I don't want this to turn into a battle of calibers, just hoping to hear some points I hadn't considered before. Being that I have kids and bills and such, I don't have the seven gun safes worth of guns and ammo that many people who post here seem to have. So when I select what I'm going to own I try to limit my calibers to as small a number as possible(number of calibers, not caliber size), but still cover my bases.
For example, I have several 9mm and .45 ACP handguns. At this point I won't purchase a .40 S&W, not because I have anything against the cartridge, but because I already have two handguns chambered for self defense that overlap the .40. I also have a few .38/.357 revolvers because of the versatility of shooting either round from the .357. I have a .22 semi-auto handgun as well which I can justify because I also have .22 rifles.
I don't want to have umpteen types of ammo to keep track of and it means fewer dies/equipment when it comes to reloading. Also, I choose my chamberings on popularity and likely availability because I think of them as tools not collectors items and I want to make sure they are usable for as long as possible. But I do consider flexibility as far as, can a particular chambering fire multiple loads (.38/.357)
My dilemma now is that I see a hole in my handgun collection. I'm missing a large bore revolver cartridge. I'm leaning towards a .44Mag because the S&W Night Guard is a beautiful piece of work. I can also get a Marlin 1894 chambered for the .44 so that fits well with my "fewer is better' philosophy and I can also shoot .44 Special. However, the .454 offers a little more power and the option of the 45LC, but at this time there is only one company making a 454 lever action rifle. (Although I heard on Guntalk this week that Marlin is finally thinking about it!)
I don't plan on hunting with it, maybe carry it as a bear gun, but I'll admit it's mostly because I WANT ONE!
For example, I have several 9mm and .45 ACP handguns. At this point I won't purchase a .40 S&W, not because I have anything against the cartridge, but because I already have two handguns chambered for self defense that overlap the .40. I also have a few .38/.357 revolvers because of the versatility of shooting either round from the .357. I have a .22 semi-auto handgun as well which I can justify because I also have .22 rifles.
I don't want to have umpteen types of ammo to keep track of and it means fewer dies/equipment when it comes to reloading. Also, I choose my chamberings on popularity and likely availability because I think of them as tools not collectors items and I want to make sure they are usable for as long as possible. But I do consider flexibility as far as, can a particular chambering fire multiple loads (.38/.357)
My dilemma now is that I see a hole in my handgun collection. I'm missing a large bore revolver cartridge. I'm leaning towards a .44Mag because the S&W Night Guard is a beautiful piece of work. I can also get a Marlin 1894 chambered for the .44 so that fits well with my "fewer is better' philosophy and I can also shoot .44 Special. However, the .454 offers a little more power and the option of the 45LC, but at this time there is only one company making a 454 lever action rifle. (Although I heard on Guntalk this week that Marlin is finally thinking about it!)
I don't plan on hunting with it, maybe carry it as a bear gun, but I'll admit it's mostly because I WANT ONE!