Which is an ultimate multi-purpose handgun caliber?

Which is your ultimate multi-purpose handgun caliber?

  • 404Crb.

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • 50AE

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • 44 Rem. Mag

    Votes: 46 16.0%

  • 357 Rem. Mag

    Votes: 144 50.0%

  • 10mm

    Votes: 17 5.9%

  • 45ACP

    Votes: 22 7.6%

  • 40SW

    Votes: 12 4.2%

  • 9mm

    Votes: 40 13.9%

  • 41 Mag

    Votes: 1 0.3%

  • 480 Ruger

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • 460 Mag

    Votes: 1 0.3%

  • 500 Mag

    Votes: 1 0.3%

  • 9x18

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • .380

    Votes: 2 0.7%

  • 30 Mauser

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • .32/.25/.22/.17

    Votes: 2 0.7%
  • Total voters
    288
  • Poll closed .
Ya got to break it out revo vs auto and you forgot the 45 colt, unless the 454 counts.

In auto 10mm is as close as you get in a cartrige that can be put in a reasonable size gun.

In a revovler I'd go 45 colt --- the 4 inch redhawk comes to mind. Great for well whatever, 2 legs, 4 legs hot or mild...
 
No, you don't need to break it out autos vs. revolvers. Both are handguns. If you carry a sidearm, what do you want? I'm not going to face my shooting need and call "time out - I need another handgun." That's not what this thread asks or is about.

I own or have owned handguns in .22, .38, .357, 9mm, .40, 10mm, .44-40, .44spcl/mag, and .45 Colt. usually two or more in each caliber. After decades of experimenting, loading my own, and shooting everything I could, I've narrowed it down to this;

1) In autos, I have sold the rest and have no use for anything but a 1911 in .45acp (but I still need 5 of them).
2) in revolvers, I still own .38, .357, .44spcl/mag, .45 Long Colt, and .44-40.

Of the 12 revolvers, 5 are .357. That has proven to be the most versatile cartridge in an external ballistic sense, as well as most manageable in the platform carried. I can carry a snub nosed medium framed concealed, a larger one in the field, or an even heavier round with bear loads for the largest predators. The ammo choice literally goes from plinking to bear, and I don't have to change springs, wonder if it will fire or cycle, or blow out my slide/frame/etc. I can buy the ammo or load it all in the same brass and shoot it out of any of the guns.

I love my .38s, .44's, .45acp's, my 45 Long Colt, but if I could only have one, it's .357. It does it all. I didn't read this in a magazine; I learned it through trial and error and careful observation over 25 years.
 
After seeing the top two revolver calibers take a big combined lead (68%) vs the top mainly semi-auto caliber (13%) in this poll, I went looking to see if there were any previous revolver vs semi-automatic polls. My general feeling is that more people these days prefer semis (I'm not one of them)

There have been a few polls, but they all had a specific purpose attached to the poll (what do you prefer for CCW or SD, etc). I didn't see one that asked which would you prefer for all around usage, if you could only pick one.

Although it is interesting to note that in the purpose-specific polls, the semi-automatics usually are more popular.

BTW, I used these polls as reference:
http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=296234&highlight=semi+revolver
http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=280168
 
The 1 handgun caliber that best does all things?

My vote goes with .357 Magnum. Especially in this neck of the woods where there aren't any real serious 4 legged threats to be dealt with. Especially if you reload. Especially if you are able to toss .38 Spl into the mix, although if you handload you can do a fairly good job of handling the low end with .357 Mag brass instead of switching to .38 Spl, after all you don't have to load .357 Mag to be full bore blasters if you don't want to.

It doesn't handle the very top end all that well -- it is marginal against the very largest 4 legged predators and the very largest game, but then again all handgun calibers are. That said, properly loaded it will still get the job done -- I've carried my 4" 686 loaded with nice, warm 180 gr hard lead WFN solid handloads when in black bear country and didn't feel bad about it. And it is no substitute for .22lr for cheap plinking with factory loads, but then again nothing is short of a BB gun or a pellet gun. But it covers all other bases as well as can be done.

The only other disadvantages of the round are related to the platform it is chambered in -- revolvers. So the capacity is limited (although adequate for most non-military purposes) and reloads are slower for the average user. But, it has the advantage for the reloader of not requiring the shooter to chase the empties. And -- since it doesn't have to feed from a box magazine up a feed ramp, it is more forgiving regarding bullet shape, length, etc. As long as it fits in the chamber and doesn't stick out the end of the cylinder, you are good to go. And you don't have to do anything to the gun to switch from powder puff rounds to full bore blasters, either.

And -- it also makes for a pretty handy carbine round.
 
In appropriate sixguns the .44Spl, .44Mag and .45Colt can all be loaded to cover a very broad spectrum from small game, self defense and big game.The .44Mag and .45Colt have even been used to take africa's big five. Far more versatility than the .357 will ever attain.
 
In appropriate sixguns the .44Spl, .44Mag and .45Colt can all be loaded to cover a very broad spectrum from small game, self defense and big game.The .44Mag and .45Colt have even been used to take africa's big five. Far more versatility than the .357 will ever attain.
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How much does .44mag .44spl or .45 colt cost versus .38 spl? I honestly don't know.

The cheapness of .38 special is part of the reason why .357/.38 rocks.
 
The .44 mag in a S&W m629 with 6 inch bbl is about all you could ever need in a handgun, if you're limited to only one. And, I'm with out one right now. Maybe a "Heller" celebration purchase, to get me back inwith the big bores?:D

"Do you feel lucky?...":eek:
 
How much does .44mag .44spl or .45 colt cost versus .38 spl? I honestly don't know.

The cheapness of .38 special is part of the reason why .357/.38 rocks.
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I don't really know either, anymore. I load my own. Are we judging how well they get the job done or how cheap they are to shoot?
 
Are we judging how well they get the job done or how cheap they are to shoot?
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I'd say both. That's how I interpreted the OP.

The .44 calibers certainly handle the upper end of the spectrum (bigger game) better. But I'd have to give the edge for plinking to .38 special. I'm guessing factory vs factory or even handload vs handload, .38 is cheaper. And that (for me at least) is more important than taking down rhinos. :)
 
I voted .357 Mag. Just look at how far the votes are for it against everything else. That right there tells me it's probably easier to find ammo in a pinch for .38/.357 than probably anything except .22lr. I don't know if it counts for "versatility", but a gun with no ammo isn't very versatile except maybe getting used as a lousy hammer. So I'd say high-availability ammo is just one more benefit in the .357's corner on top of all the others that have already been listed.
 
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