Best Multi-Caliber Weapons [Rifles, Shotguns & Handguns]

What's better than a gun that's accurate, reliable, and fun to shoot? One that does all that with multiple cartridges!

Multi-caliber firearms are a great way to expand your collection and capabilities without blowing the budget on a bunch of new guns.

I've gathered what I think are the best multi-caliber weapons currently on the market that are easy for the end-user to change cartridges.

Let's dive in!

Multi-Caliber Weapon Comparison Chart

How We Tested the Best Multi-Caliber Weapons

For this article, we gathered a bunch of multi-caliber firearms we've personally shot, reviewed, and owned here at Pew Pew Tactical. The entire Pew Pew Tactical team, as well as freelance writers, contributed to this review to offer different opinions based on ergonomics, size, and experience.

For guns we have reviews on, we've linked those so you can read more. Every review handgun undergoes a strict testing protocol that requires a minimum of 500 rounds of both FMJ and JHP ammo through it at 5 and 7 yards.

Meanwhile, every review rifle undergoes 500 rounds of practice ammo and heavier match-grade ammo at 50 and 100 yards with a 5-25x scope (unless otherwise noted). We require all AR-15s to be tested with at least 3 magazines to assess compatibility, and we use a Lyman Digital Trigger Gauge to measure the average trigger pull for all guns.

Best Multi-Caliber Pistols

1. Taurus 692 - Best Revolver

Best Revolver

Taurus 692

$607

at Kygunco

Prices accurate at time of writing

$607 at Kygunco

Firearms Depot (see price)

Guns.com (see price)

Specs

• Caliber: 9mm, .38 Spl, .357 Mag
• Conversions: Included
• Barrel Length: 2.5" - 6.5"
• Overall Length: 8" - 11.64"
• Weight: 32 oz - 46 oz
• Country of Origin: Brazil

The Taurus 692 is all kinds of cool. It's a 7-shot revolver that allows you to swap cylinders and use three different cartridges.

It comes with two cylinders. One works with .38 Spl and .357 Mag, and the other takes 9mm.

The 692 comes in three sizes, covering everything from concealed carry all the way up to hunting. I think the 3-inch barrel is the most versatile, but you can also pick from 2.5- or 6.5-inch options.

Perks include a ported barrel that reduces recoil, and an adjustable rear sight. Sprinkle in an extra shot for a seven-round capacity, and you get a very capable revolver.

With .38 Special, you get a very soft shooting caliber.

In the .357 Magnum department, you get a flat shooting caliber that is capable of defense and excellent for hunting small to medium game.

If you want to shoot cheap ammunition but also have a huge selection of defensive loads, 9mm has you covered.

2. Rock Island Armory GI Standard FS - Best 1911

Best 1911

Rock Island Armory GI Standard FS .38 Super

$439

at GrabAGun

Prices accurate at time of writing

$439 at GrabAGun

Sportsman's Warehouse (see price)

Kygunco (see price)

Specs

• Caliber: .38 Super
• Conversions: 9mm, .40 S&W, 10mm
• Barrel Length: 5"
• Overall Length: 8.5"
• Weight: 41 oz
• Country of Origin: Philippines

We associate the 1911 with .45 ACP, but it can shoot other cartridges, too! The Rock Island Armory GI Standard in .38 Super is a great jumping-off point for a multi-caliber 1911.

In the world of 1911s, some pistols are easier to convert than others.

Switching from .38 Super to 9mm is relatively easy. So is modifying a 10mm 1911 to shoot .40 S&W. All you need to change is the barrel, recoil spring, and magazine.

Swapping from 9mm to 10mm will take a new slide, and so will changing from any caliber to .22 LR.

Moving from a .45 ACP to another caliber takes the most effort and essentially requires an entirely new slide and magazine.

Luckily, with the wide availability of 1911 parts and the extremely common frame, you can make it happen.

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 difficult to mix things up with your 1911.

Check out or review of RIA's .45 ACP 1911 to see how the brand's pistols shoot.

