It's kinda' like the........."do this, don't do that......stand this way, not like that..........hold it this way, not that way.............." I agree it is best practice to choose your carry weapon carefully and then practice with it often using the ammo you carry. But...........that doesn't mean one shouldn't try different guns, calibers, etc. Just be sure you are proficient with what you carry. Although I started out liking 9mm, I only own one now. I now carry the .45 about 98% of the time and own several other .45's. I also own or have owned several other calibers (probably like the majority of the people here do) in .22 LR, .22 Mag, .44 mag., .44 Special, 10 mm, .40 S&W, .32 S&W, .357 Mag, .38 Special, .380, .45 Colt, etc. Variety will spice up your life.

It depends on your goal. If you want to become as skilled as possible with your defense gun, concentrate on that. You'll miss out on a lot of the pleasure of shooting, though. If you want to have fun, shoot different guns and also practice with your defense gun.

I am probably the most defense-oriented person on this forum, but there's more to shooting than that grim business.

I am pretty much in the camp of shoot what ya carry. That having been said, I own and shoot a few different calibers.

I don't shoot them as often as I shot my .40S&Ws. I shoot my P226ST and my P239 both in .40 every time I hit the range as these would be the two I rely on to save my six.

I try and stick with similar makes as they feel the same in the hand and controls are in the same place.

You have to shot a lot of gun to know which one is "your" gun.

Originally Posted by Mike Barham

It depends on your goal. If you want to become as skilled as possible with your defense gun, concentrate on that. You'll miss out on a lot of the pleasure of shooting, though. If you want to have fun, shoot different guns and also practice with your defense gun.

I am probably the most defense-oriented person on this forum, but there's more to shooting than that grim business.

+1

I'm pretty much a .4+ caliber type of guy. .40S&W and .45ACP for me.
When I fired a 9mm pistol recently, it felt like a .22lr.

i usually shoot at least 2 guns every time i got out shooting. i fire my carry peice everytime, and then whatever guns fit my mood after that. this gives me a variety and still has me practicing what i carry at least once a week.

When I go to the range I practice with my carry guns and I am very serious with them. When done with that then the enjoyment of shooting starts. I take as many as 4 different guns with me to the range in an combination of calbers and enjoy myself. With me you just got to have some fun. Good shooting.

I agree 100%, if I had a choice I would have as many as I could afford but I'm just wondering if it messes you up if you practice with different guns/cals. I say this because I had the same thing in mind when I had a .40 (H&K USPF) and 9mm (226R). I thought "cool" more guns = more fun, but what I saw happen was that I was overcompensating for the .40 (my first gun) and my 9mm shots were low left. Now that I only have my 9mm it's corrected and I'm dead center again. My theory is that if I were to get another .40 then the shots would lead upper right because of the characteristic of the round. Is this just a matter of practice or does the body/mind adjust to whatever you're using most at the time? I ask because like I said in the earlier post I've only been shooting for about a year or so.

Originally Posted by m9999

My theory is that if I were to get another .40 then the shots would lead upper right because of the characteristic of the round.

It's not the characteristic of the round. If you fire different calibers from the same platform, say Glock or Sig the only real difference is between your ears. Slowly sqeeze the trigger, with good sight alignment and sight picture, be suprised when the weapon fires and you will be on target.
My 454 Casull has a characteristic to get off target the more I shoot it. That is in my head, knowing brutal abrupt recoil is coming and making a feable attempt to anticipate it.
If you become proficient with any pistol, it is not a big step to be proficient with most pistols, it is all about practice.