Ok how 'bout this...?

[jlottmc]

I was sent thinking again (yes it's a painful process). What are everyone's opinion on general purpose calibers? For me a .22lr, a .357 magnum, a .40 S&W (for the auto's), a .308, and finally 12 gauge make my list of 409 type calibers. I consider these all purpose just because they can generally do whatever you want done. Any thoughts for GP calibers, maybe even platforms to launch them too?

[mr surveyor]

given a source of ammunition, I would consider .22lr, .38/.357, and 30-30 to be the all time best "general purpose" firearms. If I were to put any semi-auto in the mix, it would have to be .45 cal. And, don't forget the 12 guage.

With the uncertainties in the last few years of ammo availability, whatever you can find, or stockpile ammunition for would, out of necessity, become general purpose.

surv

[Bigcube]

Right now for me it's 22lr and 9mm since that's all I own :D

[jeep45238]

.22LR, 9mm, .45ACP, 12 gauge, .223 (or .30-06)

[Bawanna]

22lr, 45 acp, 12 ga, 30-06, 416 rigby, 700 nitro express.


Oh too many? Ummmm ok scratch the 700.

[ltxi]

given a source of ammunition, I would consider .22lr, .38/.357, and 30-30 to be the all time best "general purpose" firearms. If I were to put any semi-auto in the mix, it would have to be .45 cal. And, don't forget the 12 guage.

With the uncertainties in the last few years of ammo availability, whatever you can find, or stockpile ammunition for would, out of necessity, become general purpose.

surv

ditto....except at this point in time, I think I'd trade 7.62x39 for the 30-30.

[jlottmc]

Good thoughts all, I too believe that the gun with ammo beats the one without every time. I try to do some hunting and such when I get time, and with the variety of loads for the weapons I mentioned earlier, in my opinion I can do what needs to be done. As far as having too many, can't happen. The 7.62x39 round is a good round out to about 400 yards or so, while with one exception (even then only half that of the 7.62) the 30-30 is good to about 150 yards. That's not to say that it's not effective for the 30-30 puts more meat on the table than ALL others combined every year. Again I say, all in all I like what I'm seeing here. Thanks guys.

[Frankhenrylee]

Anything military or police-.308, .223/5.56, 9mm, .40, .45, 12 guage. Its hard to say if these are more readily available or not considering that when Obama took office and everyone went on a guns and ammo shopping spree they were the hardest to find. The unusual stuff was still on the shelves, so maybe the usuals AREN'T the way to go. Its tough to say.

[Bawanna]

Anything military or police-.308, .223/5.56, 9mm, .40, .45, 12 guage. Its hard to say if these are more readily available or not considering that when Obama took office and everyone went on a guns and ammo shopping spree they were the hardest to find. The unusual stuff was still on the shelves, so maybe the usuals AREN'T the way to go. Its tough to say.

Your probably right on both counts. While I tend to favor weird less popular stuff I always maintain guns that shoot military and police stuff. If things get ugly and the looting begins we should be able to find some of the military or police stuff. Your logic is sound, hope we never need to apply it but I'm sadly not optomistic.

[mr surveyor]

I guess I didn't understand the original post pertaining to the phrase "general purpose"...

Are we talking about combined hunting, entertainment shooting, self defense, and home defense, or are we talking about Arnageddon? Two totally different scenerios in my opinion.


surv

[Bawanna]

I guess I didn't understand the original post pertaining to the phrase "general purpose"...

Are we talking about combined hunting, entertainment shooting, self defense, and home defense, or are we talking about Arnageddon? Two totally different scenerios in my opinion.


surv

Not sure I agree that it's two totally different scenarios. Armageddon may send us back to survival mode, hence general purpose guns would become tools. Your target 22 might put meat in the pot. To me all shooting is entertaining so that's kind of a broad statement. Granted the question can easily be contrued several different ways. I kind of read it like, you only get so many, what would they be which is probably a bit off from how others read it. Hopefully we can stick with hunting and entertainment and not encounter armageddon and self defense too much.

[jfrey]

For me it is a .22lr, .45 ACP, 30.06, and 12 ga. That will cover just about anything I've seen in this part of the world.

[jlottmc]

I was going toward the combined hunting/self defense/entertainment/etc road but I agree with Bawanna, that the Armageddon could bring us to that again. I was also thinking maybe limited budget and getting the most bang for the buck, and add to as money allows. Personally I would opt for a 54 flintlock in civil collapse type times.

[mr surveyor]

yes, hunting for survival is what I would also consider general purpose. Just wanted to make sure we weren't drifting into some type of battlefield scenario, Red Dawn, or a raging hoarde of zombies. So, under the premise of "general purpose", and not some imaginary "I'll go down in a pile of brass" scene, I'll stick with the .22lr handguns and rifles, .38/.357 revo, and my trusty 30/30 lever gun. And, no offense towards my CW9, but for "general purpose", and limiting myself to one sd/GP handgun, it would have to be my 1911 .45 cal. Although I have bird guns, to fill out the GP list, I would like to add a Mossy 931 (or is it a 930) semi with the combo barrels in 20 inch and 28 inch. That would be a pretty darned good, inexpensive GP 12 ga.

surv


(can I still keep all the other non-GP guns too?)

[Bawanna]

yes, hunting for survival is what I would also consider general purpose. Just wanted to make sure we weren't drifting into some type of battlefield scenario, Red Dawn, or a raging hoarde of zombies. So, under the premise of "general purpose", and not some imaginary "I'll go down in a pile of brass" scene, I'll stick with the .22lr handguns and rifles, .38/.357 revo, and my trusty 30/30 lever gun. And, no offense towards my CW9, but for "general purpose", and limiting myself to one sd/GP handgun, it would have to be my 1911 .45 cal. Although I have bird guns, to fill out the GP list, I would like to add a Mossy 931 (or is it a 930) semi with the combo barrels in 20 inch and 28 inch. That would be a pretty darned good, inexpensive GP 12 ga.

surv


(can I still keep all the other non-GP guns too?)

Afirmative, I wouldn't give any up for any reason.

[jlottmc]

Of course you can keep the none GP's. That's half the fun, but no hordes of zombies or anything like that (I just don't have that kind of imagination).

[O'Dell]

I only have to buy two calibers - 9mm and 45. I have six 9mm's, including a carbine, and four 45's. It makes life a lot simpler.

I don't hunt. I am in favor of arming the animals. That's what I would call "sporting".

[jlottmc]

Well to each their own, though I like to eat. My budha belly can attest to that.