Last updated September 28, 2026
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- Treat every gun as loaded
- Point the muzzle in a safe direction
- Keep your finger off the trigger until you’re ready to shoot
- Know your target and what’s beyond
Classic guns every shooter should own are the designs that taught America to shoot and still earn a place at the range: the 1911, the Model 10, the Garand, the 10/22, the Auto-5 and the pump guns that fed a century of duck blinds. Most are still easy to buy, and every one of them is still a joy to shoot.
This is my list of 12, four handguns, four rifles and four shotguns, built as a heritage battery you can actually take out on a weekend rather than lock in a safe. Think of it as a list of guns to own before you die, except every one of them is meant to be shot.
For each one I’ll tell you why it belongs, if it’s still made new or has to be hunted down used, and what our dealers were asking when I checked, with a live price card for every gun.
How we tested: Every pick here is ranked against our testing methodology. Minimum round counts, accuracy and reliability protocols, the failures that disqualify a gun.
Classic Guns Every Shooter Should Own at a Glance
Here are all 12 classic guns on this list, what kind of gun each one is, and how you can buy one today.
| Gun | Why It Matters | Key Facts | Check Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
THE SERVICE PISTOL
Colt 1911 Government
Shooters who want the pistol that defined the American handgun for most of the twentieth century. |
Type: Handgun Caliber: .45 ACP New or used: New from Colt, or military and commercial originals |
Check Price ↓ |
 |
THE POLICE REVOLVER
Smith & Wesson Model 10
New shooters and anyone who wants the revolver that carried American police for most of a century. |
Type: Handgun Caliber: .38 Special New or used: New Classic model, or police trade-ins |
Check Price ↓ |
 |
RUGER’S FIRST GUN
Ruger Standard and Mark IV
Families who want one .22 pistol to teach everyone to shoot. |
Type: Handgun Caliber: .22 LR New or used: New Mark IV, or used Standards and Mark IIs |
Check Price ↓ |
 |
BROWNING’S .22
Colt Woodsman
Buyers happy to go used for the most elegant .22 pistol ever made. |
Type: Handgun Caliber: .22 LR New or used: Used only |
Check Price ↓ |
 |
THE BATTLE RIFLE
M1 Garand
History buffs who want to shoot the rifle that carried American infantry through World War II. |
Type: Rifle Caliber: .30-06 Springfield New or used: Surplus and collector only |
Check Price ↓ |
 |
AMERICA’S .22
Ruger 10/22
Every shooter, from a first-timer to someone building a match rifle. |
Type: Rifle Caliber: .22 LR New or used: New, in dozens of versions |
Check Price ↓ |
 |
THE OLDEST LEVER .22
Marlin 39A
Anyone who wants the finest lever-action .22 ever made while good ones are still around. |
Type: Rifle Caliber: .22 Short, Long and Long Rifle New or used: Used only |
Check Price ↓ |
 |
THE DEER RIFLE
Winchester Model 94
Deer hunters in the timber and anyone who wants the rifle that defined the American lever gun. |
Type: Rifle Caliber: .30-30 Winchester; new carbines in .38-55 New or used: New Japanese-made Winchesters, or originals |
Check Price ↓ |
 |
THE HUMPBACK
Browning Auto-5
Bird hunters who want the shotgun that started the semi-auto era. |
Type: Shotgun Caliber: 12, 16 and 20 gauge New or used: Used and police trade-in |
Check Price ↓ |
 |
THE PERFECT REPEATER
Winchester Model 12
Upland, trap and skeet shooters who want the finest pump gun ever built for the price of a new plastic one. |
Type: Shotgun Caliber: 12, 16, 20 and 28 gauge New or used: Used only |
Check Price ↓ |
 |
THE TRENCH GUN
Winchester 1897
Cowboy action shooters and collectors who want the pump gun that started it all. |
Type: Shotgun Caliber: 12 and 16 gauge New or used: Used, plus Chinese-made copies |
Check Price ↓ |
 |
THE BEST-SELLER
Remington 870 Wingmaster
Anyone who wants one shotgun for birds, clays and the house, with a classic look. |
Type: Shotgun Caliber: 12, 16, 20, 28 gauge and .410 New or used: New Wingmasters, or used |
Check Price ↓ |
Table of Contents
What Makes a Classic Gun Worth Owning?
