In the late 1800s, many cowboys, lawmen, and outlaws carried handguns and long guns chambered in the same caliber. In 1873, Winchester introduced their 1873 lever action rifle, later known as “The gun that won the West,” in .44 WCF (Winchester Center Fire.) That same year, Colt introduced their Single Action Army revolver, chambered in .45 Colt. Seeing the popularity of the Winchester, Colt began offering their revolver in the same .44 WCF caliber as the Winchester rifle. This change allowed an individual to carry the same caliber for rifle and pistol without worry of accidentally mixing up one or the other. The concept of one caliber, two guns was born.
Frank James, the older brother of Jesse James, famously carried a pair of 1875 Remington single-action revolvers and a Winchester 1873, all chambered in .44 WCF. When asked about his choices, James stated, “Because the Remington is the hardest and the surest shooting pistol made, and because it carries the same cartridge that a Winchester rifle does. My armament was two Remington’s and a Winchester rifle. The cartridges of one filled the chambers of the other. You can now see why I prefer the Remington. There is no confusion of ammunition here. When a man gets into a close, hot fight, with a dozen men shooting at him all at once, he must have his ammunition all of the same kind.”
While Jesse James gets most of the attention, his brother Frank was the real gunfighter. His choices, and explanation, make perfect sense. Frank’s reasoning behind one caliber, two guns still holds true today.
Today’s Choices for One Caliber, Two Guns
Nowadays, very few people base their handgun choices on their rifle caliber. While lever guns and revolvers are still offered in the same chambering, they’re not usually carried defensively. Modern-day choices include some kind of AR-15 chambered in 5.56mm/.223, and a polymer-framed, striker-fired semi-automatic pistol chambered in 9mm. If that’s the case, what’s the point of having a rifle and handgun both chambered in 9mm?
In the past, I’ve said new preppers/survivalists should have an AR-15, Glock 9mm, and Ruger 10/22 in .22 Long Rifle. Am I contradicting myself? I don’t think so, but I also understand everyone has a different situation. For example, not everyone is a hardcore “gun person”. The choice to buy one gun, let alone three, is a hard decision for some. Furthermore, you also have to consider wrangling three different calibers and magazine types, plus a way to carry it all. With those considerations, the simplicity of one magazine type and caliber becomes more and more pleasant.
Glock 19
To keep things simple, my handgun of choice is the Glock 19 chambered in 9mm. This choice will make more sense in a few paragraphs. When I have a new shooter, ask, “I’m kinda worried about the way the world is going, and I’m thinking about getting a handgun…?“ My answer is always, “Glock 19 9mm.” It’s as common as dirty diapers in a daycare, and the only thing I really have to change on it is the sights (good metal sights as opposed to the factory plastic ones). I then tell them to buy 10 magazines with a case of ammo and go to a training class.
The Glock 19 will accept magazines designed for the Glock 17, 18, 19, 34, 45, and 47, plus any of the extended magazines with increased capacity from Glock or Magpul. Why is this important? I can set up my carry pistol for home defense by adding a weapon-mounted light and an extended-capacity magazine. Contrary to the belief of some of my friends, I don’t sleep with extra magazines attached to me. Accordingly, I don’t think you do either. Extra ammo in the gun is a very good thing and beneficial to home defense.
The Ruger PC9
The second piece of the puzzle is the Ruger PC9 rifle chambered in 9mm Luger. Introduced a few years ago, the PC9 is a takedown rifle, meaning it can be broken in half for easier transport. While it accepts magazines from the Ruger SR9 series, Ruger was wise enough to include a magazine adaptor for Glock 9mm magazines. The PC9 has a Picatinny rail on top for mounting any optic and a small rail section just forward of the front sling swivel for mounting a light. In addition, the PC9 includes spacers on the end of the buttstock for adjustable length of pull. It’s usually best if all the spacers are taken out, which allows easier use by short and long-armed individuals equally.
One Caliber, Two Guns: Where they fit in
Is there a place for a pistol and carbine in the same caliber in the new shooter’s arsenal? I believe so. The Glock 19 is one of the most popular pistols of all time — and for good reason. It’s simple and works. However, the handgun — any handgun — is difficult to shoot well compared to a long gun. The rifle is much easier to shoot and make accurate hits — especially at a distance.
Stockpiling one caliber makes life much easier. A 1000-round case of 9mm practice ammo runs around $260. Or, buy a couple of boxes every payday. Pretty soon, you’ll have a significant amount of ammo for training and practice.
The same goes for magazines. Glock magazines are available everywhere, even in bundles of three or more. They’re cheap enough now that you can pick up a lot of them with ease. Many of us remember the 1994 Assault Weapons ban when used and abused Glock 9mm magazines sold for $75 or more. Buy them cheap, stack them deep.
Speaking of an assault weapons ban, there are several states and municipalities with bans still in place. The Ruger PC9, which looks relatively inoffensive and like a traditional rifle, might be a better choice for our gun-owning brethren in those states.
The Bottom Line
There are a lot of good reasons to own rifles and pistols in a matching caliber. Whether the traditional lever gun and revolver or the modern magazine-fed semi-automatic rifle and pistol, there’s something for any taste. Whatever you decide, make sure you take the time to go and train with them. Training goes a lot further in ensuring your survival than just having the guns.
