Curious how everyone here designed their collection.

[vplaza96]

Many many many moons ago....I started with a S&W 5906, followed shortly with a 1006, and then a 629. The theme was S&W.

Fast forward light years later, I started my striker fired journey with a Springfield Armory XD9, followed by an XD Subcompact, another XD9 and an XDM Elite 3.8. Somewhere along the way, picked up an off-roster S&W M&P 2.0 10mm to feed my need for a striker fired 10mm. A Walther P22 somehow joined the stable.

I recently added an Echelon 4.0C and now a PDP Compact.

At different times on the journey, I sold the 629 (still regret that), one of the XD9s and the XD Subcompact, and the 5906.

Maybe the only 'theme' I have is I like SA, S&W, and Walther.

 

[FonzV88]

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?

Just bought what I liked when I had money. Then when I didn't have money I just sold what could be sold lol.

 

[Trapper]

Started shooting in the mid 1970 shot my first S&W 63 revolver in the “80s and became an instant fan. Saved up a couple pay checks and spent $275 on my first centerfire revolver, a pined and recessed S&W 19. During my early years in the Military I started shooting pistol competitions which lead me to 1911s and reloading. Spent time shooting and competing with everything from ARs to archery. It was more about good times with friends than serious competition. Over the past 10 years or so, I’ve focused more on hunting rifles, picked up a couple nice shotguns, and have continued collecting S&W revolvers.

 

[cytoplast]

My very first firearm was kind of a dumb one, a Glock 29. My thought process was "if I'm limited by magazine size, why not go for something that hits hard?" and "I want to be able to conceal it as much as possible". That sort of mentality also went as far as my first rifle, an LR .308. Then I fell into the "gotta cover all bases" mentality and I got a shotgun and a .22lr.

My collection "theme" really started after a buddy of mine let me have a go at his MAK-90. I absolutely loved shooting that thing and I really fell for the Combloc stuff. I have yet to buy an AR-15 because of that. I've gotten my fair share of AKs, parts kits, and random soviet surplus gear throughout the years.

I've also been interested in picking up a FAL and a G3/CETME, but they've never really given me that "itch" that a AK-pattern rifle does.

I love my MAK90 - the trigger is phenomenal. I like it so much I actually sent it off to Wright Armory for an NT7+ finish. I also have a soft spot for FALs—they’re heavy by today's standards, but easily some of the best-looking rifles around. Don't forget about Kali-9s, they are worth a look.

While I've been downsizing my collection lately to save my wife the hassle of handling it in the future, there are a few pieces I simply can't part with. They still bring me genuine joy just sitting in the safe.

Pics of my FN FAL, Israeli Heavy Barrel FAL, and Kali-9 for your viewing pleasure.

 

[mindwreck]

Variety is the spice of life. helps that i reload so caliber is no issue. WW1/2, prewar. multi-calibers of popular platforms. bolt actions, revolvers, levers. obselete to 22 plinkers to hand cannons.

More recently its been a lot of c&r and classics.

 

[HatTopGaming]

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.

Nice. I’m a blackjack kinda guy too but I also double on 12’s and 13’s 90% of the time regardless of what the dealer has lol. Most of my big hits actually come from things like tennis, betting via kalshi. I work nights which is usually when matches are going so I have ample time to keep an eye on the games and how thier going

 

[Yetiultimate]

I buy using the formula N+1, and follow my mood. Milsurps this month, revolvers last month, Sig P series next month? I buy it, shoot it, and if I hate it, sell it to buy the next thing that interests me. This leads to a problem though...now I load for 27 different calibers and that becomes a collection in itself.

 

[PlinkyDinky]

N+1

Math is hard!

 

[D.A.V.I.D.]

I definitely don't collect anymore If it sit's in the safe and isn't getting shot it's getting sold. When I first got into guns the collection got out of hand with a lot of novelty guns. Once I really got into shooting and not just collecting I realized how dumb a lot of them were and cleared out a lot of the collection. Have a few .22lr guns, a few rifles, a few shotguns, a few carry / bedside guns and a few 2011's.

 

[kimbles]

I used to play a lot of counter-strike in my younger years, I think it left a lasting impression on my firearm choices lol.

