To consolidate, or not to consolidate.....

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pith43

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I have heard alot of talk lately of people wanting to consolidate calibers, and while I have even thought of doing this myself, I already have most of my guns in just a few calibers. .45acp,.357/.38spcl,.223, and 7.62. Mostly this is just because these are the guns I like to shoot. I do have several other caliber guns though.

One of the things that has held me back on selling the "off calibers" is the ability to shoot several different calibers. While I'm not a Red Dawn or Zombie kind of guy... I would hate to be roaming around a post nuclear wasteland with my trusty 1911 and run across several rounds of .380 auto:banghead:

All joking aside, (I think wandering around with a few dozen different guns would be tiresome), I have come to the conclusion that I'll do what I have always done, buy and shoot the guns I like, regardless of caliber. Just need to make sure I have reloading supplies for the calibers I do have;)
 
I think wandering around with a few dozen different guns would be tiresome
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And just a little hazardous if you fell into the creek carrying them.;)

I understand the desire to narrow the herd to a specific few common calibers, but you can always divide the population into "show" and "working" guns and focus the working guns on the practical calibers and not worry about the show guns.
 
I understand the desire to narrow the herd to a specific few common calibers, but you can always divide the population into "show" and "working" guns and focus the working guns on the practical calibers and not worry about the show guns.
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That is exactly what I do. I make sure I keep a very good stockpile of 9mm, 5.56x45mm, 9mm Makarov, 7.62x39mm, and 22 LR. These are my primary and secondary SHTF calibers, along with 22 LR. I keep a good supply of my other rounds, but it just doesn't make a lot of sense to build up a few hundred round stockpile of 6.5x50mm Jap or 7.62x38mm Nagant or my other obscure calibers when they aren't my primary go-to guns and I shoot my main calibers much more often.
 
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I think that in todays' environment the concept of "consolidation" has considerable merit and validity and I selected nine "do-it-all" calibers quite some time ago. (it's been two years now)

I retained for the purposes of...

- general "plinking", target shooting and food gathering chores:
.22 LR

- CCW/SD handguns:
9x19, .45 A.C.P.

- serious "hunting" handguns:
.44 REM MAG

- hunting rifles, small, medium, large and dangerous game:
.223REM, .308WIN, .30-06 and .375 H&H

- my HD "EBR":
7.62x39

This has greatly simplified acquisition and storage issues in addition to reducing the financial, not to mention, stock-keeping burden of having the extra unneeded calibers.

Got rid of .380AUTO, .38Spcl./.357MAG, .357SIG, .40S&W and .45 COLT. Rarely shot them, didn't really care too much for them.
 
I "consolidated" a while back and did something stupid. I think finding a good carry gun that I trust my life to 100% is about as hard as finding a woman that you can trust (the rest of) your life to. Anyway, I sold a gun that I liked everything about, simply because it was a caliber that I didn't see necessary. All I really needed to do at that point was buy a couple of boxes of defense loads per year, but so it goes...

If I hadn't sold it, I couldn't have bought the 99.9% reliable gun that I've been carrying since, and I would have left the 100% reliable gun at home often because it was too big. Of course, I haven't needed a gun for self-defense since then... if only I could forecast the future... ;)

Anyway, I'm focused on:

.22LR, .38Spl/.357Mag, 9mm Luger, .45 ACP, .223 Rem, 7.62x39mm, .308 Win., and 12 gauge.

There are a few gun/cartridge combos that are simply too good to pass up, such as the M1/30-06, and the S&W 29/.44 Mag, so I'll likely fall off the bandwagon, but those will also likely be fun range toys.
 
I think part of the wisdom of consolidating calibers is having enough ammo to go with them such that you don't care if you happen on a few rounds of different ammo.
 
