Anyone here consolidate to only 1 caliber?

[44 special Dave]

I asked this very question some time ago on this forum. I guess I really wasn't surprised by most answers. This is a forum for folks who REALLY like (some say love) S&W guns and really a lot of different guns.

Most folks here have a lot of guns/calibers and seem to enjoy a lot of them. Well when I was younger and reloaded years ago I had more than I do today. From 9mm all the way to .455.

I no longer hunt and don't bullseye shoot. I shoot and practice for short range self defense, primarily in the 10 to 15 yard range.

I have 38/357, 44 special, and 45acp/ar revolvers. My wife has 45acp/ar,45colt, and 44 special revolvers. I haven't shoot my 44 hand ejectors in years and really practice with my short barrel 45 acp/ar revolvers.

Some day I can see me getting down to just 45 acp/ar. But for now the mod 65-5 in 3" in 357/38 is fun.

To directly answer the question; probably someday, but not now. It will likely be 45acp/ar revolvers.

Thanks
Dave

 

[trashy]

I tried to, I honestly did. I am now down to 40's, 9's, 38/357's, and 22's in pistols and 22 and 270 rifles and 410, 20, and 12 ga. I think I'll try to stay along these lines for now.

But, that S&W 1911 E in 45 sure looks nice and you could never go wrong with a nice stainless with wood target grip 44, maybe I'll re think my down sizing or just swap one caliber for another. Oh well, decisions, decisions.

 

[Shuutr]

I've said I was going to do it and failed. I was down to 9mm and .45 and primarily shooting 9mm. Then I came across some great .38s that I had to have. Then the ammo crisis happened and I'm primarily shooting .22 until it passes

 

[peepaw]

I have done it to a small extent.
I got rid of my .380. a couple of 9mm's and a 40sw.
That still leave me with, 45acp, 10mm, 357, 44mag,
45lc, and 22lr.
That's enough pistol calibers for me to keep up with.

 

[Wraith_K]

I've sold all my semi-auto pistols lately, thinking I was wanting to downsize and consolidate my ammo a bit.

So I've got:
.38spl/.357
.22lr
12 guage
.223/5.56
7.62x54r

Now I'm looking in my meager gun safe thinking.. I don't have a semi-auto in a military caliber, and "need one".

Now I'm looking to add..
.38spl/.357 in a lever action
9mm in a steel frame (S&W Gen3 or CZ75)
Or 1911 (.45acp).

 

[beemerphile]

To me, it is like trying to get down to one tool in my toolbox. To a man with only a hammer, everything is a nail. My .22LR is for something different than my .308 is for.

A good tool kit has both SAE (.22 .38 .357 .44 .45 .50) and metric (9mm 10mm) wrenches. Sometimes you need a small (20 gauge) or a large (12 gauge) slide hammer. And a wrench will not substitute for a screwdriver so you need a few sizes of them (5.56 7.62x51 7.62x39).

A thing should be made as simple as possible, but no simpler.

 

[DustyJacket]

I consolidated to 9mm once.
I used subsonic 147gr so I could shoot my M9 suppressed.
But, my HK PSP wasn't supposed to use 147gr, so I have some 124gr for it.
And them my EDC was a Kahr but the top round of the spare magazine kept working it way out. Sometimes it would just hang out there and have to be repositioned before the mag could be inserted, ot the spare round would come loose.

After time, I found myself with 2 flavors of 9mm, a couple of .45ACP, and some .38 Specials.

And then there were the rifles.

I am back down to 3 handgun calibers and one rifle caliber to reload. And I don't reload one of them because bulk 147gr 9mm used to be so cheap. We'll see about that some day.

So, go ahead and consolidate. It might work for a couple of years.

 

[Fat B]

I don't think of it as keeping it simple. When I go to the LGS and I see empty shelves of certain calibers, I'm glad I have multiple calibers because I can still usually find something to shoot.

 

[jaysan60]

I sold off the 40s and 9s -- added 32mags to 22s,38/357s and 45s. Thats about as simple as I can get...

 

[44 special Dave]

I'm not surprised by most of the responses. I am surprised no one has said; ne caliber? Are you crazy?

This IS a place where gun folk hang out. I would venture that a lot of citizens who own guns might have that one 38spe they bought for home protection, or a 9mm, etc etc.

Even though I have only 3 calibers and my wife has 3 we'd be hard pressed to get to 1. Two, ok one.......

Oh, I did forget my dad's Marlin model 336A in 30/30 that he bought in the late 1950s. Ok, I've got 4 calibers. Haven't shot that in 30 years.

Fun topic to hear what people have/prefer
Dave

 

[chief38]

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!

 

[g17]

Same here. I sold a few awhile back and regretted it. Have just about replaced all of them, but I am not done yet.

I'm very guilty of doing this same thing.

 

[rwsmith]

The other way

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

 

[Darkenfast]

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.

 

[andyo5]

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.

 

[Fuego]

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.

 

[LimaCharlie]

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.

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.

 

[Nemo288]

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.

---
Nemo

 

[.357magger]

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.

 

[Nasa]

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?