Basic newbie question about ammo compatibility?

[ElDub]

Haven't been able to get the answer (or more likely, understand it) from mfg websites. Looking for my first handgun.

What I "think" I want to do is choose both a handgun and a rifle that use the same ammo. I guess my only reason is convenience, at this point. But other than a basic 22, I'm not seeing, or like I said, probably not understanding. It seems like in the same caliber, ammo is specific to handguns or rifles.

Anyone have some guidance? Thanks.

 

[CAB]

Look at the size difference between the cartridges. The one for the rifle is a whole lot bigger.
A big reason the rifle has a greater range, velocity and accuracy because the bullet is propelled by a much larger charge.
I have heard of certain exotic handguns which will accept rifle style ammo but I know absolutely nothing about them and i imagine they are rather expensive.

 

[Gray Wanderer]

You might think about getting an M-1 Carbine and a Ruger Blackhawk chambered in .30 Carbine.

 

[Jeff]

your on the right track but you got to think "Cowboy" here.

There are several lever action rifles that use pistol caliber cartridges. Marlin 1894's, Winchester 1892's (and reproductions of same) and some late era Winchester 1894 are chambered for pistol caliber cartridges. Thompson Center offers a single shot pistol caliber as do Rossi and NEF.

.32-20
.38-40
.25-20
.44-40
.32 H&R Magnum (hard to find Marlin 94's)
.41 Magnum (again.. a short run of Marlin 94's)
.45 Colt ("Long Colt" not ACP)
.357 Magnum/ 38 Special
.44 Magnum/44 special

 

[WOP2_99]

You are squared away on .22 Long Rifle. Handgun or rifle chambered for .22LR will accept the same ammo. Most pistol ammo (with the notable exceptions of the bottlenosed .357 SIG and the Tokarev) is straight walled, some rimmed, some rimless (generally for semi-auto pistols). There are some "companion" lever action rifles chambered for .38 Special/357 Magnum; .44 Magnum; .45 Long Colt that fire pistol ammo. Beyond that, check the website below for a list of arguably the more famous rifle cartridges. There are a variety of reasons you can't shoot most of these rounds in a pistol, and most have to do with pressures, and of course recoil. You done good asking this question, as every year some Nimrod stokes up a gun with ammo that doesn't fit it, and a new hand grenade is created. You can easily fire a .270, for example, in a .30-06, or a .243 in a .308 Win, but the results are usually a mess. When in doubt, ask. I inadvertently fired a .380 out of a 9mm--once. Too say it was a mess is being kind, and it took hours to clean up the chamber. Luckily, with a relatively low power cartridge, nobody got hurt.

 

[epic failure]

you can get some carbines that will use pistol ammunition. There are certainly more out there than the products from the two companies that I have showed you...just search around a little bit, you're sure to find something you like.

 

[Larry]

These days, the most popular such plan is 357 Magnum, in a revolver and a lever-action carbine. Such a rifle with 180 grain bullets will take large mule deer in good broadside presentation at up to 150 yards. Don't use JHP bullets lighter than 180 grains in the rifle, as the higher velocity from a longer barrel will make light JHP bullets explode like varmint bullets, and NOT penetrate to the vitals. The 158-160 grain JSP bullets however work just fine on regular deer, at the same distance. BUT the 158-160 grain JHP bullets are correct for revolver use on deer out to 50 yards with iron sights, or a bit past 100 yards with a scoped revolver.

An added bonus is that 38 Special ammo can be used in the 357, at 1/3 the power level.

 

[METROPOLIS1]

I am going to part company with many of the folks that suggest a lever action rifle that shoots a pistol caliber.... Consider a modern carbine type rifle......

Look over this Ruger 40 S&W carbine......

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=154384493

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=154343243

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=154216416

I believe this model has been discontinued but they are available many times new unused at gun shows and on Gunbroker.com.....

It uses the .40 S&W pistol cartridge.....

