Consolidating / stockpiling

B

bdog

New member
Over the years my firearms strategy has changed. I once wanted a wide variety of guns and calibers. Now I still plan on keeping a few favorites around in various calibers but I would like to select one handgun caliber, one rifle caliber, one shotgun gauge, and build up thousands of rounds of each.

The shotgun is a no brainer with the 12 Ga. I also am stock piling 22 for both rifles and handguns. The rifle caliber I chose is 5.56/223. The handgun is where I am stumped.

I tend to prefer 40 & 45 but 9mm is a lot cheaper and is a military cartridge that seems more widely available.

I am not really wanting a "which caliber is better performance wise" as that has been beat to death 1000 times. I am wondering your thoughts on a caliber to stockpile say 10k rounds for. Maybe from a cost vs benefit standpoint. On 10k rounds it might be $2000+ cheaper to go with 9mm vs 45 which would buy 4 spare pistols. For what it is worth I don't even own a 9mm but I have 40 & 45 glocks so it would be real natural for me to move into a glock 9mm.
 
Kind of depends on what type of bullet in the ammo you are stockpiling and for what purpose.

9mm is cheaper but also less effective in FMJ. In bonded HP it is pretty effective. So if the 10K rounds is mainly for practice then FMJ is fine in 9mm.

My choice was for the .40. Slightly more expensive than 9mm but in FMJ it has a wide blunt nose rather than a sharply pointed ogive. Ought to be a bit more effective terminally. Also have a few hundred rounds of bonded FMJ.

Over the years though I ended up adding 9mm and .45 to the stocks just because I like the guns (HiPower and 1911).
 
I plan on buying defense rounds. JHP. My reason for stockpiling is in case the SHTF or TEOTWAWKI but even on the more realistic side guns and ammo have appreciated more in the last ten years than anything in my 401k so I figure 15-20k on guns and ammo is a win-win all the way around. If the worst case scenario happens then I will have it but if not I can likely sell it for a profit if I desire to.
 
While I do have some "NON-Standard" guns and ammo, I am slowly narrowing my armory in the same manner that you describe. Shotguns are 12 gauge, Rifles are 22 and 308, with one Mini-30 hanging in there too. So that ammo is either Nato 7.62x51mm or Warsaw Pact 7.62x39mm

Handguns, as you describe are still spread over the spectrum...from 22 to 380 to 9mm to 38 SPL to 357 Magnum to 44 SP & 44 Magnum ans 45 ACP. I hope to trim that a bit to focus on those that meet my needs without the diversity that I once thought was necessary. I think it will be to trim the 380 and 9mm out and focus on the 38/357 and 44s/44m for most of the handgun action. 22's stay as does one 45acp for recreational and HD but the active shooting will be the backbone US calibers.
 
I really don't have time to reload. I often work 80-100 hr weeks and when I am not at work most my time gets consumed by wife and kids. As cheap and frugal as I am I cringe when I say this but currently it seems I have more money than time.

I have reloaded in the past and I think it is is a good way to save money especially if you have your brass to start with but in my case where I would need to to source everything the savings might not be so much.
 
I tend to prefer 40 & 45 but 9mm is a lot cheaper and is a military cartridge that seems more widely available.

I am not really wanting a "which caliber is better performance wise" as that has been beat to death 1000 times. I am wondering your thoughts on a caliber to stockpile say 10k rounds for.
Click to expand...

Pick one. Run with it.

Handloading .45 is (IMHO, YMMV) slightly easier and more forgiving of error than the others.
 
For stockpiling the 9mm to me is a no-brainer. A quick check of an on-line ammo seller shows

Speer Lawman Ammunition 9mm Luger 115 Grain Total Metal Jacket Case of 1000 =$229.80 free shipping.

Speer Lawman Ammunition 40 S&W 180 Grain Total Metal Jacket Case of 1000 = $299.80 free shipping

Speer Lawman Ammunition 45 ACP 230 Grain Total Metal Jacket Case of 1000 = $379.80 free shipping.

