Which Guns Would You Pick If You Don't Reload?

[Bazoo]

I'm passionate about reloading and casting, to the extent that I generally don't care for guns that are chambered for cartridges that don't lend themselves to both reloading and casting, with the exception of 22 rimfires. So I got to thinking; What guns and in what calibers would I be interested in if I did not cast or reload?

I wouldn't have gotten a Ruger Blackhawk in 44 Special, nor would I have gotten a Winchester 92 in 44 Magnum.

Thinking back to before I reloaded and casted, my taste in guns was pretty much the same; Leverguns, sixguns, and 22 rimfires. Those are still the guns that get me excited, and it just so happens that most of the leverguns and sixguns and their cartridges, lend themselves excellently to reloading and casting.

So for me, the answer would be Marlin and Winchester lever actions in calibers 357 Magnum, 30-30, and of course the Marlin 39 in 22 Rimfire. Coupled with Ruger New Model single actions; Blackhawk and Single Six, in 357 Magnum and 22 LR respectively.

 

[bangswitch]

I can't think of any guns I'd be interested in if I didn't reload. I started reloading because I WAS interested. I don't cast (yet), but I reload ten different handgun cartridge types and four rifle cartridges, and those cover about every gun that I've wanted (and have). Of course there is .22RMF and .22LR and I shoot 7.62x54R but don't reload for it. I'm shooting a lot of .45 Colt, and that's the one I might start casting for.

 

[chicharrones]

I don’t reload. Never have. I’ve always spent my free time doing other things.

So, all of my firearms bought over the last 30+ years have been bought with no consideration of reloading. Due to that, I stick to fairly common cartridges for the most part.

 

[Anchorite]

Any of your popular semi-automatic pistol cartridges. For rifle, only 223.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Reloading isn't really an option for my situation, so I've brutally culled most the weird and expensive cartridges from my inventory.
Lets me stock the remainder deeper.

 

[JmacD]

Interesting… the 270 and 30-06 would stay on the list. So would 9mm. My 250-3000 would be getting a different barrel. Really, most (by no means all) of the chambering/cartridges stay the same. But expectations shift a bit. I love reloading! So I hope nothing changes. lol

 

[Pudge]

I'm set up to cast and reload for the .358, .429, .308 families, and they cover anything I might have a need for where I live. I really don't want a gun that tosses my brass all over the place. But if I didn't reload, .223, .327, 9mm, .257 might all be attractive. But no interest in them right now.

 

[valnar]

I don't reload, so I'd say...all the ones I own already.

 

[MarshallDodge]

9x19, 45ACP, 223, and 6GT

 

[Archibald Stanton]

I reload several different calibers, but mostly 44 so that is primarily what I shoot. That being said, that didn’t hold me back from building a 5.7x28 pistol, which I absolutely love. I won’t reload for it and I really dislike paying for the ammo but I love to shoot it. I have a few other guns like that as well but I shoot them far far less than guns that I reload for… With the exception of shotguns. I probably do shoot them the most and I don’t re-load for them yet. I’m not sure if I ever will. I would spend all of my free time reloading if I had to load enough for all the shells that I shoot. I just view it as a necessary expense if I want to keep shooting skeet as a hobby. Some of those competitive guys buy shotgun shells by the pallet load. Good luck reloading that much.

 

[scaatylobo]

From one who does not reload,so a real world answer.

First I would get at least one Ruger Security 6,prefer 4" barrel and stainless [ but I own a blue model that is just fine ].

Then a lever gun in 30-30 as I own 4 and love that American caliber.

A 12 gauge shotgun that loves slugs,like the Remington 870 I have.

And of course a .22 Ruger,might be a wheel gun or a semi ,to be decided on as the semi cannot easily fire anything but long rifles.

 

[P89DCSS]

I don't reload. That's why I picked 44spl/mag over 45c for revolvers and levers. 44spl was expensive during the shortage but I'm stocked up. Same story for 38/357, I prefer it because it's been easy to find and reasonably priced.

 

[Wildfan99]

I reload everything I shoot w the exception of 12 & 20 ga slugs.
I love it when I find the perfect load for 1 of my rifles.

I shoot a lot of milsurps, so things would get pretty sucky if I couldn't reload.

I guess I'd get stuck shooting a bunch of what I consider common boring stuff.

 

[NuclearMeltdown]

9mm and .223! Not worth the time at this point for plinking ammo.

Primers are 8 or 9 cents each to restock with, so you might save 3 - 5 cents per round by reloading FMJ 9mm. It would take a long time to load more than a box or two on a single-stage press, so it's not worth the time for me.

Used to be the case with .38 Special too, but I have trouble finding it for under $20/box now so loading does make sense for me now.

 

[doubleh]

22 rimfire.

 

[Bill_in_TR]

I reload for all of my guns except shotguns. If I didn't or couldn't reload I would stick to 9mm and 45acp pistols and 308 rifles and 22lr rifles and pistols.

 

[Valkman]

I used to reload but don't anymore. I have guns I never would've bought if I hadn't reloaded, but I still have lots of ammo stored up. Now I buy 9mm and 12 ga.

 

[jrmiddleton425]

Add me to the list of people who don't reload. My father does reload, but his reloads aren't good enough to be reliable.

About all I have shot the last ten years is 9mm and .45 ACP, with a couple of boxes of .357 thrown in the mix.

 

[jmr40]

9mm
308
223
22RF
12ga
There isn't anything I can't do with those.

But I do have others including 20ga, 45ACP, 10mm, 357 mag, 30-30, 30-06 and 6.5CM. Finding 10mm ammo can be spotty, but I don't shoot it as much and probably already have a lifetime supply. All of the others are easy to find and relatively reasonably priced.

I've gotten rid of anything that wasn't readily available even though do reload for a couple.

 

[WestKentucky]

If reloading is off the table then I’m gonna have a 9mm revolver because it’s cheaper than 357 ammo wise and more power than a 38. I will have a 270 or 308 for a deer rifle. 12ga, 223, and 22lr go without mentioning.

9mm would probably be one of the new 3” Taurus swap cylinder guns so that I can have ability to use 38 or 357 (but doubt I would due to ammo cost). My old Remington 700 .270 would still be like new so I would have it in its not worn out state. A savage hog hunter or similar ar10 mag 308 bolt rifle would be ideal too. Standard AR in 5.56/223. Maverick 88 shotgun. Marlin 60 and maybe a CZ 22lr.

 

[Legionnaire]

Ditto @jmr40's basic list, but I'd add a 20 gauge.

 

[Show Me]

Blasphemy, I'd rather have my SxS and crossbow

Funny how the .308 is suddenly popular.

 

[Hugger-4641]

Interesting question. Glad that I do handload so I'm not so much influenced by winds of the industry.
If I didn't handload and I was buying my first firearms today, based on availability of ammo and model selections:

For pistol it would be 9mm, 10mm, and 22lr.
For rifles it would be 22LR, 5.56, 6.5 Creedmoor, and 300wm.

 

[bannockburn]

I would have to go with what a vast majority have already mentioned such as: .22 LR, 9MM., .38 Special, .357 Magnum, .45 Colt, .45 ACP, .223, 7.62x39, 12 and 20 gauge. Pretty mainstream with maybe the exception of the .38 Super, .380 ACP and I would also add a .30-30 lever action to the mix.

 

[Leon tP]

I cast and reload, but I bought my first guns back when I didn't cast or reload. This means I probably have all the common (read cheap and available) calibers on the market already, with the exception of 10mm and .40 S&W.

What would change? For me, nothing. I would still keep everything but I would probably just shoot less.