One caliber vs multiple calibers in a handgun, what's your justification(s)?

[tazman]

A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.
-Robert A. Heinlein


I think this applies here.

[LUCKYDAWG13]

I would go with 41 mag.

if i had to i could but i dont

[dragon813gt]

Life is boring w/out variety. I could never shoot just one because I like both Semis and Revolvers. I'm upset I waited so long to buy a 32cal revolver. Bad news is that the stepdaughter really likes shooting it so the molds I ordered can't get here soon enough

[bedbugbilly]

I think most folks get in to reloading with the false idea that they "want to save money". We all know how well that works as it all becomes an addiction whether it be casting, reloading or whatever. I'm 62 and only started reloading a few years ago after having shot BP for 50+ years. I was only going to buy one "cartridge gun" to shoot - a 38 spl. Well, that plan really worked well as I now have 8 of them.

I would like to think that I would eventually be able to try other cartridges that I have a hankering for - 32/20, 44 spl, 45 Colt, etc. But, I finally decided to limit myself to two handgun cartridges 38/357 (for pistol and my hand rifle) and 9mm for the one semi that I own (SR9). Those two alone are enough to keep me busy as with the 38s, I also load 38 Colt Short and Long.

I finally broke in to loading rifle - I have a 1907 Danzig GEW98 and it's a ball shooting boolits out of it. All I shoot is cast in everything I reload.

Unless a person has a LOT of time and quite a few $$$$ . . it just makes sense to limit yourself to one cartridge or perhaps just a couple. By the time you add a new on - you have the price of the gun, dies, molds, brass and other "do-dads" and it can mount up. Theres a lot to be said for someone who is reloading on a budget - using the basics like a Lee whack a loader, casting with one mold, etc. Let's face it . . . doesn't make any difference what it's loaded on - it's about the creating and fun in shooting what you've put together.

After that long dissertation . . . I guess if I were to advise a young person who wanted to get in to reloading and shooting . . . I'd recommend one the basics needed to load, on gun, one cartridge and use those items to learn everything you can about the cartridge, loading and shooting of it . . . and not get caught up in the "I gotta have" addiction.

[rking22]

If I like a certain gun then the chambering is part of the deal. I could get by with 357 chambering if I had to, but I like 44 special and can't get that in a J frame and I like J farmes. I can't get by without 22LR and 44Mags have a purpose too. Had no interest in 380 until I held a Beretta 86, now I load 380s (a lot of 380s). Same with 9mm and a CZ75 clone. To me ,not a lot of difference in chamberings, lots of guns out there I need to try out, so standarizing won't happen untill I have to downsize. Shoot, I got a set of 10mm dies, no present interest ,but never know

[RED333]

Since I cant have 5 or 6 ol ladys(way more deadly) I cast and reload for 25ACP(2 pistols), 38/357(2 pistols), 44 mag(1 pistol so far),
45 Colt(1 pistol and 1 rifle), 40S&W(7 pistols), all way less deadly than my wife if I had a girl friend.
Thats about all I have to say about this.

[GhostHawk]

I shoot a cheap Cz-52 that shoots 7.62x25.
My buddy does store his Beretta 9mm here.
My wife prefer's .22LR.

I just ordered Handi rifle barrels in .357 and .44mag.

I already reload 7.62x54r for Mosin's and 7.62x39 for my SKS.

Standardize? What it hecks name for?

Is a Dodge mini van a Chevy truck or a Ford car?

Each cartridge to me has its own unique flavor, things it does better than most of the others.
Yes in theory you could shoot all .44-40 or .357 mag in both pistol and rifle. But IMO the jack of all trades is often not as good at any one thing as the specialist is. And I'm a Jack of all Trades! (But I do have a master's in procrastination)

Would a 9mm carbine be as accurate and powerful as a 38 special/.357? Not to mention as flexable?
Probably not in my opinion.

You can make a case for standardization at least to a point. But you can also make a case for having a whole toolbox of tools, instead of 1 Multi-tool that is supposed to do it all.

Your mileage may vary, and I really don't expect many to agree with me. But to me each individual gun, and cartridge has its place.

Viva la Difference!

[azrednek]

I would go with 41 mag.

If I had to select a single handgun caliber, 41 mag would be the one. I certainly wish it was more popular and had the various selection of molds that 44 and 45 calibers do.

[Shuz]

Some of you folks missed the point.......I'm not advocating for the .44 mag per se, I'm suggesting that life is much simpler if you standardize on one cartridge, and perhaps feed that one cartridge thru many different platforms to satisfy the desire for longer bbls, lighter frames, different actions, etc. As a last point, I'll mention that all my .44 mags are fed by 1/ea Dillon Square Deal B. All I need to do, to go from mild to wild, is adjust the seating stem for a different boolit, and perhaps change powder and/or primer types. YMMV.

[jmort]

I agree, some did not "get it" but it makes perfect sense to me. Short of 200 yards, your .44 mag will do anything and everything for targets, to plinking, to any game, to dangerous game. I agree, KISS. It is axiomatic that people should do what they want. For me, where I live and what I intend to do, the .357 mag is all I need in a revolver.

[jonp]

I'm a big 41Mag fan although I don't have one now. I have several caliber handguns but I find that the 45Colt can do anything I'm going to do with a handgun from 200gr target loads to 300gr shoot through a buffalo rounds. I carry a CW45 like Dougguy does so that is not an issue. Back when I carried an SP101 I loaded more 357Mag than anything. If I had one caliber firearm in a handgun now I'd probably go with the 45Colt if I was handloading but if I had to buy stuff off of the shelf I'd use a 357Mag.

