Author Topic: How many favorite calibers have you had in your lifetime? (Read 3004 times)

charles p · « **on:** November 24, 2009, 03:15:56 PM »

In response to the post about your favorite caliber, I pondered just how many I have had. Never bought a gun that wasn't my newest favorite. I started out with 30-06, then the magnum craze swept me up, then I downsized, then the WSM came alone, then I went to light weight short action calibers. Haven't yet joined the lever action crowd, but I might. Never owned a Weatherby mag either, and doubt I will. At age 63, I no longer want weight or recoil from a shotgun or rifle.

If average shooters and hunters follow my tracks, there will always be buyers for most everything made. That's good news for the gun industry.

What phases and favorite calibers have you been through?

mogwai · « **Reply #1 on:** November 25, 2009, 03:51:55 AM »

30-06 has always been near the top of my list. After tracking a couple to gut piles on public land, I wanted a bigger hole. That led to a 45-70 fever, which has faded and interest in 35 cal rifles, which I still have. I now have 3 remington pumps, 30-06, 35 whelen and 358 win.

I see a 260 bolt gun in my future....

Arizona Jake · « **Reply #2 on:** November 25, 2009, 07:43:39 AM »

First, it was a .270, then a .30-06.

Now: 25-06 Ackley for medium game, .260 Remington for silhouette shooting, .338 Win. Mag. for elk, African plains game, .375 H & H Mag. for anything.

kwells2006 · « **Reply #3 on:** November 25, 2009, 07:47:26 AM »

either .243, 7.5x55 swiss, .17 HMR, or .22LR for me

Skunk · « **Reply #4 on:** November 25, 2009, 08:28:20 AM »

I've had a bunch that were favorites, but overall the .22LR and the 6.5 X 55 SE are probably my all time favorites. Really though, there are just too many to name. I'm really starting to take a shine to the .223 as an all time favorite. But then, my first favorite was the .30-.30, or was it the .284 Win...ah, forget it, there were just too many.

I love them all.

emsemt911 · « **Reply #5 on:** November 25, 2009, 03:16:48 PM »

I bought a .270 win when I graduated from college.
I have owned NUMEROUS calibers since.
The .270 win is still my favorite and is ALWAYS my
goto gun when the hunt is on the line.

IOWA DON · « **Reply #6 on:** November 25, 2009, 03:17:07 PM »

The summer after getting out of th 8th grade I read a magazine article about how great the .243 was and it was then my favorite. However after a year of using it and finding that the trejectory was not as flat as advertized I got a 7MM Weatherby which was my favorite caliber for a long time. It actually shot as flat as advertised. When the 7MM STW came out as a wildcat I switched to it and it was my favorite caliber as it shot even flatter and does not seem to burn out barrels as fast as the Weatherby with its free-boring. i now shoot a .338-.378 Weatherby for long range deer shooting and it works great but recoil is really bad, even in a rifle with a heavy barrel but no recoil reducer.

billy_56081 · « **Reply #7 on:** November 25, 2009, 03:21:57 PM »

I have liked a lot oof calibers, but the only one I love is the 22 Hornet.

jro45 · « **Reply #8 on:** November 26, 2009, 01:41:53 AM »

I would say I'va about 5 favorite rifle, shotgun, revolver & autoloaders.

the jigger · « **Reply #9 on:** November 26, 2009, 02:40:23 AM »

ONLY two! 45ACP and anything 257! 250/3000;250 Ackley;257Roberts;25/06. I have never acquired a 257 Weatherby. Maybe I will before I finish.
GOOD LUCK and GOOD SHOOTING!!!!!!

bobg · « **Reply #10 on:** November 26, 2009, 03:46:45 AM »

I have had three. 30-06, 250/3000, 270. Only one i have left is the 270. It seems to do anything the other two would do. Looks like that is my favorite.
bobg

mjbgalt · « **Reply #11 on:** November 26, 2009, 04:28:57 AM »

always loved my .243 until i met the Swede. even though she is my main lady, the .22-250 and .25-06 and i sometimes sneak around together

anweis · « **Reply #12 on:** November 26, 2009, 06:29:20 AM »

Two, actually: .22LR and 6.5x55. But, i hunt with a 6mm Rem. now and i am pleased. I wil probably get back to the 6.5x55 next year, in the form of a light, stainless, rainy weather, rifle.

buffgun · « **Reply #13 on:** November 26, 2009, 08:16:36 AM »

.44 mag has always been my favorite ! than 45-70 and latley .444

LONGTOM · « **Reply #14 on:** November 26, 2009, 03:12:54 PM »

Rifles, in order:
1 - 270 wsm Winchester model 70 Featherweight
2 - 270 Winchester Winchester pre 64 model 70 Featherweight
3 - 25 Remington Remington model 30S EXPRESS took my first
2 deer with this gun
4 - 45/70 several different guns
5 - 204 Handi
6 - 225 Winchester several different guns
8 - 7x57 Handi
9 - 35 Whelen Handi

#s 1 & 2 could easily be switched as I started out with the 270 for over 20 years then switched to the 270 wsm

Handguns, in order:
1 - 45 colt
2 - 44/40
3 - 38/40
4 - 32/20
5 - 41 mag

LONGTOM

spikehorn · « **Reply #15 on:** November 26, 2009, 03:37:35 PM »

My first was a 22 mag when I was 14
Then I discovered The 308 win and have never turned back.( just handed down one of mine to my 16 year old son and he got his first buck with it)
And my new favorite is a Tracker II 20 ga with a Tru Glo 2X red dot.

chutesnreloads · « **Reply #16 on:** November 26, 2009, 04:03:08 PM »

Depends on when you ask me.

