I have settled on my caliber of choice....and here is why.

[cslinger]

I have been shooting for many years and have experience in a great many platforms, calibers etc. I have respect for most calibers and understand the pros and cons of various platforms. I also perfectly understand that there is no one right answer, as shooting and firearms are as personal to the user as a pair of shoes.

All that being said I have wavered over the years but have always leaned towards .45ACP. In the past few years though I have finally come around to the other caliber that I would waver back and forth to and have decided it truly is my go to round. That round .357 magnum. Why....

Wide variety of ammo.
Very very powerful.
.38 Special adds a huge amount of versatility to the platforms.
Not a military caliber so I never run into lack of selection.
I like the platforms from everything from large frame hunting guns to itty bitty pocket pieces.
Very accurate as a rule.
I just plain like shooting both .38 and .357.
The history.
The fact that the guns are generally all solid steel and look good with walnut stocks.
I could go on.

So what is your caliber of choice?

[xring44]

I waver a bit also, I dearly love the .45ACP, I have several in that caliber and love to shoot them all. I also have had a long love affair with the .357 Magnum, for the same reasons you listed above. But I also love the .44 magnum, the 10 MM is fast becoming a favorite of mine. I have a .41 magnum that I love to shoot...Just one did you say?? I run more rounds through the .45ACPs than any others right now, in a 1911 platform, its truly a joy to shoot, amazingly accurate and just plain fun to shoot.

I'm going to have to spend a little more time thinking about this before I can give a positive answer, because I like'm all.

One thing we for sure agree on is the solid steel, I don't own a "plastic" gun.
Not knocking them, mind you, just a personal preference for you look and feel of walnut and steel.

[MCgunner]

To me, the platform that fits your concealment and personal needs is first consideration. I have a 9x19 Kel Tec P11 that gets probably 80 percent of my carry now days. I also have a .380 that I tote sometimes and a couple of small frame .38s. My Taurus M85SSUL gets the nod most times. I have a .357 magnum SP101 and a 3" Taurus M66 I can tote if I'm going to the big city, but, those are not pocket guns and I generally tote i a pocket 24/7, works best for me and what I do and where I live and how I dress. If all I could conceal were a P3AT, .380 would be my caliber of choice. If all I can tote due to dress is my NAA mini revolver, .22 LR gets the nod. That's rare. Mostly it's 9x19 115 grain JHP +P.

[cslinger]

I don't own a "plastic" gun.

I do own a few of them and even own two.......Glocks :o:uhoh: I'm not proud of it but they do make a fine utilitarian firearm that I am not afraid to ugly up.....uhh well further then they are from the box. :neener:

I like shooting everything and own a wide variety. I can't say I own anything I don't enjoy. Its just that .357/.38 just seems to be about my perfect caliber. I just marries so many good things into a single cartridge.

Its not about caliber war or I say its best etc. It just seems to be my zen caliber. I really thought .45 was that caliber for me but the more I shoot and the more I think about it .357/.38 is my one with the world zen boomstick.

[nosliw]

the .357 is like a small bomb going off in your hands, i love it. my favorite also.

[f4t9r]

I would have to go with 45 ACP and oddly my second choice is 9mm

[Ohen Cepel]

I'm with you on the .357, it's my all around caliber choice also.

It will take most game that I want to take with a pistol and I love the .38spc option for training.

Plus, with a .357 lever gun added to the scene you get another option added.

I have many other calibers but always return to the .357.

[Brian Williams]

I have also settled into the 38spec/357mag for my revolvers. For some reason they just seem to work well and are some of the best carry revolvers around. 45 and 9mm are for my autos even though I have a spare 940 cylinder for my 642.

[Hunter0924]

The .357 magnum is an excellent cartridge.
I am fond of it myself.

[WinchesterAA]

.45, .22LR, .357, .38 are my favorite pistol calibers.
Additional points for the .45ACPs usually having .22 kits and .357s defaultly firing .38s.

[SmithSwede]

I basically agree with you, except I'd say that my favorite is .38 Special. The lowly, old-fashined .38 does virtually everything I need done in a handgun, is amazingly accurate, easy to load for, does not have an ear-ringing muzzle blast, etc. I've just always had good luck with this caliber and the S&W revolvers that chamber it.

I like the idea of having the .357 for a bit more versatility, but I've found that I rarely use it. A hot .38 out of a 6" barrel is usually all I need.

.45 ACP is an excellent round. But that mandates use of the N-frame, and I just like the K-frame better.

