Please explain

[Mknight]

I see some people either on TV (Doomsday Preppers) or some blog's that have bought many different firearms, and many different calibers. Now when I first started prepping I limited myself to 7.62 X 39 mm, 9 mm, .22 LR, and 12 gauge. I did this because of both price and availability, and ease of stockpiling. But now I wonder if I am missing some benefit by not having a wider verity in calibers. So could anyone explain to me what benefit is in having many many calibers?

[610Alpha]

I see some people either on TV (Doomsday Preppers) or some blog's that have bought many different firearms, and many different calibers. Now when I first started prepping I limited myself to 7.62 X 39 mm, 9 mm, .22 LR, and 12 gauge. I did this because of both price and availability, and ease of stockpiling. But now I wonder if I am missing some benefit by not having a wider verity in calibers. So could anyone explain to me what benefit is in having many many calibers?

No real benefit....most likely the gun powder would be cannibalized to reload a common caliber.

Follow the KISS principle.

Welcome to S & P we are glad you are here. Lots of good people and info here.

Do a quick search before asking your question, we have talked about a lot of things so it might be covered.

Include meta tags on threads you start so that they will be easier to search for.

Check out the blog articles there is some good info there.

Look on youtube for videos made by PAW Productions - delta69alpha and also Survival Report.

Lastly share your experience with the rest of us.

[1Admin]

In my experience most people who consider themselves survivalists have entirely too many guns in too many different types, too many different calibers.

Usually these are the same people that say they don't have money to go to professional training classes and/or think they don't need or couldn't benefit from professional training.

Too often we are focused too much on the article/item versus the USE of the item.

Yet who is the bigger threat? The guy with 50 guns, none of which he shoots MUCH, that has had no professional training, or the guy with the simple battery that spends his money on ammo, training, etc?

We can THINK we know, or we can KNOW..... Most people are comfortable thinking they know and of course, it's crushing to our little pride and egos to go to training that REALLY pushes you, that makes you do more than "stand and deliver" and gives you a cute little target full of bullseye's (that took you half the day to make) and a cute certificate at the end of the day.

And some here that know me know, I have several wallfulls of "cute certificates", but I'm more concerned about what I learned, how I grew and expanded my abilities from those classes than the paper or the BS "attaboy" feeling from them.

We should leave these sorts of things going "man I really need to work on X.." , that means the training was CHALLENGING.

Sorry for the rant ;)

[rice paddy daddy]

I have two hobbies. Military history, especially WWII; and firearms. I like to read about firearms, shoot firearms and own firearms. My first gun, a 22 rifle, was given to me for my 10th birthday. I am now 64, and own a number of guns. I honestly don't know the number offhand, without some thought.
Are they strictly for "survival" (whatever your definition of that is)? No, they are for fun and my own enjoyment.
I also own a number of military history books. :cool:
Remember - All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.

[xdpatriot]

In my experience most people who consider themselves survivalists have entirely too many guns in too many different types, too many different calibers.

Usually these are the same people that say they don't have money to go to professional training classes and/or think they don't need or couldn't benefit from professional training.

Too often we are focused too much on the article/item versus the USE of the item.

Yet who is the bigger threat? The guy with 50 guns, none of which he shoots MUCH, that has had no professional training, or the guy with the simple battery that spends his money on ammo, training, etc?

We can THINK we know, or we can KNOW..... Most people are comfortable thinking they know and of course, it's crushing to our little pride and egos to go to training that REALLY pushes you, that makes you do more than "stand and deliver" and gives you a cute little target full of bullseye's (that took you half the day to make) and a cute certificate at the end of the day.

And some here that know me know, I have several wallfulls of "cute certificates", but I'm more concerned about what I learned, how I grew and expanded my abilities from those classes than the paper or the BS "attaboy" feeling from them.

We should leave these sorts of things going "man I really need to work on X.." , that means the training was CHALLENGING.

Sorry for the rant ;)

I agree with this statement. It's not the gadgets, it's your skill set. Theres trained and there's not trained. Which are you gonna be? Even after you're trained, are you practicing? Keeping the rust off so to speak? Train, train, train, prepare, prepare, prepare. It's not a fad, it's a lifestyle.

To answer your question, I think you should own what and as much as you can afford and then afford to train with. If you can only afford to feed one gun of one caliber, keep it and train with it. Two guns you can't afford to shoot arent much help.

[610Alpha]

I see some people either on TV (Doomsday Preppers) or some blog's that have bought many different firearms, and many different calibers. Now when I first started prepping I limited myself to 7.62 X 39 mm, 9 mm, .22 LR, and 12 gauge. I did this because of both price and availability, and ease of stockpiling. But now I wonder if I am missing some benefit by not having a wider verity in calibers. So could anyone explain to me what benefit is in having many many calibers?

Personally 4 calibers is the upper limit IMO. Having multiple guns of the same make/model is advantageous but I would consider it down the list a ways after you have obtained the four walls (dave ramseyism) of Food, Shelter, Water, & Security.

[Not_Yet_Prepped]

I know next to nothing compared to these other guys but I aggree that training is way more important than any gadget. And that there is no need for so many different weapons, Do we like our "toys" and want yet another one, MAYBE but we only NEED a few and if you do your research and buy something of quality it will last your life time. To me it sounds like you have 1 of each of the 4 main "Needs". You can cleanly take a small game, a flying bird, a deer and a 2 legged prediator...

