Which Calibers/Handguns Are Your Favorites?

BBarn · November 7, 2017, 01:30 PM

Many have strong preferences regarding handgun calibers and guns. I'm somewhat flexible in that regard, having several I enjoy. How about stating your preferences (and why)? Let's resist the temptation to discuss why we may not like the preferences of others.

Lately I've been enjoying a 4 5/8” New Vaquero in 357. I find it a nice combination of size and performance. Another favorite of mine is the 1911 in 45 Auto. Have managed to keep one flavor or another of those for many years. And a Glock 21 I have shoots better than average for me, even with my smaller hands.

Another one that I enjoy is a 5 1/2” Bisley Blackhawk in 45 Colt. I prefer the Bisley grip over the standard single action grip when the loads heat up. I've also been working with a Bisley Super in 454, working up slowly so as to not develop a flinch.

Been thinking about a 10mm, which I've never owned. My main reservation is that I don't really need one (which rarely stops me), and I would rather not add yet another caliber (I reload what I shoot almost exclusively).

ms6852 · November 7, 2017, 01:40 PM

I love shooting my Browning Buckmark and my Kel-Tec PMR 30, I also love shooting my 357 revolvers, and my 1911's it is difficult to decide, it is like deciding between the Swedish bikini models or Victoria's Angels. It is a toss up.

MarkCO · November 7, 2017, 01:51 PM

I am very fond of the 10mm and the .41 Magnum in my 6 shot S&W revolvers. I do not shoot them the most, but those are my favorites.

RAEIndustries · November 7, 2017, 02:10 PM

9mm .45 .22 .380

TailGator · November 7, 2017, 02:41 PM

I'm pretty boring. My favorite caliber are 9 mm for its combination of ease of shooting and effectiveness. I shoot a fair amount of .380, too, because I have a pocket pistol in that caliber, and then I had to buy a Beretta 84 just because. I have a couple of other calibers that get shot a lot less. I use less .22LR than I used to back when it was plentiful and cheap, but its use is increasing as those factors correct.

As for favorite pistol, a 92FS is probably my favorite pistol to handle and shoot, with the 84 not far behind. I shoot a Glock as well as anything, though, even though it is far less satisfying.

TXAZ · November 7, 2017, 02:42 PM

9mm Sig P226 Mastershop.

Targa · November 7, 2017, 02:58 PM

My favorites would be .22lr and .44mag. Just few things more fun to me than plinking outdoors with a .22 and then letting yourself know your alive with a .44mag.

lordvader · November 7, 2017, 03:33 PM

1911 45 acp

TruthTellers · November 7, 2017, 04:38 PM

I love shooting my NAA MiniMaster with .22 LR. I bring it at least once a week, sit on a chair and shoot off the bench and hit plates at 50 yards repeatedly. For such a small gun to be able to reach out that far is great.

I like my .40 Glocks, they don't have much more recoil than 9mm, but they throw bigger projectiles.

Anything in .45 Colt and .32 S&W/H&R.

The only handgun that I don't like shooting is a Cobray derringer in .410. The recoil is stout with .410, but in .45 Colt it's fun.

hdwhit · November 7, 2017, 04:45 PM

5.7mm Johnson (a/k/a 22 Spitfire). Pushes a 40 grain bullet out at 2800 fps with essentially no perceived recoil from a modified M1 Carbine.

GarandTd · November 7, 2017, 06:11 PM

I really enjoy 22lr and 9mm. I frequently shoot my 6.5" heritage RR and my friends S&W Victory. 22lr is so easy to shoot and the cheapest ammo one can purchase. I like 9mm for it's variety, availability, and well rounded nature. In 9mm, I usually shoot my SAR K2P, which is a fantastic low cost double stack 9, or, occasionally, my friends Beretta 92. 9mm and 22lr are also budget friendly which is important to me.