A gun earns a place on this list by doing three things. It changed how Americans shoot, it’s still a pleasure to shoot today, and you can still buy one without a museum budget. That’s what separates a timeless design from a must-have fad, and it rules out the grail guns.
Six of the 12 are still made, so you can walk into a store and buy one new. The other six you’ll find used, as police trade-ins, estate guns or consignment pieces. Here’s how they break down, with prices from when I checked on September 28, 2026.
| How it is sold | Guns | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Still made new | Colt 1911 Government, Smith & Wesson Model 10, Ruger Mark IV, Ruger 10/22, Winchester Model 94, Remington 870 Wingmaster | From $199.99 for a 10/22 to about $1,130 for a Model 94 |
| Used and trade-in only | Browning Auto-5, Winchester Model 12, Colt Woodsman, Marlin 39A, Winchester 1897 | From $449.99 for a Model 12 to $999.99 for a Belgian Auto-5 trade-in |
| Surplus and collector | M1 Garand | From $1,599.99 for an original Springfield |
Classic Handguns
Four handguns that cover the whole range bag: a .45 service pistol, a .38 police revolver and two .22 target pistols that have taught generations of Americans to shoot.
1. Colt 1911 Government: The Service Pistol
- Caliber: .45 ACP
- Action: Single-action semi-automatic, 7- or 8-round magazine, 5-inch barrel
- Made: Since 1911, and Colt still builds the Government Model
- New or used: New from Colt, or military and commercial originals
| Category | Rating |
|---|---|
| Heritage | 5/5 |
| Shootability | 5/5 |
| Value | 4/5 |
Pros
- Best single-action trigger of any service pistol
- Colt still makes it
- Fits most hands well
Cons
- Only seven or eight rounds
- Heavy for daily carry
- Needs quality magazines
John Browning designed it, and the Army adopted it on March 29, 1911, after a pistol fired 6,000 rounds in two days of testing without a malfunction. It served as the US sidearm through both world wars, Korea and Vietnam, until the Beretta 92F took over in 1985.
The single-action trigger is the reason people still love it. It breaks clean and short, and the grip angle points naturally. There are hundreds of 1911 makers now, but the Colt Government Model is the original, and Colt still builds it in the Series 70 style.
Guns.com lists a new Series 70 Government Classic at $859.99, Battlehawk Armory has a blued Series 70 at $826, and Discount Enterprise Guns has a stainless National Match at $896.99. Our full Colt 1911 Government review covers the current guns.
Best For: Shooters who want the pistol that defined the American handgun for most of the twentieth century.
2. Smith & Wesson Model 10: The Police Revolver
- Caliber: .38 Special
- Action: Double action, six-round cylinder, K-frame
- Made: More than 6 million since 1899, still in production
- New or used: New Classic model, or police trade-ins
| Category | Rating |
|---|---|
| Heritage | 5/5 |
| Shootability | 5/5 |
| Value | 5/5 |
Pros
- Most-produced handgun of the 1900s
- Mild, easy .38 Special recoil
- New and used both easy
Cons
- Fixed sights
- Six rounds only
- Double-action pull takes practice
The Model 10 started in 1899 as the .38 Military & Police, and it became the standard police revolver in America for about 70 years. More than six million have been made, which makes it the most-produced handgun of the twentieth century.
It’s the revolver I’d hand a new shooter. The .38 Special barely kicks in a K-frame, the double-action pull teaches good trigger control, and there’s nothing on it to break.
Smith & Wesson still makes the Model 10 Classic, and Palmetto State Armory lists it at $965.99. When I checked, Guns.com had it at $818.99 and Classic Firearms at $639.99. There are more on our classic revolvers list.
Best For: New shooters and anyone who wants the revolver that carried American police for most of a century.
