Thinking of adding other calibers to the corral due to (gasp) panic buying.

If you are looking for a higher likelihood of finding factory ammo in lean times that’s not a bad approach.

Another thing to consider is guns that handle families of cartridges, e.g. revolvers that can fire 2-3 different rounds safely, or semi-autos that are easy/cheap to caliber convert (e.g. IIRC a Glock 22 can be converted to 9mm cheaply). There are some rifles that can do the same e.g. .357 lever guns that can handle .38 special.

The other thing to consider is reloading, and choosing guns that can share supplies.

No reason to flame at this, but timing is tough right now.

I’m trying to do the same, but I keep going back to the fact I feel like I need to have X number of rounds for each caliber, and that can get both pricy and take up a lot of storage space.

For example, I added a 10MM to the safe before COVID and have yet to start putting back ammo. Yeah, delaying was dumb...

But I do have a decent supply of my more seasoned rounds.

When it comes to panic buying my goal is to already be stocked up and not have to worry about finding ammo when needed.

If you want to buy guns in those calibers that’s great, but buying because maybe you might be able to find ammo during a crisis seems like planning to start behind the eight ball. Additionally those calibers might be the last to sell out, but once they sell out the manufacturers will be busy with more common rounds. The uncommon rounds can remain out of stock for a very long time once they disappear

Get a .40 that will take a .357SIG barrel. If you get a pile of ammo, then buy the barrel.

I guess I am the opposite of you... I make a concious effort to minimized the number of different calibers I own. 12 Dillon heads setup for different calibers is enough!

I do very hard to keep my self from buying during a panic buying period! But if people are panic selling because they don't have a job due to COVID Iwill jump in with some cash.

In the early 90's I traded a Ruger P85 with 6 mags straight across for a Beretta 92 INOX with 2 mags at a gun store. Of course the gun store owner was laughing all the way to the bank since high capacity mags were going for $125+ due to the national high capacity magazine ban at the time. I still have and still love my 92 INOX!... and don't regret the trade for a second!

.22-250 and 7mm-08 were always on the shelves during the great Obama ammo drought of '12.

Take the $500 youd spend on a .45 colt and the $300 in ammo to feed it and buy $800 worth of 9mm.

And reload.

reddog81 said:

...Additionally those calibers might be the last to sell out, but once they sell out the manufacturers will be busy with more common rounds.
...

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That hasn’t been how it worked out in the past.

It costs money to switch production and big manufacturers have generally tended to see panics as aberrations, so they are reluctant to spend money switching production only to need to spend money again to switch back in a few months. They have been reluctant enough that new manufacturers have popped up during panics because the established players didn’t switch their lines over to meet shifting demand.

I can’t claim to know what will happen this time, or next, but it’s reasonably likely that rounds like .22-250 and .270, .32 H&R and .45 colt/.454 cas/.460S&W, will be produced/restocked at the same rate they always are, and bought at a slower rate than the popular ammo, meaning more on the shelves.

Whether that justifies new guns or not depends on whether you want the new guns anyway, but it’s not a wrong strategy.

No flaming from here! Thats a good example of thinking outside of the box and it makes a certain amount of sense. But I think you would be better served to lay in a stock of the popular stuff. If things truly get bad there may be more 9mm and 223/5.56 "laying around" than other calibers.

Having said that, I certainly understand the desire to add a new caliber to the stable.

reddog81 said:

Additionally those calibers might be the last to sell out, but once they sell out the manufacturers will be busy with more common rounds. The uncommon rounds can remain out of stock for a very long time once they disappear

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That's a good point, and I'd agree with you, except I have a hard time thinking of the 45 Colt and the 270 (both mentioned by the OP) as "uncommon rounds."

dodo bird said:

I realize these calibers cost more

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No, they don't. As soon as this current "crisis" is over, get into building your own ammo and stock up on supplies. You can probably at least equal the cost of factory made 9mm and 5.56 ammo with homemade 45 Colt and 270 ammo. Well, maybe not 270 ammo - I don't have a 5.56 right now, so I haven't paid much attention to how much factory 5.56 ammo costs compared to handloaded 270 ammo.
I like the way you're thinking though - diversity in ammo and guns is a good thing. As I've mentioned in other threads, my wife and I have been acting as ground squirrel "exterminators" over at a friends ranch lately, and 22LR ammo is kinda sparse in many of the stores. Yet 17HMR ammo seems to be everywhere, and 17HMR works well (with just a little more noise) on ground squirrels too. As do our 22-250s with a lot more noise.

That is definitely one of the reasons I own a couple chambered in 9 mak. Really, though, reloading and casting are a better hedge. Probably too late for any of this.

Anyone seen prices get stupid yet like after Sandy Hook? I can distinctly remember cases of blazer 22 going for $1000 back then on gunbroker.

