Should you diversify your calibers in case of bad times?
- Thread starter Playboypenguin
- Start date
. Other than that who cares. Go for it!Braintrain
New member
Military calibers are a good choice if you are truly concerned of a shortage
Head-Space
Moderator
Seems like the "rules" prohibit "SHTF" and "EOTWAWKI" scenarios. And then I'm reminded of the saying, "When your solution is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail."
As much as I enjoy firearms, shooting, and as fervently as I believe the principle in the Second Amendment is an armed electorate as a defense against tyrannical government, I really don't acquire firearms with the purpose in mind of holding off some sort of Armageddon.
Most of my firearms are "multi-taskers."
As much as I enjoy firearms, shooting, and as fervently as I believe the principle in the Second Amendment is an armed electorate as a defense against tyrannical government, I really don't acquire firearms with the purpose in mind of holding off some sort of Armageddon.
Most of my firearms are "multi-taskers."
leetosaurus
New member
dunno bout your 10mm's but the .40 cals are heavy and fast and also coming up in popularity. The majority of LEO probably are issued .40 cal right now.
I think for a full sized semi auto pistol .40 is as good as it gets with power and availability, and it doesnt recoil hard.
I think for a full sized semi auto pistol .40 is as good as it gets with power and availability, and it doesnt recoil hard.
I'm going to look at the question like what if your ammo supply line were interrupted for an indefinate period (like disaster, or a transportation strike), or any thing that would keep you from buying more with cash (economic collapse isn't teotwawki, but close).
And if something happened to prevent you from using your own ammo supply (but assuming your gun(s) are intact, like guns in fireproof safe, ammo lost in fire, but guns recovered ok), that kind of thing?
Hmmm. Well, if you have a bunch of guns in the same caliber(s), then if you find ammo for one, you have ammo for several. On the other hand, if you have guns in both the common and uncommon calibers, then that ups the odds of being able to use any ammo you might find. Maybe not much, but hey, they're fun to play with till the crash comes!
I currently have "handguns" that will shoot .22LR, .22 Hornet, .222 Rem, .30-30Win, 9mm Luger, .38Spl/.357 Mag, .357AMP, .44Spl, .44 Mag, .44AMP, .455 Webley, .45ACP, .45Colt, .45 Win Mag, .410, & .45-70. Single shots, revolvers, and autopistols. Bout the only thing I don't have covered are mouse guns and .40/10mm/.41 bore size, and I don't really have a need for them, or a good use.
And if something happened to prevent you from using your own ammo supply (but assuming your gun(s) are intact, like guns in fireproof safe, ammo lost in fire, but guns recovered ok), that kind of thing?
Hmmm. Well, if you have a bunch of guns in the same caliber(s), then if you find ammo for one, you have ammo for several. On the other hand, if you have guns in both the common and uncommon calibers, then that ups the odds of being able to use any ammo you might find. Maybe not much, but hey, they're fun to play with till the crash comes!
I currently have "handguns" that will shoot .22LR, .22 Hornet, .222 Rem, .30-30Win, 9mm Luger, .38Spl/.357 Mag, .357AMP, .44Spl, .44 Mag, .44AMP, .455 Webley, .45ACP, .45Colt, .45 Win Mag, .410, & .45-70. Single shots, revolvers, and autopistols. Bout the only thing I don't have covered are mouse guns and .40/10mm/.41 bore size, and I don't really have a need for them, or a good use.
Charles Ellis
New member
While I didn't put ther collection together with disaster survival in mind all of my firearms are of common,easily resupplied calibers.
22lr,38 spec,44 mag,9mm,40S&W,45acp,243Win,30-06,7.62X39mm,and 20 & 12 ga.I have quite a bit of ammo on hand and reload for all the center fires.
22lr,38 spec,44 mag,9mm,40S&W,45acp,243Win,30-06,7.62X39mm,and 20 & 12 ga.I have quite a bit of ammo on hand and reload for all the center fires.
I have 2 spare barrels for my Yugo Tokarev, so I can shoot the original 7.62x25 Tok round, 9x19 Luger, and 38 Super and 9x23 Winchester in the same pistol with the same magazines.. I also have a Argentine Sistema Colt in 45 ACP, and a 22 conversion kit for it.
I make my own 9x23 Winchester from once fired 223 cases. I picked up 2500 cases for $115 delivered, which is less than 2 cents a case. I figure I can always scrounge 9mm and 223 brass.
I make my own 9x23 Winchester from once fired 223 cases. I picked up 2500 cases for $115 delivered, which is less than 2 cents a case. I figure I can always scrounge 9mm and 223 brass.
I'm of the opposite mindset. I anti-diversified. I standardized on just a few calibers (.22lr, 9mm, .38Spl/.357Mag, & .30-30) and have stockpiled a sufficient supply of ammo and (with the exception of .22lr of course) reloading supplies sufficient to see me through. I'm not concerned about resupply in the short to medium term, and in the long term there are enough variables to make any sort of planning nothing more than mind games anyway. I'll cross that bridge when (and if) I come to it.
christcorp
New member
Bad times could describe anything from you losing your job and all your life savings, to a "Red-Dawn" scenario where the entire world has gone to shiite.
