Consolidating Calibers- Good Idea or Bad?

[Tregs]

I've consolidated to

9mm (pistol/rifle)
.38/.357 (revolver/rifle)
12 ga

Not counting hunting/sporting shotguns and rifles, or .22's since I don't stockpile that ammo.

[Thomas]

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.

What is the "SOBT" rule?

[psijac]

If you are running out of space. Time to get more. I see a new house in your future!

[Shinesintx]

I started stockpiling a few years ago.

40, 45, 556, and 308. Those are the only rounds I buy in bulk. Recently, I got the 9mm bug...and now I just buy those for the range...along with 380 for my daily carry. If it ever got ugly, the 380 would not make the cut. I only need to buy enough rounds to be proficient with it at the range.

I did read an idea here that I really love...having several guns for one caliber of ammo (for family members). I would take that a step further by loading up on Glocks so that they all take the same mag. Pretty easy with ARs, but handguns change things a bit.

[Dave2]

I'd own as many different caliber guns as I could, but only stockpile ammo for my favorites.

[steveincowtown]

If it ever got ugly, the 380 would not make the cut. I only need to buy enough rounds to be proficient with it at the range.

No clue why I never thought of this, but so true. So here is what I decided.

.22
.38
9mm
.40
.223
12 Gauge

.380 may or may not make the cut.

I am also going to make an effort to try to make my new gun purchases suited to what ancillary equipment I have . For example, I have a Crossbreed Supertuck for my G23 which also happens to fit the Glock 17, 19, 22, 25, 31, 32, 34, 35. I have AR mags that fit all AR's, so I should definitely invest in a few more of those as well.

[74novaman]

I started with just a single rifle in 7.62x39.

Then went to a handgun in .45

That was in 2008.

As of 2012, I need to stock up on the following calibers..

.22LR, .38/.357, 9mm, .45, 7.62x39, 5.56.....

And I know many other members have far more.

So you can plan on consolidating....but you'll probably find a gun you really want...in a caliber you're not currently stocking up on. It happens.

[troglodyte]

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.

What is the "SOBT" rule?

I try to follow the Shoot-One-Buy-Two principal.

[wheelgun1958]

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

Let's see:
.177 pellet
22lr
22 k-hornet
.223
.243
25acp
7mm tcu
30 herrett
7.62x39
308 win
7.5x55
303 british
380acp
9x19mm
38spec/357mag
357 herrett
40 s&w
44spec/44mag
45acp
12ga

I handload everything but the airguns, 22lr, 25acp and 7.62x39.

[Liberty]

9mm. I should get a .22. I cant think of any reason for any other caliber.

[lonewolf]

Just buy one or more rounds of every caliber, then make sure you buy guns to fit........

[Katygunnut]

I voted "good idea", but this is definitely in the category of "do as I say, not as I do".

I really am trying to consolidate, but I have the following:
9mm
.22
.38
.357
.45
.223
7.62 mm
12 gauge
30-06
.380

I need the 9mm and the .38 since those are the calibers of my EDC (G19/G26) and BUG, respectively. I also need the .22 since that is the caliber of my daughter's gun (she's 10, so she doesn't have possession of the gun or it's ammo).

I don't really NEED the others, but I love to shoot my 1911's / G21 (.45), my .357 revolver, my shotguns (12 gauge), and I just wouldn't feel complete without an AK and an AR.

Maybe I will get rid of the 30-06 and the P3AT. I hardly ever shoot them, and that would get me down to 8 different ammo calibers, which is some progress, at least.

[Seabear]

Well, I went and did today. I sold my LCP and ALL the ammo I had for it. So, that means tomorrow I have to go buy a replacement pistol if I can find one. I'm thinking the PF9 so I can stick with my caliber consolidation.

[Dave2]

Well, I went and did today. I sold my LCP and ALL the ammo I had for it. So, that means tomorrow I have to go buy a replacement pistol if I can find one. I'm thinking the PF9 so I can stick with my caliber consolidation.

If you liked your LCP, you should look at Ruger's LC9 before you decide what to get.

[Shinesintx]

If it ever got ugly, the 380 would not make the cut. I only need to buy enough rounds to be proficient with it at the range.

No clue why I never thought of this, but so true. So here is what I decided.

.22
.38
9mm
.40
.223
12 Gauge

.380 may or may not make the cut.

I am also going to make an effort to try to make my new gun purchases suited to what ancillary equipment I have . For example, I have a Crossbreed Supertuck for my G23 which also happens to fit the Glock 17, 19, 22, 25, 31, 32, 34, 35. I have AR mags that fit all AR's, so I should definitely invest in a few more of those as well.

One of my buddies said something many years ago, "beware of the man who has three of the same gun...he knows how to use them". For some reason, that statement stuck with me. I guess thats why when I went on a pistol buying rampage, I chose Glocks. Now that I have four 40's (22, 23, 27 and 35), they all take the same magazine and three of them can be converted into 357 Sig. Also, two of them can be converted into 9mm. I bought the 21 and 30 because they used the same ammo as my Kimber. The Kimber is the odd duck in my safe for some reason. Just not a 1911 kinda guy.

My final plans are to get a 9mm P229 to go with its P226 brother, then a 226 and 229 in 40....after that, a couple of P220's in 45's. I wanna say that once I accomplish my Sig goals, HK's and more rifles may be next. I really gotta stop.