Most basic collection of Guns

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.45Ruger

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At work today 3 or 4 of us who are shooters sat around discussing the bare minimum number and tpes of guns a person needs.
My personal list:
1. High powered rifle- My mauser does the trick.
2. Medium range rifle- My sar with 4 30 round mags loaded serves this purpose.
3. Shotgun- MOssburg 500
4. Handgun of sorts Won't go into all of them but when I hear a sound in the night I grab my Springfield XD 40.
5. A .22 rifle and pistol for cheap practice. I have a Ruger 10/22 and Mark II for this purpose.

If I am missing anything please tell me because I can always use another reason to buy another gun.
 
Yours sounds OK to me.
My choices would be similar, but it would require some sales.:(
And a couple of acquisitions.:)
My collection is cool, a little bit redundant, a little lacking, and alot of fun at the range.:D
 
If you are looking at bare bones basic for protection/survival, military calibers would be the way to go to ensure a source for ammo. That would be a .308, .223 and 9mm plus the 12-gauge shotgun. To maximize available spare parts, that would include an AR and 92F as Skunk said.
 
I was always told that if you had to start out with a few guns, you should have the following:

a .22 pistol of some sort (either revolver or semi-)
a shotgun (preferably 12 gauge) [preferably pump]
a servicable rifle in a medium-to-large caliber (bolt action .30-06 for example)

Additional weapons would be:

a larger caliber pistol (either revolver or semi-)
a .22 rifle (of any action, but semi- or bolt a toss-up)

When the revolution comes, you might also need:

a .223 or .308 semi-auto rifle

That just about covers any situation, though if you live in a place where semi-auto rifles are hard to come by or illegal, a good lever gun would make a fine choice instead.
 
I need a decent CCW handgun.

Everything else is just "want".

I'm pretty durn in touch with my wants, though. ;)
 
I think Beorn has it, though a "minimalist" battery is situational. Does CCW apply? Do you have hunting needs? Etc.
A 12 gauge is a must. Good for self-defense, esp. at home. Can use it to hunt almost anything. Good also for offence in an urban/restricted terrain environment. For a true minamalism, this is it.
A handgun suitable for CCW, if relevant. For me, 9mm and up.
A .22 LR for taking small game & plinking. Builds skills in both handguns and rifles, so one of each.
A rifle seems beyond true minimalism, but I would opt for a .308 Win.
 
One of those Savage 12gauge/.223 combination longarms (or maybe a 20gauge/22lr combination).

Plus a .357mag revolver (8 shot Taurus for eg.) for the versatility of both .357mag and .38spcl.

Hunting (12g/.223/.357mag), target shooting (.223/.38spcl) and self defence (.357mag/38spcl) all taken care of with 2 firearms.....
 
I tried from the beginning to cover the bases:

P22 for the plinker.

P99 for CCW.

USP45 for a “combat sidearmâ€.

Mossberg 590A1.

M1A Scout with Aimpoint.

Scoped Tikka in .30-06.

That covers it from “up close and personal†to “almost beyond visual range†:D

I’d like to add a .223 but being trapped in the PRK that narrows it down to a Mini-14 (I’ll pass, thanks). I got an SKS instead.
 
what i got...

.22 ruger mkII w/scope for target

1953-mint .22 colt match target w/box and accessories and signed factory target-cause try and find another

kel-tec p-32 for certain ccw situations, back up and cause the girls think it's "cute"

s&w .32 mag for main ccw and backup if needed

BHP in 9mm - no explanation needed

20 ga 870 express in the youth cut for inside the home defense

Dads old single shot 20 ga cause i'd hate to part with it

and last but not least the good ol' Bushmaster xm15 "shorty" carbine with the ak muzzle brake.

all i want for christmas now is the remington 700 heavy barrel in .308 and a nice scope to pick off the squirrels at 1000 yds. with, then i should be happy

how'd i do?

:)
 
What, don't you people have a spreadsheet covering all this like I do?? :D

You look good to me. Maybe a Semi-auto rifle in 308....
 
What, don't you people have a spreadsheet covering all this like I do?? :D
Click to expand...

No, twoblink, mine only go onto the spread sheet after I buy them.

