Posted: 8/31/2007 9:36:54 PM EDT
| So should I consolidate my guns into a few different calibers, or buy a few guns in calibers that I normally don't keep? Pros for consolidating are that I only need to reload and stock a few calibers. Pros for buying other calibers are that it makes scrounging ammo easier, if I have more of a selection to chose from. |
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I decided I wanted to be able to stock spare parts, tools, etc., for my weapons. I also wanted, where possible, to have a backup weapon. I've been able to do this with the AR. I bought my first one a few years ago and built a second lower for a Bushmaster 20" upper. I've been buying spare parts on a monthly basis. I doubt I'll be able to do the same with the FAL, but I have stocked the parts and tools to maintain it. I would really like a Garand, but frankly I don't have the time or inclination to learn the platform and work on it. I enjoy shooting various handguns, so I haven't consolidated and added backups for any of them- .38/.357- 9mm- 10mm- .45ACP. I'd say if you want to be able to support each weapon it will be easier/cheaper to consolidate and duplicate. If you have a lot of time/money and enjoy working on your weapons go for broke. Realistically, the scrounging advantage of multiple calibers is the ability to scarf up various brass at the range and be able to reload it, and range brass is becoming a thing of the past for many people. Any other scenario is extremely unlikely, IMO. |
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well in a bad situation its easier to have several weapon that all take the same caliber. ie... you and several others can all use the same pile or magizines of ammo. but I like different guns for different uses as well so my answer is both. Have several guns that can take the same round and several that are different for different uses. buy em all!!! 
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I'm working on consolidating right now. I sold my Garand  , and I'm looking to sell a couple handguns in calibers that I don't reload. I may also sell an old 30/30 but I'm on the fence about that one as it has some real value. I would like to get it down to 2-3 rifle calibers and 2-3 pistol calibers. This isn't counting .22 and 12GA.
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it depends if you think the ammo shortage is long term, or a "real" gun ban will come back to stay? I 0% faith in my government to do the right thing and uphold the constitution for much longer. I consolidated, maximized my spending to get the most of the same weapon platform, caliber. it maximizes training, it maximizes the ammo and spare parts and keeps me focused on deals for said items. now I could'nt care less if I see a deal on 30-30 ammo, .308 or 7mm. I look for deals on 9mm, 5.56 and 12 ga. spare parts will fit every single gun (handgun) or (rifle) and I can piece parts together if spare parts are no longer available between two or three guns to make one working gun. althought I doubt I will ever see that day. my ammo stock pile is for future shooting pleasure and training, I have no illusions of armed conflict with the government, or killing dozens of zombies in multiple attacks. |
nope I dumped all my one off calibers, then added 9mm and .308. I already had .45 and .223. 22lr goes without saying. 12 gauge is my primary shotgun, but I have 20 and .410. The .308 is not crucial for me. I can practice, compete, hunt and plink with those calibers. I need to add 2 calibers, both for personal use and the fact I enjoy using the AR to hunt with. The 6.8 and a yet to be decided caliber due to some changes in laws in my home state. |
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I consolidated, but in easy to find calibers. For me it's 5.56mm, 9mm, .22lr, 12 ga, some 7.62x39 and some 45acp. The 7.62x39, I only have one gun and only stock about 1K of ammunition. The .45 I stock because I enjoy shooting it The 5.56mm, 9mm .22lr are my main SHTF calibers, therefore this is what I "stack deep". The 12 ga, I keep a mix of OO buck and slug, but in no way do I stock the same amount as the first three calibers. Consolidation allows me to stock up to the level I feel comfortable with, and allows me to simplify loading up the truck or BOB in case I have to go. All of my SHTF pistols are 9mm, my carbines are 5.56mm, all of the same make/model. This allows consolidation of not only ammunition, but magazines, parts, support gear (holsters, mag pouches, ect). As a gun collector, I have several of guns. But for SHTF usage, I have pre-designated guns. Everyone old enough gets a Glock 9mm and an AR15. There is a Ruger 22/45 available for things that a .22lr is so good at. Personally, I would not consider SHTF caliber guns in any caliber that is newer or hard to find. Anything I can't find locally and have to order on the internet, such as 45 GAP, 357 SIG, 5.45x39. YMMV, it's just my thoughts. . |
