If you had ~$1500 to spend...

[mr surveyor]

for $1500????

The wish list you mentioned could be very well started:

.30-06 you can always find excellent used Rem 700's, scoped, for around $500. Rarely have these guns had more than 40-60 rounds fired through them.

Carbine... find a very nice slightly used Marlin 336 in the $300 range.

Small handgun... you need a J-frame ... everyone needs at least one. This might be a bit more pricey for quality, but occassionally a clean used one can be found in the $350 range.

The small sub-compact is a pure matter of choice..and your definition of a sub-compact.

Whatever you choose, I would recommend buying the highest quality, and most versatile firearms I could. Caliber quantities to me are a plus. That way, you find a deal on ammo, and you just may have the firearm that can use it... or a buddy you can trade ammo with.

Just some more ideas to consider.

surv

[TLE2]

For me, it would be a nice basic black rifle or another 1911. Or another......

[The Annoyed Man]

I would put part of it on a 3x or 4x magnifier for my Eotech, and I'd put the rest toward a truly fine long range scope for one of my .308s.

[boomerang]

This is a classic bubble market. It will collapse. People who overextended themselves to buy weapons or thousands of dollars' worth of ammunition are going to run into hard times, and prices will come down.

And unlike homes and financial instrument speculators, I don't think the feds will bail out guns and ammo speculators.

[NuBer92]

I'm surprised no one has suggested body armor....

[bryang]

Well, I know what I would want and have for quite some time now. I would like one of the new Colt New Agent .45, or the Colt Defender .45.

-geo

[dicion]

The New Agent and Defender are definitely on my 'short list' of carry guns to purchase, along with a Kimber UCII and some others, but I think I might go with the SA XD 3" SubCompact in .40 first...

I dont know! It's so hard :/ I love my 1911's, but a 3" in .45 only generally can have 7 round magazines (which, granted, SHOULD be enough) the XD in .40 can hold 13, double stack. However it increases the width of the grip.... so Aaargh. I'd like to be able to try all of them before I decide ;)

[that1otherdude]

I'd go with a recommendation from Ed Vanden Berg and buy a Stainless Springfield Milspec and have it worked to perfection..

Briley Barrel
Ed Brown Commander Hammer
Kimber or King Ambi Safety
Novak nights...

a few more things that I don't have time to mention... (i'm at work...)

[ntexaschl]

I'd try to add another $500 or so to that $1500, and, then get an Ed Brown. I've been entertaining that idea. I'm not sure that I can justify, even to myself, owing such a pistol. Sure would love it, though.

[RiverRat]

Considering your budget, I'd consider the XDsub in .40 or XD45 compact (best of both worlds as it takes the 13 round full sized .45 mags), a Mosin-Nagant, either a 44 or 91/30 (cheap), and a Savage 30.06 bolt (inexpensive, but a fine rifle). You'll have money for ammo left over. The XD45 compact is not that much more difficult to carry than the sub, if you don't mind the double stack grip that is a little larger on your hands. In my mind there is no substitute for a .45.

The 30.06 has available ammo with many choices of bullet weights, from varmit to bear, all in one rifle. I have .243, .270, 30-30, .308, .300 wsm, but always grab the 30.06. I have three of them.....also three .308's, but prefer the 30.06. I can find ammo anywhere for the 30.06, even in PoDunk, TX or here in Austin with very little available, 30/06 is everywhere. I really appreciate the multiple bullet weight choices. I've found the .308 a lot more limited........nothing wrong with a .308 as long as it's 150 or 168 grain bullets that you are shooting. Food for thought.

Oh, the Mosin. It's a lot of gun for the dollar. Ammo is pretty cheap, still.

Just my opinion. Good Luck!

[Bunkins]

Humm, I'd have to say a compact .45 ( such as a Kimber Ultra Carry 2 stainless, or similar ).. Then a Ruger 10/22 for the wife, the funnest gun on the planet, if your wife doesnt enjoy plinking with it, then she wont enjoy anything. You'd probably have money left over for ammo, though I suggest not buying it at a gun show.

If you decide to buy a rifle, I'd go with a 30-06. 308's are great, so are 300's, but I've used a 30-06 for all types of game ( deer, elk, etc ).. It's just a all around good caliber.

The 4 guns that are a must to have around in my book is a 12ga shotgun, a bolt action 30-06, a .22, and a .45 handgun. Your good for just about anything with those. Shotgun for skeet, bird hunting and home defense. 30-06 for large game hunting and long range target shooting ( my fav ), a .22 for plinking, and a .45 for personal protection.. Of course you can change it around a bit, but those are the types of guns I recommend everyone should own. Once ya have those, then worry about the AK's, AR's, lever action's blah blah..

[Carrots]

I'd try to add another $500 or so to that $1500, and, then get an Ed Brown. I've been entertaining that idea. I'm not sure that I can justify, even to myself, owing such a pistol. Sure would love it, though.

+ 1. When I have a reasonable amount of "free" money I like to spend it on something that I'd really like (like an Ed Brown) but that I would never normally be able to justify to myself. A $2000 dollar handgun fits into that catagory nicely for me right now. Besides, isn't this the point of birthday presents?
Anyway happy shopping, I suspect that this is one instance where doing the wrong thing isn't actually possible

[Liberty]

I would be tempted to buy the sig 250 with some permutations,
9 mm short compact
357 sig full size
40 cal.

Tranformers are fun.

[Pinkycatcher]

Maybe be a Glock 19 (I only say that because I have one) and then a 10/22, then spend the rest on an AR build.

(Well that's what I did, just not in that order)

[AFJailor]

Larue tactical upper and you would almost have enough to complete the rifle with the left over cash.