Luxury or necessity? Put another way, “need to have” vs. “nice to have.”

[Buncheong]

Know-nothing noob, here.

Carried an A2 in the service but that was all. Never went anywhere, didn’t do anything. But it was a nice rifle, and so here I am. Current interests:

Bought a LE6920 HBPW I have yet to shoot.
Working on creating/assembling a C8 SFW clone with BCM upper/lower/BCG.
Am saving up for a LMT CQB MLC ... might get piston version, not sure yet.
Have an A2 upper NIW for which I’d like a suitable lower, not sure what to use.
Would like a Brownell’s clone of M16A1 for my admittedly pathetic Viet Nam collection.
Would like an A4 of some kind that I could scope.

Was thinking on these things when suddenly it occurred to me: how many ARs do I really need?

Some of these would make good self-defense rifles. Others not so much, which makes them luxury items, I guess.

Wanted the A2 “‘caus that’s what I had,” but since it won’t take optics, I wonder if I oughta’ “let go of sentimental.”

The C8 SFW is one I love but since it isn’t really a Diemaco, how “cool” is it, really? Maybe it’s just another BCM carbine.

Maybe I don’t “need” a 20” at all, given advances in ammunition.

Just wondering what others think about how much might be too much, or neccessity vs. luxury. Can’t shoot them all in an emergency and besides, at some point, our possessions possess us. That is to say, at some point, they become a burden.

[MegademiC]

Build/buy a rifle for dedicated defense use.
Same for wife if you have one.

Do you hunt? Fill hunting niche.

Everything else is a range gun or backup.

Do you want a bunch of ars?
Do you want nfa stuff?
Other guns?
Other hobbies?

Decide and prioritize. Use and purpose gets priority over fun (mostly).
Do you want to go to the theatre or buy a few more mags?
Eat out or get a lower/other part?

[LowSpeed_HighDrag]

I have guns that serve a purpose, and I prefer they serve multiple roles. Those give me peace of mind.

I have others that are cool to own, those I could sell tomorrow and be okay.

But most of my guns must have a purpose to me, maybe that helps me rationalize buying a few every year.

[NWPilgrim]

I probably have five guns that I “need” and the other few dozen are for redundancy or fun.
- CCW: G27
- S&W M29 4”
- 16” LMT
- Sako A7 .30-06
- 10/22

[SteyrAUG]

I'm somewhere north of 250+, possibly 300 firearms with more than 20 AR variants.

There are ones I still need.

[soulezoo]

I'm somewhere north of 250+, possibly 300 firearms with more than 20 AR variants.

There are ones I still need.

*like*

[Zane1844]

I have two ARs. One SBR, one 16" "Recce" type. Sometimes I think that's too much, but I have two suppressors, so I keep both.

If I could have one, it would be a suppressed 12.5".

[Diamondback]

How many does one person need? If gun-grabbers don't keel over with aneurysms after hearing about your personal armory... It's Not Enough.

"Enough" is when your armory and ammo magazine look like this...

[Circle_10]

I've currently got nine ARs (including one SBR), with most of those actually being guns with A1 or A2 fixed carry handles. Although I'm going to have a 10th short barreled upper here shortly that's going to be used on my existing SBR lower until I get around to getting another one Form 1'd. If you shoot irons only periodically,
and stay reasonably proficient with them, an iron-sighted AR still has plenty of life in it as a "practical" gun. An iron-sighted AR is actually what I most commonly cart around in my vehicle with me when I'm out and about.

*If* I were going to limit my collection of ARs to the barest minimum of what is "practical" only though, I'd probably consider three a good number.
In this hypothetical scenario I'd probably avoid NFA entanglement as well.
So probably two 16" carbine or midlength guns kitted out more or less identically with Aimpoints and lights, and a third AR probably geared more toward somewhat extended range.
I think that would cover "need".

"Want" is a different story entirely, and what is what I *actually* base my gun acquisitions on.

While the practical reasons behind gun ownership are important to me, it is also pretty much my only real *hobby* and the only thing I really dump a lot of money into because I enjoy it.

[Todd.K]

Just be honest with yourself and enjoy collecting some if you want. If you enjoy minimizing your collection to two each identical G19's and 6920's, go for it.

From a strictly practical view, any gun you buy that keeps you from getting some training or practice is a questionable choice. If you have not, consider getting some training. If you carry a pistol, consider spending way more time training with it rather than your carbine.