What calibers to gather for a collection?

[BCRider]

I'm curious about if most of you have chosen specific calibers to buy and shoot. Or if you just see something shiney in the display case and buy it regardless of what it takes to feed it.



For myself I'm at the beginning of my gun collecting and shooting. I'll also soon be reloading to cut costs since this is purely a range and shooting sports hobby for me. But to cut down on the confusion I've decided to buy, load for and shoot specific calibers. I'm trying to choose calibers that provide unique and definitive levels for of shooting experience.

For semi I've already got the handguns I want. .22, 9mm and .45ACP Although if I get pushed in my IPSC and IDPA matches I may opt to go up to .40 S&W at some point. But since this is for fun and giggles I'm thinking that I'll just go into Standard with the 9mm stuff and fit my regular guns with a magwell if I go that way and just live with shooting minor PF. Oh, no Open for me. I'm just not interested in these more highly specialized "rayguns".

Revolver is another issue. I've just take possesion of a .357 Highway Patrolman and a Model 19 is coming soon so I've obviously commited to .38Spl/,357Mag as one caliber. I'm also going to get a .22 or two along the way. I'm also looking at the idea of cowboy action shooting with some SAA clones but I've already decided to stick to the .38Spl/.357Mag size and get a lever gun in the same caliber at some point in keeping with my desire to narrow down the list of supported calibers and ammo.

But that leaves me with the question... Do I buy a .44 Magnum or hold out for a S&W 460, .454Casull or the 500 as a BIG FLASHBANG end of the day gun? I've shot all three and while the .44 Magnum had it's fair share of "presence" it couldn't compete with the A ticket roller coaster ride that the bigger stuff provides.

But I also know that there's a huge variety of .44 Magnum reload options. Especially if I opt for a really strong gun to use them in like a Super Blackhawk or Super Redhawk. Or should I bypass the .44 and go for the bigger stuff? Just how much more "legs" does the .44 Magnum round have over regular factory loads?

 

[22-rimfire]

I think you are well on your way to a well balanced accumulation. I'd get a couple 22 rifles and consider the 41 magnum as an alternative to the 44 magnum revolver as it does everything the 44 does or I want it to do. I also have a 480 Ruger (SRH) as my big boomer. I'd sort of like the get a 475 Limbaugh; ideally a Freedom Arms revolver. Yes, cost is an issue. But I have little interest in the 454 casull caliber.

 

[2RCO]

---Sees something shiney in a display case and buys it!

When you have to keep 30 or more different kinds of ammo around you have a problem.

 

[BCRider]

Just to add. Up here where I live there's no option at all for carrying a handgun as a personal defense item. So it's range and games or nothing at all. As a result my choices have nothing at all to do with anything more than how well it can down a steel silhouette target at an IPSC or similar match. Punching holes in the cardboard is pretty much a given....

Rifles are another issue. I'll be scoping out what provides the same sort of steps in the shooting experience as with handguns. But with rifles it's as much about the style of the action as it is the caliber. I've already got a .30-30 Marlin levergun which may or may not give way to the handgun caliber .357 Puma levergun option.

But this is the handgun discussion area so back to the short stuff....

 

[dakotasin]

for rifles i do not restrict myself at all. for handguns, i have self-imposed restrictions...

for centerfires, i keep to 9mm, 357/38, 40, 41, 45, 480, and 50.

note that is not an etched in stone, forever kind of a deal, but i am going to break that mold, it needs to be for something really special. i would love a 38 super or 10mm, but not so bad that i am willing to break the mold for a run of the mill glock. but, once i get the 38 super and 10mm, it is very unlikely for my handgun calibers to expand any further - more guns, just in the same chamberings.

for the longest time i restricted myself to 357, 40, and 45, but... i moved to a state where 357 wasn't legal to hunt, gunmakers produced navy commemorative guns in 9mm, etc etc...

 

[Landric]

I can do pretty much everything I need or want to do with handguns chambered for the following:

.22LR/Mag, .38 Special, .357 Magnum, 9x19mm, .44 Special, and .45ACP.

So, I've restricted myself to those to limit necessary ammunition types and reloading components.

 

[gglass]

I try not to be a caliber biggot when it comes to my collection. So my answer would be "All".

 

[earlthegoat2]

For handguns it is 357 and 45 ACP. For shotguns I only use 20ga. Rifles all I have is 22s so far. I will probable make 45-70 my one and only rifle caliber. (maybe a 223

 

[Rat Robb]

Just started collecting/shooting not too long ago and have decided to not buy duplicate calibers until I have one of each in handguns, lol.

As far as rifles and shottys go, I want a .22, .223 AR, .308 Remington 700 and a 12 gauge zombied out.

-Robb

 

[David E]

If I was just starting out my collection and wanted to make it a "well rounded battery," I'd focus on the common calibers and guns first.

For me, the calibers that make up a practical "well rounded battery" has .22 LR, .38 spl, .357, 9mm, .40, .45 acp and .44 magnum for handguns. For long guns, .22 LR, .223, 308, 30-30 and 12 gauge.

To answer your question, get the much more practical and versatile .44 magnum over the .460, etc.


.

 

[ComradeBurg]

If a gun I'm looking at comes in multiple calibers I usually get it in a caliber I already have.

For instance the main reason my carry gun is a .45 ACP is because when I bought it I already had to other guns in .45 ACP. Every time I get a new caliber that means getting new reloading dies and often powder and always brass and bullets.

 

[owlhoot]

If you are not a handgun hunter, there is little reason to own .44 mag and up. Save that money and go ahead and buy your reloading equipment right now.

You have a good handle on what you want and your choices are good ones.

By all means give cowboy action shooting a try. It really is a lot of fun.