Gun owner's progression regarding #of calibers

[UKWildcatFan]

I've been buying guns for about 5 years now. I have a nice collection of handguns, and long arms; including some somewhat odd calibers (5.7x28, 10mm, 8MM Mauser to name a few). I've come to the point where I'm selling some of those fringe calibers, and purchasing more magazines, and reloading components for 9, 45, 223, 308 and 12 gauge. I've takked to several people lately about my changing desire to have less number of calibers, with more accessories for my chosen calibers and they've said it seems to be a progression that happens with a good number of folks. Your thoughts?

 

[oneounceload]

Absolutely agree. Life's too short to spend whatever free time I can manage reloading for a huge number of cartridges that I don't shoot hardly at all. I had a lot of other guns when I lived out West, mostly for big game hunting, something that doesn't exist in FL and my tastes have changed to shooting more clay games, so selling a few rifles made room in the safe for a few more shotguns! LOL And when I sell a gun that is the only one in that cartridge, I also price and include any reloading dies, etc. to go to the new owner

 

[Candyman87]

I started off with a .380, then a .22, then a .32, then a 9mm, then a 12 gauge, then another .380, then another 12 gauge, then a .303 Brit.

I'm not going to buy guns based on calibers I already have. I've got the ones I shoot the most and buy in bulk and/or produce in bulk, and I've got the stuff that I do a couple batches here and there, or buy a few boxes.

 

[sappyg]

I keep trying to make it simple. For instance, I only reload for ammo that is expensive or hard to find locally I.e., 357, 38 special, 380, and 45 acp. These are cheap to load but expensive to buy. Doesn't mean that I can't load 9mm. Just that there is no bennifit to me. I shoot them all.

Like the OP I settled on certain platforms that simplify (to a degree) magazines, powder, and primers but diversity is unavoidable. The problem is that I like to shoot too much.

 

[jeff-10]

Very similar to you. When I started buying guns, a long time ago, I would sell nothing. Then I started selling guns that I deemed not to be 100% reliable. I then sold a 8mm Mauser and am contemplating loosing a 10mm.

However, just the other day I was looking at the new Glock 10mm longslide and seriously considered getting one.

To this day I will not buy a 45 ACP because I do not want to have to stock any more calibers.

 

[General Geoff]

I've pretty much paired down to .22lr, .40S&W, 9mm parabellum, .308, and 12 gauge. I'd honestly like to drop .40S&W in favor of just 9mm, but I my first pistol is a .40S&W so I find it difficult to part with.

 

[berettaprofessor]

Part of my firearms interest is in older and military guns, so I gather a number of calibers I wouldnt necessarily own that way. But, on the other hand, I've never purchased a 40 S&W because I don't want the caliber.

 

[Thermactor]

How many calibers is too many? Is needing to keep eight of them excessive?

 

[bannockburn]

Over the years I have tried to keep my caliber choices fairly mainstream; .22 LR, .380, .38 Special, 9mm., .45 ACP, .223, 7.62x39mm., 12 and 20 gauge. I allow for a few off-the-beaten path cartridges,like the .38 Super and .44 Special, but other than that it's mostly pretty common ammo that you can find just about anywhere.

 

[Candyman87]

How many calibers is too many? Is needing to keep eight of them excessive?

I'd say no. For example my .303 Brit... I only have a couple boxes of ammo on hand whereas the 9mm and .22 I have ammo cans full of it.

I stock based on having a month or so of normal shooting, maybe more with exceptions for overstocking on great deals. The .303 I only shoot a box or two a trip so I don't stock more than 2-3 boxes including my reloads.

 

[Sunray]

It's not the cartridge. It's the firearm. If you don't shoot a 5.7 why reload it. Mind you, having the dies, shell holder and brass means you always will be able to shoot it.
8mm Mauser isn't exactly a fringe cartridge.

 

[chris in va]

If I can't readily find reloading components and/or cast bullets for it, I don't want it. I feel bad for all those AK 74 buyers that had much of their ammo evaporate.

 

[claiborne]

Same here. At one point I was loading 14 different calibers. Then I got down to about 6 but I had multiple guns in like calibers. Its no easier loading for five 30-06 rifles as it is loading for five rifles in different calibers.
Now I load for 4 calibers and have only one gun per caliber that I load.
Life is nice and I have more time to shoot and am able to keep more loaded ammo on hand per gun with the time I have available.

 

[Ranger Roberts]

Honestly I don't know how many calibers I have and I don't plan on trimming down my collection at all. Heck, sometimes I buy a gun just because it is a caliber I don't have! I reload for almost all of my calibers except for a few that are a pain in the butt (I'm talking to you 5.7x28). I still buy ammo as well, especially for a few oddballs that I don't shoot often enough to sit down in front of my press and turn out rounds for. For example, I reload for my 7.7 Arisaka but it is time consuming to trim down 30.06 brass, so if I see 7.7 on the shelf I always buy it.

