[Tylden]

What is everyone's idea of a well rounded practical personal arsenal ? I'm not talking about the "money's no object dream guns", but what is actually in the safe to cover the bases on a realistic budget. Currently, I have :

m60 S&W .357/.38 revolver (ccw, nightstand gun)

CZ P01 9mm semi auto pistol (primary ccw for self defense)

Winchester 1200 12 ga. pump (duck hunting & general bird gun, and milk jugs:) )
- slug barrel for deer hunting

Mossberg 590A1 (home defense)

CZ 452 Ultra Lux bolt action .22LR (small game, plinking, target shooting)

CZ 452 Scout (same as above but for my son)

Crossman pump .177 pellet rifle (back yard plinking and target shooting)


Of course, this is a "works in progress" and I"m considering a .223 , a 12 ga auto loader for skeet, perhaps a .30-06, .308, or .270 for deer as my next additions. Then before 2008 (just in case Hillary wins), some semi-auto "assault" weapons.

Thoughts ? Suggestions ?

[gulogulo1970]

Looks good to me. Good solid core of guns so far.

Mark my words, "You will add layer after layer of niche guns, til you have an unbelievably well rounded collection." All it takes is money and time or a couple of credit cards.

Oh yeah you need a .45 of some sort after your deer rifle, IMHO.

[armoredman]

A nice milsurp, like a Mosin or a Mauser, and definately a semi auto rifle such as an SKS, AK, or M1A.
PO1? Good taste!!

[lee n. field]

A personal arsenal shouldn't necessarily be "well rounded". It should meet your current and anticipated needs.

And shouldn't that be a "personal armory"?

Suggestions? Let's see. You admit to 2 handguns, 2 shotguns, 2 .22s and an air rifle. The only thing I would suggest, not knowing your needs, would be to look into a decent quality spring piston air rifle for the backyard plinking purpose. I think you'ld like it better than the Crosman pump.

[nhhillbilly]

I would urge a Main Battle Rifle in 7.62 IE an M1A, FN-FAL or HK. Also a magazine feed carbine ie AR15 type. Also one good medium range large game hunting rifle Remington 700 or Win 70 in 308.

[Cacique500]

I would urge a Main Battle Rifle

+1

You might also consider an SKS - good out to 200 or 300+ yards and ammo is cheap.

To further reach out and touch someone, a good Mosin Nagant (especially a Finn M39 if you can find one) would be an excellent shooter...again, surplus ammo is very cheap for this rifle as well. Most ammo in 7.62x54R is corrosive so clean accordingly.

[AZgunstudent]

I agree with lee n. field that your personal battery should be tailored to your needs. Realistically, all my own needs could be met by:

1. Scoped .22 rifle (small game, plinking)
2. Scoped centerfire bolt gun in .270/.308/.30'06/whatever (medium game)
3. Remington 870 12 gauge w/2 barrels (26" Rem choke for birds and clays, 18" HD)
4. Medium size semiauto pistol (HD, CCW)
5. Small "pocket" handgun J-frame/KelTec P32/whatever (CCW)

If you think "SHTF" scenarios are realistic possibilities, a centerfire semiauto rifle or carbine should be included. My choice is a 16" AR. If you live in a shotgun-only state for deer, you'll need a slug barrel for the shotgun.

Gulogulo1970 is correct, by the way -- you will add more guns. Soon you will be unable to live without a Ruger Mk. II and an S&W .357 and a Garand and an SKS and ten other guns that will deplete your bank account and cause your wife to give you a cold-blooded, squinty-eyed stare. :scrutiny:

[MasterPiece Arms.com]

Where's the Ruger 10/22? The 10/22 is as basic and "well rounded" as it gets. It's affordable and the only 22 rifle that accepts those evil 25 round "bananna" clips. You can upgrade to a folding stock if you want, trick it out with various aftermarket barrels, or just leave it as is. I do suggest though, that you add an extended mag release and an auto bolt release if you get a 10/22 (I can't find any way to contact Ruger to rant at them for not making that standard).

2. I'd say you're well rounded except for rifles. Get an affordable AK asap before Bush finds a reason to stop their importation like his dad did.

I hope to fire you up a little because I'd currently give your arsenal a "sporting purposes" rating of 7.25 (a 1 being for someone in the militia of Montana and 10 being my brother in law whose wife forces him to keep his deer gun out of the house, and he only takes it out once a year).

My arsenal used to have a sporting purposes rating of 2.78 but now it's down to about 2.3 after I just sold my lever action. The last rifle I have that has the stench of sporting purpose on it is my Remington 710 (the mags for the 710 by the way are easily glued together at the flat plastic base). Even my "sporting" semi auto 12 guages have mag extensions.

