25 "Must Have" Guns in a "Proper" Collection

[Hawthorne2k]

I've thought that that eight guns are the minimum: That will allow you to protect yourself and your loved ones on a day-to-day basis, compete in most casual shooting competitions and/or hunt for just about anything in North America.

• A quality full sized defensive pistol. Either a medium frame revolver (preferably in .357 magnum), or a good medium frame autopistol that you are comfortable with, in a suitable defensive chambering (WonderNine, a service .40, a good 1911 etc...).
• A quality pump action shotgun in 12 or 20ga, preferably with slug/rifle sights, and easily interchangeable barrels.
• A quality repeating bolt action or semi-automatic rifle in a militarily useful chambering, accurate to at least 300 yards, legal for hunting medium game in your state with a good scope, and if possible a backup optic or iron sights.
• A quality .22lr pistol or revolver
• A quality .22lr rifle, bolt, semi or pump
• A quality semi-automatic rifle or carbine short enough to be handled indoors and light enough to be packed on a long hike; preferably with both iron sights and an optic
• A quality revolver or semi-automatic pistol in a defensively useful chambering of a size suitable to be carried concealed in summer without bulky covering garments, preferably with night sights.
• A quality pocket gun, either semi or revolver, in .380, 9mm, or .38/.357.

IMO, that should handle all the "needs" of a regular shooter. There's obviously a lot more options than that if you want to get into collecting, cowboy action, long range rifle, practical shooting or the hunting of one kind of critter or another, but that should handle things unless there's some level of specific gun required.

 

[oldgold]

1. .38/.357 Snubnose Revolver - Taurus CH-85-P

2. Pump Shotgun- Remington 870

3. An Old West Style Gun- Ruger Blackhawk

4. Polymer Service Pistol- SA XD-40

5. Large Bore Revolver (.41+)- S&W-645

6. Defensive Carbine -- M-1 Carbine

7. .22lr Pistol- Ruger 22 Competition Target

8. European Mil Surp--K-31

9. .38/.357 Target or Service Revolver- Model-10, Douglas barrel

10. .45acp 1911- P-14 Para

11. American Mil Surp- P-17

12. "Something for your Wife/Girlfriend"- Glock-20

13. .22lr Rifle- 14 at last count

14. Wonder Nine Pistol- BHP

15. Pocket Pistol/Mouse Gun- 1903 Colt.32

16. SxS or O/U Shotgun-Browning Superposed

17. <20oz CCW Pistol- 1908 Colt.380

18. NFA/Class III- None, don't care

19. Firearm You Forgot You Owned- Mossberg 151M(b)

20. Something "Evil Looking"- Raging Bull

21. "Pair of" or Duplicate Gun- High Standard Lever Take downs

22. Curio and Relic- Colt Pocket Police

23. Inherited/Gifted Firearm- Savage M-101

24. Bolt Action Hunting Rifle- Savage 110

25. Something that made your wife/girlfriend angry-1885 Browning High Wall
( I won't let her shoot it.)( She'd claim it)

26. Lever rifle- Rossi Puma 454

27. EBR- Eagle Arms J-15 ( AR clone)

Yepper, Got something for each and even a couple extra suggested {26.,27}

Excepting NAFA. Been there done that, not my cup of tea. I'd have a suppressor or two if I didn't have to deal with the government.

 

[Andrew Wyatt]

i have different criteria.

1. Go to guns:
1a.a good, reliable pistol: Glock 19
1b.a good, reliable boltgun: IBA Remington 700 LTR
1c.a good reliable shotgun: Mossberg 500 20" with ghost rings
1d. a good reliable semi-auto: SKS with tech sights

2. less reliable or more specialized guns
2a. Camp gun: Handi-rifle in 20 GA with GR sights and takedown forend
2b. Less reliable than the SKS or it'd be my go to:.308 tanker garand
2c. Less reliable than the glock and ammo is expensive:1911
2d. Pocket carry:Kahr PM9
2E. Works just as well as the SKS, but i don't have enough mags: mini-14

3. Guns i don't feel unarmed with, but would be my third choice
3a. Fr-8
3B. 30-06 garand

4. Guns I would not want to stake my life on:
4a. enfield jungle carbine
4B. full length number4mk1
4c. auto 5 16 ga.
4d. 10-22
4e. S&W model 37

 

[.338Sako]

test

had to check my signature, new member.

