Minimum Armament

[1911 guy]

Got to thinking when I read a thread about someone just starting their firearms collection on another site. They were looking for opinions about what to get first and why.

That sparked a thought. If for some reason you had to pare down to a minimum number of firearms to cover your needs, what would they be?

I have four that I really have to have to function. They will cover SD, HD, SHTF and hunting as well as paper punching.
1) 1911 - SD and HD
2) bolt action .308 - hunting and SHTF
3) bolt action .22LR - Hunting and paper punching
4) pump 12ga. - hunting, HD and SHTF

What are your "Gotta Have 'Em" guns? I'm not as interested in model or type as I am caliber and application. No specific number, just your minimum to get by.

 

[heypete]

I have a very similar list, and break it down thusly:

1. Centerfire pistol of common caliber (9mm, .40, .45 -- I sold my 9mm Glocks and picked up a Springfield XD-45)
2. Centerfire rifle capable of hitting targets with reasonable accuracy (considering my own skill too) at 500 yards. In my case, it's a .30-06, but that's not important.
3. Rimfire rifle.
4. Shotgun, preferably 12ga.

I don't really fuss about brands, so long as they do what I ask them to do.

 

[DirtyBrad]

I feel about exactly the same, but am looking to add a .22 pistol as well for cheap practice and helping introduce friends.

I'd say if cost or something else restricted things even more, a pistol and shotgun make a great start.

 

[TexasRifleman]

Wow, tough one.

I am assuming a minimum collection with no chance of ever getting any more, so reliability goes high on the list and widest ammo choices.

1) .357 Revolver
2) Bolt Action .308 or 30-06 rifle
3) 12 ga pump
4) .22LR bolt action rifle

 

[Phenom]

At the very minimum, a Remington 870 in 12GA with three barrels, assorted slugs and shotshells.

 

[Dravur]

My idea....

of bare minimum is " One perfect example of every gun ever made " and one shooter of every gun ever made.

 

[romma]

I have an antiquated shotgun with a 12 gauge upper and a 20 gauge upper. Bushmaster XM-15 recently converted to flat top for different optics, Kahr PM9, Walther PPK/S, and a Keltec P-32... That covers all the bases I think. But I still want more.

 

[Mannlicher]

you could go 'bare bones' with a good quality .357 DA revolver. Thats a scary thought. What on earth would I do with the contents of those 4 safes in the den?

 

[epijunkie67]

I've thought about this subject before. I know people who only have one or two guns and wonder to myself "how?". I guess I'd break it down to what I want to get done.

1 Self defense caliber pistol. (9mm, .40, .45, .357, .41, .44)
2 Hunting/self defense caliber rifle. (Semi-auto, 18-20" barrel, >110 grain bullets, effective range at least 250 yards)

Realistically anything past that is gravy. Adding a shotgun would really expand your range but isn't 100% required. Still, it would be #3 on my list.

After that I'd do a rimfire weapon. Rifle first then a pistol. So that means 2 weapons minimum and 5 for a well rounded collection.

 

[ZeSpectre]

Bottom of the line, bare bones, nothing else available choice tends to make me think of the old cowboys. They were out for weeks at a time, sometimes in hostile territory (no zombies, but plenty of injuns and rustlers) needing to deal with harsh climate, little/no maintenance, and an almost unimaginable variety of circumstances.

So a modern version of a tried n true levergun and revolver combo, both chambered for the same cartridges (probably .357 Magnum in my case). Specifically either a Winchester 1892 (or good clone) or Marlin 1894 rifle and a Ruger blackhawk pistol.

 

[dfaugh]

Being totally realistic here

First, I don't see any REAL good use for a handgun, much as it might be "handy", but anything it does can be handled better bY:

.22 rimfire--subsistence hunting, "out there" backup for SHTF
Intermediate calliber preferably high-capacity, rifle--subsistance hunting and SHTF
12 guage shotgun--subsistance hunting/SHTF/HD/SD


That's all I REALLY need, not much that can't be done with the above. If I would add anything it would be a "high-powered" scoped rifle.

 

[armedpolak]

My minimum...

will be:

1 Semi-auto .40S&W pistol (have two already H&K P2000, and Beretta 90-TWO)
1 Revolver (getting Ruger SP101 .357 Mag for Xmass, cant wait )
1 AR-15 plus butt load of 30 round mags.
1 AK-47 plus butt load of 30 round mags (.223 nato)
1 Mosberg 500 pump action 12ga

* at least 1000 rounds per pistol
* at least 2500 rounds per rifle

TIMES number of family members

 

[Exmasonite]

Hey everybody...

I just had a question regarding Heypete's posting...

I don't know if i've ever fired at anything over 250 yds. Honestly, what purpose would you have for shooting at something 500 yards away? I would imagine most hunting encounters occur at 200 yds or less. SHTF, you're looking more to assassinate somebody at 500 or engage the zombie artillery officers.

Am I totally off on this? I'd leave to hear people's thoughts. I am mainly wondering if I need to reconsider my tactics/considerations. Thanks!

 

[Jim Watson]

Seem to be a lot of "if you could have only one (two, twelve) guns..." threads on this and other boards. Do we have a bunch of closet gun controllers who want to restrict our urban arsenals?

