The most versatile ammo?

[tslisher]

Here I am about to turn 26, getting married in a year and the thought that occupies most of my time is "I own too few tools." That includes everything from hand saws, to welders, to guns. I'd prefer to build a shop where I can manufacture most anything. I would also like to build a small arsenal to protect my soon to be wife and my shop, (incase of unforseen events.) Thanks to my generous family they have donated a few guns to my cause. I have inherited a Winchester model 94 30/30, also a Beretta model 1200 12 ga. These are excellent guns to start the collection. What I'm looking for is to establish a solid collection of weapons that ammo will be plentiful and easy to find, interchangeable and cheap is a plus. I'll start with my rifle needs and finish with pistols.

1. Long range bolt action rifle w/ scope.
-Have been thinking of a Win mag .300 but ammo might be a problem, maybe a 30/06?
-The 30/30 is a great rifle but with top eject and the classic look I don't want to change it.
- This will be my primary big game weapon also, mainly elk.
2. I have a great shotgun already just need to buy a barrel so I can shoot slugs. It has a 28" modified choke currently.
3. I do not own any hand guns currently. I have lined up a SW99 40 cal. for a great price that I'm sure I will buy. I would like to own at least two handguns, one high capacity polymer semi auto, and one classic revolver. I'd like to keep these two the same caliber. Obviously buying the 40 seems like I'm headed in the wrong direction for that because not to many revolvers come in 40 cal correct?

Any advice is appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Nugilum]

In your future plans, do you see yourself reloading?

 

[[Pb]]

It is OK to shoot slugs through your modified choke, as long as they are the rifled type (foster.)

As for your rifle and handgun-
the caliber isn't what's important. You should try to handle and shoot whatever guns appeal to you to see if they "fit." Most common revolver cartridges aren't used in autoloaders a lot, because the long, rimmed cartridges common in revolvers don't feed well in semi's. Just get the calibers you like, as long as it's a fairly mainstream cartridge you'll always be able to get ammo. Ironically, during the ammo shortage, it was easier to find some oddball cartridges than the most common ones like .308.


I would personally advise you not to get a large magnum caliber, ammo is pricey and recoil can be a beast. .308, .270, 7mm-08, 30/06, even .243- they will all work for what you want to do. The important part, IMHO, is the rifle.


EDIT:
If you still want the most common/popular cartridges though, I would recommend a .308, .40S&W autoloader, and a .38/357 revolver.

 

[tslisher]

Yes, shortly after I acquire the majority of the weapons I will own a reloader for rifles and pistols.

 

[ahpd1992]

Here I am about to turn 26, getting married in a year and the thought that occupies most of my time is "I own too few tools." That includes everything from hand saws, to welders, to guns. I'd prefer to build a shop where I can manufacture most anything. I would also like to build a small arsenal to protect my soon to be wife and my shop, (incase of unforseen events.) Thanks to my generous family they have donated a few guns to my cause. I have inherited a Winchester model 94 30/30, also a Beretta model 1200 12 ga. These are excellent guns to start the collection. What I'm looking for is to establish a solid collection of weapons that ammo will be plentiful and easy to find, interchangeable and cheap is a plus. I'll start with my rifle needs and finish with pistols.

1. Long range bolt action rifle w/ scope.
-Have been thinking of a Win mag .300 but ammo might be a problem, maybe a 30/06?
-The 30/30 is a great rifle but with top eject and the classic look I don't want to change it.
- This will be my primary big game weapon also, mainly elk.
2. I have a great shotgun already just need to buy a barrel so I can shoot slugs. It has a 28" modified choke currently.
3. I do not own any hand guns currently. I have lined up a SW99 40 cal. for a great price that I'm sure I will buy. I would like to own at least two handguns, one high capacity polymer semi auto, and one classic revolver. I'd like to keep these two the same caliber. Obviously buying the 40 seems like I'm headed in the wrong direction for that because not to many revolvers come in 40 cal correct?

Any advice is appreciated. Thanks.

I just sold mine to raise money for my other hobby, but a S&W 610 revolver will shoot 40 s&w. Its a great gun and the hottest 40 loads feel like a 22 in an N-frame smith.

Oh, and its obvious but, smith is a classic revolver. So if you want to shoot 40 w/ the option of the more powerful 10mm get a 610.

They about $600 used

 

[sm]

.22 rim fire.

I was mentored and raised, a person should have at least one .22 rim fire rifle and one .22 rim fire handgun.

