One handgun only...what would it be?
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Mnhntr said:
" It would be a S&W 3in 686. The reasoning behind this is it can be carried concealed. It can be used in any HD situation. It can used to hunt big game with high power .357 magnum loads and small game with .38 spl loads. The wide variety of bullet weights and power loads is another advantage."
Can't argue with this and others saying similar. Make mine a 3" or 4" "Plus" model.
" It would be a S&W 3in 686. The reasoning behind this is it can be carried concealed. It can be used in any HD situation. It can used to hunt big game with high power .357 magnum loads and small game with .38 spl loads. The wide variety of bullet weights and power loads is another advantage."
Can't argue with this and others saying similar. Make mine a 3" or 4" "Plus" model.
I don't like these questions because there isn't a pistol that does everything I want it to do, because the answer to such a question is probably going to be a pistol that I wouldn't have normally have purchased or is a pistol that's further down my list, and because I don't think the answers you get to such a question are necessarily useful.
I really need a good .22 pistol.
Someday, I'd like to try hunting with a magnum handgun.
And I'd also like a pistol for defense.
For example, an EAA with a big box of slides, barrels, and magazines could fulfill my wants. Is it something I would normally have purchased? No, and it's not even on my list.
Or, maybe a Dan Wesson .357 revolver with a couple extra barrels. Longer barrels for shooting, and shorter barrels for carry. I'd have to give up shooting .22 lr, and have to start reloading .38 special on the cheap. Having to reload for cheap ammo would make me very unhappy and it would place great limits on shooting it recreationally. I'd like to get a Dan Wesson someday, but it's fairly far down on my list.
Or, in some of the other million threads on the same subject, I even answered a TC Contender or Encore due to the versatility. Would it be lousy for carry and defense? Sure. But I don't think the end of the world will occur anytime soon, and I almost never carry a pistol anyways.
I don't think these threads generally give meaningful answers. There are really a few kinds of answers in these threads. Notice how little reasoning is given for the decisions in this thread. Typically, it's the favorite/only pistol with little thought given to other options. Sometimes it's a combat pistol or subcompact carry pistol. Or, sometimes it's a versatile pistol. I think it tells you more about the poster than it does about the gun, honestly.
It seems like the main reason these questions get asked is because someone wants to know what the "best" pistol is. There is no "best" pistol, as pistols are highly specialized firearms. A combat pistol isn't the best choice for Olympic target shooting. An Olympic target pistol is terrible for concealed carry. An ultracompact mousegun is entirely unsuitable for hunting whitetails.
I don't know. Maybe I could just form a trust or corporation to own all the pistols I want, and I could check one out at a time.
I really need a good .22 pistol.
Someday, I'd like to try hunting with a magnum handgun.
And I'd also like a pistol for defense.
For example, an EAA with a big box of slides, barrels, and magazines could fulfill my wants. Is it something I would normally have purchased? No, and it's not even on my list.
Or, maybe a Dan Wesson .357 revolver with a couple extra barrels. Longer barrels for shooting, and shorter barrels for carry. I'd have to give up shooting .22 lr, and have to start reloading .38 special on the cheap. Having to reload for cheap ammo would make me very unhappy and it would place great limits on shooting it recreationally. I'd like to get a Dan Wesson someday, but it's fairly far down on my list.
Or, in some of the other million threads on the same subject, I even answered a TC Contender or Encore due to the versatility. Would it be lousy for carry and defense? Sure. But I don't think the end of the world will occur anytime soon, and I almost never carry a pistol anyways.
I don't think these threads generally give meaningful answers. There are really a few kinds of answers in these threads. Notice how little reasoning is given for the decisions in this thread. Typically, it's the favorite/only pistol with little thought given to other options. Sometimes it's a combat pistol or subcompact carry pistol. Or, sometimes it's a versatile pistol. I think it tells you more about the poster than it does about the gun, honestly.
It seems like the main reason these questions get asked is because someone wants to know what the "best" pistol is. There is no "best" pistol, as pistols are highly specialized firearms. A combat pistol isn't the best choice for Olympic target shooting. An Olympic target pistol is terrible for concealed carry. An ultracompact mousegun is entirely unsuitable for hunting whitetails.
I don't know. Maybe I could just form a trust or corporation to own all the pistols I want, and I could check one out at a time.
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scottycoyote
New member
one of the glocks, probably something in 9mm b/c of how widely available it is.
Legionnaire
New member
I've answered this before, and I am still of the same opinion. Much as I like my Glock 23, if I could only have one handgun, I'd keep the Ruger GP 100 with 4-inch barrel. As a reloader, I like the wide versatility from light plinking loads up through full power defense and hunting loads. Only thing that might edge it out is a 4-inch Redhawk or S&W 629 in .44 mag.
Kreyzhorse
New member
My Springfield TRP 1911 would be my only gun. It can be a bit big for CCW in the warm months but I could manage it. As far as the cartridge, you really can't beat the .45 ACP.
Why do people think the world is going to end in our lifetime?
Why do people think we're going to have a WROL situation?
Why do people think we're going to be restricted to one handgun?
Ok. It could happen. I'll play along.
Assuming I can still have a rifle and shotgun, I would want a high capacity pistol that is stupidly reliable, rugged, easy to maintain and concealable. Something like a S&W 5906 or Ruger P95.
Why do people think we're going to have a WROL situation?
Why do people think we're going to be restricted to one handgun?
Ok. It could happen. I'll play along.
