It was quite the evolution, for me.
When I first started out, I started with 22, because it is cheap to shoot, and easy to shoot accurately. This hasn't changed, and it is still probably my favorite caliber, both for rifle and pistol.
My next gun was a 45. I liked the idea of the good stopping power, without having to rely as much on bullet expansion. If one is to rely on bullet expansion, the 45 can get AWFULLY big. It kicks more than a 9mm, but not so much as to be uncomfortable. But enough that it takes twice as long to get back on target.
For several years, all I had was a 22LR handgun (my Ruger Mk. II) and the 45 ACP. (Ruger P90)
The next gun I added was a Ruger 10/22. I wanted a 22 rifle. No brainer. Lots more accurate than the pistol, free extra velocity from the longer barrel.
After that, I finally broke down and bought a 9mm Glock. I had been wanting one since they came out. But I bought the 34, which I never really bonded with. My rationale was that it was cheaper to shoot, and I was shooting a lot more, and paying $20 a box for 45 was starting to really hurt. 22 is fun, but sometimes I want a bit of a kick. By this point, I was hand-loading all my ammo. 9mm was not worth reloading. I believe I could handload it for around $6 a box (remember, I needed to buy FMJ bullets to be suitable for the polygonal rifled Glock barrel) and I could buy it for $9 a box at the time. My reloads were slightly more accurate.
45 is GREAT to reload for. There is real cost savings, and handloads are noticeably more accurate than factory rounds. It is a low pressure round, and so it is pretty forgiving, although one has to watch for double-charges. The cases are big enough so as to be easily distinguished from all the 9mm and 40 S&W that is always laying around.
Then, I got a bad S&W 64. Stainless or nickel 357/38 4" revolver. I had grown tired of chasing brass from the 45. It was ever so nice to just dump the empties into my hand and put them back into the box for later use. A light 38 Special handload feels almost the same as a hyper velocity 22. I liked loading light 38 Special level loads in the 357 Magnum cases, so as not to worry about chamber etching.
Then, I figured: "I like the size of 45 ACP better, and I know that light hand loads are fun. I should get a 44 Magnum, and I can do everything from target shooting with light loads to deer hunting with heavy loads. Or just occasionally touching off a few Magnums just for the fun of it." I was not disappointed. I found a 7.5" Ruger Redhawk Hunter in 44 Magnum used. It is easily the most accurate centerfire handgun I've got. I've got it scoped, and can shoot smaller groups at 25 yds with it than I can shoot at 7 yds. with a 1911. I can keep them all on a paper plate at 50 yds. offhand. It has me wanting another Redhawk, with a 4" barrel, which I'd use as the home defense gun. (with 44 Special defense loads)
Next, I wanted a Makarov in 9 mm. I had a friend who had one, but wouldn't sell it. But he DID have a Bersa Model 83 (predecessor to the Thunder 380) in 380 ACP. It is an all-around finer gun; just not quite as powerful. 380 ACP is super-expensive to shoot; more than 45 ACP for some damned reason. So I bought the dies, and can reload this for 1/3 the cost of factory ammo. I came to find out that 380s can be inherently accurate, due to the fixed barrel design of the blow-back guns designed for them. I shoot this little 380 as well as I shoot a 1911. Probably better, actually. Makarov would have the advantage of having cheap factory ammo available, but this is a finer gun. I'm torn, but it is too late now. Makorovs used to go for $100, which I believe they are worth. But not $250 they're selling for now. I'll burn in hell before I'll pay $250 for a crudely made Russian gun, no matter HOW big the cult following is for it. (I am looking for a CZ-82 locally though....)
Next, I bought a Hi-Power for my wife in 9 mm. I still had the dies from before, and it is still questionable as to whether it is worth reloading for. Much nicer gun than the Glock 34, IMO. Much easier to shoot accurately, with its single action trigger.
Then, my great uncle gave me a bolt action Remington 788 in 6 mm Remington. This cartridge is still dying a slow death. I'm damned glad I reload. My hand loads are 100% more accurate than the sole factory load I can find locally.
I tried an SKS. I thought it was a cool gun, because it was the daddy of the AK-47. It's 7.62 mm round, I thought was superior to the .223 that the AR uses. I still believe the round is better, when a hit can be made. The problem is the gun was not to accurate. Maybe 6" at 100 yards, if I'm really having a good day. Not at all in the same league as an AR. But then, this was a $100 gun, not a $800 one.
My local range only allows single loading of rifles, so this gun wasn't much fun to me. I sold it before I tried reloading for it.
So, after 14 years of shooting and about 10 of reloading, my favorite rounds are:
- 22LR
- 44 Magnum
- 45 ACP
- 380 ACP
- 357 Magnum
- 6 mm Rem
I'm betting I would like 243 Win and 223 Rem in rifles, if I ever loaded for them and had a gun for them. I also bet I would really like 9 mm Makarov.
If I had to choose based on today's prices and factory loadings, I would probably pick as such:
- 22LR
- 9mm Luger
- 9mm Makarov
- 223 Rem
- 7.62 x 39
I'm sure that post put everyone to sleep, but I'm hoping the original poster got something out of it, at least.
