Thinning the herd, HOW many of you shoot just ONE caliber?

[MarineTech]

At one point, I had 19 different calibers in my collection. I had to thin out the herd a bit because as an apartment dweller, I was limited on storage space. It has now shrunk down to the following.

.22LR
9mm
38SPL/357Magnum
.45ACP
.257 Roberts
.308/7.62X51mm
.358 Winchester
12 Gauge

9mm was gone for a while, but came back when I recently picked up an H&K P7 PSP.

Overall though, I've got enough selection there to cover all my bases.

 

[Cyberdyne systems]

Yes, I believe in only owning guns that shoot common calibers:

*9mm luger
*45 auto
*7.62x39 Russian

anything else has been SOLD or will be soon! it's a pain in the ass buying so many different calibers anyways, I like the simplicity of only using common calibers available at any store.

 

[Spieler]

I have tried several times over the years to limit my collection to arms that share the same fodder, each time to no avail. I tried having guns in only two calibers, 9mmP and .223, but every time I ended up broadening the collection with new acquisitions. I still shoot primarily those two calibers, but I won't limit myself if something I want is not in those calibers.

 

[Hardtarget]

I have one wife...guns are different. Variety is nice...multiples of variety is nicer~..better?~ whatever....
Mark.

 

[modifiedbrowning]

I shoot three calibers:
9mm
5.56mm.
12 gauge
I have 9 9mm pistols, mostly Walther.
I have a Ar-15 and a Ar-180B
I also have a 12gauge shotgun.

 

[jacketch]

Although I have owned guns of various calibers, I am now down to only a few. Got rid of or don't shoot odd or calibers like 7mmMag (nice round but pricey to shoot) and 16 ga. cause I found them expensive or inconvenient to locate.

I am now down to shooting .22, 9mm, .45, .223, 12ga and soon .308 once again.

.22 because it is cheap and you can get lots of quality trigger time for little money.

9mm for much the same reason as .22, just not quite as cheap but centerfire and all that goes with it. I also usually carry 9mm so I need to be proficient with my 9's.

.45 because this is one of my favorite calibers and one I sometimes carry (and would probable rely on if the SHTF.)

.223 because, like modifiedbrowning, I enjoy shooting my AR180B. This caliber is one of the cheapest centerfire rifle caliber you can shoot in semiauto rifle (only 7.62x39 is cheaper.)

12ga. because my HD gun is a 12 ga with all the tacticool stuff and I need to be able to shoot it well enough to do what it is suposed to do. On a rare occasion I might shoot 20 ga. but that, as I said, is very rare.

.308 is a caliber I used to shoot and really liked but I cleared out my collection and don't have anything in 7.62 right now. I am currently looking for a deal on either a FN-FAL or a heavy barrel bolt action. When I get one I'll be shooting .308 again.

I have always thought that limiting my calibers to only a few was a good thing but I have found that all the ones I shoot, I don't want to give up.

 

[jimbo]

I like to keep it simple. Just .45 and .9mm in handguns. But just ONE caliber. Nope, can't do it.

Oops! I lied to ya! .22 LR also and .44 Mag and .243 in rifles. The calibers just keep coming!

 

[Ranald]

One Caliber? <choke>

well it's a fine dream, of course.... I suppose.. would certainly simplify reloading and supply... my attempts in that area included the .357 and the .44 mag.. revolvers and carbines. Totally ineffective as either carry pistols for generally use or as rifles beyond 100 yards at best. If one had to make do, one would.. but thankfully we don't!
Id be willing to bet tho that there are a lot of folks who make do with one rifle and one pistol caliber, respectively.. like say .357 and 30-06 or 9mm and .308. Most would prolly want to include a .22 and a shotgun if they were into hunting.....

 

[45nut]

To me guns are tools.
For game,targets or whatever you simply have to have a full range to cover the different scenario's that you will encounter.
Simply put this translates to knowing that a screwdriver cannot do the job of a wrench,a wrench cannot do the job of a drill...ect ect.
I submit that you NEED multiple calibers to correctly address situations as they arise. Sure,I can target shoot with my 22's as well as my 500A2 but the targets are different. A small set of spinners for the 22 and a large chunk of glulam for the 500,,and believe me should you shoot that 22 spinner with the 500 you will not be getting a chance to shoot it again with a 22.
Same as having a set of sockets and a ratchet,sure you can use the ratchet interchangably with inch and metric sockets but trying to use a 9/16ths socket for a 24mm bolt will only serve to get you steamed.
Same as using a 22 for sporting clays,sure some folks can shoot a flying disc but most mortals would not take on a well designed sporting clays course with a single shot 22.
Life and history have blessed us with many gun types and caliber choices,why ignore them? Embrace the times we livve in folks !

45nut

 

[biere]

I am always thinking along these lines but I rarely arrive. And by one caliber I mean one for shotgun, one for centerfire rifle, one for revolver, one for semi-auto handgun, and one of everything in 22 rimfire.

I like it because now that I reload it means I can simply order more of one type bullet or primer instead of needing this and that for everything.

I used to have a lot of variety and then I slowly found myself shooting certian things more often than others.

I personally figure having a variety lets you play around and see what you prefer.

Once I know what I prefer I see little reason to keep all the stuff around.

 

[iamkris]

Since I have varied interests and over 30 guns, a single caliber is out of the question.

22 LR
9x19 mm
9x18mm
45 ACP
45 Colt
.36 cal black powder
7.62x51mm
7.62x39mm
7.62x54R
45-70
7.5mm Swiss
5.56x45mm
8mm Lebel
58 cal black powder
.303 British
30-06
12 ga

Wow...OK that's 17 calibers

 

[TechBrute]

I try to keep my calibers to a minimum, but you really do need different calibers for different uses:

.22LR
.357Mag
9mm
.40S&W
.45ACP
.44Mag
.223
.308
12Ga

 

[SgtGunner]

Handguns
22 x3
32ACP x1
32 H&R Mag x1
9x18 x2
380 x1
38 x1
357 x4
9mm x 3 (4 if I count the wifes hi power)
30 carbine x1
40 x2
44spec x1
44mag x3
45LC x1
45ACP x9 (7 pistols 2 revos)
50AE x1

Long Guns
22 x3
270 x2
223 x2
30 carbine x1
9mm x1
30-06 x1
375 H&H x1
7mm rem mag x1
12gu x3
20gu x1
410gu x1


I hate consolidating.........limits how many I can own and shoot. I reload for every caliber I have except the small handgun rounds, shotguns and the 22's. The only ones I shoot with any regularity are the 45ACP and 270. I have guns I havn't shot in years, so I am slowly selling those and buying new 1911's. If I HAD to go to one caliber it would be the 45ACP. Fortunately though I dont have to......