Guns for center fire

Are there reasons for having a center fire gun other than a .45?  Any advantage to shooting a .32 or .38 for the center fire stage instead of just shooting the .45 for CF and .45? 
Thanks, Kurt

CF pistols are fun to shoot. But in the hands of a high master a 45 will normally bring higher scores. I shot lots of .38 spl back in the 90's and could see many shots that were close to scoring ring but just out; 45 would've cut the line. I was talking to Reiter recently (5x pistol champ and Olympian) and he was telling me that he and Mel Makin were both averaging 2660's in mid 70's and they both tried.38's to see if they could bump their scores up. They both saw no benefit and a decline in their scores. Reiter would break into 890's with his 45 many times a year when I shot with him in the 90's. Darius 'Doc' Young routinely shot 890's with his .32 CF pistol. He was the rare exception. So if you master the 45 I personally see no benefit. Although part-time shooters could benefit from it because we don't have the stamina a full-time shooter has. They are also great for women. Brenda Silva shoots her .32 quite well. So it is possible to shoot one well, but if you're in it to win shoot the big gun!
Jon

That is kinda what I was thinking. I shot my first 2700 last weekend, shot revolver for CF. Missed Expert by 7 points- I didn't get two RF shots off-one CF and one .45. I should be able to make Expert using the.45 in CF.  Master is a ways off, but certainly a goal.
Kurt

I tried a 1911 38 special twice, both times I found no advantage over the 45. My conclusion is it is easier to learn to shoot 2 guns instead of 3.
Tom Ginovsky

teg2658 wrote:I tried a 1911 38 special twice, both times I found no advantage over the 45. My conclusion is it is easier to learn to shoot 2 guns instead of 3.
Tom Ginovsky

Tom would know!
Jon

I have a 52-2 and a .38 wadcutter 1911, both of which I like to shoot indoor matches with. However I've come to believe that .45 is the way to go. Live and learn! But the .38's are a joy to shoot.

As we speak I'm building myself a new 5" .38 special with a frame mount. Probably 75% done. I'll share it later when it's finished. Just because I believe 45 is really the way to go doesn't mean I shouldn't have another 38
Jon

I have found that my 52 will shoot as well at 25 yards as my 41 will with me shooting either of them.  I normally just shoot for my own enjoyment now but I'd probably shoot big matches with the better or easier gun to score with.  If that was the 52 over my wadgun, then I'd shoot that.  

I've also heard it said that the 45 is a difficult bear to master, and it is. So I practice three sessions with the 45 to one with the 52.  My normal practice session is a 600 with either the 52 or 41 and then a 1200 with the 45. Sometimes I shoot all three but not normally.