What's your favorite caliber?

[Jackalope 1]

I'll be the weirdo...

1. .40 S&W
2. .45 Colt
3. 10mm
4. .22LR

.40 S&W is the most versatile in terms of use and firearms. It can be found in everything from single-action pistols and revolvers, to ARs and 1911s. It will fit in 9mm-sized autos, and can be loaded hot enough to be an acceptable woods carry caliber.

It is the ultimate do-it-all cartridge. No idea why so many hate it.

When it first came on the market it arrived with TONS of BS and nothing to back it up, like the 9 mm it took several bullet reincarnations to catch up with the so called BS. Now it is a workable caliber, but thank you I will KEEP my 10 mm!!

 

[Jackalope 1]

I have different favorites for different types.

1. For hand guns, 9mm.
The small size, and low recoil is (for me) the best all around combination.

2. For shotgun, 12 gage.
The entire reason for a scatter gun is to go big. You can still tailor your load with shot size, shell size, and going with slugs or not.

3. For bolt guns, 7mm Mauser.
A classic that lost favor, it can still do everything needed, and with good accuracy, and less recoil than many more modern calibers.

4. For defensive rifles, 5.56mm... and in a a DI AR.
Hi velocity, high magazine capacity, low recoil, good accuracy, enough range for most combat engagement distances without carrying too much weight...
For 90% of what you need, it just works.

5. For lever guns, .44 mag.
Lever guns are (to me) meant to be light, fast handling carbines for close to medium ranges. A .44 mag round is scooting pretty well out of the 17" barrel on my Rossi 92. It's good for 100, maybe 150 yds on deer sized game.
With 10+1 capacity it also doubles as an anti-bad guy gun, something it often did throughout it's long history. Good enough for me.

6. For pests, or long term survival, the world famous .22lr.
The last round of firearm ammunition ever fired by a human will one day probably be a .22lr... May not even be on this planet... Need I say more?

Concerning the 7mm Mauser, it had to be a good caliber W.D.M. Bell used it to SLAUGHTER more than 1000 elephants. He made me sick to my stomach, a great hunter, not in my book, all he was was an assassin, showed no respect what soever for a maraculous animal of nature.

 

[Jackalope 1]

My take is:

1. .22 long rifle -- everybody needs a .22 pistol. Cheap to shoot, and can be used for target competition and small game.
2. 45 ACP -- Especially in the gun designed for it, the M1911
3. .357 Special/ Mag. -- .38 Special for snub-nosed revolvers
4. .45 Colt. The best outdoors caliber, bar none

. Knew a fella in Alaska who never used anything but his 45 LC Anaconda for hunting. Shot his Moose, Black Bear, caribou, one Brown Bear ( the REAL BIG KIND ) and a few other critters of various types. He never used any other caliber!!! You chose wisely my son, as was said to Harrison Ford.

 

[JTHunter]

. Knew a fella in Alaska who never used anything but his 45 LC Anaconda for hunting. Shot his Moose, Black Bear, caribou, one Brown Bear ( the REAL BIG KIND ) and a few other critters of various types. He never used any other caliber!!! You chose wisely my son, as was said to Harrison Ford.

Somebody said a long time ago to be wary of the man with only one gun as they likely can use it VERY well !

 

[Space Ghost]

Somebody said a long time ago to be wary of the man with only one gun as they likely can use it VERY well !

 

[JTHunter]

Start at 2:25 for the quote.

 

[Ignition Override]

Favorite caliber -- for what use ? Did the OP clarify this somewhere in the previous 3,000 responses?

For hitting steel plates at the private club, .22 LR. Don't know why, maybe because of less muzzle rise. I haven't tried to become a competitive shooter. Too lazy.

For carry, many of my favorite handguns are in 9mm. That's Exactly why 9mm is my preferred carry chambering.
My carry gun family: Walther P99 AS, CZ PCR, 3rd. Gen. S&W 908 and 6904, Sig P225 (the "pre-P6", actual 225).

 

[Jackalope 1]

.22 LR, .38 Special, .357 Magnum, .45 ACP, .44 Special, .44 Magnum. I have a 9x19mm and .380 pistols but they aren't my favorites.

My over all favorite to shoot is .22 LR.

Ditto, mine are the same, however, wherever I travel in my home state where the likelihood of crossing paths of two legged and four legged predators might occur I carry two Colt 45 ACP'S in Safariland Suede-Lined shoulder holsters, one loaded with H&G #68 swc pure lead 215 grn at 700 fps, 2nd is Combat Elite/muzzle brake loaded with Winchester 230 grn JHP just under ( 100 ) max load. It will penetrate full length of 1955 Pontiac Chieftain, it is NOT a Hollywood Nerf Ball bullet load!!!

 

[Jackalope 1]

It changes over time for me. Right now it's 455 Webley.

ETA, image of current favorite cartridge.
View attachment 1001890

Had one came back from North Africa, circa WW11, had a trajectory worse than a Rainbow, shot 4' low at 25 yards, I imagine if you shot at a TALL German Trooper by aiming at his head, you might hit him in the bollocks, 5'6"-5'8" tall, probably give him a free manicure of his toe nails.

 

[Jackalope 1]

327 Federal Magnum

Definitely can't go wrong with that choice, have one but really needs an 8"-10" barrel for me. Squeezing out every last droplet of performance in my estamation and experience.

