Beware the man with one gun...

[dragonrider]

You just descibed me .22 auto rifle for small game, 9mm HK pistol as an enforcer, .45 pistol springfield for stopping power, BAR 30-06 browning for long shots and big game, and looking for the right shotgun (maybe Beretta).

 

[HerkyBird]

One of the major benefits of this approach is being able to give each gun more attention. If you have 12 rifles, 6 handguns, and 3 shotguns in multiple calibers and gauges, you are having to split your available funds. That's optics or improved open sights for 12 rifles. Slings for 12 rifles. Ammo in a half dozen or more calibers. You have to sacrifice something. Either you put cheaper accessories on all of them, or some go without. With only 4, you can focus on your efforts and resources on those 4 to make them even more capable.

 

[HerkyBird]

You just descibed me .22 auto rifle for small game, 9mm HK pistol as an enforcer, .45 pistol springfield for stopping power, BAR 30-06 browning for long shots and big game, and looking for the right shotgun (maybe Berreta).

So you don't own the requisite EBR?

Why did you go BAR vs a bolt gun?

 

[sovietak474u]

I have been trying to keep all my firearms in groups. All of my pistols are single action double actions. Got several AK variants, which all operate the same but have other features. My fs2000 is the only odd ball. It's best to stay with platforms that you shoot the best.

 

[speednut]

i agree I shoot revolver the best but trying to learn Glocks.

 

[olchevy]

I am that way now, but not by choice. Hard times and I had to sell off all my fun guns
Right now I own 4 total..
Glock 21sf ......defense, hunting and carry, honestly other than hunting small game like squirrels I could litteraly do everything with this one pistol.
Glock 30sf........mainly carry or back up to my 21
Mossberg 500 20g hunting primary from deer, to rabbit to squirrels to birds.
Ruger 10/22.......small game hunting

Honestly if it were not for the Mossberg and the 10/22 being both my first guns and gifts to me for Christmas, I would have sold both of them long ago. But the sentimental value is so that I won't sell them.

I have had a ton of nice rifles and pistols, but really if it came down to it I would be fine with only my Glock 21sf. Only way I will get rid of it is if I can trade it to some one for a Gen4 21 as I like the texture on the new frame a lot better.

Oh and on a side note I am opposite of you guys, I love revolvers too, but I can't shoot them well at all unless they're little J frames, anything bigger is hard for me to shoot.

 

[speednut]

Wow that is different but I grew up shooting S&W model 10s.

 

[zesty]

I've thought about this too. If you want to break it down to an absolute NEED, it could be down to just one or two. It depends what your applications are. Guns are tools. You can do just about anything with a roll of duct tape and a hammer, but given the option, you should put more tools in the toolbox. Besides, it's more fun to have options. I like to the idea of having plenty of tools, but I agree that you should focus on just a few. I have a few different hammers, but there's one that I use 90% of the time.

I don't have everything on the list below, it's just something I'm kind of working towards. I put my picks to focus on in bold.

Large caliber handgun - .357 magnum revolver or 45ACP 1911 for HD and backup.
Light weight handgun - 9mm or .40 for concealing and capacity
Pump shotgun - 20 ga or 12 ga.
Bolt action single shot 22lr - The perfect training rifle.
Semi auto rifle 22LR - practice and small game
Battle rifle - 5.56 AR - customizable, light weight, versatile, wide availability of spare parts.
Scout Rifle - For backup, larger game hunting, and SHTF. I'd modify it from Jeff Cooper's design but I like idea of a simple bolt action, do everything, rifle. I'd consider a lever action also.

If I had to pick just one large cal rifle, it'd be the battle rifle. For me, bolt actions are only slightly better in a few areas.

 

[protective measures]

This is funny .... I use that statement fairly often as a generalization in my classes and have found it to be true in a manner of speaking.

The "serial swappers" or guys who constantly change their carry gun fairly often rarely become proficient with it whereas the guy who sticks to a platform if not one single gun usually has at least a more familiar handle on using all of its operational controls efficiently.
The other guys can't find or press the mag. release, drop the mags. or struggle inserting them, forget to flip the safety off, etc. when just a little stress is induced.
It's almost humorous except in a self-defense gun one of those mistakes might cost them their life.

I do have some smart "collectors" who may have several types (I'm mainly referring to pistols) but does most of their serious defensive training w/ one gun.

 

[BIKER13]

Double action,357/38,22 sa revolver,ruger 10-22,any 12 gauge shotgun be it single shot,pump or semi,and the old reliable 308 in a sweet shooting bolt action rifle, scoped with a 3x9x40.That would be me,wish I could adhere to that instead of I need this, i want that on every gun I see.