Curious how everyone here designed their collection.

[WWJMBD]

What are the five greatest handguns of all time? I’ll tell you.
1. 1911
2. 1911
3. 1911
4. 1911
5. 1911

I’m interested in pretty much anything designed by JM Browning.

To a lesser extent, wood and steel era service pistols.

Pre-AR service rifles.

I’d like to get into (very) long range shooting when I have more time and money to put into it.

 

[GunZKK]

I usually gravitate to Europeean made firearms, German SIGs, CZs, HKs, Beretta...etc. I do also enjoy older American made stuff like JM Marlin levers, 3rd Gen Smiths, Python etc..main theme is quality.

 

[HatTopGaming]

I’m what folks refer to as the variety shooter. I started with a 9mm compact then got 2 revolvers in 22lr but sold one shortly there after to a friend. Got a 12g shotgun and a 380 pocket pistol. And this week I just bought a 38 special revolver and another 9mm.

And yes everytime I go to the range I take everything with me and shoot all of them from smallest to biggest caliber

 

[Darqhelmet]

huh, that’s interesting to me. buy. I had a decade out of state so it was easier to do. Trading was meet person hand off gun walk away. buying was I want that, 4473, walk out. Really let me burn through a lot of different guns rapidly and get the bug under control.

 

[HatTopGaming]

huh, that’s interesting to me. buy. I had a decade out of state so it was easier to do. Trading was meet person hand off gun walk away. buying was I want that, 4473, walk out. Really let me burn through a lot of different guns rapidly and get the bug under control.

I’m a big gambler and recently started making big wins and now that I was legally cleared to buy firearms and had the surplus money I just got it into. Kept winning big so I Kept buying more

 

[Colt Collector]

I’m a big gambler and recently started making big wins and now that I was legally cleared to buy firearms and had the surplus money I just got it into. Kept winning big so I Kept buying more

Poker, Sports, Slots, Blackjack? The good thing about buying guns with your winnings is you can sell them when you're losing. I like playing Blackjack and even though I play by the book and look for when the deck is loaded with 10's, the house still has the advantage and will get me in the long run. But I had a great run in Vegas last week and stopped at Route 66 to purchase a Fusion XP Pro Comp on the way home.

 

[grandpapeepap]

win some lose some, all the same to me. gambling is fun

 

[Gawernator]

I’m a big gambler and recently started making big wins and now that I was legally cleared to buy firearms and had the surplus money I just got it into. Kept winning big so I Kept buying more

Sure thing Cheems

 

[Jyang010]

Sporting firearms

 

[joefrank64k]

No rhyme or reason to my collection (more like a pile, haha!!), but I do favor the ‘oddball’!!

Oldest: ~1888 (SA Trapdoor and a Dutch Beaumont)
Newest: 2026 (S&W BG 2.0)

Calibers: .17 WSM to .458 Win Mag + .410 to 12 gauge + some black powder stuff

Platforms: All of them?? Haha!! Modern + C&R + antiques

 

[esv_joker]

Not asking how many guns you own, but what the overall theme or goal of your collection is. Did you build it around a specific purpose, historical period, manufacturer, military clones, competition guns, carry guns, movie guns, hunting, collecting rare pieces, or something else?

For me, I've kind of built my collection around some of the most recognizable and iconic firearms. A lot of them are guns that became famous through movies, TV, video games, or just being well-known in gun culture. I've also tried to pick up at least one firearm from many of the major manufacturers that are household names in the firearms world.

I seem to gravitate toward Smith & Wesson and SIG Sauer products the most, but I like having a variety rather than focusing on a single brand.

What was your strategy when building your collection? Was there a theme from the beginning, or did it just evolve over time?

I sort of went down the rabbit hole, buying whatever interested me, and over time realized I couldn't manage so many different firearms, including some collectibles like a Beretta Jetfire or an M1 Carbine. I began downsizing, selling whatever I lost attachment to and reducing it to pews chambered in the ammunition I could manage and stock. As of now, I only have guns chambered in 9mm, 5.56, .308, and 12 Gauge. Basic, I know, but I wanted to keep it simple. Now, I just keep whatever compliments each other and try to actively stick to them. Upgrade and refine over hoarding. I will admit it's hard, especially when I see something unique or that looks cool. I'll definitely expand more over time, but it's hard with all these damn Excise taxes and other CA BS. All things considered, I love my simple collection.

