What's your trusted caliber?

[Alan]

What if you had to cut down your collection to only the calibers you truly rely on every month? Which ones would you keep, and why? I’m eager to hear about the firearms you use them with, how regularly you practice, and what jobs they take on in your lineup.

 

[chrishayes]

Good question but one that's hard to answer! For me, 9mm (less expensive), 10mm (just because), .40 and .45.
For 9mm I have a plethora of pistols I like and use. 10mm, a G29 and a carbine. For .40 a G22. For .45, multiple 1911s.

Have a hard time letting go of any of these.
Practice? With all the crap that's gone on with StevesPages.com it's been years since I've gone shooting or done any reloading. This is about to change since the hosting company trashed the html and the files, I'll be going regularly again soon.

 

[Big Al]

For big game my 243
For Varmints my CZ 457 .17 HMR even my CZ 457 MTR .22
For Skeet my 20. Ga Browning White Lighting
For Trap my 12 Ga Browning CXT

 

[Sgt. Stadanko]

I agree with Chris Hayes. Hard to let go of any and rely on just one or a couple.

Handgun, GLOCK in many flavors. Rifle, .22 up to and including.450 Marlin.

 

[Snowman.45]

I'll go along with Chris Hayes, but with the addition of .38/.357 and 5.56. 9mm is for daily carry in subcompact pistols, usually a Shield Pus or X or S&W 3913. 10mm is just for all-around effectiveness over a wider range of needs in a 1911 or S&W 1006. The .45 ACP is for use in my 1911s and S&W Model 22 or 3rd gen S&Ws. I currently own no .40s. The .38/.357 is for my S&W revolvers in the J, K and L frames, as well as a Marlin Model lever gun. .22 is for general rifle plinking, and 5.56 is for my AR. Others I use less frequently include .30-30, .30 carbine and 12 gauge shotgun.

As a rule, I shoot most of my guns a few times a year, but the primary carry pieces are the 9mm pistols and the .38/.357 revolvers.

 

[Walter]

Still use 22lr in a number of pistols and rifles.

I have gone all 9mm for the bulk of my pistol shooting. I have a few in 45acp.

In centerfire rifle I go with 223/5.56, with a little 308 and 30-06 for a couple of military rifles that do not get shot much at all. As I close in on 80, 223/5.56 is way more pleasant to shoot on high round count range days.

 

[T-Rex]

.357SIG pistol. .357 mag revolver. 30.06 rifle.

 

[tew3006]

While I hate the thought of thinning the herd, I guess I could get by with a 9mm for duty and CCW, a 22LR for small game, a 3006 for big game and my 41 mag because I don't ever see myself without one.

 

[JohnG123]

I have more 9mm and 22lr caliber weapons than the others....

 

[KingSnake]

38spl because that's what I shoot in Cowboy Action
45acp because that's what I shoot in Wild Bunch Action
9mm because that's what I shoot in other Action matches and it's what I carry

 

[Alan]

I have more 9mm and 22lr caliber weapons than the others....

Hard to blame you there, 9mm and .22LR are both fun to shoot and easier on the wallet

 

[Alan]

38spl because that's what I shoot in Cowboy Action
45acp because that's what I shoot in Wild Bunch Action
9mm because that's what I shoot in other Action matches and it's what I carry

Makes perfect sense to me. Once you start shooting different disciplines, calibers stop being random purchases and start becoming tools for specific roles

 

[Arizonagunsmith]

Anymore, I've reduced my handgun inventory to 357 mag guns, 45 ACP for carry guns. 44-40 and 45 Colt for my Cowboy guns.
I've never owned a 9mm. I guess Cooper's and Keith's mentality rubbed off on me. Go big.

 

[oldracer1]

.45 ACP, 9mm in various configurations, my favorite is a Tanfaglio Limited Master in .38 Super, then also a few 10mm/.40 S&W. Several old Smith .38 police issues and a Star collection, just because.

 

[T-Rex]

While I hate the thought of thinning the herd, I guess I could get by with a 9mm for duty and CCW, a 22LR for small game, a 3006 for big game and my 41 mag because I don't ever see myself without one.

Love my .41 mags.

 

[Ballistic Therapy]

30.06 and a 22LR , will pretty much do it all.

 

[LVJ76]

7mm-08, it serves both purposes of silhouette shooting and hunting, and of course a 22lr.

Handgun a 9mm.

 

[BR549]

Rifle .308
Pistol .44
.22 rifle and pistol