...Just One Caliber

Yet another .357 Magnum here

Loaded question there. Probably a .22 LR. Good enough for small game, good enough for medium sized game. If SHTF, good enough for that too.

+1 here. one caliber gun but two choices in ammo? how could you not pick something like that?

I'd save the 22 LRs for a 10/22 rifle. Handgun caliber would be 45 ACP. Got semi autos and revolvers that both shoot it.

Dave

Absolutely 357 magnum.

9mmx32R, AKA 357 mag

For anything I'm likely to run into in Colorado, I'll take a .357, Ruger SP-101.

.357 magnum. Because I can use them in revolvers, in an automatic again (Coonan), and in rifles (lever actions, bolt actions). Buffalo Bore .357 out of a rifle is awesome. I'm all for simplifying my ammo buying and storage.

.500 S&W Magnum.

No problem it cannot solve.

9mm. Powerful (powerful enough...), plentiful, cheap, and its what i carry...However it did take me a mintue to decide between it and the .357 mag

I’d take a .380acp, because in my day to day life I pocket carry yet I can carry a belt gun with more cap if I want.

My risk limit is low and I have a shotgun for more complex issues.

I know it's been done to death but we really can't make do with less than three calibers.

Click to expand...

I know you really meant to type FOUR correct?

I don't think I would feel a well rounded handgun collection without...

1. 357 magnum

2. 9x19

3. 45 acp

4. 22 lr

but since we have to choose one, I choose 9mm... err maybe 45... wait I'll take the 357, no I pick.... Just forget it.

Sitting here contemplating all the guns of various types over the 50 years I've been shooting. I think about loading up, loading down and how various calibers react to that sort of thing. Some of the calibers mentioned for the most part would be like killing ants with a sledge hammer. Some like trying to kill an elephant with a fly swatter. Is the happy medium a 357? Maybe...I'll thro this out there, without ever having loaded up or down with one...The 41 mag....Mike

44mag

Hunt, Plink, or SD pretty much covers what anyone would need a gun for.

.22 Mag/.32 Mag/.357 Mag/.44 Mag The best of all worlds in both pistol and carbine!

Ill take. 5.7x28

LOL at beeenbag.... Yep, that pretty much sums it up.

If I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY had to settle on ONE handgun caliber I'd say let it be .44Mag.

Why? Because you can always load DOWN. But it's very hard to load UP. With truly poofy loads we could take down rabbits or quail without totally vaporizing them. Yet when loaded up fully stout we can take down a grizz at need. So all in all it COULD be the most versatile round going.

If we then cap it off with the idea of using a .429 to .327 sabot supported light bullet in front of lighter charges perhaps it would do even better for small game? Would we get a useable increase in velocity from a relatively low pressure load such that we could still push that bullet out to around 1000fps but hit with a lower and less meat damaging impact? Now THAT would be some fun to play with! ! !

45XD wheel gun 357mag.

9mm. Cheap enough to shoot a lot of, soft recoil is easier to shoot, fits in smaller guns, allows higher capacity and is effective enough for SD. I prefer .45acp in the effectiveness category, but it suffers by comparison in the others. Same answers as always.

Very tossed and torn between .22lr and 9mm. Both put holes in stuff. 9mm puts bigger better holes, but I can make alot more holes with .22lr for the same price.

that's a tough one. 9mm or .357 for me, but I don't have any experience with a 10mm and have always wanted one... pretty much as versatile as the .357 but in an auto-loader.

I'd take .357 Magnum, because it can be loaded for bear or butterfly without function issues, and it works in one of my lever guns to boot.

Just one?

In order of preference:

.22 lr
.357 magnum
.45 acp
9 mm

155mm. The recoil is a little brisk, but it is very versatile. You can hunt with it, easily feeding the whole community if you find a herd of deer. It can even take down the rare and aggressive M1 Abrams, an encounter that will normally ruin your hunting expedition. For self defense, the bore looks like it's about 8 miles wide and will seriously deter any potential aggressor. It will draw a great deal of attention at the range, which can be desirable. There are a large variety of specialty rounds for different applications. It is a great round to have in case of zombies, too.

Seriously, though, I would migrate to .40S&W. However, I love collecting new and interesting calibers. Why restrict myself to just one when I can have so many new and interesting weapons?

I only own one handgun presently and it is a .357 Mag.