 

[ZeSpectre]

First, I don't see any REAL good use for a handgun, much as it might be "handy", but anything it does can be handled better by...

But it's a little hard to have a long gun on ya all the time and I can tell you from an extremely unnerving experience with a wolverine that if you are 6 feet away from a gun when you need it, then that gun might as well be on the moon.

 

[Templar223]

Minimum?

First, a handgun.

Next, an M4gery or similar carbine rifle.

Next, a battle rifle.

Next, a precision shooting rifle.

Everything after that is either a niche gun (hunting, etc.) or a recreation gun.

John

 

[Ben Shepherd]

Rifle:
Semi-auto 22
bolt 308
semi 308
semi 223

Pistol:
9mm, 40, or 45. Personal choice.

Edit-
Forgot an obvious one: 12 gauge. Your own flavor.

All of the above in firearms with proven reliabilty with your chosen loads.

 

[Sniper4Life]

Bolt .308, all I gotta do is chang my handloads

 

[2TransAms]

I've got a friend who's just getting into guns,I'm trying to start him with the basics and he'll figure out what he likes from there... so far he's got a Mossberg 500 with a 26" barrel(I told him to get an 18" barrel so he can swap out as needed), an SKS, and a Ruger 9mm. Not a bad "beginner" collection. In fact,he bought the Mossberg and SKS from me. I told him all he needs is a good .22 rifle for cheap practice.

My "minimum " core collection would be very close...I'd want a Mossberg,an AK(preferably Bulgarian),a good 1911,and a Ruger 10/22. If I hunted I'd probably add a bolt-action .308 in there. And a Smith 686 would be icing on the cake.

 

[AZTOY]

1) ak

2) 10/22

3) 870

4) 1911

 

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

A 12ga---a .22---and a .30-06----a handgun would be gravy---but it's still just a toy in comparison to long guns.

 

[BigO01]

Well I will give you an answer as to how I built my battery back from nothing due to a financial setback sell off not from a "I can only have" x number of guns standpoint .

1) a 12 gauge pump "multi purpose can be used for home defense as well as hunting"

2) a 22 rimfire semiauto Ruger 10/22 great multi purpose weapon excellent starter gun if you have kids

3) a 357 revolver a true defensive weapon but also has hunting applications if need be , also a great starter handgun gun if you have teen age children .

4) bolt action hunting SHTF weapon 30-06 was my choice

5) 45 acp 1911 best fighting weapon one can purchase in my opinion as it is quite shooter friendly with easy to use controls and an excellent trigger pull that makes for accurate shooting

6) MBR or assault weapon if you prefer I chose the 308 as a caliber as I feel this is the most versatile and effective

7) more of the same until every household member is well armed for whatever might be the need

 

[Caimlas]

There's a bit of overlap between "family" and "personal" must haves, but they compliment each other as well, as I'm the head of my household and am thus given the duty as family armorer.

Personal (ie, "everyone in the family should have one):
- Self defense/carry pistol (preference: 1911, but currently have a Taurus PT111 - working on fixing that)
- "militia"/semi-automatic intermediate cartridge weapon - either an AR15, 30-round capable SKS, or AK (in that order). Personally, I prefer the AR.

Family:
- .22LR rifle - every family needs one. Otherwise it jes' ain' 'Murican! (My preference is the Remington 121 pump. Let me know if you have one you want to sell. )
- large bore (non-magnum), long range bolt action rifle w/ glass and irons - mine is a Tikka T3 .270 Win. Milsurps would easily fit this role quite handily (and likely for a longer period of time than my commercial sporter). It's the 'breadwinner' rifle.

Now, depending on where you life, you might want to change that list up a bit. For instance, a lever action .30-30 could reasonably be substituted for the bolt action in some of the densely wooded, hilly areas. And in some areas I imagine a large bore magnum might be appropriate (for bear and moose). But not around here - and I still think one of the WWII-era battle rifle cartridges could handle the job just fine, anyway (Swiss, US, Russian, German - whatever - but I don't know about the Japs).

As for shotguns, I can't say I see an appeal other than a SHTF situation - at least for me. For sporting, i prefer a rifle. Same for food - if a need arises to eat wild poultry, there are much more effective and less obvious ways to gather birds from the fields. Home defense and slugs, sure - just not for me.

Why divide it up into personal and family? Because if something bad happens, each member of the family can only shoot one longgun, but they also need to be able to go about their lives. That might call for a pistol, a rifle, and maybe both. If it comes down to protecting your home, having that bolt action would be beneficial as the exclamation point at the end of the semi-automatic sentence, particularly if it's well placed.

 

[crunker]

I think I could do without a firearm if SHTF, I'd just make a bomb, kill some enemies, and take their firearms.

 

[sefus]

A big bore bolt action (.308, 7.62x54, 30-06...)
A medium caliber semi auto (7.62x39, .223, 5.45x39...)
A 22lr game getter/trainer of any design
A larger revolver (I am not able to make up my mind on whether the .357/.38 is ideal over a .41, .44 or .45)
A 12 guage shotgun (some 00 for home defence but I'm thinking bird loads)
A lever action for travel and because I regret getting rid of my 45-70
Toss in a magazine fed pistol for personal defence and I'd be feeling pretty well set.