Mike from Mrgunsngear put out a video picking his five favorite firearms, one from each major category, and it’s embedded above. He’s one of the more level-headed reviewers on YouTube, so when he commits to favorites, I pay attention. I’m Lance Rankin, and I sell and wrench on guns every day at Western Sport in Roanoke, Texas, so I figured I’d run his list against what actually moves across my counter and lands on my bench. Spoiler: the man’s picks hold up.
Shotgun: Mossberg 590
Mike’s heart says older Remington 870, but he’s had reliability trouble with the newer production, so his buy-it-today pick is the Mossberg 590. I see the same thing in the shop. Old 870s are tanks; recent ones have been a coin flip. The 590 is the 500’s tougher sibling, worth its extra weight, with a deep accessory market and a top-mounted safety that works the same for lefties. No argument from me.
Rifle: BCM AR-15
His rifle is a BCM with a 16-inch ELW-profile barrel, and his reasoning is the part worth hearing: past a certain point, more money buys very little more rifle. BCM sits right at that point. Durable, accurate out of the box, made in Wisconsin. As a Daniel Defense dealer I’d add DD to that same conversation, but the value argument for BCM is honest and I make it myself at the counter. If you’re earlier in the journey, start with my best AR-15 for beginners guide before you spend BCM money.
Revolver: Smith & Wesson J-frame
His carry revolver is a 13-ounce .357 Magnum J-frame, a design that’s been proving itself since the 1950s. He admits it kicks, and a featherweight .357 genuinely does. Most people who buy one end up feeding it .38 Special, which is fine. It’s the gun that’s always in the pocket when the fancier gun got left home. For a shooter who wants a bigger wheelgun, he points to the 686 Plus, which is also what I’d hand you.
Semi-auto pistol: Glock 19X or 45
He calls this pick controversial. It isn’t. The 19X and the Glock 45 are the same practical idea, a full-size grip under a compact slide, and they may be the best all-around Glocks made: reliable, optic-ready, decent sights, usable trigger. His joke that the 19X wins because it’s tan is at least half serious. If you’re weighing frame sizes in the Glock line, my Glock 19 vs 17 writeup covers the trade-offs.
PCC: CZ Scorpion Gen 3
His pistol-caliber carbine pick is the Scorpion, specifically the Gen 3, which fixed the accuracy complaints of the earlier guns. Simple blowback action, AR-familiar controls, big aftermarket, and a price that undercuts a lot of the competition. His best point is one I repeat to home-defense customers: an average shooter under stress will get hits with a carbine far more easily than with a pistol. Something with a stock and three points of contact is more forgiving of everything.
Where I land
What I like about this list is that there’s nothing exotic on it. Five proven designs, all of them repairable, all of them with parts support that’ll outlive us. That’s what favorites should look like from somebody who actually shoots. Every gun on this list is something I can put in your hands through our online store or here at the shop in Roanoke. Watch Mike’s full video for his complete reasoning, and if you want a second opinion tailored to your situation, call me at 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.
