Put it in writing
I think the theme I have learned from reading this thread, and from my experience with my wife's family is that it is important to talk with your family, make a plan and then put it in writing.
In my wife's family, Dad was a really committed shooter. He had a significant gun collection and tons of ammo. While he had a will that directed everything to his wife, he didn't say specifically what he wanted to do. This left the guns going to his wife who never cared for them. Fortunately she listened to his gun club buddies and sold quite a few of them, probably for cents on the dollar at the time... which I am sure he would have wanted for his buddies. The only guns left are ones that have been sitting in the house for 25 years now, since his death, in RIG. When I joined the family 15 years ago I knew of the guns but didn't have an opportunity to shoot. Now that I am a new gun owner, I'd like to take the guns out and shoot them. But my brother-in-law says that they are his, and my wife and her sister say that they are theirs also.
Point of the story? If you love your family and want to help them, it would be better to have a plan for each gun.
Personally, I have a will written and have not yet put my two guns into it. My wife is fine with the guns and knows how to use them. I trust that she will give them to my eldest nephew and my son, respectively. However when we revise our will I will specifically bequest them. Not only does it make it easier for her to avoid any family squabbles, but in the event we *both* go (shudder) at the same time, it will avoid problems with our executrix or probate having to figure it out at a time of stress. If I had more guns I would be certain to figure it out ahead of time.