Dedicated Caliber

ZVP

New member
It was hard to actually decide to dedicate my Revolvers to just 1 caliber ( basicly the 38Special with one in .357 Mag (A Vaquero).
Origonaly I wantedthe Vaquero in .45LC but with the ammo thing, glad I stuck to the .38 Special as my base cartrige.
I specifically chose my Model 36 and 10 because I totally trust em!
The Ruger shoots hanlods well and +P Sabers just great! .357's are awsome! Not much you can't put down with that cartrige, including running engines!
Keeping to a common caliber has proven to be the right choice because now I don't need to carry just a bunch of .38Specials, not both 45 and .38. one cartrige belt!





































































































Years back when I decided to buy a set of guns I really wrestled with buying my Vaquero in .45LC!
I bought steel guns though I NEVER plan on shooting +P's Except through the Vaquero which loves them! They fit perfectly between the ear ripping muzzle report of a 4 5/8" .357! Very good loads!
I picked out a used Model 36 and Model 10HB and the New Vaquero. I went new with it because I planned on shooting it a lot! I also bought a .38 Special Derringer ( for fun) .
I do miss the big hole in the barrel and the sheer power and recoil of the .45 butI used my head and went .38 Cal. The .357 Ruger will stop anything on this continent even running engines! and it has an edge on the .45 too power-wise.
Buying 4 new guns (to me) was quite an expense with leather gear and all so it's not an easy decision! Just setting up to shoot costs a LOT! Plus being lucky enough to have a Brother who reloads .38's and .357's is nice too!
I decided that owning 2 '58 Remingtons and a Brasser 44 Navy, that I already had enough big holes to satisfy my ego!It's OK that they were BP and I shoot balls not Conicals, Lots of power and fire and smoke too!

I pity those of you that will Face this choice in the future as it's a Gut Wrencher! Facing the inital cost is the worst part, choosing the revolvers is a highly personal choice too Colt,Ruger, Uberti S&W. etc .
Glad I got past that part and can now enjoy shooting! Yes even the derringer, which is a lot of fun to try and shoot precisely! I shoot full loads 158grainers, I like the Kick!
When and if you do face this, be honest with yourself and don't try to economize just cause you can. Buy good equipment and you'll save money in the long run. You could end up buying 3 holsters as I did! Really plan your shooting style out!
Good luck Partners!
ZVP
 
Each to their own, and each to their own purpose for owning guns. But to me life is way to short for limiting myself to one caliber. :D
My handgun chamberings range from 22 Short to 44 Magnum, and 45 Colt. Also handguns (T/C Contender) chambered for rifle calibers like 223, 7-30 Waters, 35 Remington, and 45-70.
 
I currently have about 20 different calibers of handguns. So I can't relate to reducing to just one nor could I image even wanting to. Life is too short to set limits on fun! :D
 
Are you saying you want to only have one caliber in any and all handguns?

The horror...

Think I have 14 different pistol calibers at the moment. I don't lose any sleep.
 
My dedicated caliber is .38 special.

I'm a revolver man, and that round get it done. I also own some .357 magnums, which of course can chamber .38 special.
 
I can't imagine settling on just one caliber! Though nearly all of my handguns now are Single Actions. I've found the Single Action to be my pick whether going into the woods (Which I seldom do nowadays) the target range, or into polite society.

The .38 Special can get it done? Try knocking over a 40 pound steel plate at 200 meters! Or a groundhog at 100 yards. Even the vaunted .357 Magnum gets iffy in such cases. Sometimes you just want a bunch of lead out there.

Bob Wright
 
Every revolver I own is .357/.38 spl or .22. I just find that these calibers do everything I want a handgun to do. Now, on the semi-auto side, I shoot several calibers.
 
No 41 Magnum?

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No 44 Special?

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No 38 S&W?

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No 45 Colt?

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No 44 Magnum?

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No...just can't see it. No way...no how.
 
Your first musings about dedicating all your guns to one caliber was difficult enough to understand. But when I went through it again, then scrolled about fourth yards of blank post down I found the rest of your comments.
Particularly this.
Plus being lucky enough to have a Brother who reloads .38's and .357's is nice too!
That leads to it making even less sense. If he loads 38/357 he is only a less than fifty buck set of dies a way from loading a lot more calibers for you.

Pitty? Now THAT'S funny!:D
 
Well, I sort of understand... I have a 'favorite' caliber (.45 Colt) and it gets the call most all the time. Single Action of course fit me to a 'T'... I don't actively buy any more .44Mag or .357 revolvers for example, but still have at least one in my collection. A few months ago I picked up a .32Mag revolver baby Vaquero just because I wanted a 'reloadable' .22 (we know how .22LR is hard to find, and I wanted a cheap caliber that I could make ammo for). Been working out very well. So while I have a favorite, I still will occasionally shoot/own other calibers for various reasons and purposes.
 
I kinda felt this way a while back but honestly that was at least 6 cartridges ago. Contenders get a lot of the blame;-).

rclark, I just picked up a clean little NEF e-nickel/stainless 32H&R for the exact reason you did! I followed it up with a little H&R 32S&W long, lots of fun to shoot and plenty of component choices out there. I am working on a buddy that has a 327 he wants to get rid of, crikey, add another damn cartridge!:D
 
I would never want to be so limited and frankly I am vehicle poor with four snowmobiles, three tractors, six vintage motorcycles and then a fleet of Studebakers limiting myself to one or two calibers whne it is so easy to cast, powdercoat and reload make no sence.
 
I've owned quite a few revolver calibers but I've consolidated down to .45 caliber for my revolvers, both 454's that double as my 45 Colts, a 7.5" BFR and a 5" SRH Toklat, one single action, one double action, both great :)
 
Yeah, I made the same choice. My Henry rifle is 357, my derringer and several revolvers are also 38/357. Thought I had it pretty good with only one type of ammo for both rifle and handguns. then I was seduced by a Beretta INOX, a cute little beauty in 9mm. Then I fell for an 1858 Remmy with a 45 colt conversion cylinder. Now a cute little Brazillian number in 380 has my eye. So much for one caliber intentions. :(
 
Its refreshing, in this day and age, to find someone who still thinks the .38 Special is "good enough". And not to be told (again) how much "better" the 9mm Luger is...

I have handguns in .22LR, .22 Hornet, .221 Fireball, .222 Rem, .32ACP, .30-30, 9mm Luger, .38 Special, .357 Mag, .357AMP, .44 Mag, .44AMP, .45ACP, .45 Colt, .45 Win Mag, and .45-70. Revolvers, semi autos, and single shots.

I can see sticking to one caliber for economic reasons, but I wouldn't choose .38SPL as that caliber.
;)
 
I have recently tried for the complete opposite. I do my best not to buy handguns in calibers that I already own. At some point I may start shopping more for calibers than gun models.
 
All I've got now are 38/357 and 22 LR. I don't see much need for anything else for what I use a handgun for.

I really should say 38 Special. I've never fired enough 357 ammo in my life to count it. I've got a couple of boxes of ammo here, and couple of guns to shoot it, but I almost never do.
 
I have recently tried for the complete opposite. I do my best not to buy handguns in calibers that I already own. At some point I may start shopping more for calibers than gun models.
Now THAT'S the spirit!!! :D:D:D
 
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