If you could only have one handgun what would it be?

Before I started reloading, I'd have said a stainless 4" GP100 ... and that one is probably still my favorite. The .357 mag cartridge is powerful enough for hunting, the 4" barrel is short enough for concealed carry, and any .357 will also handle .38 specials for plinking.

Now that I'm reloading, I'd have to give serious consideration to a S&W 629 or Ruger Redhawk in .44 mag. The .44 outperforms the .357 as a hunting cartridge, and since a reloader can vary the charge, easy to build very light plinking rounds, heavy "specials" for self defense, and full power magnums for hunting.

If Ruger made a 5-shot .44 mag on the GP100 frame, that would be my hands down first choice. As it is, not sure if I'd pick the GP100 or a 629 Mountain Gun as my "only one." If I can't reload, GP100 every time.
 
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IF the world's as it should be, all unicorns and rainbows, I'm set for life and my biggest handgun addressable problem is too many stray cats, err, squirrels, a Ruger .22 auto, long barrel, target sights.

IF "We're in Teh End Times!", and I have to survive a 7 year Great Tribbleation wandering through a blasted and mutating apocalyptic landscape with only what I managed to grab in my panicked flight, a Glock 19. It should last as long as I need it. I can scavenge ammo from my fallen enemies, as, surely, the Man 'o Sin's minions will favor the Euroweenie 9mm over the One True Cartridge delivered by the hand of St. JMB.
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Thanks, now I am going to have nightmares
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Glad I could provide some amusement (for various values of "amusement").

----edit to add----

The point I'm trying to make is that how you answer the question (one that is up there in the Internet Gunboard top 5, along with "what gun for $X", and "revolver vs. auto" and everyone's favorite, "9 vs 40 vs 45") depends greatly on how you think you'll be forced into the dire "one gun forever" situation, and what you have to do with that one remaining gun.
 
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Well, this is pretty much the same thread that I ran a couple of weeks ago. I'll repeat here what I said there: my "best" and favorite handgun is my Smith & Wesson 27-3 4". It can do it all and it's a cool gun to look at as well. That said, my recently acquired CZ 75B SA is giving it a close run for its money.
 
STI Shadow (3'' 1911 CCW). It runs very well, shoots very well, conceals very well, is made just up the road from me here in Texas, has a nice outline of Texas rollmarked on the slide, and uses .45ACP, all of which I like.
 
I know you guys are gettin tired of this picture, but make mine any ONE of these (pref. The gp):
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4" S&W 686 or Ruger GP 100. With a multitude of loadings in the .38 Spec. and .357 calibers it would be ideal for defense, recreation and hunting where I live. Thankfully we are not limited to one handgun, that would be very boring.
 
If I can keep my reloading supplies it would be my .45 Colt Redhawk. If I can't reload I'd hang on to my Dan Wesson .357mag with 2, 4, and 6 inch barrels and all 3 stocks. But it would probably wear the Hogue most of the time.

The DW is like having 9 pistols in one. But it does look a little funny with the snub barrel and target stock or the 6" barrel and undercover walnut. :rolleyes:
 
Ah what the heck, I've been dodging this thread but for today my yen is for a Super Redhawk in 45 colt. Tomorrow my yen will probably go back to a custom longslide in 45ACP but today its the 45 colt. Hmmm, kind of hung up on 45 aren't I? 454 Alaskan? Naw, that was last weeks yen. :D
 
Probably my Ruger SP101, since, in my opinion, there is less to go wrong with a revolver than an auto.

Good question though! Hard to answer.
 
A full size 1911 or a 6'' .44 mag.

Since I live in the city it would be the 1911. But if I lived out in the sticks, I would opt for a S&W 629 .44Mag with a 6'' barrel.
 
Tough choice,,,

Ruger, S&W, Or Colt .357 Magnum with a 4-5" barrel,,,
The brand doesn't really matter if it's a good one,,,
Must be a double action revolver though.

Any time you pose the "just one" topic you are asking for a compromise,,,
This would be the best compromise between carry weight, aiming accuracy, and ammo availability.

If you force me to choose a make and model,,,
S&W Model 28.

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Glock 19.............great gun, good for concealing or open carry. Lots of capacity, very accurate and if I can only have one gun then ammo is probably hard to come by as well and 9mm is everywhere.
 
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