What are your "gun priorities?" What should they be?

[BHPshooter]

Everyone has their favorite firearm niche. Mine is pistols, but many of my friends are almost exclusively shotgunners or waterfowl hunters.

1) What is your focus?

Now, the REAL question -- 2) what should our focus be? Even though many of us have a favorite, a lot of us have "balance" to our collections... some of us don't.

To be more specific, I have 2 spots that are unfulfilled: Battle Rifle and Rimfire.

I've got the shotgun base covered, and my sidearm base is well covered. Which should I be going for next? Which is more necessary in your eyes -- a battle rifle, or a rimfire?

Anyone else having any prioritization struggles?

Wes

 

[cheygriz]

What IS my focus? Paramilitary rifles. Especially ARs and AKs.

What should our focus be? See above.

 

[ducktapehero]

Actually I am. I bought a Taurus 455 Tracker last year and it is great but now I'm thinking I want a 357 lever action and a revolver to match. I'm tossing around trading the 455 for a 357 wheelgun. I haven't decided yet though. I could keep the 455 but then I'd have to wait longer because the wife doesn't let me buy too many guns. . I'm not a patient man. I want my rifle/handgun combo RIGHT NOW!!!!!.

 

[wardog]

After spending many years and dollars on a well rounded collection, now I can focus on my favorite, autoloading pistols.

 

[rayra]

some of everything.
and enough SHTF ammo for each.

 

[GigaBuist]

Uhmm.. well that sorta depends on what you own firearms for.

For me, and it sounds like you, it's self defense. In that case pistols are #1 -- far far more likely that you'll have one on you and need it than anything else.

Number 2, IMHO, is the intermedate rifle cartridge category. Your AR or AK variant type weapons. Lightweight, high capacity rifle weapons good out to 200-300 meters. Think looting. It happens.

Number 3 would be your long range bolt action rifles. In an SD mindset that's total SHTF crap. You dont' have a home anymore really and all law is gone.

Shotguns skills aren't huge as you only need to be able to hit a bi-podal hairless ape at the ranges inside your house. It shouldn't take a huge amount of practice for this to happen.

Now, if you're a hunter not worried about SD and worried about feeding your family it's all backwards. Shotgun for small game, bolt rifle for large game, AR and AK for -- well -- nothing really. Pistols for showing off while tagging squirrels with .22LR is it.

I dunno why rimfire is it's own category here. Good training tool I guess is how I look at it and if you're looking to take small game -- it'll do.

 

[bratch]

Right now I'm leaning hards towards hunting rifles even if I have no need: .458.

Want to have 1 good SHTF rifle, pistol, and shotgun.

May pick up another shotgun or 2 for fun been looking at coaches.

Also want to get my C&R and get in on these military deals.

I'm buying heavily while single so I don't have that pesky wife family issue.

 

[Black Majik]

My current main focus is pistols. For some reason I'm 10x more excited about getting a new pistol versus getting a new long gun. Now sure why.


Next focus is getting a Bolt Action Rifle. I have my money saved up, just too lazy to go out and purchase it
I even have my scope purchased before the rifle.

I have my clay shotgun covered. I'm tossing around the idea of a SD shotgun. Either a Remington Marine Magnum or a Benelli M1S90.

After the centerfire bolt gun, I want a rimfire bolt gun to match

 

[RGO]

I would say my focus is semi-auto handguns. This includes .22s and larger self-defense calibers, up to .45. My preference for handguns is because most of my shooting is at targets for fun, and my main reason for owning firearms is for self-defense. In our present world, I think handguns are the most vital firearm for self-defense.

I do have a secondary focus of C&R military weapons. I really admire their craftsmanship and history.

What should our focus be? I think mine is proper, because of my particular uses for firearms. I really have no interest, in say, duck hunting, which I why I own no shotguns. The "proper" focus can vary.

 

[crewchief]

My focus has changed from IDPA and defensive handgunning to for the last 5 months smallbore compitition shooting which was my first love. I love to build and custimize my UBER plinkers and see just how far the limits of accuracy can be taken. I am at the point now though with my current gun that it will outshoot anyone behind it. It is just a matter of living up to the performance on my end because as they say, "Compitition shooting takes place 90% between your ears."

 

[igor]

I have one each for 3-gun: an AK, a wondernine and a pump scattergun. Right now I'm getting well familiar with the shotgun (local IPSC natl's coming up) but other than that I go 60/40 on the AK and the pistol. Guess it'll be 50/30/20 then. Works for me and the conscript reserve militia thing we got here.

