If you could have only one caliber, what would it be?

[shootsblanks]

3030, cause i just got a load worked up that shoots well finally haha.
My model 94 will do everything i need in a rifle and if in some magical future, perhaps filled with unicorns that fart fairy dust, the government makes owning hand guns easier in canada, i will get a 3030 bfr with a 3" barrel, load a 200 grain flat nose to 1000ish fps and call it a day. Because i think it would be awesome.

[peachhead]

I'm going to post my answer before I read this entire post, just to see if it changes my mind.

I voted 44 special (actually 44 mag/44spl) because I believe 44 spl is one of the most versatile calibers there is. Good for most any type of game, portable (being a pistol round) and I just like it. If it was good enough for Elmer Keith then it's good enough for me.
I tried to narrow it down to 3- my other choices were 12 gauge, no explanation needed; and 22 mag because it is a lot better than most people think it is.
Now off to read the previous 7 pages of how wrong I am

[Ola]

After long consideration: 358 Win

Full house loads in rifle, subsonic mouse farts in pistol. That would take care of MOST of my shooting/hunting needs.
(but how could I manage without a SHOTGUN??)

[Eamonn]

8x57
It's the middle ground between the .308 win and .30-06 in capacity with a slightly larger bullet.
Can be loaded with lighter bullets as well as heavy 250 gr and the standard load is 200 gr.

[Scorpion8]

If you could have only one cartridge, what would it be and why?

Because with the right bullets, it'll take anything on this continent. Simply the single most all-around cartridge ever.

[runfiverun]

mine ain't on the list.
but I'd be just fine with the 30-XCB. [or 30 X-treme cast boolits]

it really is between the 308 and 30-06.
it's basically the 8 mauser case necked down to 30 cal with the 30-06 shoulder pressed onto it.
this gives it that extra 5 grains of powder capacity the 308 lacks and is 5 grains smaller than the 0-6.
perfect for the too slow for the 308 powders but right at the slowest for the 0-6.
it'll fling naked lead boolits well over 2700 fps easily but was designed to push them to 26-2650 as optimal fps.

[adcoch1]

I would have to pick 30-06. Not what I shoot the most, but the rifle I have is light, recoil is totally manageable, it can be loaded from varmit to dangerous game level loads with cast and jacketed bullets, and most loads are available as factory ammo. Won't work real well in a revolver but a single shot pistol is possible. Overall though, there isn't a job that a rifle can do that 30-06 can't be tailored to. But who in the world would want just one cartridge, or would willingly pick just one...

Sent from my LGLS740 using Tapatalk

[garym1a2]

9mm, I can use it to feed three of my four glocks plus my CX4 Storm PCC. Most of my shooting is Glocks anyway, though I would miss my G21SF.

[psweigle]

I have a 77/357, Blackhawk, Security six, and coonan classic that all shoot 38's and 357's very well. My vote is for 38/357. Although 12 gauge is soooo much more versital, I'm a snob.

[Idaho Sharpshooter]

6.5-284.

Everything on this continent, and most of the rest of the world is viable.

I stay out of neighborhoods where I would want a handgun.

This cartridge has won the 1000 yard Match at Wimbledon several times, and mine shoots a 140gr Berger Hybrid over 3000fps. I have shot several 5-shot moa groups at 1000 yards.

[Elkins45]

Having only one cartridge implies only having one type of gun. I would give up hunting before I gave up the ability to defend myself, so I have no choice but to choose a handgun cartridge.

Given that there's a Kahr PM9 in my pocket as I type this, I will choose 9mm.

[kjorgy]

38-55 winchester

[Hawgsquatch]

12 gauge. Flying birds are hard to hit with a rifle and it can be reloaded with a stick and a nail some cardboard and broken glass if need be.

[762sultan]

I would pick the 30-06 because ammo is widely available. Never been in a gun store that didn't have some. Will kill most anything I am liable to meet.

[Geezer in NH]

12 gauge

[edward hogan]

This still IS a casters forum, eh?

