Minimize the arsenal. Maximize the budget.

Status
Not open for further replies.

D.B. Cooper

Member
Joined
Oct 2, 2016
Messages
4,380
If you were to minimize your gun collection while getting the most out of limited financial resources, what 1-4 guns would you downsize to?

I'm thinking...

A 12 ga shotgun with interchangeable short/long barrels and chokes. (I'm thinking Maverick 88) This would cover home defense, waterfowl, upland birds and some small game.

Would you even own a 22LR? What role does a 22LR rifle fill that a shotgun won't-especially with No 6 or 7-1/2 shot with the right choke.

Bolt action 30-06. Hunt anything in North America.

Would you even own a handgun? Aside from CCW what other would a handgun fill?

What would be the cheapest version of these guns?
 
You can get a .22 conversion kit for an AR-15. Makes it 2 rifles in 1. The .22 is for small game beyond 30 to 40 yards. Even with a full choke those tiny pieces of 7 1/2 shot run out of energy pretty fast. Yes, I'd always have a handgun as well.
 
I'd have to respectfully disagree as to 22LR, and pistols. My Ruger MKII is a mainstay which isn't going anywhere. I just
love to plink with it too much.

Mossberg 500 -18 &28" barrels. Chokes included
Bolt-action 30.06- winnowing it down to one would be a hot contest.
Getting it down to only one other pistol would be the challenge, for me. Possibly a 92A1...
 
If I had to go bare bones, I would get a Savage 24 in. 30-30/12 gauge. I could load cast bullets with pistol powder to use the .30-30 barrel to do most of what a .22lr does....provided it was reasonably accurate.
 
I'd have to respectfully disagree as to 22LR, and pistols. My Ruger MKII is a mainstay which isn't going anywhere. I just
love to plink with it too much.

Mossberg 500 -18 &28" barrels. Chokes included
Bolt-action 30.06- winnowing it down to one would be a hot contest.
Getting it down to only one other pistol would be the challenge, for me. Possibly a 92A1...

Agree on the Mossberg.

On the rifle, for me, if not a pre-64 Model 70, then a pre-Accutrigger Savage 110.

If I owned a semi-auto handgun, I'd agree with you on the M9. Curious, what purpose do you see the Beretta filling, other than self defense?
 
If I had to go bare bones, I would get a Savage 24 in. 30-30/12 gauge. I could load cast bullets with pistol powder to use the .30-30 barrel to do most of what a .22lr does....provided it was reasonably accurate.

Combo gun is a good call. I was thinking the Model 24 or 42 (22LR over 410), but both of those cover the same base (small game hunting), yet leaves another base (big game hunting) wide open. So I think you're onto something with the 30-30/12 ga.
 
D.B. Cooper

I would go with my Maverick 88 with two barrels, my Colt Government in .45 along with a TacSol .22 conversion, my 10/22, and a Ruger American Rifle in .308.
 
Mossberg in 12ga with 2 barrels.
An AR with uppers and mags for a .30 caliber cartridge of some flavor, and .22 (may be useful for flinch training).
And yes, a pistol of some sort.

Where I live the deer aren’t real big. That means I don’t necessarily need a full-house rifle cartridge. For real efficiency, I COULD do a rifle and pistol chambered in the same cartridge. For example, a lever action .357 and a wheelie gun to match. Or a .45 of my choosing, and add a hi point carbine in .45. Or a pistol in .30 carbine with an M1 carbine or mini-30 to match. See?
 
If you were to minimize your gun collection while getting the most out of limited financial resources, what 1-4 guns would you downsize to?

I'm thinking...

A 12 ga shotgun with interchangeable short/long barrels and chokes. (I'm thinking Maverick 88) This would cover home defense, waterfowl, upland birds and some small game.

Would you even own a 22LR? What role does a 22LR rifle fill that a shotgun won't-especially with No 6 or 7-1/2 shot with the right choke.

Bolt action 30-06. Hunt anything in North America.

Would you even own a handgun? Aside from CCW what other would a handgun fill?

What would be the cheapest version of these guns?

What are you doing with these 1-4 firearms? You' indicated an array of applications but didn't specifically say what you're trying to accomplish.
I hate the thought of having to come up with a list of just 4; therefore, I'm not.
 
IMO. Every one should have one long gun, one service size handgun and one cpl and or back up handgun. For me it’s mossberg 590, Ruger gp and an lcr. I’m a wheel gunner. This is just bare bones must haves. Once these three are possessed and funds available I would definitely have another list of “next up” must have firearms to add though before I get to the strictly fun stuff however.
 
Mossberg 500
Glock 19
30-06 or 308 bolt action
Ar15

Looking at it from a sustainability standpoint they are all common calibers with reliable weapons systems and parts available generally. I dont even currently own a glock, but if i could only have one it would be it due to parts availability
 
22 LR Pistol 4-6" barrel
9mm Pistol Sig P229
22 LR Rifle accurate bolt action
AR style rifle in .223 or 5.56
.223 bolt action rifle

Building skill cost effectively would be a priority that is met with these choices. Ammo costs and barrel life is also high. Ultimately, I think 5 guns are needed to properly address training, hunting, and self-defense including accurate work to 800 yards. I've killed enough deer to have confidence in a .223 bolt action for that job.

Stuff like larger game and bear defense are excluded from my list due to the lack of any real need in SE TX and other places I like to hang out.
 
Remington 870 express with duck and 20" RS smooth barrels, RAR in 308 with a good scope, Ruger 10-22 with 4x Nikon, Glock 19 with night sights.
 
Most people don't hunt. I have not in quite a long time and probably never will again. I also don't own a .22 and have not for 30 years. So with that in mind.

