If you could only have 5 different calibers what would they be?

[Crashbox]

Well, here's my five:

* .357 Magnum
* .40 S&W
* .30-06
* .405 Winchester
* 12 gauge

 

[gbran]

.22lr
9mm
.223
30'06
12ga

I chose these based on cartridge availability as much as anything else.

 

[huntsman]

this is all I have and all I need

Handgun: .380 .45acp .45Colt
shotgun: 12gauge
rifle: .22LR

 

[heavydluxe]

Just for giggles, here's my five... They've been repeated here often, I think.

• .22LR - Cheap fun, great training round, and great utility if needed in a SHTF sort of scenario.
• .223/5.56 - Plentiful, inexpensive, and massive amounts of utility at the range or in the field
• 9mm or 40S&W - I'm still not sure which side of the divide I'm on in this long-standing battle, but I'm pretty sure that neither side is technically a 'loser'.
• 7mm Rem Mag - For reaching out and touching anything that I can't reasonably touch with my .223
• 12ga - The multi-tool of the shotgun world, and various loads can keep you from getting beat up too bad.

 

[Ironclad]

.22lr - For obvious reasons
.45 acp - because I love my 1911
.357 mag - for revolvers and lever action rifles
.308 - for bolt action hunting rifles and AR and M14 style rifles
12 gauge - to do everything from hunting birds to bear defense

 

[verge]

.22 LR
9 mm
5.56
30-06
12-ga

 

[coalman]

9mm
.223
12 guage
.308
.22lr

 

[Steel Talon]

22 WMR
45 ACP
25-06
338 Win Mag
20 870 pump

 

[Pete D.]

Five calibers?

.223
.224
.308
.452
.730 (shotgun)
Pete

 

[pockets]

.22Short
.22LR
.25acp
.32acp
.380acp

 

[ilbob]

Just curious and was thinking about my choices,

22lr-because they do quite a bit for what you get.

9mm-What it lacks in power it makes up for with capacity and modern bullets.

223-Cheap, fun, and good for hunting small game.

260 rem- In my opinion the best all around caliber for anything Id hunt and targets Id shoot.

12ga-Birds, defense, deer, again does quite a bit for what you get.

This isnt meant to be a whats best question and whether your choices are made based on the pending SHTF, hunting, or whatever, Im just curious to see what some like minded people think... as for the reason, lets just say you cant afford or dont want to spend the money for an armory.

I think .308 would be my choice for a bigger rifle caliber. But I would mostly concur.

I guess we are so bored someone started a 5 caliber thread instead of the typical 3 caliber thread.

I think the better question is why would you be stuck with just 5 calibers, or even why would you need that many calibers.

 

[brnmw]

I'm seeing a trend here. The .22 is in about 90% of peoples lists.

Another reason it's going to be around for the next 100+ years!

 

[Manny]

These five cartridges are the ones that give me the most utility:

.22lr -goes without saying
.38/.357 -for carry in my snubby, also enough for deer here in OH
9mm -Home defense, target, just general all around handy cartridge
.223/5.56 -the only rifle cartridge I have much use for in OH
12 ga -buckshot for home defense, slugs for deer, shot for all else

 

[accrhodes]

.22LR
9mm
5.56x45
.308
12-ga

 

[BADSBSNF81]

22 LR
223
338
12 gauge
45 ACP

 

[srawl]

I see a lot of people feel the exact same way as I do (except for the .260 but I wouldnt be upset with the .308 if I had to take it)

I think I might like to change my 9mm to .357 mag though, not because of the .38 spc but because I didnt think of its use in a lever action rifle, I could even do some cowboy action shooting...

as far as why... bored is a good one, just wondering where my 5 compared...

 

[Legionnaire]

.22LR for plinking and small game
.357 Mag ... loaded hot or loaded down, or anything in between
.223 for varmints of all sorts
.30-06 for big game ... again load as appropriate
12 gauge ... multi barrels: vent rib for clays and birds; rifled slug for big game; 18.5" cylinder for home defense

 

[MutinousDoug]

I'd have a:
.22 caliber in .22lr rifle and revolver and one in .223 rem like an AR
.30 caliber in 30-30, .308 and 30-06
.357 in .38 SPL and .357 mag
.45 in 45ACP and maybe a .45 caliber muzzle loader
.50 muzzle loader

Don't know which ones I'd give up to have a 12 ga in the mix.

Is this a stupid thread or what?

 

[1911 guy]

My list of musy have calibers is:
.22LR
12 guage
.45ACP
.223 Rem
.308 Win

Matter of fact, although I own guns in different configurations (bolt, auto, etc) these are the five that pretty much cover what I actually own. My wife has a few oddballs like .380 and 20 guage.

 

[Trent]

I hereby revise my previous answer since you guys have those bases covered so well.

20mm
30mm
80mm
88mm
150mm

I'd say 16" ... but that's just being a glory hog.


If you COULD only have 5 calibers... why go with what you already have?

 

[Godsgunman]

Don't even need 5, I only recently went up to 3.
9mm
7.62s
and just added .357

 

[David E]

Don't even need 5, I only recently went up to 3.
9mm
7.62s
and just added .357

Not nearly enough to do nearly enough.

Good start, tho.

 

[Agsalaska]

I will play.



Wow this is hard.



It depends. But......



Well



Il go 12 gauge, 22, 6.5x55swede, .357, and 22-250.



But that will change in an hour.

 

[Captcurt]

Only Five?

22LR
40 S&W
30-06
20 ga.
12ga.

If shotguns don't count you can add:
223
357 mag.

 

[T.R.]

- 16 gauge for upland game
- 50 caliber muzzle-loader for special season & shotgun zones
- 22MAG for varmints
- 30-30 for deer
- .308 for all other big game animals

TR