I was thinking about this last night while I could not sleep. I sure in has been done before, but thought I would bring it up again. As collectors/accumulators we all have different things we like. Obviously, most of the members here cherish their S&W's, and may collect only S&W's. Others collect many brands. Some collect only antique, others only modern. You get the idea.

I was thinking a thread would be cool where we each list the 10 guns that WE think should be in every collection. I guess there will be many similarities and differences. My list includes a few different manufacturers. Here is my list:

1. S&W Pre-model 29 .44 Magnum N frame
2. S&W Pre-model 10 .38 special K frame
3. Colt SAA .45LC
4. Colt 1911 .45 ACP
5. Remington Model 700
6. Winchester Model 94
7. Browning Auto-5 Shotgun
8. Browning Hi Power
9. Ruger 10/22
10. Walter PPK

I believe these guns or their variants would make a nice collection. What guns would make it in your list?
Larry

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Miss Buddies crsides & fat tom

My dad always said the only guns a man needs are a 4 inch model 10, 12 gauge Model 12 Winchester, Model 70 Winchester in 30.06. But then he always followed with “don’t tell your mom I said that!”

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No school like the old school.

My 10 that I deem essential

686 4" pre-lock

Ruger MkII

Marlin 336

442 no lock

Colt M4 carbine

M1A rifle

3914

4006TSW

Mossberg 500

Ruger 10/22

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BTDT, Got The T-Shirt

I cannot disagree with any of the choices listed, and have the majority of the firearms with a few substitutions (Ruger Vaquero in 45 Colt). I do believe the M-1 Garland should be included but don’t know which one would be deleted.

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I am a sheep dog!
1601 (ret)

M&P 15 Sport
Mdl 36
Mdl 60
Mdl 60-15
Pre-10 M&P 38
Pre K22
Mdl 617
Mdl 52 (I don't have one - grail gun)
Ruger MkII
Ruger GP100
Ruger Single-10

I have others, but these are my favorites.

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Heavily armed old man.

Smith M10, 38,49 & 42

Colt 1911

Parker 16ga

Steyr Scout

Remington 660 or 600 in 350 Remington Magnum

Remington M 700 in 270 or 30-06

Winchester M70 (pre ‘64) in almost anything.

Ruger Blackhawk
Ruger Mark X
Ruger Single Six
S&W Model 17
S&W model 14
Colt 1911
High Standard Victor
Luger P08
Winchester 94
Mossberg 500

Not in any particular order. If your "collection" is lacking any of these you are a mere "accumulator".

Just my opinion, and based solely upon the requisite of 10.

All good, but the Marlin 39A in .22LR, earlier the better, may be in contention for a standard utility-type gun. They just shoot where you point 'em.

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Waiting For The Sun.

What is scary about your list is that I either have now or have owned an example of every gun except the Browning A5 and Colt SAA. Eight out of ten ain't too bad.

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Bill

Let's look at the military long guns:

1) Tower Brown Bess

2) Charleville

3) Harper's Ferry M-1846

4) 1860 Springfield

5) any or every model Trapdoor Springfield

6) Krieg-Jorgensen (any nation!)

7)98 or k98 Mauser any caliber any nation.

8) 1903 Springfield 30-03 or 30-06 models

9) M-1 Garand

10) SKS

Ivan

This 10 is what I think of as iconic working man's guns:

M1 Garand 30-06
Colt SAA 45 Colt, 32-20 WCF
Colt 1911 45 ACP
S&W M16, M17, M27 .32mag, .22lr, .357mag
Browning HP 9mm
Ruger Blackhawk 44 Mag
Ruger MK II .22lr
Luger P08, P38 9mm
Hi Standard .22lr

Or I could list 10 Revolvers.

Prescut

The listed guns so far were mostly handguns.

IMO, there should be some long guns.

At least one center fire bolt action hunting rifle. I'd say either a 30-06 or a 308.

A shotgun. Could be over-under, a pump, or a semi-auto. Perhaps one that comes with two barrels - long barrel for birds or trap, and a short one for home defense.

