What does your caliber collection look like?

Most of these are multiples,

Handguns
.22lr
.32acp
.38 special
.357 magnum
8x22mm
9x19mm
.44 percussion cap n ball
.44 special
.44 magnum
.45 Colt
.45 Auto
.45 win-mag

Shotguns
all 12 gauge so far, girlfriend wants a 20 gauge though

Rifles
.22lr
7.62x54R
30-30
(next on list will be .308)

That's all of 'em so far, clearly I'm a handgun guy. Long-guns are more accurate, but I have more fun with handguns
had to reference a pic to make sure I didn't forget any. Only fifteen calibers in total so far (i didn't count .22lr twice), looks like I have some catching up to do with some of you guys!

Oh yeah, for any of you guys looking to slim your collection, I'll be happy to provide a good home for any unwanted 'irons, just send 'em my way

My collection is:

.22LR
12 gauge
20 gauge
.50 muzzle loader
7.62x39
.458 SOCOM
.45 ACP
9mm

That's it so far. I plan to add .260 Rem and .308 Win soon, maybe even a 5.56/.223 as well.

Well I just recently consolidated mine so its
9x18
9x19
7.62x39
7.62x54

used to also have
.40
.45 acp
.45 LC
.22
30 cal
.410

There are some pretty impressive lists on this thread. For me, I like the idea of sticking to just a few calibers. I have multiple guns in each caliber, and I plan on keeping it that way so I only have to stock a limited variety of ammunition.

Currently:

.22LR
9mm
7.62x39

I plan on adding the following in the next few years:

12ga.
.357

And I might eventually be persuaded to add either or both of these:

.308
.223

I think some people get excited about owning lots of different guns with different calibers. For me, I get excited about expanding my collection within the limited calibers that I find are all-around useful (the above do that for me). I'm not too stressed about finding the ones with the best terminal ballistics or any other fancy criteria. I like common (cheap) rounds that work in common firearms and that are commonly effective.

If unique rounds and/or expensive ammunition is your thing (especially if it fulfills a certain need or utility for you), then go for it!! But I'll stick with a small variety of common/boring ammunition for now (like I said, it is also an affordable strategy for me).

My dad has some unique rounds (like a 16ga. bolt-action shotgun), so I guess I might be looking at some of that in the future when he moves on. I could sell his unique-caliber guns, I suppose, but that would be hard for me to do (I have fond memories of those firearms).

Shotgun: 12ga, 20ga (that one was easy )

Rifle: .22LR, .223 Remington, .225 Winchester, .257 Roberts, .270 Winchester, .308 Winchester, .30-30 WCF, .30-06 Springfield, 7.5x55 Swiss, .303 British, 7.62x54R, 8mm Mauser

Handgun: .22LR, 7.62x25 Tokarev, .32 ACP, .32 S&W Long, 7.62 Nagant, .38 Special, .380 ACP, 9mm Luger, 9mm Makarov

12 ga
20 ga
.17HMR
.22LR
.223
.22-250
.308
.38 Special
.357 Magnum
9mm
.45acp

I feel like I've got all my bases covered, unless I get a BR gun at some point.

Permanent:
.22 LR
12 ga.
.308
To be reduced to 1:
.380
9mm
.45 ACP
There's a strong case to be made for simplicity...

Tedzilla said:

There's a strong case to be made for simplicity...

Click to expand...

There's an equally strong case to be made for the reverse.

Each of the calibers you listed will be the FIRST to dry completely up, and FAST, in a shortage / crisis.

Having a wide variety of calibers means you can continue to feed some of your guns something.

Of course, if you have a stockpile of ammo or reloading components, you aren't affected regardless; you can just "ride it out".

12ga
20ga
410ga
22lr
25auto
32rimfire
32auto
9mm
45acp
45lc
.243
5.56
6.8
7.62x39
7.62x54
30.06

12 Ga
.410
5.56
7.62x39
30-30
.22LR
.32 S&W L
.32 ACP
.32 H&R
.327 FedMag
.38 Spl
.357 Mag
9mm Mak
9mm Para

I feel like I am forgetting a couple but that is all I can think of. I would like to add a .308 to it some time soon.

Trent:
Even though Tedzilla can easily share ammo with a huge fraction of gun owners, you made an excellent point about having diverse (milsurp?) calibers.

I'm only keeping a 2,000-rd. heap of 8mm because I might one day decide to learn how to use the Yugo Mauser's sights, and maybe like them.