If only 1 Caliber, the obvious choice is .45 Caliber.... Now some of you boys confuse your nomenclature. Caliber means bore diameter, not cartridge name or dimension... And if you are here, and worried about being able to buy ammo anywhere, or buy it at all; you ain't yet gotten into the spirit of being a handloader....

So, why .45 caliber??? Because there are a great many rifles and handguns chambered for .45 bore diameter cartridges... Them big diameter boolits tend to do better work (work better?) in any handgun or rifle, are easier to cast, and well there are just more opportunities with the .45 bore.

If limited to "One Caliber", here's what I figure I got access to:
Handguns
.45acp (want to fudge and include a 1911 Conversion Kit?) this includes revolvers & auto pistols
.45 Colt, .45 Schofield, .455 Webley, .454 Casull, .460 S&W revolvers
Rifles
.45 Colt (win 94 Trapper etc)
.45-70 & .450 Marlin
.458 win mag, 458 Lott, & Ackley .458 Magnum, .460 Weatherby
Lots of wildcats like shorty .458 win cases


What else comes close? The .30 cal rifle and .32 caliber (actually a .308 bore) combo. The .44 mag and .444 Marlin combo. Then there are the .357's with .358 bore rifles and .357 bore handguns. I was perusing a 10mm Auto combo with a .40 cal rifle but not quite the same as the .45 combo Unless maybe consider a .38-40 chambered Winchester 73/92 to be a "rifle".

Fun topic. Easy to make big bores for plinking, not really possible to make even a .357mag come up to performance of the big bore handguns.
.

[shdwlkr]

Age and health issues have a lot to consider in this type of situation. If I were in good health I would pick either .375 winchester or .338 win mag.
If I am older and can't deal with recoil then I would look at the 30-30 or .270
If I am much older and in failing health I would look at .257 roberts, 22 lr or mag
When we speak of only one firearm a lot has to be taken into account from how long do we expect to live, what will we need it for and what will our health be.

[Kosh75287]

8x68 Schuler in a Steyr-Mannlicher or Mauser M03 action. Flat-shooting, hard-hitting, but not as much of a punisher as the .338 and larger calibers. It offers a decided advantage in payload and velocity over the .30-06, without sacrificing portability or usability. Can be loaded down without losing function or accuracy. "Anything from coyotes to elephants" was one claim made for it. MY expectation would be "anything from meerkat to moose", since I don't think it's quite enough gun to take any of the big five. The round is not SAAMI standardized, but it IS C.I.P. standardized. If the SAAMI standardization is not optional, then I'd opt for the .33 Nosler and learn to live with its recoil and other shortcomings.

[paul h]

I enjoy rifles and handguns, and use them for target practice, hunting and self defense. While I would prefer a "high velocity" rifle cartridge for hunting, I'm not willing to give up handguns. So I chose the 38/357. I can't think of a more versatile round in handguns and rifles.

With a ~100 gr cast bullet at 800-1000 fps it'll serve any purpose you'd have for a 22 rf short of competition that requires a 22rf and is fully capable of taking small game.

A 160 gr cast bullet at 1000-1200 fps ups the power level to make it suitable for varmints both two and four legged.

A 160 gr hp at 1800 fps from a rifle makes for a fairly capable coyote and rock chuck gun.

180-200 gr cast @ 1200 fps from a revolver IMHO is fully capable for big game at open sighted sixgun ranges.

Drive that same 180-200 gr cast bullet 1700-1800 fps from a lever gun and the big bears are the only game I wouldn't want to cross paths with.

I haven't tried it, but would consider experimenting with 250-280 gr bullets for use with a suppressor. The downside is you're likely looking at a single shot or single loading a repeater for such use.

There are many steps in between those power levels. Sure we were given the option of unlimited $, but I'm still partial to a round that stretches your powder and lead supply. I guess I'm also getting old as there is something to say for a round that doesn't make your wrists go arthritic nor bruise your shoulder.

If I did more big game hunting I'd probably opt for the 45 colt as it has all the same attributes, excepting the recoil, lead and powder useage roughly double.

[lawdog941]

12 gauge. Slug/Buck/Shot, if I could only have one, it'll put meat in the pot.