Answers to unasked questions, etc...

[Cousin Mike]

I often hear the .40S&W and .357 Sig, among other pistol calibers regarded as 'insignificant' rounds, compromise rounds, answers to an unasked question, etc. Lot's of people seem to completely stay away from those rounds for these reasons. To keep it short and simple, I just don't get it. Anything .355"+ with recent ammo technology is fine for SD purposes, so what's the big deal? What about just liking something for what it is? I personally haven't met too many pistol rounds I haven't liked. I wouldn't mind having another .25 or .32H&R mag one day. Maybe not for SD/HD, but for the range? For fun? Sure.

I know I'm not alone on this one. Whatever happened to variety? What about plain ol' fun? Why must it be only the .45ACP or the 9mm, the .357Sig or the .40S&W, etc. etc. etc.?

...why can't ya like them all?

 

[mattw]

i would like them all if i had enough money to feed all those different guns with different ammo. I really like .45 so i buy guns chambered for it because i can save money by sharing ammo. I like 9mm because its a full power round that i can shoot for alot cheaper than .45. Also you can almost find .45 or 9mm laying around on the sidewalk like a penny.. it is very common and easy to find everywhere.

technically i really can't afford ammo at all right now.. i'm a college student making truck payments and saving for a wedding. ever met anyone more strapped for cash?

 

[Cousin Mike]

ever met anyone more strapped for cash?

Not really. I'm pretty damn broke. I find ways to get more guns and shoot them.

I'm not saving for anything big at the moment, but we all have bills. Congratulations on your future wedding.

I wasn't really asking why people don't own guns in every caliber, and shoot all of them every weekend. I was asking why some people seem to love one caliber and hate everything else.

Sorry if I was unclear.

 

[TimboKhan]

well, to some degree I attribute it to crustiness and close-mindedness. For a long, long time I would have nothing to do with 9mm, but now I own three 9mm autos and by god, I am considering another. I think another reason is just tradition and loyalty. Traditionally, the .45 has been the great American round for pistols, and I am guessing that a lot of guys are loyal to the rounds that they grew up with. Not that they are pistol calibers, but I am a staunch supporter of the .270 because my dad has performed miracles with that caliber over the years, and I am equally as staunch about the 7mmRemMag because that just happens to have been the caliber of my first hunting rifle.

 

[mattw]

i guess i just like .45 because it can do everything i need from a pistol. i don't really like anything else because theres no need. if it ain't broke don't fix it right?

 

[ugaarguy]

i guess i just like .45 because it can do everything i need from a pistol. i don't really like anything else because theres no need. if it ain't broke don't fix it right?

Unless you need to shoot thru barriers; wherein the 9mm Parabellum would be great, unless you want a heavier bullet with a wider frontal area Hence 40 S&W provides a nice blend of the capabilities of both 9mm & 45 ACP. Playing the devil's advocate here, but different rounds for different folks, and different situations. That said I own a Browning Hi-Power in 9mm, and bought a 1911 in 45 ACP tonight (well I guees it's yesterday now). Anything from 38 Special on up will work for me; even .380 in some cases when I carry my P3AT for deep concealment.

 

[30-06 lover]

For me, I like the 45.

Had I started with a different caliber, I probably would have used it instead of a 45, but thanks to my brother, I started with the 45 ACP. The 45 is tried and true. It is accurate, manageable, and hits hard. What not to like?

Price is also a factor. It costs a lot of money for guns and ammo.

The number one reason is the old saying "Fear the one gun man". I shoot one pistol only now. Doing that I have leaned the feel, controls and recoil so well that it is an extension of me now. I made the mistake of shooting a friend's 9mm XD recently and it took me about two weeks to get back to the intimacy level with my USP that I had before shooting the 9mm. Keep it simple.
-Mike

 

[Warren]

I'm a .45 guy (soon to be a .50 G.I. guy) but I don't bash the other rounds. I like having them out there because that means each individual has a better chance of finding a gun + round system that is right for them.

THere are so many variables even the wide selection we have now cannot cover everything so I say bring on more calibers, more guns! More! More! More!

 

[Dr.Rob]

Trurthfully I have 45's and 9's... and a .357 magnum... don't see a need for something that fits in-between. Above and below, sure.

