Limiting your collection based on caliber

[WoodchuckAssassin]

I think that this is not only a common practice, but one worth pursuing. The calibers that I try to keep it limited to are .22 (obviously), .38 special (because you can also use them in .357’s), .45 ACP, and very recently, .270. I try to keep it limited to 4 calibers, but it’s easier said than done. If I see a gun that I simply can’t live without, I’ll break my 4 caliber rule…but I do what I can to match any new gun to an old caliber.

 

[303tom]

Variety is the spice of life, heck NO.......Iv got as many different calibers as Carter has little pills.

 

[rgwalt]

Loved Lex's reply. For me, streamlining and consolidating calibers is driven by the desire to keep more ammo of relatively few calibers on hand. If I have two pistols that serve different functions in my collection (range practice & plinking vs pocket carry), then if they are both chambered for 9mm, so much the better.

Unfortunately, I (like most people) am not independently wealthy, so I have to make choices about what guns I buy. Consolidating calibers makes sense. I don't stockpile ammo, but I do like to keep enough around to keep me shooting through a shortage. That means I generally like to keep 500 rounds of any pistol ammo I shoot regularly. That gives me a good 3 to 5 range trips before I get low, and I generally replace my reserves after each range outing provided that the caliber is readily available.

Next acquisitions will be a pocket carry 9mm so I can share ammo with my Berretta 92. I would also like to pick up a pistol caliber carbine, the Berretta CX4 Storm, configured to accept Berretta 92 magazines. So, I would have a pocket carry pistol, a full framed pistol, and a carbine that all fired 9mm, and two of those guns would share magazines. Sounds like a dream to me.

 

[Narwhal]

Yep, I'm a believer in this. It's basic logistics. I only keep:

.22 LR
.38 special/.357 mag
.40 S&W
5.56x45mm
7.62x51mm
12 gauge

I have absolutely no desire for any other caliber at the moment and I reluctantly added the 5.56 only this year.

 

[ball3006]

I am a C&R junkie. I have bought dies to reload most of those calibers. Bullets are the only fly in the ointment though, not much selection.....chris3

 

[mdauben]

I try to keep down the number of different calibers I have guns for, although its hard to to pick up something "new" at times. Currently, my collection if limited to:

Handguns:
.22LR
.38/.357
9mm
.45ACP

Rifles:
.22LR
.223
.308

Shotguns:
12ga

I'd really love to pick up a lever action in .30-30 though, and a classic .45-70 breach loader has been one of my dream guns for a while. A nice double-barrel in 20ga would be wonderful for upland game. I've almost dropped money on a revolver in .44spl or .44mag more than once, so I'm not sure how much longer I'll hold the line on calibers.

 

[Fishslayer]

I don't buy a caliber if I can't readily purchase ammo at any WalMart or reasonably stocked gun store. For semiauto rifles I went with x39 instead of 5.56 because of the availability of cheap ammo. Of course, the cheap brass x39 is just about dried up now but I think I might have a box or two stashed away.

 

[Skribs]

There are two trains of thought I've seen as far as the logistics of it goes. On the one hand, if every purpose is filled by a specific caliber, you can simplify a lot of things. For example, my plan is (through getting rid of some current and gettings some new) to only have .380 for a pocket pistol, 9mm for the rest of my pistols, and .223 for my rifles. If I hunted I might get a bigger rifle (.223 not legal in WA) or even use a different cartridge for both hunting and HD.

The other idea is that if you limit yourself to only 9mm pistols, what happens if .45 is all you can find? Some people prepare by having a lot of different options. I used to think like this, but I prefer the simpler option. This also justifies the "oh, shiny in a new caliber" mindset

 

[radiotom]

9mm
40 S&W
38 special/357
44 magnum (very little)
.223/5.56
30-06 (very little)
12 gauge

 

[baz]

As several have noted, the consolidation approach is mostly associated with those who stock up (they are not "hoarding"), or reload.

