The Must have Guns.

[Spartan]

HK p7 psp or P7 m8

Sig 220

Sig 226

enfield .303
mauser 8mm
springfield 03

M1 Garand

870 pump 12gag

[Dave Pendleton]

I think the OP was going for what we would consider most desirable, not practical.

For me, I'd love to own:

An MP5
A GLOCK G18
An MG-42

As far as what should you own?

A 9mm pistol
A 5.56/.223 rifle
A 12ga shotgun

[tt3]

As the originator maybe for the idea of the post... I'd like to see opinions of a well rounded gun safe.
Here's my list, similar to others:
a "deer" rifle, in my case .308 bolt
evil black rifle,
all purpose shotgun, mine's an 870
revolver
1911
GLOCK
something with Smith and Wesson
something with Colt

I'm working on my list...

[Norsesmithy]

Sweet iron sight bolt gun, like a Swede Mauser.
AR-15.
1911.
A good .22.
A service size plastic 9mm.
A .380 or up "pocket" gun (P3AT, PF9, et al)
Good pump 12 gauge.

Just about any kind of game will fall to this combo, and it will do 95% or better of the "social" tasks one might need a gun for.

A person with wide open vistas might want a precision rifle of some sort, and a person who intends to hunt dangerous game might want a rifle a bit heaver that 6.5x55, .30-06, or 8mm Mauser.

I'll probably be called a philistine for not including a revo or a lever gun in there, but so be it.

[crbutler]

For a person to be considered a "Gun Guy" the minimum to me would be five guns, of which one would have to be a:

Defensive caliber handgun (.380- .45) somewhere. Revolver, auto, whatever.
.22 Rimfire of some stripe (rifle or pistol)
Shotgun of some stripe (doesn't matter what gauge or action type)
Centerfire rifle of some variety.

Many would have more of one type or another based on their interests, but without having tried multiple things you couldn't consider yourself a firearms enthusiast overall. Of course, you don't have to have them all at the same time, and experience with one type (such as the handgun or centerfire rifle) in an organized setting, such as the military would count.

For a "well rounded gun cabinet" (more numerically)

.22 RF Rifle
.22 RF handgun

Other caliber RF rifle (.17 M2 or HMR, or a .22 WMR)

Snubnose revolver
Full size revolver in a magnum cartridge (.357 or .44, but an esoteric like the Casull or a .41 is OK)
Single Action revolver ( some sort of cowboy gun)

9mm Auto pistol
.40 Auto pistol
.45 1911

.223 Rifle (varmint gun) AR or Bolt
Higher velocity Varmint gun (.22-250 or similar) or other long range shooter.
"Deer Rifle" .243 through .30-06 May be a lever gun, bolt gun, or auto.
Big Game gun (7mm Mag-.338 Mag)
"African" gun (.375H&H or larger)
Lever action rifle in a traditional caliber (.30-30, .44-40, etc.)

10 or 12 Ga Duck/goose gun
16 or 20 Ga Pheasant Gun
12 or 20 Ga MN deer slug gun
12 Ga "Social Shotgun"

one military type "Assault Rifle"- AK clone, AR type, M14 pattern, FAL, or SKS

After that, more is good. None of the above will break the bank, but it is a pretty sizable investment If you are not a hunter, the rifles may be a bit more than you want, but with Ruger #1's its cheap and you can impress your friends who are hunters with the fact you do have them and can shoot them.

[12smile]

include a 380 for your pocket.

[tt3]

I forgot about .22 and lever guns... mmmmm, going to have to add to my list!

[mgrosz]

What I have:

Colt GCT SS
Colt Defender SS
Henry Lever Action .22
Marlin 336SS
Remington 870

When I think of adding something I consider .308 semi, a 9mm, or .22 pistol.

[Holland&Holland]

I took it as "what gun must you own once in your life time" for me it is a double rifle in .416 rigby followed by a .50 BMG (barret of course).

If we are talking well rounded cabinets then CR kinda nailed it for me except I would add in today's world an AR or AK set up as a home defense or whatever you want to call it is a must in the cabinet as well to be a well rounded gun guy.

[recoilguy]

.22 rifle
CZ P-01
Remington or Mossberg 12ga shotgun
some variiation of a high power rifle that is to your liking.

the want to have beside those list is long and sweet

RCG

[mn_smokeater]

heres want list:

i want a good long range rifle thats both able to take all of North American game and be able to serve as a marksman type role with a easy to get/affordable ammo.

a good AR with a 5.56 flavor.

a AK-47 or 74

a Defensive handgun that could be used with ease by my Girlfriend

a revolver in .357

the rest are more along the lines of getting to collect as history and a love of firearms, should i count them too?

[gman1868]

1911
Tupperware gun (Glock, Sig, HK, S&W)
MP5
AK47
AR15

[Ranger01]

#1 M1941 Johnson Rifle ( I WILL own one some day)
#2 M1911 (original, pre A1)
#3 S&W Model 27 3.5" or 4" (an original Registered Magnum would be preferred though...)
#4 M1903A4 Springfield
#5 M1C Garand Sniper Rifle
#6 Winchester M1912 Trench
#7 Springfield Professional 1911
#8 M1A
#9 Sig P220 SA/DA or SAO

As for polymer, my FNP-45 USG is all I need. (What more could a man ask for than 15+1 of .45ACP!)

[Greg]

Two categories...

Modern:

.22 pistol
..22 rifle
12 gauge (Mossberg 500)
Centerfire rifle
Defensive handgun (S&W 442)

Historic:

M1 Garand
M1 Carbine
1911
1919A4 (semi or full)
AK-47
98 Mauser
Luger

[Scratch]

Ruger 10/22
Glock 17
Mossber 500 or Remington 870
AK47