The video above is one of those “five guns that changed my life” countdowns, and it’s a good one. The host walks through the pistols, rifles, and shotguns that shaped him as a shooter, from a chores-for-ammo .22 deal with his dad to his first competition pistol. I’m Lance Rankin, gunsmith and owner of Western Sport here in Roanoke, Texas, and I found myself nodding along at most of his picks, because I’ve watched the same five guns do the same work for customers for years. Here’s his list of guns that changed his life, with my commentary.
Glock 26
His number five is the Glock 26, the “fat baby,” which was his first everyday carry gun. He put thousands of rounds through it without a hiccup, added a better front sight and some trigger work, and trusted it completely.
Fair pick. The 26 was the default serious carry gun for a long stretch, and it still runs. These days most of my carry customers end up with a slimmer single-stack-style gun instead, because the thin frames hide better and shoot nearly as well. If that’s the decision you’re facing, my Glock 43 vs 43X comparison covers it. But nobody who carries a 26 is under-gunned.
Colt 1911
Next he picks the Colt 1911, praising the trigger even on worn older examples and the gun’s place in American history. He’s right on both counts. A decent 1911 trigger will spoil you for everything else, and the design earned its reputation over a century of service.
The honest trade-offs: it’s heavy for its capacity, and a 1911 rewards an owner who keeps up with maintenance and feeds it magazines it likes. I love working on them in the shop. I also tell first-time buyers there are easier guns to live with. Both things are true.
Henry Golden Boy .22
His first rifle was a Henry Golden Boy lever gun, a gift from his father with a deal attached: do your chores, keep pests out of the garden. That story could belong to half the shooters in Texas.
A lever-action .22 might be the best marksmanship teacher there is. Ammo is cheap, recoil is nothing, and the manual action slows you down so you actually think about sight alignment, breathing, and trigger press. If someone asked me to build a new shooter from scratch, I’d start them exactly here.
H&R 20-gauge single shot
His first shotgun was a Harrington & Richardson single-shot 20 gauge, and he credits it with teaching him to make every shot count, since there was only ever one in the gun. He took deer, pheasants, and rabbits with it.
These break-action singles get overlooked because they’re cheap, but cheap isn’t the same as bad. Light recoil, dead-simple manual of arms, and they run in weather that jams fancier guns. A lot of good hunters got made on one.
CZ SP-01 Shadow
His number one is the CZ SP-01 Shadow, the pistol that got him into competitive shooting after a USPSA master-class shooter pointed him toward matches in his area. That part rings true too. The right gun plus one invitation to a match has changed a lot of lives, and CZ’s Shadow line has probably started more competition habits than any pistol since the 1911.
Which guns changed your life?
Watch the full video for his stories, they’re better told in his voice. Then think about the guns that changed your own life. If the list is still short, I can help with that part. Browse the store, starting with the pistols and rifles, or if you’re just getting started, my guide to the best first gun in Texas is a sensible place to begin. Local pickup by appointment here in Roanoke, north of Fort Worth. Questions: [email protected] or 817-393-4000.
Lance Rankin is the owner and Chief Gunsmith of Western Sport, a family-run Type 07 FFL and Class 3/SOT dealer in Roanoke, Texas, serving shooters since 2007. Born and raised in Texas with over 50 years of experience handling firearms, Lance purchased Western Sport in 2017 and turned his lifelong passion into his profession. He specializes in AR-15 and AR-10 platform rifles, manufactures Western Sport’s own AR-15 line under the Rankin Industries brand, and runs the shop’s in-house Cerakote coating operation. When he’s not behind the counter or the workbench, you’ll find him on his ranch deep into the night, hunting coyotes with an AR-15 and thermal optics. Lance holds an MBA and personally shoots and tests the products Western Sport sells.
