Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Your favorite handgun cartridge

Same as before - .357 Magnum.

Even with all of the .44 Magnums, .41 Magnums, .45 Colts, .45 Autos and .44 Specials - a few dozen in total - I generally settled on a certain power and especially recoil level for most all shooting, with comparatively few rounds of the above fired at absolute full power. The .357 in a medium sized revolver gives a comfortable recoil level at a higher velocity than the others for a bit flatter shooting. Plus, as a bullet caster, it throws just a bit less lead away with each shot so it's a bit more economical in that regard. I've never been a big game handgun hunter so it gave all the power I've ever needed.

While I've probably had three times as many .44 Magnum revolvers as .357's, I've probably shot three times as many .357 rounds as all the others put together. I figure that's because the .357 got it right the first time. A K or L frame Smith or a Ruger Blackhawk or GP-100 makes a good packing gun and is just right for that chambering.

45acp/45 AR... Have a couple of semi-autos, But my absolute favorite is my S&W 625.

acp level, +P, 45 Super, and nearly 45 Rowland level out of the 625. Then add in the handiness of full moon clips. Kind of a do it all.

Jerry

Probably .38 SPL. out of Model 10's.

I realize that it's a rather boring choice,...but there's so many good cast bullets and propellants to choose from,...and the Model 10 digests all of them so well, that I have to pick a Model 10 firing .38 Specials.

A gas checked 180 grain LBT WFN on top of enough 2400 to make it burn clean and hit point of aim at 40 feet it a fine thing,...as is a 160 grain plain base cast bullet, LBT WFN, over 6 grains of Unique.

Yep!

an unusual question here--but if i understand it right you possibly framed it as "favorite to shoot".

the venerable 9 mm.

I did ask favorite to shoot.

Somebody had to be first to mention the 9mm.

I'd have to say 45 Colt mainly because that's mostly all I've shot for the past 15-20 years. However, I haven't been shooting it as much lately - been fiddling with a 357, 44 spl, a couple of 45 acp's, and a 454 Casull. I'm really liking the 44 spl...

I gotta say, after thinking on this since yesterday...and it's now today...my official favorite handgun cartridge depends on which day it is. I'm glad there are 7 days in a week.

To me, it's a matter of picking the gun and the cartriage. Odviously, you have to be shooting the cartriage in something.
Then it comes down to what you use a handgun for.
With all of that in mind, I do more types of shooting, hunting and carrying concealed with the .45 ACP in a 1911 or a SIG 220 than anything else.
If open carry in the field were what I did the most of, it would be the .44 Magnum in a Smith 29.
I've carried, shot targets and hunted with a wide variety of handgun cartriages. The 5.7 FN, the .256 Winchester Magnum, some 9mm's, the .38 Special, the .357 Magnum, the 10mm, the 41 Magnum, the .44 Magnum and the .45 ACP. Except for the single shot .256, just about any of them will work for most handgun chores. But the .45 ACP, in a quality 1911 is the one I enjoy the most. E

I hear you - almost posted "single action: 45 Colt, double action: 44 spl, auto: 45 acp...

38spl, 357, 9mm, 45acp-- hell I like them all

.41 Magnum, by far.

357 remington maximum
God Bless Elgin T. Gates!

hands down 45 ACP for me has been and still continues to be the most consistently accurate round.

45 Colt.
but almost no experience with 45acp...yet

I shoot most of what is out there (32 H&R Mag to the 500 Linebaugh) but would have to say the 44 Mag is my single pick. Whilst I own many this one in particular would likely top the list.

That a fine looking .44. What are the details and who did the work?

Screw that! If someone told me I had to pick one I'd shoot the sumbitch with a .40 or .38 or .41 or... Oh, never mind,

My votes as well.

Revolver: .41 mag

Auto: 10 mm