Who wants to shoot just one caliber?
Modularity is a defining factor of many modern firearms, and a big chunk of modularity is the ability to swap calibers.
As we’ve seen in relatively peaceful times, your favorite ammo can dry up in a hurry. Swapping calibers can be vital for putting food on the table, training, and even self-defense.
The prepper side of my brain says more options are always better than less, and being able to swap calibers is undoubtedly a handy thing to have when the zombies come knocking.
While It’s true that with enough tools, expertise, and machinery, you can turn dang near any gun into something multi-caliber, that’s not what we are talking about today.
We are talking about common weapons where the end-user can easily swap calibers without custom work.
With that in mind, I’ve gathered what I think are the best multi-caliber weapons currently on the market that are easy for the end-user to swap calibers, starting with the weapons that have the least amount of caliber swaps to the most.
THE QUICK LIST
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Best Multi-Caliber Pistol
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Best Multi-Caliber Revolver
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Best Multi-Caliber Compact
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Best Multi-Caliber Shotgun
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Editor’s Pick
Table of Contents
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Why You Should Trust Us
Before becoming an NRA-certified instructor and concealed carry trainer out of Florida, I was a Marine infantryman. So, I know my way around guns.
Today, I use my knowledge to test and review guns for several publications, including Pew Pew Tactical. At my home range, I spend countless hours analyzing, researching, and putting guns and gear to the test to bring you the best recommendations and most accurate reviews.
Best Multi-Caliber Pistols
1. Sig Sauer P320
Sig designed the P320 to be a modular platform. That was always the intention, and that idea dates back to the original and somewhat underrated P250.
They wanted to maximize the use of their FCU — Fire Control Unit.
The FCU is the serialized portion of the gun, thus making it legally the firearm. This allows the FCU to be moved into different frames and work with various slide and barrel lengths.
In addition to being able to move from full size to subcompact, the P320 can also swap calibers.
If you own a P320 in .40 S&W, you can purchase what’s known as a Caliber X-Change kit to swap your caliber from .40 S&W to .357 SIG or 9mm fairly easily.
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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Some kits require more than others, but typically you get a new slide, barrel, frame, and magazine.
Swapping between frames and calibers is easy and can be done in about two minutes without needing tools. Sig had a great idea, but it’s at the top of the list because they’ve seemed to abandon it.
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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The Caliber X-Change kits are also fairly expensive, and for a few dollars more, you could purchase a second firearm rather than swap calibers.
2. Taurus 692
The Taurus 692 is all kinds of cool. It’s a 7-shot revolver that allows you to swap cylinders.
One cylinder will enable you to fire .38 Special and .357 Magnum, and the other allows you to fire 9mm.
Having one revolver fire three calibers makes it an excellent choice for various applications.
The 692 comes in various sizes, from models designed for concealed carry all the way up to weapons perfect for hunting. Taurus added porting to the barrel to increase control and reduce recoil, as well as an adjustable rear sight.
Sprinkle in an extra shot for a seven-round capacity, and you get a very capable revolver.
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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With .38 Special, you get a very soft shooting caliber.
If you want to shoot cheap ammunition but also have a good selection of various defensive loadings, 9mm has you covered. In the .357 Magnum department, we get a flat shooting caliber that is capable of defense and excellent for hunting small to medium game.
I think the 3-inch barreled model is the most versatile, but shooters can also pick from 2.5 to 6.5-inch options.
With the 692, you get a versatile revolver that’s also affordable. Being able to switch between 3 calibers isn’t bad for a budget-friendly handgun.
3. “Most” 1911s
With such an illustrious history and long lifespan, the 1911 has been offered in many different calibers. It is also a gun that’s easy to convert to a different caliber.
Of course, with millions of 1911s produced, some are bound to work better than others with various calibers.
Thus, the “most” caveat in the title. How easy it is to swap between calibers depends on what caliber your 1911 was originally chambered in.
Moving from a .45 ACP to another caliber takes the most effort and essentially requires an entirely new slide and magazine.
Going from 9mm to .38 Super or 10mm to .40 S&W is much simpler, being as easy as a barrel, recoil spring, and magazine swap.
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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Swapping from 9mm to 10mm will take a new slide, and so will changing from any caliber to .22 LR.
