Need the minimum assortment of chamberings to fill every reasonable niche . . .

[Jason_W]

Or why I'm going to be buying ammo for guns I don't have yet.

Just as I start to get back into shooting after having to sell most everything a few years ago California (the state where I'm stuck for the foreseeable future) passes an asinine assortment of new gun laws, one of the most onerous of which is a law that will require California shooters to spend $50 for the privilege of buying ammo as well as having to pass a background check to buy so much as a box of birdshot.

I refuse to ever submit to such authoritarianism, so my idea is to stockpile as much ammo as I can afford before the law goes into effect in 2018.

That means that in addition to stockpiling ammo for the three guns I own, I need to anticipate future needs and wants and buy ammo for guns I'll own in the future.

I currently have guns chambered for .44 mag (Marlin 1894), 20 gauge (Remington 870 express) and .410 (old Braztech singe shot). The last one is mostly a keepsake that I honestly haven't fired in years.

What I'm trying to figure out is the bare minimum of shotgun, rifle and handgun chamberings to plan on having to cover every reasonable shooting niche I might encounter. My primary niches, of course are plain old fun followed by home defense. I'd like to hunt again some day, but that seems like a really expensive endeavor for someone in urban California. If I do figure out how to hunt out here, the largest animal I'm likely to go after will the itty bitty blacktail deer that are in the foothills and coastal region. I refuse to pay the state money to their pest control for them (feral hog) and Elk licenses are lottery drawn and I learned not to bother with those via the moose lotteries back in Vermont and Maine.

I'm not opposed to buying multiple guns chambered in the same round but set up for different purposes.

 

[wally]

Sorry for my brothers stuck in California, but unless you have a very specific focus for your shooting, I'd stock the standards: .223/5.56, .308/7.62, .22lr, and 12 gauge, along with what you already have. If you are someday interested in handguns I'd stock 9mm, .40S&W, .45ACP and maybe .38Special/.357Mag.

If you consider reloading you could stock about twice or more the round count with reloading components (primer, powder, bullets) and defer the cost of the equipment for later. Brass is harder to figure. Five loadings per rifle round is safe, 10-30 for pistols seem reasonable, but I usually lose 2-5% in the weeds so I rarely actually hit the end of life for handgun cases. What do the new CA laws saw about buying "once fired" brass post 2018?

 

[22-rimfire]

I'd say.... 22 rifle and handgun (rimfire), AR type rifle, one handgun for self defense (38spl, 9mm, 40 S&W, 45 ACP), and 12 ga pump shotgun.

For deer sized game hunting... my preference is a 270-308 sized caliber.

Personally, I would not buy any ammunition for something you have no specific plans on buying in the near future regardless of the new CA law.

 

[Jason_W]

As far as I or anyone else can tell, there are no restrictions on handloading components including pre fired brass. Yet.

I am also gradually getting back into reloading as well as casting. That's why I have an affinity for big bores and straight walls. They're so easy to cast and load.

 

[Jason_W]

I'd say.... 22 rifle and handgun (rimfire), AR type rifle, one handgun for self defense (38spl, 9mm, 40 S&W, 45 ACP), and 12 ga pump shotgun.

For deer sized game hunting... my preference is a 270-308 sized caliber.

Personally, I would not buy any ammunition for something you have no specific plans on buying in the near future regardless of the new CA law.

Owning an AR here is now pretty pointless. It's illegal to own one unless it's "featurless". No pistol grip stocks, no threaded muzzle, etc. 10 rd. mag cap limit.

Similarly, I'm avoiding rimfires because they can't be reloaded. I was actually thinking about a .22 hornet and just reducing a load down to the equivalent of a .22 mag or lr.

 

[Wisco]

I've got 22, 32, 9mm, 10mm, 5.56, 30-06 and 12 gauge. That really covers everything I can foresee needing. If I had to keep only one pistol caliber, it would be 9. Rifle would be 5.56.

My minimum would be 22lr, 9mm, 5.56, 12 gauge. I don't have the data, but I would guess those may some of the most popular calibers in their respective classes - rimfire, handgun, rifle, shotgun - with many options for loadings and availability.

Obviously those needing to shoot things bigger than deer would want something more robust than 5.56.

 

[readyeddy]

30-06 and 9mm. There are good reasons for owning guns and ammo in multiple cartridges, but the downside is that the strategy requires money and storage space.

The other cartridge to consider is .223. Since you're avoiding 22 LR, you may enjoy shooting a .223 bolt gun for plinking/target. Hand loading .223 is about half the expense of hand loading 30-06. Recoil and blast is also much less in the smaller cartridge.

