Caliber Diversity or Uniformity

[Diesel Smoke]

Which rules in your mind?

Here’s the situation. I just bought a gun I have wanted for a while. In case you missed my other thread I bought a friends Marlin 1894 CS chambered in .357 magnum. Before this suddenly became for sale, I was toying with the idea of getting a revolver. I have always liked the Ruger Super Blackhawk, and like the .44 magnum caliber. I talked to a good friend who is a wheel gun nut and without knowing what I wanted he recommended the same gun. As we talked and he found I hadn’t shot much .44 mag, and that I had just bought the Marlin he suggested going with the same gun in .357.

So what rules in your gun choice? Is variety the spice of life? I can definitely see where having caliber uniformity would be a nice thing. Less ammo to stock, less stuff needed for reloading, but really all I would need is the die set, everything else I have got….well except the brass. If I am going to be reloading the .44 offer much more diversity in load when compared to the .357, but I’ll be screwing with the .357 anyway for the Marlin. Also Ruger, just issued a Blackhawk with a second cylinder allowing you to fire 9mm out of the same gun as the .357. Since I have a Glock 17, I’ve got lots of 9mm as well.

I know, it all comes down to personal preference, just looking for some words of wisdom, if anyone has them.

[tacoma73]

all my guns are for defense at present, so uniformity rules for now.

[usmcdoc14]

own one of everything and you always get a good deal on ammo

[Drunk tank]

I think with something like a lever action which in my opinion is more of a collectors/every now and then hunting rifle.... having different calibers is fine.

But if its a SHTF gun.... then uniformity would be best.... keeping it as standard military calibers..... 5.56, .308, 9mm, .45, .40

Personally I want a 44 mag lever action Just for the coolness of it! I say keep the rifle and get the pistol in .44 mag

[Hef]

I believe in having a minimal number of calibers for defensive/SHTF weapons. All other weapons are for enjoying at the range, but are not to be depended upon, so ammo supply isn't important (unless I'm going shooting that day).

Having weapons of many different calibers also increases the likelihood of accidently putting the wrong ammo in a particular weapon, which could cause a catastrophe. May never happen, but it could.

[sinistertrucker]

Originally Posted by Hef

I believe in having a minimal number of calibers for defensive/SHTF weapons.

x2 and I am currently working on getting weapons in the calibers that OUR military uses...

[Hef]

Originally Posted by sinistertrucker

x2 and I am currently working on getting weapons in the calibers that OUR military uses...

Agreed. If somehow I end up fighting alongside our military, it would be beneficial to use similar weapons platforms, mags, and ammo. If I end up fighting against them, it would be convenient to be able to pick up mags/ammo, parts, etc from dead guys.

[Budd]

I have a Marlin 1894CS in .357 - great lever action. Reading the max load guides I am running 14.6gr of lil gun under a 180gr cast performance gas checked bullet. I am using magnum primers and yielding 1820 fps muzzle velocity. This load is close to the max load of 15.0gr listed in the handgun section of Hogdon(10" barrel at 1522 fps). I was thinking of getting a revolver to go with it - let me know what you decide.................

[Tim84K10]

I voted for uniformity, but in this case, I'd get your wheel gun in .44, especially since you're going to be reloading.

I don't own a .44 but it'd be a blast to load for, and you can use the same powders for both pretty much. I load H110 for my magnum .357 loads and while it is a good powder for .357, it is EXCELLENT for .44 I'm told, and the load data in the manuals speaks for itself.

I used to be all about variety, but now I'm keeping my calibers to a minimum. I have 9mm, .357, .45 ACP, 7.62x51, 30-06, .22 LR, 5.56x45 and I don't intend to add too many to the mix if I can help it. It's hard enough to keep these guns fed, more calibers just means more issues.

[Diesel Smoke]

Thank for the opinions all. I am still not 100% sure what I am going to do, but I think the best piece of advice (came from another site) I have gotten yet is to buy the .357 right now as it would compliment the Marlin. Then at a later date get another Marlin and Blackhawk in 44! I'll let you all know what I decide.

[usmcdoc14]

Originally Posted by Hef

Having weapons of many different calibers also increases the likelihood of accidently putting the wrong ammo in a particular weapon, which could cause a catastrophe. May never happen, but it could.

huh

[SilverZuk]

Didn't see this post earlier.
If you plan to hunt with it, I would go with 44.
The 357 is marginal for a deer sized game.