45-70.gov · « **Reply #17 on:** November 26, 2009, 04:07:34 PM »

22 lr

44 mag
357 mag
308 win
38 special [notced not combined with 357]
223/556 nato
45-70
12 ga

depends on what day you ask what is current favorite

to a lesser degree
35 rem
25-06
500 S&W

probable future favorite
260 rem [any 6.5 seems about right]

doeroller · « **Reply #18 on:** November 26, 2009, 05:23:21 PM »

Started out at a tender young age with a Rem 742 in 308 Win. That gun gets my vote as being the worst shooting gun ever. It almost turned me against hunting until I bought with my lawn mowing money a BAR in 7mag and killed the first deer I shot at. Sold the BAR and got a Ruger 77 in 7mag for a year and got that gun rebarelled to 358 Norma in 1977. I still have the gun. It is my go to gun when heat needs to be put on some meat. A 7STW and 300 Winnie have followed but the big Norma has a special place in my heart when a slap down no need to blood trail gun is wanted.

jro45 · « **Reply #19 on:** November 27, 2009, 03:22:36 AM »

I have 5 favorites and I'm keeping them.

moorepower · « **Reply #20 on:** November 30, 2009, 10:39:17 AM »

All of them!

jro45 · « **Reply #21 on:** December 06, 2009, 02:15:10 AM »

Quote from: 45-70.gov on November 26, 2009, 04:07:34 PM

22 lr

44 mag
357 mag
308 win
38 special [notced not combined with 357]
223/556 nato
45-70
12 ga

You have a lot of favorits.
depends on what day you ask what is current favorite

to a lesser degree
35 rem
25-06
500 S&W

probable future favorite
260 rem [any 6.5 seems about right]

kynardsj · « **Reply #22 on:** December 06, 2009, 02:45:34 AM »

22 LR and a 357 mag. In a pistol and rifle combination these two calibers will do what ever job I need them to.

03A2 · « **Reply #23 on:** December 06, 2009, 05:37:51 AM »

When I was first reading ballistic charts it was a 6.5 swede. Then I actually started shopping, faced reality and decided the .280 was the best. Still have a "report" from junior high singing the praises of the .280. Time came I could finally buy a rifle and a .270 came home with me. Did a lot more reading, especially by you know who, decided the .270 was best after all. Then I had a brief affair with a ,250 savage, so cute and classy, but was very disappointed in the rifle it was chambered in and it went down the road. Several years later, the .308 was top dog because it was the "most intrinsically accurate rifle cartridge". Had some that shot well, some that didn't. Decided that the rifle is more important than the cartridge. About a year ago, found that old junior high report in a bunch of old junk of my mothers, and went shopping for a .280. Got one too, but once again it is in a rifle that is giving me fits. Now, at present, my favorite is the 30-06. Simple and boring, but it does work, and I'm thinking that on future elk hunts I am going to appreciate a slightly bigger bullet.

charles p · « **Reply #24 on:** December 06, 2009, 03:36:01 PM »

So many choices and you might never own them all. I haven't but at age 63, I've settled on a few that don't kick as hard as those in my youth. Same goes for shotguns.

mjbgalt · « **Reply #25 on:** December 06, 2009, 04:33:53 PM »

agreed, i am a big guy and not afraid of recoil but i find i do my best shooting without it.

i have a 20 gauge and a 6.5x55 and a few .22's and a .22-250 and am shopping for a .270 or 6mm remington. i can do all my hunting and fun shooting without a headache or sore shoulder.

unless i am after something with big teeth and me on the menu, i am not worried about my current collection getting the job done.

StevenK11 · « **Reply #26 on:** December 08, 2009, 04:24:46 AM »

delete

358Win · « **Reply #27 on:** December 08, 2009, 06:37:36 AM »

22 LR doesn't everybody have at least one

In shotguns: 16 and 28 gauge

In rifles: 25 WSSM performance between 257 Roberts and 25/06 and just love the way those little guys look. The fact that you can get an upper for an AR15 doesn't hurt either. Number one love though would be 358 Winchester. Very efficient will throw 225 grain bullets at almost identical speeds as a 30-06 with a 220.

In handguns: 40 S&W, just love the Kahr Arms PK40 I have. 41 Mag. was my first love. Also really like 380 ACP (Bersa), and 38+P in my Taurus 617 stainless 4". It will also shoot 357 mag, but never liked that caliber, if I need more juice the 41 Mag get the nod.

crash87 · « **Reply #28 on:** December 08, 2009, 07:11:04 AM »

Interesting topic, as far as calibers go I would have to say .35. It wasn't planned on being that way however. As far as cartridges go, I will never be without my Rem 700 Mountain rifle (1986) in 280. A while back, went into the basement safe and had a look see. Over the course of my gun buying/shooting career it seems i took a preference to the 35's.
Marlin 1894c .357Mag
Winchester 1895 35 Whelen
Remington 673 350 Rem mag.
Brno 602 358STA
Browning 71 348 WCF (close enough)
It would also seem .45 is the choice in the handgun rounds, no less than 4 and 1 rifle.
If there looks like there might be a chink in the armor it will be in the form of the various 25's.
CRASH87

tuck2 · « **Reply #29 on:** January 04, 2010, 02:40:51 AM »

In 1952 I purchased a Winchester Mdl 70 270 Win. I started reloading ammo for it in 1953. That old rifle has taken pronghorn, deer,elk, varmints,and other unwelcome critters. Over the years I have used various brands of rifles and calibers for small game, varmints,and big game but I still have that good old 270 Winchester.