3. Ruger Standard and Mark IV: Ruger’s First Gun
- Caliber: .22 LR
- Action: Blowback semi-automatic, 10-round magazine on the Mark IV
- Made: Since 1949, as the Standard, Mark II, Mark III and Mark IV
- New or used: New Mark IV, or used Standards and Mark IIs
| Category | Rating |
|---|---|
| Heritage | 5/5 |
| Shootability | 5/5 |
| Value | 5/5 |
Pros
- Best-selling .22 pistol ever made
- Accurate fixed barrel
- Mark IV strips with one button
Cons
- Older models are hard to reassemble
- .22 LR can be picky
- Heavy for its size
The Standard was the first gun Sturm, Ruger & Co. ever made. Bill Ruger based its lines on a Japanese Nambu pistol a Marine brought home, Alex Sturm put up $50,000, and the pistol went on sale in 1949 for $37.50.
It became the best-selling .22 semi-auto pistol in history, with more than two million sold, and it grew into the Mark II in 1982, the Mark III in 2004 and the Mark IV in 2016. Early guns are famously fiddly to put back together, and the Mark IV fixed that with a one-button takedown.
Classic Firearms lists the Mark IV Standard at $413.87, and Guns.com has it at $474.99. Our best Ruger Mark IV pistols roundup covers the whole family.
Best For: Families who want one .22 pistol to teach everyone to shoot.
4. Colt Woodsman: Browning’s .22
- Caliber: .22 LR
- Action: Blowback semi-automatic, 10-round magazine
- Made: 1915 to 1977, in three series
- New or used: Used only
| Category | Rating |
|---|---|
| Heritage | 5/5 |
| Shootability | 5/5 |
| Value | 4/5 |
Pros
- Beautiful John Browning design
- Superb balance and trigger
- Hemingway’s recommended .22
Cons
- Out of production since 1977
- Magazines are pricey
- First series needs care with ammo
John Browning designed the Woodsman, and Colt made it from 1915 to 1977 in three series. The name itself didn’t appear until 1927, and the Match Target model of 1938 became a favorite of bullseye shooters.
Ernest Hemingway recommended the Woodsman in print as the pistol to buy, and Raymond Chandler put one in the hands of a gunman in his fiction. It points like a finger and balances better than almost any .22 made since.
When I checked, Guns.com had one on consignment at $500.99. Our Colt Woodsman guide covers each series and what to pay.
Best For: Buyers happy to go used for the most elegant .22 pistol ever made.
Classic Rifles
A battle rifle, two .22s and the deer rifle that sold more than seven million copies. Between them they cover the range, the squirrel woods and the deer stand.
5. M1 Garand: The Battle Rifle
- Caliber: .30-06 Springfield
- Action: Gas-operated semi-automatic, eight-round en bloc clip
- Made: About 5.47 million from 1937 to 1957, service rifle 1936 to 1958
- New or used: Surplus and collector only
| Category | Rating |
|---|---|
| Heritage | 5/5 |
| Shootability | 4/5 |
| Value | 4/5 |
Pros
- Patton’s greatest battle implement
- That famous ping
- C&R eligible originals
Cons
- Heavy at about 9.5 pounds
- Needs Garand-safe ammo
- Prices keep rising
John Garand’s rifle was standardized in 1936, and it was the first semi-auto rifle the United States issued as standard. Springfield and Winchester built about four million during World War II, and General George S. Patton called it the greatest battle implement ever devised.
It fires eight rounds from an en bloc clip that pings out when it’s empty, and shooting one is a history lesson with every trigger pull. Feed it ammunition loaded for the Garand, since heavy modern hunting loads can bend the operating rod.
Classic Firearms lists an original Springfield at $1,599.99 and a post-war rifle from a private collection at $1,800. Our used M1 Garand guide covers makers, serial ranges and the Civilian Marksmanship Program.
Best For: History buffs who want to shoot the rifle that carried American infantry through World War II.
