Your "core" collection

[.38 Special]

@Huntolive's thread "Buying new guns" got me to thinking a bit about what, out of my collection, I really couldn't do without. It's a short list:

A carry piece might be most important, and that would be my S&W Model 19 in .357.

The gun closest to my heart, though, is probably a plain-jane Ruger Flattop Bisley in .44 Special. It's pretty close to stock, but with firelapping and a top-notch action job it is screamingly accurate and is one of those guns that just begs to get taken along to the range or field. I really ought to send that one out for engraving - I'd just hate to be away from it for so long!

And of course, no handgunner should be without a good .22. As a revolver man I'm tempted to choose one of the S&W wheelguns, but the Model 41 is just too good to be left behind.

On the rifle side, another .22 has to be included, and that's a tough choice. I sure do like my pump and lever guns, but again, accuracy speaks. The Remington 541T-HB is another sleeper: average quality in every way, but shockingly accurate and with a perfect trigger.

And then a matched pair of Ruger "Express" rifles would round out the rifle side. If I can't do it with a .30-'06 and a .416 Rigby, it can't be done by me.

So it looks like half-a-dozen guns would do the job, at least on the centerfire side. There's a shotgun I'd really like to hang on to, and at least three blackpowder guns I'd be unhappy without, but it's still fewer than a dozen guns that I "need". Considering that there was a time when - like many here - I had more than a hundred guns laying around and couldn't wait to buy more, it's quite a shift in mindset.

Would you/could you whittle down? And what could you not live without?

 

[Bazoo]

I'm less than ten and always have been, though I've traded a lot. I enjoy getting to know a gun, and being able to use it proiciently.

I have 2 more than I need, well maybe three more.

Winchester 94 30-30
Marlin 39
1911 for carry
Single six
Rem 870
Revolver for hunting.

That's my base. I have a little overlap in a gp100 that does for hunting and could replace the 1911. But it ain't big enough for some critters and is too big to conceal.

Then there is the flattop blackhawk in 44 spl. That is for hunting and fun.

I have a little extra, a 30-06 with a scope, for times the 30-30 isn't sufficient for range or power. And a marlin 60 for times I want a beater 22. Shoot in the rain and such.

 

[Hasaf]

If I were told that I could only keep two, I would probably choose my 1911-380, which also has a .22 upper, and my Bolt Action 44/77. That said, I have some that I inherited from my father, and one from my grandfather. For plain personal reasons I have no desire to separate from those, even if I have never shot some of them. I have others, like my FN-49 that would be on the chopping block if I could ever remember to do so.

I have others that I wouldn't really miss, or possibly even notice, if they were gone. Not counting sentimental value, I could easily winnow it down to a half dozen.

 

[Legionnaire]

Always an interesting exercise. I'd have a lot of whittling to do, but could probably get along with the following battery:

.22LR handgun, probably the Ruger Single Six so .22 WMR would be an option.
.22LR rifle. Mine would be a CZ 452 American with a can.
4-inch .357 Magnum revolver. Make mine a stainless Ruger GP100.
A compact 9mm, like a G48 or a Kahr P9 ... maybe a G19.
Scoped bolt action rifles in .223, 7mm-08 (or 280 AI), and .375 Ruger to cover the bases for hunting.
Pump action 12 gauge with multiple barrels: 26-inch vent rib and removable chokes, 24-inch rifled slug barrel with cantilever scope base, and an 18-inch cylinder bore.
One long-range rig for PRS-style competition and target shooting, say a Masterpiece Arms BA Matrix or PMR Pro, appropriately accessorized.
One AR15 ... just because it's my civic duty.

Would I like a few more? Sure. But I could do most everything I need and enjoy with these.

 

[beag_nut]

A Ruger revolver in .357 Mag. 'Nuff said.

 

[.38 Special]

If I were told that I could only keep two, I would probably choose my 1911-380, which also has a .22 upper, and my Bolt Action 44/77. That said, I have some that I inherited from my father, and one from my grandfather. For plain personal reasons I have no desire to separate from those, even if I have never shot some of them. I have others, like my FN-49 that would be on the chopping block if I could ever remember to do so.

I have others that I wouldn't really miss, or possibly even notice, if they were gone. Not counting sentimental value, I could easily winnow it down to a half dozen.

Yes, I have a few such guns which I rarely or never shoot, but could never part with. I'd imagine that is pretty common among THR folks.

 

[Hartkopf]

I could get rid of a couple cheap, plastic small guns I bought when I started shooting. Basically low quality crap can go. Everything else I have is good quality and too useful to sell.

 

[Steve Milbocker]

What I absolutely need would be first and foremost a quality 22LR rifle. Probably my 77 22. My Cooper is a much nicer and way more accurate rifle but the Ruger is good enough to feed me and lighter to carry. I have an 1893 Marlin in 30-30. It will cover my “big rifle” needs. An old 870 20 ga will cover the shotgun needs. Last as far as a concealed carry, my model 10 pencil barrel S&W. Light, accurate and reliable. I have a bunch of guns that have sentimental value and some I just plain like but the ones I listed will get me through.

