whats a great all around caliber that will be in stock when the SHTF

This is kind of ironic for me, because i bought my mini 14 about a year ago and my logic was "its .223, you can find it everywhere no matter what. Its also the cheapest centerfire round out there"

I have been proven wrong.
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Long term I don't think you were wrong at all. This is just a bump in the road when you look at the big picture. The common rounds, 223, 9mm, 30-06 etc. will still be the easiest to get if you think long term. This happened in 2008 and the same thing happened.

At the start of panics like this the most common chamberings go first. We are in the middle, hopefully nearing the end. There are still some less common ammo on the shelves, but in very limited quantities since there was never a huge demand for them. As the panic buying slows and eventually ends the common rounds will be back on the shelves 1st and in the greatest numbers. It will be a long time before ammo makers have time to think about switching over to making some of the less common chamberings.
 
I learned my lesson well!

The last time I didn't learn a thing, apparently. This time I have!!!!

My goal...a stockpile of: 4000 .22LR 2000 .223 2000 .308 2000 .45ACP AND 8lbs of the following... BLC (2) Varget and 4 lbs of Unique 8 lbs of Red Dot and 20/28 1000 once fired .223, .308 and .45ACP (each) wads and shot and bullets 2000 Small Rifle Primers, 2000 Large Rifle Primers and 2000 small pistol primers. Plus all of the current "stuff".

I know it will take 2 0r three years to get where I want to be. But, no more "wait till I need it and then run to Cabelas". Every purchase is a multiple of what I "need". I use one and stockpile one (or more, if I bought in bulk).

My son lives a block away and we have a very nice reloading room setup there. We "took over" a seldom used closet as a "warehouse". Once or twice a week we run some reloads for the "warehouse" and for anything we want to shoot, always a "box" or so extra for the warehouse.

I already feel better. I have a plan.

This "plan" follows my analysis that I will always need a rimfire pistol, a centerfire pistol, a rimfire rifle, a small centerfire and a large centerfire, a 20ga and a 12ga shotgun. You might choose to have more or fewer but that is a good selection for all round use/need. My choices are .22LR, .223, .308, .45 ACP and 12 and 20GA. I have others and will keep a good supply ahead of what I use.

A side benefit is that my son and I enjoy our time together loading. Before, it was sort of in anticipation of shooting, now we have a goal and still enjoy it.
 
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Planning ahead to not plan ahead...

I guess I missed something.

.68 cal
Melt the lead off your neighbors roof and make the gun cotton from common household items.
Pretty sure it has taken all game in NA.
 
Any medium bore game cartridge such as the 6.5, 270, 7x57, 7mag, 30-06 range will do the job and are usually available. I stopped at the local wally world tonight and went by the ammo section. The only stuff there was 243, 270, 7mag - the rest of the section was empty - now, this is Florida so take that for what it is worth. In the Rockies, those might be missing and something else might be more prevalent - you need to consider that for where you live
 
As has been stated here many times recently, the .270 Winchester has been available at reasonable prices through this recent ammo famine.

It's pretty unique in that respect.
 
The 300 WinMag is my choice, but for most I would say the 30-06. The reason I choose the WinMag is I have always been able to find ammo for it no matter where I go (fewer people have them than .308's etc & ammo cost a little more). I have been in many gun shops, retail stores, and specialty stores and seen 300WM on the shelves when most else is gone. Plus my 300WM is my most accurate rifle I own. I reload for all my rifles and I highly suggest that being something that anyone who even considers a "SHTF" situation to look into.

All of these folks are right though. From 243-30-06 etc, they are all great calibers and it is to each their own. Find what you shoot the best and stick with it. Me personally, I love Remington 700's and pre 64 Winchester Mod.70 rifles. Not taking away from Sako, Savage, Ruger, etc, all are very good rifles. Good luck with your choice and listen to all of these folks, they each make great points.
 
Thanks guys . I'm seeing a lot of 30-06 here . I think I'll go to a few places around town in the next few days with a list of what you guys have been recommending and see what's on the shelves .

No love for the 7mm-08 ?
 