Luckily, with the wide availability of 1911 parts and the extremely common frame, you can make it happen fairly quickly.
You can even swap in various oddball calibers, like .22 TCM or .50 GI. Sure, it requires some creativity and a little know-how, but it’s not too intensive or difficult to mix things up with your 1911.
4. Glock 20 & 29
As crazy as it is to say, Glocks are a lot like 1911s in a sense. Their popularity ensures a robust aftermarket that includes caliber conversions.
I could pick any number of Glocks, but the Glock 20 and 29 pack the most potential for swapping calibers. You start with 10mm, and anything with a similar breech face is a simple conversion.
Calibers you can easily move to include .40 S&W, .357 SIG, 9x25mm Dillon, and .50 GI. Rimfire replacement slides also exist. These are the standard conversions that work with no issue.
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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There is also something to be said for the 10mm and its wide variety of loadings.
You can get several different projectile designs with varying power levels for everything from defense against humans to loads powerful enough to take down a bear.
These Glocks are arguably the most versatile of the Glock pattern pistols.
The Glock 29 offers you a subcompact hand cannon, and the Glock 20 delivers full-size potential. You can get a little bit of everything with either of these guns.
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You can read more about the Glock 20 in our hands-on review!
Best Multi-Caliber Long Guns
5. Savage Arms/Stevens 301 Turkey
The Savage/Stevens 301 Turkey is a single-barreled shotgun available in the most popular shotgun calibers.
For the best multicaliber option, you’ll need the 12-gauge model. I chose the Turkey variant specifically because it’s one of the rare single-shot shotguns that’s optics-ready.
How exactly is a single-shot turkey gun multi-caliber? Well, it’s not all by itself. You’ll need some Short Lane adapters.
These inserts allow you to convert your shotgun to various calibers, including other shotgun calibers like .410 and 20 gauge. On top of that, the Bug Out and Pathfinder series offers five and 8-inch rifled inserts, respectively.
These caliber sleeves allow you to shoot .22 LR, 9mm, .38 Special, .45 ACP, .45 Colt, and more in your shotgun. This takes any already flexible platform and makes it even more versatile.
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The Savage 301 Turkey is a robust and reliable shotgun, so it was an easy pick. Top off the rail with something like the Meprolight Foresight, and you can have multiple zeroes for each caliber conversion.
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You can do just about anything with the right adapter and a single-shot shotgun.
6. AR-15
Of course, the AR-15 had to make the list. Like the 1911 and Glock, the AR-15 is immensely popular and inherently modular.
Users can convert it to various calibers in multiple ways, including changing the barrel, dropping in a conversion kit, or swapping uppers.
Even removing and changing the barrel isn’t that difficult, but the easiest means is to just switch the upper. There is a reason most AR lower receivers say multi-cal.
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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You can change a standard 5.56 to .300 Blackout, .224 Valkyrie, 6.5 Grendel, 6.8 SPC, .458 SOCOM, .50 Beowulf, and so many more by simply changing out the upper, and maybe the buffer.
A 5.56 rifle can also be converted to numerous pistol calibers with an upper and buffer swap. The user then needs to find something like the Endo Mag or an insert from Matador Arms to convert the magazine well to use handgun magazines.
If you want a rimfire rifle, you can swap uppers, but the CMMG bolt system is an easier method.
This drop-in bolt and magazine system allows you to shoot .22 LR from your standard AR-15. Your zero may shift a bit, but it’s surprisingly reliable and easy to use.
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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Heck, I even own a .410 upper for one of my ARs.
Have you ever heard of .277 Wolverine or 25-45 Sharps? Well, you can get an AR in those. The number of calibers the AR can accept is stunning.
Final Thoughts
A gun that can shoot just one caliber can be boring. Being able to quickly and efficiently shoot a variety of calibers can be a huge benefit and is a great selling point to some.
There are other great multi-caliber capable guns out there, these are just a few that I like.
What’s your favorite multi-caliber weapon? Do you have any experience with any of the guns on the list? Let us know in the comments below. Not sure what calibers to look for? Check out our guides on Handgun Calibers and Rifle Calibers.
13 Leave a Reply
Keep in mind that there may be additional changes, at least with the Glock, where there may need to be a change the ejector and EDP plunger for maximum reliability, when doing any caliber change.
