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06-23-2009, 09:21 PM
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What's Your Favorite Handgun Round? Why?
This is almost like picking your favorite gun. So many good ones to try and choose the one you like best. Of course a lot depends on your use such as hunting , target, defense, or just plinking. Of them all I think I would pick the .38 special. It can be used for just about everything you could use a handgun round for in the United States. It can be loaded down for target use and plinking or powered up for hunting. Not the best for everything, but a good compromise, including price.
Bob
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06-23-2009, 09:26 PM
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158 gr , .357 Mag, SJHP...
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06-23-2009, 09:26 PM
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Sir, mine would have to be the .45 ACP. It can be had in autos and revolvers, is very accurate and readily available, and offers plenty of power without magnum drama.
JMHO, FWIW.
Hope this helps, and Semper Fi.
Ron H.
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06-23-2009, 09:31 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ron H.
"...plenty of power without magnum drama."
Ron H.
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- Insert Big Grin Here -
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06-23-2009, 09:40 PM
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158gr LSWC HP .357MAGNUM WHY BECAUSE I LOVE .357'S AND I CAN RELOAD NOW!!!!!
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06-23-2009, 10:13 PM
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.357 Mag
Why? Cause I just love it!
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06-23-2009, 10:16 PM
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+1 on .357 Mag, just cause...
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06-23-2009, 10:20 PM
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357 Mag 158gr JSP. If it were more readily available I might be inclined toward the 41 Mag.
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USASA 1965/69
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06-23-2009, 10:23 PM
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Absent Comrade
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.44 special. Accuarate as any. Easy to reload. Can be loaded to low end of .44 mag. Well balanced round with a lot of knockdown. Doesnt have the usual wrong sized chambers of a .45 colt. Can be loaded up to the same. Doesnt kick like or have the muzzel blast of .357s, out performs .44 wcf, easier to load than that one and has better cases & life. Most of all the guns made for it are the best and handel better than the heavy barrels on versions of the 29, 25 and 41 mags. The only gun out there that might change my mind is a model 29 pre lock mountain gun.
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06-23-2009, 10:32 PM
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.45 ACP
.357 Mag.
In that order.
WG840
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06-23-2009, 10:37 PM
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+1....38 special
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06-23-2009, 10:39 PM
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That's a hard one! I have to agree on .45 Auto. I really don't need more power than that, here in Indiana, and I like it in autoloaders better than anything else.
If we were speaking strictly of revolver rounds, a 44 Magnum. But I rarely shoot magnums any more, so I would probably be just as happy with a 44 Special, if I had one I was really attached to.
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06-23-2009, 10:45 PM
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.22 long rifle in a S&W Model 63 or Pre-18.
.38 Sp 3.0 grains Bullseye/148 gr. SWC in a K-frame or J-frame
.45 Colt 255 gr swc 8.0 to 10.0 grains Unique in a Ruger Vaquero or S&W Mountain Gun.
Can't narrow it down any more than that. I picked favorite rounds and favorite guns. How's that?
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06-23-2009, 10:50 PM
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.32 S&W Long. Why? Because it's inexpensive, it has enough recoil to let you know you're shooting a real gun, not so much recoil that it get's annoying or reduces accuracy, it is a time tested and proven accurate round and even works for self defense realizing it's no knock down round like a .45 or .357 but history has shown time and time again it can kill the human animal with ease.
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06-23-2009, 11:01 PM
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Any time I see a "what's your favorite _______" I always find it difficult to answer.
If got different "favorites" for many different occasions and situations.
Now, as far as pistol calibers go? Well, some are large, some are small, some make big bangs, some make small bangs....however... just for an all round caliber, I'd have to vote for the lowely .38 Special. That covers all kind of situations and some of the best revolvers ever made.
I like the lowly 148 gr DEWC and HBWC. I like the 158 gr. SWC, I even like the 125 gr. HP defensive rounds.
Do I like .357, .45, .44 Spl, 44 Mag, 9mm, 40 S&W ? You betcha! Hey, I even like the 7.62x25, .380 and the 9x18. Hell, they are all good. They all go bang! But, when the smoke clears...(please pardon the pun), I always fall back to the .38 Spl.
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06-23-2009, 11:13 PM
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.45 ACP
Reason - cause no matter what I use, my 25-2 or my SW1911Sc, the target doesn't lie.
