Has the shortage caused you to condense your calibers???

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I was well stocked before the nightmare in DC
I don't shoot as much as my oldest moved to KY to get a better job taking 2 grandkids with him
 
R.W., I suspect part of our difference in approach is that it sounds like you're more of a precision rifle loader, whereas most of my shooting is handguns. Working up a new load doesn't usually take more than 10-20 rounds, unless I'm working near maximum. But, at this point, I've used a bunch of different brands in a bunch of different calibers. I can usually find something that I've used before.

And I'm not talking about not buying in bulk. I generally buy bullets in lots of 500 or 1000, and try to keep more than that on hand. I just know that when I run out, if something has interrupted the supply chain, at least I can be flexible.
 
Understood

For all intents and purposes there ONLY four mainstream handgun calibers. Even loading for all of them and their minor bullet diameter variations you're never taking much of a departure from mainstream
 
No but, I have backed off somewhat shooting some cartridges where I have less components than others. I don't want to run out of anything...
 
I consolidated several years ago to .22lr, .38/.357, 9mm, .45LC, .223 & 12g for the vast majority of my shooting, though I do have a couple others that are shot far less.

My reason for consolidation was these were what I found to be the best combination of economical, effective and practical for my needs. Doing so also allowed me to purchase ammo by the case, ensuring that I have a decent amount on hand. If I buy a new gun now it is in one of these chamberings and I don't have to worry about finding ammo to feed it.

I do see some benefit to having an odd-ball or two for ammo availability at times, but question how far you take it. Still after two recent experiances with tight ammo supplies, I would hope shooters now have a strategy for how to best meet needs moving forward. I expect things will never go back to how they were and there will be more tightness of supply in the future.
 
I mostly shoot .22lr, 38/357, 9mm, 45 ACP and 45 Colt but I also shoot 38 S&W, 32 ACP, 7.62 Tokarev and a few others.

I also mostly shoot the 30-06, .308, .223, 30-30 and 45-70 but I also shoot 8mm Mauser, 7mm Mauser, 6.5mm Swede, 7.62X54R, 7.62X39, 7.5mm Swiss and a few other older military cartridges.

It's the slightly more obscure older military cartridges I have slowed down shooting the most because I didn't have tons of brass and projectiles like I do with the more popular cartridges like the 30-06 and .308...

I haven't slowed down shoot much, I just pick what I shoot more carefully now.
 
Isn't the only real shortage, other than a bit more waiting for orders, in pistol powder? I don't have any calibers that are inseparable from a particular powder or brand of brass, bullet, or primer. If I had not been well stocked or quick to lay in a supply when starting with a new caliber...otherwise controlled by current offerings, yes, I might be really focusing on some priority loading.
 
I reload for many calibers with many different propellants available. I keep a bare minimum loaded ahead. BUT I have enough on hand components to reload say 10K of any handgun or 4K of any rifle rounds as I use them up. Then add a pile of lead and molds so I will never be without. I have slowed down some when shooting as there is no need to shoot 800 times at paper in an afternoon if I cannot replace the components used. 50 or 100 rounds will keep me in practice till things improve when finding components again.
 
In the last year I have added 3 rifle calibers to my reloading repertoire. I was shooting .223 and 7.62 x 39, but just began loading. .300 AAC I purchased a rifle and started loading. I was loading strictly handgun, .32-20, .380, 9mm, .38/.357 and .45 Colt.
 
I only reload for my one rifle so the shortage hasn't affected me too much. As for the shortage itself, things seem to be improving slowly here. Over the weekend I saw .223, .243, 7mm rem mag, .30/30, .30/06, and 300 winmag on the shelf at local walmart for the first time in a while, in addition to pistol and shotgun ammo. A definite improvement.
 
I've added 2 new cartridges 6mm Rem and 220 Swift. I already have components for .223 and .243 so all I needed was brass and dies.
 
After seeing what I saw with my own eyes I actually intend to add a few more calibers to what I already shoot. I'll probably add one each of rifle cartridges that uses a 6mm, 6.5mm, .284, and .323 bullet. Reason being, I could always find those bullet diameters on the shelf. Meanwhile bullets in .224, .308, 9mm, .357, .40, .44, and .45 diameters were hard to find.

I'm thinking a .243 Win, 6.5x55, 7mm-08, and 8x57 are all in my future. Sure they aren't exactly economical to shoot massive amounts of ammo, but at least I'll have options.
 
I load for 380 38 357 40 44S 44M 375 DW 460SW Long guns 223 243 257R 25.06 270 30.06 7.62+39. I stocked up when Bill C ran and replaced as I use it. Last year I loaded over 5500 rounds.
 
I actually added .223/5.56 to mine (an M4gery upper) just so I could stretch the powder more. Never could stand the idea of a standard AR, but a couple of years shooting one in 6.8SPC softened me up. Found a couple of pounds of powder for the 6.8 that I like yesterday, so I'm back in business with it, but finding myself liking the .223 a lot now.:)
 
I didn't add any calibers,,,

Actually, I've added a couple of calibers.
Click to expand...

I didn't add any calibers,,,
But I've upped the consumption of a few.

Me as well.

I now shoot as much of 9mm as I do 22 LR,,,
I can't readily replace the rimfire ammo.

9mm costs more to shoot,,,
So I get fewer trigger pulls per trip,,,
But I'm not using up my irreplaceable rimfire.

That doesn't mean I've quit shooting my 22 guns,,,
I simply don't do an entire bulk pack each trip.

Aarond

.
 
It caused me to shift my focus a bit.
Pistol powders being the worst hit, I went up to rifle calibers.
One of the best shows in town from the beginning of the crunch, has been the very arm you probably thumbed your nose at.
That lowly 30-30 your dad gave you for your birthday when you thought you wanted a 300 win mag has been the easiest gun to source for.
4227 and cast lead makes a fine plinking load, as well as a great small game getter. This powder has rarely been absent from the shelves.
3031 has also been staring at you every time you looked for pistol powder good stuff for full potential 30-30
Rl 7, similarly appropriate, has been looking at you too.
I caught on early, been loading and shooting 30-30, 32 special, and added a 45-70
 
Since my last posting I've been doubling down on the OT and as such decided to splurge and treat myself to a new gun and caliber.

45/70 in a navy arms roller
 
Has the shortage caused you to condense your calibers???
Click to expand...

No, but getting laid off 4 times in 5 years did. Now I'm down to just .357, 45acp and 30-30.

Funny thing is I like having fewer guns and calibers. I like the spartan simplicity of it.

Now I have lots of left over components for calibers I don't even shoot. I'll hang on to them, could be good barter material someday.
 
Left over reloading components are BETTER than money in the bank.

Cause unlike cash in a savings account they actually keep pace with inflation
 
One of the last hand gun ammo calibers to leave the shelves locally during this last panic cycle was the 40 S&W. So I did find a couple of pistols at good deals and purchased them along with the appropriate bullet molds to go along with the 5 GAL bucket of OF brass I had already collected. Before this I had discounted the 40 CAL as an in between caliber, being already equipped with 9MM/38/357 and various 45 CAL handguns. So I now have this option as well. FWIW I may start looking for a 10MM revolver to go with the already collected brass I have.;)
 
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