Multi-Caliber Firearms

I like the Witness steel frame pistol for a convertible automatic handgun. I like the Blackhawk convertible for a revolver. I think the .357 model offers the most versatility due to the number of calibers it can safely fire.

As far as rifles go, I think the right AR platform offers the most convertability with all of the different upper receivers available. The Contender or Encore are of course very convertible, but if you're fighting you'll want an auto loading rifle for close combat.

An encore and contender with the right barrels could function as a secondary medium or long range weapon, but those barrels will add weight to your gear. Probably too much weight altogether to pack around. If you had a way to carry them though, they would be good guns to have along if it came down to scrounging for ammo. You could cover the calibers with the Encore and Contender that you couldn't with your other guns.

a reply to: roguetechie

Are some Uzis convertible, or is that just wishful thinking on my part?

originally posted by: DAVID64
I have an old Colt target pistol, that goes from 22 lr to 22 mag, just by changing the cylinder. Since my Mom is 74 and can't control the recoil of anything bigger, she keeps it for self protection. I keep it loaded with the magnums and while 22 is not the ideal caliber, it's better than throwing rocks.

Chiappa makes a rifle I really want. Just by changing barrels, you get an assortment of calibers and the change out is very quick and easy. I'd love to have one, but it's out of my price range right now.

www.thefirearmblog.com...

Actually David you don't change the barrel on that Chiappa gun. The tubes you see are inserts that fit into a 12-gauge barrel, allowing it to chamber the appropriate round. These tubes will work with many different 12-gauge break barrel shotguns, not just the Chiappa. I like the M-6, though the reviews I've read gave it less than stellar results. It's pretty cool for what it is though, and a very versatile firearm for sure.

a reply to: TheBadCabbie

Not without pretty extensive internal work AFAIK. Basically there's a certain amount of caliber conversion you can do to any gun, but for most like the Uzi it's just not a field conversion pack.

Now if what you're really asking is could an Uzi style subgun be made that allows quick caliber swaps, then my answer is ABSOLUTELY!

The AR based subs and things like the just right carbine already exist.

Edit: On the Uzi specifically there's been a few guys that fabricated their own lower receiver / fire control group that take glock magazines, which is a great start to building an Uzi into a multi caliber firearm. However, just as something to consider, the Uzi is actually a damn boat anchor of a gun and much larger than they seem to boot! Yes I've built semi auto Uzi SMG's as 16 inch barrel carbines and one mini Uzi pistol all in fully legal closed bolt semiautomatic form. I've also bent and welded a couple MAC flats. Personally I settled on the CZ26 for my personal buzz gun needs (aka when I just NEED to smile I grab a box of tokarev or 9x19 out of the ammo locker and go blow through a high cap mag as fast as I can pull the trigger... Gotta keep it legal)

As much as I love multi caliber solutions I have to admit that a foot locker full of affordable serviceable single caliber guns is probably just as viable of an option for using up scrounged ammo especially in the age of laser bore sights and 3-5 shot 100 meter zeroing.

a reply to: TheBadCabbie

I had to cut my last post short due to an urgent mission to rescue a $15 recliner from the great and powerful offer up... In the last week with $20 spent we've acquired a nice recliner and the best damn waffle iron I've ever owned. Now onto part 2 of my last post.

I've been kicking around a much less ambitious version of a pistol project I worked on for quite awhile. Previously I was working on a multi caliber clone of the gsh-18 Russian rotating barrel locked short recoil pistol. Now I'm working on a much simpler but larger bullpup combat pistol / carbine design using the same locking system. If I build it it will use a mix of AR15 components, off the shelf magazines, custom designed magazine wells that can be 3d printed machined or stamped, and other custom machined or modified commercial components.

My goal is to get a simple single caliber build and a couple magazines to come in between $200 & $300 in components and cutters and jigs.

I'm considering doing this mostly just to prove that good quality pistols that are durable, reliable, and functional don't have to be a rich man's game. Secondary motivations include making an option available that doesn't require a huge investment or reduced expectations to get into the light center fire cartridge world where the majority of ammunition deals exist at this point. Finally, I want something available to motivated but cash strapped people who want a quality defensive arm and for gunsmith students and diy types that's cheap enough for them to build and go wild modifying.

Plus there's the whole i consider the rotating barrel locking mechanism to be the future of pistols and PDW platforms thing he he.

It's also the low portion of my traditional high low mix of projects I prefer to do since the other thing I'm working on is very useful and potentially a big step up in firearms accessories, but just won't be cheap any time soon even if it works out better than expected.

Desert Tech makes a convertible ambidextrous freakin' bullpup rifle, the MDR or Micro Dynamic Rifle. It came up in another thread here so I thought it should be added to this thread.


deserttech.com...
The website says it can be converted to five different calibers. .300blk, 5.56x45, and 7.62x51 are three of them, I'm not sure what the other two are. This gun is coming soon, says the website, so not in civilian production yet. Not cheap either...

a reply to: TheBadCabbie

By not cheap you mean around $2700 for the base platform and $600-$900 for each caliber swap.

Unfortunately it's seeming to have been caught up in preproduction.

