Ever consider going single caliber?

[atalon]

I have been looking at this from more of if crap hits the fan what are the most common calibers that people stock ammo for. From what little research I have done so far it seems to be .22, 9mm, 45acp, .223/5.56 and 7.62x39. Also seems like a lot of LEOs use .40 so that may be added to my personal list. (oddly enough I already have a .40 Sub 2000 and G22 so I can swap the mags if needed, couldn't find a 9mm Sub 2000 went I went to get one, but might end up getting one because of the ammunition factor, to go with my G17.)

When it comes down to it you have to look at it from what your needs are. If you are on a tight budget then your most immediate needs are what you should look at first, such as personal/home protection.

My

 

[zenbruno]

Well, I dumped .40 S&W (and the Glock that shot it), and never looked back.

 

[10-32]

I have been looking at this from more of if crap hits the fan what are the most common calibers that people stock ammo for. From what little research I have done so far it seems to be .22, 9mm, 45acp, .223/5.56 and 7.62x39. Also seems like a lot of LEOs use .40 so that may be added to my personal list. (oddly enough I already have a .40 Sub 2000 and G22 so I can swap the mags if needed, couldn't find a 9mm Sub 2000 went I went to get one, but might end up getting one because of the ammunition factor, to go with my G17.)

When it comes down to it you have to look at it from what your needs are. If you are on a tight budget then your most immediate needs are what you should look at first, such as personal/home protection.

My

I started off buying my guns using this same thinking but then I strayed off and bought a .40(before .40's started becoming common in Police use), then a .357.

 

[superjoe76]

I weened the wife off .380 a few months back only to replace it with .38 Special. My hope was to go .45 only but she didnt find a pistol she liked.

 

[indyjohn]

On a serious note toward atalon's point, look at it this way: what are the most common calibers? Look to the military. 9mm, 5.56x45, 7.62x51, and .30-06. Ok, thirty-ot-six is more sentimental but still a viable choice.

If resources were to start drying up, I think these calibers would be easier to find than most others just based on the sheer volume in which they are produced. Same for components, most common - most prevalent.

 

[nox]

12ga, .223, .45, and .22 are all that I actively keep in my inventory.

There's a .38 (heirloom) and 7.62x39 that I will purchase ammo for on the way to the range, but I don't make it a point to keep any in the safe.

I recently phased out of 9mm in favor of .45, the lower cost was nice, but I had more .45s in the rack.

 

[RandomName]

I get the golf analogy, and that makes sense if you do a bunch of different things. The guy who takes big game hunting trips, shoots competitively, and carries for self defense probably needs more calibers than the guy who only does one of those things.

I could get by with .45 for handgun, 12g for shotgun, and .308 for a rifle, then .22s for conversion kit practice and small game. I'll probably never get down that far, though. I hate to sell anything I've already paid for, guns never get cheaper it seems. I've already got sizeable stockpiles and reloading dies for some that I'd get rid of if I did streamline. What I plan to NOT do is add any more calibers to the mix.

 

[buzz815]

I have fifteen different calibers at this time. I reload for ten of them. I don't think I could live with just one caliber. I reload all winter and shoot all summer.

 

[U.S. Patriot]

I did sell my AK, one reason is, to stick with one primary rifle caliber. Now I have .308, .223/5.56, 9mm, and .22. I load everything but .22.

 

[churchmouse]

On a serious note toward atalon's point, look at it this way: what are the most common calibers? Look to the military. 9mm, 5.56x45, 7.62x51, and .30-06. Ok, thirty-ot-six is more sentimental but still a viable choice.

If resources were to start drying up, I think these calibers would be easier to find than most others just based on the sheer volume in which they are produced. Same for components, most common - most prevalent.

9mm for sure as it seems to be the best budget round these days. I do not have any but know many that do.
.22/.44 mag/.45ACP/.223/12 g. are our primary calibers right now. We were stocking in those and .243/.257/30-06/.308 as well.
I kept a .380 that is sentimental along with a .38 but they are not regularly fired and we have a bit of ammo for them.
The calibers we maintain now are common enough.

 

[GBuck]

I have revolvers in MANY different calibers, and I'm okay with that. No, I don't stockpile ammo for them either. When it comes to my defense pistols, I have 9mm and .45. I have no need for anything else. I have some .22s and a some 12GA, but that doesn't bother me. I have plenty of .22, 9mm, and 12GA. The .45 doesn't get carried, so I have less of it.

 

[Fordtough25]

I thought about slimming down my calibers and have once or twice before but I keep jumping back in the pool.

 

[Rocket]

No I do not. All common calibers are a good idea. Everything has its uses. And could be found if scavenging. Reloading makes it easier as well.

 

[brandonq2]

Single caliber, no...but a good friend and I have collaborated our efforts and try to stick to common calibers. We both share .223, .45, .22, 12ga, and oddly enough .30-30. We also try to stay on similar platforms...AR's, 1911's, and 10/22's so that parts and accessories swap.

The big question we have is do I follow him down the FAL rabbit hole, or go with the AR10. I agree with the others that have mentioned intended usage, and for our intentions a single caliber will not do. IE, personal protection typically dictates a handgun caliber...but I would not want to hunt anything with a handgun caliber.

 

[88E30M50]

No I do not. All common calibers are a good idea. Everything has its uses. And could be found if scavenging. Reloading makes it easier as well.

This is pretty much my thinking. I remember when we had the last ammo shortage, it seemed that most places still had some .40 S&W on the shelf, but not a .380, .45 or 9mm to be found. I want to be able to shoot what's available, and during an ammo shortage, the common calibers can be hard to find ammo for.

I do reload for most of what I have, with the exception of 7.62x39. That could be an expensive proposition for me given the tendency of my rifle to toss that brass all over the place. The only thing consistent is that it tosses it at least 20'. My AR, by comparison, drops the brass in a nice neat pile. I could practically rebox it by sitting a box where it falls.

 

[rugertoter]

Ever look at your ammo stockpile and think "Screw it, I'm going to ditch everything that doesn't shoot XX?"

I've streamlined a bit, but I still have to stock .380, .40, .45, and .44 just for handguns. If I can wean my wife off her .380 and end to a .40 I'd at least be down to 3.

Then about 8 others I stock for shotguns and rifles...

About a year ago I started "streamlinning" my ammo and guns. I would rather have fewer guns, but tons of ammo for each. JMHO.

 

[williamnewman1]

i've considered this, but can't rationalize down past 3-4 .......... if i HAD to pick one , id say 357mag , and cut down to just a SAA 357 and a leveraction 357 ...... i suppose i could settle if need be , but i would miss 22 - 12g - 223 - 30/30

 

[Jbill1]

I would like to slim down. I only have 4 different in handguns currently. But everytime I go to the gun shop I seem to find something else I want in a different caliber.

 

[Spike_351]

I secretly seek out new calibers so I have an excuse to work on new reloads. Currently at 40., 38 spl, 357, 9mm, .308. And soon 44. Rem mag.

 

[Meister]

I've dropped from 16 calibers to 9. That's about a far as I can go and keep the bases covered. I still keep a few bullets, dies and powder for the other calibers, but don't stock ammo for them anymore.

22
223
308
300WM

380
9mm
357/38
40sw
45acp