357 Sig is (supposedly) notorious for bullet set-back and the brass likely won't last as long for re-loading.

But I don't doubt they 'work'

I almost, ALMOST bought a .40 cal pistol once because the price was right. I retrospect I should have bought the Colt marked Z40. But that would have been because it was a Colt, and a rarity, not because of the caliber.

Caliber peeve?

I hate .40 cases as the fit into 45 acp cases. I hate 10mm as they look almost like 45, until you try to load a .45 cal bullet into one. I give away .38 special brass that ends up in my reloading stuff. If I didn't reload, I wouldn't care.

I'd still like a .32 for fun.

 

[BigG]

I've had about every gun and ammo combination including .357 SIG and 40 S&W - plus many more, and just became tired of stocking ammo like I was a gun store. Now I'm down to only 10 - 12 different chamberings

 

[makarovnik]

I like all those rounds. I do like some better than others though. I just like to limit the number of different calibers I have because of ammunition storage. Here's what I have so far (in handgun calibers):

.22LR
.25ACP (Why? I don't know, maybe because it's more reliable than .22LR in a small auto).
7.62x25 (Why? I don't know, my polish tokarev was cheap and it shoots well. I wish it was in some other bottlenecked cartridge like .357SIG)
.380ACP A very accurate round in the right pistol
9x18 (Why? I love my makarov but maybe I should have bought one in .380ACP)
9mm Parabellum
.38 special
.45ACP I love the way they shoot

I'm thinking someday of eliminating the .25ACP and the 7.62x25 because I think I already have enough practical calibers without them. I hate to get rid of perfectly good guns though. The only handgun I really have a hankerin' for is a 1911A1 in .38 super. Why? Hell if I know.

 

[mattw]

I own guns in .45 ACP, 9mm, .22 LR, .308, .243, .30 carbine, .30-.30, and 12 guage. I think i can cover any situation that might arise with those.

 

[cracked junior]

i got the 45 acp. and why for? because the springfield xd tactical 5 inch model was, the same price for the 9mm as the 45. i dont know understand why. then i looked at ammo prices, and there was only a couple dollars in price difference. so i said screw it, i will get the 45. and this way, if the need ever comes i have a good people knock down round. orignaly was going for small animals around the farm.

 

[C-grunt]

I think the .40 was the answer to an ASKED question, otherwise it wouldnt be here. Some people wanted more rounds than the .45 carried and more power than the 9mm. It might not have been the question that some of these closeminded people had, but it was there.

 

[mattw]

kind of like the question of "Can you build mini vans?" right?

 

[Warren]

How about building a Cooper Mini van?

 

[mattw]

or mini cooper wagon

 

[Cousin Mike]

I made the mistake of shooting a friend's 9mm XD recently and it took me about two weeks to get back to the intimacy level with my USP that I had before shooting the 9mm. Keep it simple.

I can see your point here. My 1911 is so different than any of my other pistols that most times when I take it to the range, I take it by itself. The sights, feel of shooting it, etc. are totally different than any of my other autos. My Colt hasn't been taken to the range yet (although it has been fired... long story ).

With my other autos, or should I say anything with a decent sight system (I have GI sights on my 1911... very accurate, but a pain in the arse to see in the dim lighting at my indoor range) - I really don't notice much of a difference in how I shoot between makes, models or calibers.

I've shot almost every make and model of pistol I can think of at one point or another, and I just love pistols for being pistols... Magical Super death ray Brand XYZ bullets chambered in (insert super wonder-caliber here) are fun and cool and great, and all that... but I can't say I've ever fired a pistol round and come away thinking,

"That sucked... I NEVER want one of those"

From a tactical standpoint, I like being familiar with lots of different guns in lots of different calibers.. As dangerous as I might be with only one of my Sigs, I think that if I become proficient with a multitude of weapons systems, platforms, etc. - that makes me that much more dangerous all around. No matter what sort of weapon I might need to "borrow in a hurry," I'll probably be comfortable enough with it to be proficient with it. Just my way of thinking.

By the way, .45ACP is also my favorite cartridge... I still like everything else though - although .357Sig is a VERY close second, considering that I shoot it almost as well as .45ACP.

Never fired 7.62x25 or 9x18 - they sound fun though!

Seems I have found a new goal for this year...

 

[Ron Brooks]

How about a Mini Cooper Scout Van or Wagon.