The Firing Line Forums

Go Back   The Firing Line Forums > The Conference Center > General Discussion Forum

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old December 4, 2012, 03:59 PM   #1
breakingcontact
Junior member
 
Join Date: October 25, 2012
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 736
Caliber preference: Do you find yourself liking larger or smaller calibers?

Whether it be for hunting, target shooting, defense...do you find yourself liking larger or smaller calibers?

Why?
breakingcontact is offline  
Old December 4, 2012, 04:04 PM   #2
MarkCO
Senior Member
 
Join Date: October 21, 1998
Location: Colorado, USA
Posts: 4,296
When I am planing on shooting something I need to die, I choose larger calibers. I started hunting with a .243, then .30-06 and now .338-06. The heavier bullets hit harder and down game faster. I have a .450 Bushmaster, .444 Marlin and .414 Supermag as well.

I shoot mostly 9mm in USPSA, Steel Challenge and 3Gun, after years of shooting .40. It is cheaper, easier to shoot fast and more reliable. I have several rimfires I shoot as well.

For defense, it varies.

While I guees I used to ascribe to a medium philosophy, I am more about small and large now.
__________________
Good Shooting, MarkCO
www.CarbonArms.us
MarkCO is offline  
Old December 4, 2012, 04:27 PM   #3
breakingcontact
Junior member
 
Join Date: October 25, 2012
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 736
I'm older than I was...

That can be a factor that drives caliber preference.

I think what has been pushing me to smaller calibers is the reality of what I intend to use them for. For a long time I've been planning on getting an M1A. Why? Excellent barrier penetration, long range and I could hunt hogs and deer with it! Then I realized a 6.8 SPC would give me all of that to the degree I need.

One can get pretty far down into the SHTF fantasy land and justify a need for about every caliber. If you really step back from the interweb/prepped/SHTF obsessed crowd. You can better put into perspective what you are likely to need.

If I ever have the money to blow to go hunt elk of something big, I will also then have the money to buy a nice rifle in a suitable caliber. No sense in keeping some overkill gun for the fantasy hunt or zombie nightmare.

Unfortunately I can see the cost of ammo really start to force more people into shooting 22LR nearly exclusively.
breakingcontact is offline  
Old December 4, 2012, 04:35 PM   #4
Brian Pfleuger
Moderator Emeritus
 
Join Date: June 25, 2008
Location: Austin, CO
Posts: 19,578
I prefer small and fast.

Magnumitis is rampant.

The myth that a 3/32 inch larger hole and the 2,000 ft/lbs in the tree on the other side of an animal kills the animal faster is widely believed.

I am a victim of neither.

Modern defensive handgun calibers are equally (in)effective. Any of them will perform the same.

In hunting and SD, shot placement matters.

Magnum and other "power" factors are irrelevant.
__________________
Nobody plans to screw up their lives...
...they just don't plan not to.
-Andy Stanley
Brian Pfleuger is offline  
Old December 4, 2012, 04:43 PM   #5
SPEMack618
Senior Member
 
Join Date: June 21, 2010
Location: Central Georgia
Posts: 1,863
I like to strike the balance between enough gun for what I'm hunting versuses not too much gun.

I like the .223 for deer and hogs, provided proper bullt type.

I have a 7mm Remington Magnum for the day I finally get to go to Montana for elk.

I carry a .45 ACP for personal protection.

Heck, I even like the 5.56 caliber I carried in the Guard, but hated the FMJ I was forced to use.

Same goes for the 9x19mm NATO round.
__________________
NRA Life Member
Read my blog!
"The answer to any caliber debate is going to be .38 Super, 10mm, .357 Sig or .41 Magnum!"
SPEMack618 is offline  
Old December 4, 2012, 08:20 PM   #6
arch308
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 6, 2011
Location: DFW, Texas
Posts: 876
Let me start by saying my choices are based mostly upon my hunting expierence. I've been hunting for about 35 years, mostly deer. I've taken quite a few hogs and a few varmits. I have found that larger bullets just tend to work better. I keep my shots under 250 yds and have no need for super fast magnums.
I have used my 6mm Rem in the past and was not impressed with it's performance on deer. For me it is a long range varmit round right beside the .223. I'm not trying to start a caliber war, just answering the OP's question as to my preference.
I know it is old school but I prefere larger, slower calibers. For hunting I tend to carry a .308/30-06 most of the time and a .45 for SD. JMHO.
arch308 is offline  
Old December 4, 2012, 09:27 PM   #7
breakingcontact
Junior member
 
Join Date: October 25, 2012
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 736
That's alright! That's your preference for your use.

I'm not a hunter. But from what I've read 6.8 SPC is plenty hard on deer and hogs. I definitely "get" why some prefer heavier slower bullets. Less factors for error to creep in (barrel length, twist).

