Top 10 Must Own Guns

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With the exception of my rimfires...my top ten always seems to be 10 that I don't own. Everything I currently own was on that top 10 list prior to me purchasing them. :)

My current wish list is pretty much just more mags and rounds. Christmas is right around the corner, so pm me if you need a shipping address and caliber wish list. :neener:

  1. A quality semi-auto rimfire pistol.
  2. A quality bolt action or semi-auto rimfire rifle.
  3. A quality centerfire double-stack striker-fired handgun.
  4. A quality semi-auto striker-fired carry pistol.
  5. A quality-built AR-15 pattern rifle in .223.
  6. A quality pump-action or semi-auto shotgun.
  7. A well-made bolt-action hunting rifle that is chambered for a .30 cartridge of some sort.
Click to expand...

I do like that list, though. I currently need number 7.
 
I like Justin's list. I've reordered it (and edited it slightly) by my own sense of priority. Disclaimer: There are more than 10 guns in my safe, but those beyond these seven are gravy.
  1. A quality pump-action or semi-auto shotgun.
  2. A quality centerfire [strike]double-stack striker-fired handgun[/strike] revolver, .357 mag or larger.
  3. A well-made bolt-action hunting rifle that is chambered for an intermediate (.243 to .30) cartridge of some sort.
  4. A quality semi-auto [strike]striker-fired[/strike] carry pistol, 9mm to .45ACP.
  5. A quality bolt action or semi-auto rimfire rifle.
  6. A quality semi-auto rimfire pistol.
  7. A quality-built semi-auto "combat" (or 2A) rifle, such as an AR-15 pattern rifle in .223, an M1A, Garand, AK, FAL or even an SKS.
And for fun, here are my selections:
  1. Mossberg 500 12 gauge with vent-rib, rifled-slug, and 18-inch cylinder barrels.
  2. Ruger GP100 .357 mag.
  3. Remington 700 BDL (blue/walnut) in .30-06.
  4. Glock 23 .40S&W.
  5. Remington 541T.
  6. Browning Buckmark.
  7. Colt AR15.
 
1. .22lr rifle
2. 12 or 20 gauge shotgun, preferably pump or semi
3. .22lr pistol or revolver
4. .30 caliber rifle of some kind, bolt or semi
5. AR-15 variant
6. .45/.40/9mm pistol
7. .357 mag or better revolver
8. Muzzleloader, preferably a flintlock
9. Cool old mil surp rifle of your choice
10. Cool old mil surp pistol of your choice

For me this list goes like this
1. Marlin 60
2. 870 12ga
3. Ruger mk1 & Single Six
4. Savage 111 .30-06
5. Cav-15 lower & BCM m4 upper
6. XD45 Compact
7. Ruger Bisley Blackhawk Hunter .41 mag
8. TC Scout .54
9. Mosin 91/30 & M44
10. CZ52
 
1. The old faithful .22
2. A gun with some history-a milsurp or police trade in
3. The inherited gun
4. A .45 (mostly 1911s)
5. A wonder 9
6. carry gun
7. That gun you bought that you thought would be the best thing ever...and then it wasn't
8. A 12 gauge
9. Hunting rifle...any caliber, but probably something in the .30 variety
10. Precision rifle. From .22 to .50, its that rifle that you shoot best.
 
Pretty much as is listed by others:
Category: Have: Desire:
1) .22 rifle Marlin 60
2) .22 pistol Colt Woodsman
3) centerfire revolver Various S&W 4" 686
4) centerfire semi-auto Glock 19
5) bolt action rifle Various Mausers Various Mausers
6) lever action rifle Win 94 in .30-30 Win 94 in .38-55
7) semi-auto rifle None FAL
8) shotgun Stoeger Uplander Supreme Parker DH 20 gauge
9) black powder T/C Firestorm Percussion double
10) Fun toy that serves no useful purpose
Iver-Johnson top-break S&W Perfected

That's my list. Thanks for reading.

Sigh. It looks better in the edit window...
 
Justin said:
  1. A quality semi-auto rimfire pistol.
  2. A quality bolt action or semi-auto rimfire rifle.
  3. A quality centerfire double-stack striker-fired handgun.
  4. A quality semi-auto striker-fired carry pistol.
  5. A quality-built AR-15 pattern rifle in .223.
  6. A quality pump-action or semi-auto shotgun.
  7. A well-made bolt-action hunting rifle that is chambered for a .30 cartridge of some sort.
Click to expand...

