How many guns is “too many”?

[Field28]

Aggh, this kinda how my list is running right now...

Rifles... getting ready to put together a 300 Win Mag beater for plains game, either a Howa or Tikka suppressed with a TBAC 5 or 7, topped with a Zeiss or Leupold. A 375 H&H, I'm open to manufacturer, CZ, Winchester, Sako.
I'd love to find a good deal on a B78 in 22-250 or 6mm.

Shotguns... a 12g B80 or a 20g A5 or 1100.

Pistols... and older Belgian Hi Power.

This is the kind of crap that keeps me up at night.

 

[odonata]

My count currently sits at 18 and I’m really pleased with what I have. I don’t get to shoot them all as much as I would like. I can think of a short list of other chamberings & models that intrigue so I could easily see that number growing to 25 over time even though I’ve gotten really selective with my purchases lately. A good hunting buddy has over 100 and is equally happy with his choices. My best friend has 3. Although our collections vary we each only shoot one rifle at a time out in the field so we’re equal there.

From a personal standpoint, “too many guns” would be defined when the quantity became burdensome & caused unhappiness instead of joy. I can’t imagine what that number would possibly be but I’m sure it theoretically exists. From a legal standpoint, I would not want someone else to define an arbitrary number when the constitution doesn’t. I’ll leave that up to each citizen to decide for themselves.

 

[Certus]

I’m at the lowest I’ve been in ages and looking to reduce further.

 

[Sabre]

Philosophically, my answer is there is no limit and there is no such thing as too much.

Realistically, I have come to find out that there are several factors that become a limiting factor. Here are the things that I find tell us how much is too many for us:

Budget
Space
Time

If you can't afford 50 guns, you probably shouldn't own 50 guns.

Space is such a big one, and in my opinion is generally the biggest limiting factor. When a person has no more space in the gun safe, no more space in gun racks, no more space in wall racks, no more space under the bed, on the kitchen table, in the closet, in the pantry, etc, you get my point. Then that person probably has too many guns for them. If they were to buy a larger house then that same person could increase their numbers.

If you don't have the time, energy, or interest to maintain the number of guns you have so they don't turn to rusted junk, you probably have too many guns for you.

Most if not all those things boil down to a simple saying, "The things you own, end up owning you". If owning them becomes a burden in some way, you own to many guns for you, at that point of time in your life.

 

[Field28]

I know a guy who from the time he turned 18, he kept a gun on layaway. Meaning, as soon as he paid one off he would put another on layaway. He did that until he was in his early thirties, needless to say he acquired quite the collection!

 

[Wyatt Smith]

Too many guns only applies to storage spaces.

 

[Tundra Tiger]

I guess I got a late start in life and I'm still in the camp of "no such thing". Also, my bucket list is still quite large. By this graphic, I am somewhere between an enthusiast and obsessed.

 

[putter97127]

I always thought that I had everything that I needed when it came to firearms... However , I have always had a lot of wants.

And then the state that I live in (Oregon) passed a law that will require a long drawn out, expensive permitting process to go thru before you have "the right" to purchase a gun. Suddenly, my wants have become needs! Hopefully the NRA and other groups can continue to tie things up in court long enough for me to fulfill my needs.. or give me enough time to pull up roots and move

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

There’s no such thing as too many.

Lately I’ve found myself shrinking my overall number. I collect a couple of different types of guns which has definitely increased the number I own but I’ll refrain from specifics online.

 

[steve white]

A retired police officer once stated, "that family is a real gun hoarding bunch...they have EIGHT firearms in their house!" I calmly asked if it included large bore rifles, medium bore rifles, rimfire rifles, shotguns for upland, or shotguns for waterfowl, and how many in the family hunted who would then need their own in all the above categories. I added, "are any heirlooms that belonged to Grandpa, or otherwise collectibles? He looked shocked that I would ask him such questions. Needless to say, he was not a hunter.
My cousin has four large gun safes packed, and may be buying another for his "redneck 401k...just because he can.

 

[BRICKBURN]

I am curious to hear well reasoned arguments for any limitations that you may believe should be in place.
........

"Limitations should be in place"?

Limitations on other folks who are crazy enough to want to fill their houses with firearms is not my idea of a good use of legislative effort.

Personally, I have no desire to own firearms as ART or an investment. My limitation is simple: If I can't practically make use of them regularly, why have them. I dearly appreciate the skill required to make quality firearms and appreciate watching the skilled Rigby team at SCI in action.

 

[thriller]

I have two sons and plenty of area to hunt I expect my stocks will be going up soon!

 

[5shot]

Whatever number results in you missing a mortgage payment.

 

[Odinsraven]

Recently reduced mine to three 303 404 and 505.....as my hunting rifles

Then have 318wr double and 470NE double

Then

My fun rifles Baikal doubles a few Baikal SB a few

WW2 and before not scope of this post but perhaps ....a lot of fully auto ....relax my American friends in Europe we can own then prices think parts kits ...what we pay. ......

 

[375Fox]

There isn’t a definitive answer, but I’d say a person should decide if they are a hunter first or a shooter first. I get tired of seeing people say they can’t afford a hunt but they can somehow afford another firearm. My ultimate pet peeve is seeing a high end rifle used on the cheapest hunt. If you consider yourself a hunter first and buying firearms limits the hunts you do, then I’d say it’s too many.

 

[Safari Dave]

I think the limit is either where you run out of secure storage space or if gun collecting starts to cause financial issues.


If they are secure, I think that guns, probably even more so that precious metals, are one of the best investments a person can make.



Golden Rule:

"He who has the gold makes the rules"


Better yet...

"He who has guns, can keep (or even take, from bad people) the gold, then make the rules"

 

[RR 314]

I don’t know what the answer is, but I am there! . Kind of like Potter Stewart said about obscenity. . . I know it when I see it.

I see it.

 

[Dholupko]

A woman that I was dating at the time asked “How many guns do you need”?
I replied “How many pairs of shoe do you need”?
She replied “Good point”.

 

[CBeck]

I had a dear friend that every time he bought a firearm, he bought another identical one so when he passed away, each son would have the same. Always thought that was a great idea…sadly he passed yesterday from pancreatic cancer.

 

[AimSmall]

How many gun safes do you have room for?