Decent Handgun (Glock, XD, FNP, etc.)
Small Rodent Gun (.22LR like 10/22)
Bird Gun/Home Def (12ga pump)
Battle/Hunting Rifle (.308 or 7.62x39)

By the way some of the most productive trigger time I have ever had was "DRY FIRE" with someone there making sure we focused on the "fundmentals of shooting". It is not nearly as fun as live fire but alot can be "Fixed" with it. We attached a "Laser Pointer" to the end of the barrel then got prone and "Shot" at the ground plug hole on the other side of the room. The laser pointer allowed us to "See" the movement during the trigger pull and break. After 30mins and zero money in ammo the difference was crazy. And it translated at the field too.

[EX121]

Yep I agree with the consensus, keep it simple, 4 calibers at most. Get training and keep practicing. If you have a couple of the same modle of gun, if one breaks you may use the other for parts 9 adrastic measure but doable).
The simpler the better.

[Gus14]

I agree as well. Keep it simple.
I have the same two that everyone who owns guns agrees on, .22LR and 12ga.
Beyond that I go with 5.56mm and 7.62x51 for rifles, .44Mag and 9mm for pistols.

I do have some other firearms that are in all sorts of calibers. Thing is, they are not included in any preps or planning, or anything. If anything were to happen those would be relocated to a secure location. I have firearms that my great grandfather owned. I hunt the same land he hunted a hundred years ago with the same rifle. That is sacred and I would never send a rifle like that into a position where it would ever be touched by anyone who did not have the same DNA as me!!!!!!!

[Grinnan Barrett]

I keep a core group of weapons that we use on a regular basis. We do have some collectible weapons (mostly bolt action guns like nagants, enfields, K98 Mausers etc) that we would use as barter items along with 200 rounds of Ammo for them. I prefer to keep weapons from the same type to make it easier to use parts off broken guns. No thought is given to reloading supplies or accuracy. Too many guys plan to spray and pray. As Admin said too much time and money is spent on guns and in my opinion not enough on food and other things like medical. If you are going to buy a gun stock in enough ammo to get you through the tough times. GB

[Klayton]

Well I am no expert either, but may I add my POV...

I have 7 different caliber of handguns (.38SPC, .357mag, 22LR, 5.7mm, 9mm, 40S&W, and 45ACP) why? well, the main reason is to train my daughter on as many different styles of handguns and the feel of firing different calibers. Future TOP SHOT?? (hehe typical Dad just dreaming I know)

But we stockpile ammo for only 3 (22LR, 9mm, and 45ACP) the other guns all have less than 750 rounds on hand.

Granted the most common handguns out there are 9mm and 45ACP, but some people do have other calibers (obviously) and you never know when you will acquire ammo for one of your off caliber guns.

As for long guns, we stockpile 5.56mm, .22LR (&22short) and .338federal (my thumper gun) and to a lesser extent 30-30 and 12gauge.

[protus]

I have several wallfulls of "cute certificates",

lmao..

dude you could build a 2500 sq ft home if you made walls from those certs LOL


OP. Most folks start off as "gun" guys. The buy guns as a hobby . like girls and shoes. The wear them every now and then but they sit there looking good. Im guilty of this like many are.
Some folks just dont stop. Others think that guns are the answer or that a firearm MUST be part of a kit or they can not survive. It also add's a cool factor to it when you can whip out a carbine from your BOB to show off to your sheeple buddies at your tail gate at the range.. pride...sat its best LOL.

Me i have a bunch of different calibers. BUT i pretty much stuck with 3-4 calibers for my main use weapons ( 9mm,x39,12g and 22) My secondary's are x51,38,and7,92 ....
after that i have my novelty rounds lol. these are my hunting rifles or weapons i never really purchased alot of ammo for ( in herited firearms from deceased family etc)

like admin was saying..its cool to say look a sub 1/2 group at 200m off the rest at the gun club, in the shade, on a nice 65f day with no wind...its cooler imho if it was done after the guy had walked with his gear for 3-4 hours, then srpinted to the line, dropped pack and squezzed off that same group in under 30 seconds.......becuase he has made efforts to expand his know how .

[rice paddy daddy]

I stock ammo in twenty different calibers and gauges, and have multiple firearms in each. Well, maybe except for 8mm Mauser and 45-70 Government. So what?

Yeah, I'm grouchy today. Think I'll go clean my nickel plated 1921 Colt Police Positive Special 32-20. That always makes me feel better.:)

[SilasMagill]

Great posts. I follow the "Beware the man with one gun. He knows how to use it." saying. Granted I don't have just one gun, but I have taken the time, years, to become familiar with my 4 main guns. I did the above mentioned 4 type of gun setup. 1-hand gun .357 (to shoot both .38 spl & .357) per family member, 1- .22lr per family member, 1- 12ga shotgun per family member, and 1- .270 Winchester Model 70 rifle per family member. As I said I do have other guns. Some are sentimental (my first shotgun and my grandfathers shotgun) and other will/could be used for bartering. But the guns mentioned are my/our tools. I want my wife and I to learn them inside and out. That means professional instruction on both shooting and repair. I would like to order spare parts for each as money becomes available. I'd much rather face an enemy with a fancy black gun and only weekend warrior "training" who can barely unjam his gun than my wife and her handy .22 bolt action Savage that she can shoot the cap off a 2 liter coke at 50 yards with her hair in pigtails AND field strip, clean and reassemble while still having the sense to know that she doesn't know it all.

SM