 

[mavracer]

1. .38/.357 Snubnose Revolver - S&W 442 and LCR
2. Pump Shotgun- Remington model 10 and 1897
3. An Old West Style Gun- Colt SAA and USFA SAA

4. Polymer Service Pistol- closest I have is a STI VIP
5. Large Bore Revolver (.41+)- 480 SRH

6. Defensive Carbine (aka Assualt/Black Rifle)- AR15 and Mini 14
7. .22lr Pistol-

8. European Mil Surp Makarov and Tokarev
9. .38/.357 Target or Service Revolver- S&W 14-4 (target) and 686 SSR (service)
10. .45acp 1911-

11. American Mil Surp-

12. "Something for your Wife/Girlfriend"- Sig P226 and a Talo Smith M60
13. .22lr Rifle- Ruger 10/22, Henry Golden boy and Browning 22 auto
14. Wonder Nine Pistol- CZ 85 combat
15. Pocket Pistol/Mouse Gun- Beretta Tomcat/Seecamp 32
16. SxS or O/U Shotgun-TNN 1878 coach gun and Remington Peerless
17. <20oz CCW Pistol- Ruger LC9
18. NFA/Class III- None Yet
19. Firearm You Forgot You Owned- I can't recall
20. Something "Evil Looking"- savage 112 223 w/ 5-15X bushnell elite

21. "Pair of" or Duplicate Gun- 4 5/8" Old Model flattop blackhawk and 50th anniversary flattop Blackhawk
22. Curio and Relic- see mil surp
23. Inherited/Gifted Firearm-1917 army

24. Bolt Action Hunting Rifle- Remington 700 .308
25. Something that made your wife/girlfriend angry-My existance

 

[Fishslayer]

The only real "must have" handguns are a 1911 in .45ACP and a .357 wheelgun.

For long guns a .22, 12GA and semiauto rifle .30 caliber.

If you're merely talking "collecting," then anything beyond that is personal taste. I like S&W, so my "must haves" are going to differ from somebody's who likes Colts.

 

[possom813]

What is the bottom gun in the picture?

 

[bladesarge]

<<< "InkEd": Here are 25 types/categories that every "proper" gun collection should have at least one example of in it. >>>

I think a category should be included for an "inherited" or "handed-down" gun,
IE: from "Grandfather to Father to Mine Now". ~

I have one or two as I am sure most of us do. Mine is:
Quackenbush, HM; made in 1896 in Herkimer NY USA; .22 cal rifle;
It was my grandfathers, he bought it in 1896 for $1.oo.
It's not in the greatest condition, but has a lot of sentimental value.
~ I am afraid to try to shoot it! :-/

 

[mavracer]

What is the bottom gun in the picture?

30/40 Krag Carbine. Although not an original it started life as a 30" barreled rifle. Somebody had cut it back to 24" but left it with a full stock. I cut it to it's present Krag carbine 22" 1/2 stock configuration.

 

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

In no particular order---just off the top of my head


1. AR-15
2. AK47
3. Glock 19
4. 1911
5. Ruger Mk I-II or III
6. Bolt action rifle in .30-06
7. Ruger 10/22
8. Marlin 336
9. Remington 870
10. Mossberg 500
11. Beretta autoloading shotgun
12. Beretta 92
13. Hi-power
14. Ruger .357 revolver
15. S&W revolver of some sort
16. Browning Citori/Superposed
17. Mini-14
18. SKS
19. Colt Peacemaker
20. Ruger #1 --bigbore .375--.416--.458 something of that sort
21. Browning Auto .22
22. M1 Garand
23. Mossberg 590
24. Ruger Single-Six
25. Winchester 94

This would be my collection if I had the time--money and space.

Interesting that they are all currently being produced except for the Garand.

Class III stuff is just way too expensive to be practical.

 

[CGRifleman]

I'll give this a shot...
1- .38/.357- None yet, looking at a GP100 or 686
2- Pump Shotgun- Rem 870
3- An Old West Style Gun- I don't kick it old skool
4- Polymer Service Pistol- Glock 23 .40
5- Large Bore Revolver- S&W 629 Classic 5"
6- Defensive Carbine- AR15, MAK90, and AK74
7- .22lr Pistol- None yet
8- European Mil Surp- Russian SKS
9- .38/.357 Target or Service Revolver- None yet
10- .45acp 1911- Kimber Custom II
11- American Mil Surp- None yet, want an 1897 Trench Gun
12- "Something for your Wife/Girlfriend"- If I get married she can keep my .44 Mag in her purse
13- .22lr Rifle- Should've kept that 10/22
14- Wonder Nine Pistol- Beretta M9 someday maybe
15- Pocket Pistol/Mouse Gun- None yet
16- SxS or O/U Shotgun- Refer to #3
17- <20oz CCW Pistol- None yet, I'll use the Glock for now.
18- NFA/Class III- None yet ($200...?!!)
19- Firearm You Forgot You Owned- SKS. It sat on a wall mount in the basement/bar at my old house for almost a year.
20- Something "Evil Looking"- Refer to #6
21- "Pair of" or Duplicate Gun- None yet, would love to have another Kimber
22- Curio and Relic- Closest thing is the '52 SKS
23- Inherited/Gifted Firearm- Nobody ever gives me guns...
24- Bolt Action Hunting Rifle- Remington 700 XCRII in 7mm Rem Mag
25- Something that made your wife/girlfriend angry- Single

