Which gun can shoot the most calibers? (e.g. Ruger Blackhawk shoots 38sp, 357 & 9mm)

[wacki]

I just learned that the Ruger Blackhawk can shoot 9mm, 38 SP & 357 magnum w/o changing the barrel. You just swap out the cylinder. They also have a 38-40/.40 S&W/10mm Auto version. Is there anything that can beat that?

If barrel changes are allowed, I'm pretty sure the AR15 platform goes home w/ a first place medal.

Anyway, under the four categories below I've put what I think would be the winner:

1) Handgun w/ Barrel Change = ????
2) Handgun w/o Barrel Change = Ruger Blackhawk
3) Rifle w/ Barrel Change = AR15
4) Rifle w/o Barrel Change = ????

What are your thoughts?

 

[cleardiddion]

You can shoot out of a Nagant 1895 (without changing anything):
.32 S&W
.32 S&W Long
.32 H&R Magnum
7.62mm Nagant

With a clyinder change you can also shoot:
.32 ACP

 

[russ69]

22LR
22 Long
22 Short
22 CB
22 shot

and I'm sure there is more.........

Thanx, Russ

 

[CraigC]

They also have a 38-40/.40 S&W/10mm Auto version.

Actually, they were never offered with both .40S&W "and" 10mm cylinders but one or the other.

The .327Federal is probably one of the most versatile. Also capable of digesting .32S&W, .32H&R, and .32ACP, all from the same cylinder. Some guns are also equipped with a second cylinder in .32-20.

A .44Spl or .44Mag and .44-40 convertible can also shoot .44Russian and modern .44Colt.

 

[Radagast]

.38 Super 1911s can often shoot 9 x 23, with a barrel swap they can shoot 9mm.

Some .357 Magnum S&W revolvers will chamber the .38 super round, but it's not a recommended practise.

 

[Pete D.]

most

If barrel changes are allowed, I'm pretty sure the AR15 platform goes home w/ a first place medal.

Oh, no. The winner would be one of the Thompson Center platforms - either the Contender or the Encore.
Barrels for the Contender have to be available for close to 100 different cartridges and the Encore may have as many as well.
No contest.
Pete

PS _Bullberry Barrel Works alone sells Contender barrels in 108 chamberings and Encore barrels in 97...... and they don't sell everything available.

 

[Sport45]

I think pete nailed it with the Thompson Center platform.

If barrel changes aren't allowed the Phillips & Rogers Medusa revolver could shoot just about any .355-.357 non-bottleneck handgun round. .380 to .357mag and everything inbetween.

 

[hardworker]

Cleardiddion beat me to the nagant revolver. i thought I was being smart this early in the morning.

 

[docnyt]

The HK model 4 can shoot .22LR, .25 ACP, .32 ACP and .380 with a barrel change.

 

[hardluk1]

T/C will have the biggest options for what caliber to change to next.

Next would be the Witness line of handguns. I witness can change from 10mm to 45, 40, 38 super that will shoot 9x23, then 9mm and 22lr all on a single frame.

 

[dogsoldier0513]

The Medusa revolver, once considered for production by Colt Firearms, can chamber and fire 25 different handgun rounds WITHOUT the need to swap barrels or cylinders: http://www.kitsune.addr.com/Firearms/Revolvers/Medusa_Model_47.htm

 

[kludge]

Handgun w/o a Barrel change

.327 Mag, .32H&R, .32 S&W Long, .32 S&W
.460 Mag, .454 Casull, .45 Colt, .45 Schofield (maybe a stretch)

Rifle with barrel change : Savage 110 .473" bolt face,

6mm-06, 240, 25, 6.5, 7, 30, and 35 Gibbs, 25-06, 6.5-06, 6.5x55, 270 Win, 280 Rem, 30-06, 8x57, 8mm-06, 338-06, 35 Whelen, .22-250, .243 Win, .25 Souper, .260 Rem, 7mm-08, .308 Win, .338 Federal, .358 Win, .284 Win, 6mm-284, 6.5-284, any other wildcat based on the .284, .257 Roberts, 6.5x57, 7x57, 7.92x57, 9x57, 9.3x57, 9.3 x 62, 9.3 x 64, .45 Win Mag, .308x1.5", 6mmBR, 7mmBR, .30BR, 6XC, all the AI versions of all those cartridges, and probably several more I can't think of. So that's easily 50-60 including the AI cartridges.

... and greatly extend that number with a bolt change to include the Magnums and the PPCs.

 

[Pete D.]

rifle

Rifle with barrel change : Savage 110 .473" bolt face,

I don't believe that's quite what the OP meant. Certainly it's not what was meant by mentioning the T/C guns. You can change a T/C barrel in less than a minute and do it with a screwdriver. Lots of rifles exist that have bolt faces that allow re-barrelling. Don't think that's the idea.
About the Medusa and its 25 different rounds in the .356-358 area. I didn't know that there are 25 different cartridges in that caliber range. Cartridges of the World lists only 13.
Go figure.
Pete

 

[RimfireChris]

Whatever happened to the Medusa? Did figure if enough people bought it they wouldn't buy other guns just too have a different caliber?

 

[pikid89]

I cant figure how the medusa can fit a 9mm into a .357 cylinder...
I get the whole springloaded rim holder thing but

the 9mm case slightly tapered (.380 in. at the neck and .391 in. at the base) and the .357 case is a straight wall case at .379 in. in diameter

Ive tried sticking a 9mm into my 38 just to see if it would fit, and it did not it stops about halfway, which makes sense considering the case diameters

if the medusa has a .391 inch chamber to fit the whole 9mm Luger case, wouldnt you start to see blown out/ split 357 and 9mm cases?

 

[Skribs]

Taurus Raging Judge Magnum can handle .454 Casull, .410 2.5", .410 3", and .45 LC.

 

[pikid89]

^dont forget the .45 ACP with clips

 

[headshok]

another choice is glock's 20/29

10mm
.40 SW
.357 sig
9x25 dillon

all with just a barrel swap.

 

[GLOOB]

if the medusa has a .391 inch chamber to fit the whole 9mm Luger case, wouldnt you start to see blown out/ split 357 and 9mm cases?

The chambers were .357 size, except for the back being reamed out to fit the luger cartridges. So you'd get bulged brass, but as long as the brass was new it should just stretch to fit the chamber. It would certainly be no good for reloading, though.

 

[Patriotme]

The Medusa revolver, once considered for production by Colt Firearms, can chamber and fire 25 different handgun rounds WITHOUT the need to swap barrels or cylinders: http://www.kitsune.addr.com/Firearms/Revolvers/Medusa_Model_47.htm

I remember something about Colt coming out with a multi caliber revolver just before Y2K. I thought that they were going to call it the "Survivor" or something similiar. I'm sure this is the handgun I read about. I wish it had been produced. I'd love to have one.
Freakin Colt. If any company runs away screaming from inovation it will be those guys.