+ 1 with the addition of .45acp and .338 LM It would probably be smart to stock up on .40 cal seeing how that is probably the most widely used police cartridge in the country and it may be useful someday, same as 12 guage. |
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I voted consolodate, but that depends on your present calibers. If your favorite rifle happens to be a 300 WSM you will have a hard time scrounging ammo and stockpiling would be very expensive. If your favorite rifle is something odd than I would say you should buy one of either a 223, 308, 30-30, 30-06. I would feel fairly safe with something in those calibers for both preformance, stockpiling expense, and potential scrounging. While a 243 is an awesome multi purpose round... I feel the others are more easily found. While the 7.62x39 is popular with some of us, if you were scrounging ammo I think a few boxes of 30-30 might be easier to find in the average house. Handgun is probably easier.... 22, 9mm, 38/357, 44, 45 are all popular and easy to stockpile. A 32 ACP might be a little hard to scrounge. Its a tough call, more guns and more variety is a lot more fun!!!!!
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Here is how I see things: When considering guns and ammo for any sort of a SHTF scenario, go with what is common in your area. This means things will vary from area to area, but you will be able to find what you need. Where I am, things are mostly for hunting, but the EBR's are becoming more common. Therefore these are the extremely common cartidges: .22lr, 38 Special, 357 Magnum, 44 Magnum, .45 ACP, 12 Gauge, 30/30, 30.06 and .308 Winchester. (.223 Remington is also common, but the good stuff is hard to come by, and getting more expensive all the time) So I have actually expanded what I have to include 38 Special/357 Magnum and 7.62X51mm (308 Winchester) I am also considering an M1 Garand in 30.06, as a CMP rifle can be fairly cheap and there are sources of fairly inexpensive surplus ammo. If it makes sense, expand your options, but be realistic. Think about it, and do it smart. The 325 WSSM may be the best thing there is, but if it isn't readily available it does you no good. (I know nothing about this cartridge, I was just using it as an example.) |
I'll probably add 9mm, (again) and .45 ACP at some point as well. It's a constant struggle.
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22LR 9mm 45acp cal 5.56mm 7.62mm NATO 12gauge Edit: If you want to be able to use scroungable ammo, buy cheap reliable guns for this purpose. But buy relatively common "odd" calibers. 45LC Revolver 45LC Lever Gun 357(38) Revolver 357(38) Lever Gun 44 Revolver 44 Lever Gun Single Shot 410ga Single Shot 20ga Singe Shot 16ga 3006 Bolt Gun (no optic, transfer from your primaries if you need it; use irons in mean time) M1 Carbine AK-47 40cal slide/mags for your 9mm pistol (switch and make the 40 your primary and have a 9mm barrel if thats your preference). My view is if walmart stocks it, it's fairly common. |
Add 7.62 X 39 mm to this list ,and that's all the firearms calibers I'll probably ever need. I'd only add the 7.62 X 39 mm because it often seems available to stock up on when others aren't . I've personnally concentrated on .45 ACP ,.308,and .22 LR . |
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My best advice is don't live your life so scared of SHTF that it influences you to not buy something you like. I say do both. Choose your favorite guns, stock calibers and train with them about 70% of the time. The other 30% you can dedicate to "fun guns," .25 WSSM or 7mm WSM or .375 H&H or .17HMR or whatever pleases you. Plus, think about it, if you're scrounging ammunition, a gun that will fire it will probably be near by. Don't try to use that as an excuse to buy different calibers, use "I want it" as an excuse. |
| If i am reading you correct..you are able to reload ur own ammoo. You might consider when you scrounge ammo(loaded or fired) that some brass can be resized as long as the bases are the same Ive used 30-06 and made 25-06 and 7.7jap and i know 270, 280 are close to the same, I have even experimented with 30-06 down to 45acp. I believe you can also do same with 223 and 9mm! this is extreme SHTF because the head stamps can get confussing if everthing is not kept seperate. |
