10 Must Have Handguns?
- Thread starter baddarryl
- Start date
jolly roger
New member
Gonna stay away from specifics. Here are the types required
Accurate 45 ACP semi auto...whatever flavor...everybody needs one 45
Single Action Revolver
22 Full size semi auto pistol
22 target type revolver
Service 9mm (9mm due to less ammo expense)
Snub nose revolver
Big Bore DA revolver possibly in same caliber as single action
Good medium frame 357 revolver
Compact auto preferably same operating design as service
Contender single shot with barrels of choice. Preferably Encore in same caliber as primary hunting rifle.
Accurate 45 ACP semi auto...whatever flavor...everybody needs one 45
Single Action Revolver
22 Full size semi auto pistol
22 target type revolver
Service 9mm (9mm due to less ammo expense)
Snub nose revolver
Big Bore DA revolver possibly in same caliber as single action
Good medium frame 357 revolver
Compact auto preferably same operating design as service
Contender single shot with barrels of choice. Preferably Encore in same caliber as primary hunting rifle.
Bill Siegle
New member
Here is my list. No particular order though. Calibers in most of the categories are not too important. I based my list on building a good list of experience through handguns. Except for the Sig and Walther references, brands aren't specific to my list. I think if you own/shoot the guns on my list, you'd have a lot of fun and pretty much cover all bases for what a handgun can/should do.
1. 1911(any caliber)
2. DA medium or large frame revolver
3. S&W J frame centerfire
4. 22LR semi auto
5. Sig Sauer DA auto
6. Striker fired polymer gun (Glock, HK, SA,etc)
7. Single Action Cowboy style gun
8. Walther PP series gun or clone
9. A mouse gun(derringer,NAA,LCP,Seecamp,etc)
10. Something "historical" (old family heirloom,military, black powder)
1. 1911(any caliber)
2. DA medium or large frame revolver
3. S&W J frame centerfire
4. 22LR semi auto
5. Sig Sauer DA auto
6. Striker fired polymer gun (Glock, HK, SA,etc)
7. Single Action Cowboy style gun
8. Walther PP series gun or clone
9. A mouse gun(derringer,NAA,LCP,Seecamp,etc)
10. Something "historical" (old family heirloom,military, black powder)
trigger643
New member
In no particular order. My top 10 Working Man's guns (under $1,000)
1. 1911a1, Colt series 70 or earlier, Sig, S&W, STI or ? (not Taurus) .
2. P226
3. Browning HP, Belgian.
4. Ruger MKII
5. S&W J frame: 40, 340pd, 49, etc.
6. Luger P.08, any, though Mitchell Stainless are the most recent production.
7. Glock 24
8. S&W M27 or M28
9. Hammerli Trailside or Xesse
10. Uberti Cattleman .357 (like Colt SAA, only improved).
1. 1911a1, Colt series 70 or earlier, Sig, S&W, STI or ? (not Taurus) .
2. P226
3. Browning HP, Belgian.
4. Ruger MKII
5. S&W J frame: 40, 340pd, 49, etc.
6. Luger P.08, any, though Mitchell Stainless are the most recent production.
7. Glock 24
8. S&W M27 or M28
9. Hammerli Trailside or Xesse
10. Uberti Cattleman .357 (like Colt SAA, only improved).
1. 1911 .45acp
2. Hi Power 9mm
3. SAA .45lc
4. S&W N frame m29
5. Colt Python
6. S&W K frame m17
7. S&W J frame m36, although mine is a 642, lol
8. Roger Mk series, I have a III
9. Glock 17
10. 3rd gen S&W auto, mine is a 39-2
I think the first 3 are a must have, although I don't have 2, 3, or 4. My .44mag is an Anaconda and my only SA is a birds head Heritage Rough Rider. My other hammer fired 9mm is an FNP. It's parent company is Belgium, so maybe a half point for me.
Pretty neat responses so far, from just iconic to strictly practical.
2. Hi Power 9mm
3. SAA .45lc
4. S&W N frame m29
5. Colt Python
6. S&W K frame m17
7. S&W J frame m36, although mine is a 642, lol
8. Roger Mk series, I have a III
9. Glock 17
10. 3rd gen S&W auto, mine is a 39-2
I think the first 3 are a must have, although I don't have 2, 3, or 4. My .44mag is an Anaconda and my only SA is a birds head Heritage Rough Rider. My other hammer fired 9mm is an FNP. It's parent company is Belgium, so maybe a half point for me.
Pretty neat responses so far, from just iconic to strictly practical.
