Ditched all and sticking with 9mm

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I guess with age I am begining to become minimalist of a sort. Sheded a lot of collection to a point I may have total under 10 with each weapon catering to different need from EDC SD HD to Hunt and Skeet.

Any thoughts you may have or similar experience- please share. Thank you

I am a gun accumulator with little direction towards collecting. My guns reflects what my shooting interests were at the time such as Cowboy Action Shooting. A couple of years ago I did a inventory of what I have and realized that I was actually under armed for self-defense especially if I was to have a gun taken as evidence in a self-defense shooting and if it is necessary to arm family members in a group defense situation.

After careful consideration (mainly how much $$$$ I have:uhoh:) I adopted the "3 is 2, 2 is1 and 1 is none" theory for self-defense firearms. Unlike you I don't want to get rid of what I already own as I enjoy a wide variety of shooting so I have to buy additional guns from my budget. I have made good progress on the "2 is 1" part of my goal so my focus for 2018 is mainly ammunition and reloading supplies.:D

However I am not totally locked into this plan. I am going to wander off course sometime before next summer and buy a small .22 rifle to teach my one of my Grandsons to shoot. I am thinking about a Henry AR-7. I strongly suspect the biggest problem I am going to have is having enough 22 ammunition once the adult kids get ahold of it.
 
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I did experiment with 45 but gave the xDM compact to my dad. I have given away 2 LCP's (dad and brother) because just not comfortable with 380 capability, but somehow keep thinking I need one. Overall, I came back to just 9's to carry, except for the LCR as a backup. Sometimes it's 357 and sometimes it's Winchester PDX1 in 38 in the LCR. And of course everyone needs a 22 to shoot, so you can never get rid of those. The LC9s is almost as carryable as the LCP.

Yes I took the trip through some other calibers until I settled on one that gives me good capacity, adequate capability, good accuracy with follow up shots, and excellent ammo availability at reasonable prices.
 
Even if I had the money, I wouldn't 'collect' firearms. I have 'more than 1, less than 100' firearms in the safe, not one of them is a safe queen. Like anything mechanical, it's true beauty is allowing it to perform... not set.

I don't like the 9 vs 40 vs 45 vs (insert your fav round here) argument, it's a fool's errand. My favorite round is the one I can deliver on target, quickly, reliably, repeatedly... after being able to draw it from it's holster in a short enough time to effectively use it in that manner. Sure... a .500 S&W is a 'one-shot stopper,' but if you can't draw it from concealment and put the rounds on target in a quick enough amount of time... it's a moot point.
 
I've sort of done the same thing. My autos are 9mm save for my .380 pocket gun. My center fire revolvers are .357.

I've all but ditched .22lr as I don't enjoy shooting it and don't hunt for stew pot. I enjoy shooting .22 mag more.

I've tried to keep my stable pretty lean. .40 and. 45 are very good. It's just that I'm ok with 9mm on the streets and. 357 in the woods. .380 paired with .22 magnum for back up.
 
Me too I'm down to 22lr, 25 acp, 32 acp, 7.62x25, 380, 9mm, 38 super, 38 special, 357 mag, 9x18, 40 S&W, 10mm, 38/40, 44 special, 44 mag, 45 acp, 45 Colt and 480 Ruger.
Didn't say I was doing a good job with the lean thing lol.

Well, I don't see any .45 GAP or .50 GO there, so you're on the right path;)

Actually, I do this every few years. Get bored and start buying new calibers again. I usually fine an old magazine I forgot I had or even a handful of rounds at the bottom of the ammo box and go, "hmmmmm". Yes, I am totally guilty of spending 100s of dollars because I found $13 worth of ammo before. I'm looking at an old Norinco Tok at the LGS simply because I found about 30 rounds of very dirty corrosive Polish surplus 7.62x25 that I can't even shoot that the indoor range.

...it's a sickness;)
 
Me too I'm down to 22lr, 25 acp, 32 acp, 7.62x25, 380, 9mm, 38 super, 38 special, 357 mag, 9x18, 40 S&W, 10mm, 38/40, 44 special, 44 mag, 45 acp, 45 Colt and 480 Ruger.
Didn't say I was doing a good job with the lean thing lol.

I'm not seeing the .41 in there... you need to fatten that stable up a tad!
 
I am heading down the road of simplifying and standardizing. It looks to me like my personal defense needs are answered well enough by .38 Spl and 12 gauge 2-3/4. That is not K.B. the hobbyist talking but K.B. the practical shooter.
 
I went down this road a couple of years ago. Probably the biggest deciding factor was that I objectively perform better (quantifiable by handgun qualification scores for my work gun) when I limit myself to one platform.

I never had any particular interest in .45ACPs so my decision was between 9mm and .40 S&W. My wife can't shoot .40 so we went with 9mm.

I sold off two thirds of my accumulation and put the money into ammunition (I can objectively buy more 9mm training rounds than I can .40 rounds for the same amount), magazines and range time.

Apart from their use as self defense weapons I have almost zero interest in guns. I don't get any particular thrill from shooting various guns or from shooting one gun over another and I can't say that I have any attachment to any gun.

The enjoyment I get out of shooting comes from watching my performance improve as I'm able to train and practice(2 different things) more. The last time I was able to participate in a training class I was much more excited that I was getting smaller groups at longer distances and getting through the courses of fire with fewer missteps than I was that I was carrying a Glock.
 
I seriously considered consolidating all of my CC guns to 9MM some time back and changed my mind. You don't mention whether you reload etc but, for me, it came down to that. I reload and cast my own bullets. I have found that 9mm is a far more challenging caliber to cast for than the lower pressure rounds like the .45. Sure, you can do it and even I have managed to get some good accuracy in 9mm but .45 is so much simpler with fewer complications.

