Top 5 Handgun Cartridges

My Top 5 Handgun Cartridges

1. .454
2. .44
3. .357
4. .40
5. .22

In no particular order,

1. 22lr
2. .45 acp
3. .357 Magnum
4. .38 Special
5. .44 Magnum

The only potentially odd choice here would be the .38 special, but I just think that it is a round that has garnered a undeserved bad reputation. I know it has it's limitations, but in an age where concealed carry is becoming more and more popular amongst the armed public, it has some huge upsides to it. (pleasant to shoot, plenty of gun options, more powerful than the average BUG, etc...). I had to sit and think which I would prefer, the .38 or the 9mm, and while I like both I think the .38 beats out the 9mm simply because there are just more loadings available for the .38, and because I am a staunch defender of the revolver as a combat weapon (even though I love my autos too!)

In Order
1..357 Magnum
2..45 ACP
3. 38 Special
4. .22 LR
5. .45 Colt

In Order

1) .45 ACP
2) .40 S&W
3) 9mm
4) .357 mag
5) .44 mag

.22 LR
9mm
.38 special
.357 magnum
.38 super

.40 & .45 are restricted here in OZ, so the above are the calibres I have settled on.

45acp(self defense)
38 Special(self defense)
22LR(plinking & hunting)
.44 Mag(hunting)
10mm(self defense & hunting)

.45acp
.45 LC
.357
.40 S&W
.38 special/.44 special

22
25
38spl
9mm
45acp.

Hand-gun calibers that we have in our house:

In order in which we go through the most ammo:

.22LR
.38 spl
9mm
.357 Mag
.380 ACP

I would go w/:
22lr
9 mm
38 spl
357 mag
45 acp

45 ACP
45 Colt
40 S&W
357 Mag
38 spl

I'm pretty sure if I ever messed around with the 44 spl and mag they'd probably displace the .357/.38 combo. But I've been hooked on forty fives since youth and never invested in any forty fours.

as you say in no particular order.....
22 long rifle
45 ACP
44 Magnum
357 mag / 38 Special
40 S&W

It seems that most people are voting .22 LR, .38 Special and .357 Magnum. I would totally agree since those were the first 3 calibers I bought except the .22 LR wasn't in handgun form. I'm not sure it should be part of the top handgun calibers. I agree the .45 should be there too.

I'll play.

9mm
.45acp
.22lr
.357 magnum
My 5th is a toss up between the .40sw and .45 Colt

As far as MY top 5 calibers in order:

.45 ACP
10mm
9mm
.22 LR
.32 ACP

In no particular order:

.22 Lr
.45 ACP
.38 spec/.357 mag
9mm
.44 spec/.44 mag

Seems that group will take care of practice (.22,.38, .44 spec), two legged critters (.45 acp, .357 mag, .38 spec) and four legged critters (.22, .357, .44 mag).

just my.02

My top 5

.45 ACP - It means business.

9x19mm - It is cheap center fire.

.22 LR - The cheapest of the cheap and the most fun to shoot.

.45 LC - A classic with plenty of power.

.38 Spl - Another classic.

1. .45 Colt. Longevity and power.
2. 10mm. Epitome of auto-chucker goodness
3. .45 ACP. It's .45"
4. .22 LR. Because sometimes the bunnies must die.
5. 7.62x25mm. The reason we don't need the 5.7mm

Only if you are serious...

1. .223
2. .308
3. .50 AE
4. 7.62 X 39
5. .22 LR

There is not really such a thing as pistol round or rifle round. Be careful making such distinctions. Some loads work better than others but very few are actually exclusive.

45 acp

45 acp 357 mag, 44 mag 38 +P 22 magnum

In order:

Hand Gun:
1. .45 ACP
2. .9mm
3. .38
4. .357
5. .22 LR

Rifle:
1. .308
2. .223
3. .30-06
4. .22 LR
5. 7mm-08

My list goes like this:

1. .22 LR
It helps train a shooter for the rest. The place to start in competition shooting, small game hunting etc. Can be used for defense in a pinch.

2. .38 Special.
Easy to load, accurate, easy and fun to shoot. Lots of guns still available including easily-concealed snubnoses.
Not a bad defensive caliber if others are not available, or too powerful to handle.

3. .357 Magnum.
Good hunting and defensive loads are easy to buy or make. Lots of guns available including police turn in bargains. I know a guy who filled both his deer tags with a six-inch Colt Trooper .357 one year. I've hunted for deer with mine, but not gotten a shot. Can use .38 Specials for cheap practice and small game.

4. .41 Magnum.
A bit off the beaten path, but well worth the trip. Accurate, powerful, easy to handload. Smacks bowling pins around well, takes steel plates down with authority. Some of the most beautiful Smith & Wessons are old M57s and M657s.

5. .45ACP.
Just got done loading a couple hundred target .45s for my son The Bullseye Shooter to use in practice. The .45 is one of the easiest handgun rounds to load. When I started loading the .45, years ago, it took just three tries to find an accurate load. (Not true of other handgun rounds).
Lots of smash but easily controlled. I've used the .45 contentedly in 1911s, a 1917 Smith revolver, and several subguns.

.38/.357 Magnum (list as one caliber)
.45 Colt
9x19
.22LR
.45ACP

These get it done for me. I have a couple of other calibers, maybe .380 deserves a mention for the deep concealment role. But, there are many others that will work just as well for things, for instance .44special/.44mag or .357 sig or .40 S&W, or, or...........personal choice, too many good calibers for any and every use and application to narrow it to five IMHO.

Oh, I didn't list my handgun hunting caliber, .30WCF aka .30-30 Winchester.

.22
.45 acp
.44 special
.357 magnum
.38 special
Properly loaded, these ought to handle anything in my part of the world.