Satisfied without all the other calibers

[RA40]

As to the OP's post, nothing wrong if that is your enjoyment. Now that .22LR is readily available I've been enjoying shooing this again. Not the same as some of the others yet I'm amused.

NY effectively killed Internet ammo sales with the ammo-background-check portion of the SAFE Act. Although the state backpedaled on implementation when they realized how much their ammo-buyers database was going to cost to get off the ground, the law is still on the books and has had the effect of scaring retailers away from shipping to NY despite it being completely legal until such time as the state gets the database going, which is probably going to be never. The antis got what they wanted, even with an unenforceable law.

We'll see how the CA implementation works out. The cessation of online purchases in '18 was , permits for '19 is

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I'm a crusty, opinionated old Bastard, and to my way of thinking, there are only three useful pistol cartridges:

.22 Long rifle. Everybody needs a .22 pistol.
.45 ACP for self-defense, especially in the gun designed for it, the M1911
.45 Colt for hiking, horseback riding or hunting anything bigger than squirrels.

 

[GRIZ22]

Whatever meets your needs and/or desires as long as you're not fooling yourself.

Skeeter Skelton told the story of a friend that left TX to homestead in Alaska. The only gun the guy had was a S&W M&P in 32-20. Skeeter went to visit the guy after he was in Alaska for a while. He had a brown bear rug in front of his fireplace. Skeeter said the guy never claimed to have shot the bear with the 32-20. It still was the only gun the guy owned.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

There are more bears that have rugs made from guys who only have a .32-20 than there are guys with .32-20s who have bear skin rugs.

 

[mnrivrat]

"So now the important question: what’s wrong with me?"

Hard to tell, but I think 10 sessions on the couch at $100 per will help me pin point the problem.

 

[69Precision]

Personally, I love minimalism and am a proponent of knowing your equipment really well. A 357 python meets all my needs, from defense to camping/woods walking to short range deer hunting. The next guy would have 5 different options for each of those scenarios. Both of us would be right.

 

[Oldman11]

I’ve gotten rid of a few and will keep these,.22lr,.32acp,.32sw,.32swl,.32-20,9mm,.38special,.357mag,.9mm,.41mag,.44special,.44mag,.45colt,7.62x39 and 45-70. I want to be able to find some auto anytime I’m looking.

 

[jhansman]

Nothing.

All I have are guns in .45 ACP and .357 Magnum/.38 Special. I'm happy.

Ditto. I flirted with getting .44 magnum for a spell, but got over it. I cannot imagine the aforementioned calibers not handling any situation I'm likely to find myself in. Barring, of course, a full on zombie attack.

 

[mdauben]

I am an indoor range pistol shooter. I shoot .22LR for grins and 9mm for doing serious damage. I see all the rest, the .380, 357 magnum, .40 caliber, 10 mm, .45 ACP, etc., etc. but for what. I never carry. What difference does stopping power make. Besides I hit what I aim at. If I did carry, 9mm would serve me fine. We aren’t talking Cape buffalo here. Extra money in my pocket.

Seems a reasonable attitude. If I had to limit myself to 2 handguns, I'd probably go with a Ruger Mk. IV Competition for recreational target shooting, and a Glock 19 Gen5 for serious self defence (CCW or HD).

Luckily I'm not limited like that!

So now the important question: what’s wrong with me?

You seem hung up on requiring a "need" to buy a gun.

 

[Choctaw]

You seem hung up on requiring a "need" to buy a gun.

This is a failing I am definitely guilty of. But with the help of friends, family and counselors I have found the joy again in buying a gun simply to have it.

I have agreed with 99.99% of the responses to the OP's post. You have to go with what makes you happy.

 

[Rock185]

I long ago gave up trying to justify, if I ever did, a "need", a niche, etc. for every firearm. If it's something I want, and I can afford it, I buy it. I have multiple guns that would likely fill the same niche, that is if I were concerned about niches. Same for having different calibers, reloading. etc. I just enjoy these pastimes. For many years, I shot, and reloaded for, a variety of handgun calibers, .357. 41 Mag, 44 Mag, 454 Casull, 38 Super, 45 ACP, 10MM, etc. But in my geezerhood, I shoot 9MM more than anything else. Moderate recoil, flat shooting, available in a plethora of accurate, reliable handguns,etc. Other than yearly LEOSA qualification, it's all lazy, laid back, enjoyable, afternoons at the range for me now. To each his own. I think those of us, in the US at least, are fortunate to have the freedom to pursue the firearm hobby, and to have so much in the way of guns, ammo and accessories available to us.........ymmv

 

[Charlie98]

Meh, if you are a paper poker and you are happy with one pistol or one cartridge, good for you. I agree that the 9mm is a reasonable defense cartridge... I carry a pistol chambered in such every day. Over the years I've paired down the fleet... I'm completely out of the .38/.357 business now, although I think they are fine cartridges... I just don't have a use for one, but I'm not going to try to justify keeping the .41's or the .348WCF, I like them and this is still America, so I get to keep them.

