Please help me standardize my guns and ammo.

[superpunchy]

I have been out of the guns and ammo scene for a very long time now. Now that I am re-entering it, I have a few questions to ask of everyone.

I am wanting to standardize my guns and ammo around whatever are the most commonly availible guns and ammo in the world currenly are. This greatly simplifies me being able to find both ammunition and spare parts for the guns themselves as well as greatly increasing my pool of candidates from which can train me (ie: former military soldiers and police officers).

I have narrowed my cartridges of choice down to 5 calibers. They are: .223 Remington/5.56 NATO for my rifle ammo of choice. 9mm Luger for my autoloader ammo of choice. .38 Special for my revolver ammo of choice. .22 Long Rifle for my Rimfire ammo of choice. 12 gauge for my shotgun ammo of choice.

Since the world is positively awash with these 5 cartridges, this greatly eases the task of me being able to find ammo for both now and for the forseeable future as well.

My question is this: Which models of both military and police guns of each of these cartridges is the world positively awash with. This will be good for both getting spare parts for now and in the forseeable future and finding *WELL QUALIFIED* training instructors from from a massive pool of former cops and soldiers from which to pick that can train me.

As I've said, I've been out of the guns and ammo scene for a very long time now, so I'm not very familar with what the defacto standard guns being used by both the military and police for the past several years have been.

Many thanks

 

[ThrottleJockey]

I couldn't tell ya. I haven't been around guns for YEARS! This is a cooking forum. LOL

 

[Duke of Doubt]

In your situation, diversification beats standardization. Meaning the best deals tend to be in obscure calibers and guns. Sure, keep a battery in modern military cartridges like the ones you name, but don't limit yourself to that. A few years ago I grabbed an excellent-plus blonde Steyr M.95/30 at a show for $100, sold (erroneously) as an antique; then I grabbed a huge pile of 8x56R on proofed clips for $3 a box; then I grabbed several leather quad cartridge pouches for it for less than $5 apiece. I'm still looking for a bayonet for it at a reasonable price. Do I consider 8x56R my preferred cartridge? Heck, no. But sure, I'm into 8x56R now, in a small way. If I can no longer find cheap ammo and run low on what I've got, or lose interest, I'll probably sell the gun and get out of 8x56R. I've done it with other cartridges in the past. I officially got out of .380ACP when I switched my carry gun to the Beretta 92FS in 9mm Luger. Sold my .380 and all my .380 ammo.

Diversity can be your friend.

 

[JImbothefiveth]

For rimfire, the marlin 60 and ruger 10/22. The police and military don't generally use these. (These might be illegal in some nations)

For shotguns, remington 870 or mossberg 500, although these might be illegal in some nations. In the U.S., the most common 9mm is probably a glock, especially for police. I think air force pilots use the glock 19, police would likely use the glock 17, and most U.S. soldiers use the m9. For .223, the police, and a lot of U.S. civilians, use an AR-15, a semi-auto version of the AR-15, or a semi-auto m4. I believe the military uses a select-fire m4, pretty much unavailable to civilians.

 

[Duke of Doubt]

No state or local police agencies in my state use Glocks, to my knowledge. State Troopers switched from the Beretta 92FS, our Army's and my preferred carry gun, to the HK45 a few years back. Local PD carry Sig .40s. Game Wardens carry .357Sigs. I don't know why Glocks have a reputation for police issue; I've never in my life seen a cop carry one.

 

[jakemccoy]

Which models of both military and police guns of each of these cartridges is the world positively awash with[?]

The cartridges you mentioned exclude the AK47. However, it sounds like you're going to want an AK47 on general principle.

=====

Are the Remington 870 and the Mossberg 500 popular in other countries besides the United States?

 

[ThrottleJockey]

"I don't know why Glocks have a reputation for police issue; I've never in my life seen a cop carry one."

A lot of police carry Glocks because of the huge discount they get.

 

[Mike OTDP]

I'll assume you are in the United States...your ammo choices indicate this.

In .223, the AR-15 in its various guises is the standard. Pick what you like.

In 9mm, it's a toss-up. Glock, Beretta 92, or Sig P226/8/9. The Beretta is military issue, but the Glock and Sig dominate the police market. I'd go with a Glock if it fit me.

In .38? Get a .357 Magnum. The S&W K-frames are the gold standard.

.22 LR? The Ruger Mk 2 and 10/22 are the most common, though I dislike them.

12 ga? Hard to beat the Remington 870.

