You need at least at least one beltfed and a minimum of 2 subguns plus suppressors.
and there is no such thing as too many
As has been posted a lot depends on your financial status and of course your "reasons" for acquiring firearms. For several years (many years ago) I had a 12 Gauge Mossy pump. After I raised my children, I started buying firearms. My youngest son was working and unmarried at the time and was also interested in collecting firearms so we purchased many!
As far as the "essentials" - in my humble opinion, first is a shotgun - it is the most versatile firearm you can own. It makes an excellent hunting gun for all the game in Indiana, and also one of the best home defense firearms. Second in my opinion is a reliable handgun for EDC personal protection. Dependent on your situation, the third may be another EDC for your mate. The next would be a 22 rifle. Reasoning - fairly economical to shoot (even at today's pricing for ammo), good for targeting and great hunting gun for Indiana small game.
The remainder (though not essential unless you are preparing for a SHTF situation) would be a high power rifle - We (son and I) have AK's, SKS's, Mosin's, Gerands, M1 carbine, K-31, Mausers, Enfields, AR-15, LR-308, other .308, 30-06's, SVD-40, 1903-A3, and several other Military rifles. All are functional and we have a good supply of ammo for all. We also have several revolvers, Colts, Smith, Rugers etc. and other semi auto handguns (with ammo for all).
There would be only three reasons to have an upper limit of the number of firearms you should own. The first would be that you (or your mate) doesn't want any more. The second is that the purchase of firearms is harmful to your financial situation - depriving you or your family of more essential items. The third is that the expense of the firearms inhibit the purchase of ammunition - guns are just decoration unless you can feed them!
In view of the above, I don't think anyone has the right (or knowledge) to state what anyone else should have or how many - Some people purchase firearms strictly for hunting, some for targeting only, others only for home / personal defense. Some for investment - others for some or all the preceding reasons. Personally I do it for all of these reasons (except I no longer hunt - but would if SHTF) and I just really like guns!!
Why not a .22 rifle? When SHTF it would be useful for hunting small game.
Well said. I'm not trying to put an upper limit on it, just asking how most would prioritize the first 3 recommended firearms. Thanks for your input.
If I absolutely, positively had to pick only 3...
1. Ruger 10/22
2. Smith & Wesson 686 w/ 4 inch barrel
3. Remington 870
Classic choices, but you can scratch a lot of itches with those 3.
You only have to many if you throw the earth off balance and cause the planet to wobble.
I'm still formulating my SHTF plan, and going by priority the 22 rifle is pretty far down the line. I think most preppers spend 90% of their time planning for 10% of the possibilities, and living on squirrel meat is one of the more unlikely possibilities for me.
My point is everyone's list and everyone's idea of "too many" is going to be different. There's a financial component too, for most people their "too many" number is going to be directly correlated with income.
I hate accumulating stuff, I'm not a collector, so I get what I absolutely need and will actually use and no more. With the exception of SHTF stuff, if I'm not using it at least once a week, it's gone.
So for me, too many is not that many. Probably substantially less than most here.