If You Could Only Have Five Guns ...

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As someone just starting out with firearms, I like these threads, too. Helps me flesh out my shopping/wish lists. :)

That said, here's what I think are the "Top Five" types to own, along with what I've purchased to fill that niche (or what I hope to purchase).

1) A .22lr rifle
CHECK. We wound up with a Marlin 795 - mag-fed semi with Tech Sights added. It's a great plinker/trainer. Perhaps the future will hold a Savage bolt-action .22 or a Ruger 10/22 for us, too.

2) A modern sporting rifle
CHECK... Built our first AR15 (.223 Wylde) last year with help from my son. I just love the project and rifle's versatility so much that we've already started building out another. In the longer run, I'd love to add an AK-platform rifle as well.

3) A 9mm handgun
Maybe next on the list? I really like the feel of Sigs (the P226, 229, 2022) and 1911-style handguns in my hands, but haven't really shot any. Hoping to try some out more seriously this winter and see what crops up from there.

4) A 12ga Shotgun
Hoping to add a simple pump or semi... Most likely a Mossberg 535 or 870.

5) A bolt rifle in a larger caliber
.308 or 30-06, I suppose, for my purposes. This will be further down the lane, though.
 
I just can't resist these threads, since my top 5 change on a weekly basis. This week, they are:

1. Beretta 92 (preferably the rare, discontinued 92G-SD)
2. Remington 870 (with multiple barrels, chokes, mag extensions, etc.)
3. AR-15 (with multiple uppers, calibers, furniture, etc.)
4. Ruger LCP
5. Ruger Single Six Convertible
 
I'll just limit to the guns in my cabinet, because that makes it easier:evil:

1. My Stag Ar
2. Glock 26
3. Ruger Mkiii
4. Ithaca 37 DSPS
5. Ruger New Vaquero .357

That gives me a combat rifle that can defend/hunt, a boringly reliable pistol in a common caliber that is easy to fix/find parts for, a nearly indestructible .22 for cheap plinking and small game, a very stout and balanced 12 gauge that is old enough to slam fire;), and a simple revolver capable of shooting .38, .38+, and .357.
 
I go at this as choosing only five of what I already own:

1) AR-15 built for me by my son, DPMS lower and Sweet 16 SS Bull Barrel upper. Need it in case I ever need to "reach out and touch" something

2) Browning Buckmark w/Tactical Solutions 4 1/2" barrel and FastFire. Not having a .22 lr is just dumb!

3) Springfield Armory LW Commander. .45 ACP is a Must Have

4) Dan Wesson 715 4VH .357 Magnum. 4" .357 is a perfect fighting handgun

5) Ruger LCP, often primary carry, frequent BUG

Two guns that did not make the 5 Gun limit, that I'd hate to lose:

S&W Model 59, Hi Capacity 9 mm

Dan Wesson PM-1S, the most accurate CF handgun I've ever owned
 
I will go with 5 I already have

1. Glock 26 9mm
2. Marlin 336 30-30
3. Stag arms ar 15 .223
4. Mossberg 12g
5. Ruger sp101 357 mag

My list may not be the same if I was asked tomorrow though... My mood changes often.
 
I will start with the premise my collection is gone in a fire that took everything else as well but I got an insurance check but a lot of that is going to go for the everything else so I'm limiting myself to 5 guns for replacement for now.

First and immediate a Glock 26. Its my carry gun and a carry gun is a working gun. Second would be another Glock 26 because its a working gun and one is none. You need a spare carry.

In the past next would be a shotgun but I don't see the need anymore so I'd get a pair of Daniel Defense ARs. I'd scope one and Aimpoint the other.

Most people would be putting a .22 in there next but I have not shot .22 in years. I honestly don't know what my next gun would be. Leaning toward a heavier rifle probably 7.62 FAL or a larger pistol in .45. Tough choice.
 
I can't whittle it down to just five, unless I didn't count carry guns.

