How many calibers

[Phauxtoe]

are too many?

since i like to keep a reasonable supply for each gun, i dont want to expand into more calibers.
but there are guns i want!

the world just isn't fair!

 

[Bananabandit]

I asked this questions many a times. I wanted to keep just the very popular calibers to help keep the price down on ammo. But, I bought more than a few that aren't found on every shelf. 10mm, 460/454 casull , even 22 short (NAA Mini).

To answer your question, none

 

[NirvanaFan]

I thought the same thing, but every gun I buy seems to be a new caliber. The only one I have multiples of right now is .22.

 

[Phazer]

Simple: Categorize calibers as either (a) "necessary" (defensive, practice with defensive firearms, hunting) or (b) "fun" (not needed for defense or serious practice, but can be entertaining).

That's just my $0.02.

I'm personally limited to four primary calibers and I stock as much of each of those as I can. I don't have much need for "fun" rounds since I enjoy self-defense practice (draw, fire, mag dumps all at SD ranges). I'm not much for long-range work.

 

[Bananabandit]

I forgot to mention, I was told by a friend that if you want it, then it is not a waste to buy. Since then, I've used that philosophy to buying guns, with consideration. YMMV.

I'm not a long ranger, either. I have a mosin, that'll have to do. For now.

 

[Magnus]

One is not enough, and Two is too many...

 

[togmaster]

I'm targeting my next acquisitions to calibers I already own. 9mm carbine, 357 lever gun, etc.

 

[Marine Cpl]

I'm basically down to one caliber. 9mm for both my pistols and carbine. My .45 acp 1911 will be given to my sister since she doesn't own a firearm and I don't shoot it anymore.

.308 will be the other when I get the funds.

I want to keep it simple. There will come a time when ammo will be scarce. Having only one caliber for a pistol and only one for a rifle makes it easier to stock up on.

 

[Greywolf224]

My main handgun calibers that I hoard are for .38, .357 and .40.

.380, 9mm and .41 are my play calibers.
.22's I have no use for other than I have them because I have a bunch of .22 rifles.

.270 and 30-30 as far as long gun calibers

Ultimately I want to concentrate on .38/.357 since it will be used as both my handgun and rifle caliber.

 

[dsdmmat]

I think I load for 13 calibers, I am not sure anymore I have lost track.

 

[dsdmmat]

My main handgun calibers that I hoard are for .38, .357 and .40.

.380, 9mm and .41 are my play calibers.
.22's I have no use for other than I have them because I have a bunch of .22 rifles.

.270 and 30-30 as far as long gun calibers

Ultimately I want to concentrate on .38/.357 since it will be used as both my handgun and rifle caliber.

I also load for 41 mag, have a couple of revolvers and rifles in the caliber. Great cartridge.

 

[Greywolf224]

I also load for 41 mag, have a couple of revolvers and rifles in the caliber. Great cartridge.

Last time I loaded for the .41 must have been 20 yrs ago before the first of my kids were born. Just never got back into it. I loaded hot for my SW 657. Took 2 deer with it.
Will never sell that gun.
Drop me a line if you ever intend on getting rid of a rifle. Lever Action I take?

 

[dsdmmat]

Last time I loaded for the .41 must have been 20 yrs ago before the first of my kids were born. Just never got back into it. I loaded hot for my SW 657. Took 2 deer with it.
Will never sell that gun.
Drop me a line if you ever intend on getting rid of a rifle. Lever Action I take?

Yep I have a couple, the coveted Marlin 1894FG and the Henry Bigboy Steel. Sorry those will not leave the family as long as I am still breathing.

 

[Greywolf224]

Yep I have a couple, the coveted Marlin 1894FG and the Henry Bigboy Steel. Sorry those will not leave the family as long as I am still breathing.

But I have a lot of family in Quebec. Cousin can easily stop over and pick up the 1894!

 

[Celt]

9mm, 45, 44 ( I will be adding 357 soon)

556, 308

12ga

These are my main calibers, and I store plenty of each. I have multiple firearms that run the same caliber so that I can maintain fewer calibers that I have to stock up on.

 

[carpediem]

I have too many, and some are expensive. 45-70 Gov't, 7mm Rem. Mag., .32 Win. to name a few.

 

[Airborneguy]

Hmm, let's see.

5.56/.223
.30-06
.30-30
7.62x39
.22LR

9mm
.38SPL
.45ACP
.44Mag

12GA

Next up for me is definitely.308. I've already started picking up the brass at the range.

 

[Glenn B]

With my little gray cell's best efforts, at the current moment, these are all the calibers of my current firearms or ammo I have for which I do not own a firearm (I invested in some (5.53 & 223):

22 Short
22 LR
22 WMR
223 REM
5.56x45 mm
7.62x39 mm
7.62x54R
308 WIN
35 REM
32 Auto
9 mm
40 S&W
45 ACP
44 REM MAG
12 Gauge

 

[Glenn B]

Oh yeah, I also have a 20 gauge shotgun but no ammo for it since it is unlikely safe to shoot.

