Ammo, Magazine, and Firearm Consolidation

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savage1r

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This is something I consider quite often when deciding what kind of gun to purchase, what types of different variables go into making the decision based on what things to I want to be interchangeable, have multiple uses, and what is cheap. My current collection is based on being able to exchange either ammo, magazines (or both) as well as reloading considerations. What kinds of ammo, magazine and firearm consolidation do you have or do you even bother?


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I bother, but I find myself caught between two different concepts:
1) If I streamline my guns so that they all fire in just a few different calibers, that sounds good, until one or more of those calibers cannot be located.
2) If I diversify, I reduce the chances of being unable to find something to shoot, but then I have to keep more different kinds of ammo on hand.
 
Although I do have four 9mm semi-autos it was really more a product of liking the specific models than any real plan. Truthfully I tend to buy whatever I like with very little real planning I suppose it may be more emotion than logic, but hey it works for me.
 
Well I have three calibers that are paired. That is to say I have both rifle and pistol in that same caliber. They are .22LR. , .40caliber , and 45colt (long colt) caliber.

Then I have assorted shotguns, rifles, and pistols that don't have a paired firearm.

So I guess I have some sets that use the same ammo, and some singulars that use various calibers.
 
I don't. I think I'd run out of counting fingers before calibers. Let's see. Off the top of my head, .380, .357/.38, 9mm, .45, .44mag, .223, 7.62x39, .303, .308, 7.5 swiss, .300winmag, .30 carbine, 30-06. Oh, and .22lr, of course. I think that's it. Most of them at least.

The way I see it, I oughta always be able to find ammo for SOMETHING.

Hmm, now that I think about it, I probably should add a .40. Maybe a 10mm. Don't have a .270 or 7mm mag either. Still looking for a Krag, maybe a Mauser.....:rolleyes:
 
"I probably should add a .40. Maybe a 10mm."

My Glock 22/17 is a 9mm right now, but I'm thinking about getting a G21. That way I can shoot the .45 I have right now out of it. I was also considering getting a Mech Tech upper, but that gives a few options with the G21 body. I could go with a .45 upper and get a bit more velocity, OR I could go with a 10mm upper and have a SCREAMING 10mm coming out of that barrel. Tough choice.
 
I consolidated in 2006-2008 in order to be able to stock up efficiently on mags, ammo and components for .22LR (Ruger), .223 (AR15), .30-06 (Garand) and .40S&W (Glock).

After I was topped up on those then I added to stocks for other calibers in smaller amounts: 7.62x39, .30 Carbine, 12 ga., .308, 9mm, .380, .45ACP, .38 Special, and recently .44 mag.

I continue to add items in this same priority order when getting optics, slings, spare parts, reloading equipment, etc. The AR15 and Glocks get 1st priority. Then shotguns, Garands, and .22LR. Lastly are the recreational or special purpose guns and calibers. I may go years in between getting stuff for my revolvers, and never bought anything for the AKs except ammo. On the other hand, the Glocks and AR15s get constant feeding and attention.
 
From the beginning I kept it simple

I settled on medium calibers, 9mm and 357mag/38spl for my centerfire handguns. Of course I have a collection of 22lr handguns. I went this way mostly because of cost as larger or more exotic calibers are quite expensive. Not to say that I haven't been looking at others guns like 45cal 1911s but for now I'm staying the course.
 
After I got my first Garand from DCM I felt naked without a medium weight hunting rifle and a heavy barrel long range target rifle in .30-06 so I could feed them all from the same brass and dies and to some extent the same bullets and powders. Felt the same when I got an M1A. Another perfectly good multi-purpose round. It worked so well I did the same for my Mini-14. When the 03A3 and the Israeli 98K came along they were no brainers. I all but stole a beautiful little mannlicher stocked L46 Sako that was rechambered from .222 because nobody was comfortable with the magazine not being long enough for most factory.223 loads over 50 grain bullets. The recent ammo craze meant nothing to me. Twelve rifles I can feed without going to the store.
 
I don't really see too much a purpose in doing that because you might limit yourself on purchasing a gun that you would like just because it doesn't line up with the rest of your guns. I guess if you're one of those people that's "prepping" then maybe it would make sense but only on very popular rounds & if you had tons of that particular round on hand.
 
I have two calibers that I "stockpile", .45 ACP and .223 Remington, but that doesn't prevent me from pursuing guns in more oddball calibers.
 
Rifles/pistols/revolver in .22LR (2/2/1)

All my handguns are .25ACP, .380ACP, 9mm Parabellum, .38 special, .357 mag, .44 special, .44 mag or .45ACP. No need to branch out farther.

No magazine sharing (unfortunately)
 
One thing I liked about Glocks in 9MM is that the baby 26 will take mags for the 26, 19, 17, and 18, so if one gun takes a dump, another can utilize the same mags. The 26 DOES look a little funny with the 33 round 18 mag inserted, but it works.............
 
2) If I diversify, I reduce the chances of being unable to find something to shoot, but then I have to keep more different kinds of ammo on hand.
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This. I do concentrate on certain calibers (9mm, 223), but I keep "an option" in many others. In fact, the only popular calibers I don't address are 40S&W or some of the older calibers (40-70 for example). And the latter is in danger every time I see an antique rifle.
 
A few years ago I decided I just had to stock too many calibers, so I sold my XD-40 and a little Taurus PT-25 ... now only have to stock .22LR, .22Mag, .38Spcl, 9mm, .357 and .45ACP ...
 
I decided to chop 40 S&W out of my collection a while, I didn't "enjoy" shooting it as much as 45 ACP and 9MM and it was just another caliber to keep track of.
My origional concept was I was gonna keep a "fun" caliber (9MM) , a "power" caliber (45 ACP) and a rifle caliber (223/556)

Upon further review, I need a bit more diversity.

Once things cool down I am going to get the following.

(1) AK-47 type rifle in 7.62x39
(1) AK-74 type rifle in 5.45x39
(1) Rifle in something exotic, but common for hunting like 243, 7MM WSM
(1) Revolver that can take 38 SPCL and 357 MAG
(1) Semi-Auto in 40 S&W, probably an EMP.
(1) Additional handgun in 45 ACP, probably a USP 45 or XDM-45
(1) Semi-Auto in 10MM

I will still focus on my "primary" calibers, but I would like to keep on hand a few hundred rounds in many different calibers. Also, throughout this 7.62x39 has been easier to find than 223/556 and 45 ACP and 40 S&W seemed to stay on the shelves longer than 9MM. This whole situation has really shown me the error of my ways

The only things still on the shelf in places like Walmart are oddball hunting calibers. During the insanity for whatever reason one of my LGS had a glut of 10MM so I would probably get a pistol in that too.
 
While I like the idea of diversification, the reality for me us that I could buy a dozen cheap guns in different calibers, or a couple really nice ones and focus my funds on upgrading them. I am not wealthy enough to have an arsenal of worthwhile pieces. Additionally, if I have to move on my feet quickly or even with a vehicle, there is only so much I can sensibly carry. My 308, shotgun, pistol, and a modest amount of ammunition for each is already at least 50 lbs, with nothing else. Factor in water, food, and gear and I just couldn't justify it. It would make me sad to leave something nice behind. Of course I tend to do things from a prepping perspective, so try to be mobile. If I had some land out of the way, and more money, things would be different.
 
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