[dourdave]

"...walnut and steel." Damn ! Now ya got me looking for more BHPS.

Those and 9mm are fine with me.

Dave

[Patrick_Henry]

I too love .357/38 for versatility and style.

[VHinch]

During the workday I carry a S&W 637 .38 Special, but .45 is my go to caliber, and when I am not at work my primary carry is a Sig 220.

[Mad Magyar]

There are times when I long for the S&W 686 I sold for a "song".:banghead: I will admit nothing wrong with your choice....If I could locate a 2" barrel for what I sold mine: back in business....:)

[ldp4570]

cslinger, Your making this some what difficult. I do agree there isn't much better than a S&W28 and a Marlin 1894c, or I can pack a S&W686 CS-1 3", or a S&W66 with 2-1/2"bbl, and still match up with the Marlin. I also like my S&W5906 and her stablemate a Marlin Camp-9.

[DMK]

I have settled on my caliber of choice... It's 45ACP, and 357Mag, and 9x19, and 40S&W, and 38 Special, and 38S&W, and 9x18, and 32ACP, oh and 7.62x25.

That's it though, just those. Except 22LR too.

[orionengnr]

I am leaning more towards .45acp.

I recently started reloading, which is making shooting much more affordable. The .45 is a great reloader's cartridge. My next cartridge to reload will be .38/.357. I enjoy shooting .38/357 and shoot my 586 pretty well, and I can carry it in the winter with a cover garment...but I have several .45s that are more concealable, and am shooting them reasonably well, too :)

[Run&Shoot]

I settled on .40 S&W. I think it is the ".357" of pistols in terms of versatility. It fits into platforms as small as most 9mm pistols. You can shoot anything from 135 gr at 1200+ fps to 200 gr. it is available from practically every semi-auto maker in most models of pistols.

My all-time favorite cartridge just to shoot would be .44 mag followed by .45 ACP. The only problem with them is they don't come in reliable sub-compact models.

Given all that, a good .357 revolver is nothing to sneeze at; good choice!

[22-rimfire]

I waver and have no one favorite caliber unless it is 22LR. Most of what I have bought have stayed with me since I was a puppy.

[jpsimms]

My favorive pistol is my Taurus M66 6 inch with hougue unigrip in .357 mag.
I have found that is the most accurate pistol in my hand that I have ever shot. can't beat the reliability of a revolver, the feel, the "pointability" the power and veratility.
I love my taurus

[Gun Slinger]

Glock 17 in 9x19.

Carried it in the line of duty throughout my entire L.E. career since it was the Departmental issue caliber and it served me well in that capacity during those 20+ years. That's plenty reason enough to stick with it from here on out.

[The_Shootist]

...if I had to say what my "standard" carry calibre is, i'd have to go with the 38 spl. Sure, my G19 gets carried alot and I'm starting to shoot my 6868+ and SP 101 more these days that previous.

But if I had to pick one calibre (by default I guess I have since I carry my M85
most of the time), it would be the .38 spl due to the following:

1) High Degree of Accuracy - Even from a snubby (with practice)
2) Portable / Reliable Platform - mainly my Taurus but can go with my Ruger
or Smith
3) Effectiveness - in a reasonable +P loading like BB or Remington
FBI load it will do the job if you do yours
4) Politically Correct - If ever in front of a Grand Jury for a self
defense shooting, nobody will accuse you of
wielding a "death ray" or being overly armed

Adter all - the cartridge has been around since the turn of the century and is still going strong - must be a reason for that!

[JackOfAllTradesMasterAtNone]

Each has it's own purpose. I truly like rimfire shooting, although it's not as cheap as it used to be since I prefer target grade ammo through the guns I have that are worthy of it. (Ruger MKII's)

.38spl for self defense (Colt Cobra, Diamond Back), .357mag, for defense, (SP101), targets, competition, and maybe some hunting, (Dan Wesson).

.44mag for targets and hunting. (Ruger SBH & RH)

.45acp for competition and self defense. (1911's)

I grab which ever, for which ever need or what ever strikes my fancy at the time.

-Steve

[ZeSpectre]

.357 Magnum... The BEST way to "decommission" a failed hard drive!

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/zespectre/2008_SD400_0137.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/zespectre/2008_SD400_0140.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/zespectre/2008_SD400_0143.jpg

[Guillermo]

Can't fault your logic.

.357 is a fine round. Like many others I am happy with a 45CP too. If I was going to choose only one I would be torn.
Due to versatility I might make the same decision.

