Minimize the arsenal. Maximize the budget.

[jstert]

5.5” ruger single six, 22lr/wmr. 20” h&r single shotgun, 20ga. 2” steel taurus model 85, 38sp. rifle choice is the hardest, most likely a rimfire, could be a scoped marlin bolt action 17hmr, or a marlin or ruger 22lr. none of these choices are tactical or really hard hitting, but ak/ar rifles are difficult in my locale and im by far more accurate and comfortable with rimfire. if i had one, a lever action rifle in 357/38 would be a nice alternative.

 

[WestKentucky]

Very simple. Maverick 88, Marlin 60, Axis .308, Taurus 66.

Maverick is a tank and is versatile.
Marlin is an accurate and reliable critter gitter
The Axis is a great, accurate medium/large game gun
The Taurus 66 is a underrated, undervalued sidearm that is accurate, reliable, and pleasant. That’s about a thousand dollars to cover all bases. Could be cheaper to get more bang for the buck, but this is doing it with undervalued guns which are pleasant and accurate.

 

[George P]

Absolute bare bones would be a 12 ga shotgun, preferably NOT a Mossberg - more like a Beretta semi, a handy rifle like a Rem Model 7 in either 308 or 7-08 and a handgun. While a hi-cap 9 in the plastic of your choice is always popular, I might opt for a 3" 7-shot 357 - short range plinking/game getter, CCW, etc.
This is all based on the assumption these are merely tools like a hammer or screwdriver since you mentioned cheap.

Now if the objective was just 1 rifle, 1 shotgun and 1 handgun and I could spend some money - things would be different....

 

[sean m]

Maverick 88
Ruger EC9
Ruger 10-22
Ruger SR22
Savage 308

 

[Tiro Finale]

I'd probably pick a Mini 14, a PTR91/FAL/Other-.308-battle-rifle, a Ruger 9mm carbine, and a Super Redhawk .454 Casull revolver.

The Mini would be a good all-arounder. It could serve as anything from a combat rifle (God forbid) to a plinker.

The .308 battle rifle would mostly be just for fun (What's the point of collecting if you don't have fun with it?)

The 9mm carbine would take the place of the ever-popular .22 semi-auto. 9mm ammo is very common, while having considerably more punch than .22. Also, it shares some parts with the 10/22.

A .454 revolver might seem to be an unusual choice for a 4-gun arsenal. However, such wheelguns are very versatile. Such a gun could fire everything from the lightest .45 Colt loads that barely manage to leave the barrel, to the strongest .454 Casull loads.

 

[<*(((><]

1. CZ P01 9mm (with Kadet .22 kit) - small enough for CCW, but has capacity and rail (light/laser) for duty

USE: personal defense, coup de grace .22 for trapping/hunting
​

2. AR15 (with .22 conversion kit) - proven design, highly modular, easy to maintain and allows for caliber uppers at a later date

USE: home/personal defense, varmint control, furbearers
​

3. Remington 870 Wingmaster (short and long barrel) - simple, rugged, reliable

USE: wing shooting, game hunting, home/personal defense, dangerous game defense
​

4. Ruger GSR Stainless .308 Win - Versatile caliber, Mauser action, CRF, detachable box mag, comes in stainless for ruggedness, threaded for suppressor, with a XS Sight rail a detacheable scope can be mounted in traditional placement while preserving the irons.

USE: big game hunting
​

I kept it to 4 for you.

 

[herrwalther]

Whittling the options down to 4 it would be 2 handguns, 1 rifle, 1 shotgun. Handguns would be duty sized for HD and carry. Smaller handgun would be for lighter carry roles. Shotgun would be for home defense and hunting pretty much anything in a pinch. Rifle would be for a primary hunting weapon.

Marlin 30-30
Maverick 88 or 870 Wingmaster. I can't stand the 870 Express
Walther handguns. Likely both in 9mm for ammo consolidation.

 

[JSH1]

I made do with only a 12 ga Mossberg 500 for 22 years. Hunts anything in North America, clays, and home defense.

Doing it over again it would be a Ruger GP100 in 357 mag followed by a Remington 1100 in 20 ga.

