Did you consolidate handgun cartridges?

Consolidate or Diversify?

  • I like to restrict my collection to only a few cartridges.

    Votes: 97 61.8%
  • I like to have diversify my collection to as many cartridges as I can.

    Votes: 60 38.2%

  • Total voters
    157
  • Poll closed .
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What...?

No one is loading for 25-20, 38-40, 44-40, .256 Win Mag, .38 S&W, .38 Long Colt, .221 Fireball, 8mm Mauser, .30 Mauser, or 30-06?
 
22lr, 22wm, 32acp, 32h&r, 32 Nagant, 380, 38, 357, 9mm, 40, 44spec, 44mag, 45acp, 45lc.

It seems like enough for the time being.

If there is a shortage and the stores have nothing but 25 and 10mm, I will have a problem. Otherwise I will probably be okay. :)
 
I don't really like the "consolidate or diversify" answers. I buy based on what interests me, although I do tend to avoid calibers that cost over $1.00 each or I can't reload.

I did choose the "diversify" answer though, because there are very few calibers out there I dislike.
 
I've consolidated 4 calibers down to 2. 9mm for carry and .357/.38 for recreational shooting and "woods" carry (for my wife and I). I could easily make .357/.38 work for everything.
My primary reason is reloading. It's nice to only have to stock for 3 different loads for 2 cartridges.

If I was worried about "tailor made" ammo for the next PANIC! I'd keep .45 GAP, .41 mag and/or 10mm chambered guns on hand. I could consistently find this stuff on the shelf through the last two ammo "droughts".
 
I used to have a variety of handgun and rifle calibers. Economics and limited shooting time made the decision to consolidate easier. For handguns, I only have 45ACP (although I did buy a "hard to pass up deal" on a Sig P238), for rifles, I only have 223/556. I carry an XDs or P220 religiously, the P238 is the drop in the pocket when I hear the "honey can you run to the store...". I've been tempted to add another caliber, but realize it will open the door again.
 
.45 ACP SW1911 & Colt Cmdr
.45 ACP / .45 Auto Rim S&W 625
9x19 CZ 75B
.357 Mag/.388 Spcl S&W Model 60

.45 Colt - Marlin 1894
if I ever get a SA itll be in .45 Colt

7mm Rem Mag - Savage 110
inherited from an Uncle

Sometimes I consider a .40 S&W or 10mm AUto
but the moment usually passes.
 
My wife and I use 9mm and 38 spl almost exclusively, however we have one gun in 357mag and one 45acp that we may have a couple hundred rounds on hand at any given moment.
 
Years ago I decided that logistics over ruled variety.

I basically like to load for .357 and .355 in general. I load for every from the 380 auto to the 357 Maximum and pretty much everything in between. Those are my favorites since I can get the bulk of them with two bullets. 158 grn LSWC and 115 grn JHP.

I still do 45ACP, 45Colt (some overlap) and 10mm and 40S&W (180 grn LTC).

I found that my skill and enjoyment limit is the 357 Maximum, so the 44Mag and up is not one I do. Because of that the 44 Special is out, all of the big 45's are out (454 Casull) etc.

The logistics is nice. Instead of a few thousand bullets, I now order 20,000+ at a time. So much easier.
 
I mostly have tried to consolidate. My calibers of choice are .357/.38 and .22LR.

These last couple of times where ammo availability has become spotty has really shown me the value of diversification, though. Sometimes I think about getting a 9mm and a .40 "just because". I always saw .40 around my area, even in the worst of the ammo droughts.



I recently bought a .380, my first handgun caliber outside the norm. I always wanted one of these and figured, why not? I keep 3 or 4 boxes of ammo around for it and I'm satisfied. Not too much of a hassle. I don't plan on making such purchases a habit, though...
 
Not me.
Variety is the spice of life.

Besides part of the fun of buying a new gun is getting set up to load for it.


We always talk on here about how some folks hand load as a means to an end, and others consider loading a hobby within itself.
I would be money that the guys who load so they can afford to shoot more lean towards consolidating calibers and those of us who view loading as a hobby of its own tend to intentionally buy calibers we don't have, just so we can load for one more.
 
Yes, I consolidated my handgun calibers. I figured its cheaper to stock up on one caliber since I do not reload, and also don't shoot as much as I used to.
The rifle calibers are still a bit diversified though.

Currently I only have 9mm for my 2 handguns (used to have 40sw also).

Rifle calibers are 22lr, 223/5.56, 5.45x39, and 7.62x39.

Shotgun is 12ga only.
 
As far as handguns go...

Pistol: 9mm and .45acp. are pretty much it for me now. I do have one (and only one) pistol in .40, an older former LEO Sig. I just like the trigger too much to get rid of it.

Revolver: .38/.357

That's it.
 
I would LIKE to limit my cartridges (and loads for each) but never seem to manage it.