[ArchAngelCD]

cslinger,
I'm with you on the 38/357.

[takurpic]

I've owned and reloaded quite a bit of .357Mag. Good round and planty of options.

A few years ago, I downsized and changed careers. My collection helped to finance the needed equipment. The one caliber I stuck with in a handgun is .40 S&W.

I believe .40S&W (Glock 22,23,&27) is a good compromise between high capacity of a 9mm handgun and lower capacity, big round .45 ACP. No, it's not for everyone, but it works for me.

[Oro]

I own a number of center-fire handguns. 30% are .357, and 40% are .45acp. The other 30% are "special cases" - collectible .38 specials and .45LCs, and a .44mag for woods defense in the mountains.

Obviously, I vote for either a .357 or .45acp as the best choice. I decided a few years ago to "simplify" my calibers and cut down. The easiest to get rid of were 9mm and .40 s&w. I thought that meant I'd own fewer guns, but I just kept replacing the sold ones with .357s and .45acp's.

But if you can only have one, the .38/.357 is it. Accuracy, versatility, sexy guns to shoot it with - what more can you ask?

[xring44]

The two calibers, .357 and .45ACP are probably the two most loaded for. I have two XL650 Dillons set up, one for the .357 magnum, the other for .45ACP. I seldom change the set up of either, loading other calibers, depending on the amount I need, on either a Lee progressive or a RCBS rockchucker single stage. I have dillon conversions for .41 Magnum and .44 Magnum, but the quanity of rounds I need in these calibers can be loaded either single stage or with the little Lee progressive in short order.

Either caliber is a winner, both very accurate, both can be loaded up or down the power scale for multiple applications. I was always a revolver shooter, only in the last 5 years have I gotten into the 1911s, I still love my revolvers but could kick my butt for waiting so long to enjoy the 1911 platform.

Recently, I purchased a Colt Delta 10MM Gold Cup, the best of both worlds came together, the trajectory of the .357 in an easier to conceal 1911 platform.

[loop]

Sounds like the choice came down to platform: auto vs. revolver.

In revolver I agree. The 38/357 platform is the most versatile and offers the best economic advantage.

In auto, if you choose anything other than .45 acp you are making a mistake. In .45 you can have as many options as in 38/357 and then a thousand more.

I went the other way. I chose autos as the platform and a variety of types and systems, but in .45. Then I bought revolvers that shoot the .45 acp.

IMHO, the 38/357 platform offers more versatility in the revolver format. However, the 45 offers more versatility within the auto format and also offers more versatility in the revolver format. The range is narrower and more expensive, but it is not as limited as confining oneself to wheelguns.

My .45 revolvers are ever bit as versatile as 38/357s, but I also have the advantage of shooting the same ammo in a wide variety of semi-autos.

[Walkalong]

Another .45 fan, in auto's.

I definitely understand the appeal of the .357/.38 in a revolver. I have several, counting both .38's & .357's.

38's are fun to shoot, and the .357 adds much versatility, but I have never been able to fall in love with it. What makes me grin in revolvers is the .44 Spl.

If I could only have 1 revolver and 1 auto, it would be a 1911 .45 and I guess my .44 Redhawk, although I really am fond of my HB Model 10, and my Model 19. Hmm... See, I just can't decide on the second one. That .38 Super sure was fun the other day as well.

Bottom line, my all time favorite is the .45 ACP. :)

[Kind of Blued]

I'm not 100% sure that I could, at this juncture, pick "my" caliber. I'll have to go buy some more guns, no?

[MarcusWendt]

I own and have a healthy respect for the .357 Magnum. That having been said, my "caliber of choice" is the .40 S&W.

For me the .40 S&W is the best. I take into account, capacity, size of the round, speed of the round, and variety of platforms the rounds is available in.

I'd be more in favor of the 10MM if there were more platforms available to shoot it from and there were more ammo manufacturers of this caliber and it was more widely available.

[2ndamd]

I like loops logic of the 45.

But, for me? I agree with cslinger. The 38/357 platform is my favorite.

A Marlin 38/357 lever rifle is a good compliment to the revolvers.

No need to buy any other ammo.

If you reload? Then, only 1-2 sets of caliber to set-up for.

The Buffalo Bore 180 grn load will make your Marlin .357 magnum rifle act like it was a 30-30. Which has taken more deer than any other caliber.

I guess I like the rifle/handgun combo and ease of the .357 magnum.

The 45 acp does indeed give you versatility in the handgun area, but it does not perform that well out of a rifle length barrel. Still a good choice though.