Steve

 

[mbt2001]

I would also concur with the .22 LR suggestion. Depending on what kind of rifle you get, you can shoot .22 short / long / long rifle and there is no question in handgun or rifle format it fills a special niche. They are usually cheap enough for you to get one for around $100 - $250.

If I was hunting Elk exclusively, I would take a hard look at the 300 win mag. I am in Texas, yet still see plenty of factory 300 win ammo. Oddly, during hurricane Rita evacuation, the calibers that I saw that where still stocked (and this also goes for the ammo shortage) were 300 win mag and the like. That is also something to think about. Widely held rounds can become hard to find if everyone decides that they need a box.

Rifle - Ruger M77 300 win mag
Handgun - Ruger 4" GP100 in .357 mag (shoots .38 special and .357) and can be used in hunting applications and for HD)
Auto - .40 call is fine, but look at the Glocks and sigs FIRST, as it is easier to get holsters for those. Just my advice....

Handgun RIMFIRE - Heritage Rough Rider .22 LR (4" barrel) can be had for $150 or so
Rifle RIMFIRE - Henry Lever action .22LR

** Both of the above can shoot .22LR / .22 short and .22 long. The Heritage comes with another cylinder for .22 mag. Believe it or not, in a pinch a .22 mag can be a decent defensive weapon.

www.sumitgunbroker.com
www.jgsales.com

Those sites may help you since you are on a budget.

 

[19-3Ben]

These are excellent guns to start the collection. What I'm looking for is to establish a solid collection of weapons that ammo will be plentiful and easy to find, interchangeable and cheap is a plus.

Totally doable. Get a .357/38 revolver, along with a .357 lever rifle.
The .357magnum from a rifle has ballistics similar to the 30-30, but with a 357 caliber round instead of only 30 caliber, and with nice expanding hollow points. it's realy a top-notch defensive rifle out to about 75 yards.
the .38/357 handgun can be something small and concealable so it coud make a good home defense gun as well as a good carry gun. Multi-purpose right there. My choice is the Ruger SP101 with 3 inch barrel. It's my every day carry gun, and it also sit on my nightstand many nights doing double-duty as a home defense pistol.
.357 mag is hard to find and expensive right now, but .38spl is not bad, and you can practice with .38's.

If you prefer semi-auto, you can go on Gunbroker, and get a used/police trade-in Ruger PC4. The .40 caliber round is cheaper and easier to find than .357 and just as inexpensive as .38 (if not cheaper). The .40 carbine is light, low recoil, and the .40 picks up some extra velocity from the longer barrel which is really nice. If you get something like the Ruger 944, you have not only interchangeable ammo, you have interchangeable magazines as well. Huge bonus points there.

Some here will tell you that a pistol caliber carbine is a waste of time. Honestly, in your case, I don't think it is. You're concerned with the ease, money savings of ammo compatibility. The two suggestions I made will do that.

With either of the two suggestions that I made, you will have the following:
1) Ammo compatibility
2) Readily accessible and inexpensive ammo
3) Very reliable platforms
4) The ability to effectively defend yourself from any threat from 0-75 yards.

(edit to add- I was speaking only about defensive weapons rather than the other things you mentioned like bolt-action rifle. I did not intentionally ignore your "rifle needs" i was simply giving ideas to fill your defense needs.)

 

[huntsman]

I would like to own at least two handguns, one high capacity polymer semi auto, and one classic revolver. I'd like to keep these two the same caliber.

I'd go with a .45acp and a .38spcl or the Blackhawk convertabile in .45Colt and .45acp.

For your rifle a 300win mag would cover the big stuff and long shots while the.30/30 would do the short and medium size work.

 

[memphisjim]

i was going to say 610 as well

 

[Cranky CJ]

Big game rifle -.3006
Practice/ plinking and small game -.22, rifle and pistol
Autoloader pistol -.45acp SA XD lineup
Revolver -.38/.357

Before you decide on anything, look at the price and availibility of ammo. 300mag is expensive, as is 45 and 357 and sometimes hard to find cheaply in these parts.

 

[OrangePwrx9]

Hard to beat the .357 for versatility; especially if you reload. Everything from pussycat target loads to short-range deerslayer...all from an accurate and concealable 4" revolver. Get a companion lever action rifle in the same caliber and it will give you another 300fps MV as well as being a joy to carry and easy to shoot. Then you're good for anything from plinking to deer at 100 yards. Handloading will let you tailor the load to the gun and the job.

When circumstances permit, pick up a .30-06 bolt gun for the elk.
Bob