Second, .38 becuase the target looks pretty good too.
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06-23-2009, 11:25 PM
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Thats a hard one. I like the 22 for fun plinking and could survive on small game with it. I have a mod 28 .357 thats also pretty versitile, but if I could have only one revolver, it would have to be my mod 25-5 45 LC, it can do anything and if my skin depended on it I have all the faith in the world that it can put about anything in North America down.
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06-23-2009, 11:53 PM
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9x18mm Ultra/Police (not Makarov).
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06-23-2009, 11:55 PM
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180gr .40S&W FMJ or JHP
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06-23-2009, 11:56 PM
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45 ACP out of any of the listed below, in the order listed.
S & W 1911SC
Colt Double Eagle Officers Model LW
Colt Double Eagle Commander (primary BUG to the S&W 1911SC)
Kimber Compact Aluminum (Series I)
Kimber Comcact Custom (Series I)
Colt Double Eagle Full Size
Norinco 1911A1, including ramped Barstow comp'd barrel, and lots of STI Ti components. I LUVS me a 4.5# trigger for action shooting. Now if I could only figure a way to make it feed ammo from a belt!
Class III
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06-24-2009, 12:03 AM
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I previously posted .357, but I'd like to add .40 S&W is quickly getting higher on my list.
.22s are also great for plinking reasons (obviously!)
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06-24-2009, 12:03 AM
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06-24-2009, 04:51 AM
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.45ACP. Mainly 230gr. I have grown up shooting 1911's. Then moved to S&W .45's in the 3rd Generation style. I find that the bigger bullet is not that bad to shoot out of a all metal gun. Full sized is always better too. I also just shoot darn good with it, same with 45 Colt.
Last edited by 4864; 06-24-2009 at 04:53 AM.
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06-24-2009, 09:32 AM
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.44 special... 7.7 gr of unique under a 226 gr Venom Ballistics HP fired from a S&W M21.
Jim
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Last edited by Evil One; 06-24-2009 at 10:25 AM.
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06-24-2009, 10:04 AM
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.38 Special
Easy to reload and versital
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06-24-2009, 10:05 AM
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.38 special. Cheap enough to plink with and effective enough for defense.
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06-24-2009, 10:49 AM
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.44 mag--Since I reload and cast my own bullets, I have all the versatility except ease of concealability/carry. I've kinda solved that problem with a lightweight 26 ounce 329PD. I shoot boolits from 175g at 900 fps to 325g at 1100 fps, and lots of 250g at 1050-1150 fps. What more could a guy need? My reloading life became so much easier when I got rid of all my other centerfires and stuck to the .44 mag and a Dillon Square Deal B. I hesitate to say how many .44 mags I own, but in addition to the Marlin and Winnie carbines, I've got Rugers and Smiths in bbl lengths from 4 to 7-1/2 inches. My two favorites are a 629-4 Mtn Gun, and a 5" bbl 629 Classic DX.
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06-24-2009, 11:49 AM
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My favorite is a .44 Special. It is accurate. I'm not punished by excessive recoil. With handloading, it is very versatile.
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06-24-2009, 11:54 AM
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38 Special...For all the reasons stated above.
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06-24-2009, 12:04 PM
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Most anything that starts with a "4" . . . .
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06-24-2009, 04:47 PM
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.40
Great round. Perfect balance between 9mm and .45. Better "knock-down" than a 9mm but not as much "hand-cannon" recoil of the .45. Allows slightly fewer rounds in the mag than a 9mm but typically more rounds than a .45 mag.
All-in-all, a nicely balanced round for self-defense.
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06-24-2009, 05:40 PM
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.45acp 230gr because it makes me happy and I can see the hole from 25yds.
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06-24-2009, 05:43 PM
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I cannot pick an overall favorite, but I can state my opinion of the worst caliber--which is the .25 acp.
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06-24-2009, 05:57 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by greyhawk178
158 gr , .357 Mag, SJHP...
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+1
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06-24-2009, 08:46 PM
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.45ACP
.38 Special
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06-24-2009, 09:06 PM
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.22 LR. Its cheap, accurate, and fun!
With a brick of .22s you can spend all day at the range, practice the fundamentals, don't bother to collect the brass, not wear yourself out and have a darned good time. It don't get no better than that.
I'll give the .38 Special a close second.
