Consolidate vs Diversify Ammo / Caliber?

[Racer88]

After the pandemic ammo drought I decided it would be useful to have guns in several different calibers. At one point the only handgun ammo on the shelf at my LGS was 10mm auto. That is what sparked my interest in this cartridge. As a bonus this model covers 2 different cartridges, 10 & 40. Once upon a time all the smart people said to have a 9mm handgun because that would always be available. During the summer of 2020 the only thing available locally was 10mm and 350 Legend. Who knows what it will be next time. But that is a topic for a different thread.

So here's that thread, @Alex!

There are those who suggest consolidating ammo / calibers to make things simpler. Make all your guns 9-mm for example. 9-mm pistols and 9-mm carbine rifle. I guess that will work if you have a LOT of that particular ammo in your inventory. But what if you're on the move? You can't carry your entire inventory. What if you run out of ammo on the move? Will you be able to find that caliber "out there?"

Personally, in case of zombie apocalypse, my plan is to "bug in." Nevertheless... over time, do I want to be limited to one caliber and risk it not being available? I think diversification is a better strategy.

I will be adding 10-mm to my "stable" of calibers in the future.

I also need to replenish my ammo after the scamdemic drought, during which I actually increased my ammo use due to this blasted building hobby! Rather than conserve ammo during the shortage with fewer range trips, I depleted my inventory quite a bit. DUH! I also shot down my 6.5 Creedmoor supply (for example) while it was simply unavailable or crazy-expensive in the last few years.

In the end, this is likely more about how to stay supplied during an ammo supply drought than it is the zombie apocalypse.

What is your philosophy or strategy?

 

[Hvymax]

So here's that thread, @Alex!

There are those who suggest consolidating ammo / calibers to make things simpler. Make all your guns 9-mm for example. 9-mm pistols and 9-mm carbine rifle. I guess that will work if you have a LOT of that particular ammo in your inventory. But what if you're on the move? You can't carry your entire inventory. What if you run out of ammo on the move? Will you be able to find that caliber "out there?"

Personally, in case of zombie apocalypse, my plan is to "bug in." Nevertheless... over time, do I want to be limited to one caliber and risk it not being available? I think diversification is a better strategy.

View attachment 16860

I will be adding 10-mm to my "stable" of calibers in the future.

I also need to replenish my ammo after the scamdemic drought, during which I actually increased my ammo use due to this blasted building hobby! Rather than conserve ammo during the shortage with fewer range trips, I depleted my inventory quite a bit. DUH! I also shot down my 6.5 Creedmoor supply (for example) while it was simply unavailable or crazy-expensive in the last few years.

In the end, this is likely more about how to stay supplied during an ammo supply drought than it is the zombie apocalypse.

What is your philosophy or strategy?

I used to make Mission Specific Equipment Packages for Military Operations. There's a place for many things depending on your capabilities. I have a semi wildcat 300mag that uses modified BAR mags to feed a modified Remington 7400 that's boring to 1,200yds. I have a 357sig with a Shoulder Rig and 94rnds on board. Heavy hitters for sure.
If I had to grab and run it would be my sub2K and Dagger in an 18"x10"x4" pack with a few hundred rounds of 9mm in mags. 9mm should be replenishable after any armed encounters. Same with my Boring AR in 5.56. Of course I would run my 350 Legend AR as long as I am anchored to home and an ammo supply. Same with my 12ga Bullpup. Nothing comes close for CQB to a 4,000ft lb slug. I think the police and military are going to different calibers to prevent supplying any survivors in such circumstances though. I'm pretty sure all of their guns will be chipped so picking up for later use probably wouldn't be a good idea.

 

[brian]

I've gone back in forth mentally on whether it is better to have a variety of calibers vs a smaller variety and focus on ammo. In the zombie scenarios (which would more likely be collapse of society due to political issues or terrorist attack on our electric grid) having calibers aligned with police/military could be useful from an ammo supply standpoint. Right now I think your core calibers for police/military are going to be 9mm, 12ga, .223 - probably throw in .45 and .308. As @Hvymax suggests that may morph over time.

I picked up a 5.7x28mm from PSA just for fun. The ammo is pricey. One thing that impresses me is that I could easily carry 1,000 rounds of it in a "bug out" situation as it is very compact and fairly light. Could be the better choice along with a .22LR as far as maximizing rounds carried. 9mm is what I have stocked up on the most as it is my main choice for range time.

As soon as I get my AR builds tested I may look at a 6.5 Creedmoor of 300 Blackout upper. Not a big rifle shooter so I haven't put much focus on all of "new" options.