6. Ruger 10/22: America’s .22
- Caliber: .22 LR
- Action: Blowback semi-automatic, 10-round rotary magazine
- Made: Continuously since 1964
- New or used: New, in dozens of versions
| Category | Rating |
|---|---|
| Heritage | 4/5 |
| Shootability | 5/5 |
| Value | 5/5 |
Pros
- Cheap to buy and shoot
- Flush rotary magazine
- Endless aftermarket parts
Cons
- Stock trigger is heavy
- Iron sights are basic
- Picky with some ammo
Ruger launched the 10/22 in 1964, and the carbine has been in production ever since. Its 10-round rotary magazine sits flush in the stock, and the barrel is held by a simple two-screw V-block, so swapping it doesn’t need a gunsmith.
The aftermarket is so big you can build a complete 10/22 without a single Ruger part. It’s the plinking rifle most of us learned on and the one we buy for our kids.
Sportsman’s Warehouse lists the black carbine at $299.99, and Classic Firearms has one at $199.99. Our Ruger 10/22 review covers the versions.
Best For: Every shooter, from a first-timer to someone building a match rifle.
7. Marlin 39A: The Oldest Lever .22
- Caliber: .22 Short, Long and Long Rifle
- Action: Lever action, tube magazine, 19 Long Rifle rounds
- Made: From the Model 1891 until 2020
- New or used: Used only
| Category | Rating |
|---|---|
| Heritage | 5/5 |
| Shootability | 5/5 |
| Value | 4/5 |
Pros
- Longest-running rifle design in America
- Shoots Short, Long and Long Rifle
- Takes down with a coin
Cons
- No longer made
- Heavier than most .22s
- Prices climbing since 2020
The 39A traces back to the Marlin Model 1891, the first lever-action rifle chambered for .22 Long Rifle. Annie Oakley put 25 shots through one ragged hole with an 1891 in 1893, and the design became the Model 39 in 1921 and the Model 39A in 1939.
It’s all forged steel and walnut, and it takes down with a coin. Production ended when Remington’s Marlin factory closed in 2020, and Ruger, which bought the Marlin name, hasn’t brought the 39A back yet.
When I checked, Guns.com had one on consignment at $549.99, and Sportsman’s Outdoor Superstore had a Golden 39A police trade-in at $649.99. It’s also on our list of classic American rifles.
Best For: Anyone who wants the finest lever-action .22 ever made while good ones are still around.
8. Winchester Model 94: The Deer Rifle
- Caliber: .30-30 Winchester and others; current carbines in .38-55
- Action: Lever action, tube magazine
- Made: More than 7 million; New Haven production ended in 2006, and Miroku builds them in Japan today
- New or used: New Japanese-made Winchesters, or originals
| Category | Rating |
|---|---|
| Heritage | 5/5 |
| Shootability | 5/5 |
| Value | 4/5 |
Pros
- First sporting rifle to sell 7 million
- Light, quick and flat
- Pre-64 guns hold value
Cons
- Hard to scope older guns
- Tube magazine needs flat-nose bullets
- New ones cost over $1,100
Browning’s Model 1894 became, in 1895, one of the first American sporting rifles for a smokeless cartridge, the .30 WCF that we call the .30-30. It was the first sporting rifle to sell more than seven million copies, and the millionth went to President Calvin Coolidge in 1927.
In the thick eastern woods, where most deer fall at short range, nothing carries or points better. Guns made before the 1964 cost-cutting change are the ones collectors want.
Winchester’s current carbine run is in .38-55, one of the rifle’s two original 1894 chamberings. Sportsman’s Warehouse lists it at $1,189.99, and Midway USA has it at $1,197.99. Our Winchester Model 94 review covers the new rifles.
Best For: Deer hunters in the timber and anyone who wants the rifle that defined the American lever gun.
Classic Shotguns
Four shotguns from the golden age of American wingshooting. Three of them came from John Browning’s drawing board or grew straight out of his designs, and the fourth is the best-selling shotgun in history.
