I've reduced calibers a LOT, and am happy. You?

My collection has been expanding:

.22LR
.22WMR
.223/5.56
.30-06
9mm
.40&W
.38/.357
.44MAG
.45ACP
20ga
12ga

380
38 spl
357
9mm
40
45
223/556
7.62x39
7.62x54R
30-06
12ga


I reload for most of these and looking to add 308 sometime soon. No plans to trim down.

.22LR
.22 K-Hornet
7.62x39
.38 Spl
9mm
20 ga

Thinking about adding an AR, but haven't quite been able to rationalize it yet...

Thinking about adding an AR, but haven't quite been able to rationalize it yet...

Click to expand...

Copy that. I'm thinking about a bolt rifle for the first, just to get familiar with the caliber.

Top choice at this time: Ruger American Ranch in .223.

I quit adding new ones but the bug is getting to me to keep expanding. Leaning towards a 338 lapua and a 458 socom right now

22lr
22wmr
223
220 swift
6.5 Grendel
50 Beowulf
30-06
300 win mag
45-70
375 Winchester
30-30
7.62x39
9mm
380acp
45 acp
40s&w
38 special
357 mag
38 super
44 mag
45 colt
12,410 gauge

I've been trimming down quite a bit. After a lot of reflection about who I would pass them on to with the kids not really interested I decided to dethrone all safe queens. Oddball calibers, poorly functioning arms I wasn't willing to spend more on, anything that didn't make me smile when it goes "bang". And then I started trimming away even those that were good but not great. At one point I considered going down to a single centerfire pistol and a single rimfire but settled on 5 2 for now.

I'm down to four. 22, 30 carbine, 38/357, 45 acp. Just don't want to load for more than that. My powder will double up on 357 and my carbine. Also 45 acp and 38 so I only keep 2 powders to load everything. It's much easier to stock up on bullets if you are only loading for a few calibers. That's my goal, several years worth of components for a few different cartridges.

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Quite content with the firearms and chamberings I have, yes, but I'd like a .357 wheelgun to properly dispose of all the .38 Special my leverguns won't eat. Have my eye on a sweet lil' J-frame.

.22 LR
.22 WMR
7.62X39
.30 WCF/[Edit:.30-30]
7.62X51/.308
.38 Special
.357 Magnum
.44 Magnum
.45 ACP
20 ga
12 ga

I never had a lot but I reduced anyway.

Basically:
5.56x45
9x19
.22lr
12 gauge
.38 spl / .357 mag


And yes I am happy. I have no compelling reason to have anything else at this time. I have had and sold .32 ACP, .380 auto, 10mm, .45 ACP, 7.62x39. I couldn't even name a cartridge as the most likely 'next'

I've got a few...

.22 LR
.223/5.56 NATO
.243 Winchester
.30-06 Springfield
.303 British
7.62x54R

.32 ACP
.380 ACP
9mm Luger
.38 Special
.45 ACP

12 Gauge
20 Gauge
.410 bore

That being said, I only stock up on some calibers... those that I shoot most often (.22, 9mm, .45 ACP, 12 gauge, and .223/5.56) -- everything else I have about a half dozen boxes of maximum. I buy when I find a good deal and it'll last me a year or more.

I shoot:
9mm - often
5.56 - often
12 gauge - often
20 gauge - occasionally
6.5 Jap - rarely until I get reloading set up
7.62x39 - occasionally
.22lr - rarely
.30-30 - rarely

I'd actually like to expand my caliber footprint, just in case of another ammo panic/ shortage.

Looking to include
.40 S&W
.45 ACP
7.62x51
.450 Bushmaster
and maybe a rifle cartridge that is generally stocked at the LGS but not a fast seller.
Seems like 6.5 Creedmoor or Grendel might be an option.

I've got what I feel are the centerpice calibers....9mm, 40 S&W, 7.62x39, .308, 5.56, 22 LR.

I reload for everthing except the 22 and 7.62x39.

Nothing like a Glock 23 .40 with .357 Sig barrel, 9mm barrel, and AACK .22 lr. slide.

Any ammo shortage gives you options.

Deaf

22LR/WMR
9mm
38 Spec/357 Mag
223
308
12 gauge

I'm still in the "there's no such thing as too many" group.

I don't know that I will stay there forever, but its where I am now.

