When is ENOUGH enough?

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For me, the answer is however many ARs it takes so that each one has a specific purpose that another can't fill, or at least can't fill nearly as well. My personal interpretation of that is, one standard 14.5-16" middy set up however you want it for SHTF, one 18-20" DMR for yotes or just plinking, and if you're into it, one SBR. Personally, I'd probably nix either the DMR or SBR and opt to have a backup/loaner of the first rifle. So three ARs is enough; again though, that's how I see it. Ultimately, if you wanna have 20 ARs that are all damn near the same, go ahead and do it. I just wouldn't ever see the point.

I divorced my wife a few years ago to make room for more guns.
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If nothing else, I'm now one step closer to having heard everything.
 
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squirrelmurder said:
I say you go to your nephew's house ASAP and collect that straggler, lest you run low....;)
Great collection- George D may be right- that lady from the Intervention show is coming up your driveway.
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A couple shots in the dirt at the stray squirrel that is just in front of her car will turn her around at the mailbox: You're Welcome.
 
Without doubt my collection is small in comparison with some like I've seen it is my spouse of the last 35 year's that reels me back into the reality of the economic stress my obsession with guns, ammo, and then more ammo.

All of mine are lazy and I am not having to walk around piles of guns and ammo yet. If I get into the wonderful predicament of having to walk around the hoard of them maybe I can see her side better.
The corners would be lonely without them. I haven't ever been tripped by one yet.
Let's see, when will the budget aquire a new 50 caliber lol
When dreams really come true? Definitely a bucket list item.
 
Gunny

And this one was built from used parts. The only new parts are the lower, buffer and a few springs.
It's the truck gun that I don't have to worry about scratching whenever I take it for a ride.
33m7w51.jpg
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Sounds (and looks), a lot like my version of the XM177 E2. Handy little gun, especially with 20 round mags.

 
bannockburn said:
Gunny



Sounds (and looks), a lot like my version of the XM177 E2. Handy little gun, especially with 20 round mags.

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It all started with the ugly C7 upper. that I got from my friend. The plan was to build it with as many used parts I could get my hand on. I almost had a used lower. I was going to tread a new Anderson for it, but there were issues with the used lower. I ended up using the Anderson lower. The barrel was looking like it was going to be the hardest used part to find. The 10" with the long flash hider was the first barrel I found after a week of searching. When the barrel arrived I decide to make it look as close to a XM177 as I could still using used parts. I had a lot of fun building this rifle and got a lot of help from members of three different forums.
Offfhand said:
When are Pre-1964 Model-70 Winchester rifles enough? There are a couple dozen in this rack and more in rack below. Count the Super Grades..View attachment 231675
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A man after my own heart. I love the Mod 70 and I think that the Pre 64 is one of the best hunting rifles ever made.
 
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OP, I asked myself the same question after a number of AR-15 variants covering a range of purposes ie. heavy long range bull barrel 24"s down to light contour 16"s. At that point, is was still looking rather bleak for black guns with the 2012 election in the offing so I jumped into the AR-10 platform with both feet. A cautionary note on the 10 platform, they are heavy even when selectively piecing together to keeping weight down. They are obviously pricier in general but that shouldn't matter as you only build as you deem appropriate. Out of the 308's, 6.5mm's, and 6mm I actually like the .243 winchester the best, for all round plinking and farm, field, woods utility. That said, I usually have a more traditional stick in the scabbard on my tractor / jeep. The black guns are a fun hobby, legos for big boys, and certainly welcome if we ever live through a SHTF scenario. Happy building, don't feel like you have to stick to one niche though, try building some nice bench guns or something. I actually enjoy that MUCH more at this point. Diversity is the flavor of life etc. etc.
 
I am not much of an AR guy, but a have a few variations of them if that tells you anything.. None in 223/556.
I say your collection is perfectly reasonable with plenty of room to grow.

It is funny how different people's perspectives are. I look at my safe, like what I see but with somewhere around 40 firearms I still see several (more than several) significant holes in my collection. My tastes are diversified.
I have friends that have seen my safe and think it's good. A couple in the same camp that recognize my need for more, and there are people(family members) that see it and wonder "why?"....all the see is guns. A lot of guns. I see them as unique individuals.
 
