One of each--basic all-around collection...

[CalamityJane]

Good morning all. I was thinking the other day, that eventually I would like to have just a small (4 or 5) collection of firearms, primarily for SD/HD, farm varmits, etc. I just purchased my first SD revolver, and am already daydreaming about more.

So my question for all of you is: what are suggestions for 1 shotgun, 1 rifle, couple or three handguns? IOW, if you could only have 5 guns, what would they be?

If this has been asked before, please point me to the thread; my search didn't turn up anything. Probably didn't use the right search words.

Thanks.
CJ

 

[Snake Eyes]

Colt 70 series 1911
Colt Python 4"
Colt Detective Special

Remington 870

G3 in 308

 

[halvey]

Shotgun - Remington 870 12 ga
centerfile rifle - Depends really. Rem or Savage bolt in .223 or .308. For SD, an AR in 223
rimfire rifle - a .22, I'd prefer bolt, but thats me

Pistol - 1911 in .45
SD pistol - a 45 or 9mm autoloader depending on carry situations
rimfire pistol - Browning buckmark. Rugers are good too.

 

[grimlock]

Shotgun: Remington 870. 18" barrel and mag extension for HD, 28" vent rib smooth barrel with screw-in chokes for birds, and maybe a 20 or 22" rifled barrel with peep sights for deer.

Rifle: Just one? I guess I'd go with either an AR-15 for the modularity or an M1 for the history. Probably the AR. FAL would also be nagging at me.

Handguns:
1) A 1911, 5" Gov't Model with beavertail, commander hammer, fixed sights, maybe ambi safety, and preferably with no front slide cut.
2) S&W M29 in .44 Mag, 'cause Dirty Harry said so.
3) A Glock 19, to use when I might scratch or dent the other two.

 

[Rupestris]

Remington 870 with 2 bbl's. (one short, one long)

Dan Wesson Revolver in .357/38 (Pistol Pack that has 2", 4", 6" & 8" scoped bbl's)

Ruger Mark II .22LR

Levergun in .30-30 or bolt gun in .308


That would give you good number of options with only 4 firearms/recievers.

 

[Finch]

I like the collection I have now, I consider it pretty well rounded. I have:

12 gauge Winchester 1300 defender
WASR-10 AK-47
Ruger 10/22
Glock 23 .40 s&w - carry gun
Kimber custom ll .45 - also a carry gun
taurus 85 .38 special

I also have a mosin, but that rarely comes off the wall, as it looks too great right next to my framed Declaration of Independance.

In the market to find a nice AR or something in .308 to replace my ak as my primary rifle. Also need something for longer ranges, thinking about a 710.

 

[grimjaw]

What's your budget like?

jmm

 

[another okie]

Remington 870
AR-15
Glock 19
Ruger .22 Mark II
Taurus ultralight .38

This leaves out a long range big game rifle, though you can take deer in most places with the shotgun. You could easily drop the AR and substitute a nice bolt action in .308 or .30-06.

My father was perfectly happy with two guns. He had only a single shot .22 rifle and a Remington 1100 20 gauge, but I crave and have a few more.

 

[CalamityJane]

What's your budget like?

jmm

Well my budget is not exactly unlimited, but am willing to pay for quality and reliability. Don't have to have the best of the best, but I do think that most of the time you get what you pay for.

 

[waterhouse]

I was thinking the other day, that eventually I would like to have just a small (4 or 5) collection of firearms

the problem is you are thinking too small

Anyhow, for me:

Shotgun is easy: 870

After that I run into problems because I really like .22s. So I'll cheat and list a couple.

Rifle: either a .308 bolt action (although I looked at a .308 browning lever gun a while back and it's been calling my name, so maybe that) or a .22 bolt (I like the cz 452 Lux). I guess if I could only own one rifle, it would be a .22, so I guess I'll go with the Lux.

Pistols:
a .22 (toss up between the browning buckmark and the SIG trailside)
a 1911
a .357 revolver

 

[Sinsaba]

My 5 guns and est. cost are:

Remington 870 (tactical)..........$379
Ruger 10/22............................$350
Armlite AR10........................$1,700
Glock 17..................................$550
S&W 620.................................$670

Shipping (est. $25 ea.)............$125
FFL (est. $25 ea).....................$125

TOTAL..................................$3,899

That covers everything from 2 inches to 800 meters

I need to get cracking though. All I have (counterparts to the above list) are.

