How many do we really need? Got me thinking

yoshmyster

Since I got that kind a time illing in my hoodie looking like the Unabomber. How many guns do I need? I really want the S&W 617 pre-lock. After that I think I have more than plenty and should down size.

So when did you guys (if ever) decided to down size? And how much did you keep?

dcon12

A few years ago I was up to over 125 guns. I started giving them to my kids, a few giveaways and giving some to get togethers for prizes. I am now down to 50, a good number to me. I have not bought a gun in a few years. I am at a happy place with what I have. Don

Horse Plains Drifter

I have never had the inkling to downsize. Once they come here, they are home to stay, for the most part. I have only let go of 4-5 guns in 40 years, and I should have just kept them.

BikerBob

How many guns do you need? Well, 'need' isn't really the operative word.

I was at an auction last January with a friend, we were both there hoping for some snakes that they had, I got out bid by an old guy, I'm getting there, but not quite old. My buddy starts talking to the guy that beat me out only to learn he had been retired a while, wife had passed and he had just sold his Wincheaster collection and thought he had at least one of every revolver built! He just wanted a few more colts and after learning that, I found I was well out of my league.

So I guess the answer is - it depends!

dakotashooter2

ALL of them.

Navybat

I have a few shotguns, and have only let one go...all the others I shoot occasionally.

I have quite a few rifles, in several calibers, and have considered selling one or two but can't really bear to part with them.

I own several dozen pistols, and have sold a few over the years...mostly because I didn't like them or I got a large profit from selling them.

Overall, I shoot every firearm I own, and enjoy them all.

remingtonoaks

It's not about need, it's about want...

kidthatsirish

I do not keep anymore than I am able to keep myself well disciplined with them.

oldWinchesterfan

A couple years ago I looked around at what I had and decided to downsize. I have a couple themes to my collecting and a variety of shooters.

I was running out of space to easily store them. I had shooters I bought because I liked them and got a good deal on them but they weren't being shot because I liked shooting others better. And I had others I simply should not have bought. Finally, I had collectables that didn't fit my collection at all.

Over the last couple years I've sold about 20% of what I had. Yea, looking back there's a few I sometimes wish I'd hung onto. But by far I'm pleased with the outcome. I generated some extra cash and freed up some space. I've not stopped adding to my collection but I'm more careful about the buys. I'm glad I did it and am thinking maybe a few more might head down the road in 2018. But it's getting harder to find guns I want to part with.

SW0320

My tee shirt says "If you know how many guns you have you do not have enough".

That sums it up for me.

Mobuck

If you're in a position in which you feel it necessary to justify gun(s) ownership(whether it's personal,spousal, or physical location), you need to MOVE.
I have far more guns than I could ever use personally BUT I don't feel the need to justify anything--it's what I want. I have the funds(and work hard to get those funds). I live in a generally free area w/o much restriction to ownership or use. If I see something that interests me, I get it, plain and simple.

Doc

I need two. I don't hunt and the primary purpose any of my working guns is self defense. So I need one handgun and one rifle (for when things really go wrong). Everything beyond that is hobby.

Navybat

quote:Originally posted by Doc
I need two. I don't hunt and the primary purpose any of my working guns is self defense. So I need one handgun and one rifle (for when things really go wrong). Everything beyond that is hobby.

No backups? I mean, you said when things go REALLY wrong. Doesn't that include a firearm failure? Then you're left with nothing?

gunnut505

All of my adopted children are well-mannered, squeaky clean, fun to hang around with, and eat my home cookin'.
They are from all kinds of foster homes, even have a few dozen that were clones of other people's kids.
In those extremely rare circumstances when I can allow someone else to raise one or two of them, or swap kids for the fun of it; I always make sure they'll be in a good home.
Need? Want? None of that enters the equation.