 

[Deadcoyote]

It’s all dependent on life circumstances, income etc. When I was a teen and young adult I bought tons of C&R rifles. Loved to shoot a lot, they were cheap, ammo was cheap. I even killed multiple deer with a Mosin and a .303 enfield. Had some nice vintage 22’s and shot competitive small bore for a fair number of years.

Got married, had kids, wasn’t really conducive to having 75 rifles in a closet. Had to buy a carbine for work, liked it, got into ARs a lot. Stopped hunting due to work obligations and raising kids. Shot USPSA a lot for years and tried multiple pistols in that range.

Got older, taking kids hunting, more specific actual hunting rifles. Kids hunt, now one going to college. Im going full old man and looking at M1A’s etc.

 

[joefrank64k]

I sort of went down the rabbit hole, buying whatever interested me, and over time realized I couldn't manage so many different firearms, including some collectibles like a Beretta Jetfire or an M1 Carbine. I began downsizing, selling whatever I lost attachment to and reducing it to pews chambered in the ammunition I could manage and stock. As of now, I only have guns chambered in 9mm, 5.56, .308, and 12 Gauge. Basic, I know, but I wanted to keep it simple. Now, I just keep whatever compliments each other and try to actively stick to them. Upgrade and refine over hoarding. I will admit it's hard, especially when I see something unique or that looks cool. I'll definitely expand more over time, but it's hard with all these damn Excise taxes and other CA BS. All things considered, I love my simple collection.

This is what I’d like to achieve, haha!! Having a pile is cool, but there’s no deep enjoyment for a lot of them and, for me at least, no time to get to them all.

I recently moved (still in CA) and can now shoot on my property. Over the next year, I’m going to actively note which firearms I actually use/enjoy day-to-day on my home range. After that, the unused items will get sent to Mt McCoy for auction.

At least that’s today’s plan, haha!!

 

[tedster]

Revolvers (2)
1911s (2)
Lever Action Rifles (2)
Single Shot Rifle (1)

This is the most current layout of my "collection design"

My revolvers are a mainstay, so are the 1911s
The Lever action rifles are new to me since I moved away from semi-auto & bolt action.
The single shot rifle will be a new experience, simplicity rules!

 

[thrivngonchaos]

IF or WHEN went real sideways, what are the most common rounds to come across. then i bought the fire arms that i think are cool based on that.

 

[JackRydden224]

For the last two years it's been CCW guns. If I can't carry it then I have no need for it. This has lead to an overall downsizing (physically) of my pistols. Small and might is the way.

 

[Colt Collector]

I started out buying a lot of guns. I was trying to figure out what fit me (left handed, smaller hands). Now I try to get value for the price and stay with the same magazines. I had 4 Staccatos but sold them all because even though they shot well I didn't like them as much as my less expensive cajunized Shadow 2's (I have 4 ). Now I pretty much try to buy new pistols that use CZ or Glock mags. Hopefully Shot Show 27 doesn't make a liar out of me.

 

[tonkabean]

HK hammer guns, and Geissele and Larue crossbreed AR15s...

 

[Wolkenflieger]

I started out buying a lot of guns. I was trying to figure out what fit me (left handed, smaller hands). Now I try to get value for the price and stay with the same magazines. I had 4 Staccatos but sold them all because even though they shot well I didn't like them as much as my less expensive cajunized Shadow 2's (I have 4 ). Now I pretty much try to buy new pistols that use CZ or Glock mags. Hopefully Shot Show 27 doesn't make a liar out of me.

Mag compatibility is a good metric. I kinda do the same, and I'll modify guns/mags if I can to maximize compatibility; like changing the mag release in the A-01 to accept CZ 75 mags, or changing to thin baseplates in CZ 75 Compact mags to fit the DWXc.

 

[john_marsten_1873]

Primarily around cross-platform practicality (defense, hunting…) and few pieces for competition and hobby (big bore stuff is cool).

I want to be proficient among the most common handgun actions (striker, DA/SA, SAO, revolver) and long-guns (carbine, shotgun, PRS).

Never anything too light or modded for training and aim for firearms with good reputations for ruggedness.

Still missing for practical:
- bolt-action PRS
- revolver
- semi-auto shotgun

Hobby Wishlist:
- high-end 2011
- high-end 1911
- DIY 2011
- big-bore lever-action
- 500 S&W revolver

Training Wishlist
- 22LR PRS