 

[tark]

The "core" of my collection consists of a C-96 Broomhandle Mauser made in 1913, with matching wooden stock, never fired after proof testing and graded at 99%; a 1968 T-series High power, also never fired after proofing and also 99% and my avatar, which has been fired exactly 207 times. 200 by the gun writer and a mag full by me, just to say that I fired it. There are two other guns, a 30-06 rolling block that I made from a block of 4140 and a 45-70 made from 1045. I have posted pics of all of them in the past and I'm too lazy to do it again. These five are the "core" of my collection. Everything else I could live without...not happily...but I could do it.

 

[crestoncowboy]

Hmmmm. The sentimental guns I have are the more useless to me. They none do anything all that well. My grandpas Winchester M1 carbine. (Good for fun.. great for nothing) My dads H&R 9 shot revolver (mediocre in every category...at best). And my dads old rickity flight King 12 guage.
But I guess I'd have to keep them over my good guns. Choosing M1 carbine over ARs Tavor AKs. Would hurt. Choosing the H&R over my k17s/target 22s or even 617 would be quite painful. Not to mention my beloved 22 lever actions..... And choosing a flite king with a bulged barrel over Beretta/Benelli/Remington/Marlin/Winchester/Mossberg shotguns would be tough as well. BUT technically that would cover a 22lr A 12 guage and a very low high powered rifle I suppose. Throw in my 329 PD (another not great for anything but good for a lot gun) and I'd have a mediocre hunting revolver and a mediocre ccw. Id be satisfied. Ish

 

[J-Bar]

I worked hard to acquire those I presently have. The theme is “guns I enjoy shooting.” I don’t seek any more in particular, nor are there any I want to sell. Things are dandy just the way they are.

 

[PapaG]

Trap gun, 870TB, deer gun, Savage 220, varmint gun, TC Contender 223 carbine. Carry piece G43 or Smith 442. Hunting revolver, either 3 screw Super or 29-2. Go-to for fun, woods or plinking, SP101 3" or MkI. Everything else is bonus. Lots I'd hate to give up.

 

[Trashyshoots]

I don't hunt, I don't shoot rifles, so my core collection would be high end target pistols.

Accuracy x 1911
Volquartsen scorpion
Ruger single 6 (will be retired when I get a freedom arms .22)
A rz10 Dan wesson for carry
And the next one I'm on the hunt for is a pardini free pistol.

 

[SundownRider]

I’d keep my grandfathers SxS shotgun, my Winchester 94 in 45 Colt, my Winchester 92 made in 1895, and my Vaqueros and Schofield.
Those 6 Are not negotiable

 

[Old Dog]

My core collection:

4" 617 .22 revolver (10 rounder)
4" Model Model 19/66 .38/.357
6" Model 29/629 .44 Mag
Ruger 10/22 SS Takedown .22
Marlin 1894 C .357
Marlin 336 .30-30
Mossberg 590-A1 Blackwater
Colt M4 5.56
Winchester Model 70 .30-06

I'd happily get through the apocalypse with these.

 

[Riomouse911]

I honestly can’t answer this one. Everything in the safe is my core collection. If I didn’t feel that way about it I’d get rid of it .

Stay safe.

 

[mnrivrat]

Sadly my health put me in a position where my core collect will be down to one gun soon,(possibly none) as I sell off and give away the last remaining guns I have. I did a lot of buying and selling in my life, owning a lot of different firearms. I maxed out at around 30 guns at one time years ago. Owned dozens of different guns over the years. Went down to one in 1990 when I filed for divorce from the thing I was married to, and still had my two girls to raise on my own. No room in the budget for guns for a long time after that.

 

[bannockburn]

I'm primarily a handgun kind of guy. I would keep my Ruger 10/22 and my Colt AR15 SP1 Sporter and that's about it for my rifles. As for a shotgun I always like to have a 12 gauge around so that would be my Maverick 88 with a couple of extra barrels I have for it.

Selecting handguns is a bit more extensive as I have quite a few that would go into my "core" collection. A Colt Government in .45 with a TacSol 2211 .22 conversion for it would be on the list along with my Colt Combat Commander customized by Colt's Custom Shop, also in .45. Then there's the 9mm. clan; the Browning Hi-Power is my must keep favorite as well as my HK VP9, CZ P01, SIG P229, Kahr CM9, and CZ P07. And I have to add my .38 Super/9mm. Colt Commander to my list.

Two .380s, a Colt Mustang and a SIG P238 are must haves as are my three .22s: a Ruger Mk.II, Hammerli Trailside, and my trusty Beretta Model 70S.

I would also be keeping all of my Ruger and S&W revolvers, four single actions and four double actions.

 

[danez71]

@mnrivrat

Keep what's special to you in the forefront.

Take care and best wishes.