Some kind of lever. Say pistol caliber, 357 or 44, or a 30-30.

A 22lr or 22mag or both.

Probably an AR unless you live in CA. Here owning an AR is more hassle than it's worth.

The modern ten essentials:

1: an AR-15
2: a polymer frame high capacity 9 mm handgun
3: a K frame .357 S&W revolver
4: a .22LR revolver
5: a pocket semiautomatic pistol, caliber .380 or less
6: a J frame .38 SPL S&W revolver
7. a 1911 style .45 ACP pistol
8. a 12 gauge shoulder stock riot gun
9. a bolt action .308 rifle
10. a lever action rifle, caliber of choice, from .22LR to .45-70

That is all . . .

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Wisdom comes thru fear . . .

I agree with every list for what they are my add-ons are
Savage 99
Pre 64 30-30
S&W 66
Marlin 60
R.E.M. 870
Windham Weaponry
AR

Let's see/// My 10 would be:
AR15
10/22 Ruger
20 ga 870 with 2 barrels
M66 2 1/2 in
Ruger Blackhawk .357
M 57 or 625
22 pistol Browning or Ruger
1911 pistol
Need to add
9mm high capacity
38/.357 lever gun.
Those are my 10. Best overall as follows:

1911 Colt .45
A-5 Browning 16 ga
870 Wingmaster 12 ga
10/22 Ruger
Winchester 94 30-30
S&W 19 or 66
S&W 29
Ruger Mark II
Browning Citori 20 ga
Bolt action .308

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Super Snooper

Your post reminds me of an old saying from years ago:

Ain’t much in life that can’t be fixed,
With a thousand dollars, or a thirty-ought-six.

Your dad was pretty much on the mark.

I just commented on another thread how cool it is that everyone has their own goals for a collection. My goal, as far as revolvers go, is one example each of every S&W magnum model, and the caveat is they are all pinned and recessed, so all pre-1982 guns. I still have several to go and don't know if or when I'll ever complete my choices. I have eight so far:
M19-3 4" (1974)
M27-2 6" (1977)
M28-2 6" (1973)
M29-2 6" nickel (1979)
M48-4 6" (1981)
M57 6" (1968, S)
M58 4" (1967, S)
M66-1 2-1/2" (1980)

Still to add would be a M13, M65, and M520. Then there is a J frame, but I'd be happy with the K and N frame models

It's hard to limit collections, once you get what you were initially after, you tend to expand what you're looking for, or go off on a tangent with another type.

I have a small collection of side-by-side shotguns; nothing really high-dollar and fancy, but I feel rather unique. They are all three Savage/Fox Model B shotguns, all are double trigger. One in 12 gauge, one in 16 gauge and one in 20 gauge. I'd still like to find a nice one in .410 bore, but it would be as expensive as the other three combined.

I also like 1911 pistols as well as revolvers. I have only three, but all in different calibers. 9mm, 10mm, and .45 Auto. I'd like to add a .38 Super to them.

Not as keen on rifle collections, I would rather select them for looks, rarity, or uniqueness, or just because I think it's cool to have one. I only have four rifles (other than .22RF). A Springfield M1A Loaded, a self-built AR M4 300 BLK, a self-built AR 6.5 Grendel long-range rifle, and a 1932 Tula-built Mosin -Nagant 91/30.

- Ruger Security Six 4 inch

- Remington Nylon 66

- 1911 Commander in 9mm

- S&W 15

- Remington 870 Wingmaster

- Walther PPK

- Ruger Redhawk 5.5 inch

- Weatherby MK5 Deluxe

- Sig P220

- Ruger LCR or S&W J Frame

….. those were the first 10 that came to mind as a good variety so I’ll stick with ‘em until I change my mind!

