How Many Guns Should You Own?

Before we proceed, I’d like to share my honest opinion so that nobody gets all worked up and doesn’t bother to finish reading the entire article. I don’t believe that any person or organization should dictate how many guns you should own. 

Now, with that out of the way, we can begin. 

Having 1,000 firearms is fine and dandy; more power to you if you can afford it! However, are you going to have the time to even shoot a percentage of them? Probably not. 

Having one firearm is fine and dandy; it’s a good start! But having only one firearm to fill every role, from concealed carry to SHTF, may not be the best idea.

So, back to the original question at hand: how many guns should you own?

One is Better Than None

I’m guessing none of you will argue that one gun is definitely better than none. Without one, you automatically put yourself at a disadvantage and on an unlevel playing field. 

Be warned, though, that guns are like potato chips; once you have one, you quickly feel the need for another.

Having only one isn’t the worst thing in the world. If you train enough with it, you’ll know it like the back of your hand (which you should do with any gun) and become highly proficient with it. You can keep up with cleaning it, customize it to grow with your skill set, and ultimately maximize your confidence with it.

Specific Guns for Specific Purposes 

However, not every gun is best suited for every purpose, so having just one can limit your preparedness. 

Your AR-15 chambered in .300 Blackout is not going to be ideal for concealed carry, but it can serve as a great home defense gun. Your Glock 19 will fill that concealed carry role wonderfully, but if you’re looking to bag yourself a deer for dinner, you’ll probably have a relatively difficult time eating.

To cover your bases, consider the following roles: 

• Home Defense
• Concealed Carry
• Hunting
• HTF/Civil Unrest

You don’t necessarily need a separate gun for each role, but you should be able to effectively handle any situation at hand with the weapons you have.

A Rifle and A Pistol

At a minimum, I suggest having a rifle and a handgun. Why? Between the two, you can cover all of the bases mentioned above. Shotguns can also do well in many of the same scenarios that a rifle can but lack the distance and accuracy. 

Since there are so many makes and models, I won’t try to recommend certain ones, but merely calibers and platforms. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a better combination than a semi-automatic pistol chambered in 9mm and an AR-15 chambered in .223/5.56.

Both rounds are affordable and capable, and in an SHTF scenario, they should be relatively easy to find over other less common calibers. 

If you have more than one able-bodied person in your home who could help protect it in a time of need, consider having a separate firearm for each person to maximize your home protection.

Can You Have Too Many?

No, of course not! But let’s think about it practically. 

Let’s say you have 100 rifles, 100 pistols, and 100 shotguns. Are you going to have the time to shoot them all, the space to store them all safely, or the ability to grab them all if you have to pack up and leave at a moment’s notice? The answer to all of those questions is no. 

That’s not me trying to convince you not to have that many; I’m just begging the question to make a point worth considering. Don’t let all of those YouTubers fool you into thinking you need to have five safes full of guns to be prepared.

Is There A Legal Limit?

You’ve likely heard of many different gun control laws and regulations, especially lately. 

There may be rules on the type of gun you can own, the accessories you can put on the gun, and the magazine capacity you’re allowed to have depending on where you live, but to my knowledge, there is no limit on how many you can purchase as a law-abiding citizen. 

Buy Once, Cry Once

Once you’ve decided which gun(s) you want to buy, there is a well-known saying that I feel definitely applies…buy once, cry once. 

For any gun that you are going to be relying on to keep yourself or your family safe, you want to be confident it will work when it matters most. There are many affordable and quality guns out there, so I’m not insinuating you have to buy the most expensive. Set a budget, see what options fall within it, and evaluate them to see if they are worthy of betting your life on. If not, save up some more money and go back to the drawing board. 

One reliable and versatile gun is better than a few unreliable and dedicated ones. 

Parting Thoughts

At the end of the day, only you can decide what the best way is to protect yourself and your loved ones. Play out every scenario you can think of and ensure that you are equipped to handle it. If you’re not, it may be time for another purchase. 

Regardless of how many firearms you decide you want, be sure to train with them. Simply having a gun will not protect you and can actually pose a risk to yourself and others if you’re not trained and ready to use it effectively and efficiently. 

As always, stay safe, train hard, and have fun.