Guns everyone should own...

B

BigBL87

New member
I'm sure this has been done quite a few times, but I think it's an interesting discussion worth having often. I'm talking everyone from urban to suburban to "small town" to rural. I'm relatively new to gun ownership so it's kind of for my own benefit too as I build my collection/arsenal/what have you. My personal list draws heavily from one I read by Massad Ayoob...

1. Shotgun - Probably the most versatile gun out there. Great for home defense, can take both small and large game depending on the load (although not at as long of ranges as a rifle), and ammo is relatively cheap.

2. Centerfire handgun - Primarily for home/self defense.

3. 22lr rifle - dirt cheap to shoot (in normal times, and even at current panic prices it's cheaper than pretty much everything else), can take small game, etc.

Honorable mention - Centerfire rifle (AR style or Hunting), I know alot of people will have this as an essential but living in Illinois I can't hunt with it and living in town I can't shoot it for fun on my own property. I'd love to have one but it isn't a "must have" for me. This was part of Ayoob's list although he added that if you aren't in an area with much large dangerous game this is the one he would drop.
 
I must have as many guns as possible, so I'm not sure how to answer.

I have to say a must have gun is a single shot hunting rifle, just something about it that makes the world go around. That 2nd shot is a little slower than with other guns but if you're decent and lucky you won't need it anyways. I took my NEF bear hunting once, planning on it again this year. Just regular sights and LeveRevolution ammo. The gun is light, strong, and shorter than most rifles.
 
1. 9mm large capacity pistol
2. .40 large capacity pistol
3. 45acp pistol
4. AR rifle built to your liking
5. AK rifle built on at least a 1.5mm receiver with chrome lined barrel
6. PTR-91 or FAL variant
7. bolt action 30-06
8. "pocket" 9mm: Ruger LC9, Boberg, Rohrbaugh, Kahr - your pick.
9. 357/38 revolver - Smith, Colt or Ruger - your pick
10. Something in .22LR

If you have this covered, there won't ever be an ammo shortage for you.
 
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^ l like the list above, plus I'd like to add an additional upper in 6.8spc for the AR15 and a semi-auto 12ga... and to supplement #10, get a .22lr conversion for every weapon there is one available.

With an unlimited money and storage... how about just owning "one of everything". But if you're an average guy with a wife-imposed budget and just a safe or two, then you should justify the dollars with a need.

I think the list we're trying to assemble here is good "all around" list for the "average guy". Of course there are guys who will say "No list is complete without a blah blah blah..." and we go around and around.

You need a self-defense pistol, shotgun, and rifle... and you need weapons to hunt a variety of game, (varmint/small, medium, big, bird). Lots of these will overalap capability, but if you've got the budget, why not specialize. And you need a few .22lr's for training.

I think that's all you "need".
 
Whatever gun(s) a person wants and can afford.

I have three guns for hunting and several more for fun. It's the fun part that makes the collection grow.
 
my essentials list in order i got them.

shotgun - mossburg 500 (defense/hunting)
rifle - savage .270 (hunting)
pistol - SD40 from s&w (EDC)
rifle - .22 ruger 10/22 (plinking/ small game)
pistol - charter .44mag (nightstand wheel gun)
rifle - lwrc AR-15 5.56 (fun gun)
rifle - lwrc .308 (fun gun as well)
pistol FN five-seven ( i always wanted one)
 
Just for fun I'll add my picks ;
-22lr rifle
-38/357 revolver. Your choice is fine.
-Shotgun. Rem 870 comes to mind.
-Semi-auto pistol. Can't go wrong with a Glock 19 or similar.
 
Always an enjoyable topic.
My votes for guns that are so practical and useful as to be on everyone's list are:
Lever action rifle in a magnum pistol caliber.
A revolver in the same caliber.
A pump shotgun.
A .22 tube feed, repeating rifle.
None of the above require magazines and none are ammo sensitive.
 
A good 12ga pump does triple or quadruple duty with different barrels:
18.5", home defense
24" rifled, medium game
26" ribbed, field/fowl/sport

Pistol caliber carbines that take factory pistol mags are also a great idea (hell, a hot handloaded .40cal from a 16" barrel is no joke), but the current offerings are ridiculously expensive IMHO... Sub2000's are still near $200 over MSRP, the JustRight and Beretta Storm have always been more than a good AR15. The HiPoints have great reviews, but only take their proprietary 10rd mags, which makes them worthless. Heck, even the Sig and Glock carbine conversion kits are as much as an AR15.
 
