Only one handgun. Which would you choose?

READ MY FIRST POST: If you had to choose one or the other:


  • Total voters
    229
  • Poll closed .
Where I live, you can carry whatever you can conceal as long as it is not military spec or auto so revolvers and semis are fine.

Where do you live? :)

Ruger GP 100, 3 inch barrel.
 
The higher cap mags. are great but if you get blindsided and need to draw you weapon and shoot will you have 1/ the time and 2/ the ability to rack a round into the chamber (most people need two hands for that). Think I would go for the revolver and learn to reload fast if you think more than 5 or 6 rounds will be needed.
 
A ready-to-go revolver gets my vote over a semi with an empty chamber. And the .357 has way more power than the 9mm. Especially if its a 3" or longer barrel.
I myself carry a 640 s&w most of the time and never feel under-armed. Even with the 2 1/8" barrel, a good .357 round is hard to beat for man-stopping power in a nice concealabe package. And its rock-solid dependable.
Just my .2€
 
I'd go with a high count 9mm and just try and be aware of my surroundings. Tough call but a high count is hard to beat.
 
Don't know where you live, but around here you can get both a 9mm and a wheelgun for $950. Why not both? unless prices are steep in your area.

Given the restrictions you posted, then your best option is a revolver - probably a 357Mag. Cant go wrong with that. I would personally suggest a 9mm high-cap semiauto, but if you can't carry with one in the chamber, its basically a disadvantage on your part.
 
I was going to suggest a Glock, but voted for the revolver. The law about no round in the chamber swung my vote. .357 with a 3 inch barrel would be my choice.
 
Well, quite a few answers since I went to bed!!

Firstly, yes, I'm in Estonia. The budget I've given is enough to get either a decent semi or a decent revolver. Not both.

The reason I am limited to a 4" revolver is that a local shop has access to bankruptcy stock from Finland and this includes some 6" and some 4" GP100s that are going for about $750 or €650. When those are all sold, then I hav to go to the other stockist and there any GP will cost me $1200 or €900, and an SP101 about $1000 or €800.

Ideally 3" would be preferable, but that means the second stockist by default.

Semis:
9mm is the way forward as this is by far the most affordable SD round, albeit not the most powerful. 1911? No way. At $1600 or more for an entry level STI and about $700 for a 1000 .45 ACP rounds.... and they only carry two more than a revolver! no thanks.

Other models include a Sig Pro 2009, G17-19-26, a Steyr M9-A1 and a Sig P250 although that is really stretching the budget.

The only slim chance of getting both is a shop with a second hand g26 and second hand S&W 60 or 62 LS and see if they would do me a sufficient discount to make it possible but even that would be way more than the new, full price, GP100. The S&W is a Lady Smith (:rolleyes:) but then I don't have shovels for hands, and the Glock doesn't stir my soul, even though I recognise it is a very competent gun.

I am trying to factor in the following:
an slightly long, but very low priced Ruger (for here) over a cheaper to buy, cheaper to load and easier to carry semi but that can't be in conidtion 2 or higher, all in the context of a SD situation that is pretty unlikely. For the forest and home and range a semi would be fine.
 
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If I could only have one..

SIG Sauer p239 - to me, it is the perfect compromise for target, carry, and home defense. YMMV
 
The empty chamber rule would rule out semis for me, no matter what the 9MM price advantage was. If ever the worst happened, I'd want to be able to shoot as quickly and easily as possible. Racking the slide requires time and two hands. I also wouldn't chance getting caught with having a round in the chamber and then maybe losing my carry permit.

There are no smaller revolvers available? Those Rugers are kinda big and heavy for carry. However, if they're the only affordable choice, one of those 4" GP100s seems like the ticket. Are there no old Astra revolvers or the like floating around over there?

How much does .38 SPL and .357 ammo cost over there? Is there any cheap .38 SPL available? I ask about the .38 SPL because, for me anyway, I'm ok with it as a self-defense round. It's so much easier to control and one doesn't run the risk of a stray round going through a house or two and hitting some kid in bed, asleep.*

BTW, Fiocchi makes some hot ammo. Usually, it's a bit more powerfully loaded than stuff from other makers and it's priced very affordably, too. Well, at least here in the U.S. it is. I don't know about Estonian prices, though.

* It's just my opinion. No need to flame, ok folks? Thank you!
 
@woad yurt.

Semis are by far the more popular here. Also revolvers tend to be more expensive. Excluding the uncharacteristically cheap Ruger 4" and 6" GP100bankruptcy stock I mentioned new prices from the shop that sells all the models are as follows in €:
GP100, any barrel: €890
SP101, any barrel: €790
LCR, €699
.357 S&W revolvers approx: €1100
Taurus Tracker: €1200
Taurus stubbie CIA thingies: €500

1000 .357 rounds: €400-450
1000 .38 spl rounds: €350-400

By comparison a Glock, Sig or Ruger polymer will set you back between €550 and €800. My chosen models are at about €650.

1000 Fiocchi or Sellier Bellot 9mm rounds: €180-250.

The question is:
Does the very specific and, frankly, unlikely scenario where I not only become involved in a gunfight (never even heard a gunshot outside the range over here) but also have only one hand free on one of the few occasions that I might be carrying warrant paying a minimum of €300 more (including 1000 rounds) for a gun that carries few rounds, too...

When I put it like that the semi makes more sense, yet I can't ignore that small possibility of disaster striking. It's doing my head in, I tell you....
 
Sounds to me like your heart is saying "auto"... Otherwise you wouldn't be in such a quandry. I mean the poll is saying revolver and you can see the point from the logical perspective yet you really WANT an auto.

So... Put a smile on your face and get an auto! It's not THAT hard to know what's going to make you happiest. The liklihood that ANY one of us, individually, will ever need to fire our handguns defensively in a quick-draw situation is a very tiny percentage so... Relax... Get the gun you really want. Just having ANY gun is a huge advantage compared to someone who doesn't have any... So, be happy in that!

I give you my permission to buy an auto.
 
@ CWKahrfan

I actually want one of each as both have a lot of allure. Hence why I'm having such a hard time

From a practical and financial point of view the auto makes more sense, but revolvers exude solidity and dependability....

...stupid money shortages...:mad:
 
Rome wasn't built in a day...

Get one now, one later...

I'm beginning to think you may actually be a woman.

Political correctors... Relax... I'm just kidding... (sorta'...)
 
Does this OWB match my shoes?

No, you do not match the OWB holster to your shoes it has to match your belt dummy. ;)

Although I have already chimed in I am going to jump in once more and suggest the semi since I think it is what you really want. I also think the 9mm will provide the most enjoyment at the range while meeting your needs in the woods and at home. Good luck and please provide photos of your purchase – it’s a rule.
 
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