If you plan to shoot a lot, an maybe occasionally hunt with it - 357 is a good choice. You can shoot, plink, practice with 38's that are cheap.
You can hunt with 357.
There is no cheap 44 ammo, not even with lead bullets.

As far as magnum pistol cartridges go, I feel the 41 mag is superior for hunting and what I want. Due to limited availability of ammo, brass, etc. I have never owned one.

[Jason R]

I'm a fan of different calibers, but all of my pistols are chambered in .45 ACP or .40 S&W. The .45 ACP is for SHTF, and I will buy a couple in 9mm for use with a suppressor and for plinking.

[DavidVanVorous]

I like diversity then too I also reload so diversity isnt a problem. Now iffen one were to look closely at my diversity one WILL find a fair bit of similarity because I have a 7x57 which crosses over to my 7mmTCU which crosses twixt my .223 AND my 7x57. Ditto .375 which crosses over to the .357 Herrett. BUT all my MLBP is .50 cal...

D.

[PTSchram]

Originally Posted by usmcdoc14

huh

C'mawn Doc, I'd have expected you to be aware of the risk of doing things like dropping a 20 gauge shell down a 12 gauge and having it lodge and blow up the gun.

Things like 32-20 will chamber in a 30-30 with bad results. There are many cases of similar things happening and bad things happening.

Me, I try to standardize things, but still have too many different calibers.

[Spawn_X]

Uniformity.

My pistols are .45 and 9mm, rifle is .308, and 12 gauge

[DavidVanVorous]

Id have to say its entirely possible to "mix n match". My son "borrowed my 8x57 thinking it was the 6.5x55 only to find that the 6.5x55 cartridges dont fit one day.

Me, I just look at both the box and the muzzle before grabbing and running. Still have the issue of .01 thick vs .015 patches for the .50s. Yep its possible for a clean tight barrel to accomodate the .015" thickness but not without a fair bit of cussing on the second shot...

D.

[Bobzooki]

Shit. I don't even know how many different calibers I have...

Pistols:

.22
.357
.256 Win Mag
.30 Herrett
.44 Black Powder

Rifles:

.22
.22 WMR
.30-06
.22-250
7mm Mag
.50 Black Powder

Shotguns:

20 GA
12 GA

I'm guessing I'm missing some.
Match the tool to the task.

Having only one caliber is like a carpenter with only one saw.
Or a prostitute that only works in the missionary position.

[DavidVanVorous]

Originally Posted by Bobzooki

Shit. I don't even know how many different calibers I have...

Pistols:

.22
.357
.256 Win Mag
.30 Herrett
.44 Black Powder

Rifles:

.22
.22 WMR
.30-06
.22-250
7mm Mag
.50 Black Powder

Shotguns:

20 GA
12 GA

I'm guessing I'm missing some.
Match the tool to the task.

Having only one caliber is like a carpenter with only one saw.
Or a prostitute that only works in the missionary position.

Aren't yer "pistols" and the .50 BP off the same frame as in Encore or T/C frame? THATS standarization even iffen the hole in the tubes are different...

On a related note hows $240 for a G2 frame sound to you, happened to run across that on Sat at the local gun show. Course we wont say that thats what I paid fer my frame with a 6" bull .44 mag barrel new in '76.

D.

[Paul Gagnon]

Originally Posted by Spawn_X

Uniformity.

My pistols are .45 and 9mm, rifle is .308, and 12 gauge

Your uniformity and mine are completely different.



I think you need to have different calibres to serve different purposes. If you want to have everything the same calibre then why bother with more than one weapon?

[PONY_DRIVER]

It's good to have standard calibers available for a SHTF scenario, but they get old quick and squirrel hunting with a 5.56 or 7.62x51 is messy.

[Diesel Smoke]

I don't plan on hunting with the pistol, possibly with the Marlin, but it's still up in the air. I think I decided I'd get the .357 in about a month and then get the .44 sometime within a year. Course I'd also like to pick up a TC Encore rifle in there somewhere too, so we'll just have to see how it shakes out.

[Hef]

Originally Posted by usmcdoc14

huh

There are some dumb shits out there with firearms, and occasionally they go put 9mm in a .40, or some similar stupid move.

I keep it simple - .45 ACP, always.