 

[MoMan]

I load for the following:
.380acp
9mm
38sw
357 mag
40sw
45acp
45lc


In addition to the above rounds, I have guns that shoot the following:
22lr
22mag
32acp
5.56/223
7.62x39
.308
20ga.
12ga,

I'll leave it at that!

 

[Criticalt]

I am into defense and hunting, so.....

9mm
357
45acp

22
308
45-70
30-30
12 gauge
10 gauge

 

[meketrefe]

I think it might be wise to choose cartridges that are popular that share same bore (caliber) and bullets so you can have the choice to either
find ammo or reload using some of the same components.

For example same bullets will serve you to load several popular calibers:
224 bullets can load 223 rem, 22-250, 222rem, 5.7FN (with light bullets), 22 Hornet, 220 swift, etc...
6mm bullets can load 243win, 6mmBR, 6x45, 6TCU, 6PPC, etc...
6.5mm bullets can load 6.5 TCU, 6.5x47 lapua, 6.5 creedmore, 260 remington, 264 winchester magnum, 6.5-06.
270 bullets can reload 270 wolverine, 6.8x42, 6.8SPCII, 270 Titus, 270 winchester, etc...
7mm bullets can load 7mm TCU, 7mmBR, 7mm-08, 7rem mag, 7mm-06, 7 mausser, 284, 7mm saum, etc...
30mm Bullets can reload 30 herrert, 30 M1 Carbine, 300 whisper, 30 remington, 30-30, 308 winchester, 30-06, 300 win mag, etc...
9mm/357 bullets can be used to shoot pistol in 9mm, 38 super, 357 SIG, 38spc, 357 magnum, 9x25 dillon, 357 maximum and even a number of 358 cartirges like the 358 winchester.

Many of those calibers can be formed from the same cases like all the derivates of the 223 and 308 cases.

With large batches of 223 and 308 and 30-06 cases (service rounds) a huge number of casings can be formed to shoot the other calibers.

 

[RandallOfLegend]

As many as you care to stock. I love ballistics. So I read and study other calibers. I also reload. So it's easy for me to have ammo for any caliber I feel like getting dies for. A person can get by with only stocking 1 of each caliber, but thats more utilitarian and less fun IMO. But there's not point on having guns in every caliber if you don't shoot them.

 

[meketrefe]

As many as you care to stock. I love ballistics. So I read and study other calibers. I also reload. So it's easy for me to have ammo for any caliber I feel like getting dies for. A person can get by with only stocking 1 of each caliber, but thats more utilitarian and less fun IMO. But there's not point on having guns in every caliber if you don't shoot them.

Very true but you don't need guns many times. only a quick swap barrel that might actually pay by itself with a couple of boxes of reloads.
Lets say you have a truck load of 9mm bullets for your 9mm / 357 derivate calibers. Then a friend gives you 500 casings of 10mm brass.
you can go and buy 40 caliber or you can get a 9x25 die and lone wolf barrel for the glock and experience the next level of brutality and speed. LOL
Double tap and Underwood ammo is not bad but not cheap so by forming the 10mm brass you might be paying for the barrel and dies in the first outing to the range.

 

[ECU Pirates]

I'm thinning the heard quite a bit. I don't have time to shoot or reload anymore since the wife is in grad school and we have a 1 year old and both work full time. I used to just buy buy buy. I had something in most every common caliber. Now I'm just keeping two of each gun I like and consider "working guns" and a few collectors pieces. I follow the two is one and one is none theory.
I currently have as working guns
Two 30-30's
a few .22'ss
a few Saiga's in .223
a few mossberg 500/590's 12 ad 20
and various bolt guns in hunting calibers. I'm trying to figure out what caliber to settle on there.


For handguns it's
.22
.380
9mm
.45
10mm
.357 mag
.45 colt

I should get rid of a few of those most likely as I have settled on the 10mm for deer if I ever get time to hunt again! I have a .357 mag lever gun incoming then I think I'm done buying different calibers until I have time to mess with reloading and getting to the range again. The ammo I have the most stock piled is 9mm and .223 but I have reloading components for some of the others. I thought I was pretty well consolidated on calibers until I thought about it.

 

[Snappo]

I'm thinning the heard quite a bit. I don't have time to shoot or reload anymore since the wife is in grad school and we have a 1 year old and both work full time. I used to just buy buy buy. I had something in most every common caliber. Now I'm just keeping two of each gun I like and consider "working guns" and a few collectors pieces. I follow the two is one and one is none theory.
I currently have as working guns
Two 30-30's
a few .22'ss
a few Saiga's in .223
a few mossberg 500/590's 12 ad 20
and various bolt guns in hunting calibers. I'm trying to figure out what caliber to settle on there.


