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View Poll Results: favorite handgun caliber
22LR /.22 mag 10 4.37%
.380 Auto 2 0.87%
.357 sig 3 1.31%
.357 mag /.38 spl 47 20.52%
9mm 42 18.34%
.40S&W 23 10.04%
.45 Auto 74 32.31%
.44 mag 11 4.80%
.500 S&W 0 0%
other 17 7.42%
Voters: 229. You may not vote on this poll

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Old November 24, 2004, 03:05 PM   #1
IM_Lugger
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What’s your favorite handgun caliber

Title says it all What do you enjoy shooing the most? If you haven’t made up your mind yet consider things like the ammo and weapon availability, recoil comfort, and so on.

Keep in mind that this is not an argument, everyone is different. (so .22lr is no better that .500sw)

So lets hear it.
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Old November 24, 2004, 03:19 PM   #2
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Sorry if your choice doesn’t appear in the poll (10 options max)
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Old November 24, 2004, 03:48 PM   #3
IanS
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9mm

Long respected history
Versatile loads from slow and heavy to fast +P+ rounds
Inexpensive and Easy to Shoot which gives me more opportunity to put rounds downrange.
Lots of good defense loads
Lots of good proven platforms that shoot the round

I still enjoy shooting .40 and .45's and like them for what they are but I gotta give it up for the 9mm.
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Old November 24, 2004, 03:54 PM   #4
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I thought my choice was doing good, then I noticed I was the second voter...

Why 9mm? It's easy to shoot, most guns in that caliber come with hi cap mags so you don't have to reload as often, and it is a decent HD round. I'd rather use my .40 for HD (the cops aren't taking my $1300 .45 for evidence!), but the 9mm is cheaper for just plinking at the range. It would be cheaper to use .22, but I like the recoil feedback without the higher impact of .40 or .45. I still shoot my .40 and my .45, but I get more bang for the buck out of 9mm. Just my $0.02.
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Old November 24, 2004, 04:43 PM   #5
Dave R
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Now that 11 people have voted, I'm wondering it this is going to wind up mirroring the market share of these various rounds.

.45acp has got to do better, though...I know there are some .45acp fans on this forum!

(I voted 9mm, though. Personal favorite.)
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Old November 24, 2004, 04:54 PM   #6
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My vote goes to 9mm as well

cheep ammo, good power, lots of guns to choose from, what else can you ask for
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Old November 24, 2004, 05:10 PM   #7
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.45--undoubtedly

Same as as Lugger, user name says it all. If I have to throw a 1/4lb of lead at somebody, I prefer to do it 230 grains at a time....
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Old November 24, 2004, 07:16 PM   #8
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Personally, . . . I would love to own a 1911 chambered in .75 ACP, . . . but for now my .45 will do. Rather nicely too, . . . a Springfield Armory GI, . . . with them funky little sights, . . . plastic grips, . . . and a no nonsense pedigree.

May God bless,
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Old November 24, 2004, 07:19 PM   #9
Ala Dan
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Well, I didn't get to vote in your poll; but without a doubt my favorite
handgun caliber is .45ACP.

Best Wishes,
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Old November 24, 2004, 07:39 PM   #10
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My favorite is still the 9mm Luger. Cheap to shoot, low recoil, lots of cool guns chambered for it, and more than adequate for self-defense.
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Old November 24, 2004, 10:26 PM   #11
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When I first started as a LEO, 38 Special was a common caliber. The S&Ws and Colts were pretty much ALL 38 Specials. The Newhall shooting changed a lot of minds. 357 Magnums became THE caliber. There were even some 45 Long Colts, 41 Magnums and 44 Magnums on the street. The ONLY 9MMs I can remember were a few VIS-35s and Hi-Powers brought back from WWII. THE semi-auto to have was the 1911 in 45 ACP. Yes, I was around BEFORE the 10MM/40 S&W was invented.
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Old November 25, 2004, 12:34 AM   #12
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I have to go with the .357 Mag. A 6" Security Six, an elegant 686, and yeah...a Python...plus that "boom" and that solid thud in the hand that lets you know it's barking with a bite. I get such a thrill out of seeing what a solid hit with a 125JHP handload does to a milk jug filled with water...a thing of beauty!
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Old November 25, 2004, 12:56 AM   #13
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9MM, cheap and easy to shoot. I like the guns avail. in this caliber and its still good for self-protection. I like to say that the .357 Mag came in a close second for me though.
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Old November 25, 2004, 01:33 AM   #14
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.45 is nice but I like the hicap versatility of 9mm. 230 grains at a whack is nice but I'd rather give 675 grains in 5 holes and still have 11 rounds left for backup. On the range I like the low recoil of a 155 gr. load fast shot with easier multiple round accuracy and 147 gr. loads for the combat range for the extra energy at impact so there is no question of the hit. What do I carry all around? Federal 135 gr. hydra shock Ive never had to use it off the range but I've sent many a cantaloupe to meet their maker in very small pieces.

