Just ONE handgun?
- Thread starter Firepower!
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Semi-jacketed
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Again
This has come up before, and I believe I answered the same way, but it's always nice to see what people think and how ideas change over time.
One handgun-- my Colt 1911 that shoots .45 acp with a 460 Rowland upper and a .22 lr upper that should cover anything a handgun is able to cover.
If that wasn't allowable, my 4" Dan Wesson 44 mag with which I can fire .44 russian for plinking, .44 special for general defense, or .44 mag for hunting or areas where I think I may need it.
(And yes, I do believe this is more of a brand name question than a cartridge/handgun question as it is listed in the poll despite the answers.)
This has come up before, and I believe I answered the same way, but it's always nice to see what people think and how ideas change over time.
One handgun-- my Colt 1911 that shoots .45 acp with a 460 Rowland upper and a .22 lr upper that should cover anything a handgun is able to cover.
If that wasn't allowable, my 4" Dan Wesson 44 mag with which I can fire .44 russian for plinking, .44 special for general defense, or .44 mag for hunting or areas where I think I may need it.
(And yes, I do believe this is more of a brand name question than a cartridge/handgun question as it is listed in the poll despite the answers.)
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Double Impact
New member
I choose Springfield but your poll doesn't specify 1911 Springfield's. I wouldn't touch a XD Springfield just don't like them But the 1911's are very good guns.
Though I voted for the Springfield, I would really be happy with any 1911 model that used the basic 1911 magazines. That way I could carry one ammo and magazine and use it in both my handgun and my long gun. The long gun being a Marlin Camp 45. A .45ACP carbine that uses the 1911 magazines.
Firepower!
New member
I am thinking about picking up10mm glock since its just so good,
Recently I have sold most of my semis except 21 and 19
Recently I have sold most of my semis except 21 and 19
Though the OP's formal poll was flawed (not only in definition, scope, but I too looked for Kimber and while I neither own nor aspire to have one, it's a glaring miss), it was a good idea - and it seems people are getting the gist and voting as it was probably intended - on their gun or at least configuration/concept of a single gun. An informal poll of what people have written so far (versus the formal poll) would seem to suggest a K-or-L frame sized .357 DA - either S&W or Ruger - taking the lead....and I'll add my name to that list. Specifically re what I have: S&W K 3" Ladysmith. Re what I'd "get" to be my one-and-only, maybe a 4" in same (K such as SW 66 or newer L, probably a 7 shot version of the latter just to increase overall versatility--especially on the heavy/hunting load end). Otherwise the 3" full shround/lug K is the bees knees for decent carry and decent enough accuracy within it's general range of likely use.
The other 2nd place (very close in my book) favorites represent a real conundrum: to me it's a 1911 or some sort (just because) -- make mine a Commander, probably bobtailed, or something along the lines of the XD-type--for the goodness of the 1911 PLUS user-friendliness, firepower, etc. If all were right with the world, these would be 10mm, but given the whole concept that "one gun" seems to suggest (for me anyway) the notion that finding ammo is "never" an issue, I'd have to succomb to .45 or .40.- which I have in a completely serviceable older Daewoo (.40)--I don't like the latter round for it's snappy recoil, etc., by comparison to the .45ACP, but can't argue the extra roundage and overall virtues otherwise. Back to my "if all were right..." comment, in some ways I resent the .40's existence, as it effectively distracted much of the gun world from the 10mm's otherwise great future - sorta stole it's thunder. The 10mm seems to represent the best of all worlds, where the idea of a compromise is usually just that...but with a 10, it's a compromise with little sense of compromise about it.... The ideal world (relative to this issue) would suggest that, if you're going to have to put up with some obnoxious aspect seemingly inherent in a .40 cal, then seems we should be able to have the 10mm with its greater oomph as the reward..while still having the # of rounds advantage over the venerable .45.
Long way of coming back around to say: for utter reliability - of the gun, the ammo stores and the shooter (if you fumble with a DA in an adrenaline panic, so what?, compared to an auto, etc.) -- and versatility -- it's a S&W K or L frame.