For handguns it's
.22
.380
9mm
.45
10mm
.357 mag
.45 colt

I should get rid of a few of those most likely as I have settled on the 10mm for deer if I ever get time to hunt again! I have a .357 mag lever gun incoming then I think I'm done buying different calibers until I have time to mess with reloading and getting to the range again. The ammo I have the most stock piled is 9mm and .223 but I have reloading components for some of the others. I thought I was pretty well consolidated on calibers until I thought about it.

I think I trimmed even more than you did last year. I started with probably 40 or 50 calibers; and my C&R collection was through the ceiling. Now I am down as follows:

Bolt Action:
.223, .308, .30-06, 300 Winmag, 338 Winmag, and a 22 LR. I could lose the 300 and I wouldn't cry. I won't ever shoot it again.

CQB:
.223, 45 ACP, 7.62x39

Semi-auto Sidearm:
.45 ACP

Revolver:
44 mag, 500 s&w mag. *Note: trading the 500 for a pair of 1911's this Christmas so that should go away.

Lever
45-70, 44 mag. I could lose the 45-70 and I wouldn't cry. I will never shoot it again.

C&R
8mm mauser, 9mm parabellum, 9mm x 17 (I think it's called Kurz?)

 

[GOPerfect]

Okay, just from memory. I am sure I am missing some:

Hanguns
22LR
9MM(lots of them)
.40S&W(a few of them)
45ACP(way too many)
.357Mag
.38Spl
44Mag

Rifles
22LR
.223
5.56
.243
.308
7.62x54
30-30

Shotguns
12 and 20Ga

I know that I am missing many. I am trying to think of them off the top of my head.

And tons and tons and tons of ammo!

 

[mosquito]

I buy:
.22 Short
.22 LR
.22 Magnum
.410 shotgun
.12 ga. Shotgun
I load for:
.32 ACP
.380 ACP
.9mm
.38 special
.357 magnum
.40 S&W
.44 magnum
.45 ACP
.45 Colt
.45/70 gov't
.223/5.56
.300 BO

 

[Catskillkid]

I'm a little on the utilitarian side so I like to get guns with calibers that are generally available. Of course thinking about it I seem to have a little of everything (common wise anyway).

Shotguns:
12 and 20 gauge

Rifles:
.30-.06
.308
.556/.223
.222 (perhaps my favorite varmint caliber...superior to the .223 imo)
.22 LR (obviously)

Pistols:
9mm
.40 S&W
.45 ACP
.38 Special
.38 Special +P
.357 Magnum
.22 LR

I think that's it. My plan is to do a much needed ammo inventory of my stock this weekend. Got the pistol calibers done today. Tomorrow, I'm starting on the long guns. I have a fair amount of ammo on hand but probably not enough for prepper purposes. I've always joked that I'm "that guy" with thousands of rounds of ammo and dozens of firearms. You know that deploreable basket-living far right conservative that Hillary/Obama/Cuomo like to talk so much about.

 

[Different Drummer]

The caliber thing has been a struggle with me forever. I tend to lean heavily toward practical. I do not hunt and my interest in firearms is pretty much SD only. Definitely do not collect. Well, at least I did not think I was collecting! 9mm was my intent for a single caliber. My Walther P99 was and still is my main pistol of choice. Then I got silly and decided to give long guns a try. Because I tend to take the path less traveled that got me into 7.62X39. Of course there is the .22 Winchester rifle that was my first gun at age 14 that I have kept forever. So a bunch of .22 ammo was in order. Well, as long as I was buying .22 I certainly needed a .22 caliber handgun. RIGHT? After all everyone needs a .22 hand gun! After going through a couple of .22 semi's I decided that for .22 a revolver was the way to go. Staying with the being different theme I wound up with a High Standard 3 inch 9 shot revolver assembled in 1956. This pistol IMO is sone of the best kept secretes in .22 revolvers.
OK, so now I am at 3 calibers. Somewhere along the way the M590A1 came on the scene. Add 12 gauge. Up to 4 calibers now. Then there is the old Montgomery wards 20 gauge single shot Vulcan that has been with me as long as the Winchester .22. Plans to shorten the barrel and make it a behind the door gun are still on the back burner. Somewhere I took an interest in Dan Wesson revolvers. But remember that High Standard .22 and me kinda liking the path less traveled? Well, in the mid seventies High Standard marketed two model revolvers in .357 Mag. made by Dan Wesson in Monson MA. Somehow a HS Sentinel Mark two and a Mark three mysteriously showed up in my possession. Add another caliber! Guess we are at five now. OOPS!, forgot the Walther PPK that was purchased quite some time ago. I was offered such a good price for it I couldn't refuse selling. So I did! But then I had 1,000 rounds of 7.65 Browning with no gun to shoot it in. Solution was a Beretta M1935 that I have come to really like and appreciate. Believe it or not even more than the Walther PPK. I think that makes six calibers now.
So I start off with the intent of having one caliber and maybe two handguns plus the 12 gauge. Somewhere along the line that got derailed.
SOUND FAMILIAR?
And I know there are many of you that can top my caliber count without any effort at all.