consolidating calibers

There are two primary schools of thought for those of us who have thought about it...

Having a variety of calibers means if there is an emergency, and for some reason a lot of one type of ammo becomes obscure (or only one is produced), you have something in that caliber. So if you have 9, .40, and .45, and the cops are hoarding the .40 and the military the 9, then you can still buy ammo for your .45 and use that.

I am on the other side of the fence. I think that if you would use it for the same thing, you might as well pick one caliber and stick with it. I currently own 9, .40, and .380, but I'm looking at consolidating and shifting to 9mm and .32. They would each have a distinct purpose, 9mm for most of my pistols (used for HD and carry), and .32 ACP for when I want to CC in clothes not designed for it. The advantage here is simplicity.

On the other hand, if a magazine ban does go through, I will amend my plan such that whatever weapon I get has the biggest rounds I can get while still holding 10 (so 9mm in sub-compacts, .40 or .357 in compacts, .45 in duty). However, it will still fit with my philosophy of each caliber serving a purpose, it's just that the purpose would be based on the size of gun.

I had all 9mm pistols, but was tired of not finding any ammo, so I traded 2 for .40 S&W.

In handguns I started consolidating my calibers about four years ago. What I have now are: .22, 9mm and .45. I intentially chose those so I could stock up on ammo by being able to concentrate on just 3 calibers. Also, if for some reason things got really bad, these are probably the most common so probably would be the easiest to "pick up", in the event they happened to be lying on the ground by someone. Same concept with my rifles. Also, I have 2-3 of each caliber in gun form.

It seems to me that you are missing out on learning about, owning and shooting many different types of guns and cartridges.

I think it is important to remember owning and shooting firearms is fun and not to get too caught up in this tactical baloney.

I went from a 45 to a 40 to a 9. Still have my 40 and it is looking better all the time. Seems like you can always find 40 ammo.

To me, owning three calibers would be a consolidation! I have seven just in handguns, never mind the rifles, and have no interest in reducing. If anything I want more variety, not less.

5 different handgun chamberings, 5 rifle chamberings, but only one shotgun chambering. I guess that makes me "non-consolidated".

If I were to consolidate, handguns would be .22 and .357, and long guns would be .22, .30-06, and 12 gauge.

Of course I probably won't actually make a decision to consolidate, it will most likely occur incrementally as my kids loot my modest arsenal.

I feel I am pretty well consolidated...

handguns:
22 lr
9mm
45 acp
380 acp
38 special
357 magnum
44 magnum

Rifles:

22 lr
30-30
30-06
.223

Shotguns:

.410
12g
20g


Everything I have serves a purpose, I would hate to get rid of any of them. I don't see a need for adding another caliber at the moment but who knows, I may find a purpose for it too.

Variety is the spice of life my friend.

9mm and .45acp are all I need for SD semi-autos.

My handgun calibers..

22LR
22Mag
25acp
380acp
38spl
357Mag
9mm
10mm
40S&W
45acp
44Mag

This pretty much guarantees me I wont have a paper weight even in hard times... (like now for instance)

Get into re-loading.

As some have mentioned, having a variety of calibers available is good when certain varieties are scarce. However, consolidating calibers can been good when ammo is scarce IF you have a small stock pile ahead of time. For example, say you restricted your pistol ammo choice to 9mm (I don't count .22). You could have a pocket carry gun, a larger IWB CC gun, and a full framed gun for home defense, all in 9mm. If you put together a small stock pile of 9mm, say 2000 rounds of FMJ and 200 rounds of self defense ammo, you could go to the range and do a lot of practicing before having to worry about running out. If you have multiple calibers, you will have to keep more on hand to guarantee that you have enough to shoot every gun during an ammo shortage.

I prefer to keep a small stock of each of my pistol calibers on hand, about 500 rounds, to ride out shortages. Therefore I try to keep my caliber variety low. For instance, I don't think that .40 brings much to the table that isn't covered by my .45. Some might argue with me, but that is my opinion. Also, I'd be interested in getting in to shooting 10mm, but unless it is going to replace my .45, that won't happen.

If/when I get into rifle shooting, I will likely "limit" myself to only a few rifles, but probably 2-3 calibers. I'd love to get a Ruger Mini-30 for medium game hunting.

anyone consider consolidating calibers ?