 

[Riomouse911]

Sadly my health put me in a position where my core collect will be down to one gun soon,(possibly none) as I sell off and give away the last remaining guns I have. I did a lot of buying and selling in my life, owning a lot of different firearms. I maxed out at around 30 guns at one time years ago. Owned dozens of different guns over the years. Went down to one in 1990 when I filed for divorce from the thing I was married to, and still had my two girls to raise on my own. No room in the budget for guns for a long time after that.

I feel for you, I was close to the same situation in 1995 when my starter wife stepped away after draining our bank accounts. I was jumping through hoops working full time and driving 60 miles a day back and forth raising my first daughter four days a week while that one took the other three. Times were a bit lean, but I was able to ride it out and bounce back like you did.

Mnrivrat, I wish you the best and pray that your health improves so you can keep on enjoying the fruits of all your hard work and sacrifice.

God bless and stay safe.

 

[md7]

Core guns….

AR
Ruger 10/22
Winchester 1300 12 gauge
Glock 19 or a 26

 

[bear166]

That's a tough one. The three guns that are most important to me aren't guns I do a lot of shooting with. The first being my original Trapdoor; love shooting it, and easily the coolest gun I own. It's just a lot of work and doesn't take long to start gumming up at the range, so it doesn't get out too often. The second is my Oliver Winchester '94 in .38-55. Probably the second coolest gun I own, but I'm more likely to bring my .45 Colt Henry along if I want to shoot a lever gun, just because it's less abusing of my shoulder and easier to clean. The third is my Cimarron Pistolero in .357 Magnum. This was my first centerfire gun and very easily the one I've shot the most, so it's very special to me. But I don't really shoot it that much any more, because I'm more partial to .45s (which is what I really wanted the day I bought it, but that's not what happened to be on the shelf). I shoot my '72 Open Top in .45 Colt a lot more nowadays.

But I think I would go with those three. Even though my Henry gets shot more than any of my other rifles, I'm not particularly attached to it. I would prefer to have an old Winchester (probably in .44-40 since 45 Colt's not an option there), but since I don't, I'll keep my .38-55 instead. I like shooting my '72 Open Top far more than the Pistolero, but I'm a sucker for Peacemakers and it's my only one, and a very well tuned one at that. If I owned a 1st generation SAA, that could probably convince me to part with it, but even then it would be difficult with all that it means to me. If I had to pick only two, the Trapdoor would probably be the odd one out, just because revolvers and lever actions are my favorite things to shoot.

 

[Howland937]

My last to get rid of is my old model 24 Savage .22/.410. Was my first firearm, and still capable of harvesting any game animal or varmint in Ohio. 2nd would be full size 1911 38 Super/9mm. Also capable of putting an end to anything it could realistically be fired at 'round here.

Everything else fills a role I've rationalized into existence or is strictly for my amusement.

 

[WheelGunMan]

@Huntolive's thread "Buying new guns" got me to thinking a bit about what, out of my collection, I really couldn't do without. It's a short list:

A carry piece might be most important, and that would be my S&W Model 19 in .357.

The gun closest to my heart, though, is probably a plain-jane Ruger Flattop Bisley in .44 Special. It's pretty close to stock, but with firelapping and a top-notch action job it is screamingly accurate and is one of those guns that just begs to get taken along to the range or field. I really ought to send that one out for engraving - I'd just hate to be away from it for so long!

And of course, no handgunner should be without a good .22. As a revolver man I'm tempted to choose one of the S&W wheelguns, but the Model 41 is just too good to be left behind.

On the rifle side, another .22 has to be included, and that's a tough choice. I sure do like my pump and lever guns, but again, accuracy speaks. The Remington 541T-HB is another sleeper: average quality in every way, but shockingly accurate and with a perfect trigger.

And then a matched pair of Ruger "Express" rifles would round out the rifle side. If I can't do it with a .30-'06 and a .416 Rigby, it can't be done by me.

So it looks like half-a-dozen guns would do the job, at least on the centerfire side. There's a shotgun I'd really like to hang on to, and at least three blackpowder guns I'd be unhappy without, but it's still fewer than a dozen guns that I "need". Considering that there was a time when - like many here - I had more than a hundred guns laying around and couldn't wait to buy more, it's quite a shift in mindset.

Would you/could you whittle down? And what could you not live without?

NO! Have no desire to. Still have a few guns on my bucket list that interest me.

 

[WestKentucky]

For hunting, I would keep my Marlin 336 and my contender, both in 30-30. The Mossberg 600CT 20ga is as solid of a shotgun as I will ever need, and the Marlin 60 squirrel stock rifle is pure hell on turtles and squirrel. The 9” single six is too accurate to let go of, and last but not least it comes down to defensive guns, and I’m putting the Taurus PT99 in that slot. Too big to really carry concealed but I have done it in the winter and even in the summer underarm in a shoulder holster it’s not too big or bad. So there you have it… a couple 22s, a couple 30-30s a 20ga and a 9mm. That’s cutting me pretty bad, and I lose all of my antiques.