I stick to three calibers to buy in bulk. .45, 30-30, 12 gauge

I own guns of several other calibers, but when the SHTF I have 3 that I will stick with.

a reply to: AshFan

I have my bulk calibers as well although mine are quite a bit different than yours, and for the most part way cheaper.

I stock 5.56, 5.45, 7.62x39 for main calibers all of which are still dirt cheap compared to 30-30. They also all have a range advantage and better ballistics.

Large rifles I stock swiss 7.5 gp11 service rifle ammunition and 7.62x54R. The x54R is mostly held onto in case I get a pkm or do a 1919/anm2 build with the x54R mods using parts from the British 303 Enfield anm2. And or if I get one of the nice x54R AK's made on heavy receivers and RPK trunnions.

For pistol ammunition I stock 9x19 7.62 tokarev and 9x18 makarov

Shotgun... 12 gauge for the win bought on sale in bulk periodically and usually half low recoil HD buckshot loads as well as full on 00 and 000 buck.

a reply to: roguetechie

NIce! I choose the 30-30 as it is a nice medium range gun, holds 10 rounds, and had proven physical reliability (older Marlin). It will plow through a lot of brush without losing much accuracy.

a reply to: AshFan

Yeah I understand why you use what you do. It's not what I'd pick, but the important thing is it works for you.

Personally I love 5.45 because of how well it works for me, that and the whole 500 meter practical effective range with 16 inch barrels and less weight per shot than 5.56.

a reply to: roguetechie

That caliber is legendary for kills. "The poison bullet" You might not die right away, but you will die!

Really I could get by with a .22..30-06,and a .12 gauge,but whats the fun in that?Swapping uppers on my Ar15 from the.223 wylde I have now to a 6.5 Graendal and a.50 Beowulf will be fun as hell.Now if I need to defend myself from a vermin,I mean criminal I will probably be using my Kimber .45 and likely as not if a bear decides to snack on me while out hiking .I hope the .45-70 with hot handloads pushing a speer 400 grain bullet would be in my hands instead but unless I`m in known bear country in deer season,a handgun will be it.Someday I will probably pick uip a TC Encore just to play around with as many calibers as I can afford,but you can`t carry a barrel for all situations.Sure enjoy seeing how different calibers perform,never going to have enough money to try all of them,a platform that accepts different barrels would make it a little more affordable.

I finally had a chance to take a look back in here and I noticed that I hadn't mentioned Harrington & Richardson's(H&R) Handi-Rifle. The Handi-Rifle is H&R's single shot rifle, muzzle loader, or shotgun. I was intrigued to learn years ago that the lower receiver can be fitted to a variety of barrel assemblies, making the H&R also a convertible gun. Note that the gun will have to be returned to the manufacturer for fitting of an additional caliber. It's not really advertised as such, but the Handi-Rifle is a convertible rifle.

I think the muzzle loader model is the most convertible, but I could be wrong. In other words, you could fit any barrel to a muzzle loader receiver, but you couldn't put muzzle loader parts on a rifle or shotgun receiver. I think the 12 gauge shotgun is right behind the muzzle loader in terms of compatibility with other calibers. If you bought a .410, for instance, you might not be able to get a 12 gauge barrel for it. You should be able to get a .410 barrel for a 12 gauge though.

www.hr1871.com...

HR also makes multi caliber stocks that extremely affordable. A single shot break open shotgun costs about 125$, but you can order roughly 20 different calibers by ordering different barrels. The only catch is they recommend sending it to them so they can assure proper head spacing, for safety.

a reply to: Natas0114

Or you can just buy your own headspace gauges, read up online, and do it yourself!!

The awesome thing about living in the current modern times is that things like precision gauges and tools are shockingly cheap for those willing to do for themselves.

originally posted by: TheBadCabbie
a reply to: roguetechie

Are some Uzis convertible, or is that just wishful thinking on my part?

Mine converts (with pain) between 9mm and .45. I don't care for the .45 setup and leave it as 9mm.



eta: if you screw on the snub barrel, fold the stock and use the short mag, it's compact enough to use as a big sidearm. But not so big that it's unwieldy, and I preferred it to the M9 in terms of dependability and accuracy. Even snubbed. And, if you wanted something more rifle-y, it's the work of a moment to screw on the longer barrel and deploy the stock.

My favorite one .. we have an arsenal.. is my trusty old former police issue 357 mag Smith and Wesson revolver. It takes 38's and 357's. Dont have to worry about picking up shells either! LOL! It has a pretty long barrel.. accuracy as much as handguns can achieve. Mainly its fun to shoot.. and in a bad situation, my handgun is just a way to make sure I can get to my real gun.. the Mossburg.
Now, I have a baby eagle.. its ok I guess. Its impressive looking but my hands are so small. I just completely prefer that old used 357 I got at a gun show. LOL!

Always wanted a drilling,preferably a .12 ga with a .30-06 rifle tube.be perfect for bird hunting during deer season

I kinda quit shootin' animals, being a night time predator caller.... I have to stuff my garrett hammerheads....44 mag in my lever action for bears....those bears...and bigfoot near Seattle once.....and my S W 6 inch. Also, we buy up those other that Garrett makes....45-70. The 44 mag holds twice as many is the deal there.