Captain Awesome, Your hitting close to home. It's all about perspectives. Some see a lot, some not enough.
I have a bunch, but still feel that there are some that I would like to have. I have over 20 Enfields in my collection. The oldest was built in 1916 and it's a great shooter. Some would say that 20 is a lot, but there are a few more that I would like to have. I picked this one up today for a project I have been wanting to do. 018.JPG
Will I ever have enough guns? I still don't know the answer to that question.
 
There are gun nuts, and there are AR nuts. At this point I've come to see them as distinct hobbies.

Me? I think variety is the spice of life and am a tech & history enthusiast, so investing so heavily in one platform seems limiting --but if I were competing or something it's just the opposite, and variety stunts one's ability to hone their skill to its keenest on a single platform. From a collecting/building standpoint a bevy of ARs is silly, but from a training standpoint I can see it as a kind of compromise between "the man with one rifle" and a jack of all trades.

Now, owning a half dozen identical M4's is just silly; that only made sense for crated milsurp purchases at obscenely low prices (and ARs aren't quite there just yet --maybe soon, though, lol)

TCB
 
Gunny

My XM177 E2 build was kind of the other way around. I started out with all the parts for an upper. Got it put together and use to have it sometimes on my Colt SP1 lower. Finally picked up a lower (Olympic Arms), and hit up the gun shows for the rest of the parts. The BCG and collapsible stock (aluminum), were Colt; all of the other parts were a package deal, again from Olympic Arms. Had a magazine article on how to build one (very easy to follow instructions and photos helped a lot), and it turned out pretty well.

 
Dang Gunny! Now I know where all the lower parts kits went to that are out of stock or back Ordered! Marine Corps here also OOORAH SEMER FI......Good looking collection. I'm getting ready to do a long range 5.56 gonna cost but I'm going for top notch barrel,trigger,and bolt.......you only live once so go for it.
 
choppertime said:
Dang Gunny! Now I know where all the lower parts kits went to that are out of stock or back Ordered! Marine Corps here also OOORAH SEMER FI......Good looking collection. I'm getting ready to do a long range 5.56 gonna cost but I'm going for top notch barrel,trigger,and bolt.......you only live once so go for it.
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You should see the extra parts I have on hand.
Like I said before, I don't see my ARs as a collection, but more like an accumulation. I like building them and have sold some to fund other builds. I have built a few as low budget that cost me right at $430 and others that have cost over $1000. But in the end I am just having fun doing something I like to do.
A few have posted that most of my ARs are the same . Lets see.
In the second pic there are 14 rifles.
(9) different buttstocks
(6) different grips
(7) with handguards of four different types
(7) with rails of different types
(3) have billet lowes
(1) synthetic lower
(4) different types of uppers
(5) different flash hiders
(3) different muzzle breaks
(9) different barrel types (1)20" (1) 10" and (12) 16"
(5) have ambi safeties
(7) different optics
The list goes on.
Some of my builds have been to fill needs and others for fun.
This build started off with me wanting to use an Areo upper and lower in FDE. I have always liked the look of a fluted barrel but they were always to heavy for carbines for my liking. Then I saw a stanless SOCOM profile barrel that was fluted. Well, I did have a 12" rail sitting around.
197.JPG
I picked up a FDE front sight after this pic was taken. I also replaced the the mil-spec trigger group with an AGL A.C.T. trigger group.
I really like the feel of this rifle and it shoots great. This is one I think I'm going to keep for a while.
There is always something new coming out for the AR platform, like the CQR stocks by Hara. I see another build coming up. LOL!
 
Currently I don't own any ARs. Given the money and time:
1. Varmint/target gun with long barrel and great scope 1-8 or 9 twist.
2. M4 style with a 300BK (and, if in a Free State a can on front).
3&4. Range grade AR so everyone in the fam could have fun.
5. AR 10 in .338 Fed in a lightweight 200 yard hunting configuration.

Wouldn't need any more.

Greg
 
I'd say that the OP's AR collection would be more than enough for me, but I'm not really an AR guy. Right now I only have two, one is a 20" A2 style ( but with a detachable carry handle) and the other is a light barreled 16" mid-length. I only have plans for two more, one being an 18" accuracy focused DMR upper, and the other being an SBR... Still I guess that works out to 4 AR's for a non AR enthusiast. I really only plan on doing my SBR as an AR because of the modularity of switching uppers, and because the XM177 is my all time favorite machinegun to shoot, so I'd like to have a semi-auto copy.