I like your thinking. I think the same way and did what I could have have the common calibers covered. Rim Fires, shotguns, and center fire. 9 mil, 223, 308, and 30-06 to start. I then figure reloading would be good. So I gathered up stuff over many years. Now I am starting to learn how to load shotgun. Components can be had when they can be had. Being patient helps.

I must a nutcase. However I think that when the reaction to “panic buying” is panic thinking someone has to get a grip on reality. I guess I just do not understand then rationale for being so concerned about the availability of ammo for many guns in one’s possession. I have a stock of 9mm and 380 because I own of each. I have sprocket because my guns are SD weapons and I want to have sufficient ammo for any contingency. If I had more guns I would still select 2 for SD and have more than adequate amomo supply for them.

What i do not understand from the OP and replies is what is the purpose of stockpiling ammo for multiple guns beyond a couple. Is it just economy? Is it a fear of scarcity of SD ammo? Someone explain please. My post is not a put-down. Not being a owner of many guns I simply do not think as such. I am trying to understand to better fit in.

.40 isnt being hurt as bad as the other calibers. Even targetsportsusa has .40 listed all the time in range ammo. Hunting ammo calibers might be available but the cost is a lot more. Even some non mainstream calibers are getting hit. I needed some .30-30 because I have a new rifle in that caliber. Not a lot of places online have it and most of my gunstores including the one I bought the rifle from didn't have it. Bass Pro had it but not a lot and it went fast. I spent $200 to get 200 rds for a range toy

1942bull said:

What i do not understand from the OP and replies is what is the purpose of stockpiling ammo for multiple guns beyond a couple.

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It’s not for stockpiling. It’s for being able to buy ammo so you aren’t dependent upon your own stockpile to be able to go shooting.

For example, someone might have 1000 rounds of 9mm as a stockpile. If that’s the only gun they have, and they can’t find 9mm to buy, they have a choice: Stop shooting, or have less than 1000 rounds. Many people will stop shooting and start hitting ammo suppliers frequently, until they find more ammo.

What if they go to their ammo supplier and find 500rds of .357 sig on the shelf? Well, if they happen to have a gun that can fire .357 sig, they can buy that, shoot it, and never touch their cache of 9mm. They shoot 500rds and still have their original 1000, instead of being down to 500. A win.

The more cartridges you can safely fire, the more likely it is that you’ll find one you can use in stock, and the less likely you are to deplete your supply of your preferred ammo.

You might never stock the other types of ammo, just shoot all you buy.

By the time you buy a gun, then buy ammo, you could buy a whole lot of components for the same money. If you’re worrying about ammo supply, that’s your answer

I have a Ruger Bisley in .45 Colt. It’s super fun and accurate. Factory ammo is expensive

Stick with 9mm and 5.56, it’s the prudent thing to do.

Cslinger translation.....

“Don’t screw this up for the rest of us!!”

I hear there is plenty of .45 GAP available. I say start there.

dodo bird said:

Yep thanks for all the replies. I did reload quite a bit during the Obama years. I was making very little money at the time and it helped. Cost is not a huge issue now (of course it always matters somewhat). I still have all my reloading supplies so that isn’t a problem. No don’t need to shoot for example 500 rounds of .270 a year. I am just thinking of getting out of mainstream calibers just as a hedge and for fun. Keep the ideas coming. No one has flamed my 45 gap idea yet. I see those police trade in guns sometimes. I like the 9x18 idea as well, never thought of that.

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If it's just an I want to get a new cartridge. Then go for it. If it's for the reasons you're stating. I say just pay the higher price.

dodo bird said:

No don’t need to shoot for example 500 rounds of .270 a year. I am just thinking of getting out of mainstream calibers just as a hedge and for fun. Keep the ideas coming.

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Again, I don't see how the .270 could be considered "uncommon," much less anything other than "mainstream."
"Uncommon" for what? Punching holes in paper targets at a pay-to-shoot range? Or maybe for self/home defense rifles? I'd bet .270s are as "common" and "mainstream" as any big game rifles around here - even though I don't personally have one right now.

It's a decent enough idea - one I have considered a time or two.

I didn't do it though. Just bought plenty of .38 Special when it was available and reasonably priced.


I don't think I would bother trying right now. I wouldn't pay any of these inflated prices unless I absolutely had to. I think I would wait for things to cool off first...

To the OP, 40S&W. Two days ago I found a used Glock 22 online for aprox $500. High priced but available. SGammo has plenty of 40 fmj and also very inexpensive premium defense ammo. Grip size is the same as 9mm, same holsters, holds 16 vs 18 rounds and has similar ballistic effectiveness.

I researched and passed on the 45GAP because it has a similar grip size as the G22 but only holds 10 rounds. And I would bet money the 40cal is equally as effective.