Got the Family Together for Thanksgiving

[mgood]

I am thankful for . . . choices



.22 Long Rifle
.22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire (I no longer have a gun that shoots this.)
.380 Automatic Colt Pistol
9mm Parabellum
.38 Smith & Wesson Special (+P) (I've never owned a .38 Special / .357 Magnum, but I've always meant to get one.)
.40 Smith & Wesson
.45 Automatic Colt Pistol
.223 Remington
.22-250 Remington
.25-06 Remington
6.8mm Special Purpose Cartridge II
30.06 Springfield
.410 Bore (3" Magnum)
20 Gauge (2 3/4")
12 Gauge (2 3/4")

[JRG]

Nice range of ammo. But, I for one, would not like to have to have all the calibers on hand at the same time. Seems it would get a bit expensive. YMMV.

Joe

[mgood]

Yeah, it's hard to "stock up" on everything. And sometimes what I shoot is determined by what I have ammo for.

[mgood]

I need something bigger . . .
like a .375 H&H Magnum, .416 Rigby, .458 Lott, or something along that line . . .
or at least a .300 Winchester Magnum or .338 something-or-other. I just don't have enough BIG calibers for those vicious prairie dogs.

[74novaman]

Nice range of ammo. But, I for one, would not like to have to have all the calibers on hand at the same time. Seems it would get a bit expensive. YMMV.

Joe

I've tried to consolidate calibers at least 3 times.

It never sticks.

[texanjoker]

[mgood]

Nice range of ammo. But, I for one, would not like to have to have all the calibers on hand at the same time. Seems it would get a bit expensive. YMMV.

Joe

I've tried to consolidate calibers at least 3 times.

It never sticks.

I have a friend who advocates one caliber for defensive handgun ammo. That way you don't have to hunt for the "right" caliber, or risk jamming the wrong mag into a weapon in an emergency.
I like it in theory, but I'm always thinking I need another caliber for something I don't have covered with what I've got.
Every one of those has a purpose.

.22 LR - My first gun was a .22 rifle. I still have it. Also, I shoot small bore silhouette competition with another .22 rifle.

.22 Mag - I used to have a NAA Pug, a pocket-size single-action revolver in .22 Mag. It was a gun that could go places larger guns could not. Deep concealment. I may get another.

.380 Auto - My LCP has sort of replaced the Pug as my go (almost) anywhere pocket gun.

9mm - I shoot USPSA and have a 9mm 1911 for shooting Singlestack Division Minor. Planning to get a 9mm XDm for Production Division.

.38 Special - I've always planned to get a J-frame snubby. Also a full-size .357 Mag is high on my wish list. When defensive ammo of any kind was hard to come by around the time of the first Obama election, I stumbled across some good .38 ammo and grabbed it for future use.

.40 S&W - The first two handguns I bought were in .40. I still have one of them. I consider it a great in-between caliber, having almost the stopping power of a .45, and in a similar-size gun, holding almost the capacity of a 9. My .40 is a bit large for concealed carry in most situations, but it's usually in the backpack that I always have near by.

.45 ACP - A while back I accepted the fact that single stack guns just fit my hand better, and conceal easier. If I'm going to have fewer shots, I might as well punch a bigger hole. My favorite carry gun is my little 3" Kimber in .45. I recently got a Commander-size (4.25" barrel on a full-size frame) Rock Island 1911 in .45. I'm working on my amateur gunsmithing skills with this one. If it turns out nice, it'll be my BBQ gun. I spend a lot of time in New Mexico where open carry is legal. Planning to get a 5" 1911 for USPSA Singlestack Division Major.

.223 - My Mini-14 is my truck gun. It's usually with me in my pickup and gives me a long gun I will have near by. Inexpensive enough that it's not the end of the world if it gets stolen, but offers more range than a handgun.

.22-250 - Varmint rifle. My first center-fire rifle was in .22-250 and I've always thought it was an excellent caliber. I sold that gun years ago but have recently replaced it with a very nice varmint gun.