I think this is a complete compilation of calibers I own:

.22 LR
5.7x28mm
.380 ACP
.38spl/.357 Mag
9mm
.40 S&W
10mm
.44spl/.44 Mag
.45 ACP
.45Long Colt/.410 Shotgun
12ga
.223/5.56mm
7.62x39mm
.308 WIN
30-06

 

[Racer88]

I picked up a 5.7x28mm from PSA just for fun. The ammo is pricey. One thing that impresses me is that I could easily carry 1,000 rounds of it in a "bug out" situation as it is very compact and fairly light.

The 5.7 guns and ammo are freakishly light. I have the Five-seveN pistol. Still jonesing for the PS90 rifle. Some day, some day. Already have the 50-rd mags for it!

 

[Alex]

I don't plan to participate in any zombie apocalypse. I am planning for the next decade to be like the last. Progressive politicians loudly proclaiming that they are going to ban guns to keep Americans safe. This is followed by a gun and ammo buying frenzy. I still think Obama was the best firearms industry salesman ever, followed by Biden. My guess is there are 20,000,000 more guns and several billion more rounds of ammo in American homes since the Obama inauguration.

I do want to be able to continue recreational shooting throughout whatever may come in the next decade. My main blasters are in calibers that are currently easily found and on the lower end of the cost spectrum. But I am also a fan of diversity and have guns in several other calibers. This will include me in being able to shoot whatever may be found on local store shelves , putting me in an equitable position with the rulers who need to keep their armed security details while disarming their citizens for our own safety.

I have a couple guns chambered in 5.7×28. Yes you can carry a lot of that ammo because it is so light. Shooting it compared to other rounds does not inspire confidence in me. The guns are LOUD and produce a huge fireball while recovered bullets look like tiny chips of scrap metal. I have since moved to the other end of the spectrum, favoring 10mm pistols, 180 gr bullets over 40 gr. If I ever needed a rifle or shotgun for self defense in the USA it would likely really be TEOTWAWKI and I do not have any fantasies about thriving due to my wise loadout in such an environment. You guys can fight it out over who gets the biggest pile of the detritus, flotsam & jetsam that used to be America.

Look for another bump in gun & ammo sales after the speeches on the new progressive holiday to be commemorated every year on January 6. Lefties will be shocked by the ongoing threat to democracy posed by the right, righties will be shocked at how the left sees them as trying to overturn democratic norms while they remove the right wing candidate from ballots without due process. Everybody sees their neighbor, their fellow American as an existential threat and goes to buy a gun.

 

[Caleb]

I don’t think it’s so much as diversity vs consolidated. To me it’s more of what will be most available if I run out of my stash or will be on the move. 9mm, .45, .223/556 and .308 are the most common as far as I’m concerned. You would be hard pressed finding .224 Valkery

 

[Bobster]

I'm more of a diversity guy although the only calibers I buy and stockpile are for guns I own. I've got plenty of ammo that fits guns I do NOT have, obtained through clean-outs, buy-outs, auctions at little cost. I figure I could use it as trade currency during the boogaloo or whatever you want to call the next civil unrest in this country...

{rant on} And don't kid yourself that civil unrest isn't coming--it is only a matter of time before the gov't can no longer feed or house its dependents then they will spread out from the cities looking for easy prey. Don't forget the millions more Bidet has let in to the country also now sucking on Uncle Sam's teets. I'm being alarmist and trolling a bit, but where are all these millions of illegal invaders at? They are not hiding in plain sight around here because I'd notice them... {rant off}

During one of the Nobama panics, I picked up 200rds of 7.62x39 because it was all the store had. I do not own a x39 gun... I've been meaning to buy/build an AK and almost bought a Romy parts kit a few years back to go with the shovel in the shed.

One round I will be adding to the stock list will be 300BO. I think a quiet rifle will be valuable in the future so that is my next build/acquisition...

Anyhow, the only reason I would be consolidating would be if I got a decent offer on an oddball caliber gun and they just aren't that valuable so may as well just hold onto them. They are not taking up that much room in the safe. I am "collecting" components and tools to reload them because it is quite possible I will need to reload in order to use them down the road. 32-20 (32WCF), 8mm Mauser and 30-06 fall into this category. The days of cheap mil-surp ammo are LONG gone...

 

[Notshawn54]

A SHTF situation was a consideration for shooting 9mm. I’m more of a 45acp guy. So first I bought a 9mm AR that takes Glock mags and then built my P80’s. I figure if the end times are near, one should be able to acquire Glock mags and 9mm from the untrained masses.

 

[Alpa Chino]

No boutique ammo or wildcat.
For domestic or weather events:

• 380
• 9mm
• 45 ACP
• .308/7.62
• 5.56/.223

All of those should be incident location pickupable.
In case of the highly unlikely Red Dawn I do have a little sumthing sumthing in 7.62x39.

 

[GuitarmanNick]

My primary calibers are 5.56 and 9mm for SHTF scenarios as they are likely to be most widely used. Just about every gun owner uses the 9mm and 5.56 is the most popular AR-15 caliber.

