It would most likely be one cartridge to do them all and since 9mm is more popular than it's ever been in it's nearly 120 year existence, that would probably be the most widespread. There would be a good amount of .40 and .45 around too but for revolvers I'd say the 357 Mag and 38 special would the main ones with a good sprinkling of 44 here and there. I don't think 10mm plays much of a role at all, it's still widely uncommon. The .22 would be huge too, not real handy for big critters but not a bad option for most situations.
Which Cartridge Would Survive?
- Thread starter WrongHanded
- Start date
- Status
Pudge
Member
In the scenario you've proposed, I think it is safe to assume a woods gun would be a rifle.
So, one available handgun cartridge would be the .22lr.
In your scenario, as ammo becomes more scarce, reloading would become more attractive. Leading people to prize revolvers which make it easier to keep track of that valuable brass and eschew those once-popular but wasteful poster children of conspicuous consumption: the high capacity 9mm. Which leads to .357/.38 special and .22 being all that is left to buy.
Vern Humphrey
Member
As most people on this forum will tell you, I'm a crusty, opinionated old bastard.
There are only three useful handgun cartridges.
1. For general woods bumming, small game, and general having fun, it's the .22 LR. If you don't know why, go ask your mother. She'll tell you
2. For self-defense, it's the .45 ACP -- in the gun designed for it, the M1911.
3. For serious woods use, deer, bear and so on, the .45 Colt. In a Ruger Blackhawk or similar revolver it will do anything the .44 Mag will do, and do it with less pressure and blast.
There are only three useful handgun cartridges.
1. For general woods bumming, small game, and general having fun, it's the .22 LR. If you don't know why, go ask your mother. She'll tell you
2. For self-defense, it's the .45 ACP -- in the gun designed for it, the M1911.
3. For serious woods use, deer, bear and so on, the .45 Colt. In a Ruger Blackhawk or similar revolver it will do anything the .44 Mag will do, and do it with less pressure and blast.
OP
OP
WrongHanded
Member
- Joined
- Jul 6, 2017
- Messages
- 4,771
But do you think those 3 would be the ones the market as a whole would favor?
JCooperfan1911
member
- Joined
- Oct 8, 2020
- Messages
- 2,709
9mm.
Vern Humphrey
Member
Don't know. Many people are not as wise as I am.
Old_Grouch
Member
I have to disagree here. I think the .38 Spl would out survive the .357 Mag as a cartridge. The advantage of a .357 Magnum gun is that it will fire both .357 mag and .38 Spl ammo. The reciprocal of that is that the advantage of the .38 Spl cartridge is that it can be fired in both .357 and .38 guns. There are a whole lot of guns that would be rendered useless if .38 ammo disappeared. All .38 Spl AND .357 Mag chambered guns would still be usable if .38 survived and .357 disaappeard.
OP
OP
WrongHanded
Member
- Joined
- Jul 6, 2017
- Messages
- 4,771
Interesting. Do you think people would continue to buy guns chambered in .38spl considering the rise of the polymer striker sub compact 9mm pistols? I get the feeling most new gun owners are that interested in small revolvers.
Old_Grouch
Member
Yes. That's not to say they will outnumber the plastics, but they will live on.
My comment was strictly with regard to .38 vs .357. I agree that the .40 Short & Wimpy would (mercifully) go the way of the dodo and that the .357 Sig would likely (unfortunately) disappear as well.
Random 8
Member
I think if only 2 were to survive (I assume the .22LR would be exempt as a true dual purpose rifle and handgun cartridge), one would absolutely be 9mm.
As the OP eluded, I think the other one is tougher to consider. There is and would be still a demand for a serious hunting/bear defense caliber. .44 Mag is the obvious and most popular choice here. The guns are out there in numbers to support current demand more than any other hunting capable caliber, and I think that would be enough. Whether demand for a second PD round would be sufficient to eclipse this, I doubt, with 9mm being a viable option for most platforms including compact revolvers.
I think you'd also see some more practical handguns based on surviving rifle rounds such as 5.56 and the 7.62x39, the former of which would definitely make the cut, and the latter most likely. How about a 30-30 revolver? That would be fun and horrible assuming modern metalurgy and machining could get around the flame cutting problem of HV rounds in revolvers.
