"Must have" guns.
 

List some of the rifles, shotguns, MLs, or handguns, you think every gun owner, & hunter should own, at least one of.

Edit- actually, what I mean is, what makes, models and calibers, are so well designed, and useful, anyones collection would incomplete with out em?

A good .22 Lr for small game and low cost fun/practice.
A centerfire that's best suited to handle the big critters you actually hunt rather than one that can handle anything and everything on the face of the earth.
A 12g pump action (two barrel combo) with several chokes.

If I was limited, and thank the Good Lord I'm not, I would have to say a 12 ga shotgun, a 30-06 bolt action and a .22 rimfire would be my choice for a minimum arsenal. If I had to include a handgun into this it would be a revolver in .357 with a 4 or 6" barrel.
My picks are solely based on versitility. There are better choices for different areas, but for all north america, these would be my picks.

if ya live in texas...gotta have an ol' wood stock, beat ta hell..iron sighted..30-30

I would say that you need a few fireams just to get by with.
Kimber-22lr.
Savage Accu-Triger/Accu-Stock rifle chambered in 223
Remington Model-700 30-06
Remington 870 Wing Master 12-gauge shotgun
Kimber Model 1911 45-acp pistol.

I would also add to the list if it fits into the budget a custom made rifle. I myself would like a Cooper or Nosler custom rifle chambered in 338-06 or 280-A.I.

Remington 870 12ga with smooth bore and rifled slug barrel
Winchester 1300 20ga
Thompson Center Omega .50cal M/L
Marlin Model 60 .22lr
HiPoint 995 9mm carbine
Kimber 84m .243
Remington 700 30-06

Basic poor man's gun cabinet.

Ruger 10/22 there should be a law
Maybe an 870
Winchester 70 or Rem 700 in a good 30 caliber
for a varmint gun.....everyone should own a 22-250 or 2220 swift, you pick the action, I lean twords a Ruger M77

Ill go with:
-a mandatory set of a 870 26"- 28", and a 700/leupold 24-30 cal
-Defiantly a 10-22 or model 60
-a s&w 629, or super BH, or redhawk, in 44mag
- An AR15 223, or AK variant, or SKS 7.62
- an old ithaca 37 or, winchester 12, or browning auto5 for nostalgia
- everyone should have a muzzleloader , I prefer the savage 10ml.

Any pre 64 Mod 70 that I don't already have.....
Ie:
257 Roberts
243 Win
338.win
300 H&H
375 H&h
7MM.....in my dreams!
Dan

All the guns that I have and more thats on my wish list.

any gun that was ever used in a war, esp american guns.

The guns hunters need to have is a good old pump action or semi auto 12gauge shotgun, a .22 rifle(10/22),a bolt action rifle .270 up, a semi auto rifle .223 up(mini14, ar15) and a pistol.
12 gauge shotgun-can kill everything short range
.22- perfect to hunt small game without exploding them ideal for kids
bolt action- can kill anything at long range(not recommended for small game)
semi auto rifle-kills a lot of stuff and it is a lot of fun perfect to just go around your ranch looking for stuff to kill
pistol- to finish large preys, snakes, security(if a hog is rampaging against you) to hunt animals at short range you see at the moment.

To cover all bases, at least in my case, most hunters should have something similar to these:

Good brush gun - 30-30, .44 mag
Flat shooting gun - .308, 300 win mag
Shotgun - 12 ga
Muzzleloader - 50 Cal.

Every collection should have a Winchester model 12 in 12,16or 20.
1 96 or 98 Mauser and something between 1903 and an M-1Garand.
A 1911,Hi-Power,Smith & Wesson or Colt revolver.
You ought to have at least 1 rifle ,1shotgun and 1 repeating pistol cartridge hand gun that fit you that YOU shoot well every time.

No love for lever guns....What about a Marlin 336 in .35 Remington to add to the list....short barrel, easy reload, good power.

12 gauge 870 with variable chokes, 20 gauge side by side shotgun scoped .22 of preferred action, .30 caliber centerfire scoped rifle, scoped .22 caliber centerfire varmint gun in prefered caliber, muzzle loading rifle per regulations in your area.

My choices are: an accurate 22 LR, a good brush gun, (35 Rem) a long range, varmint (6mm), a medium big game rifle (308 Win.) and a large caliber for danerous game (375 H&H).

Must haves
12 ga
22 bolt or semi-auto
30/06 or other medium bore hunting rifle (.257 up to .35, with .308 a good pick)

Should haves
20 ga
.243 - .284 light kicking rifle for smallish big game and/or varmints
9mm pistol or .38 revolver

Nice to have's
1911 45 variant
large bore pistol
Large bore dangerous game rifle

Ruger 10/22 .22 LR
Remington 870 12 gauge
Marlin 336 30-30 or 35 remington

12 gauge (sub gauge comes later)

38/357 revolver (pistol comes later)

Rimfire rifle (your choice)

Big game rifle - classic cartridge (.243 to .338)


All the rest are gravy..........................and yes, I LOVE gravy !!!

Here's mine:
Ruger 10/22
Remington 870 12guage shotgun
Remington model 700 deer rifle. ( have one in .243 and 7mm Mag

I love my .40 XDm but wouldn't say it an absolute must have like my .22, 870 or 700's..

Remington 870
Marlin 336
Ruger Redhawk revolver

Doesn't matter about calibers/gauges.

Ruger 10/22.

I am lucky that I have all of these.

.22magnum .270 or 30/06 .223 would cover you pretty well

Remington model 870 Super Magnum Express 12 guage shotgun

Remington model 700 chambered in .30-06 (I'm OK with a Winchester model 70 chambered in .30-06 also)

Any .22 LR

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That is a short list, but that covers the ground pretty effectively. Of course, I do have other firearms that I treasure and value, but the question was what is "esential," or at least that is how I interpreted the question.

Just like on the politics board Im agreeing with Al as usual.