Minimalist Gun Collection

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Compound or crossbow.
30,06 for me m1 garand
20 gauge single shot.
223 bolt, that would cover all the bases for me in regards to hunting.
I left out handguns because the question was about hunting. Also I do realize that I did not list all firearms but a bow fills many nice roles.
 
- Axel:I left out handguns because the question was about hunting.
Click to expand...
- OP:These are the guns that I think you would need to cover all situations in NAmerica.
Click to expand...

Since the OP says "ALL" situations, and then includes SHTF in his choices, I'm assuming that it isn't just about hunting...
My "minimalist" collection would be:

1. Center-fire Defensive Handgun
2. 12 gauge shotgun (single, double, pump, or semi)
3. Long-range center-fire rifle
4. .22LR**
5. Semi-auto Defensive Rifle*

* an AR-10 could cover roles of #3 and #5
**.22LR conversion kit for say a Glock or AR would cover this.
 
I've really enjoyed this thread, and it's sort of making me rethink what my next gun purchase might be.

I think my ultimate minimalist collection might be a snub nose 38 and a marlin 1894 357. Carry gun, plus rifle capable of taking most anything out east. can load the 38 in the rifle too for accurate varmint hunting, taking out the need for a 22.

this coming from a guy who only owns a 10 22 and p 11.
 
.22LR handgun and rifle

4" .357 Magnum revolver

12-gauge shotgun

centerfire rifle in .30 caliber
 
I must have missed the boat on this one. I thought the OP was asking not about what would be minimal to survive, but about what would be minimal to be happily able to do everything you want to do with a firearm currently. including shooting sports, hunting, Personal and home defense, emergency preparedness, recreation, ect.
 
If you wanted a primarily defense oriented set for N. America, and truly BARE MINIMUM, I'd say these two would cover just about everything.

Ruger Alaskan .454 with 2.5" barrel.
Winchester model 70 7mm Mag. w/ 26" barrel

Those two will stop grizzlies, serve for concealed carry and self defense, drop deer, elk, antelope and anything else a long ways off.

If you wanted to expand slightly you could include a Remington 870 in 12guage, and of course a Ruger 10/22
 
14 guns as a minimum?

99% of the problems you could run into in North America could be solved by the liberal application of:

Glock 19
Remington 870
FAL/M1A
And maybe a 10/22

Now I'm all for expanding your collection and getting more guns that you like, but a minimalist collection should be, well... minimalist
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...what Tele said, as well as Cosmoline... I skipped the rest, the armory bragging and name dropping is a bit much anymore. "Minimalist" is definitely lost on some. Think what you can carry if you have to scram, bug out if u will, and not in your mobile home, on foot, or one trip to your vehicle... ok loadout on a motorcycle is relevant :D

go ahead an burn me, but be "minimalist" heheheh :D
 
A sturdy bolt-action sporter- I prefer milsurps in .30-06- will be the best "kill anything big" choice.

Some powerful but concealable handgun- a Ruger Alaskan is just a laughable choice, unless you're so large that you don't really need a weapon to take on bear. A 10mm or 3-4" .357 is probably about ideal...

This is about the lightest you can go. If you had a .357, you could use lead round-nose .38s to harvest small game like rabbits and squirrels.

Adding a shotgun gives more versatility, though a lot of what the shotgun gives is less survival and more sport.

Adding a rimfire gives more versatility. There is little you couldn't do pretty well, shooting-wise, in N America with a good bolt-action .30 rifle, a quality 3-4" .357 handgun, a shotgun with slug and longer small game barrel, and a good .22.

Sure, if you're less about survival, and want to optimize, you could, for instance, add a good autoloader for daily carry. If you have the leisure of gun sports, you could add a lighter rifle for varminting, etc...but folks who seem to think you "need" over 10 firearms at the least are living in a different universe.

Sure, I have more, but I understand that need has nothing to do with it. :D
 
I have to say, if I had to go very minimalist, I could probably get away with the following:

Ruger SP101 .357 3"
Rossi M92/Marlin 1894c .357
Ruger 10/22

Seriously. That's it.