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I'm currently fairly consilidated. In handguns I've got .22, .38/.357, 9mm, and .45ACP while in rifles I have .22, .223 and .308. I could probably drop the .45ACP withour really missing it, but I just like those big ol' bullets.

I'm constantly being tempted to expand my caliber list, though. At various times in the last year I've come close to buying guns in .380ACP, .30-30WIN, .257WBY and .45-70GOVT so I don't know if I'll keep the number of different calibers down forever...

tactical baloney

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The evolution of marketing, right there.

It seems to me that you are missing out on learning about, owning and shooting many different types of guns and cartridges.

I think it is important to remember owning and shooting firearms is fun and not to get too caught up in this tactical baloney.

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I just don't think it's worth it, personally. My guns serve 2 primary purposes: range practice and personal protection. I also do a bit of competition (but I'm not very good). I have selected 9mm as my preferred carry choice based on other factors. If I consider the 9 to be superior to the .40 or the .45, why do I want a .40 or .45? (Similar the other direction if you prefer .45).

I decided to go the consolidation route a few years back, with my primary calibers being .22 mag, 9mm, and .223. Those are the calibers I have stocked up on over the years and also standardized so everything has the same slings, scopes, mags, cases, etc.
Since I enjoy shooting other calibers as well I also have a few magnum calibers in both pistol and rifle as well as plinkers and light duty self defense/backup calibers. I wouldn't mind so much running out of ammo for my .380, however being shy on 9mm would be considered unacceptable......

I think it is important to remember owning and shooting firearms is fun and not to get too caught up in this tactical baloney.

I just don't think it's worth it, personally.

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What having fun?

Not everything has to be broken down to a tactical formula of some sort of scenario....
IMO It is great to pick up a gun that has no other purpose other than to put a smile on your face..

I don't think it's worth the extra cost of owning extra guns in the other calibers just to have them.

But I'm a very practical-minded individual. I don't have a dinner table because my desk works just as good (I'm a bachelor).

I consolidate to the point of concentrating training and stocpiling my two go to pistol/carbine calibers. Other than that there's no reason to consolidate, buy what you like just make sure you concentrate ammo/training on what you use/carry most.

Some people like to consolidate ... others like to have as many calibers as possible. I handload and I've got the following calibers in 10 handguns:

22 LR
22 Mag
380 ACP
38 Spl
357 Mag
9mm

Once I finish my case of 22 Mag, I probably won't buy any more, and once I've used up my 380 ACP components, I'll probably stop loading that caliber and retire my PPK/S.

I would be happy having only 22LR and 9mm for pistols and 22LR and 38/357 for revolvers, plus 30/30 for my one rifle.

This is as far as I got in pistols
22
.380
9x18
9mm
45 acp.

In Rifles
22
.223/556
30/30
762x39
762x54R
30-06.

If I consolidated more then this I'd have to sell some pistols and rifles I really like, and that gentilmen is not going to happen.

I would think the current situation illustrates the perils of consolidation. All of the calibers that are supposed to be "always available" - to wit, 9mm, .40, .45 ACP, .223/5.56, .22LR - are the ones that either cannot be had, or cannot be bought at a price anyone not actually in a firefight at that moment would pay. "Oddball" calibers, however, remain roughly as available as before.

Besides, variety is fun.

I think I'm about right for my caliber foot-print. On one hand, 2 of my pistols can feed more then 1 cartridge. On the other there are a lot of firearms that I'd love to pick-up but am wary of have to feed.

1 pistol: 9x19mm
1 revolver: .22LR, .22 Mag.
1 pistol: .22LR
1 revolver: 7.62x38R, .32 S&W, .32 S&W Long, .32 H&R Mag. (Can kinda sorta shoot .32 ACP through it, but my attempts to fit the conversion cylinder were... lacking).

2 shotguns:20 gauge
1 rifle: 9x19mm
1 rifle: 7.62x39mm
1 rifle: .22LR
1 rifle: 8x57mm Mauser
1 rifle .30 Carbine

My biggest issue right now is that I can't find any decently priced food for any of my pistols or half my long arms.

Dave, I can't imagine someone stopping in the middle of a firefight to pay for ammo. More likely they'd grab it off the shelf and yell "put it on my tab".

What sort of calibers are you thinking of? 10mm, .357 sig, 9mm mak and .380 ACP are not on your list that I'd think are fairly common, are those it?