Minimalizing the Gun Collection

[patience0830]

We already have handguns for that purpose. Everyone's got their own preferred calibers and brands.

Handguns are for fighting your way to the rifles.

And shotguns.

 

[Amishman44]

I get it. I’m a single income family man on a tight budget. And I love guns and cars. It has to come from somewhere, so I often sell off hobby stuff to fund other hobby stuff. And I’m the same way, I’d rather have a few really nice guns I enjoy shooting all the time rather than a bunch of guns I hardly shoot and always wish were better. Quality over quality for me.

I've done that over the years...pick up a cheap (cheaply priced gun) here or there and end up trading them for something better and work my way uphill! Got a few nicer ones along the way and have made them even better!
Currently I'm more into 'customizing' (hand-fitting grips on Glocks, etc.) the one's I do have rather than acquiring a bunch more!

 

[snapping turtle]

I guess if I had to minimize everything: I could not do it.

22 trainer handgun target times 2 (browning silly wet and ruger mark 2 government) see can’t even get down to one.

22 rifle (marlin 39 a) maybe the Mountie over the standard. But here I could do one.

Deer rifle 44 mag marlin (close up) 308 BLR (distance)

SHTF rifle 2 Ak’s (2 is one)

Sniper style rem 700 7mm mag heavy barrel. (I know weird caliber but it shoots so flat)

Shotgun rem 870 12 gauge with my barrel collection.

Normal EDC model 66 smith 2 1/2 inch.
SHTF carry sig 229 40 cal.

Tree rats would have to keep the savage model 24 22 mag over 20 gauge.

Fox rifle 9422 Winchester XTR.

See I will just make up another category to fill.

I guess a 22 rifle a 9 mm handgun a rifle and a shotgun could do it all.

 

[Winamac]

When it comes to my guns. I have brought my collection to the point of less calibers. I have sold some odd calibers to finance my more common calibers. In the end though my wife always tells me I am like a addict.I am always looking for my next fix. She truly believes I have a problem when it comes to guns. However, I will say. There is always food on the table and bills paid.

 

[76Too]

I know a guy with a LOT of AK’s...like more than a normal selection at any gun store. How many is too many? When they’re falling out of the safe every time I open the door, I just take one or two inside and stash it for ‘home defense’ (no kids and my dog isn’t a ‘chewer’).

I’ve been thinking of selling off some of my WWII standard issue rifle collection, but every time I go to do it, I chicken out. Even my cheap mosins and jap arisakas, I just can’t seem to part with. If I can get myself to do that eventually, I’ll probably start focusing on my USMC standard issue and sniper collection, because there’s still a few holes to fill there.

I finally talked myself into selling off some of my Garands and M14’s and am down to 4 of each (one Garand from each American manufacturer), but that was a big step for me.

I got into reloading right after I got into shooting, then I got into casting and brass forming and paper patching so I could SHOOT all my obscure calibers without selling my soul to the gun shop for ammo...now it’s hard to let anything go because I doubt anything would get shot as much as it does.

When it comes down to it though...the only two in my gun cabinet that will never go anywhere are the two the my grandfather gave me...my 1954 Belgian Browning Auto 5 Light Twelve, and my Sears Winchester 22 (Model 190).

No kids, no family for 1000 miles, very few friends since I moved here just before COVID, my relationship is in the toilet, and my dog loves going to the gun range...I guess I have a lot of reasons to keep them all.

 

[Pepi]

I have minimalized to the point of having only long guns and hand guns.

Well! I'm not going to sell my F15 and nuclear missle

 

[SAILORGOLF46]

I will add to my response that I shoot all of mine and do not have any true collectables but do have some very desireables. Safe queens need not apply.

 

[Firehawk]

My Father in Law collected (or rather accumulated) and rarely shot them unless I begged him to go to the range with me. After he passed, I counted up 40+ guns he had. Most of them he never shot. That’s really sad to me. I want my kids to have memories with every gun I have.

 

[Cozy439]

I cut out some odd calibers when ammo price went up if that counts? Not even really odd calibers, just some that i dont have at least 2 guns running on it.

Wait... So you are saying I need at least two of each caliber?!?! ...Asking for a friend.

 

[patience0830]

Wait... So you are saying I need at least two of each caliber?!?! ...Asking for a friend.

Yes

 

[76Too]

Sort of.

Wait... So you are saying I need at least two of each caliber?!?! ...Asking for a friend.

So long as they share reloading components in some way, they count toward this goal.

7.7 Arisaka brass can be fire-formed from 30-06 and it uses the same projectiles as Finn Mosin and Lee Enfield (.312 and .303 respectively)...6.5 Arisaka shares projectiles with Creedmoor, Carcano and Swede Mauser...30cal is a 30cal and goes to Garand, M14’s, AR10’s, Swiss ladies and some AK’s...and 10mm shoots .401 projectiles w/40 S&W.

Kinda broadens the category of ‘two is one’ and opens it up for a little more variety

 

[Freefall-91]

All my modern guns have a use and they are the ones that I shoot. If I no longer have a use for it, I tend to move it along.
I also really enjoy collecting military surplus rifles. I never really shoot any of those. I buy and sell them all the time. If something isn't quite right with one and it bugs me, I sell it and look for a better example. And Sometimes you want to refocus your collection, so certain rifles have to be let go. Only so much room...

 

[2in1evtime]

As a collector i would like to know what people think as in too many guns, just curious

 

[223 Gunner]

As a collector i would like to know what people think as in too many guns, just curious

More than you can maintain. More than 50 I would consider as too many.

 

[d.kaufman]

More than 50 I would consider as too many.

 

[bwframe]

Sort of.

So long as they share reloading components in some way,...

As far as minimal. I try to keep to a generation or two from military cartridges.

9mm, .38 and .357 can use the same or similar bullets, final sized accordingly.

.243 cases are formed from .308. .308 and 300BLK, same bullets. .300BLK cases formed from .223.

 

[churchmouse]

I too had this same mindset up until that x-ray came back and the pain in my upper back wasn't a pulled muscle. When it takes you to the point of not being able to work for a living and paying the bills, waiting 6 months to get Disability approval with no income, some things had to be sacrificed. Unfortunately it was a lot of my guns.
Hopefully you guys will never have to do what I did but, I'm glad I had the investment to cash out with.

I am there with you right now.
My end game is in play so I let it be know. In my circle and everything is gone now.
Kept CKWs pieces and ammo to feed them. It looks odd with just 1 safe. The closet were the overflow ammo and mags is near empty.
I still have 1 AR for HD and a load of loaded mags but the mags need to go as well keep maybe 4 of the 50 or so we still have.
It hurts to liquidate peoples. But it serves us well in these troubled times.

 

[Biggredchev]

Wait... So you are saying I need at least two of each caliber?!?! ...Asking for a friend.

2 is 1 and 1 is none

 

[Mongo59]

Moderation is a great thing, if taken in moderation...

 

[snapping turtle]

For collections: I think one for each year you have been alive.