Diversification or Consolidation

[David]

Diversification or consolidation when it comes to ammunition caliber. There is wisdom in both points of view. Consolidation means you only have to be concerned with one (or very few) calibers and you can really go for depth in the stockpile. Some go the next step on consolidation to one platform. Again, a lot of wisdom in that. Mag compatibility is right up there at the top. Manual of arms is another.

Diversification can allow you access to some calibers if there is a shortage on other calibers. I've noticed this recently, particularly with 9mm. Hard to come by and expensive if/when you can find it. And although it seems practically all calibers are affected right now, I found 40 S&W last week at near Walmart pricing (when they had it of course). My main calibers are 9mm and 40 S&W with a bit of 357sig (and of course .22lr and 223). But I'm really looking at adding a 45acp again to the mix. I got out of it quite a while ago but have been thinking about getting at least one platform.

How about you guys?

[ratf51]

My vote is for diversification. I do have a caveat, though. Stick to realistic calibers. Pick your primary and prioritize those purchases. Establish your secondary and or tertiary and buy accordingly.

Most of us enjoy shooting and we like a variety of different guns in different calibers. And we have been doing this for more than just a year or so. It is hard to consolidate especially when the guns you enjoy shooting the most (see my post on "What makes you smile?" viewtopic.php?f=12&t=445) may not be your primary go to guns. That said, if you are just starting out you are probably better off to consolidate/minimize calibers at this particular time. At this moment things are not normal for the firearms community.

Right now I only have 3 rifle calibers-- .308, 5.56/.223, and .22lr.-- and I really don't foresee adding any other calibers in a rifle platform.

[aerynsun]

Diversification or consolidation when it comes to ammunition caliber. There is wisdom in both points of view. Consolidation means you only have to be concerned with one (or very few) calibers and you can really go for depth in the stockpile. Some go the next step on consolidation to one platform. Again, a lot of wisdom in that. Mag compatibility is right up there at the top. Manual of arms is another.

Diversification can allow you access to some calibers if there is a shortage on other calibers. I've noticed this recently, particularly with 9mm. Hard to come by and expensive if/when you can find it. And although it seems practically all calibers are affected right now, I found 40 S&W last week at near Walmart pricing (when they had it of course). My main calibers are 9mm and 40 S&W with a bit of 357sig (and of course .22lr and 223). But I'm really looking at adding a 45acp again to the mix. I got out of it quite a while ago but have been thinking about getting at least one platform.

How about you guys?

Well it comes down to what you are anticipating.

SHTF - concentrate - it will end and you can re-supply, when it ends.

TEOTWAWKI - have diversity in gun calibers first and ammo second - this way you can shoot what you find.

[Mac66]

I voted consolidation but I am very diversified and will continue to be so. I've been around a long time in the firearms world and have collected a wide variety of calibers for various uses. It is however getting burdensome keeping up with all of them. So while I'm diversified with many calibers I've pretty much consolidated my use to just a few main calibers. Some for hunting, some for defense and mainly 22lr until the panic subsides.

[cityfarmer]

I have been on both sides of this over years.
Back in the 70's I discovered the enjoyment of reloading ammo while helping my dad load his 38 Special wadcutters. By early 80's I was full into reloading all the calibers I shot. On my reloading bench I had 5 different press set up and buying components in bulk at gun shows. Out back I had set up a bullet casting and sizing gear to cast odd ball caliber bullets I could not buy. At one point in late 80's and early 90's I was reloading 21 different calibers. I liked shooting oddball calibers as I often found good guns at low prices due to lack of popularity or support for the caliber.

Since late 90's I started consolidating my calibers into what I call "core" calibers and "play" calibers.

Currently my "core" calibers include 22lr, 9mm, 38 Special, 45ACP, .223/5.56, 308 Winchester and 2 3/4" 12 Gage shells. These are calibers I keep stored deep and keep large amounts of loading components. I think about 75% of my guns are in these calibers.

My current "play" calibers include 22 magnum, 25 ACP, 32 ACP, 380 ACP, 32 Special, 357 Mag, 10mm, 44 Special, 44Mag, 45 Colt, 45 Super, 243 Winchester, 30-30, 300 Blk, 30-06, 300 WM, 45-70, 410 shell, 20 gage and some others I'm sure I've forgotten.

As time goes by I'm constantly consolidating my "core" calibers down but I think I've reach the end as I can't see what else I can cut out. On the "play" list I'm still cutting back.

[Ronin.45]

We've had this discussion within other threads before. I am still on the side of consolidation. Finding ammo is never in my game plan. By sticking to a few popular calibers, and stockpiling when cheap, I don't have to worry about scrounging for ammo.
If things got really bad and I somehow ran out, I'd still want the most common calibers because those are the ones you'll come across if you have to scrounge.

[David]

Expanding this a bit, not just to calibers but also platforms.

Although I voted for 'diversification' as far as having several main stream calibers I made the decision this morning to consolidate to one platform in regards to HD pistols. I chose Glock as that platform for several reasons. First, we all know that Glock has a simple, straight-forward manual of arms i.e. you pull the trigger and it goes bang. I have an 'L' shaped home. I have four Glocks strategically placed in locations around the home where you're really not more than about 10 steps from a high capacity pistol. I need to state, again, that this isn't out of paranoia or ninja-over preparedness. Rather, the wife has a disability and often can't move far or fast. This places a defensive pistol within relatively easy reach for her and by extension the rest of the family. They are not out in the open. All are in the 9mm caliber with the exception of my G22.4 which I've kept in 40 S&W rather than the 9mm conversion barrel I also own for that pistol.

As far as the 9mm Glock platform, this also compliments the Sub 2K platforms we mainly also have for HD.

I still have the Sig P365 as my main EDC and I have my HK's (some in the EDC rotation and some for woods carry and/or EDC rotation).

I still would like to add a 45acp platform. This would give me four of the main service calibers. While the 357sig is an outlier in that category I still consider it a main line service caliber.

[cityfarmer]

Yes, I agree...I've been consolidating my platforms too.
It's all down to Ruger Mk III pistols for 22lr, 3rd generation Glock (17, 19, 26, 34 and 17L) for 9mm, Colt 1911 for 45ACP, S&W J and K frame for 38 Special in handguns and AR (.223/5.56) and Remington 700 (.223 and 308 Win.) for rifles and Remington 870 for 12 gage shotguns. These are guns I know and can maintain/fix or even modify to keep them running. I also have plenty of spare parts and specialized tools for these guns.
I'll continue to keep my other guns but they are more for "fun" as some like the M1 Garand and 03 Springfield do not serve any serious purpose other than just fun to shoot.

[ratf51]

I think it is more important to consolidate platforms. You have the same manual of arms. All the major manufacturers will have full, compact, and subcompact pistols in the same platform. Size doesn't matter-- they will all operate the same. Rifles the same but a bit less maker specific. ARs and AKs will generally have the same manual of arms regardless of manufacturer. (I throw in "generally" because someone will come up with a left handed AK that has an AR charging handle or some such ilk.)

It is interesting to read how we define consolidate and diversify. To my mind consolidate gets down to one handgun caliber and one rifle caliber. And maybe a .22lr of some sort.

[Mac66]

I think it wise to consolidate platforms and calibers for self defense but that gets boring for other things. Some people are content with one hunting rifle/caliber and one for plinking but I'm not.

As they say "variety is the spice of life" so while it's good to consolidate, it's also good (and more interesting) to cover all the bases and have experience with a wide variety of different platforms.