However, if I had to suggest a starting collection for my children (and I had the money to finance it x 4 kids) it might be something like the list below. They are all city dwellers, so . . .

1. AR15 Carbine in 5.56 w/ 16" barrel, flat top receiver, collapsible stock, with a standard front sight, and a bolt on rear sight.

2. CZ452 Trainer or CZ455 Lux .22LR. A nice bolt gun with a wide range of .22LR ammo choices.

3. CZ75 handgun in 9mm. They get to choose a decocker version or the cocked and locked version.

4. Browning Buckmark .22LR.

5. Beretta CX4 Carbine in 9mm. Great for indoor range practice or short range outdoor range practice. As well as possible use for home defense.

Only 3 calibers to have to worry about and reasonably affordable to shoot, too.

They can add optics when they want or need.
 
Of ones I already own ...

1. Stoner SR-25 Match
2. Kimber Super Carry and 22 conversion
3. SiG-522 SBR
4. SiG-553 SBR
5. Remington 1100

Now if you had said 10 ... and because you added an extra 5 i will too!

6. SiG SSG-3000
7. Ruger MKII suppressed
8. Stoner SR15 E3
9. HK-53 Clone
10. Colt M16 & uppers to include LMG, 5.56 commando, 9mm SMG and CMMG 22
 
I like this thread because it can be any gun even if I don't own it or I can't afford it.

1. Sig P210
2. Kimber 84L
3. Les Baer Custom Tactical 5.56
4. Cooper 57-M
5. High Standard 22
 
Springfield Armory M1A
Remington R1 1911
Winchester 1895 7.62X54R
Remington 870 16 ga.
Silenced Noveske SBR
 
fully suppresed remington 700 308..ruger 10-22/w 20 round mag... mossberg 500 in a 12..and a para ordanace 1911 in a 45..and a marlin 336y in 30 30
 
These are fun threads. My thoughts....

1. Colt Combat Commander .45 ACP - do everything handgun (can I throw in a .22 conversion kit?)
2. S&W Model 27 .357 Mag - Gotta have a magnum revolver
3. Winchester M70 .30/06 - A classic rifle in a classic caliber
4. Winchester Model 12 in 12 gauge - Pump reliability in a smooth swinging classic shotgun.
5. M1 Garand - It's no AR, but it's a proven battle rifle and with a ported gas plug it can share ammo with the M70 in a pinch. Tough choice here, as I was also considering a .22 rifle or an AR. So -

6. Marlin 39A - .22 S, L, LR - Gotta scratch the lever gun itch, and a .22 rifle is a handy thing to have.
7. AR-15 - Colt 6920 or Daniel Defense model. - America's (newest) rifle. If the gov't doesn't want me to have it, I probably should have it.

I think 7, maybe 6, guns would be a minimum for me. I know you can do it all with less, but I like a bit of specialization.
 
Five.

.22 LR pistol.
.22 LR rifle.
9mm handgun.
5.56 AR.
.308 tactical rifle.

No need for shot guns. Game rules, if we are down to this scenario, are out the window.
 
Personally I think it's a very probable situation. If something ever happened and you had to up and leave in a hurry, you can't bring a whole gun store with you. I would think that 5 would be the max that I would bring because with ammo and accessories that's a lot of stuff.
 
gym: Been done to death

Yep. But ever so often I think about simplifying my ammo supply logistics....
Let's see. Most useful guns to me as keepers:

.22 Ruger Mark II semi-auto pistol, 6" barrel
.357 Ruger Security Six revolver, 4" barrel
.22 Marlin 39A Mountie lever-action rifle
.30-30 Marlin 336W lever-action rifle
12ga Baikal Bounty Hunter double, 20" cyl-cyl

East Tennessee woods hunting, camp security, recreational target practice.
 
I will try to be realistic.

1) Pistol - Beretta 92FS.

2) Pistol - Colt 1911 45ACP.

3) Rifle - Colt or Rock River AR-15 in 5.56.

