beeenbag
Member
im so sorry to hear that... Im here for you though buddy.
...Just One Caliber
- Thread starter The_Armed_Therapist
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im so sorry to hear that... Im here for you though buddy.
bassdogs
Member
AMAZING, SIMPLY AMAZING!!!
It took 34 posts before someone mentioned a handcannon. Hey dude, go back and read the premise of the thread. Unfortunately there are those among us that think the biggest and baddest must be the BESTEST.
It took 34 posts before someone mentioned a handcannon. Hey dude, go back and read the premise of the thread. Unfortunately there are those among us that think the biggest and baddest must be the BESTEST.
ForumSurfer
Member
Can't live without my 22 or 9mm and I refuse to choose. Both are affordable, accurate and ridiculously fun for action shooting.
Godsgunman
Member
easy 9mm. Does everything you want it to do. Granted its not the best for bigger 4 legged creatures, but in a carbine platform you can do well enough to survive in the wilderness.
Ala Dan
Member in memoriam
Probably, the .357 magnum; followed closely by the .45 ACP~! 
Viper225
Member
I think Centerfire should have been specified. Everyone should have a 22 as well as a centerfire handgun. You need a 22 for cheap practice and plinking.
For an all round centerfire the best choice would be a 38 Special/357 Magnum Revolver for what I do. The 2 best choices would be a 3" 686 S&W or a 3" GP100 Ruger.
My reasoning for this choice:
A 3" medium frame revolver like a 686 or GP100 is at the upper end of practical concealed carry size.
In 357 Magnum you can shoot 38 Special ammo, as well as Full Power 357 Magnum.
With a 357 revolver you do not loose your shell cases, good for reloading.
A 357 revolver will shoot 38 Special shot shells for snakes.
A 357 revolver will shoot factory ammo from 148 wad cutter 38 Special to Full House 357 Magnum.
A 38/357 revolver is pretty much plug and play. Any adult in the family can operate it without issues provided the ammunition is in a power range they can tolerate.
I can reload 38 Special for around $0.15 a round buying cast or plated bullets. If I cast my own bullets we are talking about half that amount with bullet lube, etc. Very cheap to feed, and 38 Special cases last a very long time.
With a Lobo Enhanced Pancake holster for concealed and general carry, and a thumb break for woods carry retention, I am good to go. I conceal carry my extra ammo in Tuff Products Quick Strips most of the time. I use Safariland Comp III speed loaders for match reloads. For town carry I will have Speer 135 grain 357 Mag Short Barrel ammo loaded and with me for reloads. For Summer woods carry I will have a couple home rolled shot shells up front followed with 4 solid reloads of some sort. Normally some of my 158 round nose match ammo for general use. I will have a couple quick strips with a combination of shot shells and solids for topping off in the field.
Your mileage my vary, but for where I live, and what I do a 3" barrel 38/357 magnum revolver would be my best choice to cover all the bases well.
Bob
For an all round centerfire the best choice would be a 38 Special/357 Magnum Revolver for what I do. The 2 best choices would be a 3" 686 S&W or a 3" GP100 Ruger.
My reasoning for this choice:
A 3" medium frame revolver like a 686 or GP100 is at the upper end of practical concealed carry size.
In 357 Magnum you can shoot 38 Special ammo, as well as Full Power 357 Magnum.
With a 357 revolver you do not loose your shell cases, good for reloading.
A 357 revolver will shoot 38 Special shot shells for snakes.
A 357 revolver will shoot factory ammo from 148 wad cutter 38 Special to Full House 357 Magnum.
A 38/357 revolver is pretty much plug and play. Any adult in the family can operate it without issues provided the ammunition is in a power range they can tolerate.
I can reload 38 Special for around $0.15 a round buying cast or plated bullets. If I cast my own bullets we are talking about half that amount with bullet lube, etc. Very cheap to feed, and 38 Special cases last a very long time.
With a Lobo Enhanced Pancake holster for concealed and general carry, and a thumb break for woods carry retention, I am good to go. I conceal carry my extra ammo in Tuff Products Quick Strips most of the time. I use Safariland Comp III speed loaders for match reloads. For town carry I will have Speer 135 grain 357 Mag Short Barrel ammo loaded and with me for reloads. For Summer woods carry I will have a couple home rolled shot shells up front followed with 4 solid reloads of some sort. Normally some of my 158 round nose match ammo for general use. I will have a couple quick strips with a combination of shot shells and solids for topping off in the field.
Your mileage my vary, but for where I live, and what I do a 3" barrel 38/357 magnum revolver would be my best choice to cover all the bases well.
