Favorite Revolver Cartridge?

[Nightcrawler]

What's your favorite revolver cartridge? Let's assume that they all cost the same for a minute; which do you just like to shoot the most?

 

[ACP230]

I shoot a lot of .38 Special, but my favorite revolver cartridge is the .41 Magnum.

 

[J Miller]

.45 Colt. First, Formost, and Finally.
It was my first centerfire handgun round and has never fallen from my favorite.
My cary guns are .45 Colt, and my field gun is too.


E gads, am I in a rut or what?

 

[RWK]

.45 Colt: Can be loaded from mild (essentially the same muzzle velocity and bullet weight as a .45 ACP) to fierce (greater muzzle energy/velocity than the .44 magnum) – and everything in between.

 

[chaim]

I would have to say .357mag. I don't yet own a .45lc or .41mag so I do leave open the option to someday change my mind if needed (those are the only calibers that I can see being competition to the .357mag for me).

Still, I think .357mag will stay my favorite. More variety in what the guns can do well, from cheap plinking (though you said all are just as cheap for this "exercise), light recoiling .38s, good defensive .38+Ps, hard hitting .357 defensive rounds to really hard pounding 158 and 180gr hunting rounds. With magnums alone, if you reload you can have close to .38spl levels of recoil through the hard pounding stuff (and in a K-frame or larger there are some factory loads that are pretty mild). Also, it is chambered in everything from small J-frames through big 6" and 8" N-frames. The .41mag doesn't seem to be as versatile in either the chambering or the guns in which it is chambered. The .45lc ammo is about as versatile (if cost isn't an issue) but it is also usually found in larger guns (the smallest I know of is the medium framed Taurus 450).

 

[Mike Irwin]

.357 Magnum, but the .41 Mag. is nipping at its heels.

 

[Dr.Rob]

.357

45 ACP/44 MAGNUM Close behind.

 

[Shooter973]

Favorite Revolver Cartridge!

I have to go with the 44 Mag as my favorite revolver round! It'll do anything that any of the others will do just by adjusting the load . I can load it lite for young shooters, medium for bowling pins and HOT for hunting. I cast my own bullets so the cost is nearly the same for any caliber that I reload, but the 44 is the one that gets shot the most!

 

[Nightcrawler]

Interesting that a lot of people that prefer big, slow bullets in autoloaders prefer light, fast bullets in revolvers. (Specifically, the .357 magnum and the currently popular 125 grain light-loads.)

Is it just 'cause big bore revolvers are large framed, too?

 

[444]

For me, hands down, the .357. I like them all and I own revolvers in a half dozen different calibers. But my faviorite is the .357 and it is proven out in the number of guns I own in that caliber. The caliber itself is part of the equation. As was mentioned, you can shoot anything from plastic bullets from Speer, on up to bullets weighing in the neighborhood of 200 grains. It is a great plinker, hunter, or personal protection piece. But for me I think the best part of it is the package. There are so many great guns chambered in this caliber and as mentioned they vary from pocket pieces to large frames. I have a little SP101 that I can drop in my pants pocket. I also have two Redhawks in .357 that take two men and a boy to hold up. The Model 19/66 is the perfect belt gun for defense.......................... Back when the .357 was introduced, it was considered to be a very potent cartridge. Wesson hunted all over North America with a .357 and took animals up to and including grizzly bear and moose. Nothing has changed about the cartridge, it is still just as potent as ever, but our attitudes have changed to believe that we need a .475 Linebaugh or a .500 S&W to take a 150 pound whitetail deer.

 

[farscott]

.22 LR for Me

I must be the odd man out. My favorite revolver cartridge is the .22 LR. For me, .22 LR + Revolver = Fun. I enjoy the centerfire revolver cartridges, but .22 LR is my first love.

 

[popbang]

My favorite revolver cartridge is my favorite overall, and it is the .45 Colt. I use the caliber for my ccw, and for big game hunting. I won't leave home without a .45 Colt.

 

[P95Carry]

.357 mag .... as a top choice. But only just ..... .44 mag is nipping it's heels!

I know cost was supposed not to matter but - I have to take that into consideration .. it is a more economical round to load (or purchase).

 

[jar]

Probably 45acp, 38 spl, 44 spl, 357 mag then 44 mag.

 

[PlayTheAces]

I've never been able to decide.

 

[Rogelio]

it is 38 spl for me...it is also the only one I have ever shot...(ok, besides a revolver in .22lr..)

 

[Nightcrawler]

Hey, Rogelio. Can regular folks legally own .357 magnums in Peru? Is Peru one of those countries that bans "military calibers"? If so, what calibers are on the list?

 

[Randy63]

farscott , You're not by yourself in favoring the .22lr catridge. It's my favorite as well with the .357 Magnum running a close second.

Randy

 

[Poohgyrr]

The .357 always comes to mind; it's a great round & revolvers for it are a favorite. But the .44 Special puts the biggest smile on my face.

 

[jdmb03]

The .357 magnum has always been #1 with me.

 

[Archie]

Old guy...

I'm the other 44 Special fan.

 

[James Bondrock]

For self defense against two-legged varmints, .357 Magnum. For hunting, .44 Magnum.

 

[SnWnMe]

45 ACP. I think we should call it 45 Long now because Glock came out with a 45 Short.

 

[Prodigalshooter]

I'm also going for the .45ACP in a wheel gun, big bullet, propelled at whatever speed you want (handloading), what's not to like?

 

[7.62FullMetalJacket]

The .357 is fun and handy, and chambered in smaller guns. But nothing is as satisfying as putting some .44 mags down range. Not to mention perforating flesh and bone. If cost is not a consideration, then .44 mag is the way. 45 acp is a distant third.