I keep reading posts and articles about preppers who have umpteen zillion guns, each one using a different caliber of ammo. Let’s talk today about streamlining ammo sizes to maximize our preps.
We’ve all heard a similar conversation: “Hey, I’ve got 11 guns, a 12-gauge, a .410, a .22LR, a .22 Magnum .17 HMR that is SWEET, a AR that shoots .223/5.56, an AK that shoots 7.62×39 and an AK that shoots 5.45×39, a 7.62×39 Mosin, a .308 M-1, a 7mm Rem Mag deer rifle, and I have handguns in 9mm, a .357, a ,44 magnum, .357 Sig, .45 LC, .380, .32acp, 9×18, .38+P, .38 not +P, .40 S&W, and a .45 ACP.”
Sound familiar?
Streamlining ammo – a different approach
I take a different approach to streamlining ammo. I limit my ammunition to certain rounds only, and stack those rounds DEEP!
All of my shotguns are .12 gauge. Every one of them.
I have .22LR and .22 Magnum handguns and long guns (only 1 .22 Mag long gun, it was my first gun as a kid. ALL of my .22 Magnum handguns have interchangeable cylinders so they can shoot .22LR, L’s and S’s. I have revolvers, and several “trainer” pistols (for example, an ISSC “Glock” clone that I use for training on Glocks).
I like revolvers, and I have several .357 revolvers. These (obviously) can shoot .38 special as well, and my Ruger New Model Blackhawk can shoot 9mm also. Streamlining ammo is hard for a collector like me to keep in mind, but I do because it’s really important.
ALL, and I do mean ALL, of my semi-auto pistols that I use for prepping are 9mm or the above-mentioned .22LR trainers. No exceptions. Streamlining ammo this way means I can stack my pistol ammo DEEP and not have to worry about it.
Non-prepping guns of different calibers don’t get deep ammo supplies
I do have a couple of old Nagant revolvers and a few hundred rounds of ammo, but these guns are just for fun and I don’t consider them as part of my preps. I also have some “nicks and nacks” of other guns, a .32 ACP semi-auto, a couple of com-block pistols in various calibers, but I only keep enough rounds on hand to enjoy shooting them.
We also have some non-prepping German guns, a couple of P-38’s and a Luger that take 9mm (but they are collectors items, even though they fire I don’t carry them as preps).
Rifles? Streamlined as well…
I have four rifle calibers, and only four. .223/5.56 (IWI X95 Tavor’s and a bolt action Marlin X7). 7.62×39 (AK’s and SKS’s plus a bolt action that’s my main deer rifle) and 7.62×54 (the Mosins), and .308 for my hog hunging AR-10 clone. That’s it.
Actually, that’s more than I would like, but I am a gun guy it’s hard to say no to a gun simply because I don’t stock it’s caliber. I don’t stock much for the .308 because it’s a specialty gun for me. I have a thousand or so rounds of surplus plus some hunting rounds, and that’s it.
Handguns? Lots of 9mm and .30 cal varients, few calibers
The wife and I both open carry Glock 9mm’s. Hers is a Glock 19, I use a 17. All of our spare mags that we store are 17 rounders that work in either gun.
My concealed carry is a Ruger .357 in the winter with bulky clothing, and in the summer I carry a .22 Magnum 5 shot NAA derringer (the one that the trigger folds up into the case). I also sometimes carry a Glock 26 9mm.
Our “around the farm” guns are .38 special revolvers.
I’m not going to try to convince you that my weapons choices are the best, or that I think you should choose what we chose… but I do want to encourage you to think about streamlining ammo.
Based on your podcast and deep soul searching I have streamlined to .22lr, 9mm, 5.56mm, and 12 guage. Reduced and now I am focused on building up my ammunition stockpile. I may purchase another upper for my ar15 and add one rifle caliber for deer hunting I have not decided. Starting July 1st in 2019 I will have do background checks and register all ammunition purchases in California. I have strong opinions about this and will try to stockpile before that. I have enjoyed your articles and podcasts. I may not always agree, but I am open to have my opinions challenged.