Guns you use and guns you own

[Alan]

I actually use maybe five guns regularly. But I own way more than that. The rest are just because I wanted them, not needed them. There's what you actually shoot and then there's the whole collection. What's your "actually use" number compared to your total number?

 

[two-bit cowboy]

Howdy, Alan,

I can interpret your term "use" in several different ways so I truly "use" 100 percent of my collection.

Applying the way you might intend the term to be interpreted, I "use" (shoot) about five percent of the herd.

 

[Wind River]

I’m utilitarian and minimalist. I try to keep it simple. If I’m not using it, down the road it goes. I’ve had some beautiful high-end rifles and shotguns. I found I didn’t use them for fear of marring their beauty so, all are gone.
I seldom have more than 6-8 guns total. I probably shoot the Varminters the most in rifles. One big game rifle that gets used most years. I have a couple of shotguns, a 12 and a 20, that I hunt with but are mostly used to shoot clays. A 22 for the grandkids to shoot when they come around. One 10mm pistol that, depending on where I’m going, I pack for bears.

 

[Wind River]

I meant to mention that I also use an AR15. I ever cared for the AR but an accurate one does make a good varminter. These are so utilitarian that they’re downright ugly, all the warmth, looks and feel of a scalpel. But, useful.

 

[Alan]

Howdy, Alan,

I can interpret your term "use" in several different ways so I truly "use" 100 percent of my collection.

Applying the way you might intend the term to be interpreted, I "use" (shoot) about five percent of the herd.

Fair point! “Use” definitely means different things. Five percent sounds about right for most collections, honestly.

 

[Alan]

I’m utilitarian and minimalist. I try to keep it simple. If I’m not using it, down the road it goes. I’ve had some beautiful high-end rifles and shotguns. I found I didn’t use them for fear of marring their beauty so, all are gone.
I seldom have more than 6-8 guns total. I probably shoot the Varminters the most in rifles. One big game rifle that gets used most years. I have a couple of shotguns, a 12 and a 20, that I hunt with but are mostly used to shoot clays. A 22 for the grandkids to shoot when they come around. One 10mm pistol that, depending on where I’m going, I pack for bears.

That’s discipline. I admire the restraint, especially letting beautiful guns go instead of babying them.

 

[Alan]

I meant to mention that I also use an AR15. I ever cared for the AR but an accurate one does make a good varminter. These are so utilitarian that they’re downright ugly, all the warmth, looks and feel of a scalpel. But, useful.

Brutal but accurate! ARs aren’t pretty, but they flat-out work when you need them.

 

[Wingmaster]

I actually shoot around 5% of my guns too. I'm a big fan of revolvers and have several. When I take one to the range it seems to almost always be my S&W K-38 Masterpiece. Then there's my big game rifle, a Model 70 in 6.5X55. For varmints I either use a bolt action .223 or 22-250 and for birds or clays either a 12 gauge Wingmaster or a SKB over/under.
Everything else doesn't get shot much.