As the OP eluded, I think the other one is tougher to consider. There is and would be still a demand for a serious hunting/bear defense caliber. .44 Mag is the obvious and most popular choice here. The guns are out there in numbers to support current demand more than any other hunting capable caliber, and I think that would be enough. Whether demand for a second PD round would be sufficient to eclipse this, I doubt, with 9mm being a viable option for most platforms including compact revolvers.
I think you'd also see some more practical handguns based on surviving rifle rounds such as 5.56 and the 7.62x39, the former of which would definitely make the cut, and the latter most likely. How about a 30-30 revolver? That would be fun and horrible assuming modern metalurgy and machining could get around the flame cutting problem of HV rounds in revolvers.
Last edited:
Then I would pick the worlds most popular handgun cartridge the 9x19 Luger. That does not mean I would discard my 45acp, 44mag/44spl, 357mag/38spl or my 9x18 Mak and 380acp and lastly my 22lr's handguns.
Pudge
Member
9X19 is popular because it is good enough and cheap. Not the best, the most popular. If ammo is so scarce that production is being reduced to one cartridge it will be very expensive. If all ammo cost the same (which it would if it was all the same ammo) what's the argument for 9mm? Is it a superior round to .357 Sig, or 10mm? Right now, ignoring cost and availability (because if we're down to 1 cost and availability are fixed), is there a handgun round you would prefer over 9mm?
OP
OP
WrongHanded
Member
- Joined
- Jul 6, 2017
- Messages
- 4,771
I see what you mean. But the way I see a potential "mass extinction" of cartridges happening would be over a reasonably long time, and would be based on market trends. So, which the way market is going now, and how it may move going forward.
What I see is a massive 9mm surge, revolvers becoming increasingly marginalized in favor of polymer striker semi-autos, and the 10mm gaining popularity amongst outdoors enthusiasts.
AMC...Packard...Cord...Stutz....Studebaker...Pontiac...Nash....
Yea, but .357 and .45 would be around too.
Just like there always has to be a "big 3" to convince people they have a choice, and prevent new competition.
Get rid of one of those, and you'll have small shops coming out and offering something just like them.
Yea, but .357 and .45 would be around too.
Just like there always has to be a "big 3" to convince people they have a choice, and prevent new competition.
Get rid of one of those, and you'll have small shops coming out and offering something just like them.
Pudge
Member
That would be tragic. Good enough will win out because it's cheaper. 9mm is basically the Bud Light (best selling beer in America) of handgun ammo. The future would owe a huge debt to handloaders if that happens.
OP
OP
WrongHanded
Member
- Joined
- Jul 6, 2017
- Messages
- 4,771
Yeah, you gotta figure there's a whole new generation of shooters out there who probably won't know or care about the history of cartridge development. It's all about cool modifications and accessories, on guns chambered in the most common and affordable cartridges.
John Joseph
Member
- Joined
- May 5, 2016
- Messages
- 1,441
Depends on stupid gun laws. If laws in some countries were imported by the new world order, all military calibers would be verboten just like our so called assault rifles are in the Anti's sights..
Adios parabellums!
Adios parabellums!
WisBorn
Contributing Member
@WrongHanded this is an interesting thread.
I look at the question purely as an economics question - supply and demand!
In semiautomatic cartridges the 9mm would definitely be number one with the 380 & 45 acp going fror the second and third spots.
The other cartridges just don't have enough following. The 10mm fits a nitch that the revolver cartridges fill in power output.
Revolver cartridges would be 357 mag/ 38 special tied for the number one spot. And 44mag for Dirty Harry's most powerful (needed cartridge) handgun.
Of course all other cartridges can would fall into nich market with an extreme price.
I look at the question purely as an economics question - supply and demand!
In semiautomatic cartridges the 9mm would definitely be number one with the 380 & 45 acp going fror the second and third spots.
The other cartridges just don't have enough following. The 10mm fits a nitch that the revolver cartridges fill in power output.
Revolver cartridges would be 357 mag/ 38 special tied for the number one spot. And 44mag for Dirty Harry's most powerful (needed cartridge) handgun.
Of course all other cartridges can would fall into nich market with an extreme price.
- Status
Similar threads
- Locked
- Locked