| I wouldn't get rid of any guns. Personally I tend to stock the "more popular" calibers of ammunition more than others. For example, I stock pile 22LR, .223, 9mm, .38, .357, and 12 guage. And I only keep a few boxes of other calibers such as 30/30, 7mm Mag, 41 mag, etc. You won't be able to carry all of your guns with you most likely. Howeve, they currently can be used as much as you'd like, or can afford. |
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I voted consolidate, I consolidated my handguns to 3 soon to be 4 .40 S&W with only one 9mm for the wife. As for rifles, I have 4 AR's in .223, another AR kit and an extra upper in .223 and 6.8 spc. I have some sks rifles and a couple of AK's and have a few cases of ammo in 7.62X39 and some mosin nagants in 7.62X54R and plenty of ammo for those. Not to mention a boatload of .22lr ammo. IMHO its best to concentrate on a few calibers you will shoot, and have some handy for your oddball calibers. |
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FWIW my vote is to have duplicates in your go to calibers and stock the ammo for defensive/plinking purposes then with that covered buy what you want remembering that the ammo portion of the purchase is downright chap compared to that gun you just bought. 22lr 9mm .40S&W 45acp .223 .308 12 Ga will all be common but are also in high demand .30/30 .30-06 .300 Win Mag 7mm .270 are all extremely common but relatively few people (in the general population) will have more than a few boxes on hand. Buy what you want and stock up on the ammo, roll you own and the price of commercial ammunition is not as much of an issue. Remeber the same .30 caliber bullet and powder could be used in your .308 , .30-06, .300wsm or .300 win mag so buy whichever you want or all 4. Reloading saves money and gives you tremendous options in many situations. |
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The idea of SHTF ammo scrounging is foolish in my opinion. If you are depending on being able to find, buy, or trade for ammo after the SHTF, you are not prepared for SHTF. Buy a nice stash of ammo for your "go to guns" and then get whatever other calibers you want for playtime afterward. Even if you are bugging out, you should not depend on trading for ammo. Plan an escape route or two and seriously consider burying a couple small ammo caches along the route and a larger cache at your final destination. |
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If you can scrounge ammo but not the firearms I would be careful about figuring out if that ammo is going to make your gun go kaboom. I believe in few platforms and fewer calibers. If I could go back in time here is what I would do. I would have still bought my glock 19 and bushy ar as my first firearms but all the money I spent on other firearms since then would have gone to training and spare parts and reloading setups and components and tools and knowledge for keeping those firearms up and running. I would probably have also bought duplicates in case my primary firearms got stolen or broken enough that they could not be fixed quickly. Set up the spares with 22lr setups for cheap practice and to also do what 22lr ammo needs to do to small varmints. I know lots of firearms are neat and fun and what not, but being proficient with what I have is my goal these days. I have enjoyed owning all sorts of stuff and it is nice to know how to make so much stuff go bang. But as I take more serious gun classes I am seeing that I will do a lot better if I just pick something and learn it well instead of trying to learn everything a little bit. |
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Consolidate to military calibers BUT get a H&R or Thompson break open and a few caliber conversions for the more common civilian rounds. MCACE adapters Chambermates And one of these Hammond Gamegetter ETA,you could also look to calibers based on military cartridges such as .243 Remington,.260 Remington,7mm/08,.338 Federal,.358 Winchester.All based on the .308 cartridge. or 25-06 Remington,.270 Winchester,.280 Remington,.338-06 A-Square,.35 Whelen.All based on the 30/06 |
My thoughts also. But i also run 7.62x39 and .40. And i run the same types of weapons and mags in each caliber. EXAMPLE---All .40s&w are Glocks /All .45acp are 1911s /All AR15's are 5.56, etc. |