I can think of:
.22 LR
.25 ACP (Novelty item, seldom shot, then only with factory.)
.32 ACP (Pocket pistol, shot only with factory.)
.380 ACP (IDPA BUG, reloaded and factory.)
9mm P (Main standard medium autos, reloaded and factory.)
.38 Spl/.357 Mag (Main standard medium revolvers, reloaded and factory.)
.38 S&W (CAS, inactive.)
.44 Special (CAS, inactive.)
.44-40 (CAS, inactive.)
.44 Magnum (IHMSA, inactive.)
.45 ACP/AR (Main standard large autos and revolver, reloaded and factory.)

Previously owned:
.22 Short
.22 Magnum
.357 Herrett
.38 Super
.38-44 S&W Target
.45 Colt

Never had a .40 or a Makarov or a .41, etc.
 
I voted to restrict calibers kinda backwards from what was intended. I buy guns which can use a variety of ammo, or at a minimum a wide variety of power ranges. This by itself defines me as a wheel gun guy and a TC contender fan to which both are correct. I currently own GUNS chambered in 22lr, 22 mag, 32swl, 357mag, 44 mag, 9mm, and 7-30 waters....I have ammunition on hand for the 22lr in the form of 22lr and 22 short, the 22 mag is convertible to 22lr, the 32swl guns bounce around between 32swl, 32sw, and the occasional 32acp. The 357 shoots everything from powder puff loads with 115gr 9mm bullets in 38spl cases to some ruger only 180 gr thumpers in 357 cases...and everything in between. The 44mag guns have 44spl, 44mag, and a round I refer to with a term indicative of an oedipus complex in which primers are starting to flow and case life is a concern. All rounds marked appropriately, with the MF rounds and 180gr 357s being their own distinct bullet designs as opposed to my other loads. The 7-30 has only 1 ammo type, but it has a 44 barrel next to it, and it has a reserved seat for a .357 max beside it. Never once have I worried about finding ammunition, even when I owned only 4 handguns because my ammo supply is far from restricted, and that was before I started reloading handgun ammo.
 
Not me.
Variety is the spice of life.

Besides part of the fun of buying a new gun is getting set up to load for it.


We always talk on here about how some folks hand load as a means to an end, and others consider loading a hobby within itself.
I would be money that the guys who load so they can afford to shoot more lean towards consolidating calibers and those of us who view loading as a hobby of its own tend to intentionally buy calibers we don't have, just so we can load for one more.
Agreed.
 
Hard not to diversify when you have my collecting interests.

Currently have 3 Ruger Blackhawks in 3 calibers and barrel lengths (.32-20/.32 H&R, .357, .44 Special. Traded a 45 Colt for the .44 Special). That leaves a .30 carbine, a stainless .327 Fed, .45 convertible with 4.62" barrel, .38-40/10mm convertible, 41 Mag, and .44 Mag Superblackhawk with 10" barrel to 'complete' the collection. Also intend to add a .356 GNR cylinder, a .44-40 cylinder, and a .40 S&W cylinder in there as appropriate.

I've got black powder pistols in .31, .36, .44 and .45 calibers. And rifles in .32 and .45.

I don't even know how many rifle calibers I have. I probably have over a dozen milsurps. All but two of my rifles were produced between 1891 and 1959.


If you couldn't guess, I am also QUITE interested in reloading :rolleyes: 'Finding ammo' would be a problem if I had to, so I find a set of dies once and order a bunch of brass then I never have to worry about that again.
 
I'm stocking only
9mm
5.56x45 / .223 Remington
.22LR (although I have a rifle that will fire .22 short, and I have a box of .22 short, I don't actively stock it)
12 gauge
20 gauge

I have one oddball caliber, 6.5x50 Arisaka, but I don't keep much more than a box on hand at any given time.

My wife recently got an SKS and a Marlin 336, so looks like I'll end up stocking 7.62x39 and .30-30.

And I have future plans for a 1911, and a .450 Bushmaster AR.
 
I shoot 9mm and .38 special almost exclusively in handguns because they can do everything I want a need a handgun to do. That and some .357 magnums for occasional fun. :)
 
I shoot .40 so I don't have to load 9mm or .45 acp. Other than that, its .38, .44, & .41. I only load .41 because I got a great deal on a pristine .41 S&W M57.
 
Currently have in our ammo cache:
.22 Short
.22 Long
.22LR
.22WMR
.223 Rem
5.56 NATO
.380 ACP
.38 Special
.357 Magnum
.357 SIG
9mm Luger
.40S&W
.45 ACP
.410
20GA
12GA

Considering that I expect Santa to bring me a new .22TCM in a week or two, I would say that we're more on the diversification track.
 
I collect guns and ammo in all shapes and sizes. Caliber isn't a major concern for owning a gun. I already have my favored shooters. For instance, right now, less than 10% of my handguns are chambered in 9mm, but 75% of my rounds fired are in 9mm.

Now whenever I end up finding a new shooter in a new caliber, well, then I get pissed.
 
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