"Gift Gun" for my Brothers:

[Signal]

I'm considering purchasing a firearm as a gift for my three brothers, been a fair year and getting a good tax return. have a couple models in mind but would like further thoughts/options.

Thinking of something fun/functional to shoot, not a display gun, but nice enough to become a family hand-me down kind of thing. I'm undecided on rifle or handgun. I think I'd like to get them all the same firearm. Price does matter, particularly if I'm buying three.

All three brothers shoot, but one really isn't a "gun guy", particularly handguns (he's not anti-gun by any means).

A few I've considered:
1. Ruger Vaquero single action revolver- Pro: timeless romantic style, high fun factor. Con: big, clunky- limited function

2. CZ 452 Bolt Action 22 rimfire rifle- Pro: great gun, cheap ammo, their kids will dig it , perhaps more safe Con: limited as a rimfire

3. Ruger Mark III pistol, rimfire- Pro: cheaper, bombproof, kinda funky fun design. Con: not as romantic as the Vaquero, rimfire

[Sabre]

They're not my brothers, but the first thing that comes to mind are scatterguns instead. I can't think of anything gun related that's more fun than getting together with the guys to blaze away at some clay pigeons. I find that shotguns tend to be more accepted by folks who aren't really gun people (not only the brothers but perhaps their wives, inlaws, pals, etc). Shooting trap is a gentle and fun introduction to shooting sports, and the guns themselves certainly offer up myriad opportunities for being the sort of heirloom piece that you're thinking of.

My free $0.02.

[mutineer]

of what you listed the Vaquero is the least functional but the most, for lack of a better work, satisfying

I have one that I bought on impulse and just working the action on that thing is fun, much less shooting it

the Vaquero is the "hand it down" gun of the ones you mentioned

but

.45 long is wicked expensive so it see very little actual range time

go for a .357 if you can find 'em

you are talking serious coin for three of them though

getting a set of brothers a set of these is just cool

[CA Stu]

Get them each a Langlitz and a gallon of baby oil.

Thanks
CA Stu

[mutineer]

Originally Posted by CA Stu

Get them each a Langlitz and a gallon of baby oil.

Thanks
CA Stu

that is a high theft item

they are gonna need the guns

[pilot]

If I was your brother, I'd want the CZ. But make mine the FS model, please. In 22LR.

[FXRocket]

FWIW the Henry lever action rifles are nice, and made in the USA.

[BigKev72]

Lots of bang for the buck, and the shooting is very cheap for them afterwards too...a brick of .22lr is negligible in price.

Comparing a Henry and a CZ is a bit like comparing, well...its like shit and very tasty Czech beer.

[HardCase]

Most fun gun I've had the good fortune of owning/playing with in a very long time is a Marlin 1894 lever-action carbine chambered for the .357 Magnum handgun round. Lever action, so an old classic design, works great with 38 Special so ammo is, while not as cheap as .22LR, not too awfully expensive, quite accurate, minimal recoil and not super noisy with 38s, light-weight, powerful enough for deer hunting (arguably.....I consider it a 50 yard gun for that purpose) and PD. Great fun gun IMHO.

Of course, I realize that you laid out three choices and I didn't pick any of those......typical know-it-all gun nut, right? Of the three that you mentioned, I'd have to go with the Vaquero. It's probably the least practical of the three, but the baddest and coolest.

[gigmike]

As much as I'm a fan of larger calibers I have to say that the best caliber for putting a big grin on my face is 22. Does Ruger still make a 22 revolver?

[P B G]

Of them, the Vaquero is pretty sweet. Another option would be the ruger single six .22/.22 magnum. I really like mine, and I believe they are a bit less money than the Vaquero.

Yes they aren't super accurate, but then again just get bigger targets and its fun to shoot, ammo's cheap, and I love being able to shoot magnums out of it as well. Just adds another angle.



If only it had a color case hardened frame like that vaquero.

[Signal]

Originally Posted by mutineer

of what you listed the Vaquero is the least functional but the most, for lack of a better work, satisfying

I have one that I bought on impulse and just working the action on that thing is fun, much less shooting it

the Vaquero is the "hand it down" gun of the ones you mentioned

but

.45 long is wicked expensive so it see very little actual range time

go for a .357 if you can find 'em

you are talking serious coin for three of them though

getting a set of brothers a set of these is just cool

I was considering the 375/38....Actually my first/initial thoughts was this option.
Running about $600 each, so pairs are out of the question

I've never fired a large cal revolver, so I'm a bit concerned about the noise/recoil aspect.

Love the nickel finish/wood grip combo

[Signal]

Originally Posted by P B G

Of them, the Vaquero is pretty sweet. Another option would be the ruger single six .22/.22 magnum. I really like mine, and I believe they are a bit less money than the Vaquero.

Yes they aren't super accurate, but then again just get bigger targets and its fun to shoot, ammo's cheap, and I love being able to shoot magnums out of it as well. Just adds another angle.



If only it had a color case hardened frame like that vaquero.

Great guns, but I hate the large sights- I like the "clean", perhaps old school look of the Vaquero.

Certainly the rimfire has some $$ advantages, as well as being less threatening with noise/recoil etc......

[P B G]

Originally Posted by Signal

I've never fired a large cal revolver, so I'm a bit concerned about the noise/recoil aspect.

Like any other firearm, eye protection, ear protection, and then don't think about it.

Unless you are shooting extreme rounds like the 444 marlin handguns and similar its not that brutal recoil wise. Just don't try to anticipate it too much so you don't get flinchy.

[Signal]

Originally Posted by Sabre

They're not my brothers, but the first thing that comes to mind are scatterguns instead. I can't think of anything gun related that's more fun than getting together with the guys to blaze away at some clay pigeons. I find that shotguns tend to be more accepted by folks who aren't really gun people (not only the brothers but perhaps their wives, inlaws, pals, etc). Shooting trap is a gentle and fun introduction to shooting sports, and the guns themselves certainly offer up myriad opportunities for being the sort of heirloom piece that you're thinking of.

My free $0.02.

Yup, love the scatter guns, but they've all got at least one already...and they're all (well at least two of them) better shots than I with a shot gun

I thought about a over/under thing, but way too much $$ for anything impressive