1. Marlin 39A
2. Ruger 10/22
3. Marlin or Winchester .30/30
4. S & W K Frame .38/.357
5. 1911 .45ACP
6. S & W .22 Revolver
7. S & W J Frame .38 Special, 2 1/8” Barrel.
8. Any Make, .270 Winchester Bolt-Action
9. Winchester Model 37 Single-Shot 20 ga. Shotgun
10. Remington or Mossberg Pump 12 ga.

I won’t bother with thinking of ten but somewhere on my list there would have to be a Weatherby Mark V, probably a .300, and some type of Browning over-under.

- Colt Peacemaker .45 Colt
- 1873 Winchester SRC 44-40
- Luger 9mm
- Colt 1911 .45 ACP
- Ruger Blackhawk .357 Magnum
- S&W Registered Magnum .357 Magnum
- S&W .44 Magnum
- M1928 Browning BAR .30-06
- Thompson SMG .45 ACP
- M1 Garand .30-06

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Terry Lester

Don’t think I could narrow it down to 10. There are way more. I’d say it would be easy to name 100 classics that belong on that list.

Well, I didn't think coming up with the ten guns that should be in every collection would be all that hard... until I started building the list. How do you limit it to only ten?

So I took a shot at it and here's what I came up with... for now. I might change my mind on one or three of these tomorrow or an hour from now.

1. S&W Model 29, 6.5"
2. S&W Model 41, 5.5"
3. Ruger 10/22 Sporter
4. Winchester Model 9422-M XTR .22 Magnum
5. Winchester Model 70 Featherweight 30-06
6. AR15 5.56 x 45mm
7. 1911 45ACP (brand TBD)
8. Browning Hi-Power 9mm
9. 12 Gauge Over/Under (brand/model TBD)
10. Colt Python Royal Blue 6"

10 is not enough! Can you really expect to be happy with only 10? One or more of every caliber sounds better.

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Hue 68 noli me tangere

I wouldn't want to hurt the feelings of the other 40.

Ooh! I love doing these! Here is what I think everyone should have in their collection:

1. Gold Plated Jennings .380
2. Arrizabalaga double with heavy scrollwork
3. Whitney Wolverine
3. Hi Point C9 "Yeet Cannon"
4. BSA Martini International
5. 20mm Lahti
6. Turbiaux Le Protector - AKA the Palm Pistol
7. Some sort of fancy wheellock - any maker, but the fancier the better
8. A sporterized Mosin Nagant
9. Ithaca Auto-Burglar
10. Since this is a S&W forum, a Model 31.

I'm telling ya, my collection is going to be the BEST...


(in truth, there are a lot of good replies already, and as absurd as this list is, it also isn't far from things that I like. I have a few of these, I would like to have a few of the others....)

Geez, I'm going to need several more safes for all these listed!

I know where one of these is and I've seen it. It's from Finland and mounted on skis so the reindeer can pull it.

Lestert357, Thanks for including the Thompson! That put a smile on my face. My uncle spent a few months early on during WWII assembling Thompsons at the Savage plant in Utica. I wish he could have snuck one out in his lunchbox. LOL.

I sort of got hung up with the Model 10.

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Mike
S&WCA #3065

Honestly, you probably don't need 10.

a .22 revolver for training, plinking, target shooting or varmits , either a S&W 63 or S&W 617 based on personnel preference. I like prelock. While I love my Colt woodsman and I respect the Ruger Standard model in it's various Marks, but semi autos can be ammo sensitive. Additionally, the lower quality rimfire ammo dosen't always go boom. The revovlers double action is a plus in dealing with that issue with the minimum of extra manipulations.

A K or L frame .357 revolver. It's the ulitmate general purpose handgun. You could load it with .38 spc target loads for target shooting, plinking, limited competition. A good .38+P or appropriate .357 load will function fine as a self defense round against unarmored two legged threats. A heavier .357 magnum round will give adequate protection against 4 legged threats and can be used for handgun hunting. Yes, you do sacrifice capacity, however, the relevance of capacity will vary based on your environment and mission. While a an L or K frame isn't the most concealable weapon, I've CCWed both in NY without issue (4" 686, 2" 64). Granted I used bulky cover garments and had to pick the right holster and belt combo, but I was never spotted or called out.

