Is my gun collection getting out of control?

[sidearm]

Or is it just overly diversified? It's getting blurry for me at this point and I thought I'd get your opinion on what to eliminate and/or get. It's funny how a gun collection can grow and expand w/ your different interests, and then you look at it, you wonder how you've gotten there. Anyway, here's what I've got, handguns first then rifles....

Ruger Security-Six .357 Mag. late 70's era
Springfield .45 Stainless 1911A1 mil-spec (first handgun)
Glock 17
Ruger SP101 .357 Mag. (2 1/4" barrel, latest purchase for carry)

Unissued Moisen M44 (7.62x54) - never fired
M48 Mauser (8mm) - at 70% as far as quality goes
2 SAR-1 AK's (shoot 1 but the othe stays in the safe)
1 Bushmaster complete lower w/out upper
1 Alexander Arms Beowulf .50 (a hellofa lot of fun I must say)
1 Winchester 1300 Defender Shotgun
1 Bowman Austrian STG Government FAL (.308)

And if you would eliminate anything... what would you get? Please be reasonable, thanks for your thoughts-

 

[cordex]

While I love centerfire rifle and pistol, it looks like you need about half a dozen .22LR (revolver, semi-auto pistol, semi-auto rifle, lever action, bolt action and pump action should do the trick - lots of variety and cheap ammo).
While you're at it, you might as well get an upper for that AR.
And you probably want a lever-action .357 so you can have the neat combo of 2 guns using the same ammo (.22 doesn't count, after all).
After that, you'll want a good bolt-action rifle for long range shooting.
Then you'll talk to El Tejon and find out that you're supposed to have 4 of every handgun.
Before you know it, your gun collection will be well on it's way towards being in control. In total control.

 

[dairycreek]

I've been at this "gun stuff" over 40 years.

And, over that time, my interests and tastes have changed a lot. Indeed, that's been the really fun part of it for me. As long as you can afford them and keep them safely stored I see no reason why you should change your ways - unless, of course, you want to. Good shooting

 

[sidearm]

cordex- ha, yeah you're right about the .22, but what would you eliminate to get it?

 

[FPrice]

sidearm...

"Is my gun collection getting out of control?"

Gun collection?

What gun collection. You don't have one.

What you have is a pretty good start.

Come back when your list exceeds one page. To paraphrase Michael J. "Mick" Dundee, "Now THAT'S a gun collection.".

 

[Mike Irwin]

Well, you've got diversity, but you don't have quality...

You need a LOT more...

I'm closing in on 50 to 60...

 

[Jesse H]

Don't have that many to start out with, but I think I'm gonna hold off any more purchases for at least a year until I finish up school.

 

[cordex]

cordex- ha, yeah you're right about the .22, but what would you eliminate to get it?

If I could help it, I wouldn't eliminate anything.
But if I had to eliminate something, I'd probably get rid of the Bushmaster lower, unless you intend to build it up in the near future. Other than that, whatever you don't shoot very often and don't consider an "investment".

I tell you what, I'll do a straight across trade - a brand new 10/22 for anything on that list 'cept the Mosin or Mauser (have enough milsurps for now). I could probably be persuaded to throw in a 25 or 30 round magazine or two ... Purely out of the goodness of my heart, o'course. *grin*

 

[SteyrAUG]

LOL. Newbie.

What FPrice said.

 

[six 4 sure]

I posted a question similar to this on a different forum, and got similar responses.

One person posted "I'm fully capable of outfitting an American platoon of WWII, a Russian Platoon of the same era, an American Platoon of Viet Nam times, and a Russian squad of the 80's. This, of course, wouldn't totally deplete my arsenal , er, collection."

So, I guess were both off to a good start.

Six

 

[cordex]

One person posted "I'm fully capable of outfitting an American platoon of WWII, a Russian Platoon of the same era, an American Platoon of Viet Nam times, and a Russian squad of the 80's. This, of course, wouldn't totally deplete my arsenal , er, collection."

Geeze ... someone has really invested in duplication of select-fire, haven't they?

 

[mjustice]

I agree that many folks on this board would not consider that a collection, just a few guns lying around. An anti would call that a military-grade arsenal!

I think you need at least 2 .22LR guns - a pistol and a rifle. A cheap plinker is always fun when you wan to "go light" at the range, and for introducting others to our wonderful hobby (some would even call it a lifestyle!).

MJ

 

[Chipperman]

Mike-- "but you don't have quality"

You mean Quantity?

Why do you have to get rid of one to get another?

I'd lose one of the SAR's if I had to cut down. Then I'd get the AR upper.

Second move would be to sell the Security Six and get a good .22

 

[sidearm]

alright I think I get the point hehe- just keep collecting and get a .22- thank guys

 

[Monkeyleg]

Well, Sidearm, if yours isn't a "collection," then my safe's contents must be a "smattering."

 

[Mike Irwin]

Chipperman,

Whoops, my bad. Yes, that should be quantity.

Quality is often in the mind of the beholder, so I didn't address that.

And, a hint for the wise.

NEVER get rid of a gun.

 

[10-Ring]

Hey, as long as you're happy & your responsibilities aren't being overlooked, it's all good!

 

[Blackhawk]

Nah. You know what you've got, so obviously it's under control.

Get busy building your collection!

 

[JMLV]

One glaring ommission I can see

You barely have enough to arm a small squad let alone arm a small country. You need a lot more guns my friend. Your goal is to catch up with Tamara, I know it may not be possible(nobody says she will stop and let you catch up) but its a goal to shoot for.

 

[TexasVet]

If you aren't on the way to "one of each" then you are JUST getting started!
I seem to remember that "eliminate" was banned when discussing MY collection size with the Mrs. Part of the deal made about her getting 8 feet of my new abuilding 12X18 gun room to have as a second bath! Now I'm stuck with only 12 X 10.
I'm afraid to calculate how many guns I could buy for the cost of a shower stall, toilet, handmade "Stickley stlye" cabinetry, plumbing, etc.:banghead:

 

[4thHorseman]

"Is my gun collection getting out of control?"
Gun collection?
What gun collection. You don't have one.
What you have is a pretty good start.
Come back when your list exceeds one page. To paraphrase Michael J. "Mick" Dundee, "Now THAT'S a gun collection.". -FPrice

FPrice, man you're killing me....LOL

 

[Bob Locke]

I'd say if you added a few .22's (semi-auto handgun and rifle, bolt rifle, and revolver), picked up an auto-loading shotgun, and got a bolt action sporting rifle somewhere in the .260 Rem. - .300 Win. mag. range that you could easily stop and call it at least "adequate". That "adequate" assumes you finish off the Bushie with an upper, though.

 

[Kahr carrier]

You could add a Ruger Mark 2 for a pistol and a 10/22 for a rifle.

 

[M1911]

"Is my gun collection getting out of control?"Gun collection? What gun collection. You don't have one.
What you have is a pretty good start.

Exactly. Come back when you have either 1) forgotten how many guns you own or 2) haven't counted how many guns you own and would be hard pressed to do so accurately by memory.

I'm closing in on 50 to 60...

Now, that's what I'm talking about. You see, Mike no longer knows just how many guns he's got. When you get to that point, you've probably got a collection.

 

[Maestro]

I know of 2 men with gun collections.One has about 425 and the other pushing to 400.That's what I call overborad for me.To each his own.I gotta buy guns second ...family first.