Bolt guns on the other hand, well I could own hundreds and still not have enough. Luckily, I generally have a policy of selling a gun I'm not attached to to finance the next, so although I've been through a bunch, I'm able to keep the total number (and associated costs) down.
 
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Funny you're a very sick man!
Step away from the guns!
Seriously my only thought is that if you're happy that's what matters.

My first thought was the N+1 equation mentioned above. It's my answer to how many Harley's one should have aka ONE MORE. But then you said you have 12. So as someone born on Friday the 13th and whose lucky number is 13 I think you really need one more to get to lucky 13!!!

So the bottom line is do what's right for you!

As for me I had to sell my first AR when things got hard. It didn't bother me too much as it was ok but the one I replaced it with cost 1/2 as much and is much more enjoyable to shoot. And I like the setup better. That said it's a general purpose AR and I want to build one so I'm going to make it with 3 gun in mind and with a few nicer parts. So ironically today I bought a stripped lower at a killer price at the gun show.

I mention this as you've inspired me. I may not build as many but who know. What I know is I'm going to build this one then enjoy it. Then if I want another will decide what I want. But for now I'll enjoy what I have and know that people like you are here to help!
 
GunnyUSMC said:
You should see the extra parts I have on hand.
Like I said before, I don't see my ARs as a collection, but more like an accumulation. I like building them and have sold some to fund other builds. I have built a few as low budget that cost me right at $430 and others that have cost over $1000. But in the end I am just having fun doing something I like to do.
A few have posted that most of my ARs are the same . Lets see.
In the second pic there are 14 rifles.
(9) different buttstocks
(6) different grips
(7) with handguards of four different types
(7) with rails of different types
(3) have billet lowes
(1) synthetic lower
(4) different types of uppers
(5) different flash hiders
(3) different muzzle breaks
(9) different barrel types (1)20" (1) 10" and (12) 16"
(5) have ambi safeties
(7) different optics
The list goes on.
Some of my builds have been to fill needs and others for fun.
This build started off with me wanting to use an Areo upper and lower in FDE. I have always liked the look of a fluted barrel but they were always to heavy for carbines for my liking. Then I saw a stanless SOCOM profile barrel that was fluted. Well, I did have a 12" rail sitting around.
View attachment 231731
I picked up a FDE front sight after this pic was taken. I also replaced the the mil-spec trigger group with an AGL A.C.T. trigger group.
I really like the feel of this rifle and it shoots great. This is one I think I'm going to keep for a while.
There is always something new coming out for the AR platform, like the CQR stocks by Hara. I see another build coming up. LOL!
Click to expand...

Some of the fellas say that when a Marine becomes a Gunny they get a little strange, but maybe they were just talking about our Gunny.
 
I must be the outlier. My long term goal is to own eight firearms. I have four firearms I need to sell and another four I need to buy. Unfortunately the ones I have to sell aren't worth nearly as much as the ones that I want to buy. My collection will be complete when it looks like this (I still need to buy the ones marked with an asterisk):

22 LR
9mm PCC*
9mm Handgun*
AR-15
7.62x39 bolt action
308 bolt action
12 gauge auto-loader*
375 H&H bolt action*
 
GunnyUSMC said:
OK. There is some good advice here.
Yes, I do have an addiction to guns. I also own more then 60 Mausers. And I divorced my wife a few years ago to make room for more guns.
All three of my kids each have their own AR. Here they are added to the pic.
9a7kw7.jpg
I also have a black Dissipator that is boxed up. I forgot to take it out for the pic.
I have given some thought to building an AR10. I have a set of 2A Armament titanium take down pins for an AR10. That should be a good enough reason to build one. Right?
I have built two pistols, but don't really care for them.
I like the way Ks5shooter thinks.
Oh! I just remember that I also have a Hellbreaker lower. I see a Flying Tiger build in the future.
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Gunny
I know you’ve built several ARs since you posted last year.
I think an updated pic is in order

Btw I was looking at this as I’m planning my next build and wanted to see what it might look like and I knew you’d have something similar here.
 
Scooter22 said:
When you start finding guns you forgot you had on a regular basis.
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I moved in October.
I’m unpavking my tools and organizing them. I’m finding ones I haven’t seen in years. It’s a lot of fun. Now I have to figure out how to organize them.

Watching Gunny’s thread, he’s found all kinds of cool things. They make my tool finds seem boring. I can’t imagine having so many guns and ammo! But I’m glad it’s a good gut like Gunny with them.
 
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