It’s an epic debate: if faced with a choice, what would be the only firearm to own for the rest of your life? The answer may depend on the intended use. Is it only for defending hearth and home? Is its sole purpose for putting food on the table? In this debate it is shotgun vs rifle.

Historically, settlers turned farmers kept both at hand, a shotgun for predators – four-footed or two-footed, and a rifle chambered in .22 for small game or varmints that were both likely inexpensive and considered tools.

Shotguns are called scatter guns for a reason, offering shorter range power that can punch holes. The word shotgun was first used in 1776 when James Fennimore Cooper mentioned it in his book, “Frontier Language of the West," but the use of shotguns long predates this common vernacular back to the 16th century when they were referred to as "fowling pieces" or "haile shotte peics" depending on what country was using them.

Rifles, so named because of the barrel rifling that provides greater accuracy and range, was first developed in the late 15th century and used militarily as early as the 17th century. It continued to grow in popularity and by the American Revolution colonists used their Kentucky long rifles to deadly effect against the British smoothbore muskets.

Take a look at a few of the purposes for ownership in the argument of shotgun vs rifle, with examples of each type available in Rock Island Auction Company’s Oct. 4-6 Sporting & Collector Auction.

This Belgian Browning High-Power rifle with scope is chambered in .308 Norma Magnum that could be used for big game hunting or target shooting.

Shotgun vs Rifle: Home Defense

Home defense can’t be overlooked in this debate, and a semi-automatic rifle with multiple shots, especially with the benefit of a standard 30-round magazine, has the upper hand when it comes to volume of firepower. Should the debate of defense continue outdoors, the rifle also offers a range the shotgun simply can't match. In rebuttal, shotguns offer the ability to spray shot with tremendous muzzle energy, requiring less accuracy to fire effectively in a high stress situation.

The shotgun has been marketed at times for home defense, like the Ladies Home Companion or the Ithaca Auto & Burglar, and was once a law enforcement staple. While a cumbersome SPAS-12 might be fine for trying to fend off velociraptors, a riot shotgun like the Winchester 1897 Model 12 or the Benelli M4 that are maneuverable, fire multiple shots and have plenty of stopping power are the best option.

This pre-ban Chinese Poly Technologies AKS-762 is chambered in 7.62mm with an 18-inch barrel and collapsible stock that makes it maneuverable in close quarters.

This U.S. marked Remington Model 11 riot shotgun has a 20-inch barrel and holds multiple shells, making it a good option for home defense. This pair of Ithaca 37 Featherlight shotguns would also be good for home defense or a backup gun on a big game hunt.

Shotgun vs Rifle: Birding

A shotgun can spray a ball of shot over a wider area rather than relying on a single bullet so a bullseye is not necessary to knock down small, moving targets, like quail, grouse or pheasant, especially within a range of 50 yards. Before it was called the shotgun, it was called a “fowling piece.”

This Beretta Model 682 over/under chambered in 12 gauge comes with three extra barrels -- 20 gauge, 28 gauge and .410 -- providing options for various fowl.

A rifle with a scope may offer precision to hit a stationary target at a distance like wild turkey that won't take flight, but taking out a bird on the wing is another story. A hunter with a rifle wants to use the proper caliber to take down large game birds like turkey. That said, a shotgun offers the best weapon for taking winged game.

This Winchester Model 61 slide action rifle is chambered in .22 Winchester Magnum to provide good stopping power for large fowl like wild turkey.

Shotgun vs Rifle: Deer Hunting

Terrain is a significant consideration when selecting a gun for deer hunting. Open terrain in the mountains and open range of the Rocky Mountain states like Montana or Wyoming where a deer might be taken at a distance is where a rifle is optimal. A rifle offers precision, higher muzzle velocity and flatter trajectory in open spaces. An optic mounted on the gun also offers greater accuracy and the ability to identify a target.

Sure, this Steyr Mannlicher Luxus bolt action rifle is from Austria, but it is chambered in .30-06, a classic American hunting round, championed by Ernest Hemingway and Townsend Whelen.

A shotgun might be a better option at closer range with a moving target, especially in thick brush or where population density is a consideration, like the Midwest. A shotgun helps when aim might be slightly off but still have the stopping power needed. Hunters can choose what kind of load to use from slugs to buckshot. Ultimately, terrain is the key factor for what sporting arm is best, but here at Rock Island Auction, in the upper Midwest where there's plenty of brush and trees, a shotgun is best.

This Winchester Model 12 slide action shotgun may stand out in the forest but it's a robust shotgun that allows the hunter to get off multiple shots if necessary.

Shotgun vs Rifle: North American Big Game Hunting

This is largely the same argument as deer hunting. Each should be considered, but the best choice is clear. A shotgun can take out large game, even a bear, but might not be the top option. A shotgun loaded with slugs could serve as a backup gun by a guide.

This Belgian Browning Auto 5 is chambered in 12 gauge and gives a hunter multiple shots.

A hunter with a scoped rifle can hone in on their big game from a distance and make an ethical kill with the proper ammunition, whether the target is elk, American bison, moose, elk, bear or mule deer. There are plenty of rifle rounds offering a greater velocity and range to the hunter. On a big game hunt, the rifle is the preferred piece.

This Dakota Arms Model 76 bolt action rifle is chambered in 300 Weatherby, a versatile cartridge for a hunter wanting to hunt in North America and abroad.

Shotgun vs Rifle: On Safari

This is a short argument. A shotgun might serve as a backup gun for leopard by a professional hunter guiding a party, but a rifle is the best tool all day long. A scoped rifle can offer a precision shot at long range against skittish or shy game like a greater kudu. Some hunters prefer using iron sights when taking on closer targets allowing them greater awareness of what is around them.

This Ruger M77 Magnum bolt action rifle is chambered in .416 Rigby, capable of taking down anything a hunter may cross paths with on the savanna, except for perhaps a bull elephant.

A shotgun might be fine for some game, but a hunter looking at taking a thick-skinned trophy or a dangerous game animal is required by law across most of Africa to use at least .375 caliber, but a caliber starting with a four provides the greatest stopping power for the hunter to anchor their prey. A gun chambered in .416 is recommended to handle most big game, though with something like an elephant, the hunter is going to want real stopping power, like .458 Winchester Magnum. No doubt a rifle is the choice here.

It’s right there in the name of this gun -- a Pre-64 Winchester Model 70 African Super Grade bolt action rifle manufactured in 1957 and chambered in .458 Winchester Magnum, introduced in 1956, a year before the rifle was made.

Shotguns and Rifles for Sale

A shotgun is best for birding, while either a rifle or shotgun works for home defense and deer hunting depending on the circumstances, while a rifle is best if big game is in the crosshairs. The right gun for the right purpose is available in Rock Island Auction Company’s Oct. 4-6 Sporting and Collector Auction whether it's for upland hunting, going on safari or the gentleman who just wants to shoot clays on a pleasant weekend afternoon.