Areoflyer09 · November 7, 2017, 07:02 PM

My favorite right now is a Tanfoglio Witness Limited Pro in 10mm. Though with the Witness Hunter here now I feel the LimPro may fall to second place.

CDW4ME · November 7, 2017, 07:34 PM

Glock 35
1911 in 45 acp and 10mm
I'm confident that I would like a Glock 41

muzzleblast... · November 7, 2017, 08:41 PM

Favorite semi-auto, S&W 39-2 9mm. Favorite wheelgun Colt Python 4" .357.

ShootistPRS · November 7, 2017, 08:47 PM

My favorite is a 357 Magnum in either of my Ruger revolvers.
Next on the list is the 357 Maximum. It is awesome in either the Contender or the Seville.
After that is the 45 Colt. There is no finer round when fired from a Ruger BlackHawk.
I am warming up to the 9mm in my CZ 75B but it is too new to be more than a range toy. I have to get more familiar with it before it goes on the favorite list. I got it for three gun and once I get to know it that is where it will be used.

RIDE-RED 350r · November 7, 2017, 09:24 PM

I'm a S&W wheelgun man, and I like magnums. I have a little m36 snubby, a 4" 19-3, 6" 19-3, 6" 28-2, 4" 29-2, 6.5" 629 Classic and a 5" 460V. I don't mean to cop out, but they are all my favorites. Most of my carrying time is in the woods hunting and I carry each of the magnums, just depends on what I feel like taking with me out for a walk. My m36 38spl is what I use for CC.

The 460 is definitely the most dramatic and fun to shoot as well as reload...something about dropping 48gr of H110 in a case, lol.

Hard to pick a favorite among them.

Cheapshooter · November 7, 2017, 10:53 PM

The ones that go bang when I pull the trigger. The bigger the bang, the more fun they are.

JC57 · November 7, 2017, 10:58 PM

S&W K-frame revolvers, .38 or .357.

stephen426 · November 7, 2017, 10:59 PM

I really enjoy shooting .45 ACP out of my Les Baer Thunder Ranch Special. It is such a sweet shooting gun with an amazing trigger. It is absurdly accurate and the heavy weight really takes recoil. Big booms really don't excite me. While I have some very accurate .22 LRs .22 LR doesn't do much for me either.

Kwik2010 · November 7, 2017, 11:44 PM

I'm fairly flexible. I thoroughly enjoy shooting my Glock 21sf. I like to set up clay pigeons on a hill 50 to 75 yards away and see how many shots it takes to hit em. I also like shooting pocket guns. Particularly my old 25 Lorcin (I know, junk, but whatever) until it fell apart.

But my absolute favorite is my 4" GP100 357. I enjoy loading for it, packing it, shooting it, and whatever else you can think of. It's in my pickup whenever I'm in it and usually within reach whenever I'm in the garage working or on my hip when I'm out in the hills or on the boat. Other than daily concealed carry it's my companion. That might have got a bit long winded but there ya go.

black mamba · November 8, 2017, 07:39 AM

The 41 and 44 magnums in the S&W N-frame platform are, for me, about as good as it gets. I've had 4", 6½" and 8⅜" barreled versions, with or without the full underlug, and they all shoot and handle great. My current 6½" Classic is the most accurate revolver I've ever had, shooting a variety of loads into 1¼" 5-shot groups at 25 yds.

Nanuk · November 8, 2017, 08:18 AM

Favorite for what purpose?

I love target shooting with my Ruger Target 22. For hunting it is the 44 magnum. For self defense it is the 357 Magnum, 357 Sig and 44 magnum, with honorable mention to the 40 S&W loaded with a 155 JHP @ 1200 fps.

FrankenMauser · November 8, 2017, 10:33 AM

.44 Mag. All of them.

tony pasley · November 8, 2017, 03:05 PM

a 1911a1 45 acp Is my EDC
Targets my Ruger Mk II
Revolver Colt Frontier Scout

bassJAM1 · November 8, 2017, 03:45 PM

.22 lr is hands down my favorite. Almost zero recoil and low cost are the leading factors.