Assuming I can still have a rifle and shotgun, I would want a high capacity pistol that is stupidly reliable, rugged, easy to maintain and concealable. Something like a S&W 5906 or Ruger P95.
jolly roger
New member
My Redhawk 44 Magnum 4". Load it up hot or load it mild. Carry in shoulder holster if necessary or open carry if allowed. Take care of small game, large game and anything else if necessary.
I used to answer my custom Ruger 357 50th Anniversary to such threads but about six months ago I picked up a S&W Model 14-8 chambered in 38 SPL+P. I know with the 6" barrel it may seem a little hard to carry concealed but with a shoulder rig or a torso wrap it can be done. Special pockets sewn inside a coat or vest would work well also. This gun has prove to be my most accurate and all around comfortable gun to shoot. Maybe it wouldnt be the idea gun for taking medium game but small deer size game are well within it's reach. As a home defense gun I guess I would just have to shoot 2 to 4 inch's sooner. I've really grown most favorable to this gun over my other centerfire guns. At 35 oz. the barrel dont feel that long.
Agreed.
Concealable, versatile, powerful.
Think about not so much the world ending as a Katrina like situation where you are on your own possibly stranded on a highway in the mother of all traffic jams in the middle of nowhere and there is no law and order.
I have a registered SBR Krinkov that fits in a backpack folded with a 20 round mag. That would make the trip if possible. Long guns always trump handguns.
You want your arms hidden so no LEOs or armed groups can see the need to disarm you.
Needs to be extremely reliable, extremely common caliber, concealable but with high capacity, common model with ease of parts swapping, durable, not fussy. Sticking strictly to those requirements, it comes down to either g17 or g19 for me. While its not my very favorite of all my guns, it makes the most sense.
This is a tough one; despite my love affair with the SIG P226, I would have to go with HK USP 9.
It's a shame that the USP was launched just when the P226 was on a roll and everyone seemed to be buying them, otherwise I think it might have gained greater dominance in the pistol using world.
I may be hurting the feelings of the Glock using fraternity, but as much as I like the Glock I don't love it as much as the P226 & USP.
If its the end of the world then there's going to be plenty of 9mm around, even here in the UK. Several of my 'zombie apocalypse' colleagues at work have floated this idea, and my thoughts revolved around taking a diamond bladed Stihl Saw over to the Army barracks nearby. I think it would make quick work of the metal doors into their Armoury and Ammunition Stores, where I could grab a few boxes of 9mm.
It's a shame that the USP was launched just when the P226 was on a roll and everyone seemed to be buying them, otherwise I think it might have gained greater dominance in the pistol using world.
I may be hurting the feelings of the Glock using fraternity, but as much as I like the Glock I don't love it as much as the P226 & USP.
If its the end of the world then there's going to be plenty of 9mm around, even here in the UK. Several of my 'zombie apocalypse' colleagues at work have floated this idea, and my thoughts revolved around taking a diamond bladed Stihl Saw over to the Army barracks nearby. I think it would make quick work of the metal doors into their Armoury and Ammunition Stores, where I could grab a few boxes of 9mm.
David9X19P
Inactive
Everyday carry
Right now it's a Walther P99 1st gen in 9. Compared to the steel 5" 1911 or the P226 9 that I carried formerly, it is shorter, lighter, equally easy to shoot, easier to maintain, and am quite happy to carry it every day. And I do =)
Gad, what's happened to everyone, anyway? Used to be a 26oz Lightweight Commander was considered the ne plus ultra carry piece, and now some think a 24oz plastic framed 4" 9 is too big and heavy?
I tend to vote for things that are not clumsy to use under stress, easy to shoot, corrosion resistant, ballistically adequate, and don't have an issue wearing this thing under a T shirt and shorts here in Oregon during our brief summers.
Right now it's a Walther P99 1st gen in 9. Compared to the steel 5" 1911 or the P226 9 that I carried formerly, it is shorter, lighter, equally easy to shoot, easier to maintain, and am quite happy to carry it every day. And I do =)
Gad, what's happened to everyone, anyway? Used to be a 26oz Lightweight Commander was considered the ne plus ultra carry piece, and now some think a 24oz plastic framed 4" 9 is too big and heavy?
I tend to vote for things that are not clumsy to use under stress, easy to shoot, corrosion resistant, ballistically adequate, and don't have an issue wearing this thing under a T shirt and shorts here in Oregon during our brief summers.
A Dan Wesson 715 .357 pistol pack. Very versatile. And stainless steel for all kinds of weather situations.
The 2.5 inch barrel is possible to conceal for SD. The 4 inch barrel, nice for home defense. The 6 inch would be great for a camping trip. And the 8 inch could be used for hunting purposes. Will shoot anything from light .38 loads to a sizzling hot .357.
Since we're talking only one handgun here, I would much rather have this versatile system that can kinda do it all than anything I can think of. Granted it's not the best for large game but I'll take it any day in a medium to longer barrel configuration over some 9mm when faced against a large 4 legged predator. Heck, you can even put a 15 inch barrel on it....if you can find one.
The 2.5 inch barrel is possible to conceal for SD. The 4 inch barrel, nice for home defense. The 6 inch would be great for a camping trip. And the 8 inch could be used for hunting purposes. Will shoot anything from light .38 loads to a sizzling hot .357.
Since we're talking only one handgun here, I would much rather have this versatile system that can kinda do it all than anything I can think of. Granted it's not the best for large game but I'll take it any day in a medium to longer barrel configuration over some 9mm when faced against a large 4 legged predator. Heck, you can even put a 15 inch barrel on it....if you can find one.