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1903 Springfield with Lyman 2.5 Winchester model 12 heavy duck browning 22 auto

Only 3? That's a tough question, and could my 12 ga. 870 with 2 barrels count as one gun? One smoothbore & one fully rifled would be versatile. The other two could be the Marlin 30-30 for an all around, general purpose, centerfire rifle. Along with a .22LR chambered rimfire although right now I can't decide which one.

#1- a magnum centerfire rifle of at least .35 caliber…..light load cast for small game, eliminating the need for a 22 RF, and a fast jacketed or mono for everything else!

#2- a quality, 12 gauge pump with interchangeable barrels……one short for defense use, and a longer with interchangeable choke tubes

#3- a good strong, accurate revolver in 45 caliber…… except for the weight a S&W 460 XVR would be pretty nice. The cylinder is long enough to make shot shells that duplicate a 2 1/2” 410 shot shell (can accomplish some of what a 22 RF could do) and a couple of different cast bullets, from lightweight plinkers to stuff capable of anything on the planet. This combined, makes it a pretty versatile firearm! 🤔 memtb

For years mine were Rem 870 12ga Wingmaster, Ruger 10/22 , and Rem 700 in .270Win. I know this is all a person needs to hunt most game in North America, even though I will not travel far from home. Sometime along the way I thought I needed more, so I got more. But just because of want, not need....Joe

Remington 511x
Remington 870 LW 20
Remington 700 classic 6.5x55

Old school. Marlin 39 .22, Remington 12 gauge 870, and 98 Mauser chambered in 30-06 Springfield! I have been using these for years. The Marlin has been semi replaced with a 10-22. The ruger is lighter and shoots better. It's scoped where the Marlin is aperture and gold bead. No provisions for scoping the Marlin, without altering!

1990 vintage Rottweil 650 (made by Fratelli Gamba) 12 gauge O/U shotgun, 1984 vintage Ruger M77 .30-06, and a 1960s vintage Remington Nylon 66 .22RF. If you want to make it 4 guns, through in a 6” Ruger Security Six .357 Magnum.

Expat

Remington M11 20 gauge
Sako Hi Power 270 Winchester
Marlin 336 35 Remington

Good lord, these posts fill my soul with dread. It reminds me of my youth-savage 99 in .250 savage wearing a K4, westernfield 20 ga bolt action with a cracked stock at the wrist, wrapped w electrical tape and a Win 62a with a bulged bbl. Don’t get me wrong I have fond memories of hunting in my youth, but being restricted to only three guns obviously led to me overcompensating at 61 years of age.
Edit- the 250 and 22 were my grandfathers. The 20gauge was my dads. He was not a hunter and would borrow his uncles Remington 721 in 270 whenever he had to go hunt. He never hunted birds or small game.

I’ll count my blessings