Enjoy your shooting folks and practice often.
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Old November 25, 2004, 01:38 AM   #15
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It really wasn't a tough choice for me...
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Old November 25, 2004, 01:47 AM   #16
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10mm Auto is still a sentimental favorite for me...
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Old November 25, 2004, 06:26 AM   #17
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Though I wouldn't give up my .22LR (cheep to shoot plinker) or 9mm (HD) in semiautos I'm going to go with the .357 wheelie.

Being a reloader I can make rounds from a popgun that make perfect holes in rabid bullseyes to thunderboomers ya feel all the way to the shoulder that'll make godzilla have a bad day. The power range and variety of components you can put into a load is a tinkerer's dream.

Then there's that something about pulling back the hammer of a single action, having the cylinder snick into place then touching off the trigger which just puts a smile on my face.

Last edited by kkb; November 25, 2004 at 07:01 AM.
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Old November 25, 2004, 07:34 AM   #18
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I used to love .38s but for some reason I can't take the recoil anymore.
Even in my larger revolvers the small bones in my wrist seem to be compressed. After about 50 rounds my wrist and forearm will start to hurt and sometimes swell.
9MM has that same kind of snap but not as severe

The .45 has a much more pleasant, different, felt recoil.
Seems to be more of a push up than a snap back. I'm good for a full day without icing anything down



Arthritics for .45 unite !
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Old November 25, 2004, 08:40 AM   #19
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.45 ACP...It will shoot down planes, blow up tanks and blast thru concrete walls. Well, maybe not. But the LARGE hole located on the business end of a 1911A1 is guarenteed to produce the spontaneous urge to defecate
in anyone gazing into it.
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Old November 25, 2004, 11:55 AM   #20
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I'll get rid of everything else before I get rid of the .357s.

In fact, I am getting rid of just about everything else.
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Old November 25, 2004, 12:21 PM   #21
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What's for sale?

I was getting rid of some of my guns until I got a deal on 11 Rifles. Now I have to start all over again... and again.....and again..

We've been converting so many anti's and bringing in so many newbies that I need 2 or 3 of everything just to make things easier on me.

Back to the original question... 45acp followed by 357 mag.
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Old November 25, 2004, 01:06 PM   #22
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Most of my informal shooting now is purely recreational and in rural areas at almost any kind of target. I really like .45 Colt with mild target loads. Highly accurate in my revolver and with 250 g. bullets will carry for long range plinking. Inexpensive to shoot also and especially when reloading. Versital enough to hot load with proper gun for backwoods carry also. My daily carry piece is something completely different but I don't shoot that much; just enough to keep up abilities. My second choice if I get one is .45 ACP for a rapid fire popup steel plate challange I constructed. This helps the above daily carry abilities also. All calibers can be good in some way. Just shoot more often.
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Old November 25, 2004, 02:47 PM   #23
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You left out three of my favorites (I know you were limited to 10 options): 32 H&R Mag, 41 Mag, & 10mm.
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Old November 25, 2004, 09:06 PM   #24
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What larryf1952 and kkb said. The Highstandard Citation and S&M 41 are fun but when it comes exploding water jugs you just can't beat a Dan Wesson, a GP100 or a Ruger BH Bisley. Then third is 9mm.

Happy shooting,
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Old November 25, 2004, 09:31 PM   #25
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Favorite Calibre

.38 Special & 9mm for target. Economical and pleasant to shoot. .38+p for bedside HD. .357 or .44 Special for carry/truck defense.
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