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06-24-2009, 09:34 PM
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I never answer those "what if you could have only one gun" threads because it is a moot point in this great country. Ditto with calibers but if I could only select ONE caliber, it would be this one:
.22 LR - .32 S&W Long - .38 Spl. - .357 Mag. - .44 Mag. - .45 ACP.
T.
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06-24-2009, 10:59 PM
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.22 LR.
Can kill, virtually no recoil, virtually anyone can shoot without fear, don't really NEED hearing protection (someone will tell me otherwise, that you ALWAYS do, I'm sure, but how many of you use hearing protection when shooting .22s?), are more readily found on the shelves, ... and they're affordable.
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06-24-2009, 11:07 PM
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It would have to be......
The .357 Kurz/Corto
The .357 Special
The .357 Short Mag.
or
The S&W 38 Special.
No need for anything else, if you ask me. It's the only round that would eclipse the versatility of the .22 LR round, which by itself is a virtual "last one to give up" round.
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06-24-2009, 11:17 PM
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32-20
wow look at all the 357 fans, I'm not surprised as it may be the best manstopper for the 20th century, but I just have a thing for the 32-20. Just because.
popgun
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06-25-2009, 02:20 AM
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Mine pick is the 357.
Rod
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06-25-2009, 04:35 AM
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You can tell I'm from Alaska.................
Huntin',plinkin',defendin',or just plain old stompin'---------The .45 Longest Coltest----You can loaf around like a Hillbilly on Sunday or do some serious stompin' that would impress a bunch of H.A. bikers. This round is capable of rabbit hunting or stopping a bear!!!!! The history alone............Wow, I guess it is what you are used to. All in all, I'm glad I don't have to choose as my 10MM,.45ACP,44Mag,and my .357Mag are all unequaled for their intended purpose. IMHO--Really!!! LOL
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Last edited by Sprefix; 06-25-2009 at 04:38 AM.
Reason: inserted two words unintentionally
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06-25-2009, 11:35 AM
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What's Your Favoritte Handgun Round ? Why ?
The .44 Special is my favorite. I learned a long time ago "don't send no boy to th' mill". The .44 Special is accurate, punches a bigger hole than any of that .38/.357/9mm stuff, and is easy to reload with good case life. It can be loaded nearly to .44 Magnum levels if necessary, however, a 240 gr. Keith bullet at 850-900 f.p.s. is generally adequate for most work. At that level, the muzzle blast and recoil are quite tolerable, and the guns for which it is chambered in, are some of the best ever built.
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06-25-2009, 11:46 AM
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I'm gonna stick my neck out here, but the 500 mag has absolutely become my favorite cartridge. Loading for 4" and 8 3/8" guns.
Between Trail Boss, Titegroup, H4227, and Lil Gun, I can load 275 gr bullets up to 500 gr bullets in commercially available bullets, and with those powders, can make a round that shoots like a .38 all the way up to full house magnums.
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06-25-2009, 11:58 AM
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The most versatile handgun caliber in my opinion is the 10MM.
It can do anything.
You can download to .40 S&W levels or load up to .41 Mag levels. It can be used for defense against 2 legged predators and can humanely hunt medium size game.
If I could only have one caliber it would be 10MM, hands down.
...and S&W makes a revolver for it.
Best Regards,
Arkdweller
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06-25-2009, 12:37 PM
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500 Mag. Why? 'Cause they don't make a 600 Mag.
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06-25-2009, 01:13 PM
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.357.It works.
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06-25-2009, 08:24 PM
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.357 magnum hands down. Then the .38 super. Everyone forgets what this cartridge can do.
DW
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06-25-2009, 08:56 PM
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265g Lyman/Thompson GCSWC 44 over 22g W296 @ 1200fps.
A no nonsense round, accurate, doesn't recoil too harshly, penetrates like a spear, takes game hard.
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06-25-2009, 09:03 PM
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The 41 Magnum for me.The most accurate handguns I have ever owned have been 41 Magnum revolvers.Very versatile if you reload.It is also my CCW caliber of choice.
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Tags
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1911, 22lr, 329pd, 357 magnum, 44 magnum, 45acp, 629, 686, bullseye, cartridge, ccw, colt, k-frame, model 29, model 63, model 66, model 686, mountain gun, nightguard, remington, ruger, vaquero |
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