firearm reduction due to personal economics for me

[Scibaer]

due to being laid off, my personal economics are such that i have started reducing my firearms collection.
 i'm sure this has been said here on GBO a truckload of times, but its new to me.
anyhow, i have been selling off my collection of 17 rifles, 10 handguns and a few specialty guns like my contenders and saiga's.
i have chosen to keep a few and im doing that on specific criteria.. in no particular order, they are ...
 ammo availability
 overall usability of gauge or caliber
popularity of name/manufacurer
 traditional make or model, classic 'got to have firearm'

so, based on that i have chosen to keep so far.
 marlin 336 in 30-30 , mine is a 1949 RC model with williams peep site
 remington 870 express 12 gauge, i have a rifled slug barrel and vent rib combo with laminate stocks
ruger new model blackhawk in 45 colt, nickel finish with rosewood grips

now that group "should" cover all my hunting / SHTF / survival / needs for any game / defense in north america

anyone disagree ? anyone got better suggestions ? anyone have a suggestion for rounding out my collection ? 
 

[Old Syko]

Absolutely everyone has to have some sort of 22RF and preferably in the form of a rifle. 

[Scibaer]

syko,
 yeah i was thinking that, but what could a .22RF do that i could not do with 1 of the guns i have so far ?

[Old Syko]

Well your criteria includes ammo availability.  22RF is probably the most common of all.

[Dee]

I would have to agree.

[Swampman]

I wish I could get myself down to....

Model 700 in .30-06
870 Magnum
NEF Sidekick
Marlin Model 60
& my
Model 15 Combat Masterpiece

I don't need the rest and it's just more crap to take care of

[45-70.gov]

how  much  would a 1000 rounds   cost  for any  of the guns you are keeping??

you  NEED  a 22

[Swampman]

Everyone that is serious about hunting needs a scoped boltaction rifle.

[Scibaer]

ok i will have to agree, when its presented that way, yep 1000 rounds would cost a bundle..
so i will add ,  the model 60 to the list.
so now , how does my list and choices fair ? for that matter my initial criteria , any thing i am missing now ?
i do recognize the need for a muzzle loader, but what ML would fit my criteria ?

[Old Syko]

I've always considered the bare minimum to be a 22 rifle and a 12 gauge shotgun.  Anything else was just fluff.  When I was young these were the only two I had and I could barely afford to shoot them but they got me by.  I've learned I would rather have one gun and 50,000 rounds of ammo than have a large number of guns and nothing to shoot through them.  This is why I have no sympathy for all the whiners who cried about the last shortage.  I know too many who had guns and no ammo who were willing to pay any price to get their hands on some which just made the supposed shortage that much worse.  Invest in ammo so you don't end up with some expensive, fancy sticks and rocks.

[no guns here]

I agree with the .22 and a good bolt rifle.  That .30-30 is a good'un but I'd have to keep a .308 or .30-'06.


NGH

[MGMorden]

I've always said, if I could only own ONE gun, that would be a 12ga shotgun.  Hunts virtually anything.

That said, just that one is limiting.  For me the trinity of a good gun cabinet (FOR A HUNTER) is a .22LR rifle, a .30-06 rifle, and a 12ga shotgun. Everything else is just for flavor.  If you like to carry, naturally adding an appropriate handgun to that list will be a necessity too.

For my entire time growing up my dad made due with not much more than the list above.  Had an old Ted-Williams .22LR, a Remington 742 in .30-06, a Remington 870, a Remington 11-48, and a Browning A-5. Truthfully - the only two he ever really touched was the 742 and the 870, and he did a LOT of hunting with those too.  He's gotten a FEW more these days, but I think he's still under 10 total.  I've personally got a lot more, but I still find myself only using a few to hunt with.  My own 870 gets used a lot. For rifles I WAS using my Savage 110 in .30-06 a lot, but my brother has been "borrowing" it since middle of last season .  This season I'm using a Winchester Mod 70 in .270.  The rest of the guns either sit unused or just get used at the range.

[Daman]

Everyone that is serious about hunting needs a scoped boltaction rifle.

BULL****

I kill over 15 deer each year and I haven't touched a bolt gun in 5 years! I much prefer single shots or if I want a repeater my BAR Safari 30-06!

Matter of fact if economics were to force me to sale, my vintage Model 70's and my Browning bolt guns would be the first to go. They would get me the most money the fastest. And they would only go after the high end scopes. I can still shoot open sights.

But hey we all have to be different to make the world go round!

Sorry for the hard times Scibear! It would kill me to have to sell my collection.

Daman

[Bigeasy]

Not sure what you have in centerfire rifles, but nothing you have listed as a keeper is going to be effective past 200 yards.  Unless you NEVER shoot past 175-200 yards, an accurate, scope sighted centerfire would round out your selection.

Larry

[Scibaer]

Yeah, its not been to fun, selling most of my guns. But, we do what we gotta when it comes to it.
 I am keeping a few, the minimum i  to hunt and get by with. and when my situation comes back around, then maybe i'll purchase  few more to round out my needs, but honestly,  i dont need as many guns to look after, like i had before.   After this experience,  i realize that this idea of having a large array of firearms for a retirement policy is kind of , well .. a foolish thought. you never get back what you put into them, and your lucky to get 75% at the very best, in most cases.   so, i am going with the plan of 'one of each' gun, a shotgun, rifle, handgun, for what kind of hunting, personal protection and target , plinking, shooting that i do.
nope, i dont have a 200 plus yard bolt rifle, i live in michigan, and dont often get those kinds of shots. my furthest shot i have ever taken on a whitetail was just at 100 yards, and to be honest, if the deer, or a different deer would have been closer, i would have taken that one instead.
 i take more personal pride in getting up close and taking a deer, then i do taking one thats standing way out.
 if i move, or start hunting where i need to take those long yardage shots, then i will get me a nice bolt gun, but for now, i think that vintage 336 does just fine.  i dont believe that  i have to own a bolt actioned rifle to be serious about hunting. get within 25 yards of a 300 lbs, black bear boar and tell me thats not serious.  i dont feel under gunned with my  .45 colt, or my .30-30 or  my 870 with the right barrel and ammo for the job.  i am going to round out my collect, im getting ready to sell off a few last handguns, and buy a .22 and a muzzle loader, but the MZ will have to wait.