The other 2nd place (very close in my book) favorites represent a real conundrum: to me it's a 1911 or some sort (just because) -- make mine a Commander, probably bobtailed, or something along the lines of the XD-type--for the goodness of the 1911 PLUS user-friendliness, firepower, etc. If all were right with the world, these would be 10mm, but given the whole concept that "one gun" seems to suggest (for me anyway) the notion that finding ammo is "never" an issue, I'd have to succomb to .45 or .40.- which I have in a completely serviceable older Daewoo (.40)--I don't like the latter round for it's snappy recoil, etc., by comparison to the .45ACP, but can't argue the extra roundage and overall virtues otherwise. Back to my "if all were right..." comment, in some ways I resent the .40's existence, as it effectively distracted much of the gun world from the 10mm's otherwise great future - sorta stole it's thunder. The 10mm seems to represent the best of all worlds, where the idea of a compromise is usually just that...but with a 10, it's a compromise with little sense of compromise about it.... The ideal world (relative to this issue) would suggest that, if you're going to have to put up with some obnoxious aspect seemingly inherent in a .40 cal, then seems we should be able to have the 10mm with its greater oomph as the reward..while still having the # of rounds advantage over the venerable .45.
Long way of coming back around to say: for utter reliability - of the gun, the ammo stores and the shooter (if you fumble with a DA in an adrenaline panic, so what?, compared to an auto, etc.) -- and versatility -- it's a S&W K or L frame.
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Found an awesome post about a guy owning only one gun in 40 years.. a Ruger Mark I.
I have 6 guns myself (9mm, 45 and 3 .22s) and actually own a Mark I which was found in excellent condition at a local gunstore. Of course there are age old arguments about caliber's but to each his/her own because when it comes down to it reliability and trust in a firearm is what counts most. I most assuredly will keep this little ruger forever and a day.
"My old standard model.
Hi eveyone, I had this forum pointed out to me by a friend who has alot of guns, and he thought I should post something here on my old standard model pistol.
I'm 57 years old, and have shot most of my life, since my dad gave me a .22 for my 12th birthday. But the jist of this post will be about my Ruger standard pistol I got in 1970. Its still with me, and for most of my life it has been my only handgun. I love to shoot, mostly plinking and informal target shooting. I've hunted some, but not for over 20 years. I've got a few other .22 caliber rifles for plinking, but my standard model has traveled with me all over as a companion gun. For a few years in the mid 70's, I had a .38 revolver, but I sold it when I needed some money, and I didn't used it much anyway. It was expensive to shoot alot.
The .22 has always been my main gun because its so cheap to shoot, I can go through alot of ammo with no hardship. I can't begin to guess how many rounds have been through that gun since I got it a year out of high school. Tens of thousands of rounds, maybe a hundred, I don't know. Its been camping everywhere in the U.S., and it doesn't have much blue left on it from holster wear. It's been carried in a canvas military holster I got at a surplus store in 1970. I haven't had much money to spend on guns, being a hourly wage worker in a machine shop, so I just made do with that old Ruger when ever I went shooting, which was about every Saturday morning at the local Izzak Walton League range. And since the Ruger fit my needs so well, I never got around to buying another handgun since I sold the .38 I had for a few years.
My friends think it's weird that for 38 years I've had mostly just one pistol, but I love my standard model so much I don't feel the need to get another. I guess I'm not a real gun nut, as much as someone who just likes to shoot. And My little standard model is so good, I never got anything else.
Maybe I got that from my dad. He lived his entire life with just one single gun, his old Colt Woodsman he bought new in 1937. I learned to shoot on that gun, and when it was time for me to get a handgun, I wanted to be like my dad, who was one of my biggest heros in real life. But in 1970, the Colt woodsmans were a bit bigger and had lost the nice trim lines of the 1930's guns. Not to mention that on a 19 year olds salery it was a bit on the high side. So I ended up with the gun that was to be my companion gun for the rest of my life. Dad had to sign for it since I was under 21, and I recall him telling me to practice with that gun till I knew it better that the back of my own hand. I took him at his word, and burned up a brick of .22's every weekend. Still, it was not till dad was in his late 60's that I could beat him at the game of shooting fired .22 shells off a log without hitting the log. He was an unbelievable marksman with that old woodsman.
I think the practice I got from all those .22's served me well when I went in the army (1972 to 76) and qualified expert with the M16 and 1911A1. After I got out I went back to shooting my Ruger standard model and 10/22.
In the 38 years I've had it, it has twice been used for a defensive role, and it was enough. I guess criminals are cowards by nature, and the point of my .22 pistol was enough to make them lay face down till the police got there. On a second occasion camping out along the Potomac river with my canoe, it convinced some river bums to leave me and my family alone.
I doubt I'll get another gun at this stage of my life, unless its a new Ruger equivelent of what I have. Like my '66 VW bug, it serves me well. Its been a whole bunch of years of flawless service, and I'm so used to it. Besides, going to something else would be sort of disloyal. My children have learned to shoot on this gun just like I learned on my dad's woodsman. Both of them now own thier own firearms, with my son beoming a gun nut with several guns. My daughter seems to be content with her Ruger MK2 that she joins me on the range with.
