Micahweeks
New member
Some guns are suited for certain roles better than others, though I think this is more observable in rifles than handguns. In handguns, it's pretty obvious from the get go if a gun is a hunting gun or self defense gun. I mean, a single shot .223 gun with a 10" barrel? Who is honestly going to CC that? It's a compact varmint/deer gun. A Glock 19? Obviously, that's a defense gun.
Caliber, utility, weight, and other factors go into determining role. For instance, a "trail" gun is thought to be small enough to fit in a backpack but still large enough to be chambered in substantial hunting round and have enough barrel length to take advantage of the cartridge. In handguns, this would be something like the 4.2 inch SP101. It's a 5 shot .357 that is relatively light and compact framed but with enough barrel to take advantage of the .357 cartridge. It's a backpacking gun. Could you carry a 6 inch .500 mag in your backpack? Sure. Would it be overkill for the wildlife where you live? Probably. Would it contribute significantly more to your overall backpack weight? You bet. Would it leave less room for the rest of your equipment? Yup. Does that make the 4.2 SP101 better in the "role" of "backpack gun"? Objectively, probably a yes.
In rifles, this is much more obvious than in handguns. A lever action .357, for example, is completely different in design and purpose from a bolt action .338. I mean, they aren't even in the same ballpark. An AR-15, no matter how you slice it, is just not going to fill the same role as a break action .22. It's not. No way. No how. For one, you're going to take into account laws. Does a gun designed to operate with a 30 round clip or magazine seem like a hunting gun if your state limits hunting guns to 5 rounds? What about a gun designed to carry 5 rounds? Obviously, we have some roles in mind here.
Me? I've got several guns with different roles, and I use them in those roles. I've got my deer/hog guns, my GP100 and lever gun in .357. I've got my .308 big(ger) game rifle, a 700. I've got my old duty guns, a USP9, G35, G22, and a 1911. I've my hiking/camping gun, the 4.2 inch SP101. I've got my bird/squirrel shotguns. I've got my garden varmint .22 rifle. Then, I have a few guns I've experimented with over the years and kept because I liked them like the FNX9 and a few others.
All of that said... sometimes we do just want another gun. I'm not above that whatsoever. I have my "fun" guns, too. But, there is still a logic to firearm designs, and they do often fit a role.
Caliber, utility, weight, and other factors go into determining role. For instance, a "trail" gun is thought to be small enough to fit in a backpack but still large enough to be chambered in substantial hunting round and have enough barrel length to take advantage of the cartridge. In handguns, this would be something like the 4.2 inch SP101. It's a 5 shot .357 that is relatively light and compact framed but with enough barrel to take advantage of the .357 cartridge. It's a backpacking gun. Could you carry a 6 inch .500 mag in your backpack? Sure. Would it be overkill for the wildlife where you live? Probably. Would it contribute significantly more to your overall backpack weight? You bet. Would it leave less room for the rest of your equipment? Yup. Does that make the 4.2 SP101 better in the "role" of "backpack gun"? Objectively, probably a yes.
In rifles, this is much more obvious than in handguns. A lever action .357, for example, is completely different in design and purpose from a bolt action .338. I mean, they aren't even in the same ballpark. An AR-15, no matter how you slice it, is just not going to fill the same role as a break action .22. It's not. No way. No how. For one, you're going to take into account laws. Does a gun designed to operate with a 30 round clip or magazine seem like a hunting gun if your state limits hunting guns to 5 rounds? What about a gun designed to carry 5 rounds? Obviously, we have some roles in mind here.
Me? I've got several guns with different roles, and I use them in those roles. I've got my deer/hog guns, my GP100 and lever gun in .357. I've got my .308 big(ger) game rifle, a 700. I've got my old duty guns, a USP9, G35, G22, and a 1911. I've my hiking/camping gun, the 4.2 inch SP101. I've got my bird/squirrel shotguns. I've got my garden varmint .22 rifle. Then, I have a few guns I've experimented with over the years and kept because I liked them like the FNX9 and a few others.
All of that said... sometimes we do just want another gun. I'm not above that whatsoever. I have my "fun" guns, too. But, there is still a logic to firearm designs, and they do often fit a role.