I'm with Justin as far as being an agnostic on brand. I like his list, but would change a couple things. First, add a quality revolver, preferably large caliber like .357 Mag or higher.
I would not limit the smallbore rifle to an AR or to a 223. I would say one bolt action one semi-auto rifle. One of them should be smallbore, and one .30 or larger.
 
There is always the 'must haves' to any collection in my opinion.

1. Winchester model 70
2. Winchester model 94 30-30
3. Colt or reputable SAA 45lc revolver
4. 1911 45
5. Ruger 10/22
6. S&W revolver 357
7. Ruger mkII pistol .22
8. 870 Remington
9. Remington 700 any caliber. 30-06 for me.
10. 45-70 Marlin Guide Gun

There could be more that I consider a must have but this would get a person headed in the right direction.

kenken
 
What are the top 10 firearms, in your opinion, that every gun owner should have in their collection? Try to be realistic and make sure they are obtainable relatively easily.(No NFA please).
Click to expand...

Not gonna say what every gun owner should, or must, have, but personally, these are what I would have in my collection, if I were to have only 10:

Sig P225
Sig P228
G19 RTF2
G21 RTF2
Ruger P90
A high quality Commander size 1911
A 6 inch Colt Anaconda
A Noveske N4
A LMT 308 MWS
A FN FAL
 
1. A reliable carry handgun, which serves as your easy-access firearm in an HD situation.
2. A reliable long gun, which serves as your primary weapon in an HD situation.

That covers the necessities to protect you inside and outside your home, which makes them "must-have" guns. Anything else, whether it be for collection, hunting, targets, or just a variety of SD weapons, is great, but not necessary.

That said, I will never own any rimfire weapons, and I would like to keep my weapons pretty similar in MOA. Therefore, I will never have a 1911 or an AK-based rifle, because I use XDM/Glock and AR. It keeps it simpler if they all function almost the same in an HD situation.
 
1. Ruger 10/22 or Marlin 60

Maybe

2. Ruger Mk. Series or Browning Buckmark

Ruger

3. Glock 19

Never (any model)

4. Colt Python or S&W 686

And a 625

5. AR15/M4

Yep

6. AK47/74

Nope

7. Quality 1911- Kimber, Colt, Baer, Wilson, Springfield, etc.

Other than Kimber

8. Remington 700 in your caliber of choice

Yep

9. Remington 870 28" BBL 12 ga. Edit: Thanks Elkins, I completely forgot about shotguns. Doh!

Yep

10. Win 94 or Marlin 336 Edit: Still need the 30-30

Yawn
 
1. Savage 99 in 243, 250, 300, 308, or 358
2. Colt double action revolver in 357 MAG
3. Marlin 336 in 35 Remington
4. Winchester 94 Legacy AE in 30-30
5. Taurus double action revolver in 22LR
6. Marlin bolt action 22 MAG
7. Remington 7600 in 35 Whelen
8. Savage heavy barreled .223
9. Henry levergun in 22LR
10. Savage Fox side by side in 16 gauge

TR
 
10?

1. 38 or better revolver- reliable, fun, and...uh...reliable
2. 12 gauge pump or semi- easy to use, heavy hitter, intimidating
3. 9mm or better semi auto pistol- easy to learn, use, shoot
4. long range high powered rifle-just fun to have to shoot deer that get to close to the azaleas
5. decent .22 rifle- good for learning fundamentals, cheap to shoot, fun, keeps the foxes out of the chickens
6. Semi auto Carbine in .223 or X39-short easy to handle, light, medium to long range, fast

That's just for self defense. Assuming some of those for double duty:
7. Magnum 6" or 8" revolver- self defense against bears, quick easy carrying hunting gun
8. over under shotgun (if your pump or semi auto won't do)-fun for skeet or small game hunting

Those last two only if you hunt. How do you define must have? The top six is probably more than you need for any home defense situation, and if you don't hunt, the bottom 2 aren't must haves.
 
Shawn, I don't think you need both a revolver and an auto pistol, or both a shotgun and a carbine for defense. Having both isn't a bad thing, but you only need 1 of each. And while some like a .22 for target practice, I prefer practicing with what I'll be using in SD (and it wont be a .22).

If someone breaks in, are you going to grab both your carbine and your shotgun, or just one?
 
And while some like a .22 for target practice
Click to expand...

22 is more than target practice. I like to set the sights up just like my carry gun. Lots and lots and lots of cheap practice that you just can't afford otherwise. I mean really...myself and many others can't afford to run 2000 rounds every weekend or so through our carry pistols and defense rifles. Whether it is a 22 or a bigger caliber, more trigger time improves anyone's skills...plain and simple. :)

Plus, a 22 is almost a necessity if you have small children. It gets them involved early on.