[Tropical Z]

And whatever you have,make sure you have plenty of ammo to feed it.I try to keep at least 500 rounds of all calibers on hand and always have at least 2500 rounds of .22lr on hand.When you use it,replace it.

[El Tejon]

Depends on your environment, depends on your lifestyle.

Walter Mitty fantasies aside, if I live downtown, I want to go handgun heavy, maybe a shotgun for point defense.

If I live where Hayzeus left his sandals, then a centerfire rifle, a rimfire and a shotgun are important.

If I live out in the hairy-chested West where pumas and bear lurk behind each blade of grass and Al-Quaeda hordes smuggled across the Mexican border await me, rifle heavy arsenal is appropriate.

[22-rimfire]

The firearm collection should cover your intended needs. Need grows as your interest and finances change. Your basic collection seems pretty good except is lacking in the rifle department for hunting depending on your intended quarry. You'll want a couple as your son ages and moves into the hunting area. You also may want a 22 handgun or two and perhaps a larger than 357 handgun since you do like handguns.

[JamisJockey]

You need a semi-auto. Be it an SKS or a decked out M4gery.....a semi auto rifle is a must!
After that and a deer rifle, you'll have a very well rounded little collection!
You've already got a bigger one than me....uh..... :o

[Preacherman]

Hmmm... Ammo is an important consideration here. I'd say multiply your total number of firearms by 500. If you have less than that number of rounds of ammo on hand, ready to shoot, you need to invest more! :D

[Mannlicher]

Guess I never understood the desire to tell the world what I have in the gun safe.
Arsenal? What I have seen here does not constitute an arsenal. Collection, maybe.

[Tylden]

Okay Mannlicher, perhaps arsenal was a poor choice of words. Erase that and change it to collection :rolleyes:

[Kamicosmos]

Smartalec answer: one each of: Handgun, rifle, shotgun, .22

Everyone is different. My idea of what 'I' need in my collection changes from month to month. For example, right now, I'm pretty satisfied. Don't really have any holes in my collection.

Well, I don't have a subcompact auto yet. Dang it! See what you done and did!?

RAMI, nitehawg, or maybe a babyglock..... :D

[PvtPyle]

I may be a bit above the top....but here goes.

A half dozen to a dozen AKs, in case TSHTF really happens and you have to equip the neighborhood watch...

A few ARs because you trained on them and can use them effectively....

A few high power rifles, say Rem 700's and .50cals for long range work...

A few shotguns for clearing out hallways and getting people off your vehicles...

Pistols of various calibers for transitions or small work...

And a few heavy weapons like M2 semis or DShKs or MMGs like 240s or PKMs for suppressive fire.

Optics and a triple basic load or more for each weapon is kind of a given.

The mortars and grenade lauchers are optional. :D

[BigBlueEyedDevil]

Colt 1911 (Or Variant)

Colt SA .45 Colt

Smith .357 Mag

Glock 17

Beretta 92

Smith 642 .38SPL

Ruger Mark II .22

Remington 870

Remington 700 in .308 or .300 WinMag

Ruger 10/22

Win. 1894 30/30

M1 Carbine

M1 Garand

M1A

AR15

[ajkurp]

in .308 should be next on any militiaman's list if he hoesn't already have one for every member of his family/team. And a case or two of ammo for each.

Rifles are balanced all wrong as clubs...

[Hhrshooter]

Well, I think it's a pretty good collection there. I guess it really depends on your needs. My personal collection amounts too..
1-Sig P228
1-REM 870 HD
1-MARLIN 45-70 GUIDE GUN
1-BUSHMASTER M-17 BULLPUP
1-Ruger BH .45 COLT
I will be adding to this mainly with a bolt action .308, another pistol(revolver .357), and a couple .22 rifles. I live in the Pacific Northwest, and have no fear of zombies, mass riots, terrorists attacking in hordes..lol
Really though, i do believe in being armed and able to defend your own. I do have some concerns about planning for the paranoia that seems everyone looks for these days. I hunt, and fish just to enjoy the outdoors and put food in my freezer. Just my .02 cents worth .....

[Balog]

Well, I don't own any of these, but my goals are...

Good 1911 and pre-lock S&W snubbie for CCW.

Finn M39 w/ scope mount and M59/66 w/ the mod to accept AK mags and a receiver peep sight for foreign milsurps.

1903A3 and M1 Garand from CMP for American milsurp goodness.

Marlin 39a, Wild West Guns Co-Pilot mod in .457 Wild West/45-70 Gov, and an 1894 and 1894c for levery goodness.