AR15 because everyone should own at least one rifle. If you don't hunt its probably all the rifle you will ever need.

Large service sized handgun. Your choice on preference but I'd go Glock 17. Plenty of good choices there though.

Smaller version of your large handgun for CCW. Glock 26 is my preference. I can understand a G43 or a Shield just as easily. Does not have to be the same brand as your service sized hand gun but it will save you money on magazines if it is.

And really I think that is a minimalist list everything a non hunter needs. A lot of people would say shotgun. I have not shot my shotgun in well over a decade. It has not left the safe in five years. I'm not selling it, but its hardly necessary.
 
My first 2 guns were an 870 with a vent rib and slug barrel, and a 10/22. If I was limited to 4 guns I'd pick those 2 all over again. I can (and have) hunted anything in Ohio with both of those guns, so my next choice would be a j-frame for carry. For me, that'd be the best gun that would cover the most situations/garments and its relatively cheap.

That leaves one more gun. While I think it's everyone's civic duty to own an AR15, I have no other use for one so I'd probably skip that. And I love a duty sized 9mm for home defense (mines a CZ75) but I'd probably just rely on the j-frame and shotgun with the short barrel to fill that role. So my final gun would be a Browning Buckmark, because I just love shooting it that much. And my daughter loves shooting it as well, so that's got to count for something.

So there's my list:
870 Express with 28" vent rib and 20" slug barrels
Stainless 10/22
S&W 442
Browning Buckmark
 
For many years, I "got by" on "almost" four guns:

Armi Jager AP-74, 22 LR rifle
Ruger Mini-14, 223 Rifle
Rohm RG-25, 25 ACP pistol
Browning Auto 5, 12 ga. shotgun.

I say "almost four" because I got the Browning from my father-in-law. I fully expected him to ask for it back, but he never has. But because I didn't want to wear out a gun I still think of as HIS, I clean it, but never shoot it. So while I own it, I don't consider that I "have" it.

And as far as cost goes, the Jager was purchased used for $80, the Ruger was under $200, and I think I paid $25 for the Rohm (it was a long time ago).
 
D.B. Cooper wrote:
(I'm thinking Maverick 88)

I would urge you to spend the extra to get the Mossberg 500 instead. The Maverick is assembled in the United States using of foreign (mostly Mexican) parts. I don't mind paying a little extra to keep Americans working.
 
I can't speak to the needs of an Alaskan. However, in this scenario of up to 4 budget friendly guns, I have to put on my young and poor hat from decades ago. As opposed to my middle aged and poor hat. Lololol. :D

My goal would probably include guns without detachable magazines as magazines add cost.

In no particular order and assuming the user being an outdoorsman:

A bolt action .22 LR rifle such as a Marlin XT-22TSR

A bolt action rifle in .308 Winchester such as a Savage Hog Hunter

A pump action 12 gauge shotgun such as a Remington 870 Express

A .38 special revolver such as a S&W 642 (not outdoorsman-like, but for CCW possibilities)

I didn't pick the cheapest in each category, but the savings from not purchasing extra magazines would offset the financial sting a little bit.
 
Agree on the Mossberg.

On the rifle, for me, if not a pre-64 Model 70, then a pre-Accutrigger Savage 110.

If I owned a semi-auto handgun, I'd agree with you on the M9. Curious, what purpose do you see the Beretta filling, other than self defense?

I must assume you don't have a concealed weapons permit. It's a popular pistol, in a popular caliber. Parts and ammo will be available forever,
it's accurate enough to enjoy at the range, and it's a pistol carbine combo partner which shares mags with a CX4 Storm. Basically, what's not to like?
 
I'm already doing it. I have 3 pistols, 2 in 9mm, one in .22, one .22 rifle and a 12 gauge single shot I can use for everything from squirrel to deer, if need be. It saves a lot on ammo only having 3 calibers to shoot.
 
I would have a pistol no matter what. If only one and needed it for everything I would keep my HK P2000SK or buy a Glock 26. Subcompact 9mm's can do it all. CW, house gun and target shoot.
 
Bare bones...G19 and a single shot 22 rifle. Self defense and small game. If I’m so poor I have to downsize, I’ll be eating a lot of stuff I can take with the 22 and living somewhere I probably need the Glock. Gun deer season is so pathetically short in WI that a dedicated deer rifle is not a necessity. A crossbow, however, gives you 1/3 of the year for deer hunting.
 
I’m assuming that if I can only have 4 or fewer guns to cover everything....
1. A G19 pistol, can be carried or used for HD.
-Also, an advantage arms conversion would allow .22 use.

2. A pump action shotgun in 12ga, brand doesn’t matter as long as it cycles, and an assortment of barrels add to versatility. For where I live I can hunt anything with it. Very few 100y or longer shots.

3. An AR pattern rifle in 5.56 for defense. Throw in a .22 conversion or dedicated upper and you’re good to go.

4. A small 9mm pistol to complement the G19. (If I lived in a place where 300y shots were needed for hunting large game I might put a bolt action or AR10 in this slot.
 
first of all, I can't stand the term arsenal when applied to the private citizen. There is no way I could reduce the collection down to 4 guns. More than likely it would be about 10.
The must haves are:
.22lr in rifle and pistol, for basic training and pest control, can also get food with minimal noise
12ga, preferably 2, hard to beat the effectiveness of a trench gun
2 bolt guns, to get food
2 ARs, for everything else
at least 3 hand guns, 1 for me, 1 for the significant other, 1 for the house

but since everything was paid for long ago the only cost with keeping a collection is cleaning supplies and ammo
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top