If you could only keep three guns, what would they be?

[trperk1]

AR 223/556
12 gauge shotgun
22

 

[Flbt]

I seem to periodically have some version of this discussion with friends, so it made me curious to know what my AH forum friends would choose.

If you could only keep three guns, what would they be?

Custom 44 mag 5 shot subnose
Colt ar in 6.5 Grendel
338 win mag ruger m77

 

[CBH Australia]

For hunting, three long guns:
22LR rifle, 12 GA O/U shotgun, bolt action 30-06.

12 gauge
22 lr
30/06

I think this combo has been mentioned before.

It’s gaining traction and would work for many if we are forced to choose but just 3 seems a little tough.

 

[jbirdwell]

1: Blaser R8 with 22 Hornet. I can download with cast bullets to cover the need for a rimfire and regular loads for varmints
2: Sako 85 in 6.5 x 55
3; Benelli SB III in 28 gauge with TSS loads

If things have gotten bad enough for me to be down to three guns, I won’t be going anywhere not local to hunt. I think I can cover most everything I might see with that

 

[WAB]

guns??? This is a terrifying thread!!!

 

[coreydb]

Wow......what a broad and generalized question. .308 Win, 300 Win Mag, .416 Rem Mag

 

[BJH65]

Blaser R8 with 375H&H, 300WM and 257WBY barrels.

Benelli SBE3 12 bore, 3.5” chamber and 28” barrel

Daniel Defense DD4 MK18 RIII SBR 556NATO

Sorry, that’s cheating, only one barrel allowed for your Blaser!

 

[roverandbrew]

Rigby Highland Stalker 275 Rigby
AHR # 3 CZ 550 in 375 H&H
Benelli SBE 2, 12 Gauge

 

[cash_tx]

My three must-keeps:

- Browning Safari Grade in 243 Winchester
- Interarms Mark X in 243 Winchester
- Remington 798 in 243 Winchester

@Bob Nelson 35Whelen

 

[MS 9x56]

CZ550 FS in 9.3x62, Mannlicher Schoenauer model 1905 in 9x56 MS, Ruger 77 RSI in 250-3000 savage.

 

[Neil Molendyk]

CZ 452 22LR - from the bottom up
CZ 550 416 Rigby - on the remote chance of ever returning to Africa
Benelli SuperVinci 12 gauge - furry and feathered things

But that's today, the rest are not for sale

 

[mark-hunter]

but just 3 seems a little tough.

Blame the OP! Thats his idea!
I admit, cutting my inventory of plenty, down to just three is extremely painful!

 

[mark-hunter]

- Browning Safari Grade in 243 Winchester
- Interarms Mark X in 243 Winchester
- Remington 798 in 243 Winchester

@Bob Nelson 35Whelen

This is very naughty! Very, very naughty!

 

[BryceM]

Oh, probably an upland shotgun. My side-by-side 20 ga CZ Bobwhite suits me fine. I use it the most.
The most accurate & versatile rifle I own, a custom .300 WM.
Probably a .375 H&H Browning Safari. The .416 Rigby CZ 550 might get picked instead.

But, what sort of horrible world would that be to only have 3?

 

[FlyGuy]

I cleaned out a few years ago and only kept 3 of my hunting rifles. It makes life a lot easier.

6.5x55 (Small game)
30-06 (Medium to large game Bushveld)
300H&H (Medium to large game open country)

On the rare occasion that I might still hunt buff, I can use the camp rifle and I never got into wingshooting.

 

[MS 9x56]

My three must-keeps:

- Browning Safari Grade in 243 Winchester
- Interarms Mark X in 243 Winchester
- Remington 798 in 243 Winchester

@Bob Nelson 35Whelen

Good rifle selection very poor caliber selections, just ask Bob.

 

[MS 9x56]

I cleaned out a few years ago and only kept 3 of my hunting rifles. It makes life a lot easier.

6.5x55 (Small game)
30-06 (Medium to large game Bushveld)
300H&H (Medium to large game open country)

On the rare occasion that I might still hunt buff, I can use the camp rifle and I never got into wingshooting.

Those are calibers but what rifles are they in?

 

[odonata]

The 22LR, 12ga & 30-06 is a boringly versatile & dependable trifecta that’s hard to argue with but might be too painful to choose because I really like my centerfire rifles. What a horrible question to contemplate. My answer below was valid when I clicked the post button but will be different by the time you read it.

I really like my single shot falling blocks. Of the eight to choose from, I’ll keep my Ruger No. 1 RSI in 275 Rigby. I’m fond of its slender compact size.

My LH Sako 85 Hunter in 30-06 is very accurate which is always a nice feature for a rifle to have. With its Swarovski z6 1.7-10x42, I could cover a lot of situations with this rifle alone.

I want to pick my 458 Win Mag for the top spot but that would leave me without a Winchester. So I’m going to have to pick my LH Model 70 in 375 H&H instead.

 

[HankBuck]

Only three?

.338 Win Mag if not hunting in Africa. .375 of some sort if hunting in Africa is still an option.

Beretta M9A4, 9mm, with SRO.

Mossberg 500, 12 Gauge.

Just 3 Rifles?

5.56 AR Colt 6920
Winchester Model 70 .338 Win Mag
.416 Taylor (Substitute .375 Ruger until acquired)

Only one firearm?

12 Gauge.
If I’m down to just one things have gone horribly wrong and I will use that to kill and acquire whatever else I need. Even another firearm.

@Neophyte - gotta agree with you here — if ONLY ONE GUN a 12ga does it all…at least regarding “Survival” - (#6s for birds & rabbits, up to 000 buck & slugs for deer, moose, bear etc..) You can feed a family for a century with a 12 ga & various ammo