Minimalist Collection?

[Nightcrawler]

Ever wonder what the smallest number of guns you could have and still feel "complete" is?

For me, it'd depend verymuch on what types of guns I chose.

I think I'd be happy with:

1 Rifle- If only one, probably a Springfield Scout Squad Rifle.

1 Shotgun- Remington 870 Police w/ Ghost Ring Sights.

1 Full Sized Pistol- CZ-97B

1 Full Sized Revolver- S&W 25-5

1 Compact Pistol- Sig P245

1 Compact Revolver- Taurus .450 .45 Colt

1 .22 Pistol- Ruger target model with 5" barrel.

 

[Viking Warrior]

You will be assimilated, you cannot fight the collective.
You will soon feel the need to purchase another safe.
Resistance is futile...

 

[Nightcrawler]

Hypothetically speaking, of course. If I HAD to. But where's the fun in being minimalist?

 

[BerettaNut92]

M1A Scout or AR-15...basically anything that would work for CQB but can whack things out past 300 yards.
1911 or Beretta 92 + A GOOD BELT AND HOLSTER.

Für Deutschetacticalkeit, an HK91 and P7M8.

 

[seeker_two]

Minimalism doesn't have much to offer a person...

 

[yankytrash]

I dunno, I like to think that I do subscribe to minimalist collection theory, and it's very enjoyable. I actually purposely reduced my collection of 31 different types of guns down to 4-5 basic types, with copies of each for backups of course.

The entire reason behind it was because it was aggravating most of the time trying keep proficient with everything I had. Just as I'd reintroduce one firearm to myself and get better (note I did not say "good") with it, I would pick up another rifle/pistol/shotgun for a few range sessions only to find that, not only did I suck with the firearm I just picked up, but that I would totally eventually lose proficiency with the last firearm I tried to reintroduce myself to.

It was a viscious cycle of bad days at the range and good days at the range. I found I questioned my ability - a lot.

Some would say it's boring not to own/shoot many types of firearms. Well, that may betrue for some, but I find nothing boring about leaving ragged aiming circles behind after every range session, instead of every other.


It still doesn't have to mean a "small" collection to be the minimalist. Even with only 4 calibers, I have 14 guns now. 4 1911's, 2 FAL's, 2 870's, 3 22LR rifles, 1 22LR pistol, and my mismatched pair of utilitarian rifles - my 22 Hornet and my 22mag, the two latter being the guns I grab in those times when meat needs to be on the table that night (every once in awhile, my pocket lint seems to devour my paycheck, and certain things are necessary to keep the family fed ).

I'd like to get rid of the 22lr rifles, but I try to keep'm around for when the kids or the wife want to go huntin with me. Not to mention, quality-wise, they are just downright unsaleable. 2 of the 45's are nothing but toys. I do plan to eventually rid myself of those guns in the near future, but only in the form of gifts to close family.


Nothing wrong with being a minimalist, but it does take a certain mindset to accomplish. I got rid of some sweet guns to get here, guns I thought I might regret selling later, but that has not been the case.

 

[Brian Williams]

I have been working on a minimalist collection cause of low finances

Handguns
22 auto Ruger MKII Slabside
22 Revo Ruger Single six
Mouse gun ???????????
Small snub Next purchase S&W 940 being held at local shop for me
Serious fighting revo S&W 13 3"
Range/hunting revo S&W 586
Wondernine Glock 19
1911 Sistema Colt
Large bore DA revo Taurus Tracker in 45 colt
Large bore SA revo ??????


Rifles
Serious hunting Win mod 70 compact classic 7mm-08
varmit NEF superlite handi rifle 243 want to get 223 barrel
Assault rifle ???????? probably AR
MBR ?????????
Lever gun ?????? I want a Marlin 1894 in 45 colt or 357
22lr auto ???????? 10/22???
22lr bolt old cheap SEars that is verrrrrryyyy Accccurrrrate?

Shot guns
Win 1300
SXS or O/U

 

[Redlg155]

Minimalist Collection?

A thong with a P32 holster sewn in.

Good Shooting
Red

 

[kotengu]

I agree with the minimalist philosophy, and believe strongly in the "beware of the man with one gun" idea.

I only own one pistol, a G27, and always train/shoot with it from concealment as I would carry. It doesn't matter if I'm shooting IDPA, 3-gun, or just plinking at the range - I'm trying to build muscle memory so shooting it will be instinctive.

I confess I now own two pump shotguns, but only because my first was a POS (chinese knockoff of an Ithaca) and didn't work, so I bought an 870. I'd sell the other if I didn't feel I was screwing somebody in doing so.

I also own two FAL's - I started out just accurizing my single FAL (OK - I got addicted and ended up building five, but I've sold them off since then) and ended up with a sub-MOA tackdriver with the help of Ed Vandenberg, but also ended up with a 24" heavy barrel, match sights, etc. I then realized the need for a carbine, and built an 18" STG-58 with lightweight lower, topcover, and charging handle, and VOW windage adjustable para sight. Both rifles have the same "manual of arms", so the only difference between shooting the two is knowing the ballistics of the ammo I'm shooting (always mil-surp in the carbine, always handloads in the "match" gun). I shoot both quite a bit in practice and competition, using the carbine for 3-gun and the match gun for Highpower and Long Range so again I can improve my skills and really get to know the guns.