From what I've read hunting is similar to self defense in terms of shot placement, bullet design being more important than caliber.

I suppose with hunting. Where you may shoot just a bit to get your rifle sighted in then just one or 2 shots at your game causes less concern about cost of ammo, recoil and other consideration. So perhaps for a hunting gun its good to go a bit over what's needed?

Overall...I'm a target shooter/IDPA shooter and concealed carry practitioner.

IDPA/concealed carry/home defense: 9mm is for me. (I flirt w the idea of getting a 380 to encourage carrying more but don't consider going up in caliber at all).

"Extreme situation" defense: 223/556 I get that 308 is the big dog. But about everything else the round brings with it is a drawback. I've read I could hunt some with 223/556 but it seems most consider it marginal for deer. Hence me looking at 6.8 uppers.

Home defense: 12 gauge (used to consider going down to a 20 gauge but the semi-auto has greatly reduced recoil) I suppose this would work for some hunting applications as well.

Range fun/small game: 22LR (probably my favorite round) 22mag is cool and so is .17 but I don't see me leaving 22LR!

I said all that to say this: I've put a lot of thought and consideration into the calibers I can realistically justify. I posted to see what kinds of thoughts you all have had in this pursuit and if its led you to larger or smaller calibers.
breakingcontact is offline  
Old December 4, 2012, 10:41 PM   #8
RaySendero
Senior Member
 
Join Date: August 23, 2010
Location: US South
Posts: 857
Quote:
breakingcontact asked:

Caliber preference: Do you find yourself liking larger or smaller calibers?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Whether it be for hunting, target shooting, defense...do you find yourself liking larger or smaller calibers?

Never gave it a thought til now.

Best answer it can give is in my "Ready-to-Go" 2 gun case.

It contains a 270 Win and a 9.3x62 Mauser.
RaySendero is offline  
Old December 4, 2012, 11:53 PM   #9
skywag
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 24, 2011
Posts: 253
Yes.
skywag is offline  
Old December 5, 2012, 01:05 AM   #10
chadio
Senior Member
 
Join Date: June 29, 2011
Posts: 931
How about.... inexpensive calibers?

9mm

.223

12 ga.

7.62x39

Works for me
__________________
Ex - Navy, Persian Gulf Veteran. Loved shooting the M14, 1911, M60, M2
chadio is offline  
Old December 5, 2012, 09:21 AM   #11
mrt949
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 16, 2008
Posts: 1,692
Down to 3 calibers.
22lr .FUN
357 mag .HUNTING, SD
40 sw .HD
MAKES LIFE SIMPLE.
__________________
No Gun Big Or Small Does It All
mrt949 is offline  
Old December 5, 2012, 09:42 AM   #12
2damnold4this
Senior Member
 
Join Date: August 12, 2009
Location: Athens, Georgia
Posts: 2,525
For me it's .22lr, .38 Special, 9mm, .223/5.56, and .308Win. I have firearms chambered for other cartridges but those are the ones I shoot the most.
2damnold4this is offline  
Old December 5, 2012, 09:46 AM   #13
Patriot86
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 23, 2010
Location: Chicagoland
Posts: 1,293
I try to keep it simple

9MM & 45 ACP for SD/HD
223/556 for woodchucks (take that ya lil chucks!)

Thinking of adding 308 or 7.62x39 for hunting bigger stuff.

I like 9MM for target shooting much more than 45. Same goes for rifles, I have shot plenty of 30-06; I would much rather be shooting 5.56/223 if I am going to be shooting a lot that something like 30-06 or 308.

Last edited by Patriot86; December 5, 2012 at 10:51 AM.
Patriot86 is offline  
Old December 5, 2012, 10:24 AM   #14
lamarw
Senior Member
 
Join Date: April 12, 2010
Location: Lake Martin, AL
Posts: 3,311
I am in the middle (not too far to the right and not too far to the left). LOL

In pistols, I prefer 9mm and 45 ACP. In rifles, I like the .243, 25-06, and .308.

In shotguns it is either 20 or 12 gauge.

I reload, so in many cases you can adjust your load in all the above tools.

I will add their is a lot of pleasure in plinking with .22's , 22 magnums and the little .17 HMR.
lamarw is offline  
Old December 5, 2012, 10:26 AM   #15
Woody55
Senior Member
 
Join Date: June 19, 2012
Location: East Texas
Posts: 407
Within the range of what's appropriate for the task, I prefer smaller and less recoil.
Woody55 is offline  
Old December 5, 2012, 10:29 AM   #16
SPEMack618
Senior Member
 
Join Date: June 21, 2010
Location: Central Georgia
Posts: 1,863
I long ago standardized my shotguns to .410 and 12 ga.

