How many do we really need?

Doc

There are hundreds of center fire rifle cartridges in use. How many do we need to get by? I bet the world could survive with maybe 10 or 12 cartridges. How many different 30 calibers are there? I own seven myself. Do we really need so many?

I guess often the cartridge is reflective of the platform, like the 30-30 and 30 Carbine. But look at all the cartridges that are essentially the same or nearly so. How many 30 caliber Magnums are there? Couldn't have settled on one?

I suppose we Americans live to be overwhelmed with choice. Has to be new and exciting. Each gun manufacturer wants to come up with a caliber to put his name on.

Here are my various 30 cals...

grdad45

Been wondering the same thing. Also wondering how many will become obsolete in the future. When demand tapers off, supply will dwindle. Then the price will skyrocket, making reloading one of the only ways to afford to shoot them. JMHO

savage170

Have 6 .30 calibers here

.30 carbine
.300 Blackout
.30 Remington
30-30
.300 Savage
30-06

make that 7 forgot about the 308 Marlin Express

danielgage

308WIN and 300WSM are my favorite

perry shooter

AS FAR AS CARTRIDGES go as long as you stick to centerfire I think you will be able to find a cartridge that can be reloaded or one you can modify to use . I work at a armory & artifacts shop part time we have a number of interesting fire arms " the aremory@michietavern.com"the big problem comes when you try to find Rimfire or pin fire ammo.

brier-49

How many do we need ?? Need isn't part of it. We have the number wanted by the wants of all the people who shoot.

droptop

There are really 6 necked cartridges,,, which should be kept. Counting right to left?

mogley98

I only need .22, .22 mag, 7.62X 39, .223, 7.62 x 51, 6.5 X 55 Swede, 7mm rem magnum, and 30-30, as far as I am concerned they can delete the rest

Same with Pistol rounds delete all but .32, .380, 9mm regular, .38/.357, 44 mag, and .45 and I am good. Oh and 7.62 X 25 I think for that weirdo gun I got one of.

Shotgun, .410, .20 gauge and .12 and I am all set.

Sam06

30 WCF
308
30-06
300 WM


4 for me.

Old-Colts

I'm down to one and it is sufficient for any of my current and future needs; 30-06.

Rocky Raab

In centerfire, I only really needed two, the .308 and .223. But you'd have to maim me to pry my Hornet away. There are others that I liked, or simply wanted to play with. Need? Those two. Well, 2?.

Navybat

I don't really subscribe to the "how many do we need" argument.

It was tried by liberals when they argued for smaller magazine capacities. "How many bullets do you need in a magazine?"

It's not "need". It's the freedom to have.

Once you start going down the rabbit hole it's hard to climb back out.

My "want" is your "need", or vice versa. His "shouldn't have" is my "want". Who is right?

Dads3040

I suppose a lot of the variety is the results of people who thought they had a better/different/new idea. Not surprising really given how shooters can be.

I hadn't thought about how many .30 calibers I have.

.30 Carbine
.303 Savage
.300 Savage
.30-30
.30-40 Krag
.308
.30-06
.300 Win Mag

Geez. No wonder I have so many ammo boxes. WTH was I thinking? [:0][:D]

neacpa

I looked at my list and calibers that I currently own firearms in are:
22 lr *
22 wmr *
22 hornet
25 acp
38 special
40 cal
45 acp
45 gap
7.62x25
222 *
223 *
243 *
260 *
270 *
280 *
280-7mm exp *
284 win mag *
30-30
30-06 *
300 win mag *
300 h&h
308 *
350 rem mag *
357
380 auto
17 hmr *
204 ruger *
220 swift *
22-250 *
250 savage *
25-06 *
257 roberts *
264 win mag *
338 win mag *
358 win mag *
35 whelen *
41
44 mag *
45-70
6 mm *
6.5 rem mag *
6.5x55 *
7mm-08 *
7 rem mag *
7 mag stw
7.62x39 *
7x57 *
8 rem mag
9 mm

In all reality, this is just too dang many. But 33 of these calibers are in Ruger 77's that I have been acquiring to leave for my grandson. (Those indicated by *)

Ambrose

My list of .30's:

.30 carbine
.30/30
.30 Rem.
.300 Sav.
.30-40 Krag
.308
.30/06
.300 Win. Mag.
.308 Norma Mag.
.300 H&H
.30-.338 Mag
.300 RCM
.300 WSM

and metric and almost .30's

7.62x39
7.62x54R
7.65 Arg.
7.7x58 Jap
7.5x54 MAS
7.5 Swiss
.303 Brit.

wpageabc

What is this need thing you speak of?

remingtonoaks

So in essence what you're saying is... The world would be a lot better off if all brunettes were the same, and all blondes were the same, and all redheads were the same, Etc. It's pretty much the same difference in my opinion

11b6r

Yes, we could get along with fewer cartridges.

But it so happens I LIKE the S&W revolvers in .32 long. And I LIKE my old Savage in .220 Swift, my Swiss K-31, and the Winchester 71 I inherited from my uncle- even though the price of .348 Win will convince you to buy a set of dies.

And yes, I COULD eat oatmeal for breakfast. But now and again I like some country sausage, biscuits and fried apples. [:p]

montanajoe

one,30.06,,,

He Dog

32 flavors is enough. Plus black walnut.

retroxler58

quote:Originally posted by remingtonoaks
So in essence what you're saying is... The world would be a lot better off if all brunettes were the same, and all blondes were the same, and all redheads were the same, Etc. It's pretty much the same difference in my opinion
That would certainly make life easier...
Not as fun. But damned easier!

Navybat

I only fire and reload three pistol calibers: 9mm, .380 ACP, and .45 ACP.

.38/.357 in revolver

.50 caliber muzzleloader

12 gauge shotgun

Rifle calibers: .308, 5.56, .30-06, and 22LR.

That's it.

gearheaddad

If it was about "need", all you really "need" is a one room shack with a woodstove.

He Dog

quote:Originally posted by gearheaddad
If it was about "need", all you really "need" is a one room shack with a BIG woodstove.



That's better.

Doc

I need more than a shack...