I feel as if there was ever going to be a tribute to a gun, it should be the Ruger standard model. "
I have 6 guns myself (9mm, 45 and 3 .22s) and actually own a Mark I which was found in excellent condition at a local gunstore. Of course there are age old arguments about caliber's but to each his/her own because when it comes down to it reliability and trust in a firearm is what counts most. I most assuredly will keep this little ruger forever and a day.
"My old standard model.
Hi eveyone, I had this forum pointed out to me by a friend who has alot of guns, and he thought I should post something here on my old standard model pistol.
I'm 57 years old, and have shot most of my life, since my dad gave me a .22 for my 12th birthday. But the jist of this post will be about my Ruger standard pistol I got in 1970. Its still with me, and for most of my life it has been my only handgun. I love to shoot, mostly plinking and informal target shooting. I've hunted some, but not for over 20 years. I've got a few other .22 caliber rifles for plinking, but my standard model has traveled with me all over as a companion gun. For a few years in the mid 70's, I had a .38 revolver, but I sold it when I needed some money, and I didn't used it much anyway. It was expensive to shoot alot.
The .22 has always been my main gun because its so cheap to shoot, I can go through alot of ammo with no hardship. I can't begin to guess how many rounds have been through that gun since I got it a year out of high school. Tens of thousands of rounds, maybe a hundred, I don't know. Its been camping everywhere in the U.S., and it doesn't have much blue left on it from holster wear. It's been carried in a canvas military holster I got at a surplus store in 1970. I haven't had much money to spend on guns, being a hourly wage worker in a machine shop, so I just made do with that old Ruger when ever I went shooting, which was about every Saturday morning at the local Izzak Walton League range. And since the Ruger fit my needs so well, I never got around to buying another handgun since I sold the .38 I had for a few years.
My friends think it's weird that for 38 years I've had mostly just one pistol, but I love my standard model so much I don't feel the need to get another. I guess I'm not a real gun nut, as much as someone who just likes to shoot. And My little standard model is so good, I never got anything else.
Maybe I got that from my dad. He lived his entire life with just one single gun, his old Colt Woodsman he bought new in 1937. I learned to shoot on that gun, and when it was time for me to get a handgun, I wanted to be like my dad, who was one of my biggest heros in real life. But in 1970, the Colt woodsmans were a bit bigger and had lost the nice trim lines of the 1930's guns. Not to mention that on a 19 year olds salery it was a bit on the high side. So I ended up with the gun that was to be my companion gun for the rest of my life. Dad had to sign for it since I was under 21, and I recall him telling me to practice with that gun till I knew it better that the back of my own hand. I took him at his word, and burned up a brick of .22's every weekend. Still, it was not till dad was in his late 60's that I could beat him at the game of shooting fired .22 shells off a log without hitting the log. He was an unbelievable marksman with that old woodsman.
I think the practice I got from all those .22's served me well when I went in the army (1972 to 76) and qualified expert with the M16 and 1911A1. After I got out I went back to shooting my Ruger standard model and 10/22.
In the 38 years I've had it, it has twice been used for a defensive role, and it was enough. I guess criminals are cowards by nature, and the point of my .22 pistol was enough to make them lay face down till the police got there. On a second occasion camping out along the Potomac river with my canoe, it convinced some river bums to leave me and my family alone.
I doubt I'll get another gun at this stage of my life, unless its a new Ruger equivelent of what I have. Like my '66 VW bug, it serves me well. Its been a whole bunch of years of flawless service, and I'm so used to it. Besides, going to something else would be sort of disloyal. My children have learned to shoot on this gun just like I learned on my dad's woodsman. Both of them now own thier own firearms, with my son beoming a gun nut with several guns. My daughter seems to be content with her Ruger MK2 that she joins me on the range with.
I feel as if there was ever going to be a tribute to a gun, it should be the Ruger standard model. "
Firepower!
New member
Actually I have been selling my handguns to buy automatic weapons. So far sold Glock26, HKP2000 and sig226. No regrets since I bought M4 Carbine and Galil. I am not selling my six shooter but if I do that and left with one gun, it will be Glock19. A pure utalitairan and reliable and a go to gun.
Firepower!
New member
I invite more members to vote and voice their opinion since it is for the ultimate ONE handgun that you will keep. We have 60000 members and atleast 10% should vote so we can get a good smaple.
Thanks.
Thanks.
Firepower!
New member
555 votes
We still need more members to vote
We still need more members to vote
Firepower!
New member
Because I want a bigger sample size.
Firepower!
New member
My hard decision was between Glock and Colt and I went with Glock for the capacity.