Here at Guns and Shooting Online we have favorite handgun cartridges, just like anyone else. Naturally, being exposed to many firearms, we on the Guns and Shooting Online staff personally own a number and variety of handguns in a variety of calibers. Listed below are cartridges favored by multiple staff members for specific applications.

• Cartridge for instruction, plinking and target shooting: .22 Long Rifle


• Small game (CXP1) hunting: .22 Long Rifle


• Varmint and small predator (CXP1) hunting: .22 WMR, .32 H&R/.327 Magnum


• Big game (CXP2) hunting: .357 Magnum, .44 Magnum


• Cartridges for protection in the field: .357 Magnum, 10mm Auto, .44 Magnum


• Cartridge for mini guns: .22 WMR


• Cartridges for concealed carry: 9mm Luger, .38 Special


• Cartridges for home defense: .32 H&R/.327 Magnum, 9mm Luger, .38/.357 Magnum

There you have it, the list of Guns and Shooting Online handgun cartridges. .22 LR, 9mm and .38/.357 Mag. guns are owned by practically everyone on our staff. There are lots of other good calibers, of course, and this list would have been much longer had we listed all of our individual favorites. It is noteworthy that it is the tried and true cartridges to which the majority of us turn year after year.