Only three...

[armoredman]

I see members posting their huge collections, some VERY nice, some historical, some downright odd, but usually photos of tens or many more rifles together.
Well, today was rifle maintenance day. On that day, I pull my rifles and do a quick clean and lube, just because I can, stop any rust that might have sneaked up on me. When I did, I kinda chuckled - there was only three.

The Franken AR for serious social work, or far more likely, having a blast at the range. The upper is Frankenstein, the lower pure PSA. It is completely reliable and reasonably accurate, even with a Veterans Day Giveaway Bear Creek Arsenal barrel.

The CZ 600 Alpha in .308. Fun range gun - I haven't been hunting in a very long time and would probably need someone to show me how - I am really terrible at it.

The Thompson Center Renegade in .54 caliber. This is just plain fun, but maybe, maybe someday I'll get to go on a hunt with it.

Do I feel left out, poor, or sorrowful? Hell no - that's two more than I had at divorce time. I have plenty of fun with what I have, and I'd REALLY need to figure out how to get a good gun safe if I had much more! I've been doing most of my work for quite a while with handguns, especially black powder revolvers, but ya know what? You can have a small battery and have fun, and not worry about not keeping up with the Joneses.

 

[someguy2800]

For many years I only had a 25-06 and a 12 gauge. Actually I did the majority of the hunting I've ever done with those 2. I have a decent size collection currently and I'm pretty content with it. Don't really feel like I have any major wants or needs that are not met. When I look at stuff now I think to myself that's neat but what would I do with it? I actually sold a few things recently with no desire to replace them with something else. A guy only needs so much stuff.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

I got by with a single shot .22 and a broken Arisaka for several lean years. The Arisakas bayonet was my home defense weapon.

 

[badkarmamib]

I have downsized over the last couple of years. My only rifles are a PSA AR-15 and a Remington 700 in .30/06. Like you, I feel like I can do anything needed with what I have. Would I like more? Sure. But I don't have a (personal) need that isn't covered, so I run myself in circles thinking about what would be a worthwhile addition.

 

[chicharrones]

You can have a small battery and have fun, and not worry about not keeping up with the Joneses.

Yes indeed, and it's easier to not worry about the Joneses if one keeps off internet forums. (Note to self.)

 

[armoredman]

That is very true...

 

[theotherwaldo]

Once you have your primary bases covered, everything else is primarily for the fun of it.
Looks like your bases are pretty well covered... .

 

[Mark_Mark]

I got by with a single shot .22 and a broken Arisaka for several lean years. The Arisakas bayonet was my home defense weapon.

when my brother took off to the Citadel, he left me with a New England Arms 20 gauge break action, was cut down to 22” and had a Walmart Shell Sling! I never felt under gun with it.

 

[Mark_Mark]

Once you have your primary bases covered, everything else is primarily for the fun of it.
Looks like your bases are pretty well covered... .

when I thought I was moving to Boston, I literally would have been happy with a cap & ball

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

when my brother took off to the Citadel, he left me with a New England Arms 20 gauge break action, was cut down to 22” and had a Walmart Shell Sling! I never felt under gun with it.

For most of college, my only gun was a Winchester Model 37 12GA single. I never fired it once, nor had any desire to do so.....ouch, lol.

 

[taliv]

Solid practical choices. Wear the barrels out of them and you’ll be 100x better than the guy with 50 rifles and 20 round box through each of them.

 

[Pat Riot]

Also- there certainly is no need to buy a gun in order to please or appease people we are Never going to meet.

WOW! I wasn’t sure the forum would do this - quote someone on a different thread.
This quote ^^^ by Ignition Override is excellent advice.
I hope he doesn’t mind I brought it over here.
——————————————————————

For many years I had a Colt Combat Gov’t 1911. That was it. I sold it to put food on the table. For nearly a year I was gun-less. Then I bought an H&R .32 Mag revolver, then an M1 Garand and then things progressed.
I have never owned more guns than what would fit in a 24 rifle gun safe. I have/had other hobbies that also took my money. Motorcycles, my Mazda Miatas, Off-Roading, Camping, home improvement - not a hobby. Just a money grabber.

A few months ago I took all of my long guns and stood them on the couch so I could move my safe. I also did it to sort them and decide which ones deserved to stay and which ones needed to go.