CCW- The SP101
HD- Both the SP101 and the levergun
Hunting anything up to and including medium sized game- levergun
SHTF- Levergun and 10/22
Plinking and small game hunting- 10/22

It is also minimalist in terms of calibers. Many on this thread have given answers that pare you down to 3-4 guns but require you to stock 3-4 calibers.

In my ultra-minimalist collection, I've got three guns, and only 2 calibers. I'm banking on the super versatility of the .357mag to take the place of handgun, and light caliber rifle rounds. Incidentally, both calibers are also readily available, and also very light. I can carry more .357mag than I can 7.62x39, and get just about the same power level.

As a super double-plus bonus (but one that is, admittedly, mostly irrelevant), if I had to use either gun in an SD shooting, none of my choices look particularly scary/tactical, etc...

The only thing my collection won't do is kill big game. If push came to shove, I can live with that.

Edit to add:
If it came down to it, and I felt very minimalist, I'd also be running around in one of my pairs of Vibram Five FIngers! Even my shoes would have to be minimalist!:neener:
 
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^ Well... you get to shoot .38 special out of your .357 guns, so that's really 3 calibers! :neener:

But point well-taken.


I have the first two on your list, and I would just replace your 10-22 with my 39A and I suspect I'd be as happy as you would. I'd kinda miss the shotgun, but I guess if we're going truly ultra-minimalist that is what I would cut. Good list.
 
I'm 5'10" 155 lbs and in pretty good shape. But I honestly think that I'd rather get eaten by the bear than have to shoot that 2.5" .454. Yowza.
That one is on my short list of guns that I'd prefer not to shoot.
B

CONNEX 3300 said:
If you wanted a primarily defense oriented set for N. America, and truly BARE MINIMUM, I'd say these two would cover just about everything.

Ruger Alaskan .454 with 2.5" barrel.
Winchester model 70 7mm Mag. w/ 26" barrel

Those two will stop grizzlies, serve for concealed carry and self defense, drop deer, elk, antelope and anything else a long ways off.

If you wanted to expand slightly you could include a Remington 870 in 12guage, and of course a Ruger 10/22
Click to expand...
 
My collection is minimalist.

Rifles = 5.56 and 22lr all AR15s
Pistols = 9mm for sport and 45 for carry, all 1911s
Shotgun = 870 Wingmaster
Done.
 
YAY< my first post. THis is my minimum. What I currently own.

22lr (2 rifles)
9mm (1 handgun)
.357 (1 handgun)
5.56 (1 AR 20" cause they rock)
7.62 (1 Rem 700)

and mostly I use the .22's
 
Here is my minimal list:

Remington 870 - multiple uses, hunting (small game and large) and SD;
Colt Trooper MKIII .357 - multiple uses, hunting and large game, SD:
S&W5906 - 9mm - SD and Mil spec handgun caliber;
S&W M&P 15 - .223/5.56mm (EOTECH and Magnifier) - SD and Hunting - Mil spec long rifle caliber.

IMHO, I can take care of just about any business with the above assortment. Hunting/SD and mil consistency in case of a SHTF situation.
 
Rifle: Mosin Nagant
Shotgun: Stoeger Coachgun
Handgun: Ruger P95
CCW: Ruger LCP

This list could even lose the LCP to be truly minimalist.

Edit: You can throw a Cricket in there too if ya like.
 
Minimalist?
AR in .223
4" .357 Magnum
.22 lr autoloader
12 ga shotgun

If I can't do whatever I have to do with these four, I guess I'm screwed
 
Two guns is all that's needed for a true minimalist.

1. A .30 caliber bolt action rifle in either .308 or .30-06. Get a press and learn how to reload for it. Learn how to shoot it at 800+ meters. You will be able use reduced loads for small game and full power loads for large game.

2. A 4" .357 combat magnum, learn how to reload for it as well, you can use it for
anything that happens to get in too close for your bolt action rifle.
 
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