One caliber or all common calibers?

C0untZer0 said:
Microgunner does you SIG shoot all those cartrides reliably?
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It has never malfunctioned with any of the centerfire cartridges and after lapping the slide the .22lr became reliable as well.
 
Apparently Sparks and I were separated at birth, he and I are of exactly the same mind on this.
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Now, that's one scary prospect! My wife just said "one of you is too much most of the time, now you're telling me you have a twin? It's a good thing he's 1500 miles away" :p

I just see it practical terms. Keep a few universally available calibers in stock, which there are lots of guns chambered for, and then build up a decent stockpile in case the SHTF or whatever.

If you ever come to VT, maybe we can go shooting, bro.
 
Caliber and Cartridge - two very different concepts.
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Point well taken. I think most of really do know the difference, but get a bit loose in the use of the terms. You almost never hear someone say "what cartridge is that pistol chambered for?", they say "what caliber is that pistol?"

I don't find it anywhere near as annoying as the clip vs. magazine faux pas
 
If you're worried about shortages and don't reload, why not stockpile the stuff in airtight containers (tupperware is fine) with a little bag of silica gel in each?

I limited my calibers just because it seemed simpler, but plenty of people shoot 10+ calibers.
 
I see a lot of people posting that they prefer to have several pistols (or rifles for that matter) of the same caliber. That way they only need to keep one caliber in stock.
I on the other hand have decided to have several popular caliber handguns so I should always be able to get ammo for at least one of my guns should there be a shortage. I still need to get a 9mm though.
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Uhhh, both?

My strategy is to go for solid, reliable but "undervalued" hardware, in standard chamberings. "Standard chambering" means I can get ammo at Wally World or the farm store.

2x.45, 3x 9mm, 2x .38/.357, one .40 and one .22. I hand load and hand cast for all my centerfire practice ammo needs.

Rifle is harder, with my milsurp stuff. .303 and 7.62x54 don't fit my "standard chamberings" definition. I have a ".308" (Enfield 2A) that does, but I'd rather handload for it. I've concentrated on accumulating storebought AK fodder.

But, as food for thought, consider having (at least) one gun in an uncommon caliber. That way, if there is a shortage of ammo, you are not compeating against everyone else for that last box of 9mm/.45 on the shelf.
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There's something to be said for that. During the Great Ammo Famine starting Nov. '08, often the only thing on Wally World's shelf was a box or two of 357 Sig. I guess it's not popular out here in the sticks.
 
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If you hand load, you will understand and appreciate the difference between "caliber" and "cartridge", and you will be prepared to load rounds for whatever you want to shoot.

With a bit of planning and effort, you will be relatively immune to future "component shortages".

As such, most of the questions asked in this thread will be rendered moot. :)
 
I don't find it anywhere near as annoying as the clip vs. magazine faux pas
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I'm right there with you.

Incorrect usage of "clip", for me, is just as bad as the media's liberal usage of "assault rifle" for anything resembling a tube strapped to a 'stock'.

My own wording, to differentiate between a clip and a magazine: (based upon other definitions)
A clip is a device that holds a given number of rounds together, and is inserted into a magazine, or allows quick loading of a magazine.
Magazines are devices that may be internal, or external to a firearm; can be detachable, or fixed; contain a spring and follower; and allow cartridges to be fed into the chamber of a firearm. Most magazines do not use clips.
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So you restrict yourself to one round for handguns. Let's say .40S&W, does that mean if a great deal on a 1911 pops up you'll ignore it?


They say consistency is the hobgoblin of small minds. Limiting yourself to one cartridge because of some fetish for homogeneity, is pretty much the same deal.
 
Years ago, before I lost my then job of long standing, got divorced, ate away my savings looking for more work, etc. I had .40S&W, .45 ACP, .357 Magnum, .44 Magnum, .38 Special, .308, 5.56mm, .22s, 12 and 20 and even 16 gauge.

Now we have his and hers 9mm handguns, his and hers 12 gauge shotguns, a .357 Mag, a .22 rifle and sooner than later, economics lining up, his and her M4gery ARs in 5.56 and that's a;; we can support. It grates a bit but it is our reality.
 
A few years ago I decided I simply had too many calibers on hand. To simplify, I sold my XD-40 and bought an XDm-9 ... now I only stock .22lr, .22mag, .38, .357, 9mm and .45 ACP ... next to go will probably be the .22lr, since I hate the Smith 22a I currently have for that round and prefer .22mag for most .22 uses ...

For SD, I have tons of 9mm ammo around and my long gun is a 9mm carbine ...
 
I guess its a personal decision, but I wonder how one could have too many calibers? I mean, they don't spoil like food can. If you don't use one for a year or three, its still good (providing you take the most basic elementary storage precautions).

I reload for over 30 different cartridges in something over a dozen calibers, rifle and handgun. I do know the difference, but also fall prey to the common conversational usage of the word caliber to describe a firearm's chambering.

So too does the firearms industry. On sees many catalogs and firearms descriptions with the format of caliber: cartridge name (such as caliber:9mm Luger).

Caliber is a multi-definition word, and the proper definition to use depends on the context. It is not just the bore diameter, but depending on context, caliber is also the chambering (cartridge name) and (in artillery) the barrel length in multiples of the bore diameter. The USS Missouri mounts 9 16" 50 caliber rifles. But this does not mean there are nine .50 caliber rifles with 16" barrels. It means there are nine 16" naval rifles with barrels 50 calibers long!

its not nearly as clearly defined as clip vs. magazine.

Do you have a motor in your car? or an engine? Mine has an enigine, but nearly everyone, myself included uses motor and engine interchangable in ordinary conversation.
 
Never worried much about shortages. All I know is that having several different firearms in several different calibers means a whole lot more fun for me.
 
I buy and shoot what I like to shoot and don't worry about 'common' ammo.

I have handguns from .22 to .45 and rifles from .22 to .308 (including 5.56 and 7.62x39.)

But a few I do keep more ammo just in case (but not all of them.)

And I reload to!

Deaf
 
If I could only have one cartridge, it would be 22lr.

If I could have two, it would be 22lr and 357 magnum as long as I could reload. Anything from .380acp power with powderpuff snubby loads to 30-30 power out of a hot-loaded carbine.

If three, it would be 22lr, 357mag, and 12gauge.

If four, it would be 22lr, 357mag, 12gauge, and 308.

Ironically the only one of these that I currently own is the 22lr. I'm working on 357 and really that's all I plan to buy for a while... gotta get the reloading setup for it. Right now I have: 22lr, 380acp, 9mm, 5.56x45, 7.62x39, 7.63x54r, and 8mm Mauser... and out of those, it is rare that anything except the first three get shot because of the cost of ammo. When 357 is added, things might change.
 
This reminds me I need more powder and primers.
One caliber ha ha now that's funny right there.
I didn't have a problem in 2008 because I lived through 1994 and was prepared.
Every time you go to walmart pick up 100 9mm or a bulk pack of 22s get a dry box or 50 cal ammo can. Watch fo deals on line or reload.
 
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