2nd is a tie between .45 ACP and .357 mag, because, 'Merica

But my practical side takes over and what I end up shooting more than .45 and .357 is 9mm and .38 special, for the same reasons I like .22's (cost and recoil).

November 7, 2017, 01:30 PM	#1
BBarn Senior Member Join Date: December 22, 2015 Posts: 887	Which Calibers/Handguns Are Your Favorites? Many have strong preferences regarding handgun calibers and guns. I'm somewhat flexible in that regard, having several I enjoy. How about stating your preferences (and why)? Let's resist the temptation to discuss why we may not like the preferences of others. Lately I've been enjoying a 4 5/8” New Vaquero in 357. I find it a nice combination of size and performance. Another favorite of mine is the 1911 in 45 Auto. Have managed to keep one flavor or another of those for many years. And a Glock 21 I have shoots better than average for me, even with my smaller hands. Another one that I enjoy is a 5 1/2” Bisley Blackhawk in 45 Colt. I prefer the Bisley grip over the standard single action grip when the loads heat up. I've also been working with a Bisley Super in 454, working up slowly so as to not develop a flinch. Been thinking about a 10mm, which I've never owned. My main reservation is that I don't really need one (which rarely stops me), and I would rather not add yet another caliber (I reload what I shoot almost exclusively).

November 7, 2017, 01:40 PM	#2
ms6852 Senior Member Join Date: April 3, 2010 Location: Texas Posts: 1,394	I love shooting my Browning Buckmark and my Kel-Tec PMR 30, I also love shooting my 357 revolvers, and my 1911's it is difficult to decide, it is like deciding between the Swedish bikini models or Victoria's Angels. It is a toss up. __________________ ONLY TWO DEFINING FORCES HAVE GIVEN UP THEIR LIVES FOR YOU. ONE IS JESUS CHRIST FOR YOUR SOUL AND THE OTHER IS THE AMERICAN SOLDIER FOR YOUR FREEDOM.

November 7, 2017, 01:51 PM	#3
MarkCO Senior Member Join Date: October 21, 1998 Location: Colorado, USA Posts: 4,308	I am very fond of the 10mm and the .41 Magnum in my 6 shot S&W revolvers. I do not shoot them the most, but those are my favorites. __________________ Good Shooting, MarkCO www.CarbonArms.us

November 7, 2017, 02:42 PM	#6
TXAZ Senior Member Join Date: September 5, 2010 Location: McMurdo Sound Texas Posts: 4,322	9mm Sig P226 Mastershop. __________________ Cave illos in guns et backhoes

November 7, 2017, 04:38 PM	#9
TruthTellers Senior Member Join Date: October 22, 2016 Posts: 3,888	I love shooting my NAA MiniMaster with .22 LR. I bring it at least once a week, sit on a chair and shoot off the bench and hit plates at 50 yards repeatedly. For such a small gun to be able to reach out that far is great. I like my .40 Glocks, they don't have much more recoil than 9mm, but they throw bigger projectiles. Anything in .45 Colt and .32 S&W/H&R. The only handgun that I don't like shooting is a Cobray derringer in .410. The recoil is stout with .410, but in .45 Colt it's fun. __________________ "We always think there's gonna be more time... then it runs out."

November 7, 2017, 02:10 PM	#4
RAEIndustries Member Join Date: October 6, 2017 Location: Colorado Posts: 25	9mm .45 .22 .380

November 7, 2017, 02:41 PM	#5
TailGator Senior Member Join Date: May 8, 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 3,787	I'm pretty boring. My favorite caliber are 9 mm for its combination of ease of shooting and effectiveness. I shoot a fair amount of .380, too, because I have a pocket pistol in that caliber, and then I had to buy a Beretta 84 just because. I have a couple of other calibers that get shot a lot less. I use less .22LR than I used to back when it was plentiful and cheap, but its use is increasing as those factors correct. As for favorite pistol, a 92FS is probably my favorite pistol to handle and shoot, with the 84 not far behind. I shoot a Glock as well as anything, though, even though it is far less satisfying.