What I'm missing is the more serious calibre long-range thing. I'm covered in case SHTF as my father-in-law has several, but I should get me a Mosin. Or maybe a Tigr. Also another pistol for IPSC Standard Major would be nice, but not at all crucial. Plinking-type practice and pest control I do with a scoped air rifle but a suppressed rimfire wouldn't hurt either.

Anyhow, I really don't wish to own anything just for the sake of having it!

 

[Oleg Volk]

Guns:

two samples of each: carbine, full-size pistol, backup pistol, rimfire rifle and pistol.

Ammo: lots of it, same type.

Training: lots and varied. Best investment.

 

[Balog]

Oleg: I agree %100, except I'd include either a good bolt rifle or a full-power battle rifle. Preferably both.

 

[Langenator]

My focus right now? Military surplus rifles. Because I like history. Because they're cool to shoot (and surplus ammo is pretty damn cheap.) Because those old wood rifles are pretty. And because there's a bunch out there for not much money right now.

I've already got an battle rifle (Fed Ord M-14) and a couple intermediates (SKS) a shotgun, carry gun, plenty of other full size pistols. I'd like to et an AK or two, and an FAL, but that's a ways down the road.

 

[SapperLeader]

My focus has been pistols, with just enough practice with my ar and shotgun to stay proficient. ATF just cashed the check for my c and r license, so once that arrives Im going to start acquring some rifles with some history behind them.

 

[FPrice]

My focus right now is...

older firearms. Especially older S&W revolvers, Colt semi-autos, and military firearms. I have most of the other relevant (to me) categories such as modern handguns, rimfire pistols/rifles, SD shotguns, and large rifles covered. Certainly not a huge collection, just sufficient. So I look for good examples of early craftsmanship.

Tomorrow? Who knows.

 

[Tamara]

S&W revolvers, 1911's, and military surplus rifles.

I have a couple of oddballs outside those three categories, but all my "needs" are covered, and now I can just buy my "wants".

 

[nero45acp]

I focus on firearms I enjoy shooting. Handguns mostly. Never worry about SHTF scenario stuff. I figure if true, big-time, SHTF happens an AK ain't gonna make alot of difference. 'Course if I'm wrong that's more left for those better prepared.



nero

 

[entropy]

My answers are:

1. [arnold voice] All of dem![/arnold voice]

2. Acquiring the $$ to buy the above and ammo and accessories for them, and as Oleg pointed out, the training for them.(Although I had 3 years of that, and got paid for it.

) Current training couldn't hurt, though.

 

[El Tejon]

Knowledge and wisdom.

 

[Trebor]

My focus: Whatever the heck gun I want next.

What my focus ought to be: Whatever the heck gun I want next.

 

[George S.]

Right now, my "focus" is simply on having fun with the guns I have (so far). Over the last 2 years, I bought a 1911, a .22 auto pistol, and a .357 I wanted these simply because the calibers are so different and the fun factor for each. Still to come is a .44 Mag at some point.

I hadn't been too much of a rifle fan but after I bought a 10/22 and added a bunch of mods, I wound up with a .17HMR and a Mini-14. While the calibers are close to the same size, the rounds are so different that I think of them as all unique but still fun to shoot.

I just added a couple of battle rifles, a Mosin 91/30 and a Garand. Again, both are fun to shoot but worlds apart in their design but both have a place in the history of warfare and their nations. Not sure what I may add to this group but there are a lot of choices for military rifles.

 

[Evil_Ed]

Mostly pistols right now. I will eventually pick up a marlin or winchester lever action rifle for cowboy shooting (45LC all the way).

I think our priority overall for the gun culture should be to buy as many military style weapons as possible just so there are more available on the market if/when the government trys to ban them again or expand the laws blocking purchase. It would also be good as it would up the statistics on "Assault Weapon" ownership without upping the crime rate.

 

[sm]

Liberties to keep them.

 

[Series 70]

My current focus is long guns. I have the sidearms I want, save one. My son just completed his hunter safety course and wants to go afield. I have my .30-30 for me, but nothing for him. So we must find him a suitable rifle, and possibly a couple shotguns, too. One shotgun, with a second, short barrel, could serve as a HD arm.

The missing sidearm in my collection is a .44 magnum of some type. Deer country is also bear country for much of MN and I think a .44 would be a good way to round-out the hunting wardrobe.

BTW, I've never hunted before. My son has had the itch for a year or two and is going to drag his old man along, it seems. I'll probably have to spend enough on blaze orange that acquiring the shotties may have to wait another year.