Author Topic: bare minimum needs-not ''wants''FROM WHAT YOU ALREADY HAVE (Read 2672 times)

ratherbefishin · « **on:** January 02, 2012, 12:23:39 PM »

I have 2 gun cabinets full of rifles and shotguns-most of which I never even fired last year.....I got to thinking-if I HAD to-what is the bare minimum I would NEED-not want, that would handle MOST of my hunting?and it has to be ALREADY in my guncabinet-no buying
I think -right now-in my gun cabinet-is a nice old Topper 30/30 with a 20 guage barrel-and I could manage with that. I mainly hunt deer, occasionally see a black bear, even a moose and the 20 guage would be fine for small game.Unfortionately we can't have the ''barrel'' program-or I would add one more barrel-a .22 and that would meet my BARE MINIMUM requirements
Remember the criteria-in your gun cabinet ALREADY and NEED,not want.....

Deerhunter#1 · « **Reply #1 on:** January 02, 2012, 12:34:13 PM »

I would say my 17hmr for critters. 25-06 would be my selection for my handi deer gun. I would keep the 243 for my back up deer gun. And probobly the 270 just in case I would every go for elk. And I have to keep my 762x39 as that is for my 2 year old to shoot in a couple years. This is a hard question as i dont want to get rid of any more. They will all get shot eventually just keep them all.

44 Man · « **Reply #2 on:** January 02, 2012, 12:46:42 PM »

Yes, most of us could very easily get by with a 30-30 and a .22. But what fun would that be? My father owned a 30-30 lever action, a semi auto .22, and a 12 ga single shot (unmarked maker). The 30-30 he owned forever along with the 12 ga. The .22 he bought a few years after purchasing a single shot .22 for me when I was 12 in 1958. He never felt the need of owning another gun. And he never understood my enjoyment of shooting. He felt a box of 20 30-30 shells should last at least 10 years. One shot per year to verify the sights, and one more if he saw a shootable deer that year. If everyone felt that way, the gun manufacturers would all be out of business. 44 Man

keith44 · « **Reply #3 on:** January 02, 2012, 12:52:41 PM »

$:-\$

is this one of those one gun for all needs posts? if it is I won't play.

If I had a need to pare down my eclectic group of weapons I would keep one SB-2 frame and my .45-70 would be at the top of the fixed ammunition list of keepers. My .22 K-Hornet and .44mag would be tied for number two keepers, likely the .22 K-Hornet would get the nod due to the over lap in meat gathering abilities of the .45-70 and .44 mag. Also like the .45-70, the Hornet is effective with black powder and cast bullets (it turns into a center fire .22 LR when loaded with black powder). These two would play well with my 12 ga 870 (also can be loaded black without loss of usefulness) and my .32 cal flintlock, and .54 cal muzzleloaders.

other than that, several handguns will remain available for use

gendoc · « **Reply #4 on:** January 02, 2012, 12:55:01 PM »

45/70 trapper handi and 10/22magnum custom built by me...
for whitetail and varmit control

all the rest 68 are spendable

stimpylu32 · « **Reply #5 on:** January 02, 2012, 12:55:33 PM »

For me this is a no-brainer , my little 22 lr Sportster and my 12g smooth-bore Tracker , these 2 guns will cover anything I NEED them to , however - What Fun Would That Be !

stimpy

cwlongshot · « **Reply #6 on:** January 02, 2012, 01:20:19 PM »

For me, (I'm no fun here) its exactly the same as in the other post... But I will play!

My H&R 22LR, My Mauser 30/06, My Remington 870 12 ga and my Glock 23 40S&W....

I could shoot vermin, plink or target shoot with the 22. Collect dinner almost any game on any continent with the '06. Shoot winged game, buck shot n slugs for defence or big game with the Remington. Protect life and limb with a combo of the 870 and the Glock.

CW

Swampman · « **Reply #7 on:** January 02, 2012, 01:24:34 PM »

I'd keep my Ruger #3 in .45-70 and my H&R Topper Deluxe Classic in 12 gauge. For a pistol it would be my S&W Combat Masterpiece.

ratherbefishin · « **Reply #8 on:** January 02, 2012, 01:33:36 PM »

NOPE-not talking about ''fun''or ''want''-this is NEED ,bare minimum NEED and ALREADY in your gun cabinet.Unfortionately in Canada we can only shoot handguns at a registered range-so that rules out handguns as a ''need''[they're in the ''fun''catagory]
so far my topper 30/30 with the extra 20 guage barrel is all I really NEED to HUNT with,and I wouldn't have to pass up on ANY game if I had just that one gun -with the extra barrel

petemi · « **Reply #9 on:** January 02, 2012, 02:01:00 PM »

I could do almost everything I'd have to with just two guns. My shortie maxi and my 22 inch Mod. 20 ga. Kinda boring

Pete

yukondog · « **Reply #10 on:** January 02, 2012, 02:53:52 PM »

35 rem., 870 20ga., 308 savage and a 1911 ok maybe two 1911's.