This kinda reminds me of the one rifle argument. It's a whole lot of fun to have a number of rifles in different calibers to fiddle with but walk into just about any gunshop or place that sells ammo all over the planet, I have done it in several countries including Tanzania, and there is going to be at least one box of 30-06 sitting there. Go into any gun shop in the North East and there is going to be 30-30 somewhere about. I can't think of any animal at any distance I'm going to encounter in North America that a 30-06/308 won't take care of in some configuration.

It is much cheaper to have only one caliber handgun but where is the fun in that?

[Char-Gar]

I read many posts that extol the virtues of various calibers in the same household, and ask myself the question,why?
Years ago I made my life much simpler by standardizing on the .44 magnum as my revolver caliber. I have moulds in this caliber from 173g to 325g; therefore I can cover a wide range of uses. I have 11 revolvers in this chambering with bbl lengths and weights that run the gamut from 4" to 7-1/2", both single action Rugers(5ea) and double action Smiths(6ea). I maintain 38 boxes of at least 50 rounds each, all listed on a spreadsheet, to tell me what I have and where it is located, etc.
Am I missing out on not owning a .357 magnum, or a 41 magnum a 45 Colt or a 454 magnum or ad naseum?
I don't think so, but someone enlighten me, I'll listen to reason(maybe)!

You are not missing out on a darn thing! You choice is the best one for the person who just wants own handguns in one caliber.

That said, I very much enjoy shooting the various 38 Special revolvers and the 1911 pistol in 45 ACP. I also own handguns in 32 Long, 32-20 WCF, 357 Magnum, 44 Special, 44 Magnum and 45 Colt. I am not seized with the need or desire to own just one caliber. This is fun thing for me and not a desire to be practical or efficient. I have not counted the handguns in many years, but there is probably 50 or more living around here someplace.

[Multigunner]

Anyone who owns a .22 Rimfire rifle should consider owning a .22 RF handgun as well, and vice versa. Same would go for other pistol/pistol caliber rifle complimentary guns.

The 357 is probably the most versitle but if you need something bigger for some reason you might not agree.

Only reason I own a .32 is because I really like my tiny I frame S&W, I'm not interested enough in that caliber to buy a modern .32 pistol. Same goes for the .380 , if not for running onto a beautifully preserved FN1922 I would not have bought a .380.
Both rest comfortably in a gun case , there if I ever need them, so buying a lot of ammo in those calibers is not an issue.

I'm far more interested in the various operating systems and design details of handguns, especially antiques, than in their calibers.

[MtGun44]

I have strictly limited myself to .22 Short, .22LR, .25 ACP, .32 ACP, .380 ACP,
.38 Super, 9mm Luger, .38 S&W, .38 Special, .357 Mag, .44 Spl, .45 ACP,
.455 Brit, and .44 Mag in pistols - and usually one of each cartridge is not
adequate to scratch that itch.

Do what you want and your budget can stand.

Life is short, take big bites.

Bill

[Shuz]

Folks, I gotta fess up. While I do 95% of my handgun shooting with the .44 mag, I also have have "standardized" on the .380ACP for my "close social work carry guns". But there again, I got a Taurus 738 in one rig's jockey box, an AMT Back-up in another rig's door pocket, and I carry a Ruger LCP everywhere, unless carrying my Smith 329PD. It's hard to conceal a 329PD, unless it's flannel shirt time out this way!
Also, I gotta fess up, when it comes to rifles, like Bill, I have currently limited myself to .22-250,.250Sav, .25-06,7mm-08,7mm Rem mag, .30-30, .35 Whelen, .44mag, and .444Marlin.

[Quiettime]

One caliber vs multiple calibers in a handgun, what's your justification(s)?

Because they don't make a Makarov in .44 Magnum!

[snowwolfe]

I would be bored to death if I owned just one caliber.

[azrednek]

I have strictly limited myself to .22 Short, .22LR, .25 ACP, .32 ACP, .380 ACP,
.38 Super, 9mm Luger, .38 S&W, .38 Special, .357 Mag, .44 Spl, .45 ACP,
.455 Brit, and .44 Mag in pistols - and usually one of each cartridge is not
adequate to scratch that itch.

Do what you want and your budget can stand.

Life is short, take big bite

Bill

Bill you missed one!! Pretty sure it was you that posted some good advice on the 9MM Makarov. With the long list, bet there is another you may have forgotten.

[Four-Sixty]

This reminds me of a debate I have often with my Wife. When trying to decide on a place to eat out, she will say she wants to stick with an old standby as she does not want to be let down. I, on the other hand, say I want to try something new as I want to make sure I am not missing out on something good.

I decided I would put a limit on what I would get into however. I will only buy into calibers that meet one of the three following conditions.
1) The case has a rim on it
2) It is a cast boolit friendly caliber
3) It is relatively common/easy to find

[tazman]

Also, I gotta fess up, when it comes to rifles, like Bill, I have currently limited myself to .22-250,.250Sav, .25-06,7mm-08,7mm Rem mag, .30-30, .35 Whelen, .44mag, and .444Marlin.

What!!! No 30-06!!!!! Shame on you. I thought everybody was required to own a 30-06.
And no, the 25-06 and 35 Whelen do not count even if they are based on the same case.