9. Browning Auto-5: The Humpback
- Gauge: 12, 16 and 20 gauge
- Action: Long-recoil semi-automatic, five-round capacity
- Made: 1902 to 1998, in Belgium and Japan
- New or used: Used and police trade-in
| Category | Rating |
|---|---|
| Heritage | 5/5 |
| Shootability | 4/5 |
| Value | 5/5 |
Pros
- First successful semi-auto shotgun
- Belgian guns are beautifully made
- Tough, century-proven action
Cons
- Friction rings need setting
- Recoil feels different
- Parts getting harder to find
John Browning designed the Auto-5 in 1898, patented it in 1900, and called it his best achievement. Winchester turned him down, so Fabrique Nationale built it in Belgium from 1902, and it stayed in production until 1998.
It was the first successful semi-auto shotgun, and its squared humpback receiver is easy to spot across a waterfowl marsh. The whole barrel recoils on every shot, and you set a pair of friction rings to match your load.
When I checked, Guns.com had one on consignment at $695.99, and Sportsman’s Outdoor Superstore had a Belgian-made police trade-in at $999.99. Our Browning Auto-5 guide covers dating and what to pay.
Best For: Bird hunters who want the shotgun that started the semi-auto era.
10. Winchester Model 12: The Perfect Repeater
- Gauge: 12, 16, 20 and 28 gauge
- Action: Hammerless pump action, tube magazine
- Made: Nearly 2 million, August 1912 to May 1964
- New or used: Used only
| Category | Rating |
|---|---|
| Heritage | 5/5 |
| Shootability | 5/5 |
| Value | 5/5 |
Pros
- Smoothest pump action ever made
- Forged and machined steel
- Cheap for what it is
Cons
- Check chamber length first
- No disconnector, can slam-fire
- Out of production since 1964
Winchester called it the Perfect Repeater. T.C. Johnson designed it from Browning’s Model 1897, Winchester built nearly two million between 1912 and 1964, and US troops carried Model 12 trench guns in both world wars.
Its forged steel action slicks up with use until it runs like glass. Winchester stopped mass-producing it in 1964 because it cost too much to build against the cheaper Remington 870, which is exactly why a used one is such a bargain now.
Early 20 and 16 gauge guns have short chambers, so have a gunsmith confirm yours is safe for modern 2 3/4-inch shells. Guns.com had a consignment gun at $449.99 when I checked.
Best For: Upland, trap and skeet shooters who want the finest pump gun ever built for the price of a new plastic one.
11. Winchester 1897: The Trench Gun
- Gauge: 12 and 16 gauge
- Action: Exposed-hammer pump action, five- or six-round tube
- Made: More than 1 million, 1897 to 1957
- New or used: Used, plus Chinese-made copies
| Category | Rating |
|---|---|
| Heritage | 5/5 |
| Shootability | 4/5 |
| Value | 4/5 |
Pros
- First truly successful pump shotgun
- Iconic World War I trench gun
- Takedown models strip for cleaning
Cons
- Exposed hammer takes practice
- Many are worn out
- Only for 2 3/4-inch shells
Winchester built the Model 1897 on Browning’s redesign of the Model 1893, with a stronger frame for smokeless shells. It was the first truly successful pump shotgun, and Winchester made more than a million by the time production ended in 1957.
American troops carried it as a trench gun in World War I, and it’s a favorite in cowboy action shooting today. Like the Model 12, it has no trigger disconnector, so it fires every time the action closes while the trigger is held.
The one I found was a Guns.com consignment gun at $899.99. The trench gun is on our WW1 guns list.
Best For: Cowboy action shooters and collectors who want the pump gun that started it all.
12. Remington 870 Wingmaster: The Best-Seller
- Gauge: 12, 16, 20, 28 gauge and .410
- Action: Pump action, dual action bars
- Made: Since 1950, more than 10 million 870s
- New or used: New Wingmasters, or used
| Category | Rating |
|---|---|
| Heritage | 4/5 |
| Shootability | 5/5 |
| Value | 5/5 |
Pros
- Best-selling shotgun in history
- Polished blue and walnut
- Parts and barrels everywhere
Cons
- Newer guns vary in quality
- Heavier than a Model 12
- Older carriers can tie up
Remington introduced the 870 in 1950 to beat the Winchester Model 12 on price, and it worked. It sold two million by 1973, and the ten millionth rolled off the line on April 13, 2009, which makes it the best-selling shotgun in history.