Doublebass73 · « **Reply #11 on:** January 02, 2012, 03:00:31 PM »

My 16 gauge H&R Topper 88 covers me from squirrels to moose. I could get by with just that and my Ruger LCR for carry.

Dinny · « **Reply #12 on:** January 02, 2012, 03:15:12 PM »

Just 3 guns are needed for me. Ruger 77-22LR, .356 Win Handi, and my 12ga Beretta O/U. That should cover it all.

Thanks, Dinny

JB White · « **Reply #13 on:** January 02, 2012, 03:54:55 PM »

Requirements in regard to what? Doomsday survival or only being allowed a limited number for reasons of legislation or personal finance?

Since I'm not Rambo who envisions rescuing the American flag while standing with my back to the horizon, I'll choose the latter. If I could only keep two it would be a rimfire revolver. Either my Single Six or my K-frame S&W. No magazines to worry about.
Second would be one of the M1917's over my M1's. A do-it-all cartridge (30 '06) in a platform that doesn't require clips or detachable mags to function as a repeater.
If times were harder I might opt to keep my 45-70 Handi instead as that can be thumbloaded without dies if need be. In that case I would also choose a centerfire revolver over a rimfire. Better mobility for both protection and hunting.

Everything else I have I need because I want it

kennyd · « **Reply #14 on:** January 02, 2012, 04:25:59 PM »

The first rifle my wife bought for me was a Ruger 1 in 7 mag. That was all I really needed. Of the things I have, there is an old Remington model 30 in 30-06 which would do everything I need.

For a r
evolver, a .357 will do it all. A .22 with 2 cylinders fits, too.

One of my regular go to guns is a Savage 24 in .30-30 over 20. That one really covers a lot of territory and is a good choice for camping trips and whatnot.

Of the Handi's, I am torn between the .243 (short) or .25-06 ; the 45-70 is the thumper. A .243 is a bit light for elk.

Of the calibers I should have bought is the .308 or 7-08.

peepingtom · « **Reply #15 on:** January 02, 2012, 04:27:57 PM »

I already have the "one gun for everything" along with many others. I also use that gun more than anything else.

12 gauge Remington 870 slide action, 26 inch barrel w/3 inch chamber and a full range of screw in chokes from IC to .675 turkey and a rifled slug choke. Also important is having plenty of shells for every situation you can think of.

spooked · « **Reply #16 on:** January 02, 2012, 04:31:32 PM »

I guess I'm sposed to say one of my 158 30-30--20ga. combo's,,but if it came down to getting rid of all my guns but one I"d have to keep my Win 67 .22, never ever let me down ...here inna Ozarks ya can take any game with it..even know of a coupla black bears people killed around their houses with a .22..My 550-1 remington or my 552 would be handier but they could never measure up to the reliability of the Win 67...lived with one of them as my only gun for several years..

ratherbefishin · « **Reply #17 on:** January 02, 2012, 04:51:05 PM »

I hear you-and a .22 in the hands of a competant rifleman can take pretty well anything-including deer[not ideal and not legal-but it certainly can be done]Up here in Canada ,when the native people say''magnum''-they mean a .22 magnum]

twoshooter · « **Reply #18 on:** January 02, 2012, 05:42:57 PM »

I have a Hornet, 444, and 28 ga that will fit the same frame

, and a MKII Ruger 22LR. That would about cover it.

spikehorn · « **Reply #19 on:** January 02, 2012, 06:56:49 PM »

If I had to it would be a 22LR, my 22" modified 20ga. and I'm not sure if I could decide on which of my 3 45-70's but it would probably be my ultra hunter

cowboyup453 · « **Reply #20 on:** January 02, 2012, 08:22:26 PM »

All of my hunting is with a 22rimfire, 50cal black powder rifle, 12ga shot gun or stick and string. I could do it all with my bow if need be. So what do I need? My bow.