We've shot a ton of America's pistols. Read more about the Best 9mm 1911 Pistols we've tried!

3. Glock 20 - Best Big-Bore Pistol

Best Big-Bore Pistol

Glock 20

$620

at Classic Firearms

Prices accurate at time of writing

$620 at Classic Firearms

Guns.com (see price)

Palmetto State Armory (see price)

Specs

• Caliber: 10mm
• Conversions: .357 Sig, .40 S&W, 9x25 Dillon, .50 GI
• Barrel Length: 4.6"
• Overall Length: 8"
• Weight: 30 oz
• Country of Origin: Austria, USA

As crazy as it is to say, Glocks are a lot like 1911s in a sense. Pistols like the Glock 20 enjoy a robust aftermarket that includes caliber conversions.

You can easily convert your 10mm Glock 20 to .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.

There is also something to be said for the 10mm and its wide variety of loadings.

You can get different projectile designs and varying power levels for everything from defense against humans to loads powerful enough to take down a brown bear.

These Glocks are arguably the most versatile of the Glock-pattern pistols.

We have a hands-on Glock 20 review, so don't miss all the action in that article!

Looking for something more CCW friendly? The 10mm Glock 29 is a subcompact hand cannon.

Glock 29 Gen 5

$529

at Kygunco

Prices accurate at time of writing

$529 at Kygunco

Guns.com (see price)

4. Savage Arms 301 Turkey - Best Shotgun

Best Shotgun

Savage Arms Stevens 301 Turkey

$198

at Kygunco

Prices accurate at time of writing

$198 at Kygunco

GrabAGun (see price)

Guns.com (see price)

Specs

• Caliber: 12ga
• Conversions: .410 bore, 20ga, .22 LR, 9mm, .38 Spl, .45 ACP, .45 Colt
• Barrel Length: 26"
• Overall Length: 41.5"
• Weight: 5.1 lbs
• Country of Origin: China

The Savage Arms 301 Turkey (also sold as a Stevens) is a single-barreled shotgun available in the most popular shotgun gauges.

For the best multicaliber option, you'll want the 12-gauge model. I chose the Turkey variant specifically because it's one of the rare single-shot shotguns with a Picatinny rail.

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 gauges and calibers, including .410 and 20ga.

On top of that, the Bug Out and Pathfinder series offers 5- and 8-inch rifled inserts.

These caliber sleeves allow you to shoot .22 LR, 9mm, .38 Spl, .45 ACP, .45 Colt, and more in your shotgun. This takes any already flexible platform and makes it even more versatile.

The 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 ready to go.

Meprolight Foresight

$349

at Sportsman's Warehouse

Prices accurate at time of writing

$349 at Sportsman's Warehouse

Amazon (see price)

5. Palmetto State Armory PA-15 - Best Rifle

Best Rifle

Palmetto State Armory PA-15

$499

at Palmetto State Armory

Prices accurate at time of writing

$499 at Palmetto State Armory

Specs

• Caliber: 5.56 NATO
• Conversions: Endless!
• Barrel Length: 16"
• Overall Length: 32"
• Weight: N/A
• Country of Origin: USA

Of course, the AR-15 had to make the list. Like the 1911 and Glock, it's immensely popular and inherently modular. The Palmetto State Armory PA-15 is one of the best values in the AR market.

You can convert it to a huge range of 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.

And remember, only the lower is serialized. You can buy uppers like accessories.

You can change a standard 5.56 NATO AR-15 to .300 Blk, .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). Heck, I even own a .410 upper for one of my ARs.

A 5.56 NATO rifle can also be converted to a pistol caliber carbine with an upper and buffer swap. Something like the Endo Mag or an insert from Matador Arms will convert the magazine well to use handgun magazines.

Rimfire uppers are available, but the CMMG bolt system is an easier conversion.

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.

