I’ve been thinking about it and was wondering what you folks think about purposely limiting the number of calibers in your collection.


The wife recently got a 9mm and a .22lr handgun which brings the total to 7 different cartridges in the house, i have .357SIG and 10mm for handguns and 5.56 and 7.62x54R for rifles, plus 12ga for shotgun. It feels like too many and it would be really easy to pare it down to just 2 or 3 total by selling or trading. But should that even be a consideration?

I think you are fine. Mostly common calibers. .308, 5.56. .22 and 9. The 7.62x54 not so much but ammo used to be cheap.

I got my down. I have hunting rifles so I don’t stack it too deep for those.

I think it just depends on what you’re willing to do about ammo.

I’d all I could find was .22, .223, and 9mm I’d be happy.

If I can find some .40, 30-30, .45-70, .410, 12 gauge…you get the idea…

I like to have options. But the majority of my guns are in common calibers and I stack those deep. The rest, here and there. But I’d feel really dumb if it was the end of the world and I found some guy’s stash of 10,000 rounds of .44 mag but no gun.

I like options.

I only have four. Nine, forty-five, five fifty six and seven sixty two.

If you don't shoot 'em, it doesn't matter. If you do shoot 'em, it does, in which case you need to limit your calibers, unless you're made of money.

Stay away from milsurps

I have several more obscure calibers but they aren't things I stack deep or would ever be used for anything remotely serious. They get shot maybe once or twice a year and if the spigot got turned off tomorrow so be it. I have most of those for the history.

I don't limit calibers, but I do limit what gets piled high and what doesn't.

The more the better. I love my .22 rimfires and I also own a couple dozen centerfire rifles and handguns. Still thinking about a few more, just to experience the differences.

Started reloading in 1972, started casting bullets in 1973. When I add a new caliber I order a set of dies and a bullet mold.

Several 19th Century and early 20th Century pieces that can only be kept shooting with home-rolled ammo. Couple of more modern pieces that have never been fired with factory ammo.

All different, all interesting, all fun.

Have been limiting calibers but different situation require different weapons.

I capped mine a good number of years ago. I reload all but .22LR, .380ACP, and 12GA.

I have pistols in .22LR. .380ACP, .38Spec, 357Mag, 9mmP, 400 CorBon, 45ACP.
Long guns in .22LR, .223/5.56mm, .243, 7mmBR, .308/7.62mm, 12GA.

Really didn't need either the .400 CorBon (1911 45 conversion) or 7mmBR (XP100). The former is particularly a pain to reload safely.
Do regret trading off a 336CS in .30-30. Wouldn't mind adding a lever action in 357Mag.

So yeah, limiting is a sane goal.

Different calibers for different purposes. For me it’s 9mm, .380, and .22LR. Nothing else. I have LOTS of each. For 9mm and .380 both ball and hollow point.

I sold my only.40 cal.

Now it's .9, .45, .357/.38 and .22 for my hand guns.

556/223, 30-30, .22 and 12 gauge for my rifles and shotguns.

So to answer your question I say yes…

I’m on the hunt for a Henry big boy in .357 and when I get one I will sell my Henry 30-30.

I used to have pistols in:
.22LR
.380acp
9mm
.357Sig
.357mag
.38Special
.40SW
.45ACP

And rifles in:
.22LR
.223
5.45x39
7.62x39
7.62x51 (.308)
30-06
.300WM
.300 Savage
.45/70
12ga

Was just too much so I pared things down and now have pistols:
.22LR
9mm
.45ACP

With barrel swaps I can also make use of .357Sig and .40SW, but no longer have anything dedicated to those calibers or buy ammo in them.


Rifles, all I have now is:
.22LR
.223
7.62x51 (.308)
.300 Savage (Dad’s deer rifle, more an heirloom than something I would use)
.45/70
12ga


Much easier to keep track of things this way.

quote:

Originally posted by bald1:
I capped mine a good number of years ago. I reload all but .22LR, .380ACP, and 12GA.

I have pistols in .22LR. .380ACP, .38Spec, 357Mag, 9mmP, 400 CorBon, 45ACP.
Long guns in .22LR, .223/5.56mm, .243, 7mmBR, .308/7.62mm, 12GA.