LaOtto222 · « **Reply #21 on:** January 03, 2012, 04:58:46 AM »

My father only owned two guns...an Ithaca 12 gauge model 37 and a Remington 22 pump model 12. He could have bought other guns, but felt no desire to do so. He never owned a hand gun, saw no need for them. He said that you could hunt anything in our state (Indiana) with them. The shotgun for upland game, deer, waterfowl and home defense - BTW he never locked the doors, he said all you do is keep your friends out. The 22 for anything else you might want to shoot or hunt (like squirrels or vermin). He even used the 22 for putting down farm animals for butcher including hogs and cattle. Even though the laws have changed since then, you could still hunt anything in these parts with those two guns. If I were to only have one gun, it would be a well made 12 gauge pump, either a model 37 or model 870. Of course that would be no fun at all, I like choices and variety.

Good Luck and Good Shooting

bikerbeans · « **Reply #22 on:** January 03, 2012, 08:17:32 AM »

Let's see, if I limit my answer to hunting, deer is pretty much all I hunt anymore and this is a shotgun only state so probably my 410 rifled slug gun. Then I would have to make a removable breech plug for it and work up a decent load for muzzleloader season.
If I take everything into consideration and can have only one gun then it would be my 1911 as Mr. Browning's ole 45 has a proven track record in two legged varmint control.
BB

BBF · « **Reply #23 on:** January 03, 2012, 09:24:01 AM »

Another tough one.
Anyone of the centerfire rifles I have would fill the minimum. Bring it down to the two most accurate it would be a choice between a Ruger 77 in 284 W or a Husky in 6.5x55.

The Ruger is the better looking one with a better scope. So that would be my minimum rife

JB White · « **Reply #24 on:** January 03, 2012, 09:40:10 AM »

Quote from: BBF on January 03, 2012, 09:24:01 AM

Another tough one.
Anyone of the centerfire rifles I have would fill the minimum. Bring it down to the two most accurate it would be a choice between a Ruger 77 in 284 W or a Husky in 6.5x55.

The Ruger is the better looking one with a better scope. So that would be my minimum rife

You had to mention a 6.5 Husky? One of my greatest regrets is letting this one go at a swap meet in trade for a British rifle. As if I needed another one of those! I'll never find another one like this. Never. *sigh*

ratdog · « **Reply #25 on:** January 03, 2012, 11:10:13 AM »

i would just be bored to death with three or four guns.

canon6 · « **Reply #26 on:** January 03, 2012, 11:24:02 AM »

This is a easy one for me,as I only have two left.

My Trapper rechambered to 357 Maxi and my youth model 223,with two inserts one for 22lr and one for 22 WMR.Doug

ratherbefishin · « **Reply #27 on:** January 03, 2012, 12:03:50 PM »

I've got 6 Huskies in my gun cabinet-3 in 6.5x55 and 3 more in 9.3x57,but that wouldn't help much for small game-which is why I would choose my30/30 Topper with the 20 guage extra barrel-that would put meat on the table from rabbits,grouse, squirells ,ducks,deer bear and even a moose.With that ''bare minimum''I wouldn't have to pass up anything I now harvest

Winter Hawk · « **Reply #28 on:** January 03, 2012, 03:23:22 PM »

My flintlock Deer Creek Rifle in .45 caliber. I can load light round ball charges for small game or heavy charges with 250 grain R.E.A.L. bullets for moose & bears. Maybe throw in the Stevens model 30 .22, but the flinter should do everything I need....

-WH-

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #29 on:** January 03, 2012, 03:39:17 PM »

I am calling "NOT A FAIR Question!"
While I have a bunch of different gun and some I have not shot in a year or two that does not mean I do not need them at some point. My 10ga SXS is hard to use at the sporting clay range but is great for geese and turkey something I have not done in a few years.
And this year all I did was Dove hunt in the Desert and they English SXS get too hot to shoot in the desert with the splinter forends.
But those same 12ga side by sides are great upland guns when not 125 degrees in the shade of the Southern Ca Deserts.
And my first shotgun is an over 100 year old Iver Johnson in 20 ga and a gift from My dad's friend who took me hunting for the first time. Great tree rat gun. Light weight and easy to carry with a lot of memories of Burrly Bob Ring and hunting with him Hank, Buddy, No Class, Andy and Dad at different places in NJ and NY. While I do not break it out often I do remember a lot everytime I pull it from the safe.