Since I can cast my own 45s for about .04 to .05 each, I hung onto my 45s. My daily carry guns tend to be, more often than not, 9MMs or even .38s but those 45s are not going anywhere.
 
I used the excuse of wanting to have options in an ammo shortage as to why I needed to try the 45 and keep a .380. Then I realized how much ammo I have and didn’t worry as much. And it is a lot cheaper to keep well loaded on 9mm and simpler for my brain to keep up with fewer types of rounds.
 
We did mainly the same thing a few years ago. I kept the Ruger GP-100 6” full under lug because I just love that gun and it is so accurate and flexible. For many years I wanted a 4” 38 target gun and found a S&W 67 at a great price and she ain’t going anywhere. We have a couple .22”s because they are great practice, the kids enjoy them, and I stocked up on ammo when it was cheap years back. The rest of my handguns are 9mm and I don’t feel under gunned carrying them.

I do reload and I try to find the best load for each gun as far as accuracy first, then lower recoil is second. Absolute reliability is a must obviously as I load whatever the gun likes best and that is for training, practice, and carry. It all comes out of the same ammo can.

I feel that any well designed bullet, at the correct velocity, placed where it will do serious damage is wholly adequate. Failing that, ammo is cheap, so send a few more and get the job done. 9mm works and has for quite a while, and will continue to do so. There are “better” calibers, and worse ones out there, but for me the 9 is fine.
 
I've tried to keep my stable pretty lean.
Me too I'm down to 22lr, 25 acp, 32 acp, 7.62x25, 380, 9mm, 38 super, 38 special, 357 mag, 9x18, 40 S&W, 10mm, 38/40, 44 special, 44 mag, 45 acp, 45 Colt and 480 Ruger.
Didn't say I was doing a good job with the lean thing lol.
Dang, I'm slacking, I don't have a .25, a 7.62x25, a 9x18, a .38/40, a .40 , a 10MM, or a .480. I do have a .38 S&W a .400 Corbon, and a .41 Mag. :)
 
Me too I'm down to 22lr, 25 acp, 32 acp, 7.62x25, 380, 9mm, 38 super, 38 special, 357 mag, 9x18, 40 S&W, 10mm, 38/40, 44 special, 44 mag, 45 acp, 45 Colt and 480 Ruger.
Didn't say I was doing a good job with the lean thing lol.

Im going the other way, as soon as I find a couple loads I like, I need a new caliber to reload.
 
I guess I'm also a failure at being a minimalist in regards to the number of cartridges I reload and shoot.

In 1911's alone, I have guns chamber in 45 ACP, 40 S&W, 357 Sig, 38 Super, 38/45 Clerke, 9x19, and 22 LR. 10mm and 400 Corbon are under consideration.

Then there are the revolvers...

Im going the other way, as soon as I find a couple loads I like, I need a new caliber to reload.

Yes, that is definitely part of my problem.:)
 
Hello:
For about a year I fancied carrying .40 and .45 in order to assess what they offer and what I needed. It was a year of detour. After shooting them extensively I came to the conclusion that they were just as good as my 9mm, may be bigger in most cases. A question I mulled over a long time that justified buying more guns in various calibers. (I was so ignorant to even give 5.7 a chance)

In conclusion I found that it is best for me to stick with my Glock 19 and hk p30; and pratice the heck out of them. I have my 19 for well over 2 and half decades and the P30 I got a few years back. Between the two I found myself more accurate with 19. Btw does anyone what is bullet count before we need to change springs on 19? Or how to check if it needs any changes- for aboout 25+ Years I have had 19 there has been ZERO malfunctions- same with P30. Knock knock.

I guess with age I am begining to become minimalist of a sort. Sheded a lot of collection to a point I may have total under 10 with each weapon catering to different need from EDC SD HD to Hunt and Skeet.

Any thoughts you may have or similar experience- please share. Thank you

Nothing ignorant about the 5.7 thank you.
 
Beginning with the initial post, what does brand and model have to do with a thread who's premise is 9mm as good as .40 or .45?

The way I read it, a part of the decision to narrow down to a certain caliber has to be that guns suitable for the uses you have in mind are available in that caliber. For instance, the Glock 19 mentioned is certainly efficient, there are other good choices larger and smaller, some people don't like Glocks, etc...
 
I'm going the opposite way lately. Have an older Gen3 G30SF and just ordered a new Gen4 G30.

I have and shoot my 1911's just about every range session. Reloading is the key.
 
I was old when I started shooting after I got my CCP. I tried a bunch of calibers thanks to friends who have closets and safes full of guns. I settled on .45 ACP because it works best for me. I have a Ruger that is slightly smaller and lighter than a G30. After 6 years I bought a Kahr PM45. It's almost identical in size to the PT111 but In .45. I haven't had to sell any other caliber pistols because I never bought any except a Neos for plinking.

I think the OP is wise as he found 2 pistols he likes and shoots regularly. I practice regularly with mine and practice moving and shooting even though I'm not as limber as I once was. I hit what I aim at and will carry my Kahr until I can't.
 
You will be better off down sizing to 9mm. Cheaper easier to shoot which makes it more fun and can shoot more often, etc.
 
I have done this idea too , I only have one in 9mm, four in 40s&w, two in 44mag now in handgun calibers, the only reason I keep that lone 9mm is my kid likes to shoot it "VP9"
I reload all my stuff and I just like dealing with the larger cases easier on the eyes and fingers :)
 
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