The Guns I Would Buy Again If I Had to Start Over From Nothing

Photo credit: Havoc Homestead/Youtube

If I woke up tomorrow with an empty safe, no ammo stash, and none of the “I’ll get around to replacing that” stuff we all say, I wouldn’t try to rebuild my gun collection with whatever is trending online. I’d rebuild it with the guns that actually carried weight in my real life: hunting seasons that went sideways, rainy range days, busted truck windows, and those long evenings when you want something simple that just works.

This isn’t a list of the fanciest or most expensive. It’s the stuff I’d buy again because it earns its keep. Some are boring. A couple are heavy. A few are plain ugly. But if I had to start from zero, these are the twenty I’d go get first.

1. Glock 19 (Gen 5)

If I can only own one handgun for a while, it’s this one. It carries without being miserable, shoots like a “real” pistol, and it’s forgiving when you’re rusty. The grip angle isn’t everyone’s favorite, but I’ve watched a lot of folks shoot a Glock 19 well with minimal drama.

Magazines are everywhere, parts are everywhere, and holster options are endless. It’s not romantic, but it’s dependable in the exact way you want a defensive pistol to be. There is nothing fancy about it, and that is kind of the point.

2. Smith & Wesson M&P Shield Plus (9mm)

When the weather turns hot and you still need to be armed, little details matter. The Shield Plus is one of the few small 9mms I can carry all day and still want to practice with. It doesn’t beat my hands up like some micro compacts do.

It points naturally, the trigger is workable, and it’s easy to support with common mags and sights. This is the one you actually strap on to run to town, not the one you “mean to carry” but leave at home because it’s annoying.

3. Ruger GP100 (4-inch, .357 Magnum)

A good .357 revolver is a comfort tool in the woods, around the property, or in a truck console when you’re checking fences. The GP100 is not delicate. It’s the kind of revolver that will still be tight after a lot of rounds and a lot of dusty glovebox miles.

You can feed it mild .38s for practice or stouter .357 loads for field use. The sights are usable, the grip soaks recoil, and the whole gun just feels like it was built for people who don’t baby their gear.

4. Ruger 10/22 Carbine

If you don’t own a .22, you’re missing the cheapest trigger time you’ll ever get. A 10/22 is the rifle that turns an afternoon into real practice instead of expensive noise. It’s also the one that gets handed to new shooters because it doesn’t scare them.

Even bone stock, it will do what most folks need: plink, pop squirrels, and stay fun. The aftermarket is a rabbit hole, but you don’t have to fall into it. Start simple and keep shooting.

5. Marlin Model 336 ( .30-30 Winchester)

I’ve owned and hunted with enough rifles to know a lever gun still solves problems fast in thick cover. The 336 shoulders quick and carries easy, and .30-30 ammo is still one of the most practical deer rounds ever made. Inside normal woods ranges, it flat works.

Yes, prices have climbed, and yes, everyone suddenly “always wanted one” after they sold theirs. Ask me how I know. If you see a clean 336, it’s worth serious consideration.

6. Remington 870 Wingmaster (12 gauge)

The 870 is the pump shotgun that taught half the country what a shotgun should feel like. A Wingmaster, in particular, runs smooth in a way the budget versions never quite match. It’s the kind of action you can work without looking, even when your hands are cold.

It can be a bird gun, a deer gun, a camp gun, or a home-defense gun with the right setup and training. Keep it maintained, don’t abuse it, and it’ll be there when a lot of trendier guns are long gone.

7. Mossberg 500 (12 gauge)

If the 870 is the classic, the 500 is the dependable cousin that doesn’t care about mud, rain, or neglect. The tang safety is a real advantage for some shooters, especially with gloves on. And the gun is famously tolerant of hard use.

I like having one around because it fills a role no matter what kind of hunting you stumble into. It’s also a shotgun I don’t feel precious about. Use it. Scratches don’t hurt it.

8. Benelli Super Black Eagle 3 (12 gauge)

Waterfowl hunting is where cheap gear gets exposed. Cold mornings, wet blinds, gritty shells, and the kind of weather that makes you question your life choices. The SBE3 is expensive, but it cycles like it’s mad at the world, and it keeps going when you’re soaked.

It’s light enough to carry, points fast, and doesn’t feel like a boat anchor in the marsh. If I had to rebuild, I’d rather buy one good duck gun than two mediocre ones.

9. Ruger American Rifle ( .308 Winchester)

This is one of those rifles that offends the “it must be walnut and blued steel” crowd, but it’s a working rifle. The Ruger American tends to shoot better than it has any right to for the money. The bolt is a little utilitarian, but it does the job.

In .308, it’s a do-it-all setup for deer, hogs, and general purpose shooting. Parts and support are easy, and you can put a decent scope on it without taking out a loan.

10. Tikka T3x Lite (6.5 Creedmoor)

I’m not going to pretend 6.5 Creedmoor is magic, but it’s flat-out pleasant to shoot in a light rifle, and it kills deer clean when you do your part. The reason this one makes my list is the action. Tikka bolts are slick, and the rifles tend to be accurate without drama.