 

[Deadcoyote]

I used to play a lot of counter-strike in my younger years, I think it left a lasting impression on my firearm choices lol.

This ties directly into my theory related to I owned a CZ 75 going back to like the year 2000. For years when I showed it to people, like actual gun people, they were baffled and hadn’t heard of them. Then the gun was featured in call of duty black ops and CZ exploded.

 

[HibikiR]

Part brief history of various nations (excluding 1940s Germany save for a couple of pieces) and part personal interest in what looks like fun.

 

[kimbles]

This ties directly into my theory related to I owned a CZ 75 going back to like the year 2000. For years when I showed it to people, like actual gun people, they were baffled and hadn’t heard of them. Then the gun was featured in call of duty black ops and CZ exploded.

I don't even remember how I started to look into the CZ 75 before purchasing one, but I think black ops was probably one of the things that introduced me to the gun lol.

 

[H1LcStB3r]

My collection is all over the place. 686, Beretta 92FS and Ruger P89 are classics. The Glocks can be considered modern (polymer and striker-fired) and classic (we can’t buy them new after this month, unless Gen6 actually makes it on the roster). Others I buy because they’re reliable, even if not particularly exciting to shoot (Glocks and M&P 2.0), or are pleasant to shoot (Px4).

 

[ChallengerScatPackClub]

In the beginning I acquired anything and everything, especially if it was a good deal.

Once the ammo laws started to set in, I consolidated calibers. 9mm, 22lr, 5.56/.223, .308. Had a nice collection of 9mm revolvers, and still a crap ton of 9mm pistols.

Then I traded 3 guns for an STI Tac 4.0…. Game over! Since then it’s 2011 or nothing. Only non-2011 pistol I own now is my EDC P365. Every time I think I want to try something new, I head to the gun shop to just realize nothing else interests me.

So true. Once you own and shoot 2011’s everything else seems so similar and boring. Except old school guns like 1911s, revolvers or 90’s S&W 3rd gens. Now those are and will always be cool.

 

[chiroken007]

So true. Once you own and shoot 2011’s everything else seems so similar and boring. Except old school guns like 1911s, revolvers or 90’s S&W 3rd gens. Now those are and will always be cool.

I didn’t even know about those 3rd gen SW until I looked them up from this post. WTF they stop producing those for!!! I need one now

 

[HarleyLowRiderST]

My journey started as beginning to prep. That turned into buying a bunch of one off looked cool had to haves. That escalated into more until I had too many calibers.

I’ve gone full circle now and and sold off all my one offs, and now all my handguns are Glock 9mm, all my shotguns are 12 gauge, and all my rifles are .556 or 9mm PCC and all those PCCs take my Glock 9mm mags.

I do have one fun lever gun in .357 and my conceal carry Sig P365X just because it conceals so well.

 

[grandpapeepap]

My journey started as beginning to prep. That turned into buying a bunch of one off looked cool had to haves. That escalated into more until I had too many calibers.

I’ve gone full circle now and and sold off all my one offs, and now all my handguns are Glock 9mm, all my shotguns are 12 gauge, and all my rifles are .556 or 9mm PCC and all those PCCs take my Glock 9mm mags.

I do have one fun lever gun in .357 and my conceal carry Sig P365X just because it conceals so well.

some of the most fun i have is with my .357 lever gun and 44mag lever gun

 

[Deadcoyote]

I didn’t even know about those 3rd gen SW until I looked them up from this post. WTF they stop producing those for!!! I need one now

my first three duty weapons were SW model 19, Glock 22, then SW 6906. While some don’t care for them i will objectively admit the super light single action trigger pull combined with the really clean and short sear reset on the 3rd gen smith triggers meant your split times were amazing, accuracy was good, and you could dump a mag super fast.

 

[weaverftw]

I’ll echo others in that my general philosophy has become:

1. Likey?
2. Buy-y
3. Deal with repercussions-y

I started with the “practical” advice to have a good HD pistol, .22lr, shotgun, AR. But now it’s mostly pistols and whatever happens to strike my fancy. I sold one for the first time ever recently because I got a replacement that was nearly the same but a slight upgrade. I don’t think I’ll sell any more… especially not knowing how CA laws will evolve it’s better to just keep what you have and add to the collection