 

[evets_56_98]

22LR/MAG
9 MM
357 MAG/38SPL
38 S&W
7.62X54r
12 GA

 

[BHP FAN]

well, I did get rid of that 1935 A, in that pesky French .32 long. Still have a few odd balls, though. 7.62x38R Nagant and .38 S&W are the weirdest I have left.

 

[Southside830]

22lr,9mm,45acp - Pistols
22lr,223/556,30.06 - Rifles
12ga - Shotguns

I bought an arsenal 106 just for ammo compatibility.
So yeah I like to concentrate on a smaller number or calibers. Makes ammo buying much easier and pre panic saved me money buying in bulk.

 

[guyfromohio]

I think it has everything to dwith your mindset. If you really close your eyes and think about it, is your reasoning due to imagining shtf scenarios and inability to carry everything? At one point, I did the same with handguns as I had a bit of an ammo compulsion. If I didn't have several thousand rounds at my fingertips, why do I have that gun? And if I only have 1000 rounds of .40, couldn't that have been 1500 more rounds of 9mm? Now I'm kind of enjoying variety. I don't shoot my more expensive rounds much, but so what?

 

[Jason_W]

I currently have .22lr, .410, 20 ga, 12 ga, and .308.

I'm planning on adding .22 mag, 9.3x62mm, and a levergun/sixgun round of some kind. I almost want to go with the .44/40 for fun.

 

[Cranky CJ]

I guess I haven't limited my calibers as I reload for nine different ones. Going forward, yeah I'm going to stick with what I have as I don't want to continue to add supplies in different calibers for reloading.

 

[wow6599]

Handguns
.22LR
9mm
.45 ACP

Rifles
.22LR
.223/5.56
7.62x39
.30-30
.30-'06

Shotguns
12 gauge
20 gauge
.410

I have gotten rid of .357 Sig, .357 Mag, 40 S&W, 10mm, and 7.62x54R

 

[colorado_handgunner]

22lr, 9mm, 38/357, 40s&w, 12g. I may get into one rifle caliber, but that will be the last one. Unless I ever go prairie dog hunting, then I will get a 17hmr.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

 

[joecil]

I actually only own 4 calibers at this time but have owned many over the years. I've cut down to strictly 9mm, 45 ACP, 45 Colt, 45-70 as well as 20 ga and 12 ga shotguns, but want to add another to that a 22LR pistol preferably a single action. I have also cut down the number of guns to a few compared to a bunch previously. Getting old, about to retire and sold the stuff I never shoot keeping only what I do shoot regularly. Oh and other than the 45-70 I have both pistols and a rifle in 45 Colt.

 

[jmace57]

I am about to trim mine down. I'm going to get rid of my 7.62 x 25 and 9mm Makarov handguns.

 

[ms6852]

I tried limiting my calibers but some how ended up with 22lr,22 magnum,223/5'56., 30-30 cal. winchester, 35 remington, 44 magnum, 45 acp, 9mm, 450 marlin, 30-06 38 special, 357 magnum and a partridge in a pear tree.

 

[Havok7416]

I am about to trim mine down. I'm going to get rid of my 7.62 x 25 and 9mm Makarov handguns.

Let me know if you have a Makarov you want to get rid of! I live just up the road.

 

[pat701]

The smart person will keep everytime in easy to get ammo 9mm, 38/375, 45acp,223, and 308. forget the rest if you can't get the ammo the fire arm is useless.

 

[huntsman]

Limiting your collection based on caliber

yep .380acp .45acp, what I won't limit is how many in each caliber and you can get some variety and still only buy 2 calibers

 

[gspn]

I don't limit it...and it's worked out well for me. I reload for around 12 to 15 calibers. What I'm finding is that even though some calibers are difficult to find I can easily find ammo in the others. Diversification works. While there is no ammo on the shelves in 9mm or 40 cal there is plenty in 45 colt, 44 mag, 41 mag, 10mm.

I reload so I don't need the factory ammo but it's nice to know it's there.