If You Only had 3

9 mm, 223 and 12 gauge. I would argue that in reality as compared to the OP, I would add a 22 LR.

#1, glock 19, CCW/nightstand/range/truck gun.
#2, ar10 in 308, hunting rifle and such
#3, 20 gauge pump. Good all around small game hunter.

Well I'm changing my vote. After reflection, now it's

Winchester 94 30-30
Ruger flattop blackhawk 44special
Ruger single six, both new models.

I decided that these guns give me the most enjoyment, and cover my needs. There are better choices in each category. But these make me happy.

I have these guns already, but I'd swap my post 64 winchester for a pre 64.

The idea of a shotgun is great, but in practice, I only use it for shooting clays with a friend. I could still do that and just use his gun.

Mossberg 500 12ga., Hunting (long barrel, bird, buck or slug) & Close Social Work (short barrel)
357 Maximum Contender, scoped, medium and big game and medium-longer range Social Work
.22 Rimfire, rifle (10/22, or Nylon 66) OR revolver (Single Six, or S&W Mod 34) for small game, entertainment and last ditch Social Work.

Note I did not consider CCW or really long range rifle Social Work. In the first case it is a specialized case IMHO, in the second it is probably not going to be realistically possible for me.

Today is Tuesday so:
A .308 Win bolt gun.
A 22 S/L/LR bolt gun
and a .44 Rem Mag revolver.

By tomorrow I will likely change but for now what I wrote.

Ron

It's an interesting challenge, as I view my most basic needs as:

• a center fire bolt action hunting rifle (a 7mm if only one)
  
• a pump action shotgun (12 or 20 gauge)
  
• a center fire handgun capable of CCW and field carry (.357 mag revolver)
  
• a bolt action .22 LR rifle

I could comfortably live with six if I had to (add a .22 handgun and a second bolt action rifle--trade the 7mm for a 6mm and a .375 Ruger), but three means I have to neglect one of what I consider to be the basics.

Legionnaire said:

but three means I have to neglect one of what I consider to be the basics.

Click to expand...

Yep, limited to three (and no drillings) means, almost by definition, something basic to the basic food group will be left out.

.38 Spl, .257 Roberts, 12 Gauge.

Mossberg 500 Dual hunting and HD barrels 12 GA

Some sort of .308 rifle

Model 66 Smith and Wesson Snub

This is tough. I'll stick with what I already have.
While I really like my Ithaca Mod. 37's, I'd have to go with the 870 because of screw in chokes and 3 1/2". Multitude of uses.
My favorite .308, Model 70 Varmint Sporter.
Number 3........Torn between my single six and Glock 23.
I'd really miss my old battle rifles though, from the M-1 to the Sharps carbine and everything in between.

AR-15 (5.56)
Remington 700 (30-06)
H&K VP9 (9mm)

Not my favorites but the most versatile for protection and hunting IMHO.

Guns still hanging around?
Marlin 30/30 lever
M1 Super 90
10/22

Ones that got bargained away?
Auto 5
Stevens Favorite
another Marlin that got away

I didn't list any handguns
My grandpa lived his whole life with a
Auto 5 and a 25 auto in the glovebox and
had a 410 single break open in the closet
that I never saw discharged.
If he had some other something, I don't
remember ever seeing it
I was fairly young when he passed and
the vultures I'm related to looted all his
goods at his passing, so I never got to
see anything else he might have had
I know of others that managed to pass
through life with just a shotgun and a 22
rifle
I could make the rest of my days with
those first three as long as I had fodder

I'd have to give up my revolver cartridges just to make this work. So...
.22LR
9mm
7.62x39

This rules out the larger beasts to hunt in North America, but it's not something I do anyway.

Colt 6920
Glock 34
Glock 26

Glock 19 9mm
AK47 7.62x39
Remington 700 .308win