Consolidating Calibers- Good Idea or Bad?

[steveincowtown]

I have what has become a random assortment of handguns in multiple calibers. Due to cost and space, I typically have as many rounds as I would like to have on hand, but they are spread over way to many calibers. I am considering consolidating all my handguns into 3 calibers (.38+, .380, .40) so that I can just keep a ton of rounds on hand that are interchangeable between all my handguns of that style.

There are quite a few folks on here with a bit more experience than I and would love to hear opinions on whether this is a good idea or not...Thanks!


Edit- Added Poll just for the heckuva it.

[74novaman]

If you have enough money and space to keep well stocked in all the various calibers...why bother consolidating if you enjoy shooting them all?

And if I was going to try to consolidate calibers....one of them would still be .22 so I could have some cheap plinking time at the range.

[steveincowtown]

And if I was going to try to consolidate calibers....one of them would still be .22 so I could have some cheap plinking time at the range.

How I could I forget .22!!

I have a finite amount of space and cash, otherwise I would just buy a new safe and keep more rounds on hand!

[i8godzilla]

I prefer to keep as many calibers as possible. Should various ammo calibers become unavailable, I have a wider range of choices.

[RoyGBiv]

I prefer to keep as many calibers as possible. Should various ammo calibers become unavailable, I have a wider range of choices.

Picked up ammo at Wally yesterday.
WWB .45's 100-count were cheaper than WWB .40's.

[Skiprr]

I've tried to make a conscious effort to at least minimize the number of different calibers, but it hasn't worked out tremendously well. The only place I've been truly successful is in shotguns; 12-guage only.

[AEA]

ME: 38/357, 9mm, .45acp, 5.56/.223, 45-70 Govt, 12ga.

When the Zombies come, all of those calibers ('cept the 45-70) should be readily available in any store/shop that carried ammo that is still standing.

[RPB]

5 years ago I started "consolidating calibers" ... then there was an "ammo shortage" and I thought what might be in short supply at TEOTWAWKI (The End Of The World As We Know It) or even just before the election, or just before 12/21/12 and I started buying stuff in other calibers again ...

[Seabear]

I kind of started doing that, but dangit it's hard to do.
I thought I would narrow it down to:
.22
.223
9mm
.38/.357
.45acp
20 gauge

I still have one .380 and actually have 2 buyers for it. I just keephaving second thoughts. It doesn't take much room and I still have about 350 rounds for it. LOL

I was thinking I might dump the LCP and pick up a pocket 9mm to take it's place then I wouldn't feel too bad.

[zero4o3]

I have actually been slowly doing the opposit, my goal is to have .22 9mm .40 and .45 all in the same format, im just about there all of mine are fairly similar gun / control setups so swithing between them does not effect me to much. it also gives me more options should there ever be a time where we are forced to scavange for ammo.

[SRH78]

Like everything else, it depends. I can certainly see the advantage of having fewer calibers but whether it is worth it depends on what you have to give up to do it.

[Thomas]

I am going to try to keep my calibers to the common ones.

Right now I have:
9mm
.380
.22

I will probably also get later this year:
5.56
.223

And whatever else for a shotgun when I get one of those.

[WildBill]

I've tried to make a conscious effort to at least minimize the number of different calibers, but it hasn't worked out tremendously well. The only place I've been truly successful is in shotguns; 12-gauge only.

.22LR
.222Rem
.308Win
.30M1
30-30
357 Mag
.38 Spl
.380 ACP
.40 S&W
.45 ACP
I really do need a 9 mm.

[troglodyte]

I kind of consolidated. All of my family has the same sidearm in the same caliber. I then "stockpiled" FMJ rounds. Every firearm has a magazine and at least a spare filled with SD ammo. The FMJ is used to practice and I try to follow the Shoot-One-Buy-Two principal. If I come across a deal then I'll grab what I can, SD or "practice".

I also outfitted my home, my married son's home, and my still-at-home son's future home with a high capacity rifle and a couple of cases of ammo again trying to follow the SOBT rule.

Did the same with .22 rifles.

After that I have a few of this and that.

So I guess my go-to arms are "standardized" then I have my others. I keep a box or three of ammo for each of my others but not a "stockpile".

I'm also trying to stock up on reloading supplies but I'm a long way from having what I need.

[michael e]

Like owning several, only time it has a down side is when I have to change out the reloading dies 6-7 times on a busy reloading day. But usually just load up several of each caliber for a while, when the stockpile gets back up change them to another caliber.