With the basics covered:
I would add a Crosman 2240 or 1322 for garage or backyard shooting.
Then a Ruger Single Ten in 22lr
Then a Pietta 1851 Navy replica

 

[D.B. Cooper]

I must assume you don't have a concealed weapons permit. It's a popular pistol, in a popular caliber. Parts and ammo will be available forever,
it's accurate enough to enjoy at the range, and it's a pistol carbine combo partner which shares mags with a CX4 Storm. Basically, what's not to like?

I do not have a CCW. I work in a gun free zone. I carried the M9 in the Air Force. I like it quite a bit. MUCH more than a 1911. I'm a revolver guy at heart. But what prompted my comment was that I feel a 12 ga does home defense much better than a pistol, which only offers convenience and concealment.

 

[D.B. Cooper]

first of all, I can't stand the term arsenal when applied to the private citizen. There is no way I could reduce the collection down to 4 guns. More than likely it would be about 10.
The must haves are:
.22lr in rifle and pistol, for basic training and pest control, can also get food with minimal noise
12ga, preferably 2, hard to beat the effectiveness of a trench gun
2 bolt guns, to get food
2 ARs, for everything else
at least 3 hand guns, 1 for me, 1 for the significant other, 1 for the house

but since everything was paid for long ago the only cost with keeping a collection is cleaning supplies and ammo

Why two bolt guns? In what ways would each gun be different than the other and how would they fill different roles? Same question applies to two AR's.

 

[Panzerschwein]

For absolute lowest cost I'd get a used Mosin and a single shot 12 bore such as an H&R.

 

[Panzerschwein]

I do not have a CCW. I work in a gun free zone. I carried the M9 in the Air Force. I like it quite a bit. MUCH more than a 1911. I'm a revolver guy at heart. But what prompted my comment was that I feel a 12 ga does home defense much better than a pistol, which only offers convenience and concealment.

There's folks that would beat you up here for saying the M9 is Better than a 1911.

 

[Mauser lover]

At least one AR with innumerable uppers...

In addition to a couple of others...

 

[huntsman]

No .22lr either rifle or handgun, no pump shotgun I prefer a Double for upland hunting.

Outside of CC I wouldn’t own a gun for “SD” so my long guns would do double duty.

Shotgun double barrel
Rifle .45/70 lever action
Handguns semiautos big and small for CC, big-bore revolver for whatever.

 

[shafter]

I could probably get by with:
308 or 30-06 rifle for hunting
12ga pump for more hunting versatility
357 Magnum revolver or semiauto for concealed carry
AR15 (hopefully a 22lr conversion is allowed)

*I might skip the 22 and go with a good air rifle.

 

[D.B. Cooper]

No .22lr either rifle or handgun, no pump shotgun I prefer a Double for upland hunting.

Outside of CC I wouldn’t own a gun for “SD”?so my long guns would do double duty.

Shotgun double barrel
Rifle .45/70 lever action
Handguns semiautos big and small for CC, big-bore revolver for whatever.

I think this is kind of where I'm at, too.

I am really questioning the value of 22LR. Perhaps I should tart a separate thread for this idea. It just seems like a shotgun is a more certain game getter. I'm starting to feel like the only role 22LR fills is "fun" and "plinking."

I'm also not seeing what a handgun offers, outside of concealment, that a long gun doesn't.

I'm also not seeing what an AR offers, other than capacity and rapid fire, that a bolt gun doesn't (at a much lower price).

That's not to say any of those designs are bad or that don't or won't own them (I do), but if you're minimizing down to less than 4 guns total, it seems to me that there are better options.

What's the groups thought on this premise?

 

[D.B. Cooper]

*I might skip the 22 and go with a good air rifle.

Given the dramatic shortages and prices increases of 22LR ammo (that don't appear to be going away), I think you may be on to something. Although, in my view, the best air rifles use external tanks, and that makes them dependent on going to the dive shop to get them filled.

 

[JSH1]

Given the dramatic shortages and prices increases of 22LR ammo (that don't appear to be going away), I think you may be on to something. Although, in my view, the best air rifles use external tanks, and that makes them dependent on going to the dive shop to get them filled.