There are at least a handful that I want to add right now.

I did the same a couple years back. But then, the Mosin bug bit me again, so added 7.62x54r, then 7x57 Mauser, then 8mm Mauser, then (OMG) Help me, I'm a backslider!

I stream lined several years ago as far as main calibers but I do have several odd balls that where hand me downs that I only keep a box or two of ammo around just to say I have some.

Calibers that I have more than one firearm in and more than one case of ammunition for each caliber.
22 LR
9mm
5.56x45
7.62x39
7.62x51
12ga

I have only one firearm in each and less than 3 boxes of ammo per.
.32 ACP
.380 ACP
.410
20ga

I shoot mine often,
.17hm2
.22 lr
.22short
.22tcm
.32sw short
.32long
.327mag
.38 special
.357mag
.40
.45acp
.45long colt
.480ruger
.243win
.45/70
12ga
410
That's just about all I can buy ammo for.

Recently I have avoided expanding my ammo supply logistics by not adding any new calibers in the past ten years.

There was a time (47 years ago) when my guns were limited to a
.32 S&W Long Iver Johnson revolver,
.22 LR Marlin Model 99G rifle,
.22 S,L,LR Winchester 69A rifle,
12ga Marlin 55 shotgun, and
.30-30 Winchester 1894 rifle.
Ammo supply was simple and basically based on specific needs: plinking, varmint, small game, deer hunting opportunities.

I inherited guns, received guns as gifts, took up sports shooting in muzzleloading, black powder cartridge, and vintage and modern military. I took the advice of acquaintances who were police officers and looked at defensive guns. Then the occasional historic and design curio appealed to me. Ammo supply got complicated.

I sometimes did consider simplifying my ammo supply logistics when I looked at new guns. Would a 9mm do any more for me than my .40S&W H&K USP except complicate my ammo supply? Pass.

Getting rid of some guns would be a hard choice. Many are inheritances or gifts with histories: the .303 sporter that my stepdad helped me get a good trade on then he gave me a .303 Lee Loader that Christmas. My son will inherit that. I can't see trading or selling it to a stranger even if it would eliminate an odd ball caliber.

I buy and shoot in my guns:
.410 shotgun
12ga shotgun
.22 Short, Long, Long Rifle
.22 Magnum
.25 ACP
7.62x25mm Tokarev
.38 Special
.357 Magnum
.40 S&W
.45 ACP
6.5mm Carcano
.30 Carbine
.30-30
.303 British
7.62x39mm
7.62x54R

I reload:
7.63 Mauser
.38 Special
.45 AutoRim (for a "cut" .455 Webley)
6.5 Carcano
.30-30 Carbine
.303 Brit
12ga

Reducing calibers might make my life less complicated, but I am not sure that it would make me happier.

I thought about reducing. But I do like the variety! Now I just buy guns in the calibers I have. Currently have guns in the following calibers.

22 mag 1 gun
25acp 1 gun
380 1 gun
38/357 3 guns
9mm 2 guns
45acp 1 gun
45 colt 1 gun
50ae 1 gun
30 carbine 1 gun
223/5.56 3 guns
30-06 1 gun
12 gauge 1 gun

I have guns that I've never even fired but can't force myself to sell any.

I may expand my rifle chamberings a bit, but no urgent need to do so. If TEOTWAWKI comes upon us, I have weapons chambered to handle the vast majority of what I'm likely to encounter. I also have plenty on hand to last me as long as I will wish to survive.

I have slimmed down in recent years. No regrets.

.22lr, 9mm, .45ACP, .223/5.56, 12 gauge.

For all intents and purposes, a 300BLK AR kit could fill the hole left when I sold my beater AK.

I have avoided firearms in other calibers, so I have less calibers to worry about. If I add another caliber, I'd have a reason to add that caliber, other than liking the gun that fires it.

I have...

.22 Long Rifle
.380 ACP
.38 Special / .357 Magnum
.45 ACP
.223 Remington
12 gauge

I've thought from time to time about selling the .380 and .45 but haven't actually taken that step. If I do, I will probably add .30-06 and stay with that. There are some great rounds that interest me (6.5x55, 10mm, .300 Winchester Magnum, 28 gauge), but the cost (to say nothing of the opportunity cost) of buying reloading gear for those is just too high. I want to keep it manageable.