jimofallon
New member
It would have to be a 1911 .45 without all the bells and whistles. I didn't know they made anything other than 1911s.
If you could only have one handgun what would it be?
- Thread starter CMichael
- Start date
bluetopper
New member
S&W Model 29, 44 Magnum. So very versatile to reload.......from powder puffs to full house magnums.
DiscoRacing
New member
S&W 629... I love shooting the one I have now.
Itasca Hunter
Inactive
Glock .45 simply because it is very reliable, and .45 is an all around decent round practical for almost everything to an extent
Safe, Happy hunting
Safe, Happy hunting
Well, I have several different handguns and use them different ways, from carry to plinking. I consider carry the most serious use, so if I had to pick just one it'd be my Ruger LCP. I don't enjoy shooting this gun much - the sights are poor and beyond 25 feet I can't seem to place rounds in a respectable group. However, it is easy to carry on the hip or in the pocket, even in the summer so I do so regularly. Another thing I really like is the DAO. No safety, no cocking or anything else to remember in extreme stress; just draw and pull the trigger and get out of Dodge.
My favorite handgun is my .45 ACP. Joy to shoot, reliable, beautiful to look at and to me, timeless. It is just so big and heavy that I don't carry it when the weather gets warm and I don't layer my clothing. It has been a while since I forgot to disengage the safety when drawing and firing at the range or practicing the draw and fire with snaps at home, but wouldn't want this to be an issue in the worst case. Can't imagine carrying this weapon and having to chamber it when you need it the most. Weird, but you see this in the movies all the time...
So for me, which is the one handgun you could have if only one and which is your favorite are different. I'd keep one I don't like much and pine for the other always!
My favorite handgun is my .45 ACP. Joy to shoot, reliable, beautiful to look at and to me, timeless. It is just so big and heavy that I don't carry it when the weather gets warm and I don't layer my clothing. It has been a while since I forgot to disengage the safety when drawing and firing at the range or practicing the draw and fire with snaps at home, but wouldn't want this to be an issue in the worst case. Can't imagine carrying this weapon and having to chamber it when you need it the most. Weird, but you see this in the movies all the time...
So for me, which is the one handgun you could have if only one and which is your favorite are different. I'd keep one I don't like much and pine for the other always!
S & W Model 66 with a 6" barrel.
And why...........
A revolver has a couple of advantages. In a gun fight you don't have to worry about "limp wrist" jam whereas a semi-auto might jam. Oh sure, EVERYONE says they are as cool as a cucumber and trained and such will never happen but then- in the panic of a gun fight or if they have been hit, or whatever- they forget to keep a steady grip on an auto or they are injured and can't keep a steady grip on that auto. That actually happened to someone I knew. First shot was fine but then the gun got a stovepipe jam.
Another advantage of the revolver is that there aren't a lot of spent shells with your fingerprints on them lying around on the ground of a shooting scene. I know that you are supposed to report all shootings, etc but often the crime victim ends up getting into more trouble than the bad guy. Along the same lines, if you decide to reload ammunition the revolver is nice because you can save all the spent shells whereas with an auto the spent shells get thrown out all over the place and some (most) ranges don't want you running around trying to pick up your spent shells.
A revolver also lets you load a flat tipped bullet whereas certain bullet shapes may jam in an auto.
The Model 66 is a "K" frame Smith & Wesson. I like the Model 29 and shoot that as well but it is a heavy gun to pack around, you really notice it at the end of a day. The Model 19 is much easier to carry if you plan on packing the gun around. The stainless steel also is good as far as avoiding rust. The K frame may be a little lightweight for a steady diet of 357 magnums but I have shot full powered loads through one without any problem what so ever however 95% or more of all my shooting with that gun is at a range with 38 specials.
Everyone just has to put over-sized grips on a revolver because everyone likes to see themselves as having a big, strong, over-sized hand. I did the same thing but you can fit a much smaller grip on a 66 and not experience any more recoil if the smaller grip has the same width. I don't think this is just my own conclusion because I've had folks at the range try my gun and they are always surprised the recoil feels the same as with the over sized grips everyone uses these days.
The barrel would have to be 6" long. Carrying a six inch barrel on a belt isn't much trouble and for most folks the extra barrel length makes a big difference in their shooting. I've told this story before but I'll repeat it again. Many years ago I was at a range, next to an off duty cop shooting a semi-auto and he wasn't doing very well and I unfortunately was laughing at him because I thought he was kidding around. The other cops with him said, "He isn't kidding. he's really trying to hit the targets" I asked him if he had ever shot a long barrel revolver and he thought they were "Old Fashioned". Well says I, "only hits count in a gun fight, try it".
His first shot was right on the money, same with the second and the third and I wish you could have seen the expression of joy on that guy's face. It was like he had just won the lottery.
Nuff said.
And why...........
A revolver has a couple of advantages. In a gun fight you don't have to worry about "limp wrist" jam whereas a semi-auto might jam. Oh sure, EVERYONE says they are as cool as a cucumber and trained and such will never happen but then- in the panic of a gun fight or if they have been hit, or whatever- they forget to keep a steady grip on an auto or they are injured and can't keep a steady grip on that auto. That actually happened to someone I knew. First shot was fine but then the gun got a stovepipe jam.
Another advantage of the revolver is that there aren't a lot of spent shells with your fingerprints on them lying around on the ground of a shooting scene. I know that you are supposed to report all shootings, etc but often the crime victim ends up getting into more trouble than the bad guy. Along the same lines, if you decide to reload ammunition the revolver is nice because you can save all the spent shells whereas with an auto the spent shells get thrown out all over the place and some (most) ranges don't want you running around trying to pick up your spent shells.
A revolver also lets you load a flat tipped bullet whereas certain bullet shapes may jam in an auto.
The Model 66 is a "K" frame Smith & Wesson. I like the Model 29 and shoot that as well but it is a heavy gun to pack around, you really notice it at the end of a day. The Model 19 is much easier to carry if you plan on packing the gun around. The stainless steel also is good as far as avoiding rust. The K frame may be a little lightweight for a steady diet of 357 magnums but I have shot full powered loads through one without any problem what so ever however 95% or more of all my shooting with that gun is at a range with 38 specials.
Everyone just has to put over-sized grips on a revolver because everyone likes to see themselves as having a big, strong, over-sized hand. I did the same thing but you can fit a much smaller grip on a 66 and not experience any more recoil if the smaller grip has the same width. I don't think this is just my own conclusion because I've had folks at the range try my gun and they are always surprised the recoil feels the same as with the over sized grips everyone uses these days.
The barrel would have to be 6" long. Carrying a six inch barrel on a belt isn't much trouble and for most folks the extra barrel length makes a big difference in their shooting. I've told this story before but I'll repeat it again. Many years ago I was at a range, next to an off duty cop shooting a semi-auto and he wasn't doing very well and I unfortunately was laughing at him because I thought he was kidding around. The other cops with him said, "He isn't kidding. he's really trying to hit the targets" I asked him if he had ever shot a long barrel revolver and he thought they were "Old Fashioned". Well says I, "only hits count in a gun fight, try it".
His first shot was right on the money, same with the second and the third and I wish you could have seen the expression of joy on that guy's face. It was like he had just won the lottery.
Nuff said.
As I’m sure that others have posted, it is almost impossible to have one “magic” handgun or caliber that will do everything well. Yet, with one exception all of my current handguns are .357 Magnums, and I would be surprised if that changes in the near future. So my choice would be a .357 Magnum with a 4 – 6 inch barrel.