22LR has been on the shelf in my area for 2 years at least. Even before that it was available online.

PCP (Pre-Charged Pneumatic) air guns can be filled from external tanks or from a hand pump. The pump adds exercise to your shooting.

 

[Powder296]

the premise of your question is reducing what we already have, so keeping this many doesn't cost anything. Secondly, and more importantly, two is one one is none. What happens if something breaks? It's rare that it happens at a good time, and depending what's going on in the world getting parts may be an issue.

 

[chicharrones]

I am really questioning the value of 22LR. Perhaps I should tart a separate thread for this idea. It just seems like a shotgun is a more certain game getter. I'm starting to feel like the only role 22LR fills is "fun" and "plinking."

What's the groups thought on this premise?

The .22LR offers fun and plinking as you say, and in that is relatively low cost trigger time (aka proficiency practice). Trigger time with a .30-06 bolt gun costs more per shot than a .22LR in both ammo cost and recoil cost.

Given the dramatic shortages and prices increases of 22LR ammo (that don't appear to be going away), I think you may be on to something. Although, in my view, the best air rifles use external tanks, and that makes them dependent on going to the dive shop to get them filled.

Airguns are great. But long term use can be iffy due to the seals in an airgun. I've had airguns that needed their seals replaced anywhere from 1 year to 10 years. And that's in temperate southeast Texas. I have no idea how airgun seals would perform season after season in Alaska.

 

[<*(((><]

.22lr is easy to find now. You can find it $.035-.04/round online easy. If one doesn’t take the time and money to stock up when things supply is heavy that’s on them, 10,000 rounds of .22 doesn’t break the bank anymore.

 

[Danoobie]

I do not have a CCW. I work in a gun free zone. I carried the M9 in the Air Force. I like it quite a bit. MUCH more than a 1911. I'm a revolver guy at heart. But what prompted my comment was that I feel a 12 ga does home defense much better than a pistol, which only offers convenience and concealment.

Have you ever fired a shotgun inside a small building? In close quarters, a pistol is more
maneuverable, and faster to bring on a close-range target.

 

[huntsman]

I’ve spent the better part of my life with less than 4 guns, my dad had 3 when I was growing up.

Over the years I’ve cycled through about 50 guns but mostly it’s been the 3 I inherited plus a couple that I bought.

I still need to add my .45/70 and get rid of a handgun and slug gun but I’m close to what I posted and I’m ok with that.

 

[Kendahl]

It all depends on your range of activities. My gun club does everything from black powder to bench rest plus practical pistol and cowboy action. I calculated that, to participate in everything, I would need a minimum of seventeen different guns. That's using the same gun in different matches even though it wouldn't be the best choice.

 

[Al-jim19]

I am really questioning the value of 22LR. Perhaps I should tart a separate thread for this idea. It just seems like a shotgun is a more certain game getter. I'm starting to feel like the only role 22LR fills is "fun" and "plinking."

I'm also not seeing what a handgun offers, outside of concealment, that a long gun doesn't.

I'm also not seeing what an AR offers, other than capacity and rapid fire, that a bolt gun doesn't (at a much lower price).

To addresss these three points:

.22 is mainly for fun, plinking, and training new shooters. I thoroughly enjoy shooting it at the range. Hunting small game with it is very viable as well. I definitely wouldn’t have a dedicated .22 if I were limited to x guns, but its the last I would give up. An AR conversion offers versatility if that’s allowed.

For the question of pistols. 99% of my use of guns in general is pistols. Mainly that’s for concealed carry. I also work in a gun free zone but I put it on for everything else. I also find them most fun at the range and keep one as my primary HD option. Partly because of convenience and partly because the law in my state makes it the best option.

For the AR. I like a lot of things about the AR. As an option for HD, I would get it if I had time to get into a slower action safe and really gear up with LBE. I also find it really enjoyable at the range. I routinely hunt coyote and fox with it as well. I can put a red dot on and it’s great around the house, or put a 3-9 optic on and take it into the field. On top of all that the fact that you can convert it to .22 and hunt squirrel or plink makes it just that much more versatile. AND with a simple upper swap you could hunt deer or larger game. There’s a lot to like there if you’re cutting down your collection.