5 calibers everyone should own

#52
Re: 5 calibers everyone should own

1. 22lr (savage mkII rifle and ruger mkII pistol both bull barrel'd)
2. 300 win mag (8-8.5lb remington 700 with a good scope not tactical rig)
3. 12 guage (my mossburg 500 with 18.5" and 26" barrels with an array of chokes)
4. 5.56 (noveske recon w/leupold mr/t scope, and 7.5" pistol with aimpoint t-1)
5. 9mm (kahr pm9 for CC, xdM 9mm for backup,9mm suppressed SBR for subsonic work)

this would be my 5. you could hunt anything in north america with the first 3 and defend yourself with the last two. also you can down load the 300 win mag for smaller game and less recoil. ie 130gr barnes tsx at 3000ft sec.
 
#53
Re: 5 calibers everyone should own

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BobinNC</div><div class="ubbcode-body">.22lr
9mm PARA
.223 Rem
.308 Win
12 Ga. </div></div>

IM COVERED!
 
#55
Re: 5 calibers everyone should own



I'll do you one better, I'll cut it to 4.

1. .22lr - Cause it's fun, cheap, accurate, light, and effective beyond 100m. Useful in both rifle and pistol

2. 12ga - Excellent for defense, easy to use, a load for damn near any situation

3. .308 - easily capable of taking most if not all game in lower 48 with the right ammunition. Can easily be pushed to 1000 yards. Numerous loads available and easy to reload

4. 10mm auto - An excellent defense round, can be used 1911 with magnum-esque ballistics. And with today's 1911 accuracy and flat trajectory of the round, the 10mm can also be used effectively for hunting.

And i'm sorry, I just couldn't let this one go:



<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: viav13</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Ok, here it is,



5. 40 S&W: Harder hitting than the 45 acp with a larger mag capacity in most standard pistols. I like Glocks personally.

Ok there it is, lets hear it...
</div></div>

Please tell me which 40 S&W ammo you are using that is actually "harder hitting" than the .45 ACP. Granted the numbers can run higher in energy, but for some darned reason when I have to run our combat course/pistol qual with my issue Glock 22, I have to take a head shot on the poppers to insure a knock-down and the fellas running kimber 1911's can hit almost anywhere. Strange......guess I should tell this to the poppers.

Not trying to bash the 40, just trying inform and educate.

(Me bashing the 40S&W would be to call it a neutered, bastard cartridge which only came into existence because the FBI would rather accomodate a problem rather than to address and train its personnel.)
 
#56
Re: 5 calibers everyone should own

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: GTriever</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Only 5? I can think of 6 "must-haves" for me. If I had to pare it down, I guess I'd reluctantly drop .38 Special...

.22LR
.38 Special
.45 ACP
5.56/.223
7.62/.308
12ga </div></div>

I agree with this, but would replace the .45 with 9mm and the .357 goes where the .38 goes (so you can use either). I know that makes my pecker smaller, but ammo is more widely available and cheaper for the .45. But I do own a .45 just for the record.
 
#57
Re: 5 calibers everyone should own

1) 22LR
2) 12ga
3) .243
4) 300WM
5) 40S&W

Alternates
1) substitute 30-06 for 300WM if large/dangerous game or extended ranges are not in the equation
2) I personally like the 40 but to be fair insert the pistol caliber of your choice. Let's not pretend there is a clear winner there.

I know due to the tactical leaning of this site most of you list a 5.56/.223 but I go to the .243 because it will do absolutely everything the .223 will and more, with a wider range of bullets to shoot either large game or longer ranges effectively. With a .243 and 300WM (to be fair, could substitute a 7mm Mag) there is no need for the mid-range 30 caliber.
 
#61
Re: 5 calibers everyone should own

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: pointblank4445</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

I'll do you one better, I'll cut it to 4.

1. .22lr - Cause it's fun, cheap, accurate, light, and effective beyond 100m. Useful in both rifle and pistol

2. 12ga - Excellent for defense, easy to use, a load for damn near any situation

3. .308 - easily capable of taking most if not all game in lower 48 with the right ammunition. Can easily be pushed to 1000 yards. Numerous loads available and easy to reload

4. 10mm auto - An excellent defense round, can be used 1911 with magnum-esque ballistics. And with today's 1911 accuracy and flat trajectory of the round, the 10mm can also be used effectively for hunting.

And i'm sorry, I just couldn't let this one go:



<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: viav13</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Ok, here it is,



5. 40 S&W: Harder hitting than the 45 acp with a larger mag capacity in most standard pistols. I like Glocks personally.