But if you're an average guy with a wife-imposed budget and just a safe or two, then you should justify the dollars with a need.
Click to expand...

If my wife ever asks; I absolutely 'need' every gun I have. In fact, now that I think about it, I'm pretty sure I need more!
 
Quote:
Definitely a;
Shotgun, and a;
Rifle.
And a 4 Wheel Drive!

A country-boy can survive!
(I think that's a country song from Hank Williams, Jr)

Got most of bases covered (need a semi-auto larger cal wpn)
7us5.jpg


And just for laughs, I got this:
qqsa.jpg

(I figured I can shoot and the smoke can confuse them for awhile!)
 
A short list of some of the basics...

Pistols:
Browning Buckmark or Ruger Mk II/III - because .22lr semi-auto
Ruger Super-Single Six - because cowboys
1911 - Because heritage
9mm semi-auto - because ubiquitous
SW 686 or Ruger GP100 - because 357Mag
SW29 Classic - because Dirty Harry​


Rifles:
Ruger 10/22 - because plinking
Winchester M94 - because cowboys
Remington 700 - because accuracy
Winchester M70 - because pre-64
AR15 - because America
Single-shot falling block - because .45-70​


Shotguns:
Remington 870 - because ducks
Remington 870HD - because bad guys
Browning Citori - because clays
Side-by-Side - because classy​
 
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Guns everyone should own?

What guns you should own is entirely situational. As a younger person, self defense never entered into my gun buying decisions. My reasoning was that I could use any of my firearms for self defense. It was purely hunting and shooting. In which case, I tended to focus on traditional rifles, shotguns, and eventually handgun with 22's being the dominant focus of any "extra" firearms.

Admittedly, this was primarily a rural focus where I could pretty much shoot whenever I felt like it. Urban dwellers do not have this advantage.

As I got older, the guns and their "focus" simply spread out to become pretty all encompassing in terms of purpose. Money was less an issue and if I wanted something, I got it. Some got shot, some didn't.

Basically I think the basic: 22 rifle or two (semi and bolt); rifle (deer or elk sized calibers and if varmints are your thing, then a varmint caliber rifle or two; home defense handgun of your preference; carry handgun of your preference; shotgun of your preference > probably several if you hunt.

You essentially prioritze the acquisitions in the order your feel fits your situation. If defense is your thing, then home and carry. If hunting is your thing, then firearms that you like for hunting. If it is just to shoot, then a mix.
 
I like the way you put it 22-rimfire as far as priorities. Home defense and clays were both of my main reasons which is why I went shotgun first, and will be soon getting a 9mm pistol and 22lr rifle for home defense and fun respectively. Those three pretty much meet any priorities that I might have.
 
I've seen an article that defined the basic firearm battery as being 5 guns:

1. a .22 handgun
2. a centerfire handgun
3. a .22 rifle
4. a centerfire rifle
and
5. a shotgun
This is claimed to cover most all needs.
The exact type and model can be adjusted to one's specific requirements.
And of course one can add backups and other calibers as one sees fit.
 
Everyone has their own idea of what they should own. Whatever fits your needs works and my list is:
1. .22lr handgun, revolver or semi-auto. I like revolvers and love my S&W 617.
2. .22lr rifle, my first was a Henry lever action and would work for anyone. I've since acquired a Remington 597 and a S&W 15-22.
3. Shotgun. I have a Stoeger Coach gun in 20ga. what works for me.
4. .357 revolver, one of the most versatile handguns. You can shoot .39spl as well as .357mag in it. Either a 4" or 6" barrel does the trick.
5. Semi-auto pistol chambered in 9mm, .40 or .45.
6. Handgun for concealed carry, Snub nosed 38spl or 9mm/.380 semi-auto. My choice is a Ruger LCR.
7. Centerfire rifle, your choice. I have a Winchester Model 94 chambered in .357mag which I can use my revolver ammo in, like the cowboys did. I also have a .223/5.56 Windham Weaponry SRC AR-15.
I like the idea of having guns chambered in various calibers in case one or the other is in short supply. That way I will always have something to shoot.
 
Well to qualify as an American you HAVE to own a .45 ACP, .30/06, .22lr and a 12 gauge pump action shotgun. Everyone knows that, right?
 
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