Granted this is TMJ ammo and not "defense" ammo, but you get the picture.

After buying 2 cases of 9mm over 45, you've saved nearly enough for a new Ruger P95, or a nice used S&W 59 series police trade in.

YMMV
 
I am just the opposite, I am in to stockpiling reloading components keeping it to 3or 4 powders for a rifle (223) a shotgun (12 Gay) pistol (357,45acp 44mag). I keep about 5k of bullets on hand for each gun and 20 lbs of powder. I cycle the powder to keep in fresh. Plus about 10-15 k of primers. Just in case the poop hits the oscillating wind device.
 
Hardball casting alloy 1,000 lbs
Molds - .45 Colt and .357/.38 and 12 guage slug
Primers SP and LP and LR and 209
Brass
Powder Unique and RL 15
Hulls/Wads
Reloading Equipment
As they say two is one and one is none so I have duplicates for reloading equipment and casting.
List of goals and getting closer.
Have some bullets for .308 reloading and a bunch of hard cast bullets for the revolvers, otherwise, I'll cast them.
All I'll ever need
 
If you are stockpiling JHP's you won't save all that much by going 9mm. The biggest difference is in practice rounds and I am a big 9mm fan due to the costs. It allows me to shoot 50% more than I would with a .40 and I feel that is much more of a benefit than the slight loss in performance. If $$$ is not a factor then go with .45 ACP.

For stockpiling purposes you can get the old 9BPLE rounds at $17.50 for a box of 50. I prefer the HST's for everyday carry, but they run about $24.50 for a box of 50. Speer Gold Dots are in the $25-$26 range.
 
Proceed with your plan but consider just in cast SHTF does not happen that a 45 acp is fun in the meantime. Just saying.
 
I hear the same two main reasons for not reloading. It is either not having enough time or not having enough space.

If either is your delima, then you have much bigger fish to fry than worrying about stock piling or when the world goes wild. With the first one, you don't have enough time to worry about these issues. With the other, you do not have enough space to stock pile.
 
I started stockpiling in the early 90's when I worked Part Time at an indoor range. I got 9 and 45 Brass. I already had 8000 brass in 38Spl. Bought primers at a 40% discount, lots of which I still have. I accumulated lots of FMJ lead as an RO for monthly, state and area matches. Starting in 2007 I dedicated $100 from each paycheck to powder and primers. I have 2 kinds of powder and two kinds of primers. In the last 3 years I have added boxes of "Social Ammo" from a local Police Supply store. In the last 18 months I have bought 500 round cases of Winchester Ranger T ammo in 9MM, S&W40, and .45ACP. And yes as others have asked, the bulk ammo is listed as "Sporting Goods" on my credit card so no one knows what is in the box. To keep the homeowners insurance company happy, all is stored in an off site Rental Storage facility except for the current needs for going to the range and keeping the "Social Ammo" topped off in the carry and house guns. Reloading lets me stay sharp in all my pistol calibers as well as shooting USPSA and taking Gun Fighting Courses.
As I and others have found, an ongoing purchase plan with a dedicated $$$ amount regardless of the amount can get you well stocked. You just have to commit to the process and repeat on a regular basis.
 
After years of having just one gun in the house and it was a 30-30 Marlin, I finally have the money to build a collection. So I am trying to stay in standard calibers but want several guns in those calibers.
9mm, 40 S&W, and 38 Special Rifle 30-30, 223, and 308.
Shotgun 20 and 12 gauge. (one each for my wife and myself)
I have a nice single stage RCBS kit for reloading and I can turn out 2 boxes of 50 per night, so that gives me at least 100 rounds for practice each session. i know it is not what all of you have but it is serving my purpose right now.
 
Well 27Veer, I think you have a good plan for a "Good Stat". The only personal change I would make is to trade the .40 for a .45ACP, but man its your plan and your gun. :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top