Last edited:
Mike Irwin
Staff
"Leaving a 92fs off the list is the same as leaving a glock off the list."
And I had absolutely no problem leaving both of those guns off my list.
And I had absolutely no problem leaving both of those guns off my list.
Cheapshooter
New member
Not any particular manufacturer.
22 rimfire S/A revolver
22 rimfire D/A revolver
22 rimfire semi-auto target/plinker
22 rimfire semi-auto full slide "big gun" copy
Mouse gun pocket pistol
38/357 D/A revolver
9MM (Luger) semi-auto
Large frame revolver, 44 Magnum or larger
45 Colt SAA clone (or the real thing if you have unlimited means!
)
1911 of some kind.
#11 option. T/C Contender or Encore.
22 rimfire S/A revolver
22 rimfire D/A revolver
22 rimfire semi-auto target/plinker
22 rimfire semi-auto full slide "big gun" copy
Mouse gun pocket pistol
38/357 D/A revolver
9MM (Luger) semi-auto
Large frame revolver, 44 Magnum or larger
45 Colt SAA clone (or the real thing if you have unlimited means!
)1911 of some kind.
#11 option. T/C Contender or Encore.
Magnum Research Desert Eagle (pre-2010 Mark XIX, .44 mag/.50 AE preferred)
Colt 1911 Delta Elite
Colt 1911
Colt Python
Colt Single Action Army
Smith and Wesson M29 (.44 Magnum)
Smith and Wesson Model 3 Schofield
Smith and Wesson M500
Taurus Raging Bull (.45 LC, .410, .454 Casull)
Not quite 10, and none of them I could ever afford! lol
Colt 1911 Delta Elite
Colt 1911
Colt Python
Colt Single Action Army
Smith and Wesson M29 (.44 Magnum)
Smith and Wesson Model 3 Schofield
Smith and Wesson M500
Taurus Raging Bull (.45 LC, .410, .454 Casull)
Not quite 10, and none of them I could ever afford! lol
CZ75 or 85
Ruger MKII
S&W K-22 or M17
Browning Hi Power (don't currently own one)
HK P7
Belgian Browning 22 (Nomad, Challenger or Medalist) they are so nicely made
1911 - take your pick. I like my Dan Wesson Pointman 7
Glock - I swore I'd never buy plastic, but got a G21 a while back...
Kahr K9 Elite - nice single stack 9mm
Makarov - great guns, but not as cheap as they used to be. CZ 83 also good
Nice target 22. Smith 41, IZH 35 if you can find one
I tried not to put guns that are way out there in price like a Sig 210. Sure they are nice, but too expensive for me.
Ruger MKII
S&W K-22 or M17
Browning Hi Power (don't currently own one)
HK P7
Belgian Browning 22 (Nomad, Challenger or Medalist) they are so nicely made
1911 - take your pick. I like my Dan Wesson Pointman 7
Glock - I swore I'd never buy plastic, but got a G21 a while back...
Kahr K9 Elite - nice single stack 9mm
Makarov - great guns, but not as cheap as they used to be. CZ 83 also good
Nice target 22. Smith 41, IZH 35 if you can find one
I tried not to put guns that are way out there in price like a Sig 210. Sure they are nice, but too expensive for me.
Radarcontact
Inactive
OP stated "10 handguns every enthusiast must have". Can be interpreted different ways.
The way I looked at it was this--if God said, "Go to my God Gun Cabinet and grab 10 guns, and you will be allowed no others for the end of time; though be warned, young gun stud, that you must shoot them regularly and cannot ever part with them."
Those were the ones I'd pick, but I'd spend a whole day looking through his stash!
(That's how God would talk to me, I'm convinced of it. Lol)
PatientWolf
New member
Some people will agree, some won't, but here's my list (in no particular order)...
Colt 1911 full size
S&W 1911Sc E series or Sig 1911
Single Action Revolver in .45 Colt or .44 Rem Mag
S&W 686
Sig M11-A1
Sig P232
H&K USPc or P30
Ruger SP 101
High Standard Victor
S&W model 17 / 18 / K-22 Combat Masterpiece
Looking at my list, I'm not doing very well...
I think maybe a "10 best compromises" list I'd do better with.
Colt 1911 full size
S&W 1911Sc E series or Sig 1911
Single Action Revolver in .45 Colt or .44 Rem Mag
S&W 686
Sig M11-A1
Sig P232
H&K USPc or P30
Ruger SP 101
High Standard Victor
S&W model 17 / 18 / K-22 Combat Masterpiece
Looking at my list, I'm not doing very well...
I think maybe a "10 best compromises" list I'd do better with.