Ruger Redhawk, GP-100, 10-22, and MK-II for cheap and sturdy goodness.

NEF Super Hunter in .223 for the caliber and varmint waxing goodness.

Savage 110 in 30-06 w/ Accu-trigger for long range goodness.

Good metric FAL for SHTF/general fun shooting goodness.

Pre-disconnector 12ga Ithaca 37 w/ extended mag tube for JMB designed HD goodness.

That Russian SXS 45-70 for hog hunting goodness.

And of course a .50 just to piss off the sheeple. :)

If I manage to get all that I'll be content; I know it seems like a lot but each and every one has a purpose.

[Chrontius]

1 kel-tec .380 for each interested family member
1 Ruger GP-100 or SP-101
1 Rossi Matched Pair 12ga/.22LR (other barrels will be obtained later, probably including 5.56, 7.62, and .410 -- anybody know if they come in .45LC? (Or god help me, .454)) or cheap/small pump-action from a reasonably good manufacturer
1 10/22


Oh. Assorted pellet, airsoft, paintball, and BB pistols.

[wizard of oz]

Kamicosmos has the right answer i think. one each of: Handgun, rifle, shotgun, .22
A smart answer rather than a smart alec answer. Without at least one of each, there is a serious deficiency in a capability.

[MachIVshooter]

Well rounded depends on the person. If someone does not hunt, they require fewer firearms. My personal opinion is as follows (at least one of each)

Handguns:
-1911, .45 or 10mm
-double action 9mm
-double action .357 mag.
-single action .45 Colt
-.22 auto pistol
-.22 Revolver

Long guns:
-Bolt rifle, something between .243 and .338 WM, with a scope
-Lever gun, .30-30, .35 rem, .45-70, etc.
-Autoloader, detatchable magazine fed, .223 or .308
-Carbine auto, 9mm, .40, .45
-.22 autoloader
-.22 Bolt gun (one that will feed short, long and LR)
-12 gauge (any type)
-.410 gauge knockaround

That would be a real good start. A thrifty individual could probably aquire everything on this list for under $5,000. Someone with fancy taste could easily spend $30,000 on the same list, though.

Ammo is an important consideration here. I'd say multiply your total number of firearms by 500. If you have less than that number of rounds of ammo on hand,

That depends on the gun. While I have many thousands of .22 Rimfire and well over 500 rounds for 9mm, 10mm, .45, .223, I do not feel that I need anywhere near 500 rounds for my .375 Ultra Mag. Also, I have 6 .45's-I find it very difficult (and expensive) to keep 3000 of those cartridges on hand. I feel I am pretty well prepared with an average of 7,000-9,000 rounds in the vault at any given time. But to meet the 500 rounds per gun criteria, I would have to spend $9,885 on ammo (and that is buying WWB for handguns and American Eagle for .223, .308 and .30-06). All-premium ammo would jump the cost another $2K. Then add tax.

I currently have $2,364 worth of ammo (yes, I keep an exact inventory).

[Myself]

An individual firearms collection should outfit not only you but your entire family. That way your always covered 24/7 and 365 degrees. ;)

[Balog]

If you trust your family with a gun behind your back. :uhoh:

[fistful]

Your arsenal is almost well-rounded, but without a rifle (any centerfire rifle or carbine) you lack a very basic and important weapon.

I hope you will obtain a well-made, accurate bolt-action as soon as possible. Better yet, send me the money so I can round out my own arsenal.

[artherd]

M-134 & 50 10,000round boxes.

And a sidearm if you want.

[xdoctor]

An individual firearms collection should outfit not only you but your entire family.

I disagree. I think an individual firearms collection should outfit not only you, but those close to you whom you would trust your life to.

If the SHTF, there is no way I'm outfitting my mother.


But to me, a well rounded firearms collection is a good scoped bolt rifle, a semi rifle, a solid shotgun, a few pistols and seventeen metric buttloads of ammunition. Everything else is cream.

[Trebor]

One centerfire rifle in a popular and effective caliber. Leave the specifics up the user.

One centerfire handgun. Once again in a popular and effective caliber with the specifics left up the user.

One shotun in either 12 or 20 gauge. Yadda, yadda yadda..

And one .22 rifle or pistol.

Careful selection of those four should cover 90% of your needs.

Heck, I'll even be more specific: The rifle should be .308, .30-'06, .270 or .223. The handgun should be .38/.357, 9mm, .45 ACP or .40 S&W. Those calibers are effective in multiple roles and are easy to find.

[USSR]

.270, you gotta be kidding! :rolleyes:

Don