Ammo Scarcity & Less Common Chamberings

[Taurus_9mm]

I'm curious if anyone here is considering purchasing a handgun in a less common chambering (i.e. .357 SIG, .45 GAP, .480 Ruger, 5.7x28 etc....) so they can take advantage of ammo that may still be out there and more readily available than ammo for common chamberings such as 9mm Luger, .45 ACP & .40 S&W?

I've been considering a .357 SIG but am uncertain if I'll go that route or not. So what are your thoughts?

 

[Big Daddy Grim]

I have found .357 Sig just as hard to find but have been able to stock my 10mm's very easily.

 

[2ndAmFan]

It would depend on my primary purpose for purchasing the handgun. I would consider a .480 Ruger for hunting but it's pretty stout for defense purposes. Very high over-penetration risk in HD or SD situations.
IMO either the .357 Sig or .45 GAP would be good defense loads, and in the area where I live both of those rounds are available in abundance.
I'm not too impressed with the 5.7x28 for anything but target shooting though.

 

[SquirrelNuts]

No. This is a bubble which will burst. People will saturate their hoards and then stop.

 

[MountainBear]

was tempted by a .38 super, I can still find it. All the more obscure rifle calibers I shoot (i.e. .257 Roberts, 6.5x55, etc) are drying up already.

 

[Animal Mother]

I was thinking the same thing as the OP. For example, I noticed that a few weeks ago I couldn't find any of the popular calibers at the local Wal-Mart and very few even online (i.e. 9mm, 7.62x39, .223 Rem). However, less mainstream calibers, such as .32 ACP, .45 GAP, and 7mm Rem Mag were still available in quantity.

This has caused me to rethink my SHTF stockpile as far as actual guns are concerned. Previously I've (mostly) concentrated on buying SD guns in one of four different chamberings: 9mm, 7.62x39, .223 Rem, and 9x18 Makarov. Given the reality of the current ammo supply situation, which is a good real world example of what a prolonged SHTF situation will do to our ammo supply, I now think it is a better idea to have a variety of SD guns in various calibers, simply due to the fact that ammo is available in quantity for less popular calibers during this shortage.

I will maintain my current stockpile of the big 4 calibers, but if find a gun that I like isn't in a popular chambering, I'll still get it because its actually easier to find ammo for it now than for a popular caliber.

 

[Guy de Loimbard]

So far I have pistols in 3 calibers, .45 Colt, 9x18 Mak, and .38 Super. Although I reload, I check prices on factory ammo just to see how much I'm saving . Our local gun shop doesn't seem to be short on these three. Can't find .22LR anywhere tho.

 

[Brian Dale]

Buy a handgun in a less common chambering just so that I can get more ammo this week?

No; I buy for the long term.

 

[PTK]

No; I buy for the long term.

Agreed.

 

[PTK]

Double post.

 

[huntsman]

I'm curious if anyone here is considering purchasing a handgun in a less common chambering

I thought I did that by owning a .380acp

 

[crazy-mp]

I'm curious if anyone here is considering purchasing a handgun in a less common chambering i.e. .45 GAP

The New York State Police, Georgia State Patrol, Pennsylvania State Police, and South Carolina Highway Patrol have all adopted the Glock 37 in .45 G.A.P.


Ok, I have one and I like it so I have to defend it..... No you should not buy a GAP, let me buy up all the cheap ammo first, like the two boxes I got a couple of weeks ago in a hole in the wall gun shop for 30.00.

 

[545days]

The current shortage will pass, and is a poor justification to make an investment in a new gun.

However - it could be used as an excuse if one was already fascinated by obsolete or obscure calibers... Do you I could use this excuse to justify a .41 rimfire?

 

[crazy-mp]

The current shortage will pass, and is a poor justification to make an investment in a new gun.

I would have to say the exact opposite. If you like shooting, have the money and have access to a large amount of ammo 500 rounds or more go for it. But be prepared to pay more for the ammo next time, or trade that gun in on a different one.

 

[dominojay]

Buy a cz-52 in 7.62x25, ammo is still cheap about $125 for a sealed tin of 1400 rds or so. It is corrosive but the guns run only 150-175 so one can afford to stock up.