Ok there it is, lets hear it...
</div></div>

Please tell me which 40 S&W ammo you are using that is actually "harder hitting" than the .45 ACP. Granted the numbers can run higher in energy, but for some darned reason when I have to run our combat course/pistol qual with my issue Glock 22, I have to take a head shot on the poppers to insure a knock-down and the fellas running kimber 1911's can hit almost anywhere. Strange......guess I should tell this to the poppers.

Not trying to bash the 40, just trying inform and educate.

(Me bashing the 40S&W would be to call it a neutered, bastard cartridge which only came into existence because the FBI would rather accomodate a problem rather than to address and train its personnel.)

</div></div>

Only thing I would change is the .308 to a .30-06

My reasoning.... I grew up with the '06 I own 6 of them,.. and I can always shoot .308 out of them in a pinch just have to adjust for drop..1903A3's and a Garand the only drawback is that the .308s can't be reloaded after this LOL

10mm: compensate a Delta Elite and run it hard... back when I shot IPSC (made B class) the load I had was a 200 PF (135 Nosler @ 1550fps <span style="font-weight: bold">720 FT.Lbs.</span> for you energy junkies..) and could take poppers 4" up from the base... reason was the club I shot at would put no shoots behind the poppers to get you for misses.. my solution for at least 3 matches was to shoot wayyy low until they caught on.. they also used to put a popper out at 80 yds. with a time bonus if you hit it, dot on the spot,send and forget very flat round plenty of whack and if you ever had some old factory NORMA stuff a 200 gr. @ 1200 FPS. the comp~gun doesn't recoil...

12 Ga. everyone wants to argue 9mm vs. .40 or .40 vs. .45 or .223 vs. .308 but no one ever argues 12 ga.
laugh.gif


the .22 well squrrels hate it when my Savage/Anschutz and I go for a walk and she's very quiet..

John
 
#62
Re: 5 calibers everyone should own

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: JerkeeJoe</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Utnapishtim</div><div class="ubbcode-body">1.) .22
2.) 12ga
3.) .223
4.) .308
5.) 9mm

Reasoning = in a pinch, I can get ammo nearly anywhere . . .

</div></div>


Winner.</div></div>

amen sir!
 
#63
Re: 5 calibers everyone should own

22lr
.308
.223/5.56
.45 acp
12 ga

with this assortment there is nothing that i cant kill (atleast in my AO0 and no defensive situation that i would feel outgunned (realistic that is)
 
#64
Re: 5 calibers everyone should own

For generations many houses have had the following and have been just fine:
12G
30-30 Lever Action
30-06 bolt action
.22 bolt/pump/lever
.45
.357 or .38

I of course do have my own prefence:
12G
.308
.45
.22
5.56

All else is fun stuff or alternative to the above. If I had to cut back and draw down to only three:
12G
.308
.45
 
#66
Re: 5 calibers everyone should own

1. 338 Lapua (solves most problems out to a mile in good hands)
2. 308 (much greater range than 223 in a semi and can double for a bolt gun)
3. 12 gauge ( be hard to disagree with that)
4. 10mm (most versatile handgun cartridge IMO)
5. 357 revolver (everyone should own a revolver/chambers 38 Special as well)
 
#67
Re: 5 calibers everyone should own

1 - 308 (M77 Tactical) Handles any Big Game or LR shots I need
2 - 223 (700 VS / Colt AR 6920) Great Coyote/varmit fun
3 - 22 LR (10/22 Target) Just fun and cheap to shoot
4 - 12 Gauge (Mossberg 500) Home Defense
5 - 45 - (Colt Combat Commander / Kimer Pro Carry) 1911's rule
 
#70
Re: 5 calibers everyone should own

1) 9mm Suppressed Pistol for <span style="color: #FF0000">Close-Range</span> self defense and concealment.

2) 12 GA For a <span style="color: #FF0000">Close-Range</span> WMD, versital, reliable.

3) .30-06 Bolt action. Can find ammo anywhere. Good <span style="color: #FF0000">Mid-Range </span>rifle. Will feed your family with big game if the SHTF.

4) .338 Lapua for extreme <span style="color: #FF0000">Long-Range </span>and anti-material capabilities. Also for when the SHTF.

5) Custom actioned favorite rifle of your choice in a wildcat or standard cartridge for extreme precision and having fun. Mine is the 6.5 WSM.

All of these cartridges have readily available ammo except the personnal favorite. I didn't choose the .22lr because it can't do anything you couldn't do with the above listed weapons except cost less to shoot.
 
#71
Re: 5 calibers everyone should own

Im glad to see the 22lr is so popular. I love mine I just didn't put it on the list because I can kill small game with a rock from a sling shot or snare or trap. When in doubt even, a really light 12ga could do some good.