The .410 is for rabbit and squirrel, along with the occassional trick trap shooting in the backyard.

The 12 ga, in various guns, is for everything else that is bird related.

I long for a 28 gauge so the girlfriend can shoot trap comfortably.
__________________
NRA Life Member
Read my blog!
"The answer to any caliber debate is going to be .38 Super, 10mm, .357 Sig or .41 Magnum!"
SPEMack618 is offline  
Old December 5, 2012, 11:52 AM   #17
jmr40
Senior Member
 
Join Date: June 15, 2008
Location: Georgia
Posts: 10,792
As I get older and wiser I've figured out that smaller kills game just as dead, just as fast. It hasn't always been this way, the difference is improved bullet technology.

Same with SD weapons. After 100+ years of discussion, and every test imaginable, no one has been able to show any conclusive proof that 45 works any better than 9mm.
jmr40 is offline  
Old December 5, 2012, 01:41 PM   #18
Old Grump
Member in memoriam
 
Join Date: April 9, 2009
Location: Blue River Wisconsin, in
Posts: 3,144
Most shooting done with 22LR but for serious I like large slow bullets that make a large hole and stay in the target or just barely penetrate all the way through. It's a dinosaur thing with me, I am a dinosaur and like dinosaur guns.
__________________
Good intentions will always be pleaded for any assumption of power. The Constitution was made to guard the people against the dangers of good intentions. There are men in all ages who mean to govern will, but they mean to govern. They promise to be good masters, but they mean to be masters.
--Daniel Webster--
Old Grump is offline  
Old December 5, 2012, 09:08 PM   #19
ltc444
Senior Member
 
Join Date: March 3, 2011
Location: Vernon AZ
Posts: 1,195
I am a contraion. If the gun scribes and masses are going large I go small. When the reverse happens I do the opposite.

Mostly I go with what I can shoot accurately and put meat in the pot.
ltc444 is offline  
Old December 5, 2012, 10:34 PM   #20
Tucker 1371
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 29, 2008
Location: East TN
Posts: 2,649
I lean towards .308 and .45 ACP as my two most favorite but I love 5.45x39 cause it's cheap as dirt and people scratch their head and look at you funny when you tell them what caliber your AK shoots
__________________
Sgt. of Marines, 5th Award Expert Rifle, 237/250
Expert Pistol, 382/400. D Co, 4th CEB, Engineers UP!!
If you start a thread, be active in it. Don't leave us hanging.
OEF 2011 Sangin, Afg. Molon Labe
Tucker 1371 is offline  
Old December 6, 2012, 07:16 AM   #21
B.L.E.
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 20, 2008
Location: Somewhere on the Southern shore of Lake Travis, TX
Posts: 2,603
I go for cheap and fun to shoot also.
.22LR
.22Hornet reloaded
.36 caliber muzzleloader shooting patched 000 buckshot as a bullet.
7/8 ounce reloads for my 12 gauge shotgun.

The big artillary I own tends to gather a lot of dust in the closet, it's just not that much fun to shoot and I hear a cash register go "cha ching" every time I pull the trigger.
B.L.E. is offline  
Old December 6, 2012, 07:35 AM   #22
Capt Rick Hiott
Senior Member
 
Join Date: August 30, 2010
Posts: 376
As my dad used to say (Race car builder) There is no substatute for "cubic inches".

I like big guns!
__________________
Capt Rick Hiott
Charleston,SC
Capt Rick Hiott is offline  
Old December 6, 2012, 10:57 AM   #23
Jack O'Conner
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 11, 2005
Location: Manatee County, Florida
Posts: 1,974
I like 'em both: .243 for long range antelope hunting in South Dakota and 30-30 or 44 MAG carbine for hunting in Pennsylvania. Hit 'em right through the chest organs and the animal dies quickly regardless of the hunting cartridge.

Jack
__________________
Fire up the grill! Deer hunting IS NOT catch and release.
Jack O'Conner is offline  
Old December 6, 2012, 11:00 AM   #24
jmortimer
Junior member
 
Join Date: January 24, 2010
Location: South West Riverside County California
Posts: 2,763
I like big/huge slow bullets/slugs. Like little freight trains
jmortimer is offline  
Old December 6, 2012, 05:15 PM   #25
breakingcontact
Junior member
 
Join Date: October 25, 2012
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 736
You like little freight trains?
breakingcontact is offline  
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:16 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
This site and contents, including all posts, Copyright © 1998-2021 S.W.A.T. Magazine
Copyright Complaints: Please direct DMCA Takedown Notices to the registered agent: thefiringline.com
Page generated in 0.06760 seconds with 10 queries