 

[I6turbo]

I am an indoor range pistol shooter. I shoot .22LR for grins and 9mm for doing serious damage. I see all the rest, the .380, 357 magnum, .40 caliber, 10 mm, .45 ACP, etc., etc. but for what. I never carry. What difference does stopping power make. Besides I hit what I aim at. If I did carry, 9mm would serve me fine. We aren’t talking Cape buffalo here. Extra money in my pocket.

So now the important question: what’s wrong with me?

Nothing wrong with you if that's what you want to do, or need to do. Just like there would be nothing inherently wrong if you were trying to collect one of every chambering ever made. Guns are a hobby for the vast majority of us. It's an activity, interest, enthusiasm, a pastime that is undertaken for pleasure or relaxation. Thankfully, no specific rationale or justification is required in deciding what guns or accessories we want to have or ought to have. And we are free to change direction over time as our interests change, or if we find a different path that we want to pursue, or if our view of "how many is enough?" changes. We are fortunate to have this freedom and opportunity.

 

[John Joseph]

Kudos on being so focused!
I cut back to five handgun calibers, but I like old-timey handguns which tend to make different sizes of holes.

 

[John Joseph]

Ditto. I flirted with getting .44 magnum for a spell, but got over it. I cannot imagine the aforementioned calibers not handling any situation I'm likely to find myself in. Barring, of course, a full on zombie attack.

How does a gun kill a Zombie? I mean, like, they're already dead!

 

[walnut1704]

I too am just a range shooter. Now I'm older and came of shooting-age in the Golden Era of Revolvers, so that's what I started with. In the last couple of decades I've decided this whole auto-pistol thing wasn't going to go away so maybe I'm missing something. I've been trying out various types and styles of semi-autos, and by that I mean I buy them and shoot a couple of thousand rounds through them before deciding.

For range use shooting SA only with a revolver is hardly a cop-out. It doesn't matter, it's just target shooting. Unless you're Captain Rapidfire. What does matter is accuracy. Outside of a higher end production 1911's, I've yet to find anything that can match the accuracy of my revolvers. Although I'd have to say that the .380 probably would from a machine rest but the even the biggest .380's are hardly big enough to do really well as target guns. But the big .380's are fun and cheap to reload for and worth keeping around.

After working with three different 9mm's I've found the cartridge lacking in the accuracy department. It can be done, but it's a lot more difficult than just about anything else. To me the only thing it has going for it is it's ubiquity. That's not enough. I'm sure I'll keep one of them. But I won't shoot it much.

The revolvers are heavy. Shoot them for a while and your muscles get used to them. I had to get rid of a couple of 8" heavy barrels decades ago. Now those are just too heavy for me to hold them up long enough to get through a string. Never could get used to them. The 8 3/8" K-frames where fine but I got tired of the stupid long barrel and didn't find they offered anything over the 6" guns other than not fitting in your range bag. But they shot well.

Under loaded? One area where revolvers are the undisputed champ is in power. OK there are specialty single-shots with rifle cartridges. But any run of the mill magnum revolver will outclass the autos in terms of putting energy down-range. For reloaders they offer many advantages. Given a quality revolver in .38/.357 there's dozens of loads that will be accurate. In fact it's difficult to find a load that won't shoot well. By my definition that's shooting under 2" at 25 yards. Now I have seen a 9mm do that, but just once and it was a custom 1911 and just one load. The owner said it was the only load he's ever found that shot that well.

But I'll keep one 9mm since the ammo is so common. Plus a couple of .380's. Other than that I have a 1911 in .45 ACP that shoots well for me, I'll keep that. That's going to be about it for center fire autos for me. My go-to range gun is going to always be a 6" adjustable sight S&W. In the midst of all this I also decide to try out a SA revolver. Not super fond of the loading/unloading process but I have to admit they shoot well. Even if they feel funny in my hand. But it shoots right there with my other revolvers. Only accurate guns are interesting.

But hey, you're happy, I'm happy. Life is good.