Today, I carry or shoot a 66 or 19 Smith with cast RCBS SWCs. It is a relatively light, with decent accuracy, carry revolver.
380
9mm
38 Spl
357 Mag
40
44 Spl
44 Mag
45 ACP
45 Colt
Other
41 Mag
Today, I carry or shoot a 66 or 19 Smith with cast RCBS SWCs. It is a relatively light, with decent accuracy, carry revolver.
“There is a remedy for all things, save death.“
Cervantes
“Never give up, never quit.”
Robert Rogers
Roger’s Rangers
There are three kinds of men. The one that learns by reading. The few who learn by observation. The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence for themselves.
Will Rogers
I wish I COULD remember what my vote was! General purposes suggest (to me) a 5" or longer barreled .357 Magnum, since it can digest almost all other .38 caliber revolver rounds (my Ruger DA will chamber and accurately fire .38 S&W rounds).
I'm a dyed-in-the-wool .45 ACP fan, for its capacity to handle social problems which rapidly decay into crises. With more modern propellants and bullets, the round CAN be pushed to ballistics making it suitable for harvesting white tail out to 50 yards. In milder loads (4.0/Bullseye/200gr LSWC), it is deadly on squirrel, jack rabbits, cotton tails, and grouse.
ALFERD PACKER'S endorsement of the .32 caliber revolver rounds (especially the .32 H&R & .327 Federal) has its merits. They tend to be quiet (milder loads), economical to feed, VERY accurate from the right firearms, and somewhat more portable than my candidate calibers. They would not be my first choice for downing larger game, nor defense, but smaller rounds have also worked admirably in both roles. Given the inherent accuracy of the .32s, it could be a serious edge in either scenario. The portability of the .32 firearms also somewhat assures that one will have one handy for whatever need arises ("First rule of gunfighting: HAVE A GUN!").
While I might STILL opt for a .357 revolver, or a 1911A1 in .45, I DO see merit in the other choices made by various thread contributors.
For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. Ecclesiastes 1:18
He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind: and the fool become servant to the wise of heart. Proverbs 11:29
...Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Matthew 25:40
Carpe SCOTCH!
I voted for 357 mag. I was surprised that not many others did.
thread title is "Favorite Pistol Caliber", but the question in Post #1 is "Choosing only one, what center fire caliber do you shoot the most?".
for me, favorite and shoot the most are not the same thing.
..
If I were to choose a favorite it would be the 45acp because that was the one in the Army that I got to shoot. First pistol I ever shot too.
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Veteran
Toss up between the 45 acp, 38 special, and 357. Hard to pick one over the others.
44 magnum and 45 acp are about dead even on my list.
The gun I like to fondle the most is a series 70 Colt, so I guess my favorite centerfire would be .45acp.
I shoot more 9mm, 32 auto and .357 mag though.
I shoot hundreds of times more 22lr than any of them. It's not centerfire, but that is my favorite caliber.
I wish we could pick 3 favorites :
38 Special
41 Magnum / 41 Special
45 ACP
In the March 2023 issue of Shooting Times magazine is a great article - " When The 38 Special Was King " When 38 spcl was king of Competition and personal defense ... wadcutter accuracy loads fired in 4 different Target guns (I'm keeping this issue) and self defense wadcutter loads to boot . All tested for accuracy with velocities and loading details .
If you a 38 wadcutter fan or want some good loads ... this article is a good read .
Gary
Certified Cajun
Proud Member of The Basket of Deplorables
" Let's Go Brandon !"
My favorite varies over time, often in cycles. I voted .44 Special since I always come back to it, but right now I'm on a .357 Mag and .38 Spl kick. Mostly the .38, which is even surprising me. Then other seasons, I'm all about my .45 ACP or .45 Auto Rim.
One I never have had, but have long been interested in is the .41 Special. I wish that Ruger would formalize the .41 Special and then make a GP100 so chambered.
[The Montana Gianni] Front sight and squeeze
For medium and big game hunting, casual plinking, target punching and sudden defensive shootings, nothing else has the marvelous useful range of the hand loaded .357. Other hand gunners have more popularity for narrow nitches but none of them can happily do the things a competent .357 shooter thrives on. And that includes my beloved S&W Md. 29/.44 Mag. and 1911/.45ACP.
I shoot mostly .41 magnum and .41 special. Love big bore.
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 |