Still It makes me happy to see so many people on board with it.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: pointblank4445</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

I'll do you one better, I'll cut it to 4.

1. .22lr - Cause it's fun, cheap, accurate, light, and effective beyond 100m. Useful in both rifle and pistol

2. 12ga - Excellent for defense, easy to use, a load for damn near any situation

3. .308 - easily capable of taking most if not all game in lower 48 with the right ammunition. Can easily be pushed to 1000 yards. Numerous loads available and easy to reload

4. 10mm auto - An excellent defense round, can be used 1911 with magnum-esque ballistics. And with today's 1911 accuracy and flat trajectory of the round, the 10mm can also be used effectively for hunting.

And i'm sorry, I just couldn't let this one go:



<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: viav13</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Ok, here it is,



5. 40 S&W: Harder hitting than the 45 acp with a larger mag capacity in most standard pistols. I like Glocks personally.

Ok there it is, lets hear it...
</div></div>


Please tell me which 40 S&W ammo you are using that is actually "harder hitting" than the .45 ACP. Granted the numbers can run higher in energy, but for some darned reason when I have to run our combat course/pistol qual with my issue Glock 22, I have to take a head shot on the poppers to insure a knock-down and the fellas running kimber 1911's can hit almost anywhere. Strange......guess I should tell this to the poppers.

Not trying to bash the 40, just trying inform and educate.

(Me bashing the 40S&W would be to call it a neutered, bastard cartridge which only came into existence because the FBI would rather accomodate a problem rather than to address and train its personnel.)

</div></div>
Nice i like that it can be brought down further to 4.

It was hard for me to just do 5. That's why i decided to make this post.

Alright my attempt to answer you,

Through my Glock Im running 180gr lead trainers that I would buy in bulk. Recently I picked up a bulk buy on some 180gr FMJ. I've never had any problem with any of these knocking down anything Ive ever shot at. Besides, The main reason I shoot the 40s&w is because its a lot cheaper than running ammo for my 357sig. Not to say I don't like it, I do. Just not as much as my 357.

Okay here is my understanding on the 40s&w vs the 45acp debate. The numbers running higher in energy will apply more toward targets of flesh and bone than targets of steel. Flesh will absorb the shock of the smaller round where steel will just simply break the smaller round up dissipating its energy into the air. When a 40s&w hits a target its not just putting a hole in something. Its off loading most of its energy into the target. Where the case with most 45acp's is the idea of, a bigger hole, more damage.

This of course is not to promote the "spray and pray" method of shooting. Im a pretty effective shooter and shot placement is always my top priority. I just feel that I can be accurate 15 times a mag where a 45acp shooter may only have 10 times per mag. Of course this always depends on the gun one uses.

I do like the 10mm, oh baby does that thing put em down. Originally when I was looking into a Glock that's what I wanted to get. Then I thought there might be a over penetration problem for home defense use. Another issue I have with the 10mm is its availability of ammo. When in need, the local shootin shop will have 40s&w. Not very often do they have 10mm and never do they have 357sig.

That's my reasoning for the round choice explained. I'm sure that there is a lot of room for argument, there always will be in this debate. Both sides has its fans, and the history of the 45acp is hard to beat.

I thought that the 10mm was being carried by the FBI? Were they and this changed?
 
#72
Re: 5 calibers everyone should own

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Switchblade</div><div class="ubbcode-body">For generations many houses have had the following and have been just fine:
12G
30-30 Lever Action
30-06 bolt action
.22 bolt/pump/lever
.45
.357 or .38

I of course do have my own prefence:
12G
.308
.45
.22
5.56

All else is fun stuff or alternative to the above. If I had to cut back and draw down to only three:
12G
.308
.45 </div></div>

Good list, sounds like we grew up in the same house.
 
#73
Re: 5 calibers everyone should own

1. .22LR (pistol or rifle, it's not that loud and it will keep meat on the table)
2. .45ACP (IMHO the best all around defensive pistol caliber)
3. .308 (my favorite intermediate range rifle caliber)
4. 12GA (can kill anything that walks or crawls in North America and probably the world, I just haven't heard anyone kill an Elephant with one yet. It's the most versatile weapon I have ever used.)
5. .223 (lots of ammo in a little space and perfectly capable for CQB and precision out to 700-800 yards)
 
#74
Re: 5 calibers everyone should own

Ammo logistics aside,

1. .22LR (practice, shooting for the pot)
2. 10mm Auto (self defense, shooting for the pot)
3. 6.8x43 (self defense, shooting for the pot)
4. .300 Win Mag (interdiction, shooting for the pot)
5. 12 Gauge (self defense, wing shooting, shooting for the pot)

Yeah that pretty much covers it for me. I got a few other rifles and pistols I like to keep/carry, but these pretty much handle any problems in any size at any range.
 
