The "ONE" Handgun: Have you arrived yet?

I

IanS

New member
I've gone through a lot of different makes and models for my primary defense pistol during the past 10 years. I'd get a certain make that seemed right but was always on the look out for "something better". But I think I've finally arrived: the Glock 23 and I don't feel the slightest urge to change to another model. I never felt this way before. Strange.:eek:

1st: Browning HP
2nd: Beretta 92fs
3rd: Glock 19
4th: HK USP/C
5th: Sig Sauer P229
Finally: G23*

*I won't comment on why except to say it has all the qualities that are important to me.

So has anyone else gone through a journey like I have that feels as strongly as I do about their choice?
 
Have I "arrived yet"?

I don't even think I'm heading in that direction. ;)

I'm a lot less fussy than I used to be about "the ultimate launcher for my self defense bullets"; although I used to consider the G23 "the best" and still think it's as darn good an all-around package as one could need.
 
Now there's a toughy! I have encountered many guns that I like and dislike, but cannot say that I have found "the one", that I think is the "one" ultimately for me. But to come close to it, I would say is my Sig P220ST. Kinda big and heavy for me, but reliable and accurate and I love it! I'm just a complainer, hehe.
 
Just one?

A Glock 23 or 29, or a SIG P-228, or a P7M8, or a 3" or 4" K-frame .357, or a good 1911, or...

Eh. Probably a G29 with extra barrels in .357SIG and .40 would do everything I need done, but so would many others. ;)
 
It's pretty hard to select one "best". I have currently selected a Kimber Pro Carry 1911 as my main defense gun, but when I need something smaller I go with a Kahr P9. At home, since size isn't an issue I go with my Kimber Custom Eclipse II. There would be no advantage to the Pro Carry's or P9's light weight and smaller size inside the home.
 
I've arrived several times. Sooner or later though, I head out for someplace else. I enjoy arriving, but not as much as getting there.

My "ONE" for the moment is, of all the unlikely choices, a Kel-Tec P11 that I've personally modified to what I consider to be a state of near perfection. I do recognize that a lot of what I like about it is my successfully smithing it to my own preferences. I also like the idea of getting something "unfinished" and making it my own. My P11 is unique -- NOBODY has one exactly like it since THEIRS have heavy, long triggers plagued by disturbing overtravel while mine has what I consider to be a perfect DAO trigger.

Plastic fantistics have a limited life expectancy, even though the P11 has an alloy frame. When this one starts getting a little long in the tooth or I hear the siren song of something else, I'll go so I can "arrive" again. Hopeless romantic, you know....

There's a cute SS Kahr 9mm Luger that's caught my attention from display cases a few times. Wonder what it's like...? A little heavy for the size? A little sharp on the slide release? A little short on capacity? Good thing shooting machines don't get jealous -- they don't do they?
 
Smith & Wesson Model 19.

It is the gun to which all of my other guns, revolvers AND semi-autos, are compared.

So far, everything has been lacking when compared to the Model 19.
 
Oh! Yes,

After numerous acquistions, I finally settled on my Sig-Sauer
P220A in .45ACP. It's the one for me.:) :cool: :D LOL

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, Life Member N.R.A.
 
Hey Tam,

I guess everyone has "to live and learn". Heck, when I first
started fooling with handgun's today's Sig-Sauer P220 wasn't
even a twinkle in Sauer & Sons eyes.:eek: In about 1975 I
took a look at this new, weird looking weapon called a
"Browning BDA" in .45ACP. And the more I looked and
fondled it; a marriage was born. Now day's, I convinced
I will never divorce this excellent firearm. "To death do
us part."

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, Life Member N.R.A.
 
Gee, I don't know, maybe...
My Glock 19's have been about the closest to total
satisfaction I have felt so far - but - I am in
the process of getting a Walther P99 which may
edge it out by improving on the few nitpicks I
have like the trigger and grip angle. The range will tell but if the Walther lives up to expectations - that will be it... for now!
 
While I doubt I'd be happy with one gun I do currently own one that will never leave, will be the main one I use to protect me and mine at home and when I move to a CCW state or he!! feezes over (I mean MD institutes a shall issue law) will likely be my primary carry piece (at least over half the time). That would be my S&W Model 65LS with a 3" barrel in .357mag. That is one sweet gun. Though I also love my Charles Daly 1911- its reliable, accurate and fun (though knowing that some CDs are trouble I doubt I'd use it for defense- with my luck it would finally die when needed most).