See, I passed "need" a long dang time ago. ;)

(Well, maybe not strictly true. I am still heard to say things like "I need that new Lew Horton .45 ACP wheelie" or "I need a .17 HMR revolver, preferrably a big honkin' one" or "I need a Norinco Trench Gun clone", but these are more "need" as defined by a substance abuser than "need" as defined by a lack of food or oxygen. ;) )
 
I would change the list a bit. I would delete the mauser for a different gun, or at least add a scope to it. You need a precision rifle and a base mauser isn't exactly all that great. I would then add another category for a longer range utility rifle, something in .308 like a FAL or M1A. Then the medium/short range .223 or 7.62x39/5.45x39 weapon, the closer to a true carbine the better. This would be my personal go-to gun for most situations. And then right on down the rest of your list looks good, possibly adding in another pistol slot for a CCW gun.
 
If you really want to go basic, I would combine #s 1&2 into a single rifle. Centerfire rifle, 30 caliber variant, bolt, lever or semi auto depending on your wants. I would choose either a .308 or .30-06 bolt rifle, 30-30 lever, or else an M1 or M1A myself. Of course I don't have the self-control to choose just one so I have all three.:D
 
right now I have

98 mauser sporter 8mm
#1 mk III* 22 lr trainer sporter
S&W 28 4"
S&W 27 6 1/2 "
S&W 29 8 3/8 " scoped ( sightron 1X)

this isn't counting my MAS 49/56 because it's not running yet

I plan to get soon

#1 mk III* (2A) 308 win chambered to be sportered to match 22 lr rifle
12 ga NEF

and a ways down the road
S&W 60 or 649 3"
 
If it has to be absolutely bare bones, I'd say an Ar15 (or AK if money is tight), 1911 .45acp and a Remington 870 Express 28" Remchoke barrel. If extra goodies can be chosen, .22 conversion kits for the AR and 1911, and a 20" IC rifle sighted barrel for the 870 would round it out nicely.

Kharn
 
I've always liked the "big gun, small gun, handgun" concept to describe the basic needed battery. The big gun is something that you can use for hunting, home or self-defense, depending on your needs (some people don't hunt, but could use a good home-defense longarm); lots of guns fit into this category, from .30-30 or .45-70 lever actions, to .308 or .30-06 MBR's, to 12-gauge pumps, to AR's and AK's, or even bolt-action rifles (although they are a bit limited in the "home defense" department). The small gun is a gun to plink with and be able to take small game with, such as a .22lr or .22 magnum rifle or handgun (although I'd recommend the .22lr rifle). The handgun is simply that, a handgun that would will carry with you to protect yourself; it depends on your environment and what threats you are likely to run into as to what kind of gun would be ideal (a city-dweller like me is served well with my carry gun, a Glock 26; if I were running a trapline in Alaska, I might want a .44 Magnum or .45 Long Colt revolver, though). I think that those are the only guns that you truly "need".

As for wants, well, it's sort of like the old potato chip ad, you can't have just one.
 
I sort of come and go regarding how few guns I think I could happily live with. I figure the basics are a CCW, a 22 pistol or revolver, a longer range hunting rifle, and a shotgun. Problem is, I always have my P32 on my person, I carry one of two 1911s and I have a Kahr on the way so which would I keep? And how do I get rid of my customized 1991A1 that I've had forever or my Taurus PT99 that has thousands or trouble free rounds through it? For the 22 handgun, I'd keep my Dan Wesson revolver, without a doubt, though I'd gladly trade it for a Freedom Arms 22. For the rifle, I think it would have to be a carry weight as opposed to a varmint rifle - I have a nice Ruger in 25-06 that's been keeping most of my attention lately but I can imagine getting rid of my Winchester in 243. Or my heavy 308. Or my 270. Shotgun would pretty much be an 870 but I'd hate to get rid of my 590A1 or the 11-87 I got such a good deal on.

I don't know... I guess I could live with two (the 870 and the P32, kaybe the Kahr once it proves itself) but I'd really much rather be able to keep the others mentioned.
 
(note: probable copyright infringment ahead)
[singing mode]
"Although it's been said
Many times, many ways.."
[/singing mode ]

One of EACH!:D
 
Tamara...roger on the Trench Gun Clone!

I've been lickin' my chops to handle one of those.
 
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