I completely understand why someone would want to consolidate but it's not for me. If it works for you though, I'd say go for it!

 

[bangswitch]

I'm also one who won't sell a gun just because I don't shoot it. I've done that a few times over the years, and now regret selling them. To try replacing them now would cost twice what I sold them for ten years ago, so I decided to never sell another gun.

It sure won't prevent me from buying them, though. I tend to stay with calibers I reload for, but if I find something with collector value that appeals to me, and can get a good deal on it, I'll grab it, regardless of whether I think I'll ever shoot it more than a couple of times.

 

[Thermactor]

I'd say no. For example my .303 Brit... I only have a couple boxes of ammo on hand whereas the 9mm and .22 I have ammo cans full of it.

I stock based on having a month or so of normal shooting, maybe more with exceptions for overstocking on great deals. The .303 I only shoot a box or two a trip so I don't stock more than 2-3 boxes including my reloads.

well put.
another thing to consider is when the last shortage hit, the most popular panic calibers (22LR, 380ACP, 9mm, 223 Rem, 7.62x39, 45 ACP) all disappeared for a while, or relocated to Gunbroker, Armslist and the local gun show.
During the worst of it, 40 S&W was much easier to find on shelves than 9mm. Much, much easier.

It's worth having backup platforms that you can still shoot with during an outage. Heck, two years later, we still can't get 22LR like we used to. Our best hopes are buying relatively expensive stuff online or trying to get in early on a sale at one of the online retailers.

 

[DammitBoy]

I've cut back almost as far as I can for my smaller than last year collection.

1) .22 long rifle
2) .22 magnum -
3) .38 special
4) .357 magnum
5) 12 ga.
6) .45 acp
7) .45 colt
8) .454 casull
9) .410 gauge
10) .223
11) .308

 

[BigBL87]

Barring some change, I see myself staying with my current caliber "collection" of 9mm, .223/5.56, 22lr, and 12 gauge. Easier on me economically to focus on those 4.

 

[Tanshanomi]

I'm standardizing on these seven:

.22 LR
.22 WMR
.22 TCM
.380 ACP
.38 SPL
.357 SIG
20 GA

I don't hunt, so I am not much of a long gun guy, but rather than get a .223/5.56 I might choose the new .22TCM bolt action rifle. But with that (unlike the convertible 1911) it's a boat anchor if Armscor ever stops making ammo.

My RIA 1911 came with the 9mm kit, and my wife has a couple of 9mm pistols, so I could shoot that if I wished, but I haven't yet. The TCM is much more fun.

DISCLAIMER: These just are my personal weapons, not my wife's—I have no control over what she has/wants. Mine just get to share a safe with hers. She's a big girl with her own money and her own tastes. Thanks to inheriting her father's guns, her collection is also larger and more varied than mine.

 

[orionengnr]

Its no easier loading for five 30-06 rifles as it is loading for five rifles in different calibers.

I beg to differ. Once I am set up for .45acp, I can crank out a few hundred rounds every night, for as long as I care to do so. Once I have 1000 (or several thousand) rounds stocked, I can shoot them in any pistol that takes that round.

On the other hand, if I load 300 rounds of .45acp, then set up for .45LC, load a hundred, then set up for 10mm and load a couple hundred...then swap over to load .380, and then .357, andso on...that is a major PITA.

I'd much rather have a few calibers with multiple handguns in each, than a larger number of chamberings and one gun each..

 

[Plan2Live]

I suppose it depends on what your goal is. I like knowing that I have at least one gun chambered for each of the most common calibers, except .45acp and .380. I haven't found a need for either of those two calibers yet.

 

[earlthegoat2]

Everyone goes through a phase where they want and sometimes do buy everything that just looks neat. This can get out of hand quickly but it is formative to figuring out your own wants and tastes in firearm types and cartridges.

Eventually it gets pared down into what your own little niche is. Usually.

 

[Twiki357]

Twelve years ago I had only a few calibers:
22 LR
22 Mag
30 Carbine
30/30 Win
9mm
38 Spl
357 Mag
Since then I’ve added:
7.62x39
12 Gauge
32 S&W
380 ACP
38 Super
45 ACP
44 Mag
I reload all of them except the 22 and 12 gauge.

 

[slumlord44]

I personally love the really odd old calibers. Have .25-20 Single Shot, .25-21 Stevens, .25-25 Stevens, .32 Ideal, .32 Rimfire, .25 Stevens Rimfire, .32-20, .38.55, .44-40 and a few that I can't remember at the moment. Looking at a .28-30 at the moment. Also looking for a .38-40 which I have dies and brass for already. And yes I do have a supply of .32 Rimfire and .25 Stevens Rimfire ammo. Of course I have some of the normal stuff also.

 

[USAF_Vet]

I started out with a few different calibers, decided to simplify and consolidate. That lasted a few years, but now my caliber profile has increased again, and will probably continue to expand.