Anyone standardize on one caliber?

[osteodoc08]

After buying my recent M&P in 40S&W, I got to thinking about standardization. I currently have 22, 380, 9, 40, 10mm, 45 acp caliber pistols excluding my revolvers. I saw my shelves full of ammo, but the idea of standardization came to mind. I don't think I could personally do it, but I find myself shooting and loading more 40/10mm ammo lately. More oomph and satisfaction over 9mm, easier to load/manipulate manually than 9mm and cheaper then 45 when looking at plated bullets. Casting I get more 155gr bullets per pound than 200-230gr bullets.

Anyone here standardize to one or fewer calibers? What was your reasoning? What have been the pros and cons?

From a purely economic standpoint, 9mm would be the preferred. From a weight/capacity standpoint 40 S&W would be the ticket, nostalgia and big holes I'd think 45. All of this purely subjective in my own mind here. Not wanting to start a caliber war.

For those that don't reload. 100rd value packs in my area are "roughly" 9mm-$25-26, 40s&w $35-37 and 45acp $45-48. Just as a reference point. This is "standard" ball ammo.

What say you?

 

[sappyg]

I enjoy more than a few calibers but have to admit that the cartridges I use the most are 22lr, 9mm, 223, & 12 gage. I guess they have become a standard for me and my use.
It's rare in my case to buy ammo for other cartridges but I can reload for all that I have and a good many that I don't.

Edit: didn't realize I was in the handgun section..... 22lr and 9mm have become my standard.

 

[md2lgyk]

No standardization here. I only own half a dozen handguns, and each is a different caliber.

 

[87hurricane]

If I only had to have one, it would be .45ACP, but .38 spl would be a close second. I own several other calibers, but I could probably just have those two and be happy.

 

[orionengnr]

I own...a few.
Reload for...most of them.

But most of my handguns are .45acp, and 90% of my reloading is .45acp.

 

[osteodoc08]

Someone pointed out in a PM I said standardize to "one or fewer calibers". Perhaps it should have read one or fewer (than you have now) calibers.

"Anyone here standardize to one or fewer calibers? "

I'm not going to abuse you publicly, but go back and read the above sentence again.

See the logical fallacy?

One... or fewer?

If I standardize to fewer than one caliber, that means I gave up shooting.

Just thought I'd give you the opportunity to fix that post before someone calls you on it...

Best,

I understand what you're saying. My implication however was standardization to one or fewer (implied fewer than one currently has) calibers. It's all in how the sentence is interpreted. But I appreciate the heads up.[/QUOTE]

Kind of like, it depends on the meaning of what "is" is?

No disrespect intended--you may have completed med school (may I assume that's what "osteo doc" refers to?) , but you were not paying attention in Math or English classes.

"One or fewer" has a very defined meaning...that being one...or zero. Ask your English (or math) teacher.

That is assuming that teachers these days even understand fundamental English these days. And that is a stretch.

Best regards,

 

[jeff-10]

In semi's I now only buy 40 S&W and 9mm. I have 3 of each. I have two 10mm's and a 22 however the 22 was a gift when I was a kid and the 10mm's are from a bygone era and I refuse to part with them.

For all intents and purposes I have intentionally avoided 45 ACP, 380 ACP and 357 Sig, although at times I have considered each one of those. So from here on out, it will likely only be 9mm and 40 S&W.

 

[TestPilot]

I cannot consolidate to one caliber. Each and every caliber I have was acquired for a specific purpose that cannot be preformed by another.

 

[tomrkba]

This is impossible since 22 LR must be in the equation. I would likely go with 45 ACP since I can also put it in S&W 625. However, I really like 357 Magnum and 44 Special.

 

[parkgt]

Seven 9mms in the house, all running the same 124 gr reloads for practice make things a little easier. Usually work up about 2000 rounds at a time (over several sessions) and then don't have to worry about ammo for a while.

 

[JR24]

Thought about it a while back, and all the sudden all I could find was .40 S&W on the shelves.

So I had to buy a .40. And a 10mm.

 

[Capt. Ct.]

With the shortages and prices I have been shooting 9mm. Doesn't cost as much as .45. I have avoided buying a .40 or .380 just because I don't want to start reloading for yet another caliber. I have my reloading down to 9mm, .45 and .38 special. As little as I shoot .357 magnum I probably have a lifetime supply of it. .38 special works fine in my magnum. It has probably been two years since I last shot it anyway. So I am pretty much a 9mm shooter right now. Will have to dust off the .45's one of these days.

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

My viewpoint on standardization is based on practical considerations.

First of all, let me say that I have a variety of handgun and long guns and they aren't all the same caliber.

Standardization should support a need, whether real or perceived. You are the one that must determine what that need is and why it's there.

For example, if your need is based on a shooting sport and limited funds, then perhaps it makes sense for most (if not all) of what you own to be in .22LR.

Perhaps, through inheritance, you've come into a cubic b-ton of reloading supplies in .45 acp whereby you now have all the supplies necessary to reload untold thousands of such rounds. Then perhaps it makes sense to center your collection around that caliber.