The Wingmaster is the original, with polished blued steel and a walnut stock, and the dual action bars keep the pump smooth for decades. The US Navy used Wingmasters in Vietnam.
Hinterland Outfitters lists a 12 gauge Wingmaster at $694.43, and Sportsman’s Outdoor Superstore has a .410 at $899.99. For older guns, our used Remington 870 guide covers what to check.
Best For: Anyone who wants one shotgun for birds, clays and the house, with a classic look.
Build a Heritage Battery: What It Costs
You don’t have to buy all 12 at once. Here’s what four ways to start cost at the lowest listing on each card when I checked on September 28, 2026.
| Battery | Guns | Lowest listings | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| The .22 trainers | Ruger 10/22 and Ruger Mark IV Standard | $199.99 + $413.87 | $613.86 |
| The still-made four | Colt 1911 Government, S&W Model 10, Ruger 10/22 and Remington 870 Wingmaster | $826 + $639.99 + $199.99 + $694.43 | $2,360.41 |
| The vintage four | Winchester Model 12, Colt Woodsman, Marlin 39A and Browning Auto-5 | $449.99 + $500.99 + $549.99 + $695.99 | $2,196.96 |
| The full dozen | All 12 guns on this list | Lowest listing for each gun | $8,602.31 |
The .22 pair is where I’d start anyone. It costs less than one new Colt, and the ammo costs pennies, so you’ll actually shoot it.
Can You Still Feed Them?
Every gun here shoots ammo you can buy today. Here’s how many listings each cartridge had across our dealer network on September 28, 2026, and how many dealers carried it.
| Cartridge | Guns on this list | Ammo listings | Dealers carrying it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 gauge | Browning Auto-5, Winchester Model 12 and 1897, Remington 870 | 6,383 | 19 |
| 20 gauge | Auto-5, Model 12 and 870 in 20 gauge | 1,715 | 16 |
| .45 ACP | Colt 1911 Government | 932 | 18 |
| .30-06 Springfield | M1 Garand | 829 | 16 |
| .38 Special | Smith & Wesson Model 10 | 626 | 17 |
| .22 LR | Ruger Mark IV, Ruger 10/22, Colt Woodsman, Marlin 39A | 361 | 18 |
| .30-30 Winchester | Winchester Model 94 | 280 | 14 |
| 16 gauge | Auto-5, Model 12 and 1897 in 16 gauge | 250 | 10 |
| .38-55 Winchester | New Winchester Model 94 carbines | 14 | 7 |
The only one to watch is .38-55 for the new Model 94 carbines, with just 14 listings. If you want a Model 94 you can feed from any sporting goods store, look for a used .30-30.
Before You Shoot an Old Classic
Most of these guns are decades old, and a few have quirks a new shooter should know about.
- Check the chamber on old shotguns. Early Winchester Model 12s in 20 and 16 gauge have short chambers, and a modern 2 3/4-inch shell can chamber and still raise pressure. A gunsmith can measure it in minutes.
- Know which pumps slam-fire. The Winchester 1897 and Model 12 have no trigger disconnector, so they fire each time the action closes while you hold the trigger. Keep your finger off it while you pump.
- Set the Auto-5 friction rings. The rings control how hard the barrel recoils, and they’re set differently for light target loads and heavy hunting loads. The owner’s manual shows both.
- Feed the Garand the right ammo. Use loads made for the M1 Garand, because heavy modern hunting ammo can bend the operating rod.
- Check the date. Any gun made 50 or more years ago in its original configuration is a curio or relic, and a Curio and Relic license from the ATF lets you have those shipped to your door. That covers most of the used guns on this list.