[scurtis_34471]

If I had to pick one and only one caliber, it would probably be 9mm for several reasons:

1. My wife can shoot it well, due to the lower recoil.
2. The ammo is a lot less expensive than most other options, making practice more affordable.
3. There are probably more guns chambered in 9mm than any other caliber.
4. Its an effective stopper if you use the right ammo.
5. Its the most powerful round that is practical to shoot out of a pocket-sized semi-auto.
6. I'm not a revolver guy.

Fortunately, I don't have to pick just one. Both of my primary carry weapons are chambered for .40 S&W and .380 is great for ultra-small pocket pistols.

[tinygnat219]

I have chosen 9MM, but I waver between that and .380 to be completely honest.

I like 9MM, it's reasonably priced to practice with, name me one other caliber that has as many pistols chambered for it, it's easy to shoot, and an accurate knock-down round.

A lot of people poo-poo the 9MM as being less than sufficient for self-defense, but that's their opinion and of course completely wrong.

[Vern Humphrey]

I have said many times, there are four and a half useful pistol cartridges:

1. Twenty-two long rifle. Everyone needs a .22 pistol. It's great for learning and practice, a good competition gun in its own right, a good small game gun, a delightful woods companion and just down-right fun.

2. The .357. A great defensive round, good for hunting (at least up to deer at close range) and availalble in some of the finest revolvers ever made.

2 1/2. The .38 Special. Shot in the .357, it makes a great practice, target and small game round. In a small, concealable revolver, it is about all one really wants to shoot.

3. Forty-Five ACP. In the platform designed for it, the great M1911, it's the finest fighting pistol combination in the world.

4. The .45 Colt -- in a load mild enough for the SAA, it will still take deer-sized game. In a stronger revolver, it will shade the .44 Magnum.

[Mac45]

Hard to go wrong w/ a.357.

95% of the time I carry a .45 ACP in a 1911.
The other 5% could be a .45 Colt, .357, 9mm, .380 or even a .22 LR

[kd7nqb]

I am a big fan of .40S&W but .357mag/.38spl are a cool combo. In fact I think the only reason I am not a bigger fan of them is that I like auto's rather than revolvers. Build me a .357mag auto and we will talk.

[elderboy02]

My favorite is the .40 S&W

[Markbo]

How can you pick a caliber of choice without finishing the sentence... "Caliber of choice for ______________"?

Without a specific job/task the question is too broad. For me anyway... :scrutiny:

[TurboJeff]

Difficult decision. I think I have to faver the .357 in snubby, 4", or 6". The first high caliber handgun my dad had me shoot was his Model 27, 4". Very nice gun that he still has.

Of course he started me out with a .22 colt auto, over 35 years ago, then the 38 specials. It wasn't long before he let me try out full load .357s. The recoil has never bothered me on almost any handgun I've shot. Granted, the highest calliber I shot is a .44 magnum. Gives a good kick, but easy to control. Haven't shot anything over the .44 mag, as my handgun's are for SD.

First choice, .357 magnum, variety of grain sizes.

Next would be the .45ACP, followed pretty closley by the .40

[yongxingfreesty]

9mm/45acp/223

[chris in va]

I carry my SP101 half the time, but honestly the only reservation I have about 357 is follow up shots. Recoil is STOUT and I really don't think I could be that accurate with it compared to my 45 or 9.

[sqlbullet]

10mm.

Your choice of ballistics and power, from light 40 S&W all the way up to 41 Mag ranges. Available in most major platform syles (1911/2011, Browning/CZ, Plastic, revolver). Most 10mm Autos are easily converted from 10mm to 40 S&W, 357 Sig, 9X25 by changing the barrel. Available in single stack for smaller hands/better concealment, or hi-cap.

It's only real liability is the popularity paradox. People don't buy it because it as less popular, therefore it doesn't become more popular.

[MCgunner]

It's only real liability is the popularity paradox. People don't buy it because it as less popular, therefore it doesn't become more popular.

It won't fit in a pocket. That's a major liability to me. :D If you want a gun that big and heavy, there are choices in .44 magnum. Of course, it is top of the reasonably sized autoloader cartridges.

[Markbo]

I have a reasonably sized auto loader (1911) that shoots the .460 Rowland. It far exceeds any 10mm loading that I am aware of.

[CZ 42]

I guess I'll be first to say 7.62x25. Tiny little cheap pistol round that also feels right at home with rifle-type ballistics, and there is no such thing as cover. But most importantly, it's fun to shoot.

