What is the best and most effective pistol cartridge ever?

Question

Hunting first and formost, but home defence also.

Answer 1

This can't be answered with a single cartridge & caliber.  Each one has it's place and specialty.  You could have arguments for .22LR, .38, .357Mag, 9mm, .40, 10mm, 41 Mag, .44 Mag, .45ACP, 50AE and many many more.

The best one is the one that does what you need when you need it to be done.

Answer 2

I think the best rounded one of them all is the .367 magnum.

Answer 3

  The most effective hunting round in the new S&W 460 with a muzzle velocity of 2300 fps!  However, most hunting rounds don't make good home defense weapons because they have TOO MUCH range, they carry too far.  The .357 is really a defense round used for hunting(defense for law enforcement). It still will travel more than a city block. The .44 Magnum is the hunter's and handloaders favorite for many years now.   The .45s have less velocity, and can be used for hunting.  

Answer 4

In a nut shell, the .44 remington magnum.  but the verstility of this cartridge is truly best when you are a handloader and can taylor the loads to your needs.  You can use soft lead loaded to 750 fps for small game, and hot hard cast to 1350 fps for the largest game in the USA

Answer 5

No such cartridge exists.  Some, however, are more versatile than others.

Either the .357 Magnum or .44 Magnum jump out for hunting.  There are newer higher powered cartridges, but since you mention home defense, I don't think the .500 S&W Magnum is a good idea.

Answer 6

This really is an unanswerable question. Each one has a place and purpose. Best for "what" is the info we need to give a better answer.

Answer 7

While some defensive cartridges make fair hunting cartridges, most good hunting cartridges make lousy defensive cartridges.

There are two solutions.  One is to use a Ruger Blackhawk chambered for .45 Long Colt.  You can use heavy hunting loads for hunting, and the old standard 255 gr PFP @ 900 fps for defensive use.  Or you can get a convertible model with a spare cylinder in .45 ACP, which will be just the ticket for home defense.

The other solution is to get a Ruger Super Blackhawk in .44 RemMag.  Use full-power .44 RemMag ammo for hunting, and .44 S&W SPL ammo for defense.

Doc