It is great to hand over to a new comer to try...and easy on your wallet to let them have at it with some of your ammo.

Plus, reactive targets with a 22 are just plain fun. Spinners, rolling balls, dancing top hats...just hours of fun for the whole family.

Then there are rimfire matches on THR... :)
 
Browning Hi-Power 9mm
Colt 1911 45ACP
S&W M29 44Mag
S&W M60 38SPL
Colt SAA 45Colt
Colt AR-15 5.56MM
Remington 700 30-06
Ruger 10/22 22LR
Winchester Model 94 30-30
Remington 870 12GA

With this collection I would have covered most classic calibers of the 125+ years, most every action type (semi-auto handgun, revolver, semi-auto rifle, bolt action rifle, pump shotgun, lever action rifle), several different genres (military, cowboy, carry, hunting, plinking).
 
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I think the lesson here is that there is a near infinite range of guns and shooters, thank goodness.
I wouldn't say you have to own it, but I doubt anyone ever regretted getting a model-19.
 
ForumSurfer, I started with a BB gun, which is something that's legal to set up a BB range in the back yard where I lived (a .22 wouldn't have worked for that). I have more fun shooting BB guns or airsoft than I do a .22, and if I'm really practicing for my HD gun, I'd rather use my HD gun.

Mavracer, good wit. However, if you had two shotguns and no carbines, would you take one shotgun and tell your wife "sorry, but we have to have a shotgun and a carbine, so you don't get one." I think you'd hand the second shotgun to the wife.

Svtruth, that's why I didn't say "A glock for carry and a Saiga for HD." The reliable handgun could be anything .38 or .380 and up, and the reliable long gun could be a .223, X39, .308, or a shotgun. Heck, even if you got a non-lemon Taurus I'd count that!
 
1. Ruger 10/22
2. A .22 Revolver (maybe the new sp101 or any of the smiths)
3. Glock 19
4. Smith and Wesson 686+
5. Sig 1911
6. Sig P238
7. Remington 700 (any caliber but i have one in .308)
8. Colt M4
9. Benelli SBE II
10. Marlin .44 mag lever gun
 
I can't say everyone should have these in his collection, but these are the firearms I personally want, before I could ever call my collection "complete." So far, the only item on the list I'm able to check off is #5. Had a 22LR, but sold it. Parents still have my last airgun, which they'll keep until they pass.

1. A quality pump airgun. Many people overlook these for family backyard use :)
2. Quality rimfire rifle (either a Model 60 or 10/22)
3. Dedicated carry handgun (either a Glock 27, or Sig P239 in .40S&W)
4. Dedicated HD handgun (either a Glock 23, or Sig P229 in .40S&W)
5. Pump shotgun, with both a 28" vent ribbed barrel, and a 20" HD barrel.
6. AR15
7. Hunting sidearm (.44 Mag revolver)
8. Hunting rifle, likely in .30-06

If I had to come up with two more "must haves," one would definitely be a quality 1911. The other would probably be an AK47, or a finely crafted O/U shotgun to pass onto a son :)
 
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I could get by with...

Rimfire hunting rifle
Rimfire handgun
Centerfire hunting rifle
Centerfire handgun
Shotgun for hunting & defense (2 interchangeable barrel lengths makes sense)

IMO, anything beyond that is a "want" not a "need" or must have. YMMV

Note: Milsurps to accomodate the above whenever possible would always be my preference.

We have become so spoiled or accustomed to owning this n that and two of those others, that we tend to forget our fathers generation (OK maybe grandfathers in some cases) might own 2 or 3 guns total their entire lives and not have many issues in this regards. I personally like being spoiled in regard to this matter.
 
I agree with Justin. His list fits what I have to the T.

Though these threads are always a bit off-putting because opinions are always going to vary wildly. Guys who like revolvers are going to say everyone should own one. Guys who like 1911s are going to say everyone should own one. Except there are people who neither like or need either of those, who's gun needs are filled quite adequately by something else entirely.
It gets ever worse when you throw brand into the mix.

How about:

1: a handgun.
2: a long gun.

One for carry outside the home, where concealment and ease of access are big factors, and one for home defense, hunting, or recreation where accuracy and power are big factors. Revolvers or Glocks, a wood furniture 870 or an AR-15. Whatever you like and shoot best. Some like blued steel and wood, some like tennifer and polymer. Some like used guns for their history, some like new for their up-to-date features and reliability. Revolvers for their simplicity or semi-autos for their capacity. Your likes and priorities are not mine, and mine are not yours.
 
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