I also "standardize" the rounds I shoot, somewhat. For example, I generally stick to 230 gr .45acp ammunition at about 859 fps for my Colt 1991A1. FMJ or hollowpoints, I know how it shoots with that ammunition.


We can come up with any number of scenarios to support standardization or diversification. However, in real life, going to extremes either way will have it's own limitations.

I like what I would call, for lack of a better term, "situational standardization".

What I mean by this is an evaluation of the situation to determine to what extent I want to standardize for it. Let me give you an example:

I already said I have a variety of firearms in a variety of calibers. Let's say I want to go small game/varmint hunting. I typically also carry a sidearm with me when I do this. If I want to maximize the ammunition I carry with me and give me the versitility to use the same ammo in my pistol as I do with my rifle, I will standardize on .22 WMR by taking my Marlin 783 rifle and my AMT Automag II pistol.

Two firearms which suit my needs, one caliber of ammunition to supply both.


Trying to standardize everything you own to one common round of ammunition, while convenient with the perspective to only having to stock that particular ammunition and being able to feed everything with it, produces two major weaknesses:

1. If/when you run out of, or cannot get ahold of, that particular ammunition, you can't use ANY of your firearms.

2. You lose the versatility of having different calibers for different uses...no single caliber is best suited for every use.


I like versatility...and part of that versatility is the ability to match up different firearms around a "standard" ammunition for situational uses.

 

[peacemaker45]

Nope. I've got a .22, a .32 ACP, two .38 Spls, two .357s, two percussion .44s, two .44-40s, two .44 Rem Mags, and two .45 ACPs.

 

[el Godfather]

If you are a non collector and your requirement is pure defense then it is possible to standardize. Otherwise the moment you step into the realm of collection or competition or hunting- it is near impossible to stick with ONE caliber.

 

[farscott]

I had reduced all of my autoloader calibers to .22 LR, 9x19, 9x23, and .45 ACP when the ammo shortage hit. To wit, I had eliminated .32 ACP, .30 Carbine, .40 S&W, 10mm Auto, and .45 GAP.

All of a sudden the only carry ammo I could find was in .40 S&W, so I was unable to replenish my 9x19 Glock 19 and .45 ACP 1911 carry ammo stocks. I switched to shooting more of my reloads for practice and saving the factory carry ammo for carry. I shot lots of my 9x23 reloads to keep myself sharp for the .45 ACP 1911. I even considered carrying my 9x23 1911. To add insult to injury, I consumed much of my .22 stocks and still have not been able to replenish them.

Finally, I broke down and bought a pair of older (L-prefix) Glock 23 pistols and several cases of ammo, so I could practice with my carry ammo. I carried Glock 23 pistols for the better part of a year. For now, those .40 S&W pistols are back in the safe as I can once again find 9x19 and .45 ACP. The lesson learned: Never again will I be without a set of pistols in all three major semi-auto centerfire calibers. Guns are inexpensive; ammo costs are the big expense. A extra $1k in guns is nothing compared to having no ammo for a carry gun.

I would have bet before the ammo shortage that .40 S&W would have disappeared long before before 9x19. I was quite unprepared for the opposite, and it hurt my practice regimen.

 

[pockets]

I tried to, but that one cartridge would not fit in all of my guns.

.

 

[Tomac]

For me, 9mm is now my standardized rd. The only reason we have a couple of .380's is for the wife.
Tomac

 

[bannockburn]

If I had to "standardize" to one caliber it would probably be 9mm. I have the most guns in that caliber, have plenty of factory ammo, and reload for that caliber as well.

 

[snooperman]

+1 on what El Godfather said. I hunt various game with rifles , shotguns and handguns a great deal and also enjoy shooting targets at various ranges here at my Farm range with family and friends. I find it impossible to keep all my shooting needs to one or two calibers. "Variety is the spice of life".

 

[Fishbed77]

No real standardization here. I currently have handguns in .22LR, 9mm, and .45ACP

But all my carry guns are 9mm.

 

[Quiet]

I ended up standardizing to .45 caliber (.45GAP, .45ACP, .45LC, .454Casul)

 

[Vodoun da Vinci]

I'm not really a "collector" but I have a variety of handguns in a variety of calibers and shoot them all....no Safe Queens. I'd agree that those of us who only have guns for defense could standardize but my requirements for carry pistols changes.

I have the ability to carry 9mm sometimes and other times I cannot hide even a small 9mm properly and go to a .32 ACP. Same with my Wife.

So even though my primary use for handguns is self defense I see myself with at least 2 calibers and probably more 'cause my Wife loves having a couple .357 revolvers stashed at various places in the house.

So, we probably could standardize but the difference between our sizes and abilities means that realistically I will always have 4 - 5 calibers present to load and supply for.

VooDoo

 

[Blue Brick]

If I only had to have one, it would be .45ACP, but .38 spl would be a close second. I own several other calibers, but I could probably just have those two and be happy.

^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

[tarosean]

Could never do it. I like variety too much.