I'm with you pard. I don't know how I got here but here I am"

.22, .380, 9mm, ,40, .357 SIG. .45 ACP, ,38,.45LC, .357 magnum, .44 Magnum, .223,.204.30-30,.308,.30,40-65, 45-70,300 Winchester short magnum and 50 cal balls for a Hawken (replica),12and 20 GA.

The other question, what do I shoot? A boat load of .22 a fair amount of 9 and summer recreational 12 ga.

But then I'm easily excited and not very bright, so there ya go.

quote:

Originally posted by mark123:
I’ve been thinking about it and was wondering what you folks think about purposely limiting the number of calibers in your collection.


The wife recently got a 9mm and a .22lr handgun which brings the total to 7 different cartridges in the house, i have .357SIG and 10mm for handguns and 5.56 and 7.62x54R for rifles, plus 12ga for shotgun. It feels like too many and it would be really easy to pare it down to just 2 or 3 total by selling or trading. But should that even be a consideration?

I would think you might get down to 4.
1).22
2)one center fire pistol cartridge, say 9mm
3)one center fire rifle cartridge, say 5.56
4)12g

To be honest I've never dwelled on it. In fact I never counted, let's see .22, .25, 9x17, 9x18, 9x19, .357 Sig, .38, .357, .45. 5.56, and 20 gauge. Of those, the ones I shoot somewhat regularly are only four; .22, 9x18, 9x19, and soon to be 5.56.

When I got into semi-auto pistols way back when (circa 2005), my first one was an H&K USP Compact 40. At that same time period, I was thinking about getting back into reloading, so I made the decision to limit all future handgun purchases to .40 S&W so that I wouldn't have to buy a PLETHORA of dies, shell holders, cartridge gauges, and miscellaneous equipment/supplies for 6 or 8 different calibers.

I already had a S&W Model 686 in my inventory, so I have limited myself to .357 Magnum/.38 Special and .40 S&W for pistol. I have the standard 5.56/.223 for which I also reload and have a .22LR BCG which fits in the AR. Also for .22LR, I have a plinking semi-auto Walther. I also have a shotgun for home defense, but I don't reload shotshell.

So for me, the calibers I wanted came down to what I wanted to reload and keeping a handle on the amount of equipment I needed for that.

For reloading:
.357 Magnum
.38 Special
.40 S&W
.223 Remington

Non-reloading:
.22LR
12g

This year I have consolidated my centerfire pistol calibers down to just 4:

9x19
.380 acp
.38 Special
.357 Magnum


I am not sure if I will expand this list again or not. I don’t feel as well stocked, as I would like to be even with this modest caliber list, so at this time my focus is just on building inventory.

If you are a reloader, I have found just keeping it narrowed down to one primer size (for me, that is small pistol/rifle primers) really helped streamline things and keep it somewhat manageable.
9x19, .327 Fed Mag, .38 spl for me.
5.56/.223 for rifle.

In 2024 I will add my first large pistol primer setup for 10mm. I fear all hell may break loose after that if I’m not careful.

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
If you don't shoot 'em, it doesn't matter. If you do shoot 'em, it does, in which case you need to limit your calibers, unless you're made of money.

^^^ This

I stuck to the "main" calibers-
.22 .380 .38/357 9mm .45
.223/5.56 .308 12 Ga

I do have a M-1 Carbine and a .44 in the safe, but they dont see much use, neither do my .25 or the .32's. Those are more "Safe Queens" and there's "some" ammo for them, but not enough to get into or out of trouble.


If you're they type that can walk into a gun shop and not be tempted by an oddball at a good price, you're doing good.
"Ohhh! Look at that 44-70! And it's only $350!!!! I'll take it!"
"Holy smokes, A Smith & Wesson 44-40 for $400 in great shape? Here's the cash!"
That stuff gets expensive real quick. Ask me how I know.
(In honesty, the S&W in 44-40 was only $100)

Excluding milsurps, my main calibers are .22lr, 380, 9mm, 45, and 5.56.

If you can afford it, have as much as you want.

I like to keep my weapons practical and available, the vast majority of my ammunition is:
9mm
45ACP
5.56mm
7.62mm


I do have a can each of 6.8 and 300 BLK