Bob
MCgunner
Member
If my handguns had to be just ONE caliber, it'd be .357 magnum. I could cover most of it with .357 magnum and .38 special which I could also fire in the guns.
If restricted to ONE gun, I'd have a 3" SP101 and would probably have a smith install an adjustable sight to it. Great trail gun and IWB carry. I could actually HUNT with it, too, inside 75 yards on deer/hogs with a 180 grain hot load. Alternative might be the new 4" SP101, a little less desirable for CCW, but has the adjustable sight and cutting off an inch, should I so desire, would be easier for a smith to do.
If restricted to ONE gun, I'd have a 3" SP101 and would probably have a smith install an adjustable sight to it. Great trail gun and IWB carry. I could actually HUNT with it, too, inside 75 yards on deer/hogs with a 180 grain hot load. Alternative might be the new 4" SP101, a little less desirable for CCW, but has the adjustable sight and cutting off an inch, should I so desire, would be easier for a smith to do.
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BSA1
member
I would chose the one caliber that BIG SIS says I am legally allowed to own.
hariph creek
Member
bassdogs...back off man! Maybe, he's 10-12 feet tall, tipping the scale at 500 pounds or so? You didn't think of that, did you? Maybe a 6 pound "hand-rifle" is petite and concealable for Goliath?
Viper225...well said, sir.
Viper225...well said, sir.
easyg
Member
9mm Para.
Powerful enough for anything I would do with a handgun.
Powerful enough for anything I would do with a handgun.
JFrame
Member
I've got it narrowed down to .357 or .45 acp.
At that point, I might have to flip a coin...
.
At that point, I might have to flip a coin...
.
watergun
Member
Caliber
9mm because of cheaper ammo and power.
9mm because of cheaper ammo and power.
wanderinwalker
Member
Only one handgun caliber/cartridge to rule them all? .357 Magnum. No doubt. If this was a poll, it would be way ahead of second place by now.
Give me something like a 4" K-frame or L-frame S&W and I can cover 99% of my uses for a handgun with ease. I'd rather carry the K frame out walking around; I'd rather have the L frame if I'm sitting down with a box of .357s and saying "I'm not leaving until these are gone."
Give me something like a 4" K-frame or L-frame S&W and I can cover 99% of my uses for a handgun with ease. I'd rather carry the K frame out walking around; I'd rather have the L frame if I'm sitting down with a box of .357s and saying "I'm not leaving until these are gone."
MCgunner
Member
.357 becomes a rifle in a lever gun. .45 is just a pistol caliber carbine.
Especially when they all cost the same other than the added cost of a gas check on each .357 bullet I cast. Handloading trumps the cost issue and it's easier to keep up with brass in a revolver.
Especially when they all cost the same other than the added cost of a gas check on each .357 bullet I cast. Handloading trumps the cost issue and it's easier to keep up with brass in a revolver.
Axel Larson
Member
45Acp, because there are both revolvers and auto-loaders in it.
RedHeadHunter
Member
I would have to to with the 45 colt. It is easy to load very light. It can be loaded to 44 mag power. It can be loaded as a shot shell for small game at short range. It can be loaded with black powder.
A friend wants to use black powder loads for self defense. He says, 3ft. fire ball, a cloud of smoke and somewhere in the middle is a lead slug.
A friend wants to use black powder loads for self defense. He says, 3ft. fire ball, a cloud of smoke and somewhere in the middle is a lead slug.
Steve CT
Member
.357 Magnum would be my preference, unless the choice would be dictated by availability of ammunition, then it's 9mm.
AABEN
Member
A 357 witch you can shoot 38sp or 38++ or 357 lite load or HOT loads and a very good selection of bullets of different weight. You can reload them meny times! Good Luck
Pukindog12
Member
- Joined
- Feb 12, 2011
- Messages
- 186
.357 Magnum.
You said one caliber, not one handgun, right?
In this case, I'd take 40SW, since I could load it light in a small CCW pistol, and load it up to 10mm levels in a G20 frame. And I could just shoot it the way it comes in a standard service firearm.
I'd have a custom revolver made, if I fancied, using moonclips. It's harder to go the other way and stuff a rimmed cartridge in a semiauto.
In this case, I'd take 40SW, since I could load it light in a small CCW pistol, and load it up to 10mm levels in a G20 frame. And I could just shoot it the way it comes in a standard service firearm.
I'd have a custom revolver made, if I fancied, using moonclips. It's harder to go the other way and stuff a rimmed cartridge in a semiauto.
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