Caliber - which are essential?

[orangejesus]

I'm fairly new to all of this, so apologies if this has been discussed before. I'm looking to fill my safe within the next six months, and was curious what I should be looking for insofar as caliber. My main concern is that - were things to go complete sideways (SHTF/zombie apocalypse/etc.) - ammo may be limited to what I can find. Currently I have:

9mm - Glock 17 and 26
5.56 - Mini-14
12g - Beretta A300 Ultima Patrol

I'm thinking that something in .45 would be useful, and so looking at picking up a Glock 21 SF. I was to understand that this could easily be converted to 10mm with the right barrel (and magazines) - thereby expanding my capability.

I'm very happy with my Mini-14, and figured a Mini-30 would make sense, though unsure about 7.62x39; but aren't most AKs chambered this way?

Seems as though there a quite a few offerings in .308/7.62X51, so perhaps I should have something in this caliber?

Any thoughts/opinions/criticism would be greatly appreciated; I want to quickly procure all I should have, then divert time/energy/funds in to becoming proficient.

[sanjoseskater]

I'm fairly new to all of this, so apologies if this has been discussed before. I'm looking to fill my safe within the next six months, and was curious what I should be looking for insofar as caliber. My main concern is that - were things to go complete sideways (SHTF/zombie apocalypse/etc.) - ammo may be limited to what I can find. Currently I have:

9mm - Glock 17 and 26
5.56 - Mini-14
12g - Beretta A300 Ultima Patrol

I'm thinking that something in .45 would be useful, and so looking at picking up a Glock 21 SF. I was to understand that this could easily be converted to 10mm with the right barrel (and magazines) - thereby expanding my capability.

I'm very happy with my Mini-14, and figured a Mini-30 would make sense, though unsure about 7.62x39; but aren't most AKs chambered this way?

Seems as though there a quite a few offerings in .308/7.62X51, so perhaps I should have something in this caliber?

Any thoughts/opinions/criticism would be greatly appreciated; I want to quickly procure all I should have, then divert time/energy/funds in to becoming proficient.

I would just stockpile the three calibers you already have and buy mutiple guns for each caliber and train with them. Hard to beat 9mm and 5.56 I also like 762x39 and 22lr because that?s are cheap to shoot

[CGZ]

Top 5 IMO

9x19mm - Glock 19
5.56x45mm - AR-15
12 Gauge - Mossberg 500
.22 Long Rifle - Ruger 10/22 (Rifle), Ruger Mk IV (Pistol)
.308 Winchester - Remington 700 (Bolt Action), AR-10 or M1A (Semi Auto)

other popular handgun calibers: .40 S&W, .45 ACP .38 Special/.357 Magnum, .380 ACP, 10mm.

other popular rifle calibers: 7.62x39mm, .300 AAC Blackout, 30/06 Springfield, 6.5 Creedmoor, .300 Winchester Magnum.

[theLBC]

essential for what?
for me, "just in case"...
i want to be able to take small game for survival, that means probably a .22lr rifle of decent quality.
i also want to be able to take medium sized game or birds, which means 12ga. shotgun.
i also want to be a able to take large game (or zombies) at long distance, so .308 rifle with good accuracy.
9mm for self defense handgun.

[Rodell]

Everyone knows a Colt Python is the quintessential zombie killer. Well, unless it is a crossbow.

I do believe a 45acp is something to have if you really believe a SHTF scenario is in the cards. Ammo will be a currency, and there's a lot more common caliber ammo made and stockpiled. 45acp fits that bill.

I suppose the other end of the spectrum is to be able to digest any caliber.

[ar15barrels]

I'm fairly new to all of this, so apologies if this has been discussed before. I'm looking to fill my safe within the next six months, and was curious what I should be looking for insofar as caliber. My main concern is that - were things to go complete sideways (SHTF/zombie apocalypse/etc.) - ammo may be limited to what I can find. Currently I have:

9mm - Glock 17 and 26
5.56 - Mini-14
12g - Beretta A300 Ultima Patrol

I'm thinking that something in .45 would be useful, and so looking at picking up a Glock 21 SF. I was to understand that this could easily be converted to 10mm with the right barrel (and magazines) - thereby expanding my capability.

I'm very happy with my Mini-14, and figured a Mini-30 would make sense, though unsure about 7.62x39; but aren't most AKs chambered this way?

Seems as though there a quite a few offerings in .308/7.62X51, so perhaps I should have something in this caliber?

Any thoughts/opinions/criticism would be greatly appreciated; I want to quickly procure all I should have, then divert time/energy/funds in to becoming proficient.