Alternatively, if capacity is required for your environment or mission I'd go for a double stack semi auto like a Glock 19, S&W M&P, SIG P320, etc. I am not as confident in 9mm against 4 legged threats and wouldn't hunt with one, but YMMV. Against humans, the 9mm has a known track record and I'm confident it can do the job. You could also go .45,.40 or .357 based on personal analysis.

So that's two so far. Lets look at long guns

a .22 long rifle. Bolt, semi or pump. It'll do targets or varmints and it's just plain fun.

A shotgun, pump or semi auto. 12 gauge can be used for defense, hunting, target shooting, trap and clays, etc. Yes, you might have to change barrels, loads and chokes, but that beats carrying multiple long guns. You again sacrifice capacity, but gain versatility. Also, you gain recoil along the energy and terminal ballistics.

If you are worried about capacity, a good AR is the way to go. You can gain some versatility with different uppers or calibers, but you might get some interesting looks if you try bird hunting with it. you could add a .22 upper and eliminate the separate .22 rifle.

A centerfire hunting rifle, bolt or Semi in an appropriate caliber for your area. It'll put meat in the fridge.

1) Magazine fed semi-auto rifle. The more in circulation the harder to argue unusual


2) 12 gauge self-defense pump shotgun


3) Pre-WW2 revolver


4) 1911


5) Something in nickel chambered in .357 Magnum


6) Pocket revolver


7) Bolt action rifle


8) Double barrel shotgun


9) Single barrel trap gun


10) pre-64 Winchester

__________________
Buy American
Vote Responsibly

I've told this story before. I was there and remember how hilarious this was.

One of my clubs has a Wednesday night .22 league target match series that a lady member of the club has been running for a number of years. We were somehow talking about gun acqusition while all of us were gathered at the firing line before the match. In the course of the discussion she said, "I have 20 handguns."

In perfect unison, every guy there, including me, said "ONLY 20?"

Bolt action long gun in .30-06
Lever action rifle in .357 or .41 Rem Mag
Semi-auto or bolt action long gun in .223/5.56
Ruger 10/22 Mannlicher stock (they just look cool)
Marlin Model 57M
Any reliable make 1911 .45 auto
S&W Model 19, 6+"barrel .38 spl/.357
S&W Model 57 .41 Rem Mag
Browning A5 12G or 16G field bbl and rifled bbl for slugs or Winchester 1897 in 16G.

All subject to change at a whim.

PS: If you carry slugs in your pocket, keep them in a plastic bag, inside a second plastic bag, so you don't get any of their slime in your pocket.

I’ll play.

Here is my wish list:
1. Manurhin MR73
2. SIG P210-2 (Neuhausen)
3. S&W 17
4. Ruger Mk IV
5. Glock 19
6. M4 (5.56)
7. A .308 bolt with 18 -19 inch barrel (Scout or similar)
8. Colt 1911 .45
9. Browning Hi-Power
10. Glock 26
11. SIG P226
12. Beretta M9
13. S&W 642
14. Glock 43x
15. Glock 48

I like the way you think. This is the only list I've seen that I have every single one of, except my pocket gun is a 9mm Kahr CM9(close enough) and my bolt action is 260Rem.

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What could possibly go wrong?

Sorry, can't do it! Maybe the "top 10" revolvers that belong in a collection, or the top 10 pistols, top 10 milsurps, you get the picture.

What I can do is list the top 10 guns in my collection:

1. S&W Registered Magnum
2. Pre-war Colt Super .38
3. Martz .45 Luger
4. Ruger Mk. 1 Bull Barrel (my first pistol)
5. Ruger 10/22 (first firearm I ever bought)
6. S&W 27-1, 3.5" bbl
7. S&W 29-3, 4" bbl
8. Pre-war Colt Woodsman
9. Colt Goverment Model .45
10. S&W 66-3, 2.5" bbl
11. Clark Long Heavy Slide .45
12. uhhh....nope, can't do that either! I'm DQ, sorry!

