Minimalist to me means the the least number that will still let me participate in the shooting activities that I find interesting & enjoyable. When I was a poor broke student back many moons ago I had the following:
-Ruger Super Blackhawk .44mag 7.5" for hunting and also home defense w/.44 specials.
- S&W 642 .38+p+ for CCW
- Remington 870 21" Special Field 12ga w/ improved cylinder choke for shotgun duties.
- After awhile I discovered CMP shoots and had use of a club owned M1 Garand.
- Lastly, towards the very end of that period I finally got a .22, an S&W M41 5.5". A long time coming, but it was the first really higher end gun I ever got & reflected the fact that I'd finally finished school and was making a decent wage.
Those guns served my needs & interests, which were primarily hunting & personal/home defense and some target shooting for the best part of a decade. All eventually were sold or traded off for various reasons, some good, some dumb, as my interests expanded or changed and I had a few bucks to indulge in exploring different guns.
If I were to assemble my minimalist battery today my needs & interests have changed and expanded somewhat, so the guns are a bit diferent:
- Glock 17L 9mm, target shooting & home defense are now my primary interests, haven't hunted in years.
- Ruger SP101 .357 for CCW, not as nice to carry as the 642 but shoots MUCH better. This will likely change to an LCR to have the best of both worlds.
- FN SLP 18.5" 12ga w/ ghost ring sights & screw in chokes. A more capable & efficient defensive piece. It can also serve for hunting should I want, though it's not so great for wingshooting.
- Rock River national match flattop AR in 5.56 with a Trijicon 3x9 in a QD mount. Can still do CMP shoots and other target, plus varminting too. Shoots better than any Garand I ever tried and I find it to be a far more useful & versitle rifle.
- Ruger 10/22 Charger w/ Eotech, .22lr. With the M41 gone, this is my .22 of choice these days. The Eotech is far easier to sight with than irons nowadays and I've done pretty good work with with the little Ruger out to 100 yards.
- And an addition, Browning Cynergy O/U 12ga. I've become more interested in the shotgun sports and find it serves my needs well.
From 5 guns to 6 these days, but all needs covered and still able to participate in the shooting activities I enjoy the most.
-Ruger Super Blackhawk .44mag 7.5" for hunting and also home defense w/.44 specials.
- S&W 642 .38+p+ for CCW
- Remington 870 21" Special Field 12ga w/ improved cylinder choke for shotgun duties.
- After awhile I discovered CMP shoots and had use of a club owned M1 Garand.
- Lastly, towards the very end of that period I finally got a .22, an S&W M41 5.5". A long time coming, but it was the first really higher end gun I ever got & reflected the fact that I'd finally finished school and was making a decent wage.
Those guns served my needs & interests, which were primarily hunting & personal/home defense and some target shooting for the best part of a decade. All eventually were sold or traded off for various reasons, some good, some dumb, as my interests expanded or changed and I had a few bucks to indulge in exploring different guns.
If I were to assemble my minimalist battery today my needs & interests have changed and expanded somewhat, so the guns are a bit diferent:
- Glock 17L 9mm, target shooting & home defense are now my primary interests, haven't hunted in years.
- Ruger SP101 .357 for CCW, not as nice to carry as the 642 but shoots MUCH better. This will likely change to an LCR to have the best of both worlds.
- FN SLP 18.5" 12ga w/ ghost ring sights & screw in chokes. A more capable & efficient defensive piece. It can also serve for hunting should I want, though it's not so great for wingshooting.
- Rock River national match flattop AR in 5.56 with a Trijicon 3x9 in a QD mount. Can still do CMP shoots and other target, plus varminting too. Shoots better than any Garand I ever tried and I find it to be a far more useful & versitle rifle.
- Ruger 10/22 Charger w/ Eotech, .22lr. With the M41 gone, this is my .22 of choice these days. The Eotech is far easier to sight with than irons nowadays and I've done pretty good work with with the little Ruger out to 100 yards.
- And an addition, Browning Cynergy O/U 12ga. I've become more interested in the shotgun sports and find it serves my needs well.
From 5 guns to 6 these days, but all needs covered and still able to participate in the shooting activities I enjoy the most.