 

[Auburn1992]

Instead of a .38 spl, why not look into a .357 magnum? That way you'll be able to shoot both in one gun.

 

[Ed Ames]

I don't understand where you are coming from.

Having umpteen potential instructors who know your particular make/model gun is worthless. With very few exceptions pistol shooting is pistol shooting, shotgunning is shotgunning, and rifle shooting is rifle shooting. Doesn't matter if you are shooting a CZ-75 or a Taurus .357 revolver and your instructor has a 1911 or a Glock. Besides, unless you have some sort of brain disease you only need to learn the model-specific stuff once... and once you own a particular gun you'll have a lot of time to learn that.


Likewise, sticking to only the most common rounds will (as DoD pointed out) mean that you have 100,000,000 competitors for exactly the ammo you need when supplies get tight. It will also leave you vulnerable to day-to-day variations in retail stock. A quick trip to any gunstore over the last 3 months shows the problem with only having .223 for example... it has been very hard to get because everybody wants some. 9mm? Same deal. However, 30 carbine and .40S&W (far less popular alternatives to .223 and 9mm) have been fairly common in the shops.

Beyond that... when it comes to shotguns 20ga is almost as common as 12ga and may have significant advantages depending on what you want to use it for. I have both and prefer the 20 for fun shooting. I've also been in stores that didn't have any 12ga left but had boxes of 20ga.

 

[superpunchy]

Another good reason for standardizing all your guns is for more efficient Gunsmithing. Taking your "world gun" to a knowledgeable gunsmith who has a *VAST* amount of previous experience working with that particular model increases the chances he will know what he is doing, especially in a SHTF type scenario. This also increase turn around time, which means less time in the Gunsmith shop and more time on your person or at home where the gun does some good.
Give your gunsmith a gun he has little or no experience with and, well, good luck, maybe it will lay there in his shop for days, weeks or months not getting much done to it. Especially if he can't find the obscure part it needs.

 

[Ed Ames]

If that's what you believe you should stick with the 1911 in .45ACP Rem 870 in 12ga, and AR in .223 while in the US. Those platforms offer the greatest supply of aftermarket parts, ergo the largest number of part-swappers...err...gunsmiths.

Of course, you shouldn't count on anyone else having spares for you. Buy two. And don't count on being able to find a competent gunsmith, learn how your guns work well enough to keep them going.

There are no "world" guns. In the US the 1911 in .45ACP has the largest number of "smiths", but it is a military cartridge so no private ownership in Mexico and it's a handgun so no private ownership in the UK and....

 

[Just One Shot]

Since the world is positively awash with these 5 cartridges

Where, please tell me where?

 

[Prion]

Where, please tell me where?

Hoarded in peoples closets, safes, and basements all over this great country.

I like superpunchy's approach. Makes sense to me, get the common calibers first then start diversifying. The ammo supply will begin to replenish

 

[Taurus_9mm]

223 - AR-15
.22LR - Ruger 10/22
9mm - Glock 17/19
12 Gauge - Remington 870/Mossberg 500
.38 Special - (as some of the others recommend, the .357 Magnum route allows you to shoot both cartridges) Ruger GP100, Security Six or Taurus M66.
-

 

[robsc]

Keep what you have and get whatever else you want. You`ll regret selling/trading anything that you currently own. It never fails.

 

[JImbothefiveth]

I don't know why Glocks have a reputation for police issue; I've never in my life seen a cop carry one.

That's what they use around here.

 

[mljdeckard]

You obviously haven't tried to buy any of this ammo lately. Ok, I haven't noticed a real shortage of 12 ga, but I've been ignoring the market and using my stockpile for a while.

If you're serious about having available ammo, in the spirit of diviersification, I would strongly recommend finding an SKS or used AK to be able to use 7.62x39. This is probably the world's most abundant rifle cartridge, and it's sources in the U.S. are different than other cartridges. (Imported Wolf rather than domestically manufactured 5.56.) (I don't use Wolf 5.56)

 

[gulogulo1970]

Looks good, but like others have suggested I would get a .357 instead of the 38SPL.

 

[Just One Shot]

No specific brands listed just a general recomendation as each brand has their own followers.

IMO must haves include........

1. 12 ga. shotgun

2. .22 Rifle

3. Either a 9mm Pistol or your personal preference of caliber. 9mm ammo is less expensive and (usually) readily available.

And finally,

4. A center fire rifle in your choice of caliber.