Caliber Help … What Say You?
I’m a computer guy, and as such I try to find the simplest way to get from point A to point B. It’s part of building data structures, programming, and operating systems. What’s the smoothest, fastest way for me to accomplish any single thing. Programming naturally got me thinking about ammunition and how I have four different weapons each with ammunition that is not interchangeable from one to the next.
I’m wondering now … how many different calibers are too many? 8? 10? 3? For some people, it’s 2. They’ll have a .22 and a 9mm and they don’t want anything that’ll shoot otherwise and that’s that. To me, that leaves a lot of wonderful potential off the table. So many lovely guns!
See, there’s a reason I own each gun I do, apart from “just want one”. .22 Buckmark? It’s cheap, no recoil, more fun than a BB goodness. When it came time to buy the Buckmark I did it with full intention of owning that pistol for years and years and years. When I’m dead and gone, my son may be talking to his son’s about this pistol and relaying a story about how he first fired it when he was 6 years old and I took him to the range. I consider a .22lr pistol a necessity for anyone that owns more than one gun. I’ll stop short of KdT saying it’s a “household commodity” like salt or sugar, but it’s darn close in my opinion.
The .40 is my self defense round. The 7.62×54r is for big boomy fun. The 7.62×39 is because I bought an SKS for the cheap ammo, and because I wanted a project gun. That it’s able to scare the pee out of gun-grabbing nannies makes it all the sweeter.
That’s it for me. I consider it three different calibers (.22 is not a caliber just like breathing isn’t a voluntary function of your body - it’s natural and necessary and hardly by choice). .40S&W, 7.62×39 and 7.62×54r.
I don’t own a shotgun (yet). I don’t own an AR (yet) and haven’t set myself on what caliber I want to shoot out of this future AR (yet), so there’s a bit up in the air there.
If I end up getting a revolver at some point, it’ll probably be .22 or .40S&W though, because it’ll limit the different types of ammo I need to purchase.
So what’s your story - how many different types of ammo do you own and if you had a chance as you were just building your collection of firearms to do anything differently … would you have?
Liberty on August 6th 2008 in Boomsticks!
Jeff responded on 06 Aug 2008 at 11:49 am #
I’m relatively new to shooting and so far I own 7 guns in 5 calibers. 22LRx2,9×19x2,45ACP,.30-’06, and .30 Carbine. The next few purchases once I save up some more cash will add 12Ga, .357/.38, and .223. I see that as about the minimum (minus 30 carbine, that’s just because the M1 carbine is really fun). You could cut it down by one by going with .40SW instead of 9+45, but I think that’s about it.
22LR is obvious, 9/40/45 for defensive pistol, 357/38 for a defensive revolver, a shotgun (20Ga would be OK here too), an intermediate rifle caliber (223 or 7.62×39), and a loudenboomer rifle caliber (7.62×54r, 8mm Mauser, .303 British, .308, .30-’06 are all fine depending on your rifle preferences). I’m sure I’ll eventually end up with all of those calibers and more. The next category to add is probably a hand cannon revolver cartridge (44Mag, 454 Casul, SW460, or SW500).
Sailorcurt responded on 06 Aug 2008 at 2:12 pm #
Lets see. What do I have in my ammo locker right now:
12 Ga
.30-06
7.62×54r
7.62×39
.30 carbine
.22lr
.45acp
.45 long colt
9×18mm
That’s 9 different calibers.
I don’t think that’s too many and would like to add .357 mag/.38spl, 9mm, .223, and .308 to that mix.
Personally, I could get by with three guns: A pistol, a utility rifle and a shotgun. I have those filled and I keep adequate ammo on hand for a SHTF situation. The rest are for special purpose applications or just because I like them.
There is no such thing as too many guns. You may not be able to afford to keep enough ammo on hand for all of them for emergencies…but you can only use one at a time anyway right?
I keep a good supply of .45acp, 7.62×39mm, .30-06 and 12Ga on hand at any given time. The rest I generally only have enough for a range trip or two. I try not to run out of anything, but that’s only because I like to be able to make spur of the moment range trips. I’d hate to have to say “I’d really like to shoot that one today, but I don’t have any ammo.”