November 7, 2017, 02:58 PM	#7
Targa Senior Member Join Date: March 20, 2014 Posts: 2,084	My favorites would be .22lr and .44mag. Just few things more fun to me than plinking outdoors with a .22 and then letting yourself know your alive with a .44mag.

November 7, 2017, 03:33 PM	#8
lordvader Member Join Date: September 30, 2015 Posts: 86	1911 45 acp

November 7, 2017, 04:45 PM	#10
hdwhit Senior Member Join Date: June 22, 2017 Posts: 1,011	5.7mm Johnson (a/k/a 22 Spitfire). Pushes a 40 grain bullet out at 2800 fps with essentially no perceived recoil from a modified M1 Carbine.

November 7, 2017, 06:11 PM	#11
GarandTd Senior Member Join Date: June 15, 2016 Location: Rural PA Posts: 1,639	I really enjoy 22lr and 9mm. I frequently shoot my 6.5" heritage RR and my friends S&W Victory. 22lr is so easy to shoot and the cheapest ammo one can purchase. I like 9mm for it's variety, availability, and well rounded nature. In 9mm, I usually shoot my SAR K2P, which is a fantastic low cost double stack 9, or, occasionally, my friends Beretta 92. 9mm and 22lr are also budget friendly which is important to me. __________________ 22lr, 20 gauge, 8mm Mauser, 35 Remington, 30-06, 5.56x45/223, 9mm, 380acp Last edited by GarandTd; November 7, 2017 at 07:03 PM.

November 7, 2017, 07:02 PM	#12
Areoflyer09 Senior Member Join Date: February 22, 2017 Posts: 300	My favorite right now is a Tanfoglio Witness Limited Pro in 10mm. Though with the Witness Hunter here now I feel the LimPro may fall to second place.

November 7, 2017, 07:34 PM	#13
CDW4ME Senior Member Join Date: March 18, 2009 Posts: 1,321	Glock 35 1911 in 45 acp and 10mm I'm confident that I would like a Glock 41 __________________ Strive to carry the handgun you would want anywhere, everywhere; forget that good area bullcrap. "Wouldn't want to / Nobody volunteer to" get shot by _____ is not indicative of quickly incapacitating.

November 7, 2017, 08:41 PM	#14
muzzleblast... Senior Member Join Date: April 16, 2015 Location: Obwat, TN Posts: 285	Favorite semi-auto, S&W 39-2 9mm. Favorite wheelgun Colt Python 4" .357.

November 7, 2017, 08:47 PM	#15
ShootistPRS Senior Member Join Date: January 3, 2017 Posts: 1,583	My favorite is a 357 Magnum in either of my Ruger revolvers. Next on the list is the 357 Maximum. It is awesome in either the Contender or the Seville. After that is the 45 Colt. There is no finer round when fired from a Ruger BlackHawk. I am warming up to the 9mm in my CZ 75B but it is too new to be more than a range toy. I have to get more familiar with it before it goes on the favorite list. I got it for three gun and once I get to know it that is where it will be used.

November 7, 2017, 09:24 PM	#16
RIDE-RED 350r Senior Member Join Date: November 2, 2014 Posts: 425	I'm a S&W wheelgun man, and I like magnums. I have a little m36 snubby, a 4" 19-3, 6" 19-3, 6" 28-2, 4" 29-2, 6.5" 629 Classic and a 5" 460V. I don't mean to cop out, but they are all my favorites. Most of my carrying time is in the woods hunting and I carry each of the magnums, just depends on what I feel like taking with me out for a walk. My m36 38spl is what I use for CC. The 460 is definitely the most dramatic and fun to shoot as well as reload...something about dropping 48gr of H110 in a case, lol. Hard to pick a favorite among them.