Rather than tell, I will just show. The photo was taken in August 2023.

* If you’re thinking this guy is nuts! The government will know how many guns he has. I have news, they already do. I am not important enough, bad enough or rich enough for them to care.

The ones I got rid of, plus 3 Glocks, funded the purchase of my Henry X model .45 Colt and my CZ 457 Stainless .22 LR. Good exchange, I think.

 

[Spats McGee]

I'd much rather own a half dozen guns that I enjoy shooting than 20+ that I don't.

 

[Nature Boy]

My 3 custom rigs, I guess.

 

[jmorris]

First for me, never have seen favorite .22 and AR7 in the same sentence.

 

[Glockpride]

OP, nice collection of useful tools. However, IMHO, a shooter’s arsenal isn’t complete until you have a nice .22lr rifle. You know, a small critter getter.

 

[Pat Riot]

First for me, never have seen favorite .22 and AR7 in the same sentence.

If you mean my post the AR7 definitely was not a “favorite”. I was saying a Stevens Favorite as in the Savage model 30.
When I was a kid I wanted an AR7. My Dad wouldn’t allow guns in the house at the time. I finally bought one a few years ago using Cabela’s points. I found I didn’t really like it at all.

 

[PapaG]

For years after I got married besides an old NY Police 6” M&P, I made do with a Savage 24 DL 22/20.

 

[jmorris]

If you mean my post the AR7 definitely was not a “favorite”. I was saying a Stevens Favorite as in the Savage model 30.
When I was a kid I wanted an AR7. My Dad wouldn’t allow guns in the house at the time. I finally bought one a few years ago using Cabela’s points. I found I didn’t really like it at all.

I have both versions Henry has made, both beat the CA versions I have played with.

 

[bannockburn]

Only three...easy!

Ruger 10/22 .22LR.
Colt AR 15 SP1 .223.
Rossi M92 .45 Colt

 

[Ignition Override]

Pat Riot said:

“ I hope he doesn’t mind I brought it over here”….You didn’t abduct anybody or steal something.

I’m into my FAL rifles so much that most gun chat escapes me anyway.

 

[Hookeye]

Big D over 20 yrs ago.
The three faves from back then:

Rem 700 ADL in .243
Rem 1100 Magnum 12
Smith 629-3 6"

Replaced two of em years later.

 

[armoredman]

If you mean my post the AR7 definitely was not a “favorite”. I was saying a Stevens Favorite as in the Savage model 30.
When I was a kid I wanted an AR7. My Dad wouldn’t allow guns in the house at the time. I finally bought one a few years ago using Cabela’s points. I found I didn’t really like it at all.

I had two Ar7s, one back in the 80s, and it was accurate, reliable and fun. Many years later I bought another to replace the first, (no idea where it went), and the one in the 2000 was terrible. Sold down the road at a loss, like that terrible CETME.

 

[MacAR]

When my wife and I first married, I had 3 guns; a Remington 24 semi-auto 22 short, an 1894 Winchester 30-30 carbine, and a Baikal side by side 12 gauge. Put a lot of meat in our freezer the first year or two. Sold the Remington to fix the car, and the Winchester after Dad gifted me his 30-06. Kept the old Baikal for a couple more years, then we became a bit more solvent and I started collecting some fairly nice pieces and it left as well (it came back, along with the 1894, but that's another story). Now I have a decent collection that I can be happy with, show off, and still not be afraid to take out hunting. But I probably need to think about downsizing a bit, as there are a few guns that I really just don't use. The main work horses anymore are Dad's '06, a Weatherby 243, and a mis-matched Winchester Model 12 that I put together a few months ago from parts. The rest, like my BRNO sidelock ejector 12 gauge, just sit in the cabinet.

Mac

 

[tubeshooter]

You can ABSOLUTELY have a small battery and have a blast.
I know I did.

This site is also known as Enablers Anonymous™, and there's a reason for it...

If I was more into $2-3000 guns instead of $2-300, my collection would be quite a bit smaller I'm sure. Also - it's not like I got all this stuff in 2 weeks. It took time to cobble it all together.

Things like a CCW and less overall financial obligation also help considerably.


If you stay away from this place (and sites like it), you won't even know about all the cool stuff you don't have (yet). But then, what fun would that be?!