My favorite muti caliber firearm platform is the AR 15. It’s versatility from home defense to hunting and plinking can save , sustain and strengthen your life.
When I saw the title I immediately thought of Contender. Almost every caliber made can be fired from one platform.
The RIA .22 TCM9R and 9mm swap is very easy. Just swap the barrel and recoil spring, and you're good to go. Same slide, magazines, and lower frame assembly. I have the CCO-size setup (model 56630), which I primarily bought to get a 9mm in CCO configuration, but it runs both calibers flawlessly. This gun is set up for the .22 TCM9R round, which is slightly different from the original .22 TCM, but it will also run .22 TCM rounds from a .38 Super mag.
I'm curious as to why you don't include the 25 acp and the 32 ACP in your bullet line up? Both are historical cartridges and still popular today.
My two-gun survival mode consists of a 992 Taurus Tracker with two 9 round cylinders in 22LR and 22 Mag in stainless steel. This revolver would also handle 22 Long and short. My rifle is a single shot Rossi Breztech break open 308 win. with a mounted 4x9 scope. I also have a 9 round leather cartridge holder strapped to the stock for 308. The second barrel that came with it is a 12 gauge. This firearm is a basic copy of the H&R Handi-rifle no longer produced. The rifle breaks down and stores in a case and holds both barrels. The Taurus Tracker is one of my favorites. It's heavy and the 22 magnum is a great round. The pistol is so well made it will last for a very long time. A shotgun and a 22 are a must. And with the single barrel shotgun the barrel inserts just expand the possibilities for ammo.
Rock Island also has the Rock Ultra that shoots .22TCM (2000fps. round) and 9mm.
I can’t believe you left out Wyndham Weaponry’s innovative caliber changing AR-15 platform and Daniel Defense’s Delta 5.
I love the article, but I think you missed the mosty obvious, cheapest and most versitile multi-caliber handgun! The Glock 23 is a 40 caliber platform, but very easily converts to 9 mm and 357 sig with a simple barrel exchange and a magazine change for 9mm, but can use the same magazines for 357 sig! For well under $1000, you can have 3 fine Glock handguns in one!
I would even go a bit further and say the Glock 27/33 is the ultimate transformer with the use of X-grips and 23/22 (and 19/17 or 32/31) mags. The 27 can use the compact length slide from a 32 (357sig) and 23 (40 S&W) with the current 9round mags. It can easily take the barrel from a 357Sig in a 40S&W slide and vice versa. With an Xgrip and a compact sized mag, it can mimic the grip size of a compact sized model with the compact or subcompact slides. Swap the slide to a 26 or 19 upper and use 9mm mags, and you have yourself a compact or subcompact in 9mm, or even just use a 40S&W to 9mm conversion barrel. Track down one of Brownell's 19L slides and a Gen 5 17 barrel, and the Xgrip for 17mags with now you have the equivalent of the Glock 17. You technically can use a Gen 5 Glock 34 barrel in the slide as well. I personally have not tried the 19L slide (or the 33 slide) but I own the 19, 23, 26, 27 and 32 and can confirm all other configurations. I know you can't use a regular 17 slide on the subcompact due to the slide stop cuts, but iirc Brownell's 19L is cut like a 19 slide. So that's 3 calibers across 2 different sizes, but up to a 3rd and 4th size with a Gen 5 17 and 34 barrel.
More than 30 yrs.ago I bought a Ruger New Model Blackhawk in 357, which can also shoot .38 Specials. My Blackhawk was what they called the Convertible model, as it came with another cylinder, chambered for 9mm. Well before Taurus had come up with their convertible model. The Ruger , though a single action pistol, is built like a tank, very strong, capable of handling +P loads and well beyond. Some loading books have a special section for loading hotter than usual loads in Ruger Blackhawks.
I do like my Ruger REDhawk in .45 Colt. With moonclips it also handles .45 ACP, which, on occasion, can be arguably be more available than the long Colts.
Another easy conversion is to buy a Lone Wolf 9mm conversion barrel for a Glock model 22, and you can shoot 9mm through it. I even was successful using a 40 S&W mag to shoot 9mm, until I finally bought a few inexpensive KCI 9mm mags for it.
also surprised in discussing various calibers that can be swapped in a AR-15,
no mention was made of the 7.62 X 39.. it's my favorite upper in the AR-15 format.