35 vs 44 is a tough decision for me but I went with 35. Ask me on another day and I might go 44. They are that close for me.
17 cal
20 cal
22 cal
.243/6 mm
25 cal
6.5mm
.270
7mm
30 cal
32 cal
8mm
8mm Large (0.329)
338 cal
35 cal
9.3mm
38 cal
40 cal
44 cal (.427-.430)
45 cal
.475 cal
50 cal+
other
35 vs 44 is a tough decision for me but I went with 35. Ask me on another day and I might go 44. They are that close for me.
As to caliber, I voted 35. That covers 380acp for pocket pistols, 38 special for my woods roaming revolvers,357 for lite hunting thru the 35 Rem for my vintage pumps. And then theres the 35 Whelen for everything else! Im glad i dont have to keep it to one caliber. I like lots of different old guns , so i just cast and load whatever they are chambered in. Truth be told any of the top 4 voted can do anything i need, i just like the flexability of the 35 cal.
I probably shoot more 30 caliber due to my present rifle inventory and interests. If i ever have to reduce inventory, it will be MISERABLE!
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I shoot a lot, I should say a whole lot of 38's and 44's but my vote has to go with the 30 caliber. My favorites are the 30-30 and the 06, I personally feel that these two are the most versatile of all cartrIdges. The 06 probably has more cast boolit and powder choices than any other caliber in any loading manual available.
I voted 35, for that is where my heart is: 9mm's, 380's, 357's, and the magnificent 38 Special but it also takes in my fine old Winchester Model 71. However, I cast boolits from .258 to .460 and have over a dozen 30 caliber molds as well. I really have no firm favorite calibers, I skitter back and forth as the mood strikes me. But were I compelled to choose, I think I'd go to the middle of the road, and resist the siren call of the 44's, 45's and the rest.
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Originally I voted for 30 caliber, but after a little thought I'll go with 44 caliber. I have cast 44 caliber bullets for 5, 44 Magnums beginning in '88 and have a half dozen 44 cal. molds, from 123 gr balls to 265 gr, RNFP (and of course a 240 gr LSWC!)...
My Anchor is holding fast!
38 spl and 45 (long) Colt (and NOT that horrid ACP!!!!!!!!)
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Collecting .32 molds. Please let me know if you have one you don't need, cause I might "need" it!
I reload cast and J words. Been loading and shooting since 81. Cast calibers of 22, 24, 30, 32, 35, 36, 40, 44, 45, 50. So, my vote goes to the thirty caliber, IMHO, the best cast, and the best tools to light them off in too.
35 cal for me. Pistol bullets can be used in the rifles for plinking. I find the molds are the easiest to cast w/ as well. It helps that I own a lot of handguns and rifles in this caliber. All that being said I cast for everything I own. Casting perfect itty bitty 22 bullets is an exercise in frustration.
.375; obviously
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The one you enjoy the most.
Seriously, I'm all about 30 right now. But I could see a 45lc in my future. I'd love a revolver and carbine in 45lc.
Knightflyer - Pesky newbie with a 30-30 & a zillion questions
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Shalom y'all!
.35
Does .38 SPL for plinking, .357 Mag for close in hunting and SD and .35 cal rifles for anything I will ever hunt. And most can be sized to shoot in the 9mm. Tons of PB and GC designs available.
Don Verna
Two of the bestest (!) and most accurate long guns I have are a 45LC Lever and a (don’t laff) Circuit Judge with a reddot. It’s a 5 round revolving long gun and is super accurate! It is fun to shoot 300gn 45 slugs out of them. And it is the wife’s favorite. She can hit anything with it.
Also 45lc revolvers are super fun. I have a couple of 45ACP (1911) semi’s and hate them. Too picky on loads and profile of cast boolits. I’ll take my 9mm’s and 40 SW’s over those silly things any day.
35cal, due to usefulness, the 358 win is simply amazing. .44mag is the greatest of the straightwalls.
I cast for many calibers from .224 up to .50. Most are easy to cast for. I just arbitrarily chose .45 since that is the one I use most. But realistically, I could choose any of ten since they are all fun and easy.
Right in the middle with .35 caliber. Any bigger is a bit too much for game smaller than deer, and any smaller is bit too little for game larger than deer. Yes, jacketed or extreme casting efforts can mitigate the too big or too little; but why, when .35 is so good and so easy?
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“Ironically, the only gun control in 19th century England was the policy forbidding police to have arms while on duty.”
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Currently 44 WCF and 8mm Mauser. But I'll go back to .38 Special and 30-30 Win soon.
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You need to distinguish between rifle and pistol. For Rifle, 32 Winchester Special is about the best. With its 1:16 twist it is very gentle on acceleration of cast bullets and very, very versatile.
Hick: Iron sights!
BP | Bronze Point | IMR | Improved Military Rifle | PTD | Pointed |
BR | Bench Rest | M | Magnum | RN | Round Nose |
BT | Boat Tail | PL | Power-Lokt | SP | Soft Point |
C | Compressed Charge | PR | Primer | SPCL | Soft Point "Core-Lokt" |
HP | Hollow Point | PSPCL | Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" | C.O.L. | Cartridge Overall Length |
PSP | Pointed Soft Point | Spz | Spitzer Point | SBT | Spitzer Boat Tail |
LRN | Lead Round Nose | LWC | Lead Wad Cutter | LSWC | Lead Semi Wad Cutter |
GC | Gas Check |