4) Rifle - Zastava N-PAP AK

5) Rifle - Marlin Model 39A 22LR

Reasons - I own an XD 9mm. I liked my friends Beretta more. Never owned a 1911, but I like shooting 45. I'd probably get a Rock Island one first to make sure I enjoy 1911 before spending a ton of money. AR15 is fun, accurate, and customizable. AK is fun and easy to maintain. I own a Hungarian AMD65, and I like everything BUT the folding stock. If I had it to do again, I'd get that Zastava. Or something nicer, but it looks to be a good choice. Marlin...I already have one. My Grandpa gave it to me.

My best friend has a Colt AR15. If anything terrible happens and we need to use force to protect ourselves, he'll be at my place with it, or I'll be at his with my stuff and we'll be getting out of town with our ladies.

Also, realistically today, if I had to leave RIGHT NOW or something, My 9mm, my 380, maybe my 32 and my AK would be all that I'd take, with their ammo.
 
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Choices vary according to the reason I would have to choose five. A personal financial disaster is different than general financial collapse. Social unrest vs divorce. Natural disasters according to scope - local, regional, national, worldwide?

My .22/45 won't feed me as well as most of my .22 rifles, but packs easier than my bull-barreled 10/22. I have 22 conversions for several handguns. A .223 is a given, but AR-15 or CZ 527 depends on situation. A shotty could be handy, but if I can head-shoot a turkey at 100 yards I probably could get along without a shotty.

The choices also change considerably as the number of guns increases, as specialization becomes more attractive than versatility. I carry a G26 daily - it's IWB now - but it doesn't make the 5-gun list....
 
Five?
A .22 pistol, probably my Ruger MK.II
A 12 gauge shotgun......zither an Ithaca 37 or a SXS.
An AR15.....probably my HBar
A 16 gauge flintlock BP Fowler...which I have already.
A 1911.

If you don't consider muzzleloaders firearms within the context of this thread, then I would replace the fowler with a rifle, an O/U .30-06 that I have.
Pete
 
all these "if you only could only own x guns" threads always bring out the same sorts of posts. " Why can I only own x guns? Is it the government? Well than they better know I'm coming out shooting."

It's just a hypothetical question.
 
Get over it

About HS Precision and all the other companies who, at one time or another, have "sinned" against the gun community, in one way or another. If you don't want to buy their product fine,don't, but stop picking on those who do. If we were limited to those companies who never offended "us" I doubt we would be able to put together a five gun list.
Moving On, here are my 5 guns from the ones that I already own.

Kimber Eclipse pro: It is my EDC gun along with two spare mags

Kimber Tactical Pro II: Redundancy

Glock 23 with 357 sig barrel: Probably first choice for my SHTF handgun

One of my ARs: I can choose from Windham, Bushmaster, Smith M&P and Olympic. Whichever I chose would get scoped with my leupold 4x12 with Mil-dot retical.

Ruger Gunsite scout in 308: handy for hunting anything out to at least 600 and probably well beyond. Also scoped with a Leupold.
 
Browning BL-22 A rimfire rifle that eats anything you can find.
Ruger Single Six Hunter- Another easy to feed rimfire, in a revolver
Beretta 391- A very reliable shotgun
Browning BLR- .308 Reliable, accurate and hard hitting
Sig M-11-A1 - good capacity, accurate, reliable.
 
In general:

1. A 4" or 6" bbl .357 revolver ie. S&W 686 or Ruger GP100.
2. Any semi auto handgun in either 9mm, .40 S&W, or .45.
3. Any .22LR semi or bolt rifle ie. Marlin Model 60.
4. Any 12 ga. shotgun ie Mossburg 500 or Remington 870.
5. Any high powered rifle ie. .308, 30.06, or 7.62x54R.

Any of the above can be swapped out for maybe a .22 handgun or an EBR according to one's needs or desires.

At least that would be MY list. ;)
 
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