#75
Re: 5 calibers everyone should own

1. 22lr practice,practice,practice
2. 12gauge easier to shoot running and flying objects/home defense
3. 9mm pistol
4. 300wm or any all around hunting caliber of choice
5. 6mm br/variant/improved.

I am currently building a 300wm and don't even own one, but it seems like the best all around caliber for hunting if you have to include mule deer and larger sized game, which I do since I live in the great northwest.

I know number 5 won't be a popular choice since I left out the 223, but since I reload the 6mm br doesn't cost much more to reload than my 223ai and seems to be inherently more accurate and can shoot farther accurately.
 
#78
Re: 5 calibers everyone should own

Two lists...one for if you reload
.22
.223
.308
.300 RUM
12 gauge shotty

If you reload

.22
.243AI or 6mm BR
7mmSAUM for the light cary rig
.338 Edge for theheavy rig
12 gauge shotty
 
#81
Re: 5 calibers everyone should own

.375 H&H Magnum
.303 British
.257 Roberts Ackley Improved
6.5 x 52R
.219 Donaldson Wasp

This way it will be easy to find ammo.
grin.gif


I don't know anything about any of these calibers- they just sounded obscure.

My actual list:
223
308
9mm
338 LM
50 bmg
12 ga
 
#82
Re: 5 calibers everyone should own

.223/5.56 NATO (Short Range)
6.5mm Grendel (Medium Range)<span style="font-weight: bold">*</span> <span style="font-style: italic">Beats .308 Ballistics but harder to find ammunition.</span>
45 ACP (Carry Pistol)
12 Gauge Shotgun (Home Defense)
.338 Lapua (Long Range)
 
#83
Re: 5 calibers everyone should own

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Sgt. 0811</div><div class="ubbcode-body">.22
.45 ACP
.223
.308
12 ga. </div></div>

what he said
 
#85
Re: 5 calibers everyone should own



<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: KnabstrupperUSA</div><div class="ubbcode-body">jeez 12gauge isnt a caliber.
smile.gif
</div></div>

We will call it a 72 cal then. lol

I say
a good rifle 308,30/06
a good small rifle 22LR or mag
45acp
and a 72 cal (12ga)
 
#88
Re: 5 calibers everyone should own

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: howdydoit</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: KnabstrupperUSA</div><div class="ubbcode-body">jeez 12gauge isnt a caliber.
smile.gif
</div></div>

We will call it a 72 cal then. lol

I say
a good rifle 308,30/06
a good small rifle 22LR or mag
45acp
and a 72 cal (12ga)</div></div>i knew someone would eventually say something haha
 
#93
Re: 5 calibers everyone should own

only 4

.22lr
.40 S&W
.308
12 gauge

why? I'm a broke college kid and they are all I own, leave me alone...but on a more serious note, I think this is a nice range of rounds with a lot of versatility and availability.

In the future, I would like to add a .223 among lots of other things.
 
#94
Re: 5 calibers everyone should own

Since the OP didn't really mention the list was for SHTF but just what you would want in your safe, I would pick:
22RF rifle
5.56 AR15
260 Rem bolt gun
338LM bolt gun
9mm pistol

Now if were talking survival, SHTF
9MM pistol
22RF rifle
5.56 AR15
308 bolt gun
12g shotgun
 
#95
Re: 5 calibers everyone should own

sorry gents but 5 dont sound like paring down at all to me. granted i have had more than 5 at times but seems any necessity dictated could be reasonably answered with a nice m1a and plenty of .308 to feed it. if a sidearm is needed add .45auto for a 1911 and thats it. do anything you need with these two.
 
#96
Re: 5 calibers everyone should own

Wow, I am really suprised by the number of 12ga. lovers, mabey I just give them enough respect for anything past 100 yards.

Or mabey this could give me a reason to go buy a converted Saiga 12 and see what the big deal is.....
 
#100
Re: 5 calibers everyone should own

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: pinzmann</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Since the OP didn't really mention the list was for SHTF but just what you would want in your safe, I would pick:
22RF rifle
5.56 AR15
260 Rem bolt gun
338LM bolt gun
9mm pistol

Now if were talking survival, SHTF
9MM pistol
22RF rifle
5.56 AR15
308 bolt gun
12g shotgun </div></div>

Nope I didn't put if the SHTF scenario in there. I left that up to you and your needs. I only asked or 5 calibers.

Hell, if it was a SHTF scenario Id only take 223 M4 setup, and a back up of 40s&w. dont need to be carrying around to much in that scenario.
 
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