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I've had no problem finding 270 WSM, .270 Win, or .30-30. Another one I have not had a problem finding except for one place is .280 Remington. I won a rifle in each of those calibers, so I am still enjoying shooting while others are unable to.
 
Anything thats wierd and easy to wildcat from whatever cases are available with a good stash of primers or a universal depriming die. 9.3X57, 8X57 Mauser ect. Any brass based on the 30 06 case can be formed and if You hand cast your bullets your ahead. The common popular stuff goes fast.
 
Metal god said:
Thanks guys . I'm seeing a lot of 30-06 here . I think I'll go to a few places around town in the next few days with a list of what you guys have been recommending and see what's on the shelves .

No love for the 7mm-08 ?
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What you should really do is get a short-action savage chambered in .308 and a barrel wrench. Then order barrels in:

.243 Winchester
.243 AI
.25-08 (.25 Souper)
.260 Remington
7mm-08 Remington
.338 Federal
.358 Winchester

And those are just a few that share the same parent case.

There are... probably dozens... more than share the same bolt face.

With that list above, you could buy 5,000 Lapua .308 cases and be set to load any and all of them.
 
What you should really do is get a short-action savage chambered in .308 and a barrel wrench. Then order barrels in:

.243 Winchester
.243 AI
.25-08 (.25 Souper)
.260 Remington
7mm-08 Remington
.338 Federal
.358 Winchester

And those are just a few that share the same parent case.

There are... probably dozens... more than share the same bolt face.

With that list above, you could buy 5,000 Lapua .308 cases and be set to load any and all of them.
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Now that's the kind of thinking I'm talking about . I like it :) thats much more then I was ever considering but I really do like that idea .

Already have the savage 308 . Maybe pick up another in 243 , only cus I've been wanting a rifle in 243 . WoW this has put my head a spinning
 
No need for another rifle.. all you need is a barrel wrench, a go-gauge and a barrel.
Excellent, custom, "pre-fit" barrels can be had for under $400 in any finish, length, contour and style you could want.
 
I like my 8x57, I can grab 30 06 270 280 7x57 rob the powder and primer out of any of them and convert them for my Mauser and use them, just need my loading tools and some .323s.
 
I think the comments have been right on so far. My thoughts with gun of choice.

M1 Garand in 30-06
Winchester 94 or Marlin 336 in 30-30
Mosin Nagant in 7.62x54R

Really, all of the regular common hunting calibers are available.
 
While I agree that having extra barrels around does sound like a good idea, and it can be. However, having extra barrels around means having to stock extra reloading supplies or ammunition. You're going to spend a lot of time swapping out barrels and re-zeroing your rifles. I know I've tried the switch barrel concept and it just doesn't work well for me.

5) There are better switch barrel rifles commercially available than the Savage action. However, they are far more expensive. If you are truly wanting a switch barrel rifle Blaser 93 and Sauer 202 are much better options than the Savage.

4) In stock barrels at most places for Savage are usually bull and varmint contours. Not every cartridge will I want in those contours, and wait time on custom barrels is usually 6+ weeks if your lucky.

3) Kind of an aesthetic reasons, but I needed more than one stock. The stock I prefer to run heavy barrels doesn't have the same characteristics of one I want a sporter weight barrel in.

2) I needed multiple scopes, the same scope I may want on a .243 may not be the same one I want on a .358. Even cheap Lepould or Warne QRW rings aren't exactly zeroed when you take them on and off and good return to zero rings and bases are expensive.

1) Number one reason the I didn't like the switch barrel is that I rarely had the barrel on the action that I wanted to shoot. Which required me swapping out the barrels as well as a trip to the range before heading off to hunt, shoot prairie dogs, or hunt coyotes. Sometimes I'd run out of time before I could get to the range so I'd have to take a different rifle than I had planned on.

All in all you are better off just sticking to one barrel per action in my opinion. I have a dedicated LR .243 Win as well as a sporter weight .243 Win, .250 Savage and .358 win in Savage that use a .473 bolt face, as well as a 6X47 Rem and .223 that use a .384 bolt face. Trying to swap between the 6X47, .223 Rem and .223 AI barrels I had just became such of a PITA that I sold the .223 Rem and AI barrel and bought another Stevens 200 in .223 for simplicity sake.
 
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