16ga.com ~ View topic

Minimum Firearm Needs
Okay-do you have too many guns? I think I do. Just what are minimum gun cabinet needs to have something useful for every occasion, allowing the rest to be traded to upgrade one’s basic shooting needs?

Field Gun with sub-gauge tubes
Trap Gun
Home defense/concealed carry pistol
Home defense AR type rifle
Target pistol, .22 long rifle
Target pistol, .45 caliber
Plinking Rifle, .22 long rifle
Varmint Rifle .22-.25 caliber
Hunting Rifle .30 caliber

Have I missed anything important? From reviewing my list and inhabitants of my gun safe, it looks like I have many duplicates whose sale could finance some nice upgrades to my basic list.

Joined: 18 Jul 2010 Posts: 591 Location: SoCal-FL- NYC

you need:

2 field shotguns (i suggest two 16ga, haha)

i always have 2 shotguns with me at all times when in the field, you just never know when one will have an issue.

1 simi-auto pistol
1. snub revolver

other than that you list looks good.

Joined: 13 Jun 2009 Posts: 696 Location: WA/AK

I don't see Skeet Guns in all four gauges on your list Hal? I also don't see a .375 H&H. And, everyone should have a Winchester Model 71 in .348 just cause they are so darn cool!! Oh, and how about a 10-gauge heavy waterfowl gun?

Member Joined: 31 Jul 2009 Posts: 51

I would not put the sub gauge tubes in a field gun as it might change the handling.I'd put them in a skeet/clays gun.I'd go with 2 field guns,for early & late season, a 16 & a 28,sxs of course & preferably English. I also noticed you did not include a short barreled shotgun (riot) in either pump or semi auto configuration.

I reckon if I had to do it I could get by with using my flintlock smoothbore fowling piece for all hunting, target shooting, and home security, so just one firearm COULD do it all Exclamation

. But really, a shooter needs: an upland shotgun (16 gauge of course), a waterfowling shotgun, a trap shotgun, a skeet shotgun, a clays shotgun, a .22 rifle, a .22 revolver or pistol, a revolver in .357, .44, or .45, a deer/antelope rifle in .270, 7mm., or 30.06, maybe a varmint rifle, an elk rifle in .338 or .375, a large bore rifle in a .40 caliber or greater, a muzzleloading flintlock rifle and a muzzleloading shotgun. Plus of course there should be at least one spare firearm for each category in order to guard against loss or breakage of the primary gun. To attempt to get along with fewer firearms than this BARE MINIMUM would be indeed nothing less than FOOLHARDY.

I try hard not to let my needs get in the way of my wants and desires! Laughing

Mike

Joined: 13 Feb 2010 Posts: 310

I'm not sure what you really need, but I know it's ore than one and less than I have.

I do know Newtons fourth law: a gun safe, at rest or in motion, of any given mass and any given volume, will always become too small instantly or over time.

Member Joined: 07 Dec 2010 Posts: 9

I like a 41mag (S&W or Ruger) for handgun hunting & home defense.

Member Joined: 09 Mar 2007 Posts: 972 Location: Keller,TX

Hal, I don't know your preferences as regards the AR Platform, but I see you getting rid of the .22 target pistol, the .45 target pistol,and the .22-250 Varmit rifle. If you have a .223 AR ,that could do for your varmint gun. Your carry pistol could do duty for the .22 pistol and the .45 target gun.

You can send me a picture of your new CSMC A-10 that you can now afford by weeding out your duplications in your battery. Laughing

Joined: 19 Jun 2004 Posts: 1480 Location: Mpls, MN.

Friend owns a Mossberg 500 12 gauge with these barrels:
1. Sawed off 18" smoothbore, for two legged vermin.
2. 24" rifle sighted slug barrel. Regular deer season.
3. 28" ported screw choked upland barrel. 3" chamber, any birds.
4. Muzzle loading conversion barrel. Primitive weapon deer season.

Has everything covered. Hope my wife doesn't see this.

Best,
Ted

Member Joined: 26 Jun 2005 Posts: 376 Location: North ID.

Speaking of my own needs:

A couple of field guns, preferably 16 ga
A heavy waterfowl gun-10 ga preferred
Varmint rifle in 22 centerfire prefer 22-250
22 rimfire/22 rimfire mag for plinking
Deer/Antelope rifle of 24-6.5 cal
Elk/Moose rifle in 30-35 cal
22 rimfire pistol for plinking
centerfire revolver 41 mag to 454 Casull
Trap gun

Joined: 26 Apr 2010 Posts: 3185 Location: NCWa

What a bunch of flatlanders!!!
AAAA hunting rifle of 30 Caliber?

Jeez-

Everyone west of Kansas knows that rifles are needed in several calibers and action types. You've got to have a good .22 rf such as a M52 sporter; and a varmint bolt gun with a heavy barrel in about 22/250. then a light weight mountain rifle for game of the deer class- 243 - 257 standards- If you're in an area with limited visibility, a lever gun in 30-30 for deer, Then one for larger game such as spike only elk a 270 - 30/06; then for those times when you get that branch antler elk permit- 338 Mag; Then for the big boys such as Grizzly & Brown bear, 375 H&H; & since you should be prepared to go to Africa, a 458 Mag. Then if you want to shoot at something beyond the 250 yard limit of most of these guns, you'll need a 257 Wby- 264Win for the deer-antelope class; 338-375 RUM for the elk class; and smarts enough not to shoot an unwounded dangerous animal at more than 200 yards. And these guns are all if you want the economy models of bolt,pump,lever,autoloader actions. If you live in the carriage class, you can go with double rifles on some of these guns.

And I haven't even got going on the several handguns and shotguns that one needs.

Let me tell you how my prarie dog hunting goes.
Shoot 50 rounds change guns to allow cooling and needs cleaning
Shoot 50 rounds change guns to allow cooling and needs cleaning
Shoot 50 rounds change guns to allow cooling and needs cleaning
Shoot 50 rounds change guns to allow cooling and needs cleaning
Shoot 50 rounds change guns to allow cooling and needs cleaning
Shoot 50 rounds change guns to allow cooling and needs cleaning
Lunch clean guns
Shoot 50 rounds change guns to allow cooling and needs cleaning
Shoot 50 rounds change guns to allow cooling and needs cleaning
Shoot 50 rounds change guns to allow cooling and needs cleaning
Shoot 50 rounds change guns to allow cooling and needs cleaning
Shoot 50 rounds change guns to allow cooling and needs cleaning
Shoot 50 rounds change guns to allow cooling and needs cleaning
So you see I need at least 6 varmint guns
Mike

mnimum is when the gun room is fully loaded and you can't get in !

Member Joined: 02 Oct 2007 Posts: 1975

I didn't know there was a minimum or a maximum for that matter??