The Value of Multi-Caliber Firearms

[BSA1]

One valuable lesson that ammunition shortage has shown us is the usefulness of having firearms that can use more than one type of cartridge.

Some are so obvious they hardly need mention; 38 Special in 357 Magnum, 44Special in 44 Magnum.

Others are bit more complex as they required a second cylinder chambered in the other cartridge. For example 22 L.R. and 22 Magnum.

Then there are calibers that while sound good I question how actually practical they are. For example 32 S&W, Long, H&R Magnum in a 327 Federal Magnum or full moon clip conversions that allow use of 45 acp in a 45 Colt.

Shotguns feature some flexibility; 2 ½”, 2 ¾’ in a 3” Magnum 12 ga.

With rifles I tend to draw a blank. The best I can think of is switching barrels on a single shot long gun. While the frame will handle different calibers from 12 ga. shotshells to high power rifle rounds it requires a different barrel for it one. That could amass to quite a collection of barrels.

What other guns and calibers come to mind?

 

[Teachu2]

CZ 455 in .22lr, .22WMR, and .17 HMR. I have the three-barrel set.

 

[X-Rap]

I've personally found that the switch barrel center fires are either so expensive as a fit set or the extra barrels with scopes rings and bases such as the Contender style that it is better to just have more guns. I lean much the same way with AR's.
I am always on the hunt for another Contender frame and an AR upper doesn't seem to stay just an upper for long around me.
The simple fit to most of the handguns just makes sense to buy the larger caliber for the versatility.

 

[SabbathWolf]

Pouch on the belt holds a 9mm cylinder.
The Blackhawk "convertible" will shoot 9mm, 38spl, 357mag...

 

[blackrussian]

10mm Revolvers are another example. Some O/U rifle/shotgun combos.

 

[Dr. Sandman]

I have had a weak desire to get one of these Baikals for a while, just cause they seem kind of neat.
http://eaacorp.com/portfolio-item/mp94-series-combo-shotgunrifle/

 

[ngnrd]

The S&W 460's will shoot 45LC, 454 Casul, and 460S&W from the same cylinder.

 

[GCBurner]

My Glock 22 shoots .40S&W, 9mm, and .357SIG with a change of barrels, and .22LR with a slide/barrel conversion unit.

 

[Shadow 7D]

You could also phrase this as the value of reloading, or Gasp... casting
or of being a pack rat and having plenty to outlast the spike....

 

[mnrivrat]

Or you might consider the various chamber adaptors . They are cheap and allow a lot of versitility in chamberings. I have one for a .223 chamber that adapts it to .22LR rimfire for example.

 

[olderguns]

My Glock29 does 10mm 9x25dillon 357sig. 40S&W, wwith only barrel change same mags for All calibers.
And I have a 22lr slide+barrel onthe way.

 

[firesky101]

I have barrels for my tokarev for 9x19, 9x23, .38super, and of couse 7.62x25. I have quite a few other guns with .22rf conversions. I am a multi caliber junky.

 

[cfullgraf]

You could also phrase this as the value of reloading, or Gasp... casting
or of being a pack rat and having plenty to outlast the spike....

Yup.

 

[The-Reaver]

Raging judge magnum.

Largest in North America to the smallest.
454 Casull ( BIG GAME )
45 Colt ( medium game )
410 Shotshell ( small game )

 

[Scrumbag]

Drillings in Europe often have 2 shotgun barrels SxS (usually 16 or 20, the 12g ones tend to be cumbersome) with a CF rifle barrel underneath (usually something like 7x57r, 7x65r, 8x57r or 9.3x74r). Sometimes these drillings come with an "einstecklauf" which is an insert for one of the shotgun barrels usually in .22lf, 22 Hornet or .222Rem.

But that is the closest I can come to a "multicalibre" rifle

ATB,

Scrummy

 

[bannockburn]

A Colt Government, or any full size M1911 type pistol for that matter, in .38 Super is easily converted to 9mm. with an extra barrel assembly and magazine. And there are any number of .22LR conversion units available for it as well.