No shotgun
Little AR-7 for my .22
RRA AR-15
Glock 17
Taurus 65

 

[mtnbkr]

Shotgun: Rem 870 (12 or 20, I have the 12)
Rifle: medium caliber bolt rifle (mine's a Winchester Featherweight 6.5x55)
Handguns: Medium framed, 4" revolver in 38/357 (Ruger GP100 for me), large frame revolver in 44mag or larger (4" or 6" barrel), and small frame revolver in 22lr (4" or 6" barrel).

This will cover everything from small game up to large (but maybe not quite dangerous) game in the lower 48. It'll cover all sorts of wilderness needs from hunting to plinking to backpacking.

Chris

 

[psyopspec]

Rifles:
Tough question, I couldn't function with less than two.

AR for a "homeland defense rifle"

Bolt action .243 will take most of the game in my area for hunting or larger varmints.

Shotgun:
I don't do any bird hunting, so it it would be for nuissance critters or HD (which are often the same business).

Whin 1300 Marine.

Handguns:
Kahr PM-9 for deep concealment/BUG.

HK P2000 for a midsize, general-use concealed piece.

HK USP .45 full size. Because not owning a .45 is un-American.

Further down the list, a custom 1911 for use as a barbecue gun, and a 10mm as a trail gun.

 

[bruss01]

"1 shotgun, 1 rifle, couple or three handguns"

I'm going to take the liberty of making a distinction between a centerfire rifle and a rimfire rifle. A .22 is just too useful to be without, and there are uses for which only a centerfire caliber is appropriate. So I'll recommend two rifles.

My recommendations assume that you will not be replacing these guns, ever, nor will you be adding tons of "aftermarket" accessories, nor will you be adding more guns to the collection, ever. The criteria is covering the maximum number of gun tasks with the fewest number of guns.

CZ 452 .22 cal (rimfire rifle)
Springfield SOCOM 16 .308 (centerfire rifle)
Mossberg 500 12 gauge with two interchangeable barrels (short for defense & long for hunting)
Springfield XD40 (.40 cal handgun, poly frame)
ParaOrdnance Lt. Col. (.45 cal handgun steel frame) or a good brand of Mil-Spec 1911

This list has been assembled with a view to maximum flexibility. The CZ is good for plinking or small game, and the inexpensive .22 rounds let you shoot all day for next to nothing. The SOCOM 16 is not a hunting rifle, but you can hunt with it. It can also be used for defense. The .308 round is affordable and universally available. It's semi-auto but not an "assault weapon" so it should be legal most anywhere. Same with the Mossberg, a barrel for hunting, a short "riot" barrel for defense. I recommended the Springfield over the Glock due to a preference for the .40 cal cartridge and reported problems with usupported case ruptures in .40 cal Glocks. The poly frame was recommended for light weight. The .40 cal round is recommended as a good compromise between stopping power of .45 and the high-capacity of the 9mm. The .45 was recommended for the durability of the steel frame, universal availability of ammo, and the unarguable stopping ability of the larger bullet.

The only additional recommendation would be a very small handgun for concealed carry, if that is permitted in your area. Maybe a Bersa Thunder 380 or a Springfield XD subcompact 9mm. Maybe a revolver - I like the Ruger Security Six (also the Speed Six & Service Six). They are available used - I recommend the stainless models.

 

[Phantom Warrior]

psyopspec just about hit it, though my tastes are a little different.

RIFLE:
Two, one for long range, one for short.

Remington 700 in .308 (I got mine for $600 w/ a nice scope)
AR-15 (I got my Bushmaster used for $600, mint condition)


SHOTGUN:

Remington 870 in 12 guage. Maybe buy a short barrel so you can use it as a house gun.


PISTOL:
This is very personal. Here's MY breakdown (I'm not there yet.)

1911 in .45 (everyone should have one, I don't)
Wundernine (some hicap 9mm. I bought a Beretta 92).
Some type of CCW, if the first two don't do it. (I have a Glock 23.)



Of course, personally I'd say I NEED, at a minimum a .22 pistol, a good .22 rifle, and a nice revolver (like a Ruger GP100). And a short shotgun, like a 18" 870 or an 870 Marine Magnum.

After that I'd like to buy a variety collection. A HiPower, a few SIGs, an H&K or two, a 1911 or two, a Ruger SP101, maybe a Walther PPK, maybe a .308 AR-15, a semi-auto shotgun, and so on and so forth.

But that is what I'd do if I was going to limit myself.