I'm going to stick to Top 10 Handguns for the Collector/Accumulator. I'm a bit more of a modern Collector with more of a focus on Military and Police theme. This is in no particular order:-

1. S&W Model 27
2. S&W Model 29
3. S&W Model 19/66
4. S&W Model 36 or Colt Detective Special
5. Browning HP
6. Colt 1911 or clone
7. Glock 17 or similar
8. Sig P226/228/229
9. Beretta 92
10. Colt Python .357mag

Not to “ upset the apple cart” , but I suggest 10 pistols/ revolvers and 10 rifles/ shotguns.
Mdl.36
Mdl 49
Mdl 10 or 11
Mdl 19
Mdl 17
Mdl 27, 28, 29
Mdl 25 either or Both
1911, 1911 a1
Det. Spcl., Agent, Cobra
Series 70 1911
Browning Hi Power
Ruger black hawk
Ruger single six
Colt woodsman
Ruger Mk II
Rats, cant count!
Rifles/ shotguns
Win. 94
Win. Mdl 70
Ruger American ( 6.5 Creedmore)
Browning BAR
Springfield or RIA 1903
M-1 Garand
.30 Carbine
Rem. 870
Ithaca 37
Browning auto
Ruger 10/22
Win. or Rem. .22 Rf target
AR-15
AR-10
Ruger No. 1 in any caliber
Wll, still cant count!,LOL

Rimfire bolt rifle, Anschütz 1423

Single shoot .22 l.r., Weihrauch HW52

or the Anschütz G33 surplus rifle

Rimfire pistol, Hämmerli 212

Rimfire revolver, Korth Sport

Semi Auto rifle, AR carbine

9mm pistol, P210-4

.222 bolt gun, Sako Vixen

Shotgun, I can do without the Merkel and prefer my Remington 870

1911, a 9mm Nowlin Challenger that is smooth!


...and the gun that I carry everyday

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FFL08

I was waiting to find a list where I didn't have to buy anything. Mission accomplished.

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Because of the metric system?

That was my purpose in creating that one, but I also am starting to envision my inevitable future liquidation, and trying to determine which ten firearms will be left for my heirs to deal with. There's the list . . .

(Edit: Also, with some real effort, you can find all ten with a Smith and Wesson logo. But it won't be cheap . . .)

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Wisdom comes thru fear . . .

Boykinlp,
I made some changes to your list, but I live in a western state and I hunt!

1. S&W 629-4 .44 (long tube)
2. S&W 66 or 67 (no dash)
3. Winchester 70 (in 270)
4. Colt 1911 .45 ACP
5. Remington Model 700 (in 7mm)
6. Winchester Model 94
7. Remington 1100 or 870 wingmaster (one from the 70's)
8. Ruger Mark II, III or a IV
9. Ruger 10/22
10. AR 15 in 5.56
11. S&W 686 (no dash or a dash 4) OK that's 11.

Everyone will have there own "Top 10."

Some I've seen listed are impossible for everyone to have in a collection; such as the Registered Magnum..... there are only about 5500 built and many are lost to history. Same with something like a 3 inch 66 or PC auto from the 90s.

All that said;

S&W Model 28.... the ultimate S&W Classic Revolver.... mine is a 4"
Colt 1911........... 5" Govt. Model
9mm Browning Hi-Power..... for me the Mark II for the sights and safety
Beretta 92..... for me it would be the Elite II. 20 years of upgrades
Walther PPK.... everyone has seen one in a James Bond film

IMO these cover the iconic handguns of the 20th Century that I grew up with and wanting.

.22 Bolt rifle...... make mine a CZ 452FS/mannlicher
Shotgun........... Got to have one.
AR.................... Iconic and an America's Adult Lego!
Centerfire rifle capable of taking a deer. Mine is a Ruger International in .243.

