frame and carry with you one of the various detachable stocks, because a pistol with a stock is easier to shoot than one without. A complete set of spare parts. (Note, nothing is customized! These are all off the shelf drop in components).
Remington 870 shotgun (I prefer the safety on the Mossberg, but the action of the Remmy). This is as simple as it gets, just include in your kit a 28″ barrel for hunting versatility.
AR15 (Colt, Noveske, LaRue, whatever). My favorite for all things AR (keeping in mind, I am not an AR lover), is 18″ barrel, the best compromise between compact and increased velocity. Set it up for heavier bullets and pack a whole kit of extra parts and mags. Caliber is 5.56.
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For the world is reset but there are no riots, it changes a bit:
Smith and Wesson/Colt/Ruger .357 Magnum 4″ revolver. Fixed sights that are highly visible (keep it simple).
Remington 870 (same shotgun as above).
Marlin 1894 in .357 Magnum or a single shot H&R in .357 Maggie. Why? Easy ammo interchange, you aren’t likely to be taking many shots for food collection over 150 yards, and a good 180-grain that is hot loaded with suffice for that.
The important thing is you stock up on powder, bullets, and reloading supplies (ALSO, remember .38/.357 hand loaders are very easy to get and use).
-Rob
Yeah, you’re “cheating” on the Glock one. 😉 But really, that’s good thinking. I actually thought that a combination like a Glock and a Kel-Tec Sub2000 or some such might be interesting because you could share magazines (foo.c suggested this to me some time ago). It’s a similar aproach to your .357 approach. Sharing stuff.
What can I say, I’m a cheat. Like I said, I never like these games, because the reality is, if I leave my house, the contents of my safe, ammo boxes, and all the food, water, cash, and general valuables in the house, are coming with me.
Rob brings some interesting perspectives to the “self defense” arena. 🙂 Skipped past “home invasion” and landed on “society collapses”. Didn’t quite make it to “Zombieland” or “alien invasion” though.
Now, for my choices. I’m really happy with my old Glock 21, .45 ACP with a pair of 13 round mags. It doesn’t like hollow points, so every target gets 3 rounds via the Mozambique Drill. After dropping the first four attackers that leaves one round chambered for a hot magazine swap. After the next four guys go down I drop the Glock and pick up…
The MAC-90 in 7.62mm. It came out of the box with a pair of magazines large enough to take on the entire military a small central american country. It never misses a man sized target at under 200 yards, with the iron sights. My back fence is only half that range, so when the zombies come over the back fence it will be a turkey shoot. The case of Egyptian ammo that I bought is probably not legal to shoot in my jurisdiction (what, with the non-lead core and all that…), but the 7.62 ammo will be a lot easier to come by than the .223 after society resets.
The only shotgun in my inventory is not suitable for home defense (except, perhaps, as a club) It is a single action, double barrel break open model. I know the hard core self defense guys don’t like pump-guns; but, damn… I’d have to pick a 12ga pump gun of some sort. If the bad guys have made it past the Glock and the MAC-90 then I’m probably a gonner anyhow, and I’ll be buggered if I’m going to die with a repeating 20ga in my hands. 😉
Your Glock doesn’t feed hollow points? That’s odd. Could it be the particular brand of hollow points, or is it all hollow points?
Pump shotguns are fine. Their bonus is they’re mechanically simple, plus even if they get all mucked up you can still make them run. Also due to that, they’re not ammo sensitive, like semi-autos can be.
If it isn’t a parabolic bullet it doesn’t feed well, though I haven’t tested this extensively.
Hollow points and those flat nosed FMJs slide up the ramp from the magazine then hit the barrel and jam instead of sliding into position.
Parabolic FMJs feed flawlessly.
Weird. First I’ve heard of a Glock not feeding something, but I’m sure it happens.
I’d be curious tho if it might be a particular bullet that’s doing it.
What’s your favorite flavor of HP? I’ll buy a box and go try ’em out. If one mis-feeds I’ll try to get a picture (if it can be done safely).
Most of these were tried back when I was first getting into guns, so my pistol form was very poor back then and is certainly responsible for most of my stove-pipe malfunctions. Since I cleaned up my form (better gripping with the hands and using both arms to support the pistol) I haven’t had any misfires or malfunctions. I may have been premature in blaming the ammo.
I like Speer Gold Dot’s in my 9mm.
Yeah, it’s possible the issues could be due to form, but of course it’s impossible for me to really say from here. But heck, try again… HP’s will do you better.
Even though they are really different, its a toss up between my Sig228 and Para P14LDA. Either one, I would be quite happy. Geez, I like my Glocks as well. Damn, I hate these kind of decisions….
Mossberg 590A
Rifle inside the house, without question my PS90
Outside under 300yds my AR M4 556
Over 300yds my Springfield M1A
If I had to pick just one for everything, I’d go with the big quy.
That’s the tough part… having to pick just one. 🙂