 

[Leif]

I can pretty much fit the bill with four, and frankly that's about all I can afford to feed, accesorize, etc. This is what I currently have:

Handgun: S&W 629 Mountain Gun, .44mag/.44spl, DA revolver (for bears when I hike)

Rimfire: Ruger 10/22 International, .22lr, semiauto

Shotgun: Browning BPS Hunter, 12 gauge, pump (28" barrel, would like to get a 22" barrel at some point as well)

Rifle: Enfield No. 5 Mk. 1 Jungle Carbine, .303Brit, bolt
(however, this is going to change, see my thread about this: http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=172314)

Really, all I'd like in addition to this someday down the road is a ridiculously precise target .22lr rifle of some sort (Anschutz, BSA Martini, etc.).

Good luck!

 

[middy]

Colt AR-15
Remington 700 .308
Mossberg 500A
Marlin 39A
Glock 26 or 19
Ruger Bearcat

Oops, that's six. I traded the 3rd handgun for 2 more rifles.

OK. We can consolidate:

Colt AR-15 with extra .22lr upper
Remington 700 .308
Mossberg 500A with long and short barrels
Glock 26 or 19 with .22lr conversion kit
For number 5, something drool-inducing like a Colt 1911 WWI repro, or a USFA SA revolver in .45 Colt.

 

[Jubei]

If I were to take the 5 out of my current line-up, it would probably look like this;

Mossberg 590 - Always reliable, besides I don't have a Rem. 870

Bushmaster M4gery - Reliable, accurate etc.

Kimber Custom I - Great gun, my ATF

Ruger SRH .454Casull - In case I have to stop a Mack Truck

Glock 17 - Because I could probably drag the dang thing all the way from the summit of Pikes Peak, to Colorado Springs and the bloody thing will probably still load and shoot reliably

Jubei

 

[poppy]

OK, I'll play and limit my selections to what I already have.

Rem. 870 20ga with 2 barrels (one slug and one long)

Ruger Mini 14 with .22 conversion kit. (I actually don't have the conversion kit yet, but if limited to one rifle...)

Ruger KP90DC, because it shoots better than I do.

Colt Systema 1911A1 with .22 conversion kit. A great piece of history.

Beretta 92FS with .22 conversion kit.

This was really tough, I had to leave out a whole bunch of favorites. poppy

 

[Gunpacker]

My advice would be to not take any of this advice at face value. I could give you my favorites, but would just add to the confusion. Since guns are expensive and purchases kind of set your course, I would advise caution.
TRY, TRY, TRY, all the guns you can get your hands on. See what fits, see what you shoot well. Buy what you like after shooting, assuming it is a from a good manufacturer. Learn what the safety systems do, how some are different.
Read to determine what fills your wants and needs. Buy each one carefully.
Personally, I would only give one bit of advice, that being to avoid glocks and Smith XD semi autos. I believe them to be dangerous. I know a bunch of glock people will jump on this and tell you that you just have to be safe. Well, I think so too, and being safe is to avoid the ones I mentioned IMO. You have a lot to sort out, and trying all the guns mentioned here is a good way to start. Not buying, but trying.

 

[trueblue1776]

AR-15 (20in) flat top W/scope
870 12g
1911 .45
.22LR Bolt action heavy barrel
super redhawk .454 (just for fun)

 

[Camp David]

if you could only have 5 guns, what would they be?

Just four=>

Winchester Model 12 Pump, 30" bbl, 12 ga, nickel steel
Colt SAA, 7.5 bbl, 45LC cal
Colt SAA Scout, 4.5 bbl, .22 LR cal
Ruger No. 1, octagon barrel, .45-70 cal

 

[R.H. Lee]

Shotgun: Remington 870 or Winchester Defender
Rifle: Marlin 336 (30-30) or Savage Mod 14 American Classic in .308
.22 rf: Ruger 10/22 and Ruger MKII Target
Pistol: CZ75B (9mm) and/or Springfiled Milspec 1911A1 (.45 ACP)

 

[Yooper]

I think versatility is the key to a limited collection.

1) 12 ga. shotgun with interchangeable barrels.
2) Centerfire rifle, 30 caliber.
3) 22 caliber rifle.
4) 44 Mag. revolver.

 

[CalamityJane]

Thanks to everybody who has replied. It's interesting and helpful and just one tool to use to gather information about what works for others. I will use the firearms mentioned here as a jumping off point, just some tips to narrow things down.

I appreciate all the replies; this is just the info I was wanting.