CMMG 22 LR Bravo Conversion Kit

$164

at Brownells

Prices accurate at time of writing

$164 at Brownells

Palmetto State Armory (see price)

Primary Arms (see price)

CMMG (see price)

Have you ever heard of .277 Wolverine or 25-45 Sharps? Well, you can build an AR-15 for those, too. The number of cartridges this platform can accept is stunning.

Honorable Mentions

Sig Sauer P320

Sig Sauer P320C

$399

at GrabAGun

Prices accurate at time of writing

$399 at GrabAGun

Kygunco (see price)

Specs

• Caliber: 9mm
• Conversions: .357 Sig, .40 S&W
• Barrel Length: 3.6" - 4.7"
• Overall Length: 7" - 8"
• Weight: 25 oz - 28 oz
• Country of Origin: USA

The Sig Sauer P320 stands out as a completely modular pistol. Once you own the trigger group, or fire control unit, you can change any other comment without going through an FFL.

In addition to moving from full size to subcompact grip module, you can change the caliber of your P320.

If you own a P320 in .40 S&W, you can buy a Caliber X-Change kit to swap your pistol over to .357 Sig or 9mm fairly easily.

You can swap from 9mm to .40S&W or .357 Sig, too, but it involves replacing more components.

Even when there are lots of parts to change, the P320 platform makes it easy. Swapping between frames and calibers can be done in about two minutes without tools.

The Caliber X-Change kits are kind of expensive. You'll have to decide if converting is better than just buying another pistol.

Sig Sauer P320 Caliber X-Change Kit

$385

at Brownells

Prices accurate at time of writing

$385 at Brownells

Kygunco (see price)

EuroOptic (see price)

Want to know more? Check out our Sig Sauer P320 review. Interested in owning the U.S. military's new sidearm? Head over to our Sig Sauer P320-M17 review!

**Editor's Note: We are aware of the current allegations against the P320 -- thus, we moved the P320 to Honorable Mentions and out of the main list.

How to Pick the Best Multi-Caliber Firearm

These are all fun guns, but which one is right for you? Here are some things to keep in mind.

Cartridge Selection

First, decide which cartridges you want to shoot; multi-caliber doesn't mean universal.

If you want to rotate through different pistol cartridges like 9mm, .40 S&W, and .357 SIG, the Sig Sauer P320 can handle all three. We like the Glock 20 a lot, too.

Looking for a revolver that can be mild or wild? The Taurus 692 can shoot the very tame .38 Spl, the powerful .357 Mg, and even 9mm!

Of course, the AR-15 is the king of modularity and aftermarket support, so you can't go wrong with one of those if you're looking for a rifle.

Ease of Conversion

Some multi-caliber firearms make switching between cartridges easier than others.

Before you buy, think about how much work you're willing to do every time you convert your gun to a different cartridge. Does the process require tools? Do you need a new barrel? Just be aware of what you're getting yourself into.

Meet the Experts

Heading up this article is Pew Pew Tactical author Travis Pike. Travis spent a lifetime shooting and hunting before joining the United States Marine Corps, where he spent five years as an infantryman. Travis is also an NRA-certified instructor and concealed carry instructor in the state of Florida.

Editing this article is Scott Murdock. Scott is a Marine Corps veteran who competed and qualified as a rifle and pistol expert while in service. In addition to shooting, Scott has written for a variety of publications, testing, researching, and evaluating guns and gear. He brings that knowledge and skillset to this article, editing and fact-checking for accuracy.

Editor-in-Chief Jacki Billings runs our experienced team of reviewers. She is a National Rifle Association Basic Pistol Instructor as well as a member of the Society of Professional Journalists, ACES: Society for Editing, and the Professional Outdoor Media Association. Jacki has a bachelor’s degree in journalism and has worked as a media professional for close to 20 years, specializing in gun media for almost 10 years. With 2,000+ articles to her name, she uses her professional journalism and editing experience to set testing protocols and editorial standards for Pew Pew Tactical.

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? Let us know in the comments below. Not sure what calibers to look for? Check out our guides on Handgun Calibers and Rifle Calibers!

Latest Updates

May 2025: Moved Sig P320 to honorable mentions.