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View Poll Results: If you could have only one caliber, what would it be and why?

Voters
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  • .45-70

    35 3.46%
  • .357 / 38 SP

    190 18.77%
  • 44 Mag / 44 SP

    108 10.67%
  • 41 Mag

    18 1.78%
  • 45 Colt / .410 Shotgun / 454 Casull

    59 5.83%
  • 45 ACP / 460 Rowland

    26 2.57%
  • 22lr / 22 Short / 22 long

    44 4.35%
  • .223 / 5.56x45

    19 1.88%
  • .308 Win / 7.62x51

    80 7.91%
  • 7.63 x 39

    13 1.28%
  • 300 AAC/Whisper

    8 0.79%
  • 9mm Luger

    26 2.57%
  • 10mm / 40SW

    5 0.49%
  • 22 Hornet

    3 0.30%
  • 20 Gauge

    8 0.79%
  • 12 Gauge

    87 8.60%
  • 6.5x55 Swede

    16 1.58%
  • 7mm-08

    5 0.49%
  • 30-06

    143 14.13%
  • 30-30

    34 3.36%
  • 22 Mag

    3 0.30%
  • Other

    82 8.10%
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Thread: If you could have only one caliber, what would it be?

  1. #81
    Boolit Buddy
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    Quote Originally Posted by osteodoc08 View Post
    12 gauge as it can be used for squirrel all the way to heavy slugs.

    Thought about a revolver cartridge that could also be used in a rifle. That was a close second but since could only vote 1, the 12 gauge won out.
    Me exactly. It was a close call between .357 and a 12 gauge. Wound up going with the 12 gauge because it's not a good idea to go after a game bird with a rifle or a handgun .

  2. #82
    Boolit Bub
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    .308 will get it done! A little too much for squirrels but great for hunting anything that walks on this continent. Sure would miss my 1911 though.

  3. #83
    Boolit Master


    HangFireW8's Avatar
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    30/06.
    I give loading advice based on my actual results in factory rifles with standard chambers, twist rates and basic accurizing.
    My goals for using cast boolits are lots of good, cheap, and reasonably accurate shooting, while avoiding overly tedious loading processes.
    The BHN Deformation Formula, and why I don't use it.
    How to find and fix sizing die eccentricity problems.
    Do you trust your casting thermometer?
    A few musings.

  4. #84
    Moderator


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    I've played this game before several times over the years on other forums, and my choice was always the .22 because of the fact that (wisely or not) it's killed everything from squirrels to deer, and even people. But eventually I became convinced that the shotgunners, especially the 12 Ga. voters are right. Good slugs are pretty accurate at 100 yds., and the .30-06 voters are unlikely to hit a flying goose or duck unless they're descendants of Annie Oakley. If all you're ever going to do is go to the range and shoot your cast .38 Special loads, then that choice is fine, but throw the one word "survival" into it, and the whole game changes. So I'll vote for the 12 Ga. 20 Ga. is fine, but usually "mo is betta."

  5. #85
    Boolit Master
    marlin39a's Avatar
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    I voted 223/5.56. Could be used as a handgun or rifle cartridge. I live in AZ, and it would work for me.

  6. #86
    Boolit Mold dualityofman's Avatar
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    I'm picking 10mm - its a stocked round that not a lot of people use. It has a lot of kinetic energy delivered with an excellent selection of bullets for maximum cross sectional expansion. It has high ammo capacity in my weapons, and with a TNW ASR Id take it out to 200m, Ive also experimented making 10mm shotshells for winged ****, and its lighter than my 45s by a little

    Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk

  7. #87
    Boolit Buddy
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    May 2016
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    If it had to be a pistol/ rifle round, the 44 mag. Although, you just cannot be a 12 gauge for versatility.

  8. #88
    Boolit Buddy
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    410/45/454/460 for mine as it is the only combination that would allow handguns, rifles & shotguns. The OP did say you could have multiple firearms in the same chambering and weren't limited to only one firearm.
    He also said money was no object so shouldn't be any trouble getting a nice 410 double built that would handle 460 pressures, same with a getting a lever action 460 built, 45/70 level rifle performance. Has anyone checked if a 2" 410 will chamber in a 460? Im guessing they would as 2" is the fired case length and 460 case is 1.8" so no need to even have the chamber lengthened on your revolver.