 

[Dr.Rob]

1. 22 target pistol
2. 22 rifle
3. 1911
4. Hi-cap 9mm
5. 30-30 lever gun
6. Snubnosed revolver
7. 4 inch 357 (need one of these, looking for a King Cobra)
8. Cowboy gun(s)
9. Milsurp rifle
10. Bolt action hunting rifle
11. Semiauto defensive carbine/rifle
12. Big bore rifle
13. Pump shotgun
14. Black powder rifle
15. Safari Rifle
16. Hide-out gun
17. Novelty gun/curiousa
18. Luger
19. Fun Gun
20. BBQ Gun
21. Just because gun
22. Bet you don't have one of these (odd ball or gun with a really good story)
23. Carry Gun
24. Heirloom Gun
25. only 25 you can't be serious?

 

[303tom]

Twenty-Five, Right I should have stopped at (25) NOT !!!

 

[InkEd]

I barely remebered starting this thread. Looks like somebody brought it back to life.

25 is the MINIMUM.

 

[GCBurner]

I think 25 categories might just suffice, that's why I typed "several" in many of them on my list...

That's more my kind of thinking, too. I'd like 25 Representational Military Surplus Rifles, 25 Military Handguns, 25 Blackpowder and BP Cartridge Longarms, 25 BP and BP Cartridge Handguns, 25 Different Shotguns by Gauge and Action Type, 25 Modern Handguns, 25 Hunting rifles, etc.

 

[Gunnerboy]

well everyone here should have AT LEAST 25 mosin nagants cant go wrong with a crate of those.

 

[EddieNFL]

I'm an improper kind of guy. Too many don't want, won't haves in that list.

 

[nwilliams]

Damnit! This thread makes me want to buy more guns now.

 

[mac66]

My son and I were talking about this kind of thing driving home from hunting the other day. We decided that what a proper battery of arms should contain is the following...

Centerfire rifle
Centerfire pistol
Rimfire rifle (22lr)
Shotgun

Doesn't matter what type, caliber or gauge except for the 22. Anything more than those 4 is superfluous.

Frankly, we started with all the ones mentioned by others, bolt, semi, revolver, single action, historical, etc and etc. What is all boiled down to is those four.

Centerfire rifle is for big game hunting
Centerfire pistol is for self defense
Rimfire 22lr is for varmints, plinking and training
Shotgun is for all other furry or feathered creatures

 

[Manny]

"Must Have" guns to me are the absolute essentials, and probably vary greatly depending on where you live as laws vary greatly sometimes, what shooting opportunities you have and what your interests and personal situation is.

Living in Ohio rifle hunting for our main big game, deer, is forbidden, but varmint hunting with one is OK. Legal arms for deer hunting are shotguns with slugs, handguns with barrels of 5" or longer chambered in a straight wall case of .357 cal or bigger and muzzle loaders of .38 caliber & bigger IIRC.

For me these are my essentials:

- Defensive handgun, Glock G34 9mm, bedside gun with mounted light for night work, target, could carry if I wanted or shoot matches.

- Defensive shotgun, FN SLP 12 ga, superb heavy artillary when loaded with #4 buckshot to back up the hand gun at home but minimizes the potential of overpenetration as I live in an urban area. It will also work for deer using slugs, turkey, small game, varmints etc as well.

- CMP legal flattop 5.56 AR with scope in QR mount, RRA national match, lets me keep sharp shooting matches, put on a scope for varmints or precision work and is a great homeland defense weapon.

- CCW piece, Ruger SP101 .357, allows for more discrete carry than the Glock and I really like it for answering the door, especially at night. Enough power to hit a target through the door if needed and small enough to make disappear if all is OK.

Anything beyond that is gravy.