Got to have a.......
9mm for concealed carry make mine a 3913NL or Shorty-9
would be hard to give up my 3" 66s
CZ 452FS in .22 mag.
CZ 527FS in .223
Winchester .357 Trapper..................
S&W 68x .357
S&W 19 and 66.... 4 inch

and the list goes on and on and on...... like potato chips can't eat/accumulate just 10!!!!


Edit: how could I have forgotten;
Models 36 and 60
Models 17 and 18......................

Edit: 10 guns..... is a number more suited to "minimalist what do I need to get by" list!!!!!!

I could not narrow my choices down to 10. So I chose 101 - read the book to see those guns in great detail! I wrote the book for folks who appreciate true classics... Hope you will find it helpful!

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

Like the title says...I like all the above lists (and John's book too).

Actually wish I has some pics of way back when I was deeply into Colt's and Mil surps (gone are some real nice Pythons, OMM's, WWI and WWII 1911's, 1903 A3's, Garands,) but alas around my place we seldom get them all out at a time.

Pics are from several years ago, probably around Thanksgiving, when family comes home for visits and we like to hit the range, so everyone chooses weapon and caliber, and we head out for some fun family time.

Some of those pictured are gone now, replaced by new additions, but in keeping with the idea of the original post, I'd be hard pressed to just keep 10 if I had to; the Garand and the Ithaca 1911A1 for sure, the Winny 94 (30-30), and Ithaca M37,
S&W Mod 39, BHP, S&W K22 Masterpiece, Mod 25, Mod 10, Mod 66....but nah.....I'll keep them all....never was any good at cutting out those doggies.

Attached Images

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	collection 3.jpg (101.9 KB, 27 views)
	collection 4.jpg (55.5 KB, 26 views)

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Charlie B
SWCA#3083, SWHF#570

What? No love for Swedish Mausers?

Attached Images

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	1901 m94 14 w m1914 bayonet (2).jpg (227.7 KB, 595 views)

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LIVE FROM THE DAWGHOUSE

1. Field shotgun
2. Center-fire bolt action rifle
3. Rimfire rifle
4. Rimfire pistol
5. Rimfire revolver
6. CCW pistol
7. CCW revolver
8. Home defense/range pistol
9. Range/home defense revolver
10. Semi-auto center-fire rifle
*** Dang gone it - I ran out of numbers ***
Sentimental keepsake, collector's choice, guilty pleasure, etc.

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M&PC FS BG Shield+ 642 686+

Good lists above. Interesting to see the interpretations of “collection” between collectors and “users”, for lack of a better term.

A reliable .22 handgun; ditto on a rifle; a 9 mm compact to full size; a .357 to .44 revolver; a 5.56 mm and a medium bore AR; and a 12 gauge pump or semi-auto shotgun. Don’t get me started on only ten collecting guns.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

How many 22's does one man with 4 kids and 8 grand kids need? I'm getting close to a rifle each for the right handers, but for the leftists I haven't found one. The only lefthanded son traded into one about 25 years ago.

With the terms "Minimalist" And "Trim down to" Being bandied about, is this about to become a "If I could have 10 guns thread?"

I think those treads are interesting and a good way of planning ahead! However, you list (s) should include possible political factors, like state restrictions and possible bans.

If I may suggest, for high cap pistols, have a low cap substitute ready. For "Assault" weapons have non Tact-i-cool substitute and the same for shotguns, grenade launchers, and crew served weapons!

To keep it to 10 total, and the least socially threatening and I won't have to buy anything:

1 & 2) Marlin Camp 45 and a 1911 in 45 ACP

3 & 4) Rossi 92 and S&W 686 4" in 357.

5 & 6) Savage 24C 22/20 ga and a S&W 17-3

7) Browning Citori 28" 725 20 ga.

8) Browning 1886 45-70

9) Savage 11 target 223 (single shot)

10) S&W 49 no dash 38 special (Just have to have a pocket gun!)

I have kept ammo to 45 ACP, 22 LR. 20 gauge, 38/357, 223, & 45-70. and only 1911 mags. I have kept both logistics and reloading to a minimum!

Ivan