Caliber debate is finally over...

[ray1970]

Guess I'm ahead of the curve. I've used the 9mm almost exclusively for just about everything since about 1991.

[Martinjmpr]

I used to have rifles and pistols in a bunch of different calibers and buying ammunition was always really expensive and a chore. Every time I wanted to shoot something I have to buy at least a box worth of ammunition and it was just a huge pain in the ass. Now I have 5.56mm, 9mm and a single .45 and my shooting life is way easier.

Yup, this right here. Back in the 80's when I first started buying guns I'd buy anything that caught my fancy. .30 Carbine? Sure! .45 Long Colt? Why not! 9mm Bergman-Bayard? OK (alright that last one wasn't true.) I even had a Vietnam "bring back" SKS in the mid 80's which was before the Chinese started exporting bulk 7.62 x 39 - the only ammo available in that caliber was Norma which sold at the then-exorbitant price of $1/round (keep in mind that this was when .30-30, .308 and .30-06 were going for $7.00 for a box of 20.)

I called the phenomenon "Caliber creep." And by the mid 1990's I realized that I had guns that I just wouldn't shoot because ammo was too expensive or difficult to find. So I adopted a new philosophy - I would "allow" myself to own as many guns as I could afford, but I'd try to limit the calibers. By doing this, I figure there's more $$ for guns and less $$ for ammo.

I have since rid myself of .30-30, .30 Carbine, .40 S&W, .45ACP and .308. If I could bring myself to do it, I'd be tempted to rid myself of .38/.357 too, since it's so much easier to find 9mm but for some weird emotional reason I just can't get rid of my revolvers (I've always thought "an automatic pistol is a machine, but a fine revolver is a work of art")

Last year I acquired a Mag-Na-Ported .44 Mag Ruger Blackhawk. That one will probably go up for sale soon. I'm not planning on any trips to Alaska and I can't think of any other reason I'd want or need a .44 Mag.

[Zundfolge]

Back in the early aughts I got caught up in the .40 hype, so I have plenty of .40 stockpiled and most of my autoloaders are .40 (as are all the autos I CCW, although occasionally I carry a .357mag).

If I had it all to do over again I'd go 9x19.

[MED]

The results don't surprise me. I loved 45acp when I was loading it for $3.50 per 50, and going through 500 rounds a month with my Colt 1911s that I got for under $500. Given the current high cost of practice with 45, the high cost of replacing my worn out Colt 1911s, and the weight savings, I switched to 9mm striker fire hand guns about 10 years ago even though I don't like them as well as my old 1911s. I switched because it was affordable, and I can practice more with them. I have a lot of different calibers that I enjoy shooting, and I load for them. However, I only keep 9mm, 223, 300blk, and 308 in bulk, and most of my range time is with these four; I sort of consolidated on these for my primary use firearms. However, I doubt I could eliminate the others though, I still like my magnum revolvers, belted magnum rifles, 3006, 6.5 Creedmoor, 4570, among others.

[.455_Hunter]

The correct answer is .38 special.

[Aloha_Shooter]

That's all very nice for Mr. Vickers and company but
1) the best (tightest groups) shooters I have are 2 1911A1s and my snub-nose .357 S&W. I have fun with the 9s and they're certainly cheaper to practice with but as good as they are, they just don't work as well for me as the .45s. My M&P 9 Shield is the most convenient for CCW and fires well enough but nothing like my 1911s.
2) how would their opinions change if their magazine sizes were limited by idiot legislators and a governor like we have up in Denver? If I only get 7 or 8 shots in my magazine, I want those 7 or 8 shots to be as effective as possible. Shooting 2 or 3 times to do the same job just doesn't work for me.

IMO, do what works for you. If it's 9x19mm as it was for 13 of the 15 guys polled, great. If it's .45 ACP or .40 S&W, great. Hell, I'm fine if it's a .25 ACP or .500 as long as you hit what you're aiming for and only what you're aiming for and it stops the bad guy(s).

[68Charger]

you all are deluded.. "the science is settled"

[Irving]

People who shoot to become better at shooting have different requirements from ammo than most everyone else. I get the impression that the survey taker is alluding to the idea that being able to put rounds where they are needed, in a hurry, outweighs pretty much every other measurable parameter; and that's why he throws self defense into the mix as well.

[funkymonkey1111]

what about those that want Major power factor? or, do we just mod our guns to run 9mm major?

[68Charger]

People who shoot to become better at shooting have different requirements from ammo than most everyone else. I get the impression that the survey taker is alluding to the idea that being able to put rounds where they are needed, in a hurry, outweighs pretty much every other measurable parameter; and that's why he throws self defense into the mix as well.

well said... this pretty much sums up response to the OP... /close thread