How I Picked These 12 Guns
I started with guns that shaped how Americans shoot, then kept only the ones you can still buy and still enjoy at the range. I split the list evenly, four handguns, four rifles and four shotguns, so it works as a real battery, and I checked what our 200+ retailers had for sale on September 28, 2026. Every gun here had at least one live listing.
I left out the rare collector pieces, which are on our grail guns list, and most other military rifles, which have their own best military surplus rifles roundup. The history comes from published histories of each gun, and the photos come from museum collections, the Department of Defense and collectors who released them for free use.
Featured image: a scene built around a photo of a World War I Colt Model of 1911 U.S. Army pistol from the Auckland War Memorial Museum, released under CC BY 2.0.
The Bottom Line
These are the classic guns every shooter should own, and all 12 were for sale when I checked. If you buy one gun from this list, make it a Ruger 10/22 for $200 to $300, because you’ll shoot it more than anything else you own. Add a Model 10 and a used Model 12 and you have a classic battery for about $1,300. And if you want the one gun that tells the story of American shooting, it’s the 1911.
Frequently Asked Questions
What classic guns should every shooter own?
Classic guns every shooter should own include the Colt 1911 Government, the Smith & Wesson Model 10, the Ruger Mark IV, the Colt Woodsman, the M1 Garand, the Ruger 10/22, the Marlin 39A, the Winchester Model 94, the Browning Auto-5, the Winchester Model 12, the Winchester 1897 and the Remington 870 Wingmaster.
What is the best first classic gun to buy?
The Ruger 10/22 is the best first classic gun for most people. It has been in production since 1964, it costs about $200 to $300 new, and .22 LR ammo is cheap enough that you will actually practice with it.
Which of these classic guns are still made?
Six are still made new: the Colt 1911 Government, the Smith & Wesson Model 10, the Ruger Mark IV, the Ruger 10/22, the Winchester Model 94 and the Remington 870 Wingmaster. The Browning Auto-5, Winchester Model 12, Colt Woodsman, Marlin 39A, Winchester 1897 and M1 Garand are sold used or as surplus.
Is a Winchester Model 12 safe to shoot with modern shells?
Most are, but early 20 and 16 gauge Model 12s have short chambers, and a modern 2 3/4-inch shell can fit and still raise pressure. Have a gunsmith measure the chamber before you shoot an old one.
Why did Winchester stop making the Model 12?
Winchester stopped regular production of the Model 12 in May 1964 because its forged and machined steel parts made it too expensive to build against the cheaper Remington 870. Nearly two million were made.
Is the Browning A5 the same as the Auto-5?
No. The original Auto-5 was a long-recoil shotgun made from 1902 to 1998. The Browning A5 introduced in 2014 looks similar, but it is a mechanically unrelated recoil-operated design made in Portugal.
Is the Marlin 39A still made?
No. Production of the Golden 39A ended in 2020 when Remington closed the Marlin factory. Ruger bought the Marlin name and has brought back other Marlin lever guns, but not the 39A as of September 2026, so you have to buy one used.
What ammo should I use in an M1 Garand?
Use ammunition loaded for the M1 Garand, such as M2 ball or commercial loads labeled Garand-safe. Heavy modern hunting loads can build too much pressure at the gas port and bend the operating rod.
What does it cost to build a classic gun collection?
When we checked in September 2026, a Ruger 10/22 and Ruger Mark IV cost $613.86 together, four still-made classics cost $2,360.41, and the lowest listing on all 12 guns on this list added up to $8,602.31.
What are the three guns everyone should own?
A .22 rifle, a centerfire handgun and a pump shotgun cover almost everything. From this list that could be a Ruger 10/22, a Smith & Wesson Model 10 and a Remington 870 Wingmaster.
Do classic guns go up in value?
Some do. Collectors pay a premium for pre-64 Winchester Model 94s, but condition and originality matter more than age, so buy these guns to shoot rather than to speculate.
What was the most-produced handgun of the twentieth century?
The Smith & Wesson Model 10, first made in 1899 as the .38 Military & Police, is the most-produced handgun of the twentieth century, with more than six million made. Smith & Wesson still makes the Model 10 Classic.
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