If you could only own one handgun . . . .

I guess I'm bucking the trend here but for only one pistol I'd have to pick my G20/21L. As roughly the size of a 1911, it actually conceals better than a wheelgun because of it's thinner profile. Also, loaded with 17+1 rds of 165grn 10mm and the range only magwell removed, it weighs less than a 6" S&W 686 loaded with only 6 rds of 158grn ammo.

I reload for all my weapons so I can produce both light and heavy hitting 45acps and 10mm. As far as the 10mm's power vs a .357mag is concerned, check out Double Tap's performance of their hot .357mag and hot 10mm loads out of a 6" barrel. You'll note that their 10mm loads equal the performance of the 357 when both are shot from a 6" barrel.

In addition, the recoil produced by a 357mag in a wheelgun is considerable for many people while the recoil in my Glock shooting my hottest 10mm (165grn @1,503fps) is much, much lower. My 5'0" tall, 105lb wife can shoot a mag full of my hot loads in my Glock and control it well. However, when she shoots my 357s in my wheelgun, she'll shoot only one round and she's ready to turn it back over to me.

Yep, for mouse fart >600fps to fire breathing <1,500fps performance with a 165grn bullet, I'll take my Glock 20/21L over my 357mag SAA every time.

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This one is easy for me since I only had one gun for 17 years, my trusty 4" S&W Model 586 Distinguished Combat Magnum. Now, I also have a S&W model 37 for BUG use. But the 586 will always be my primary. Both revolvers were carried on duty at one time. The 586 by a police chief who actually used it against armed felons wielding a shotgun (he switched to an auto loader after this incident and sold me the 586 for $250!). And the 37 was my dad's BUG while serving as a patrolman and detective with the SLPD.
 
One gun to do everything that I need and want to do:

S&W 627PC eight shot revolver.

I carry it on duty as LEO
I can carry it concealed even though its hefty
I can use it as a field gun when I go hunting and I could use it to hunt deer and hogs if I have a mind to.
Its an N frame so it can handle heavy loads.
It holds eight rounds
It shoots .357 which is an all around great cartridge for just about anything you want do.
It is fun to shoot, handling heavy loads with ease, shooting light loads like a .22lr.
Its kin to all of those great S&W guns of yesteryear.

Possibly the greatest handgun ever:)
 
COsteve: Either you are a small guy or that gun is really big.
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5'9" and 185lbs. It's actually about the size of a 1911 but the mag extension might make it look bigger than it is. It easily fits in my hand.

(magwell added for range and USPSA Limited)

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Just from your photo, it does look gigantic on your personage. I carry a SIG 220 in an iwb holster and, from the mirror, it doesn't look nearly as big as your's does. Of course, I'm a much bigger (fatter :o) person than you are.
 
Who wants only one?

This question is pretty much equivalent to asking, "What one handgun do you think does everything well?" which is pretty much equivalent to asking "What is your favorite handgun?"
 
This is like asking "Which of your children do you love the most?" I probably love my 6" Python the most but I'd choose my 4" S&W Model-19.
 
Thompson Contender. It gives me more calibers to play with. 204 for varmint,22lr for small game, 30/30 or 35 Rem. for medium game, 45/70 for the bigger stuff, 45/410 for airborne.
 
^ And in the context of the op's poser "one handgun" for anything and every purpose, how then, pray tell, do you tote a Contender concealed or envision it for self-defense duties? Just asking...:p
 
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