.25-06 - My favorite all-around hunting rifle. This fills the slot where many people might use a .270 or 7mm-08. I live on the open plains of West Texas where game is generally smaller but longer shots may be the norm rather than an exception due to lack of cover. When I was a kid hunting with my dad, he used a .25-06. I always thought it was cool, and now I have one of my own. Awesome deer and antelope cartridge. DRT with 115 gr Nosler Partitions. (Anyone who thinks you need a .300 WinMag to kill a deer should learn about shot placement.) The caliber was originally conceived as a varminter, and with lighter bullets it's plenty capable of popping prairie dogs. But with heavier bullets, there's really not much in the lower 48 states where the .25-06 would be inadequate.

6.8 SPC - My first AR is on layaway. I got it in 6.8 for more knock-down power than a 5.56. Great caliber for those who want to hunt with an AR. Fantastic on hogs, of which we have plenty around here. Primarily a fighting rifle, but it will see hunting duty and a little competition just to ensure that I'm intimately familiar with it.

.30-06 - I bought this rifle because I needed something to hunt with right then when I was waiting on my .25-06 to come in. At the time I didn't have a hunting rifle of any caliber. It doesn't get much use now, but If I go after larger game where the .25-06 might be considered marginal, the .30 caliber could be dusted off and put to use.

.410 - My second gun, my first shotgun, was a single-shot .410. I still have it, less for sentimental reasons than that it's just not worth much to sell. Since it's here, I might as well keep a little ammo on hand for it.

20 Gauge - Was my bird gun as a teen. Now has been cut down for home defense duty. Since replaced by a 12, but still makes a good backup that could be handed to a friend. Light and quick Mossberg 500 still has the original wood furniture and vent rib, but has been cut down to 18.5" barrel. Just too cool a gun to get rid of.

12 Gauge - Has replaced the 20 as a home defense weapon. Used to have, and need another, 12 Ga bird gun.

[74novaman]

You have reasons, I like it!

If I find a gun I enjoy shooting or get a good deal on something, ill pick it up.

I was out of the .45 game for a while, but picked up a RIA Tactical for $350 this week, so I guess I'm back into it.

[JRG]

Nice range of ammo. But, I for one, would not like to have to have all the calibers on hand at the same time. Seems it would get a bit expensive. YMMV.

Joe

I've tried to consolidate calibers at least 3 times.

It never sticks.

I hear you on that. I was down to just 9mm and 22LR, but added 38 special with the addition of the J frame 642 a couple of weeks ago. It is sort of like an addiction.

Joe

[SigM4]

Nice range of ammo. But, I for one, would not like to have to have all the calibers on hand at the same time. Seems it would get a bit expensive. YMMV.

Joe

I'm just the opposite. I like having a wide range of a calibers to choose from, that way I should be able to find ammo for at least one of them. I hadn't really shot my .17HMR much until last winter/spring when .22lr was none existent; however the .17HMR was readily available. But you're right, I don't try to keep everything stocked, rather just load up when I find a good deal on something.

[Pecos]

Nice Family! All dressing & no turkey!

[jmorris]

Nice range of ammo. But, I for one, would not like to have to have all the calibers on hand at the same time. Seems it would get a bit expensive. YMMV.

Joe

I've tried to consolidate calibers at least 3 times.

It never sticks.

I have a friend who advocates one caliber for defensive handgun ammo. That way you don't have to hunt for the "right" caliber, or risk jamming the wrong mag into a weapon in an emergency.
I like it in theory, but I'm always thinking I need another caliber for something I don't have covered with what I've got.
Every one of those has a purpose.........

I agree with your friend. Kahr CW40, S&W Sigma .40, and Kel-Tec Sub2000 in .40. (And the 12ga of course).

The mags don't match of course but I can reload across weapons if neccessary.

But that doesn't mean I can't have others to play with.

[goose]

I agree with your friend. Kahr CW40, S&W Sigma .40, and Kel-Tec Sub2000 in .40. (And the 12ga of course).

The mags don't match of course but I can reload across weapons if neccessary.

But that doesn't mean I can't have others to play with.

I like the general idea behind his theory. I have a Glock 17, Glock 26 and Sub2000 that takes the Glock magazines. From a defensive standpoint, if I can make it to the upstairs landing armed with one of the pistols, I can have one of the boys bring me the sub 2k or more magazines (the 33 rounders) and no one has to pay much attention.

There are other calibers and magazines in the safe but the big stick mags are readily identifiable even in a stressful situation. (Because yes, we want others to play with.)