Multiple calibres straight out of the box?

I'm surprised that nobody has mentioned the Heckler & Koch HK4, which was sold in a 4-caliber box set that included appropriate barrels, magazines, and recoil springs to shoot .22LR, .25 ACP, .32 ACP, and .380 ACP. IIRC there was a mechanism to switch the firing pin position when changing from .22LR to one of the centerfire cartridges, but I forget what it consisted of.

IIRC there was a 2-caliber set offered in the USA with only the .22LR and .380 ACP parts, thus lowering the price by omitting what were thought to be the least desired calibers to an American shooter.

Few were sold either way, as the gun was arguably still too expensive. (It was offered at a time when U.S. shooters largely equated "foreign small-caliber pistol" with "cheap", something the HK4 certainly was not, and additionally HK was considered a little-known upstart at the time.) This resulted in rarity, which—combined with the present prestige of the HK name—has resulted in very high collector values for intact sets.
 
CowTowner said:
S&W Model 610 fires both 10mm Auto and .40 Short & Wimpy.
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...but only if one uses moon clips for the shorter .40 rounds.

The chambers are cut to the appropriate depth for 10mm, so the gun will actually headspace properly and fire the longer 10mm rounds just fine without the clips, although the shooter may have to punch the empties out with a tool if they're stuck too tight to be yanked out with fingernails. However, the shorter .40 rounds will simply fall into the too-long chambers. Since the extractor star works against the moon clips, the rounds can't headspace off the extractor like in some semi-auto 10mm pistols when loaded with .40.

Speaking of that last sentence... some shooters have successfully fired .40S&W out of various 10mm semi-auto pistols without modifications, but since the shorter round has to headspace off the extractor, opinions vary as to whether this is a good idea due to the chances of improper headspace and/or extractor damage.
 
It is common knowledge that a revolver, if of a common magnum calibre, will be able to chamber multiple cartridge types of the same calibre.

For example, my .44Mag can also shoot .44Spl. I am told that, if I could find the ammo, I could also shoot .44Russian and Schofield if memory serves.
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There are several straight wall magnum cartridges that eveolved from shorter ancestors that can safely fire in the magnum chamber. As you point out, the 44 Mag can shoot 44 special & 44 Russian. (The Schofield is a 45 caliber cartridge).

The 357 Mag can take 38 special; 22 Mag can take 22 WRF (NOT 22LR), the 458 Lott can take 458 Mag and a few others.

All are straight walled and rimmed/belted. A 10mm mag revolver could take 40 S&W with clips.

There are a few mismatches where you can get away with it, but it's not at all a good idea.
 
...but only if one uses moon clips for the shorter .40 rounds.
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I was always told to load both calibers with the moon clips. That way you could eject the spent cases without using your fingers. 10mm brass do get a bit warm.
 
CowTowner said:
I was always told to load both calibers with the moon clips. That way you could eject the spent cases without using your fingers. 10mm brass do get a bit warm.
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There's always the eraser end of a #2 pencil from the forward end of the cylinder. :)

I'm not saying that shooting 10mm without the clips is convenient, just that it's possible.
 
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I was always told to load both calibers with the moon clips. That way you could eject the spent cases without using your fingers. 10mm brass do get a bit warm.
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It's advantageous to use clips with 10mm cartridges. It's required with 40 S&W.
 
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