 

[shafter]

Since you're stockpiling you may want to consider the cost of ammo for the firearms you choose. For example if I was trying to stock deep for plain old fun and for protection if necessary, I'd go with 9mm vs 45 based on cost. Another thing to consider is how will it go for you if you're caught with a large stockpile of ammo? Are there any laws pertaining to that?

 

[Jason_W]

Since you're stockpiling you may want to consider the cost of ammo for the firearms you choose. For example if I was trying to stock deep for plain old fun and for protection if necessary, I'd go with 9mm vs 45 based on cost. Another thing to consider is how will it go for you if you're caught with a large stockpile of ammo? Are there any laws pertaining to that?

As far as I know, there's no limit to how much ammo you can have on hand. All a stockpile does is give the media something to salivate about if you're arrested for something else. Being an upstanding, law abiding citizen (ok, just law abiding) I'm not too worried.

 

[AZAndy]

Get yourself a reloading setup and don't look back. Let the good times roll!

 

[Snyper]

Get yourself a reloading setup and don't look back. Let the good times roll!

They'll just amend the laws to cover reloading components too.

 

[denton]

44 Mag lever action--keeper!

20 ga 870--keeper! You might be just a smidgin happier with 12 gauge.

Any bolt action from 260 to 30-06. 7mm-08 is very adequate for any big game in NA, except the big bears.

Something in 223/5.56. Maybe a lever action? The AR15 has been vilified as a fearful weapon for bad guys. John Wayne and all the good cowboys carried lever actions, so they are associated with good guys.

Of course, the obligatory 22LR rifle. Henry lever action or Savage Mark II.

For self defense, the Springfield XDS in 9mm. Just big enough to enjoy shooting at the range, and ammo is cheap.

 

[BearBrimstone]

If I were in your shoes and could afford to I would add 10mm, 12 gauge, and .308.

10mm: Can be downloaded to similar to 40 S&W recoil and ballistics, but also can be loaded hot enough for most animals in North America. My recommendation for gun would be a Glock 29. You can buy an aftermarket barrel and a full size magazine and grip sleeve to make it similar to a full size while also being able to carry it in its normal configuration (if carry is possible in CA).

12 Gauge: Just a bit more well rounded than 20 gauge in my opinion. Ammunition is also usually a little cheaper. My recommendation for a gun is whatever you feel comfortable with spending the money on. Anything from a $200 Maverick 88 to many of the more expensive shotguns would work great.

.308: Powerful enough for any animal in the United States and you can find some good deals on ammunition. Just about every good bolt action rifle that you can buy can be bought in .308. The Ruger American is a nice balance of price and quality in my opinion.

 

[redneck2]

I'd go after components personally. You can buy enough powder to load 2k rounds for about the cost of one box of good factory SD loads. Maybe some bullet pulls or blems for cheap. This is 13k of primers.
[/URL]

 

[Ks5shooter]

I agree .......Reload

 

[hdwhit]

It seems to me that trying to anticipate what calibers particular guns might be made in the future and which of those you might want to buy and then buying ammunition in anticipation of those hoped-for future purchases is going about it all backward.

I concur with the many others who have suggested you obtain reloading equipment and learn how to use it reloading the caliber/gauges you have now. This will give you the equipment and skill in using it to load for whatever you decide to buy in the future.

And while the legislature may attempt to restrict the acquisition of components in the future, they currently are not restricted, so the course of legislation with respect to components is years behind that of the restrictions on ammunition. But if you want to start stockpiling components in anticipation of future restrictions, you can begin by stockpiling primers, bullets (or shot) and powder for the calibers you currently own. In particular you could choose powders that would have a high degree of applicability to common calibers that you might buy. For example, there are 20 gauge loads using Hodgdon Hi-Skor 800-X and HS-6 powders, both of which find broad application in a variety of handgun cartridges such as 9mm Luger, .38 Special, .45 ACP and the 44 Magnum you are already familiar with.

 

[Jason_W]

I've actually started to rebuild my handloading setup as well. I was an avid handloader for about a decade before our move to the left coast (but not quite the coast, the hot, dry, sad and bleak part 2 hours from the coast ).

I have a new metallic press ready to go and I'll by trickling in the rest of what I need as the budget allows. A space to work is more of an issue than anything else at this point.

 

[FROGO207]

Yeah he reloaded when he was back here. Jason I would think about what you really would want to do in the next few years as to firearms and figure from there for reloading them . A handgun in 44 MAG (already have the rifle to match it), and/or a 357 that you could download to weak 38 SPL bunny fart loads for plinking or load it up full power, Or a 9MM if you want a semiauto, a 223 (probably a bolt 1 in 8-9 twist) that you could down load with Red Dot/Promo/fast pistol powder and a Hornet specific or lead bullet (will mimic a .22) or use it full power, and something in the 308/30-06 range for large rifle use. Buy the 20 GA promo loads and make the Buck and slugs for it and the 410.

