How Many Guns Are Enough ?

kimberkid said:

Maybe that's all you need ... Maybe that's enough to get by with ... but that wasn't the question.

If'n y'all want more, well then that ain't enough ... is it?

People that see firearms as tools will see "enough" differently than someone who sees them as historical achievements, or as art, or as investments, or as ... toys!

Everyone has their own "enough"

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That was just my take on "enough."

My accumulation far exceeds that list so I have more than enough. I like it that way, though.

I'm to the point where I will probably acquire more, but sell some. There are simply a few that I don't use anymore, or even really want. I've sold only 2 guns in my life, and there are at least 2 more that I can cull from the herd. I have twenty-something, and can't for the life of me understand people like my friend that has upwards of 200. Just the maintenance would kill me-even checking them for maintenance. If I never bought another gun, I'd remain happy with my collection, but that's probably not in the cards. After all, we're gun-folks.

I think a reasonable number approximates your age.

Ok, make that a minimum number. I am not close to retirement but plan to reach a very, very old age.

Stevie-Ray said:

I have twenty-something, and can't for the life of me understand people like my friend that has upwards of 200. Just the maintenance would kill me-even checking them for maintenance.

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It's not like maintenance is mandatory. I've got guns in my safe I haven't touched in years and don't plan to; I'm not doing any maintenance on them.

I like just knowing that I have lots of guns. That's all I really want out of life in the end. So I'll never have enough.

and can't for the life of me understand people like my friend that has upwards of 200. Just the maintenance would kill me-even checking them for maintenance.

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Exactly what kind of maintenance (or checks for maintenance) do you imagine that an oil-covered gun sitting in a humidity controlled gun safe requires?

Do you believe that the big-box sporting goods stores do regular "maintenance" on the guns sitting in their warehouses?

TennJed said:

I dont need any. I wear a "no criminals allowed" sign around my neck. That will keep them away

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Well, if criminals could read....

I'll have a total of 5 in the next few months. I have a NEF 20 gauge single shot, Winchester Model 1912 12 gauge, Marlin 81-DL .22 s-l-lr. Picking up either a .30-30 or a .30-06 for a deer rifle and a 16 gauge double barrel. Those will fit my needs and wants for the time being

How Many Guns Are Enough?

Less than I have now.

and yet

More than I have now.

I do not know if this has been said. but this is a personal thing. some collect cars, dozens not being used. some collect stamps, coins, model planes. I personally know someone that has over 1,000 12" lp vinyl albums, people collect beer bottles. I myself have a modest coka cola collection.

enough is when you as a person gets tired.

Exactly what kind of maintenance (or checks for maintenance) do you imagine that an oil-covered gun sitting in a humidity controlled gun safe requires?

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Make that MANY humidity controlled gun safes or a gun vault room. And dehumidifiers fail and oils are subject to question, otherwise there wouldn't be all these threads asking "which is best." AND, anecdotally, my buddy has complained many times in the past about finally finding rust and corrosion on weapons he hasn't laid eyes on for years.

Do you believe that the big-box sporting goods stores do regular "maintenance" on the guns sitting in their warehouses?

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No. Do you actually believe guns sit in their warehouses for years? Not even when Reagan was prez.

However many I decide is enough...at any particular time.

Of course, I reserve the right to change my mind at any time.

stevie-ray said:

And dehumidifiers fail and oils are subject to question, otherwise there wouldn't be all these threads asking "which is best."

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Probably the cause of most of your and your buddies problems if you're taking advice from posters on an internet forum. Heck, a few of them might even be legally old enough to own a gun! kind of like taking advice from a thread on "which caliber is best" or "which gun is best".

stevie-ray said:

AND, anecdotally, my buddy has complained many times in the past about finally finding rust and corrosion on weapons he hasn't laid eyes on for years.

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Possibly your buddy may need to do a little more research than just internet forums on how to store guns. You'd think that if he's complained about it many times in the past, he would finally try to do something about it. Obviously what he's doing isn't working. There are LOTS of people with much larger gun collections who don't have rust and corrosion problems.

Since you like anecdotes, I have one for you. I have a little over twice as many guns as your buddy, been accumulating (can't really say collecting since there's no real theme to them) them since the 60's. I just went and pulled a couple of blued ones that I haven't looked in a LONG time (over 15 years, since before my father passed away), figured they would be most affected by rust and corrosion as opposed to the parkerized or stainless stuff. They both look just like they did when they were put in the safe. No rust or corrosion on any of the others that I had to move to get to them either.

stevie-ray said:

Do you actually believe guns sit in their warehouses for years?

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Where do you believe that they sit? I have personally purchased at least three new pistols that I can verify by the date on the purchase receipt versus the date on the enclosed fired case that had been sitting somewhere for over two years. Do you believe that they are stored in a time warp somewhere?

I don't understand the term "enough guns". Can someone explain how that's even possible?

I don't understand the term "enough guns". Can someone explain how that's even possible?

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It's a logical construct. Since there is clearly such a thing as "not enough guns," some philosophers postulate there is also such a thing as "enough guns."

Eleventy.

How much money is " enough "?

How much money is " enough "?

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Don't worry. Someone from the Government will be along shortly to answer this question.

I suspect that he or she will also have an answer to the one about the allowed number of guns as well.

Don't worry. Someone from the Government will be along shortly to answer this question.

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And the answer will be different for ordinary citizens, as opposed to the Governing Elite.

Nancy Pelosi, for example, whose husband is a multi-millionaire from the government contracts she steered his way, wants a surtax on people whose IRAs are "too successful."

The Outlaw Josey Wales carried IIRC 4 Revolvers and 1 Scoped Rifle. Seems about right to me.

Stevie-Ray said:

Do you actually believe guns sit in their warehouses for years?

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Firearms that haven't been touched in decades are continually being found -- witness the recent importation of unissued K31 rifles, a rifle that went out of service in 1958.

I have a tee shirt that states:

"If you know how many guns you have, you don't have enough."

That about sums it up for me.

But seriously folks,,,

But seriously folks,,,
There are indicators for this.

One indicator might be,,,
If you can't remember how the gun works:

How many rounds in the mag?
Is the safety up or down for fire?
Do you need the manual for disassembly?
(Ruger 22/45 and Mark Series owners get a buy on the last one)

I may be approaching this problem now,,,
When I take a pistol out that I don't shoot a lot,,,
I make certain that I re-read the manual the night before.

It's amazing what you can forget,,,
When you have guns you shoot 1-2-3 times a year.

It doesn't mean I have declared that I have enough,,,
But I do recognize the fact that I can't remember every detail.

That's why there is a scanned copy of the instruction manual,,,
Kept in the cloth cases I buy for each of my guns.

Aarond

.

Gun Master said:

That's a good question that we all should ask ourselves, from time to time.

Although I have seen many claims by others (younger, richer, & possibly less honest - living out a dream), in which their amount of guns are up to five times the amount that I own, how many is enough ?

I believe it all depends on the following (but not limited to) : money, physical & mental ability, and enthusiasm.

Being an older guy, I am now evaluating my stash. I find it somewhat stressful providing proper maintenance and accountability for my collection.

What are your thoughts ? How many guns are enough ?

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I told the wife I would answer that one when she told me how many purses and shoes she needed. 18 years later and we never answered that Question. Personally just one more is my answer.