Assuming the SHTF scenario, I don't diversify "IN CASE". I have a lot of different guns and calibers, because in a SHTF scenario, I plan on selling and trading most of my guns. Guns and ammo will be one of the most valuable commodities. And no matter how well you plan, there will always be something that you need, or need more of. And there will definitely be a lot of people who will need guns/ammo.
My SHTF stock is 1000 rounds per caliber, except for 22LR which is 2000. This is the MINIMUM I ever keep on stock. When I'm plinking, if I get below 1000 of any caliber, I order more. If laws change and we can't buy ammo/guns, etc..., then I will make sure my stock stays at 1000 rounds per caliber. And "Plinking" simply won't be a hobby any longer.
But when SHTF, or I get to old to really shoot any longer, there are some guns I will keep and some I won't. I will keep my 22LR Pistol and Rifle and 1000 rounds of ammo. I will keep my .223 rifle and 450 rounds of ammo. I will keep my 45acp pistol and 250 rounds of ammo. I will keep my 38sp/357 mag revolver and 250 rounds of ammo. And I will keep my 12 ga shotgun and 200 rounds of assorted shells. ALL other guns, calibers, and ammo will be used for trading material. I will have guns in 32acp, 380, 9mm, 30-30, 30-06, 7mm, and a few others. When people NEED guns/ammo, they will not be picky of the caliber of type of gun. As long as you can sell them the firearm and provide them with the ammo, they will pay or trade almost anything you want. Plus, if I have to leave home, I can't take all this with me anyway. But I can carry a couple thousand rounds of ammo and a couple bricks of 22LR. And a handgul of guns
If you keep your emergency stock, realizing that you aren't going to be plinking and you might have to carry it, then you won't have a NEED for ammo. You'll have enough. Whether it's normal 9mm luger ammo or 9mm makarov. It won't matter. HOWEVER, if you have COMMON calibers that you can SELL/TRADE; e.g. 9mm, 45acp, 30-30, 30-06, 40sw, etc... then you will have the upper hand. Unless you're on the roof of your house shooting looters trying to break into your house, the SHTF scenarios we are talking about, you won't need a lot of ammo for your own use. Shooting as a hobby will no longer exist. You will only shoot for food or defense. Which means, not a lot of shooting. But it will make for some great trading material.
Assuming the SHTF scenario, I don't diversify "IN CASE". I have a lot of different guns and calibers, because in a SHTF scenario, I plan on selling and trading most of my guns. Guns and ammo will be one of the most valuable commodities. And no matter how well you plan, there will always be something that you need, or need more of. And there will definitely be a lot of people who will need guns/ammo.
My SHTF stock is 1000 rounds per caliber, except for 22LR which is 2000. This is the MINIMUM I ever keep on stock. When I'm plinking, if I get below 1000 of any caliber, I order more. If laws change and we can't buy ammo/guns, etc..., then I will make sure my stock stays at 1000 rounds per caliber. And "Plinking" simply won't be a hobby any longer.
But when SHTF, or I get to old to really shoot any longer, there are some guns I will keep and some I won't. I will keep my 22LR Pistol and Rifle and 1000 rounds of ammo. I will keep my .223 rifle and 450 rounds of ammo. I will keep my 45acp pistol and 250 rounds of ammo. I will keep my 38sp/357 mag revolver and 250 rounds of ammo. And I will keep my 12 ga shotgun and 200 rounds of assorted shells. ALL other guns, calibers, and ammo will be used for trading material. I will have guns in 32acp, 380, 9mm, 30-30, 30-06, 7mm, and a few others. When people NEED guns/ammo, they will not be picky of the caliber of type of gun. As long as you can sell them the firearm and provide them with the ammo, they will pay or trade almost anything you want. Plus, if I have to leave home, I can't take all this with me anyway. But I can carry a couple thousand rounds of ammo and a couple bricks of 22LR. And a handgul of guns
If you keep your emergency stock, realizing that you aren't going to be plinking and you might have to carry it, then you won't have a NEED for ammo. You'll have enough. Whether it's normal 9mm luger ammo or 9mm makarov. It won't matter. HOWEVER, if you have COMMON calibers that you can SELL/TRADE; e.g. 9mm, 45acp, 30-30, 30-06, 40sw, etc... then you will have the upper hand. Unless you're on the roof of your house shooting looters trying to break into your house, the SHTF scenarios we are talking about, you won't need a lot of ammo for your own use. Shooting as a hobby will no longer exist. You will only shoot for food or defense. Which means, not a lot of shooting. But it will make for some great trading material.
varoadking
New member
I can't believe someone dredged up this silly thread...