I have heard alot of talk lately of people wanting to consolidate calibers...
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i tried to do it... how you say...? epic fail. i was able to stick w/ it for about 2, maybe 2.5 years... i ended up doubling my chamberings. maybe i lack self discipline?

at any rate:
I have come to the conclusion that I'll do what I have always done, buy and shoot the guns I like, regardless of caliber.
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this is what i think the best answer could be.
 
Last I checked, I think that I had about 28 different cartridge calibers (14 of which I reload), five different muzzle-loading calibers, and four different air gun calibers. There's only three more that interest me at this point. This may change at any time.

I also have and shoot five different forms of bow.

I enjoy reloading and I'm learning to make arrows.

None of my guns have gone down in value, since the last time that I bought a brand new gun was in the '70s.

The variety of different rounds does not confuse me.

Thus, as Walkalong says, "I don't understand the problem."
 
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If you don't need the $$$, just stop buying ammo for what you would prefer to get rid of and sit on the weapons. It's not like they're going to depreciate like a car. Sit on them until you want something REALLY REALLY nice in your favorite caliber and then sell, but consider carefully.
 
My thinking has been the opposite. I want numerous guns that I like in every imaginable caliber. If there is ever a problem with getting ammo, or getting certain ammo, I'll just use what I have a gun for (which is just about any ammo I find).
 
I have a number of guns for which I have only a box or partial box of ammo available. I have no interest in having more. But I have no interest in selling the guns either.

I reload only for the cartridges that I shoot a lot. .38 spec., .357, .45 Colt, and .45acp. and I reload 12 ga shotgun although there is no money saved by doing so.

I don't have more than one or two 20 round boxes of ammo on hand for any of my hunting rifles, but one 20 round box will last me for two or three years normal use.

If the ammo supply dried up, I'd be hurting big time for several calibers, rifle and pistol. But I don't shoot the guns often enough to justify a stockpile. I guess consolidation would be a good idea.
 
wyocarp
My thinking has been the opposite. I want numerous guns that I like in every imaginable caliber. If there is ever a problem with getting ammo, or getting certain ammo, I'll just use what I have a gun for (which is just about any ammo I find).
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I've consolidated. . . however I like this line of reasoning!:D
 
Having a wide range of oddball calibers is a distinct sign of a freedom loving person, who has faith in the preservation of his freedoms and enjoyment of life. Most of us have the "widely available" ammo choices covered, or have enough 8mm La Belle stashed away that it can be relied upon to procure what is common in any potential conflict.
I'm trying to minimize my load and investment, so I concentrate on .22 LR, 9x19, and 12 ga. Do what you want, and do it enough to let "them" know that this will remain a free country.
 
Let's see...

Pistol - .22, .380, 9mm, .38, .357, .40, .45 ACP, .45 LC

Rifle - .22, .38, .357, .45 LC, .223, 5.65, 7.62x39, .308

and in the spirit of the season....and a 12 ga. in a pear tree ;)

The only one we would consider dropping would be .40, but since those are our first pistols, we are reluctant to let them go :)
 
If I may play the Devil's addvocate.... Everyone seems to have very similar choices in ammo. What if some thing really nasty happens and everyone is now fighting for their lives and trying to feed their families.

As I see it if you can't reload what you need to shoot won't you be looking at your neighbour and knowing he's got ammo for your guns. Maybe I should start buying the wierd stuff so that you guys won't want my ammo :evil:

And if you think about it, I'll be able to go into the shop and find the leftovers that nobody else wanted. :cool:
 
Yes, there are guns for show and those to shoot. I fully agree with this approach. Show guns will likely be gone in a long term emergency. They will become somebody elses shooting guns. Sad but true.

The same is true of your accumulation of ammunition. You can't stand guard on this stuff all the time.
 
Right now I'm reluctant to buy new calibers because I'm totally broke, but once I get a real income I want a .44 mag and a .357 and a .223 and a .308 and a 9mm Makarov and a... the list goes on.

Right now I have .38 Special, 9mm Luger, 12 gauge, 7.62x39, 7.62x54R, and .22LR.
 
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