I could not fathom owning ONLY ONE caliber! I suppose if I was FORCED TO by Big Brother it would have to be .38/.357. Quite universal, and I reload to what I need each specific load for.

I collect guns by liking the GUN, not particularly the caliber it comes in. For instance I own Colt 1903's & 1908's in .25, .32 & .380 and would NEVER consider them carry guns or home defense guns. They are certainly not target guns, but I JUST PLAIN LIKE 'EM!

While I love .22's also, I don't view the .22 as a defense cartridge. If I ever do ( which I truly can't conceive of ) consolidate it would be in these calibers.........

.22 rimfire
.38/357
.45 acp
.45 Colt

I'D RATHER ONLY OWN ONE PAIR OF PANTS!

I'm very guilty of doing this same thing.

I want to go the other way. I like variety.

A long time ago, I was a fan of the .38/.357 revolver. Now, for a variety of reasons, my one caliber is 9mm Parabellum. A pretty Browning Hi-Power from the 70's was my only firearm for some years, but an early Glock 17L has fallen in my lap recently (unfired). I believe that the nine is a very good all-rounder for the one-caliber person.

I have considered it, and I too would choose the 45ACP since it can be fired in both revolvers and autos.
But consolidating would limit my opportunity to obsess and fuss over various calibers and loads. I would have less to do. I'm not ready for that yet. But in a few years, I might be.

You need a .22. And a .357. Those two will do it for 95% of your pistol needs.

For 100% of your pistol needs, a .22 and a .44 Magnum.

__________________
Fuego

For me, it would be a .22 and my S&W 460XVR for handguns and a .22 and my .325 WSM with African game loads for rifles.

__________________
U.S. Navy - U.S. Army, ret

I made the conscious decision when I got into revolvers to try and
stick with one caliber: the 44. Over the years I have found that it has worked out for me.
For carry I have the little Charter 5 shot 44 SPL. It works better than it looks
For the range and woods I have 624's and a 4" 629.
For serious deer hunting: a Redhawk 7.5".
For pushing the envelope there is the big DW 8" in 445 SM.
I am looking at getting a T/C in 445 SM to push things even further.
A few carbines in 44 Mag round things out.
Finally there is the mighty 444 Marlin; good for just about anything out there.

Handloading allows one to run everything from loads that barely get
the bullet out to the earth shattering blast of a case full of W680 in the 445.

Yes I have 22's. Everyone who shoots does. And some 12 ga. shotguns. But the revolvers are what I shoot regularly.

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Nemo

Interesting thread.

About a year ago, I didn't drop to one, but I did drop to 5. 9mm (G19), 38/357 (686-4), .45 acp (1911 what else would it be? ); 12 guage and 7.62X39mm. But...

with the recent panic hoarding that has been going on, I'll NEVER be in this position again. What I saw was that when the herd gets itchy, those are the first to be drained off the shelves (except 12 guage of course, for now). After the initial drain, there were 10mm's, .45 LC's, .44 Specials, .41 mags, etc., meaning those who are not in the huge majority. So, new plan in effect as funds allow. Going to go for as many calibers/platforms and will always have several hundred rounds on each on hand.

And I'm getting back into handloading as soon as I can find components. Been awhile on that but...just like riding a bike.

Going to a single caliber can get you in a jam.
Reloading supplies are limited now in my area. Having some ammo and not being to readily replace it know what I mean?

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Nasa - Texas Born and Proud

Not a bad idea. Modern firearms will last 150+ years EASY. Heck we still see SAA from the 1880's, built with inferior metal that function. With modern weapons, more cleaning, and better ammo hard to tell the lifespan.

I've always subscribed to the KISS principal. Handgun wise, I'm pretty much .22 lr, .38/.357, and .44 (mostly special.), and brief flirtations with .45 ACP and .45 Colt (I still lay awake thinking about a 625JM some nights.)

I just bought a 686 PP off of GA since I haven't owned a .357 DA in years and wanted something cheaper to reload for DA shooting and possible competition. Plus a bit less recoil than my .44 specials.