I would put 22LR a pistol and a rifle on your list before I chased more powerful cartridges.
22LR is cheaper to shoot so you can shoot more and it's also much more pleasant to shoot so you will shoot it more.
More shooting generally makes you a better shooter, regardless of the caliber.

[operavoice]

I would put 22LR a pistol and a rifle on your list before I chased more powerful cartridges.
22LR is cheaper to shoot so you can shoot more and it's also much more pleasant to shoot so you will shoot it more.
More shooting generally makes you a better shooter, regardless of the caliber.

Sage advice.

[baih777]

Nato calibers.
Incase we get attacked. You will have a gun that shoots their ammo.
9mm
45
223
7.62x39
308 it will shoot 7.62x51 also.
7.62x54r maybe ??

[sealocan]

If I were you I'd skip the 45 ACP, because you already have the 9mm pistol (so stick with that caliber for your handguns and possibly your pistol caliber carbines if you want one of those) but definitely acquire a bunch of 22 long rifle ammo and as mentioned already the highly regarded Ruger 10/22 rifle/carbine , maybe even one of the newer designs that breaks into two pieces for easy transport.

And then maybe if you don't feel covered by the heavy hitting 12 gauge (with lots of slugs and buckshot for longer ranges) you might want to think about a .308 or other larger slash more powerful caliber than a .223 rifle down the line.
But to me the first priority would be getting a .22 rifle and possibly a .22 handgun for multiple reasons, like cheap trigger time training, pest control, etc.

[orangejesus]

Big thank you to everyone that offered their input.
I'll have to take a hard look at something in .22 rifle - pretty sure it would be as effective on zombie heads as anything larger.
The Ruger PCC (9mm) was already on my 'maybe' list - the ability to use Glock mags (which I'm quickly accumulating) seems to be a definitely plus.


Follow-up question - do I really need an AR-15? Often seems that - as a gun owner - you're required to have one, but I'm unsure if it's worth the cost for something that either needs to be featureless, or fitted with a mag-lock (which I've read is NOT the choice for home defense due to reload times and/or misfire/jam issues). This was a big factor in my decision to pick up the Mini-14, and why both the Fightlight SCR and newest offering for Foxtrot Mike have caught my attention.

[q3131a]

Can't beat a 22lr, 38spl/357mag, 308 Win and a 12 gauge....

[baih777]

Have you shot your mini 14 ? Is it accurate ?
If so. Pickup extra mags.

Regarding AR15. The rifle is a modular design. Thats why some people refer it as a Lego design.. you can repair it. You can buy spare parts kit for it. You can change the barrel. You can also have different uppers for it.
All the tools to work on the rifle are available.

[ar15barrels]

do I really need an AR-15? Often seems that - as a gun owner - you're required to have one, but I'm unsure if it's worth the cost for something that either needs to be featureless, or fitted with a mag-lock (which I've read is NOT the choice for home defense due to reload times and/or misfire/jam issues). This was a big factor in my decision to pick up the Mini-14, and why both the Fightlight SCR and newest offering for Foxtrot Mike have caught my attention.

AR-15 and Mini14 both perform the same role, which is a lightweight carbine that redefines cover compared to a pistol.
If you are happy with your mini14, you will be fine.

The AR is a better platform if you like to customize.
AR magazines are better.
AR's are nicer to shoot when it comes to follow-up but the fightlite will have the same stock location problem as the mini14 since it does not use a buffer tube which gets your shoulder directly straight behind the bolt carrier/buffer travel/momentum line.
Direct impingement AR's are generally more accurate than mini14 but if you are only shooting man-sized targets inside 200yds, that won't matter.
Gas piston AR's suffer some of the same accuracy issues as the mini14 as they both have a gas piston mounted to the barrel.

[OlderThanDirt]

AR-15 and Mini14 both perform the same role, which is a lightweight carbine that redefines cover compared to a pistol.
If you are happy with your mini14, you will be fine.

The AR is a better platform if you like to customize.
AR magazines are better.
AR's are nicer to shoot when it comes to follow-up but the fightlite will have the same stock location problem as the mini14 since it does not use a buffer tube which gets your shoulder directly straight behind the bolt carrier/buffer travel/momentum line.
Direct impingement AR's are generally more accurate than mini14 but if you are only shooting man-sized targets inside 200yds, that won't matter.
Gas piston AR's suffer some of the same accuracy issues as the mini14 as they both have a gas piston mounted to the barrel.

I would add that a DI AR is easier to service/repair in the field and parts would be easier to get.

[kcheung2]

I think the question misses the point. If this is a Shtf situation there’s no point in having a moderately wide selection of just a few hundred rounds each. It’s better to have a deep inventory, like 10s of thousands of just a few cartridges. If the weight of the ammo isn’t a constant worry, then you don’t have enough.