November 7, 2017, 10:53 PM	#17
Cheapshooter Senior Member Join Date: December 2, 2007 Location: Missouri Posts: 8,306	The ones that go bang when I pull the trigger. The bigger the bang, the more fun they are. __________________ Cheapshooter's rules of gun ownership #1: NEVER SELL OR TRADE ANYTHING!

November 7, 2017, 10:58 PM	#18
JC57 Senior Member Join Date: September 2, 2010 Posts: 375	S&W K-frame revolvers, .38 or .357.

November 7, 2017, 10:59 PM	#19
stephen426 Senior Member Join Date: March 11, 2005 Posts: 3,840	I really enjoy shooting .45 ACP out of my Les Baer Thunder Ranch Special. It is such a sweet shooting gun with an amazing trigger. It is absurdly accurate and the heavy weight really takes recoil. Big booms really don't excite me. While I have some very accurate .22 LRs .22 LR doesn't do much for me either. __________________ The ATF should be a convenience store instead of a government agency! Last edited by stephen426; November 8, 2017 at 09:19 AM.

November 7, 2017, 11:44 PM	#20
Kwik2010 Senior Member Join Date: August 17, 2016 Location: Montana Posts: 184	I'm fairly flexible. I thoroughly enjoy shooting my Glock 21sf. I like to set up clay pigeons on a hill 50 to 75 yards away and see how many shots it takes to hit em. I also like shooting pocket guns. Particularly my old 25 Lorcin (I know, junk, but whatever) until it fell apart. But my absolute favorite is my 4" GP100 357. I enjoy loading for it, packing it, shooting it, and whatever else you can think of. It's in my pickup whenever I'm in it and usually within reach whenever I'm in the garage working or on my hip when I'm out in the hills or on the boat. Other than daily concealed carry it's my companion. That might have got a bit long winded but there ya go.

November 8, 2017, 07:39 AM	#21
black mamba Senior Member Join Date: September 13, 2011 Location: SW Florida Posts: 890	The 41 and 44 magnums in the S&W N-frame platform are, for me, about as good as it gets. I've had 4", 6½" and 8⅜" barreled versions, with or without the full underlug, and they all shoot and handle great. My current 6½" Classic is the most accurate revolver I've ever had, shooting a variety of loads into 1¼" 5-shot groups at 25 yds.

November 8, 2017, 08:18 AM	#22
Nanuk Senior Member Join Date: January 2, 2005 Location: Where the deer and the antelope roam. Posts: 3,082	Favorite for what purpose? I love target shooting with my Ruger Target 22. For hunting it is the 44 magnum. For self defense it is the 357 Magnum, 357 Sig and 44 magnum, with honorable mention to the 40 S&W loaded with a 155 JHP @ 1200 fps. __________________ Retired Law Enforcement U. S. Army Veteran Armorer My rifle and pistol are tools, I am the weapon.

November 8, 2017, 10:33 AM	#23
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,424	.44 Mag. All of them. __________________ Don't even try it. It's even worse than the internet would lead you to believe.

November 8, 2017, 03:05 PM	#24
tony pasley Senior Member Join Date: April 13, 2006 Location: western north carolina Posts: 1,641	a 1911a1 45 acp Is my EDC Targets my Ruger Mk II Revolver Colt Frontier Scout __________________ Every day Congress is in session we lose a little bit more of our Liberty.

November 8, 2017, 03:45 PM	#25
bassJAM1 Senior Member Join Date: March 31, 2017 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 147	.22 lr is hands down my favorite. Almost zero recoil and low cost are the leading factors. 2nd is a tie between .45 ACP and .357 mag, because, 'Merica But my practical side takes over and what I end up shooting more than .45 and .357 is 9mm and .38 special, for the same reasons I like .22's (cost and recoil).