Rifle wise, my .22 Hornet #3 and .270 M77 have pretty much always done the job, though I would like to switch to a .308 for all around CF rifle. After acquiring a 91/30 Nagant for Service Rifle matches, it hit me the 7.62x54R is the ballistic twin of the .308, plus all the surplus ammo I can shoot if I ever get lazy and don't want to reload. So my next rifle/project may be sporterizing a 91/30 for a "do-it-all" rifle.

.38/.357 and 12 gauge - pretty simple but I'm still thinking about adding .22 lr to the mix again. I miss my .22

I find that sticking to one caliber (but several cartridges) makes it easier to stock up.
Over the last few years I have spent a modest amount every month
to acquire 44 bullets, primers and powder.
The recent shortages don't really bother me that much.
I have seen these several times and they come and go.
In some cases, I am still working on powder that is 20 years old. And yeah, it still works.
Love the smell of ether in the morning

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Nemo

That's crazy talk...

I don't think I could ever go to just one caliber. I have too many memories of hunting with my Marlin 30-30 and 300 Salvage with my dad. I'll never get rid of those. As far as handguns I'll always have a few 38/357 revolvers. I just started collecting 9mm. Now that I'm used to it I was thinking of getting a .45 acp. My collecting days are just starting

quite the opposite. I recently expanded to my 15th and 16 th calibers. 38 S&W and 45LC. even during ammo shortages such as is ongoing, i can find ammo for at least a few few of the calibers that i own.

I have tried to consolidate luckily my favorite gun's are K frames in 38/.357 but I can not bring myself to sell my 3913 or 24-3 3in.

Iam not certain about just one cartridge how ever after about 30yrs working wiith handguns target,plinking,hunting. I could just about settle on two the .22 rim fire and the 45 colt these do just about all I need to do with with a quality handgun, it's been a great adventure. All the best

I shoot mostly .22, .38, and .45 auto. But I don't see any reason restrict myself to those.

I have worked to reduce the # of disparate calibers I have because of the logistics of supporting too many, and I am not adding calibers for the same reason. However, I have been stocking up on ammo in most or all of those calibers to some extent. I do need to obtain more .22 LR handguns and a couple rifles. My main purchases lately have been of ammo (9, 38/357, 45ACP, a little .357Sig/.41 Magnum, and of course 5.56X45) instead of guns. 2000 rounds is a minimal amount in most of those other than the 357Sig/.41Mag (I think 1K will do); 5K is minimal, 10K better in 5.56; if I were going to add .22LR, I'd say 20K is about right.

I started shifting my discretionary $$ in to ammo purchases last summer, and you can bet I was glad when the market went bats. I ordered another shotgun recently, and I should get another AR and a few .22s, including an M&P 15-22.

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NHI, 10-8.

Yup, only have 38 special / 357 and 9mm. Reload and cast my own bullets get all the free brass in 9mm I want. So yeah said goodbye to .44 special, 45 acp, and .380s

Sent from my SCH-S720C using Tapatalk 2

for me, two calibers......38 special and .357 magnum........all S&W revolvers, of course.

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There's nowt so queer as folk

" I'd like to get down to ?? calibers in SideArms , but I get Vapors every time
I Seriously consider it."

Well spoken Joe. Well spoken.

I have consolidated the majority of my revolvers to the 45 Colt chambered
Smiths. Which number about 29 now, I thimk. ?

But man was not meant to live without the basic four caliber groups
in revolvers. That is what we are talking about here? Right?

22 Long Rifle. 38/357 Magnum. 44 Magnum. and 45 A.C.P./ 45 Colt.

Oh sorry, that's technically '6' calibers. See how difficult it is??

I'm getting 'Vapors' just thinking about it .

A.F.

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NRA cert.instructor&R.S.O.

i have tried to keep it to 22,22 mag,38/357,32 mag,and 9mm.........i do have 45 and 380 guns but their on the chopping block.....i do have lots of diff. cal. ammo,41,45,380,etc. but someday i'll unload them as well.