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Is this a collection for collecting sake, or a collection for shooting and using? On a budget, I would recommend...

1. Centerfire rifle - Ruger American, Savage 110... .30-06 or .308 can meet most larger game hunting needs and can be had cheaper than an AR-15, even the Sport.

2. Shotgun - 12 Gauge Pump - Remington or Mossberg - can be used for hunting and home defense

3. Centerfire pistol - 9mm Glock - inexpensive and proven reliable

4. - Bolt action .22lr - I like the Ruger American Rimfire - provides for small game hunting and inexpensive plinking

Those will cover the bases for a budget minded collection for using and shooting. I might not acquire them in that order though, depending on what my need was. If my #1 need is self defense, then I would get the handgun and a CHL. If I have access to some prime deer hunting land, then i would get the centerfire rifle. Don't forget about optics in this budget though.

drjoker wrote: Why bolt action 22lr instead of semi-auto? It is cheaper and in these days of ammo shortage, we can't be picky about our .22lr ammo, which is rarer than hen's teeth, right now. Semi auto .22lr rifles require high velocity consistent ammo of high quality. My S&W 15-22 has a list of ammo that it cannot fire in the manual. Bolt action rifles can fire anything.

While I can agree with a bolt action .22.lr, I can't agree with the reason given. The 15-22 does not have a list of ammo that it "cannot fire" in the manual. What it does have is a list of ammunition that did not "perform consistently or reliably" during their testing. However, that list was present in the manual when the first version of the rifle came out... S&W has since changed the springs that come from the factory, but they did not bother to retest or alter their manual. Within that list you will notice that it lists "Any and all sub-sonic brands and types"... Do you know how many folks shoot sub-sonics through their 15-22 with suppressors?

I have shot many of the rounds that are not recommended through my own 15-22... without any issues. If your rifle has the replacement blue springs, I doubt you will have any issues.