Could you limit yourself to a dozen firearms?

[Excelsior]

I was thinking about something from a new angle today.

First, someone I know who has spent most of the last 5 years in (as he calls it) "Asscrackistan" mentioned his own personal firearms collection: well-prepared 870 12 gauge, well-prepared Model 700 in .308 and a Glock 30. He has an AR carbine but it's currently on consignment. He shoots all 4 expertly.

Still, is that all? No .22LR!?! No 1911? Not a single wheel gun? No pocket gun? You're not even keeping the carbine? He explained that while he's a shooting enthusiast, that he's done with coveting guns. He wants to shoot and enjoy what he has and remain expert on all of them.

Second, I compared that to many gun lovers (including perhaps myself) that spend far too much time coveting rather than actually shooting guns. We (particularly those of us in CA) induce angst and ulcers in ourselves wondering if XYZ firearm will be available to us? Imagine what it would be like to always shoot rather than covet...

While I don't think I could ever be as disciplined as my 3-gun friend, could I be happy with a dozen that I already own? No problem being happy with 500 guns. A lot tougher to be content with a dozen.

Ruger 10/22
Remington 572
Steyr Mannlicher Schoenauer

M1 Garand
AR15 Rifle

Remington 870
Browning Citori

S&W Model 617
Browning Buck Mark Hunter
Glock 17L
Colt M1911
S&W Model 29

Whittling it down to 12 I'm still missing guns I compete with: Stoeger M3000 shotgun and Glock 34. I'm also missing my pocket gun. It would really hurt to cut from the above list because I routinely shoot all these.

On the other hand there are many not listed that I could dispense with if I had more discipline. Could you limit yourself to a dozen guns and be happy?

[colossians323]

If you can afford more than one, you're rich

[Cnynrat]

12 guns each, or 12 guns shared with my wife?

12 guns each would be easy. 12 guns total might be a little harder as few of the handguns would share easily - we have widely divergent hand sizes.

[Tank 57]

Yes,but I won't.

[baih777]

you must mean ?
12 revolvers
12 semiauto pistols
12 AR
12 AK's
12 shotguns
12 bolt actions
12 CCW

and 1 tank

[Capybara]

I could be but I have spent a lot of time, money and effort to have a lot more than 12 so why would I go there? To me, guns are like a really high end buffet, why would I not want to taste and try everything I could? I enjoy bringing half a dozen rifles to the range, shooting them all, then bringing half a dozen more the next trip. I like my oddities like my AOW, AR pistol, AK that I built myself, each gun has a story and I like reliving the story each time I prep, shoot and clean each gun. Some have sentimental value, my first K-Mart Brazilian 20 ga single shot I bought when I turned 18, my first pistol, my son's 10/22 that we have been tweaking and playing with together.

And then there are my Calguns guns, ones that I discovered because of my friends on the C&R board, these have all really become my passion. So as a shooter, I could get by with six. As a collector and wanting to become proficient in all of the shooting disciplines and reloading, I could easily have a couple of hundred if I had the room and money.

[Excelsior]

12 guns each, or 12 guns shared with my wife?

12 guns each would be easy. 12 guns total might be a little harder as few of the handguns would share easily - we have widely divergent hand sizes.

12 total/person.

If I didn't compete and if a couple of my favorites weren't gifts, I think I could. It's certainly not easy though. It takes a great deal of discipline which many simply do not have.

Interestingly enough I know a couple of guys in their latter 70's who have always collected but they stopped actually shooting a number of years ago. Now that they are older they are shooting again and collecting/coveting a lot less. Interesting how things work.

Sometimes I think big collections that don't get shot are more millstones than anything...

[Excelsior]

I could be but I have spent a lot of time, money and effort to have a lot more than 12 so why would I go there? To me, guns are like a really high end buffet, why would I not want to taste and try everything I could? I enjoy bringing half a dozen rifles to the range, shooting them all, then bringing half a dozen more the next trip. I like my oddities like my AOW, AR pistol, AK that I built myself, each gun has a story and I like reliving the story each time I prep, shoot and clean each gun. Some have sentimental value, my first K-Mart Brazilian 20 ga single shot I bought when I turned 18, my first pistol, my son's 10/22 that we have been tweaking and playing with together.

Because for many, maintaining a large collection can get to be a pain. Time spent maintaining often comes at the expense of shooting for some.

Coveting is even worse, particularly in today's market. I think there are a fair number of people with fairly large levels of angst because of guns and gun laws.

And then there are my Calguns guns, ones that I discovered because of my friends on the C&R board, these have all really become my passion. So as a shooter, I could get by with six. As a collector and wanting to become proficient in all of the shooting disciplines and reloading, I could easily have a couple of hundred if I had the room and money.

It wouldn't take a couple of hundred firearms to become proficient in all the shooting disciplines.

[toby]

I will soon be down to only one firearm. It's will be like 99 bottles of beer except in mine is firearms.

[Excelsior]

Yes,but I won't.

Do you honestly think you could? It's certainly not easy. It would take a great deal of discipline. I think it would also depend just how much someone currently competes/hunts/carries and how many of their guns might be family heirlooms.

[vintagearms]

Yes.
1. Ruger 10/22
2. Savage bolt in .22
3. AR
4. Remington bolt gun
5.6. Couple of Glocks

I'm fine with those, although I cringe when I hear someone spouting off that they are an "expert". We all have something to learn....

[JMP]

could I be happy with a dozen that I already own?

Would you love it, leave it, or shut the ~!@#$%^&*()_+ up if California limits you to zero guns?

[Excelsior]

Yes.
1. Ruger 10/22
2. Savage bolt in .22
3. AR
4. Remington bolt gun
5.6. Couple of Glocks

I'm fine with those, although I cringe when I hear someone spouting off that they are an "expert". We all have something to learn....

No "spouting off."

The military (as well as some sporting organizations) do have actual metrics for different levels of proficiency including "expert."

USPSA/IPSC/IDPA for example have levels that include: Grand Master, Master, Expert, Sharpshooter, etc.

[dyson]

what is up with all these "if you can only have 12" and "if you could only have 1" threads...?

[mikenewgun87]

Yes, but why???