Other calibers I use include .22LR, .38 Special, .45 ACP, 9x18 Makarov, 7.62x25 Tokarev, 7.62x39, and 7.62x54R. The last 4 are the most popular commie cartridges and should be available in a potential Red Dawn scenario.

 

[Hawkeye]

When I started shooting many many many years ago kept it simple and cheap at the time. I shot what I could get brass for and reloaded everything I shoot except 22LR which was very cheap in those days.
I all ways had 1,000 rounds on hand and ready to reload another 1,000 rounds for every caliber I shot.
22LR
38
357
45acp
5.56 and 223
308
30-06
30-30
I did have 45-70 but I didn't shoot it much. If anyone has one in lever action knows what I'm talking about, you don't shoot them on a regular outing.
I'm too old to be bugging out anywhere, but I feel like I am equipped to make one hell of a stand.

 

[no4mk1t]

When I started shooting many many many years ago kept it simple and cheap at the time. I shot what I could get brass for and reloaded everything I shoot except 22LR which was very cheap in those days.
I all ways had 1,000 rounds on hand and ready to reload another 1,000 rounds for every caliber I shot.
22LR
38
357
45acp
5.56 and 223
308
30-06
30-30
I did have 45-70 but I didn't shoot it much. If anyone has one in lever action knows what I'm talking about, you don't shoot them on a regular outing.
I'm too old to be bugging out anywhere, but I feel like I am equipped to make one hell of a stand.

Same here.
Although 45-70 with powder coated cast subs and a suppressor is one hell of a hoot. Instant SEG maker! And easy on the shoulder.

 

[Stephen G]

I had simplified things a bit to 9mm, 357,45, 556,762x39 & 308. But they came out with 6.5 grendel and 350 legend.
I keep some oldies in reserve, but dont stock ammo for them- 303, 30/30, 243, 30 carbine, 45/70,

Who am I kidding- its a mad house cats and dogs- chicken and foxes regular mad house

 

[James Moore]

Consolidation all the way.
It will be easier to replenish my stock of 5.56 and 9mm from the fallen UN/Nato Peacekeepers they send to try tame us. Gotta keep a few AKs handy also, just in case it goes that way.

 

[Hvymax]

If all you are going to have is a few basic guns then limiting yourself to replenishable calibers is a good idea. Of course if you want more capability than the pedestrian calibers offer then going off base is your only option. Advanced toys can come in handy.

 

[Hawkeye]

I had simplified things a bit to 9mm, 357,45, 556,762x39 & 308. But they came out with 6.5 grendel and 350 legend.
I keep some oldies in reserve, but dont stock ammo for them- 303, 30/30, 243, 30 carbine, 45/70,

Who am I kidding- its a mad house cats and dogs- chicken and foxes regular mad house

I started a lower for a 350 Legend but stop that build back in the Obama days because of the lack of ammo. I wanted to replace my 30-30 with one for deer hunting in early hunting season.
What do you think about your 350? Is it worth the build?

 

[clm2112]

While I like to consolidate, I too recognize the need for a little diversity on the grounds that ammunition availibilty is sooo hard to predict.

So, I take a little different approach... I lean towards fire-arms capable of multiple calibers. The bolt rifles can have a barrel changed in 20 minutes or less with just hand tools. I boiled a closet full of bolt rifles down to just a few...and a stack of barrels. One Savage 10 and three Remington 700 cover all the centerfire rounds I am likely to need or want. I could even boil that down to one with a spare bolt and a few barrels that can leverage whatever ammunition I would likely scrounge up.

The pistols can have barrel and slide swaps in under a minute (and having a couple of different caliber pistol barrels tucked in a bag is a whole easier to transport than multiple pistols.) So, that covers the most common pistol ammunition likely to be available.

And if all else fails... there's always the Brown Bess and the bayonet.

 

[Bobster]

The only thing I think hoarded gold could be used for is maybe bullets? About the same density/weight as lead, I wonder why more preppers aren't doing performance tests with it?

 

[Knack]

Easy. 9mm. I have no long guns.

I keep a couple boxes of range and defensive ammo around but haven't made much effort to build up a cache of ammo. Although I just recently bought a case of Norma frangible on sale. First time bulk buy. I've only shot one box of that so far. Seems fine.

 

[Racer88]

Easy. 9mm. I have no long guns.

I keep a couple boxes of range and defensive ammo around but haven't made much effort to build up a cache of ammo. Although I just recently bought a case of Norma frangible on sale. First time bulk buy. I've only shot one box of that so far. Seems fine.

A good approach is to just buy ammo regularly whether you "need" it or not. Just buy some here. Some there. Eventually, you have a nice bit of "inventory." Then when the SHTF and there's a run on guns and ammo, you're set for a while and can continue going to the range.