Some handgun calibers might work fine in theory, but when the shelves get cleared out, you’re left high and dry. It doesn’t matter how cool or powerful a round is—if you can’t find ammo for it, it might as well be a paperweight. These are the calibers that tend to vanish first (or never show up at all) when ammo gets scarce. If you like to be prepared, it might be worth thinking twice before stocking up on any of these.
.41 Magnum
The .41 Magnum has a loyal fan base, but it’s always been a bit of a niche round. You won’t find it in big box stores even in normal times, let alone during an ammo crunch. When things get tight, this one’s almost always gone first.
It’s powerful and shoots flat, but it’s not common enough to count on. If you run a .41, you’d better have a solid stash built up ahead of time, because resupplying in a pinch isn’t going to happen.
.357 SIG
The .357 SIG was supposed to be the future of law enforcement carry—until it wasn’t. Now it’s one of those rounds that sounds good on paper but disappears the second shelves get low.
Even though it offers great velocity and performance, not many people use it anymore, which means fewer companies keep up production. In any kind of ammo shortage, this one’s gone early and stays gone long after other calibers start showing back up.
5.7x28mm
The 5.7x28mm round gets a lot of attention from gun folks who like something different, but finding it in stock is another story. It was never all that common to begin with, and panic buying wipes it out quick.
It’s flat-shooting and fun to run, but unless you’ve got a backup plan, it’s not ideal for tough times. If ammo runs dry, good luck finding more of it at a decent price—or at all.
.45 GAP
Glock’s attempt to shrink the .45 ACP into a smaller platform didn’t really catch on, and now .45 GAP is one of the hardest calibers to find during a shortage. Even when things are normal, it’s not something you see much outside of a few law enforcement circles.
If you’ve got a .45 GAP handgun, you’re probably already used to ordering ammo online. But once demand spikes and supply dips, don’t count on finding it when you need it most.
10mm Auto
The 10mm has been making a bit of a comeback lately, but it still drops off the map during ammo shortages. It’s not quite mainstream, and a lot of stores don’t carry much of it even when times are good.
People love it for its power and versatility, but its growing popularity hasn’t caught up to supply yet. So if you’re thinking of running 10mm as your main caliber, plan ahead and keep your own stock ready.
.32 ACP
Some folks still like .32 ACP for compact carry guns, but it’s definitely not something stores keep stocked in bulk. When ammo starts flying off shelves, this round quietly vanishes and doesn’t show back up for a long while.
It’s not the most powerful option out there, and the limited demand means manufacturers don’t rush to restock it when things tighten up. If your EDC depends on .32, you’ll want to keep a reserve on hand.
.30 Super Carry
.30 Super Carry came out with a lot of marketing noise, but it never really took off in a big way. Now it’s one of those rounds that feels like it’s always on the verge of disappearing.
Since it’s not widely adopted and doesn’t have much of a track record yet, stores don’t carry much of it. And when ammo gets scarce, it’s nowhere to be found. It might be an option for range days, but don’t count on it in a crisis.
.38 Super
This one has a loyal following, especially in competition shooting, but it’s still a rare find in most gun shops. .38 Super isn’t exactly flying off the shelves even in good times, so when things tighten up, it’s one of the first to vanish.
It performs well and has its place, but most folks never think to stock it. If you rely on this caliber, you’ll need to buy in bulk early or risk being stuck when the panic buying starts.
.25 ACP
The .25 ACP isn’t known for much other than being tiny and hard to find. It’s old-school and still lives in a few pocket pistols out there, but good luck finding ammo when shelves are bare.
Even in non-panic times, you’ll probably have to dig around to find a box. During any kind of run on ammo, this one’s gone without a trace. It’s more of a novelty at this point than a practical choice.
7.62x25mm Tokarev
The 7.62x25mm is a cool caliber with a lot of history, but it’s not something you can count on when supply dries up. It was more common back when surplus ammo was floating around, but those days are long gone.
Now, unless you’re hoarding it or reloading your own, it’s nearly impossible to restock during a shortage. If you’ve got a Tokarev or CZ-52, don’t expect to pick up a box at your local shop when ammo gets scarce.
*This article was developed with AI-powered tools and has been carefully reviewed by our editors.