 

[Autodidactic]

Interested to hear from other folks on their favorite.
As for me, it's tough to put them in order of preference as each has it's own niche.
Based on what I shoot the most:
1. .22 long rifle
2. 45 ACP
3. .357 Special/ Mag.
4. .45 Colt.
5. 44 Special/ Mag.
6. 38 Super
7. 10mm
8. 9mm
9. 380ACP
Wow that was really tough and subject to change at any moment.
Also made me realize how many calibers I've been missing out on.

I probably shoot the most in .22 LR then 9 mm. But, that doesn't have to do with favorite caliber necessarily. That's largely a function of cost and availability. I'd say my favorite currently is .38 special.

 

[candymancan]

Seems 44-45 csl is what most of my guns use.. but they are all varying bullets.

My 4 revolvers. Two 1851 navy and two 1858 remingtons are all 44 so they use 454 or 457 lead balls.

1911 is 45acp, 1874 sharps quigley 45-70, Flint lock pistol is 45. Have a 44 Magnum henry rifle.

Have other guns too like a 12 16 and 20ga shotgun (20ga is black powder)

but yea. Most of my guns all seem to be in the 44-45 caliber range. Or bigger

 

[RETG]

My favorite caliber is dependent upon what I need. I commonly carry both 9mm and .40; however, there are times I am happy a .44 or a 12-gauge (with 600 gr slugs) are with me.

 

[tjmga]

Interested to hear from other folks on their favorite.
As for me, it's tough to put them in order of preference as each has it's own niche.
Based on what I shoot the most:
1. .22 long rifle
2. 45 ACP
3. .357 Special/ Mag.
4. .45 Colt.
5. 44 Special/ Mag.
6. 38 Super
7. 10mm
8. 9mm
9. 380ACP
Wow that was really tough and subject to change at any moment.
Also made me realize how many calibers I've been missing out on.

In pistol cartridges that would be the .40 SW.

 

[Goofball84]

Mild load 38spl in the full size 357 4" Windicator just feels good. Shooting it kind of gives a warm comfortable feeling like wearing your favorite pair of jeans. I get cravings to take it out back shoot.
Then mild 44mag loads in my SA. Big bang, concussion, mild recoil. You can't help but smile and giggle.
SR 22 is fun. It's fast shooting and cheap.
45acp is fun.
Full load 357mag
9mm S&W shield EZ is ok, but shooting I don't get any emotional feeling. It just feels like shooting to shoot.
380acp S&W shield EZ is ok. It just feels like shooting to shoot.
5.7x28 Ruger. The grip size is big and blocky. the ammo is hard to find and expensive.
Full load 44mag. The trigger guard destroys my middle finger after the 2nd reload. Really wish I could find Houge grips that fit my knockoff SAA. A bigger grip that relocated middle finder placement with bump the 44mag up the list.

 

[brutus51]

9mm S&W shield EZ is ok, but shooting I don't get any emotional feeling. It just feels like shooting to shoot.

Yes the 9mm has the same effect on me, that's why I have embraced the good old American 38 Super.

 

[film495]

22LR
38 Special
9mm
30-30
30-06
32ACP
20 Gauge

 

[gwpercle]

Mine would have to be 38 Special .
Easy to reload and cast bullets for , I'm a dedicated revolver shooter , accurate , used to pick up fired brass by the bucket full at local public range ( I've never bought any 38 special cases ) , more different 38 special factory ammo on the market than you can shake a stick at ... or at least there used to be . More 38 cal. bullet moulds than any other . I don't have to chase down or bend over and pick up fired brass (important to a 70 year old reloader) . More load data in more loading manuals for more powders than any other cartridge . Muzzle blast and recoil don't beat you up .
I have a Model 64 S&W (38 special) that went to Clark Custom Guns for a Tune up , Target Trigger Job and a Red Dot Sight Mounted (Millet SP-1) that I've won a few trophies with and is the sweetest shooter with a cast wadcutter bullet and 2.7 grains of Bullseye ... that setup puts a smile on my face every time ... SWEET !
Gary

 

[joneb]

edit

 

[conan32120]

44 special, 45 acp are my top 2 right now.

what he said!

 

[The Happy Kaboomer]

ALL OF THEM.

 

[thunderbyrd]

i had never fired a .45 acp before about 2 weeks ago. fell in love with it right away. but there are many rounds i've never fired, so i can't talk about "a favorite" at this point..

though i will point out that that with 22lr, i can actually hit what i'm shooting at. well, sometimes.

 

[Gerd33]

I seem to be stuck on .357 Sig.

 

[Seymour380]

380 acp as first choice through the years:
The guns and history of the guns are so interesting to me. Mild recoil so my family is interested in shooting them. Not too bad for reloading, wouldn't want to go any smaller for reloading. Powder sure goes a long way with this caliber, anywhere from 1.8 to about 3.5 grs. per round for most of my loads depending on the powder.

22 lr as second choice: Family go to for fun.

38 special and 357 mag: Easiest to reload, most versatile with respect to bullets and powder.

These are my only 4 calibers I own now. Easy to manage, doesn't take up a lot of space, and they are dependable.

 

[jabram]

Hmm, kind of like asking your favorite child. I guess I'd just choose the ones I shoot the most.
.22lr
9mm
.45acp