Also another excellent choice is the Ruger 77/44 rifle... It uses the .44 magnum pistol cartridge....

http://www.ruger.com/products/rotaryMagazine7744/index.html

http://www.ruger.com/products/rotaryMagazine7744/models.html

Another choice is the 9MM cartridge... Its hugely popular and cheap in bulk.... An inexpensive rifle that shoots this ammo is the Hi-Point 995 rifle.... I own 2 of these and they are great. There a bit ugly and wouldn't be what I would call a family treasure but they are decent.....

http://www.themartialist.com/0604/hipoint.htm

http://www.gunweek.com/2005/feature0201.html

http://www.chuckhawks.com/hi-point_carbine.htm

Also look over these Beretta Storms chambered in pistol cartridges.....

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/index.php/cPath/36_177

 

[stormgale89]

there are a lot of handguns and rifles that use the same ammo, good examples are .357 magnum, .44 magnum and the 45 colt, these were originally handgun cartridges that have been chambered in rifles(lever actions and semi autos for .44 magnum), usually for cowboy shooting(.357 magnum and .45 colt) or hunting(more .44 magnum and .45 colt, the .357 magnum in my opinion isn't a good hunting round, just too small for deer and is overpowered for small game, maybe smaller hogs?)
there are a lot of cartridges(this is proper grammar, rounds is a slang word, more military) specific to a form of firearm like handguns and rifles, but most handgun cartridges have been chambered to rifles(most rifle cartridges don't fit well in handguns, some do though like the 45/70 Gov and the .30 Carbine).
a good choice of type of rifle/handgun combo is a lever action rifle with a revolver, it worked in the wild west, and is still a great choice today.

 

[Sandy]

I can't think of too many calibers that can be used for a handgun and a rifle, other than .22 cartridges. .45 Colt, .45 ACP, & .38 special can all be used for some rifles and handguns. Also, .410 shot shells can be used in a shotgun, along with the Taurus Judge. The Judge is a revolver that fires .410 shot and .45 colt cartridges.

 

[John de Witt]

Most cartridges are specifically designed for one or the other. There are carbines chambered for what we think of as pistol cartridges, 44 Remington Magnum being a fairly popular one; and there are a few handguns (though you have to stretch the definition of handgun a bit) chambered for traditional rifle cartridges. You just ran into a crowded area, so it's hard for a beginner to get his bearings among all the cartridges available.

 

[nickdc1960]

The idea of a rifle and handgun that shoot the same ammunition was popular back in the late 1800s, as the "cowboys" saw the advantage of only having to carry one type of ammunition with them that they could use in both a rifle and revolver. Some of the calibers back then were 32-20 and 45 Long Colt.

For some reason this concept mostly fell out of favor when smokeless powders came along. (The cartridge calibers I mention above originally used black powder as a propellent.) With the invention and use of so-called smokeless powders, the gunmakers could push the proverbial envelope on rifle velocities. Up until this, most rifles also used a "straight walled case". That is, a cartridge casing to hold the powder that was straight from the mouth of the case to the base. With smokess powders, bottle-necked casings came along and velocities were dramatically increased. So at this point, the potency of rifles were also increased.

I can understand wanting to keep things simple. But, you would be missing-out on the full potential that modern day rifle cartridges can achieve if you only limit yourself to a rifle/handgun combo that uses the same ammo. If it were me, I would go with a 357 magnum revolver (easy to use and maintain) that can also shoot 38 special ammo (357 mags do that...they can shoot 39 specials). And for a rifle, I would go with a 223 Remington, as the ammo is relatively inexpensive and easy to find.

 

[Milkman]

If these are your first guns go with .22 LR.

Unless you want them for Home Defense or Personal Protection .22 has low recoil and will be easy to learn on.

If you want it for HD or PP then look at the Beretta PX4 and CX4 the PX is a pistol, the CX is a carbine they use the same magazines and the same ammo.