  9. #89
    Boolit Buddy davidheart's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by 220 View Post
    410/45/454/460 for mine as it is the only combination that would allow handguns, rifles & shotguns. The OP did say you could have multiple firearms in the same chambering and weren't limited to only one firearm.
    He also said money was no object so shouldn't be any trouble getting a nice 410 double built that would handle 460 pressures, same with a getting a lever action 460 built, 45/70 level rifle performance. Has anyone checked if a 2" 410 will chamber in a 460? Im guessing they would as 2" is the fired case length and 460 case is 1.8" so no need to even have the chamber lengthened on your revolver.
    What chamber would that be? I addressed in the first post: Cross-cartridge combinations are allowed, but only if they're able to be shot out of the same chamber! (38sp/357, 22lr/22short/22long, 44mag/44sp, etc)
    He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. -Psalm 91:1

  10. #90
    Boolit Master
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    For cast bullet shooting, it's the .30-30 for me (as long as I can have it in my M54 Winchester bolt gun). Since I don't see myself heading out to the great wide open to hunt anymore, it would suffice for all my Eastern woods hunting and range experimentation for the rest of my days.

  11. #91
    In Remembrance
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    I would literally hate it, but the only one on your list that would be usuable for everything would be the 12 gauge.

  12. #92
    Boolit Bub


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    I would have to go with the 357. It's a good round for most anything and rarely do I have to shoot something twice to take it down. I am partial to lever actions, so 10 rounds from a good rifle is very effective for defense or hunting. With a little practice fire rates and reload times get really fast really quick.

  13. #93
    Boolit Master
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    I initially voted for .357, but after reading the rules I would go with my .41 mag, since availability of ammunition isn't an issue. Between my 6" M57, and my Henry the .41 would work quite well since handloading it makes it pretty versatile. Can be loaded down pretty soft for small stuff and loaded up pretty stout for big stuff using the rifle.

  14. #94
    Boolit Master





    SSGOldfart's Avatar
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    The 38special has done everything I've ever asked it to so why change on,they are as easy to make today as they were 50+years ago. I own many others but my favorite is still the 38special.
    I started out with nothing and I still have most of it left.
    Paralyzed Veterans of America

    Looking for a Hensly &Gibbs #258 any thing from a two cavity to a 10cavity

  15. #95
    Banned
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    Simple....20mm. The perfect gun for every use except for the cost per round.

  16. #96
    Boolit Mold Buckeye357's Avatar
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    357 magnum for me , its versatility and wide range of loadings are hard to beat.

  17. #97
    Boolit Mold
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    Dec 2013
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    If you could have only one cartridge, what would it be and why?
    My choices:
    If only one fish, it would be a Bluegill.
    If only one game animal, it would be a squirrel.
    If only one cartridge, it would be the .357 magnum. Just because! I like it alot!

  18. #98
    Boolit Buddy
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    Jun 2014
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    If rifle's, handgun's and shotguns are considered equal, they are not. if i only had one firearm, it would be a 30 cal, either 300 Savage or 308, maybe 30-30. Anyof those is more than able to kill game birds! If it's a self defense requirement, I'd go either 9m or 38, hard to beat a 38! if it's survival only, I'm stocking up on 22 mag ammo. Quiet and able to kill game all out of proportion to it's size. It'll take out the bad guy too and a pocket full of ammo isn't that heavy. I must be thinking along these line's recently. I don't own a 22 CF anymore but I've been thinking if I came into a bit of money, I'd get a 22 Hornet to shoot cast bullet's only in. Now I think that would be a dandy. With it or a 22 RF I would certainly work on escape and evade tactics. There is no rule that says you have to stand your ground and fight! Live to fight another day! Yea the more I think about it, the more I realize I need a Hornet. Another factor for the Hornet is the amount of lead it takes to make a bullet! For a 165 gr 30 cal bullet you can make three 55 gr 224 bullet's!

  19. #99
    Boolit Bub
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    Mar 2016
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    The 44 mag. It's just so versatile, and it has the power to do most jobs.

  20. #100
    Boolit Bub
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    I went back and forth on this... a great variety of options as far as loading and platforms are available for so many different calibers that most of them are capable of filling multiple roles... but if i were to choose just one, I think the 12 gauge would be it. I don't hunt at long ranges, so don't really need anything along those lines. A shotgun in the right configuration can be concealed just fine if needed, as well.

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

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