 

[denton]

20 gauge is a fine chambering. But it's hard to get anything larger than #5 to pattern in it. 12 gauge is better in that respect.

I do reload shotgun for my specialty needs, but the press collects a lot of dust between uses.

In the metallic cartridges, reloading will give you more flexibility and lower cost. But don't load up a whole pile of ammunition until you're sure what you want. Your tastes will change with time.

 

[Jason_W]

Yeah he reloaded when he was back here. Jason I would think about what you really would want to do in the next few years as to firearms and figure from there for reloading them . A handgun in 44 MAG (already have the rifle to match it), and/or a 357 that you could download to weak 38 SPL bunny fart loads for plinking or load it up full power, Or a 9MM if you want a semiauto, a 223 (probably a bolt 1 in 8-9 twist) that you could down load with Red Dot/Promo/fast pistol powder and a Hornet specific or lead bullet (will mimic a .22) or use it full power, and something in the 308/30-06 range for large rifle use. Buy the 20 GA promo loads and make the Buck and slugs for it and the 410.

Hey, how's the Maine winter so far? I miss a lot of things about Northern New England, but snow removal and #2 heating oil are not among them.

A .44 mag handgun is next on my to buy list. The 1894 needs a little brother.

For a smaller bore, longer range round, I periodically consider the .22-250. It can be easily loaded down to .223 levels for increased barrel and throat longevity, but loaded to full potential with a really good bullet, it would be adequate for the relatively small deer out here on the off chance I get to hunt. Unless I was sure I was going hunt deer every year, I wouldn't want to spend the money on an '06 class rifle only to have it sit in the safe 90 percent of the time.

 

[Jason_W]

20 gauge is a fine chambering. But it's hard to get anything larger than #5 to pattern in it. 12 gauge is better in that respect.

I do reload shotgun for my specialty needs, but the press collects a lot of dust between uses.

In the metallic cartridges, reloading will give you more flexibility and lower cost. But don't load up a whole pile of ammunition until you're sure what you want. Your tastes will change with time.

I've been hunting with the 20 gauge since I was 12, so i'm pretty good at making it do what I need it to. The 12 id definitely better than the 20 for larger shot sizes, but I'm of the opinion that the only time that makes a real difference is when hunting large waterfowl at longer ranges and if you're restricted to hunting deer with buckshot. I'm not really a water fowl hunter at present and if I get into, I might tempted to skip the 12 and go for a 10, just because I'm contrary and like to be different.

 

[ccoyle]

Another thing to keep in mind, if you plan to hunt, is Kalifornistan's lead ammo ban, currently in effect throughout most of SoCal, and I believe it's supposed to go state-wide in 2019. On a side note, there's still plenty of places to hunt in California and have a decent chance of filling your deer tag. That's one benefit of 52% of the state being public land. BTW, that's a California mulie in my profile photo -- last deer I bagged in California before leaving for South Carolina.

 

[Jason_W]

Another thing to keep in mind, if you plan to hunt, is Kalifornistan's lead ammo ban, currently in effect throughout most of SoCal, and I believe it's supposed to go state-wide in 2019. On a side note, there's still plenty of places to hunt in California and have a decent chance of filling your deer tag. That's one benefit of 52% of the state being public land. BTW, that's a California mulie in my profile photo -- last deer I bagged in California before leaving for South Carolina.

Nice buck! I saw a really big-racked blacktail while driving route 49 between Placerville and Auburn last weekend. It brought my inborn desire to kill meat back to the surface.

Yeah, the lead ban is a consideration as well. There are a decent amount of lead free options in .44 cal and 20 gauge can be easily loaded with non-lead shot for birds and small game. Any additions for the purpose of hunting will of course have plenty of lead free bullet options.

 

[barnbwt]

12ga -shotgun, duh
5.7x28/22 Johnson Spitfire -short range, personal defense, varmints
6.5 Grendel/6.8 SPC -med/long range, patrol, hunting
7.5x55 Swiss/6.5 Creedmoor -med/long range with more punch, hunting larger game
375HH -big game, if it's a requirement
50BMG -light anti-materiel
14.5x114mm -heavy anti-materiel

Since H&H has such a diverse set of loads, these cartridges have no real gap until you get to the 14.5 which roughly doubles BMG performance (but who's counting at that point?) Below H&H where size & weight matter more from a portability standpoint, very efficient cartridges with high BC bullets are chosen, to maximize the performance & effective range so as to make them viable for a broader portion of the ballistic envelope.

 

[zb338]

A .270 Winchester and either a .338 or a .340 Weatherby should cover rifles
except maybe a .22 rimfire to mess with. A good 12 gauge shotgun is all you
need unless you want to get into the target sports which require special guns.
Zeke