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

[davidheart]

Several years old and still going. I went with 10mm and it looks like only 2 others went that way. While I'd hate to give up the 44 Mag, I could manage to kill all the paper targets I need to with the 10. In any case, I went that way because most of my handguns are 10mm, and I have enough brass to last till eternity comes and goes.

I'm actually surprised it's not a sticky by now.... and my request to change the title from "caliber" to "cartridge" hasn't happened either.

[Nodakjohns]

12 gauge would be my choice. home defense, hunting anything it will do the trick.

[Landy88]

Not doable by cartridge as asked. I need at least a rifle cartridge and a handgun cartridge, and PCCs are no replacement for real rifles. By caliber, though, .35 alone is easy .35 Whelan or .350RM (Al Miller was right in making it his choice for the only one rifle, what if.) for rifle and .38/357 for handgun.

[Chris S]

45-70. Because you just can't go wrong with it...guaranteed knockdown for anything.
Chris

[hc18flyer]

I would have to go with .357 mag, max, 358 Win, and Whelan? Runs the gamut!

[Chad5005]

gotta be the 12 gauge, as bad as id like to pick 38/357 or 44

[Hutch556]

Voted 38/.357 but it was a tough call between 9MM and 5.56/.223, Hard to pick just one.

[Bob in St. Louis]

5.57 seems like it would "fit both bills", pretty well.

[onelight]

I would have to pick one that I could get a CC gun for .357 , 41 , 44 probably .44

[John Boy]

For folks that now own few caliber firearms, the poll is easy to answer.
For folks that now own many caliber firearms, the poll is meaningless
In my case, I started acquiring firearms at the age of 14 and am now 77

[Redleg11b]

Old thread...Cartridge 445 Super Mag (44Spcl, 44 Russian, 44 Mag) would be my choice so I voted for the 44 Mag. I was really thinking a 357 Max since I already load for that family, but something bigger for hunting wouldn't hurt too much. Honestly, about 95% of my current shooting and hunting could be done with a 22 Hornet. You don't need much power to kill paper and groundhogs, and a patient person could use it effectively on a whole lot more stuff. A slow fat 44 slug still works for defense, isn't too terrible on older wrists, and loaded up hotter in a long gun will put a hurtin on some big animals.

Caliber: 357/358 38Spcl to 35 Whelen covers everything.

[downzero]

I'm glad .357 mag is winning, since that's the obvious answer for me. .45 (between black powder spec Colt and .460 S&W) is good, but .357 Mag probably offers everything I'd ever need in life. J frame for carry, K and N frames for field carry, and a lever gun for everything else.

[memtb]

My choices will probably raise a few eyebrows. I ‘ve been a hand loader since I was 14’ish, and casting since I was about 19.

If a rifle is my choice.... I would have to pick my .375 AI, for an all around do it all cartridge. With light load cast bullets, can be a very effective small game round.....with careful bullet placement. With cast bullets pushed hard, it can exceed 38-55 Win. performance.....making it a pretty good big game cartridge. Using my modern bullet load, a Barnes 250 TTSX’s @ 3130 mv.....it is easily a 700 yard capable cartridge for big game. That’s pretty versatile!

If it’s a handgun.....I’d have to go with my 460 S&W. I have a light load, 300 grain cast for plinking, or smaller, light game. I have a 400 grain, WNFP cast bullet....if pushed hard, can take any game on the planet. And....I have a shot shell using full-length, .444 Marlin Magnum brass.....which duplicates a 2 1/2” 410 shot shell! Though, the patterns aren’t as good a a 410 shot shell, fired from a shotgun! That’s a pretty versatile handgun...thogh it’s not great for concealed carry! memtb

[Cosmic_Charlie]

I think given time, people's selections would change. I can't recall what I picked the first time but it may have been the lowly .22 rf. A real game getter, quiet and cheap. Plus you can carry 500 rounds easily. With careful shot placement you can take larger animals.

[samari46]

For handguns 45acp. For rifles 30-30,308,or 30-06. Frank

[Mr. Crumbly]

It may be boring for it to be the only one, but if only one, it would have to be a 12 gauge. It's just like the old Brown Bess, there is nothing much you can't do with it.

[JohnRoc65]

For me the no.1 obvious choice is 357/38.

44mag/44spc would be a very close second.

[Targa]

.44mag everyday and twice on Sunday..

[Rodfac]

If "Money is no option" nor "Availability is no option", then what's the point? Given the "options/constraints" for handguns, then a .357 with a 4" bbl. With rifles it'd be a .30-06 as Outpost 75 points out and for all the reasons that have validated it's longevity for over 100 years. For shotguns, a 12 ga. Rod

[LinotypeIngot]

I suppose .357 would make sense since it's one of the few rounds that provides handgun ballistics out of a handgun and rifle-like ballistics out of a rifle. The obvious downside being that it's incompatible with modern magazine fed firearms.