It carries well in the hills, doesn’t beat you up at the bench, and it makes practice easier—which matters more than internet arguments. If I’m starting over, I want a rifle that encourages rounds downrange.

11. Savage 110 ( .30-06 Springfield)

.30-06 is not trendy, but it’s still one of the most useful hunting cartridges in North America. A Savage 110 isn’t a showpiece, yet it’s a rifle you can set up and trust. I’ve seen them shoot well with all kinds of ammo, even when they look like they’ve lived behind a truck seat.

If you’re the guy who might hunt whitetails one year and chase bigger game the next, .30-06 keeps doors open. There’s comfort in owning something that’ll never be “obsolete.”

12. Winchester Model 70 ( .270 Winchester)

The Model 70 has a feel to it—balance, safety placement, and that classic controlled-round-feed confidence on many versions. In .270, it’s a rifle that just makes sense for deer and open-country hunting. It’s light enough to carry and steady enough to shoot well.

I like the .270 because it tends to shoot flat with manageable recoil, which helps real hunters more than it helps keyboard ballisticians. A Model 70 is also the kind of rifle you pass down without apology.

13. CZ 457 ( .22 LR)

If the 10/22 is the fun gun, the CZ 457 is the “let’s see what you can really do” .22. The triggers are good, the barrels are good, and the whole rifle feels like it was built by folks who care about precision. This is the rimfire that makes you better.

It’s also deadly on small game when you can place shots exactly where they need to go. I like having a .22 that isn’t just for noise. The 457 earns respect.

14. Henry H001 ( .22 LR)

A .22 lever gun doesn’t get the attention it deserves until you carry one in the squirrel woods. The Henry H001 is simple, light, and just plain enjoyable. It also runs with cheap ammo that sometimes makes semi-autos cranky.

It’s a rifle that feels like an old friend, even when it’s new. If I’m rebuilding from nothing, I want at least one gun that reminds me why I started shooting in the first place.

15. Ruger Mark IV (Standard or Target)

The Mark IV fixed what used to keep folks from owning Ruger .22 pistols: takedown. Now it’s push-button simple, and that means you’ll actually clean it. These pistols are accurate enough to humble you, and reliable enough to shoot all afternoon.

It’s a training tool, a plinker, and a small-game pistol if you’re into that. The grip angle on some versions is different, but once you get used to it, it’s hard to beat for rimfire work.

16. SIG Sauer P365 (9mm)

I’ve carried a lot of small guns that were easy to hide and miserable to shoot. The P365 is one of the first that made “small” and “shootable” live in the same sentence. It’s thin, light, and it still gives you a real sight picture and decent capacity.

There are a ton of variants now, which can be a distraction, but the core idea is solid. If I was starting over, I’d buy one and then spend the rest of the money on ammo and a good holster.

17. Colt Python ( .357 Magnum, 4-inch)

This is not a need-based pick. It’s a “life is short” pick. A Python is smooth in a way that’s hard to explain until you’ve spent time behind one, and it’s a revolver you don’t forget after you sell it. That one hurts.

It’s also not for rough duty. If you want a revolver to bounce around on the ATV, buy the GP100. The Python is the one you keep clean, shoot often, and smile every time the cylinder locks up.

18. Springfield Armory 1911 Range Officer ( .45 ACP)

A 1911 isn’t the most practical answer to every problem, but it’s still one of the best-shooting pistol designs ever. The Range Officer line tends to give you a solid trigger and good accuracy without jumping straight into custom-gun pricing. When you’re trying to shoot tight groups, a decent 1911 teaches you things.

.45 ACP isn’t cheap, and magazines are another thing to keep track of, but this is a pistol I’d want in the mix again. Not as my only handgun—just as one that keeps me honest at the range.

19. BCM RECCE-16 (5.56 NATO)

If you’re going to own one AR, own one that runs. BCM has a reputation for a reason. The RECCE-16 is a good balance of handling, reliability, and real-world accuracy without getting too weird or too heavy.

ARs can turn into a never-ending accessory project. Starting over, I’d keep it simple: a good sling, a dependable optic, and enough magazines to train. The rifle should be a tool, not a hobby that never leaves the safe.

20. Ruger SP101 ( .357 Magnum, 2.25-inch)

A small revolver still makes sense in certain lives. The SP101 is heavier than the featherweight snubbies, and that is exactly why it works: it’s controllable with real ammo. It’s also tough enough to ride in a coat pocket, tackle box, or truck without feeling fragile.

No, it’s not the fastest reload. No, it doesn’t carry like a micro 9. Still, for a simple “always works” handgun that can digest .38s all day and .357s when needed, it’s hard to argue with.

If you notice a theme here, it’s not “most expensive” or “most tactical.” It’s guns that are supported, usable, and proven in bad weather and busy seasons. If you had to rebuild from scratch, focus on stuff you’ll actually shoot and carry, not stuff you’ll post a picture of once and then forget about. The safe fills back up faster when every purchase has a job.