As much as I sometimes feel the "need" for another gun (OK - it's a want), once I sit down and think about it it makes much more sense to spend the money on ammo and training instead. My guns are completely adequate - it's the nut behind the trigger that needs the work

 

[280PLUS]

kel-tec p-32

s&w # 332

bhp 9mm

"bushwacker" xm-15

870 express

MKII for cheap practice

minimal enough?

well, i do want a nice remington #700 for christmas if anyone wants a jump on next year, leupold please too if you don't mind

 

[Tamara]

kotengu,

I only own one pistol, a G27, and always train/shoot with it from concealment as I would carry.

You should at least buy another G27(26/33) in case that one breaks or gets stolen or needs to be left at the shop for work to be done on it or gets confiscated after a shooting or... well... you get what I'm saying.

 

[Tamara]

As far as "minimalism" goes, I am a firm believer that nothing exceeds like excess.

 

[critter]

Minimum. Hummmmm. I REALLY NEED 365-one for each day of the year! Gotta go to work cause I'm FAR from my 'minimum' needs.

 

[WhoKnowsWho]

I need at least 1 gun of every caliber and action type!

Actually, if I had to, I think I could survive on:
1 Rifle, Bushmaster XM-15 A2 20"
1 Service Pistol Kimber 1911
1 Compact Pistol Glock 26
1 Revolver Taurus Tracker .357
And a .22 of some sort, Ruger most likely.

 

[4v50 Gary]

A little is good...

More is better...



Too much is just about right.

 

[biere]

I started selling some of my stuff off when I did a little equation and rounded up all of my stuff.

The equation is X amount of dollars for hours worked. I did it for after tax dollars since that is what I used to buy stuff.

My safe was chock full of money and hours that I did not use much during a year.

Some guns sat around because I had found something I liked better. Some were just guns I never really took a liking to even though they were a nice piece at an ok price.

The kicker is when insurance went up. I feel I should have my stuff insured for fire and theft because I can't afford to replace them otherwise. Trying to insure everything I used to have cost a lot more than what I pay to insure now.

I won't ever be down to a rifle and a handgun, but I plan to get down to single digits.

One side affect of this is that I shoot what I have with more accuracy.

The best side affect is that I have brought this concept into everything and I now work a lot less because I want less.

Everyone needs to find a happy medium, I used to like a lot of guns until it kept me working so much I could not enjoy what I had bought.

 

[10-Ring]

Minimalism only works in bikini design More is MORE!

 

[voilsb]

I think a minimalist collection for me would be a 10/22, an AR, a Garand, a 92FS, Gov Model 1911, Compact 1911, either a P32 or a P3-AT, and a 12ga shotgun of some sort (which I haven't really looked into, yet, but definately will before I buy).

So basically, three rifles (one of them a plinker, one a general purpose, and one a heavy hitter), four pistols (plinker, hard hitter, defense, and backup gun), and a shotgun.

An overall theme is military arms (garand/1911, AR/92FS). because of that, those four are a must for my collection to be complete, regardless of how minimalist I go, plus I'd want to add a little bit to it to finish it off. ta-da!

 

[cratz2]

I think I'd need three, I'd want four and I'd be very happy with five:

1. Ned Christiansen's Gold Cup Commander he built a while back, maybe in 9x23 though and with an extra 5" slide with compensator.

2. Cooper Light Varminter in 22LR with a 1.5-6x Schmidt & Bender scope with illuminated reticle.

3. SIG Arms Blazer R93 in either 6.5x55 or preferably in 6.5x284 with another S&B scope. Then I could get extra barrels. .243, 25-06 and 35 Whelen should cover justabout everything.

4. 12 Gauge shotgun. 870 Express with some tweaking would probably be just fine but since we're limiting ourselves, might as well go for a Wilson K9 semi auto.

5. KelTec P32. Or the upcoming 380 version. Humble, I know. I'd be tempted to say a Kahr PM9 but the P32 is just so small, you have to have one.

 

[JamisJockey]

My idea of a minimum:

2 rifles:
1 Ruger 10/22 .22lr (have)
1 .30 cal rifle. SKS 10 round fixed with 4x scope and synthetic stock would fit a multitude of roles (want). Not a tack driver, but hey, I'm not a trained sniper anyway
1 shotgun:
12ga Win 1300 (have). I've got the 5 shot 28" bbl, I'd like to get an 18" barrel and folding synthetic furniture for it for home defense.
3-4 pistols:
2 .38s or .357's (have 1 snubbie .38 and 1 medium frame .357)
1 or 2 'combat' pistols. A glock or sig, 9mm or bigger (want)

You could compliment the collection with a .22 pistol, another shotgun, and a precision rifle.

 

[MPFreeman]

I can't even think in minimalist ways.

Find what guns you like, and buy a bunch of them.

 

[labgrade]

"Find what guns you like, and buy a bunch of them."

Ditto, but I could "get by" with a 12 gauge SG & a .22LR rile - & could do w/o the .22, or the 12 gauge - either or.