ammo consolidation

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possumman

New member
I'm just wondering your opinions, given curent events, if consolidating down to a couple or so calibers, or maybe even just one. I know this kinda creates limitations on funtional uses of guns in general, but some people have multiple calibers. Ammo of any type is getting harder to find. I'm concentrating on 45acp, which isn't useful for hunting but is for HD, plinking, and target shooting. What is your alls take?
 
A Good Idea

I did that a while back when I started reloading.
The only problem I've run into doing this is there are too many guns out there and they all seem to use different calibers.:(
 
Drill down to one handgun round, and one rifle round. For me it's 9mm and .762x39. I've already got more AK rounds than I can expend in one lifetime, so now I'm building up my nines.
 
I'm thinkin that a guy should pick his particular "apocalypse guns" and an appropriate amount of ammo, and safely stow them for --what if. Leave them alone, and continue to enjoy your "hobby guns" to your hearts content.:) jd
 
I have only ever abandoned one caliber... that was .30 Carbine and I managed to stay away from it for a good 10 years before I went back to it. I'm currently a 2-gauge and 11-caliber guy, and I'm pretty happy with that. I could see me adding another caliber here soon enough.
 
For my own guns, I like to keep at least 500 rounds of .357 .38sp and .45 acp.

But as part of my "stash" I like to have 1-2 boxs of other common calibers like 9mm and .40 S&W.

.22 rimfire I tend to keep a "little" more! :)
 
Excellent idea. That's why I've reduced my handgun ammo to :

.22 LR
.22 WMR
.380
9x18
9mm
.38 spl.
.357 mag
10mm
.41 mag
.44 spl.
.44 mag
.45 acp
.45 Colt

Keeps things simpler............
 
I gave it some thought years ago, especially when thinking about handgun purchases. I already had decided on revolvers only, so I stuck with .357 in revolver purchases. I have no other pistol calibers. That runs in one of the lever guns as well, and the bullets can be used in the .358 rifle.
I already had a 30-30, and would never get rid of it. I have never wanted or felt the need for an AR, AK or variant. My 30-30 or .358 serves me fine.
Wife shoots a 20 gauge, I shoot a 12. Have several of each.
Wife and I both shoot .22's and .22wmr. Have rifles and pistols in both.
That's eight cartridges if you include .38 special as part of the mix. Maybe more than some, but I know a lot of folks that outdo my arsenal by a mile.
22wmr would be the only one I would shed, but since I've owned a wmr of one variety or another for 35 years, it's unlikely I'll drop it now, especially since I have a rather large supply of ammo in that caliber.
I'm more likely to add one or two more- a .300WSM and 9.3x62. Screw the doom and gloom thinking goin' around. I'm going on with my living.
 
I am already at my minimum.....

So, it is unlikely I will be adding new calibers, but you never know. If a sweet deal falls in my lap in a caliber I don't already have, I just might.

And my minimum is...
.22LR
.22 WMR
.22 Hornet
.222 Rem
.30-30 Win
9mm Luger
.38 Special
.357 Magnum
.357 Auto Mag
.44 Special
.44 magnum
.44 Auto Mag
.455 Webley
.45 ACP
.45 Colt
.45 Win Mag
.45-70 Govt
.410 shotshell

Note there are no .40/10mm on my list, or mouse gun calibers, other than .22LR
and thats just handguns. In rifles, I have a ...few more.:D

and a have a "few" rounds put up for emergencies.
 
.22lr

If you are going to go to one caliber only, it should be the .22lr. You can carry thousands of rounds, in a pack, to another location. You can hunt almost anything with it. It is easy to get, store, and you can put in thousands of times the practice with it. A good rifle (reliable and accurate)that you are good to excellant with, and a hand gun like a revolver (s&w k-22), and maybe one other, for backup.

I have stocked up on .22lr and 9mm. It's good to have the stuff that the military and/or police have, but .22 is a must, imo.
 
Give up all my absurd calibers like 9mm Steyr, 9mm Largo, .30 Luger, .30 Mauser, 10.75x68, 7.5 Swiss (amongst others)?

Never!
 
Barter Value, Too

Great article by gunriter John Conner in a recent issue of either "Guns" or "American Handgunner" about ammo being the most universal currency there is if cash is no longer readily available or we find ourselves in a non-market economy for a prolonged period.

I have chosen to concentrate on a fairly small number of "most common" ammo types, and have a fair amount each of 22, 9mm, 45, 556, 308 and 762X39. I will continue steady aquisition of each.

FBT
 
22 lr
9mm
45 gap
45 acp

those are my pistol calibers

223
308
7.62x39
7.62x54
12 gauge
50 bmg

those are my rifle calibers, with those, i can cover lots of things:D
but i do have my hunting rifles stashed at my parents house,
270
30-06
300 wthby
45-70
no reason to keep them at my house when i do all my hunting at their house...
 
.22
.223
.30-30
.32
.38/.357
9mm
10mm
.41
.44
.45
12 gauge

Currently trying to standardize defensive ammunition & weapons.
 
I guess I struggle with the concept of limiting calibers. I have more or less self limited so far my pistol calibers to .22LR, .38, 9mm and .45ACP. My rifle calibers are .22LR and 7.62x39. Shotgun is 12 gauge.

More than likely I will add another rifle caliber and perhaps 20 gauge shotgun. My girlfriend also has her eye on a PPK so that means .380 I guess.

Hmm...maybe I am not limiting after all.
 
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