Best cartridge?

olds442guy

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In your opinion, what's the best all around cartridge? And yes, I know that depends on what you need it for, your budget, the shooter, and a thousand other factors. I'm just interested to see everyone's opinion.

So, all things considered, what cartridge would you pick if you could only have one?

My vote goes to .44 mag because I think it's a good balance of size, power, and affordability.
 
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38 special:

1 cheap to shoot if you reload
2 plenty of cases available
3. pleasant recoil (why get beat up shooting at paper or metalic targets)
4. fun fun fun
5. plenty of power for personal defense
 
Can't find fault with the .44, with the exception of long distance. I'd have to divide it into rifle and pistol. My personal favorites are .308 for rifle, .38 Super for pistol, .357 for revolver based on my own experience. I'm sure others have their own preferences, these three are mine.
 
the 44 mag; you can use 44spl. for protection or full blown loads in either a revolver or rifle for everything else.
 
.40S&W, more punch than 9mm but less recoil than .45ACP.

The variety of bullets and loads makes it a perfect round for self defense as well as target shooting.
 
Maybe not the best, but my favorites are .22lr, .38/.357, and .30-06. I'm not sure there is such a thing as one "Best" cartridge. The Best target cartridge may not be the best hunting cartridge or be the best HD cartridge.
 
In your opinion, what's the best all around cartridge? And yes, I know that depends on what you need it for, your budget, the shooter, and a thousand other factors. I'm just interested to see everyone's opinion.

So, all things considered, what cartridge would you pick if you could only have one?

My vote goes to .44 mag because I think it's a good balance of size, power, and affordability.

Over the years I've had a lot of handguns in calibers ranging from .22LR, 9mm, .38/.357, .44 Spec./Mag. and .45 ACP. I would very much not want to be limited to one single caliber. I recognize that social and political changes may well result in such changes becoming reality. If I should be limited to one single caliber, it would be the .38 Special/.357 S&W Magnum.
 
Maybe not the best, but my favorites are .22lr, .38/.357, and .30-06. I'm not sure there is such a thing as one "Best" cartridge. The Best target cartridge may not be the best hunting cartridge or be the best HD cartridge.

Yeah, that's right. I would choose more cartridges as well, like 7.62x51 and .30-06 for rifles. But since olds442guy was asking

...what cartridge would you pick if you could only have one?

I would go with .40S&W :)
 
.44 Magnum hands down. Load it up, load it down, shoot it out of a revolver, and auto pistol or even a carbine...

But I admit that both the .357 Magnum and .45 Auto come close for the same reasons....
 
.38 Special /.357 Mag. for me. Can be uploaded & downloaded for Plinking--Hunting--Targets.
When uploading just be sure your wheelgun is made for the pressure!!!
 
All good choices, and .357 and .45 auto were close behind .44 mag for me.

And for those who couldn't pick just one, I'm right there with ya. This wasn't so much a practical question, but more just to see what peoples' all around favorites are.
 
The 45/70 govt. It can be reloaded with everything from a 145 gr. roundball to a 600 gr. fmj bullet. I shoot a BFR revolver and I can hunt everything from squirrel to elephant if needed.
 
I'm also in for the 357/38 have several revolvers and a lever action rifle that can handle 90% of my needs. Second place would have to be 22LR (rifle and pistol compatibility like the 357).

A full magazine from a 10/22 would be close enough to a round of buckshot, and I could afford to buy and carry enough 22LR for ten shots per target if necessary.
 
.357 Magnum, even in the more powerful loading it can be used on small game, big game and personal defense.
 
In terms of being ubiqiutous, and having the most versatility; I would have to say the 357 Magnum. It's the 30/06 of the handgun world!
 
I initially interpreted the OP's question as being ONE cartridge, i.e. either a .38 OR .357, but not both. Apparently the popular:D interpretation is what is the best "overall caliber".

In that regard, if concealment was not an issue and I was told to survive for twelve months with only one gun and my choice of all ammo it was capable of, it would be a Marlin 1894-type lever gun with a short 16" barrel in:

1) .38/.357
2) .44/.44Mag
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.3) 12gauge pump (distant third)
 
12 gauge is a favorite of mine too. I didn't even have rifle cartridges in mind when I posted, but it's interesting reading all the different preferences.
 
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