Should you diversify your calibers in case of bad times?

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Playboypenguin

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I have been centering all my new purchases on the .40S&W and 10mm calibers. I was considering getting rid of my guns in all but a few calibers but then a thought occurred to me. This is a very remote possibility but it is something I thought about.

Lets say we have some natural disaster or other type of disaster which leaves us in a rough spot. If we limit our guns to one or two calibers we might end up out of luck if we have find ourselves out of ammo for one reason or another. Maybe we used it all, maybe it was stolen, or maybe it was lost in the disaster. I was thinking it might be nice to keep one or two guns in all the more common rounds just in case that is the only ammo we could find. Such as if we were having to travel with our belongings and we come across a stash of 9mm ammo or if someone we are bartering with has 9mm ammo for trade. If all we have are .40S&W guns we would be out of luck.

Is it better to consolidate or cover the bases? seems like these would be two very different philosophies. To which school of thought would you subscribe? :)
 
If that's your justification, fine. I, on the other hand, have just admitted to myself that I like variety too much to own just a few calibers:D
 
I've always tried to keep at least 4 handguns. Chambered for 9mm, .40, .45 and then .357/.38.

Like you, I have wondered if just having one or two different calibers is a good Idea. So, I keep handguns that are chambered for the most mainstream/popular calibers.

I pretty much just rotate between one or two of them for carry, and the rest for, " What if " or "Just in case"
 
I bought a Smith and Wesson M&P 40 just for that purpose because they have conversion barrels so that it can shoot 9mm and 357 sig caliber rounds. The barrels are about $160 a pop but you also have to buy the magazines for the specific caliber. I think u can use the 40 mags for the 357, not quite sure though because just got the pistol a week ago. So for about $1000 i can have 3 guns in 1 if need be.

I think the Glock 22 or 23 and one of the Sigs will do the same. Not sure about other manufacturers
 
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I have consolidated mine down to 22lr, 357/38, 9mm and 9X18MAK. My Dad makes fun of me for getting rid of the 40 and 45's. I made fun of him for not buying them off of me because Mom said no:eek:

Beentown
 
I haven't sold anything off in a consolodation move, but I do make sure to have guns in calibers that should be reasonably easy to continue to get ammo or componants for.
 
If I was to concentrate in one area I would chose those considered to be "military calibers."

I don't think you could walk so much as one lap at the range I use without kicking up several .223 or 9mmx19 cases.

If nothing else the used brass would enhance your "Mad Max" style reloading.
 
one of the reasons i prefer a 357 over a 38...more ammo choices. it does make good sense to have at least a few of the more popular calibers. it also makes sense to keep a minimum amount of ammo for each gun on hand. that's my story and i'm stickin to it.
 
I'm working on the "if you own all the calibers you can always use whatever ammo you find" theory. It is getting a bit bulky though! :D
 
Being mentally prepared in a natural disaster, having emergency supplies and a contingency for weapons is not a bad idea / Earthquakes, etc ...happen.

In general, in terms of a disaster, if you have diversity in your weapons its probably not a bad thing / so you don't have to rely on 1 or 2 calibers / and you could trade ammo you have for other things / you would be able to purchase ammo if you have a variety of weapons in the common calibers.

The question is what's common ....it depends on the region of the country you're in / big cities, small towns, etc ....but in my mind ...

most common is probably 12ga shotgun shells..

In terms of handguns / 9mm or .45 acp probably...maybe .357 mag or .38 spl
- and I happen to have a Henry rifle that will take .357 mag and .38 spl as well / so its versatile.

Rifles - probably .30-06 / .223 ... ( maybe .357 mag or .38 spl).
 
Celebrate diversity!
(you knew some putz would say it)

I also keep at least one in each of the popular calibers "just in case".
 
The question is what's common ....it depends on the region of the country you're in / big cities, small towns, etc ....
Click to expand...

I agree. The area that I live in, I bet there is a lever action .30.30 and a 12 Gauge pump in every house in the county... Including mine. I'm sure there are AR's and other weapons similar around here, but not as abundant as those.

So, naturally I want weapons that fire those calibers. And the AR would be good too :D
 
You might limit your collection to a few popular calibers, but if ammo becomes scarce, who is to say that the common calibers won't be harder to get than some of the less common ones due to hoarding?

The long and short of it is that there is no right answer to your question.

Personally though, I'd hedge my bets and go along the line of thought that the more calibers you have, the better off you are. Plus, variety is fun and keeps shooting interesting.
 
Interesting thinking.

I've tried to consolidate calibers a bit, getting out of 9mm altogether. It's food for thought; maybe I ought to look into something like a G19 or somesuch just in case, but then again, I'd think if things get THAT bad, I'd expect ammo in all calibers to have pretty well disappeared.
 
I'd suggest going with what you like and buying a lot of ammo in those calibers now in anticipation of rough spots that might arise in the future.
 
I sold off a few guns to reduce my number of calibers. I then used the money to stock up on immediately available ammo, reloading equipment, and reloading supplies. Any spare cash goes into critical spare parts. Any guns I have also have a double in case the first one goes down. The double can either take over or become an organ donor.

Ammo is less scarce when you have invested your money in reloading equipment and supplies.
 
I have gone in exactly the opposite direction. I no longer own .40, .44 or .38 handguns.

This allows me to keep more ammo (or components) on hand for each of these calibers.

For instance, in .45 acp, I have about 5000 empty cases, nearly that many primers, and am working on matching that number of lead projectiles. That is my primary semi-auto caliber.

For revolvers, .45 Colt is my primary caliber. I have 1000 empty cases, and it can use the same projectiles and primers (although I also have about 1000 heavier ones).

I also have around 1000 cases for .41 Mag and .357 Mag, although I load and shoot considerably fewer of each. I have more 9mm cases than .45, but have yet to load that cartridge, and shoot it very infrequently. I may purge one or more of these from my inventory, or maybe not.

As long as I keep buying Large Pistol Primers, 200-255 gr bullets and W-231, I can shoot forever, as often as I can find time for.

Even if you don't reload, the same principle applies...to a certain extent. Would you rather have multiple vehicles and try to keep fuel supplies of diesel, gasoline, LP gas and ethanol? Or just have one vehicle, and one (plentiful and easily-stored) fuel type?

In good times, I'll take one of each. In tough times, I'm sharpening my focus....
 
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