But other than that consideration, it would be no big deal not to have any ammo for them if I can’t afford it.
As far as I’m concerned, if I can’t afford to feed it, it will be perfectly happy sitting in the gun safe waiting patiently until I can. And as far as I’m concerned, a gun in the safe is better than money in the bank.
Bruce responded on 06 Aug 2008 at 8:56 pm #
.22LR
.25 ACP
.380 Auto
.45 ACP
7.62×39mm
12-ga.
Next up, 9mm (Browning Hi-Power, maybe), .38/.357 (S&W 686).
Though, when the money situation improves, I’m looking to get a suppressed Sig Mosquito and a threaded barrel for the 10/22 for backyard fun n’ games.
Bruce responded on 06 Aug 2008 at 8:57 pm #
Oops, forgot about the .410 insert for the old Stevens break-action birdgun.
Liberty responded on 06 Aug 2008 at 9:29 pm #
That suppressed .22 was damn cool at the bloggershoot. I’ve had louder farts.
doubletrouble responded on 06 Aug 2008 at 9:42 pm #
Lessee…
calibers:
.22s,l,lr
.22WMR
.223
9mm
.308
.30-’06
7.62 x 39
.30 carbine
.30-30
.30-40 Krag
.32 ACP
.38 special
.44 special
.44 mag
.45 ACP
Gauges:
20
12
That’s it, IIRC. As you can probably tell from the list- RELOAD!- it’s the only way to support this habit…
mike w. responded on 07 Aug 2008 at 11:42 am #
No such thing as “too many” unless you’re the type who’ll be compelled to stockpile large amounts of every caliber you own.
Liberty responded on 07 Aug 2008 at 11:55 am #
Curt nailed it with stockpiling just what you’d shoot often enough, and keeping a few rounds around for the others. .22 notwithstanding, I’ve got at least 1000-2000 rounds of the stuff down there because it’s easy and cheap to pick up when I go get milk and bread.
And reloading - yeah … I’ll get into that game at some point. More money spent on a related hobby!
BillH responded on 07 Aug 2008 at 7:32 pm #
“just want one”… after that, what other reason do you need?
.22
.380
.38
.357
.40
7.62×39
7.62×54
.308
12 guage
that’s all for now, since the “just want one” monster is currently sleeping
totwtytr responded on 07 Aug 2008 at 7:34 pm #
.22 LR
.38 Special
9mm
12 gauge
30-30
7.62 x 54r
7.62 x 39
7.5 Swiss
.303 British
I have some .40 S&W, but nothing to shoot it in currently. I’ll probably get something in .45 ACP at some point, too.
You really need to have a few guns in .22LR because they are cheap and a lot of fun to shoot.
Weer'd Beard responded on 07 Aug 2008 at 9:07 pm #
.45 ACP
.22 LR
.357 Magnum (and of course .38 Spp)
7.62X39
7.62X54R
12 Gauge
7.62X25
7.62X51 NATO
.25 ACP
.257 Roberts
Really the top 6 (7 if you count tossing .38s down my .357…I also plan on buying a J-frame .38 next) are what I shoot in any serious volume. I have some of all of this ammo in stock, but for some of it not much at all (like .25 ACP) or almost all in components (like .257 Roberts which got me into handloading)
Its always a plus to get a new gun that is in a cartridge you already shoot….but also I’m a ballistics freak so I got some guns (like my CZ-52) just because of the round it shoots.
I already have some dies and components for when I get a .454 Casull!
There is definitely no such thing as “too many calibers”, especially if you handload, as handloading means you never have to be afraid of a caliber, as if it gets too expensive or hard to find, just start rolling your own!
Most people have a handful of favorite calibers they keep around, and some that can dry up without much bother (or the boxes just collect dust as you don’t shoot them)
JD responded on 08 Aug 2008 at 11:38 am #
I am with the more the better thought. . .
Currently have:
.22
.32
.38
.45 long colt
.303 brit
7.62×39
.223
I expect I will get more as my wish list gets filled
= )