[MCgunner]

Okay, reasonably sized COMMON autoloader cartridges. I mean, I gave up on .41AE a long time ago, too. :rolleyes: .44 automag was a powerful cartridge, the guns a little large, though. But, where's the ammo? Yeah, I know, I reload, too.

[Guillermo]

Following this thread I learned that people still shoot 10mm (cool!)

Some folks are happy with a 9mm or a 380...(wow? Having said that, I usually can't carry my XD45 so I have a NAA 380 on my hip 90% of the time. But it is NOT by choice. It is concealable though.)

Of course lots of folks like 45 ACP (me too) but I agree it is not a good rifle round. For a carbine/revolver combo the 44 magnum is hard to beat.

.22 LR? Fun to shoot, great training and plinking round. Use it to dispatch small critters but I might reach for a Louisville Slugger before I grab my S&W 41 for defense purposes.

[Defensory]

.45 ACP has been my primary cartridge for over 30 years, and will remain so.

To each his own, but I've never been a big .357 magnum revolver fan. The high pressure, muzzle blast, recoil and over penetration of the .357 just never appealed to me.

Handguns are purely a self-defense tool for me, and I'm completely confident that 230-grain .45 ACP hardballs will take care of business if the SHTF.

[BikerRN]

My "Go To" caliber is the .357 Magnum.

It has the versatility that the .45 ACP doesn't and is very "comforting" to carry with the appropriate load. Last year I ran in to a subject that made me switch from .45 ACP to a .357 Magnum because of his size and determination to kill more than one human being.

I recently dealt with an individual that was shot five times with 9mm JHP's. Guess what, he's still upright and walking and talking. True, the bullet placement could've been better, but they were all torso shots.

.357 Magnum, good enough to take any Big Game Animal in North America and is still #1 in regards to "One Shot Stops". I carry a .45 when I don't think I'm going to need a Handgun, but I never willingly take a Handgun when I know I'm going to need a gun.

I carry either a .45 ACP or a .357 magnum as a "Primary" when I'm off duty. On Duty I carry the 9mm they issue me.

BikerRN

[DWARREN123]

I have gone to one caliber also but mine is the 40 S&W.

[boots]

my favorite caliber is the 44 special...

they are just downright pleasant to shoot...i shoot the cartridge from my 44 magnum guns and to tell you the truth, i don't own any 44spl only guns...

they are all 44 magnums, and i just happen to shoot 44 spl out of them...

accuracy is great and they recoil like a 9mm out of my rugers...by the way, i own a superblackhawk bisley hunter and an alaskan...maybe that's why they recoil so little...

they are also great for self defense as they are so accurate and follow ups shots are quick because of the mild recoil...i stoke my rugers with 240gr gold dots and they are good to go for SD purposes...

[moooose102]

personally, i'm a 45acp guy. NOTHING has been proven better than a 45 for stopping HUMAN BEINGS. and isn't that what self defense is all about? although i prefer hollow points to hardball ammo. an expanding bullet offers more knockdown power that fmj's, and less chance of over penetration.

[03Shadowbob]

My caliber of choice must be .45 because I keep coming back to it even though I love the .357/38 combo. If I didn't need a firearm for SD, the .22 would be my caliber of choice simply because of the family fun factor and costs.

[Markbo]

Ok, I get it now McGunner!
Personal defense: #1 .45 ACP - 230gr of whatever any particular gun shoots best
#2: .40S&W with 180gr HPs, same criteria

Practice: .45 ACP - 200gr TC at around 850fps. Pleasant and very accurate

Hunting: I have come to love the .45 Colt because of it's huge range of bullet weights and possibilities. From a 'cowboy' type load in an SAA replica that will drop deer or hogs or anything smaller in it's tracks to very heavy for caliber in a big scoped Ruger for up to Elk, black bear, etc. It is very hard to pick just one because of my fondness for the .41 mag, .475 Linebaugh and even .44 special.

Big, heavy bullets and moderate velocities have proven to me personally to be much more effective on game than fast, light bullets. Hmmmm... sound familiar somehow? ;)

[searcher451]

I own a number of Walthers that are my favorite range runs; most all of them come in 9mm, which is my de facto round of choice as a result. Given the cost of ammo these days, I'm sometimes glad that Walther didn't step up to the .45 caliber for its military guns. The cost of ammo also is a factor in my taking a lot of .22s to the range these days for punching paper. At $12 or so a brick, it's a good way to go. It means that I spend more on gasoline driving to and from the range the range than I do on ammunition while I'm there.