This may have been posted in the past so I apologize if it has been. Want to know what other fellow hand gunners favorite hand gun caliber is and why.
I'll start....Mine is the .357. First handgun caliber other than a .22 that I could shoot and shoot well. Head shot on grouse and porcupines, etc...well.

And that Skeeter Skelton gave me the .357 bug and I never got over it.

.452

A wide array of cartridges use this bullet and it seems to work well in most all its platforms. At least, I have been pleased with all but the .45 ACP as of yet.

.45 Colt
.454 Casull
.460 S&W

Love them.

They cover everything that I'm likely to deal with in the animal world.

Just a cool/classic caliber that I enjoy.

Mine is the 45 Colt, for now. I've recently had the privilege of shooting a 327 Federal though, and it may quickly become my favorite.

For now, the 45 Colt. It can be loaded so mild that my wife can shoot it one handed with very weak wrists due to horse riding injuries. Or it can be loaded hot enough to take about anything in North America. I love the 335gr hardcast in the 45 colt.

As for the 327 Federal, man what a joy to shoot! I can see it becoming my go-to gun for small game, coyotes, and possibly as a BUG to my primary CC weapon. Time will tell...

.460 S&W as far as handgun calibers. As for overall calibers, the 300 WM is my favorite and have an Encore 300 WM Bullberry that is probably my favorite pistol I own.

Revolver, 45 Colt. Semi-auto, 45 ACP. Single shot Contender, 7-30 Waters. Bolt pistol, 284 Win but my new project 450 BM may replace that.

.41 and .41 wildcats and a .500 GNR
all with home cast cup points or HP or lwn
WHY?
I got into the .41 sorta by accident -- money got tight so I sold all but at the time small .41 bhawks
then I was given a bunch of .41 stuff twice- so I just stayed with it-- have had a .44, 45 colt, 454-- but have settled on
.41's and a 500 with 370 gr cast--
at one time I could say I had a 25 (25.06) a.35 (358win) and a 45 colt or Casull

These, I like my 44"s also

My love of handguns began with the 22 long rifle in my dad's S&W K-22 when I was about 10. Its still my favorite fun round and I have several model 17 K-22s.

For big hame hunting my go to round has been the 358 JDJ in a Contender or a 44 mag revolver. These rounds get it done for me.

My new toy is the 460 S&W X-frame that may end up being my new #1.

Which ever one I have in my hand at the time.I like them all.
.45 Colt has a special place though.

Hey Billa. Where at in Central PA ?
Grew up and use to
live in south central.

I just cannot choose one.

It just depends on the task for which the gun carried.

Self defense my favorite is the 45ACP in a 1911 platform
Second to that is the 9mm in the 1911 platform.
EDC self defense is a 38 Special in a revolver Model 36 S&W.

Hunting deer;
If going light and on the move my Glock MOS model 40 10mm.
Or my newly aquired Remington R1 Longslide. 10MM

Stand hunting for deer the following in order of preference;
240 Raptor in an XP-100 custom.
6.8 SPCII in a 15" Encore.
7mm-08 in an Encore.
The above for Antelope hunting as well.

Elk hunting;
338 Federal encore barrel. 180 grain Nosler Accubond.
375 GNR encore
444 Marlin with a 270 grain WFN GC cast at 1650 FPS. BFR revolver.
460 S&W

Small Game;
22 LR
327 Federal

Woods Walk about guns and calibers;
10mm Glock model 20 Custom 1911 Commander size
44 Magnum Ruger Backpacker snubby
327 Federal Ruger 101 and a Custom S&W custom converted K frame.

Just cannot pick one !!

I am really enjoying my .475 Linebaugh the past several years to the tune of five muley bucks and two bull elk.

Greg,
What is the recoil like with that hog leg ?

The fact is .22 LR got me started. [revolver] After shooting the heck out of paper, I tried chipmunks. Only because there are so many targets and it was more interesting than paper. I wanted more so I bought a .357 Colt Trooper because that was all my budget would allow. After a lot of shooting, I decided that it wasn't big enough for deer hunting.[not trying to start any arguments here] I moved to Ruger's .44 mag SBH. Now I seemed to be in the right ballpark. That was 43 yrs ago. The .44 mag was my first favorite. Moving forward, I have more .45's now including a FA83 .454 Casull. I bought a BFR .475 and love it. I guess a .45 is my all time favorite however, I could not give any of them up. I mainly hunt deer , boar, and an occasional elk.

It is a quite healthy push back and of course rolls up in a single action, but not as "sharp" as a .454, IMO. I hate shooting it off of a bench, especially more than 5 or 6 shots in a row, but not that bad in a hunting situation when the adrenalin is flowing.

454 Casull, 44 Magnum, 309 JDJ, 375 JDJ.
There really isn't anything you can't kill with these close or far.

Mine is the .44 Special. Someone else has said it, but for my needs it's always enough and never too much.

Mine is 41 Magnum. Not too big. Not too small.. Just Right.

And when l thought all the Gun/Ammo Makers had abandoned the 41.

Esp since Smith&Wesson had failed recognize its 50th Anniversary

in 2014.

Hornady came out with new ammo/bullets this year!!!

190GR FTX shows up!!


http://www.hornady.com/store/41-Mag-190-gr-FTX-Leverevolution/

I love you.

My favorites are subject to change, but for right now:

-.45 Colt -- in +P form
-.480 Ruger -- a big hammer in a mild wrapper
-.500 JRH -- extraordinary BIG game medicine
-.500 Maximum - a fight stopper without equals IMHO

Ask me again tomorrow!

I knew ZEE was going to jump on this quickly.

I guess mine would be the 44 mag ( seems I have more of them than any other)....just because, and for what Clint Eastwood said.

416 Barnes

My FA`s 454........

What's God's favorite actual handgun caliber?

I've got Contenders, Encores and a XP-100 but I shoot .357 Mag. & .38 Special revolvers and M1911's in .45 ACP more than anything else.

It's .308 Win. DUH.
He has it in a 7 shot revolver....

Lemme guess, his favorite rifle round is a 357

Yeah but wouldn't he just want to go with the WTS .50 BMG (Browning Machine Gun Cartridge) Pistol. I don't think the recoil would bother him at all. And I bet the range would be awesome. I mean since nowadays any cartridge can be put into a pistol format.

.357 Maggie. Oh yeah !

Not bad choices on the 38 special and 1911 either IKE

I should actually say what my favorite is, since I am not trying to change the thread, .454 Casull. The bullet availability and the numerous amount of loading data available makes it for me the best all around caliber. My favorite bullet for it is the 325 swift aframe. Match made in Heaven.

Lots of variety being posted!
For deer hunting in the NH woods, I go with my .44 Mag. revolver. For deer or hogs in more open country I'll go with my Encore in 7mm-08 (15" bbl).
(I'm pretty sure I can hear a new .327 Federal calling me from not too far away though!)

the more I work with my two 327 mags the more I like them loading the Sierra HP to 1500 FPS is something to behold interesting lite gun.

44 anytbing.

AK, that's an easy one for me. My favorite is the 454 Casull. With the 325 grain A-Frame, 325 grain Barnes Buster, and 335 grain cast I have taken a variety of game ranging in size from coyotes to buffalo. May I share some pics?














I absolutely love the 454 Casull. I can do everything I need to do with this cartridge. It hits with authority!

I whole-heartedly agree!

Darrell,
Thanks for sharing and impressive to say the least.
I doubt it but by my looking at all those pics you could be labeled a one handgun/caliber man. ??????

I envy the one-caliber guys. It makes life much less complicated......