Do many people on this topic keep much ammo for guns they no longer care to shoot etc, or for a gun which they won't acquire for a while?

From large to small...

7.62x54R
7.62x39
5.56x45
9MM
.32ACP
.22LR

.22 LR
5.56x45
.270 Win
9mm
.45 ACP
.410
12 guage

Trent said:

There's an equally strong case to be made for the reverse.

Each of the calibers you listed will be the FIRST to dry completely up, and FAST, in a shortage / crisis.

Having a wide variety of calibers means you can continue to feed some of your guns something.

Of course, if you have a stockpile of ammo or reloading components, you aren't affected regardless; you can just "ride it out".

Click to expand...

Trent,
.22, 12 ga., .308 and 9mm/.45 acp are the most available for the immediate future and if you have a realistic stock of these calibers you have your bases covered and an excellent barter commodity if Obama/Fed Chairman Bernanke's programs don't pan out.
Good luck with your 'esoteric' calibers...

I too have just reviewed my inventory......

.22 on the small end
12 ga. on the large end.
a bunch inbetween.

.22lr

12 gauge

5.56x45
.30-06
7.62x54R

.38spl
.357 mag
9x19
.45ACP

cartridges

I don't have a caliber collection as such.....I do have and do reload for than forty cartridges. Those cartridges span a caliber spread from 0.223" to 0.510".

Questions: If and when you buy ammo, do you ask for a box of calibers? If you reload, do you reload a box of calibers?
When you load a magazine or a cylinder, do you load with six, seven, thirteen calibers?
Cartridge is a nice word.

Pete

Funny, when I was younger I wanted at least one of everything, and still do! But, as I have aged, getting to the other-side of 60, I have found myself becoming far more pragmatic. As such, my kids have become the beneficiaries of my shift. I went from: .17HMR, .22s-l-lr, .25, .380, 9mm, .38, .357, .40, .44mag, .45, .50, .223/5.56, .243, .308, .30 -.30, .410ga, .28ga, .20ga, .16ga., and I had multiples of many.
Since my consolidation: .17HMR, .22s-l-lr, 9mm, .357, .45, .223/5.56, 28ga, 16ga & 12ga.
A smaller more practical mix I believe.

22
223
30.06
8mm
338 Win magnum
7.62x39
22 magnum
38 special
357 magnum
45acp
44 magnum
303 British
12ga
16ga
20ga

I'm not going to bother trying to list them all but among them;

7.62x54r
5.56/.223
9mm
.45 ACP
.25 ACP
.32 ACP
.22 of course
12, 16, 20 gauges
.30-30
.380
.40 S&W
.357 magnum

I do have and do reload for [more] than forty cartridges...Cartridge is a nice word.

Click to expand...

It's all semantics. If you are talking about types of cartridges, then that makes sense. If you just say "cartridges, " then perhaps you only have the materials for about 40 cartridges (rounds/bullets) total/period (all of the 40 total cartridges being 9mm, for example). I'm sure you meant varieties of cartridges.

You could also say "varieties of ammunition," "types of rounds," etc. I agree that "caliber" is a limited term that designates the diameter of the projectile (in inches)...but we all understood the OP.

BearGriz said:

It's all semantics. If you are talking about types of cartridges, then that makes sense. If you just say "cartridges, " then perhaps you only have the materials for about 40 cartridges (rounds/bullets) total/period (all of the 40 total cartridges being 9mm, for example). I'm sure you meant varieties of cartridges.

You could also say "varieties of ammunition," "types of rounds," etc. I agree that "caliber" is a limited term that designates the diameter of the projectile (in inches)...but we all understood the OP.

Click to expand...

That we do.

We all understood the OP

Click to expand...

Yes. I understood him too.
Minor hijack here - the using caliber in place of cartridge is a pet peeve of mine. Here we have a forum of guys who make a habit of precision - measuring powder charges to the tenth of a grain, group sizes to three decimal places, and all kinds of esoteric info about various firearms and ammunition and they will not take the care to use the right word (at least in this instance).
Pete

7.62x54r
40 s&w

...in time.

.22lr-2 rifles and 1 revolver
.380acp-1 pistol
9mm Para-2 pistols
.38spl/.357mag-1 revolver
.308/7.62x51-1 rifle
7.62x54R-1 rifle
7.92x57/8mm Mauser(.323 cal)-1 rifle
.44-1 BP revolver
.45acp-2 pistols
.54-1 BP rifle
12ga-1 pump

That's all for now, but more WILL come!