I have my eye on many:
-CZ 75. I must get one soon.
-Mak or FEG PA63.
-SIG 239 (a cop shooting in the next lane let me shoot his and I absolutely fell in love with his gun).
-Taurus PT911 (great size and feel, steel framed Taurus' are good guns- I'm ready for the critics).
-Ruger P95, P94 (probably in 9mm), P90 and the P89 (to replace one that I stupidly sold).
-Kel Tec P11
-Bersa in .380 (just added to my list this week).
-Kahr K9 and K40.
-S&W Model 13 with 3" barrel (after seeing a picture in the revolver section I now 'need' a blued version to go with my 65).
-S&W Model 60 in .38 (especially the LS model).
-Taurus 85
-Glock 30
-Charles Daly 1911, superior grade, stainless.
-Kimber Pro Carry CDP or Ultra Carry CDP (must be series I version).


There are just too many good guns out there. I'll NEVER be satisfied with only one!:D (or would the proper graphic be :( because of $$$).
 
Some real good points in this thread. Tamara points out that any of a number could be the one, Mike points out that it would have to be better than his present icon and others have already, for various reasons, picked theirs. Ala Dan compares it to a marriage and that is a fair comparison, he points out that he was commited prior to the inception of some of the newer guns. The question has been wisely addressed from a variety of directions which ultimately proves there is no single answer.
 
When I first started considering a handgun for self defense I purchased a:

Sig P226 9mm

This was before I could legally carry on my person, but this gun was always nearby in my home or in my car and was often carried on my person when out in the woods on a hunt or hike.

I later purchased a Sig P229 .40

I did this because I was impressed by what I had read on the cartridge and liked the idea of a Sig that was a bit smaller than the P226. I carried this gun for about a year legally on my person just about everywhere I went. I never really liked the way the P229 felt in my hand and I had a constant problem with the left side grip screws rusting due to the sweat from my body.

I started carrying a S&W Model 66 2 1/2" .357

I really liked this gun and could not ask for a better daily carry gun. My only complaint was that I never really found a comfortable way to carry a speedloader on my person and loose ammo or speed strips were too slow to reload with. After about a year I decided to go back to the autoloader.

I bought a Glock 23 .40

Now this was going to be the gun. I carried this gun for almost 2 years. This gun fit my hand like a glove. I decided; however, to phase .40s out of my collection to reduce multiple caliber ammo costs. I wanted a .45 for my daily carry gun. Not liking compact autos much, but liking the Glock, I picked a:

Glock 21 .45

I carried this gun religiously for over a year until I decided to give the 1911 a chance again. I had owned 2 1911s in the past with less than great satisfaction. I had considered a high end custom gun for a while and was just about ready to fork over the dough when along came Kimber. I could not read enough good on these guns and when I held one in my hand, I decided to give it a try.

I picked a full-size Classic Stainless .45

I have been carrying this gun for over 2 years. I am not saying that I will never change; however, I can not imagine doing so. This gun is perfect for me. It fits my hand like a glove. It carries a potent round. The gun and extra mags are both thin and easy to conceal. It has been utterly accurate and reliable for me. I took it to a shooting school at Blackwater Lodge and had perfect reliability for 1200 rounds in 3 days.

Throughout my gun carrying years I have also owned and carried a S&W Bodyguard 649 in .38 Special. I carry this gun either as a backup to the .45 or instead of the .45 if my wardrobe dictates so. I have added the Airweight 638 recently for a lighter weight option. I could never imagine a better small gun than the S&W J frame. I have recently purchased a Kahr MK9 9mm and will give it a shot at the title for small supplemental gun. I don't expect it to beat the J frame, but you never know.

Sorry so long, but I thought I'd share my experiences.
 
Still Searching.....

Although I have a EAA Witness thats making me think a CZ 75 may be pretty darn close maybe a pair, full size for range/home D
and a PCR for carry....hmmm... sounds pretty good
 

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My experience mirrors that of Sundance. Hi-caps, revolvers, Brownings(4), Glocks(5), Rugers(3), Berettas (2), Sigs(4), Walthers(2), Smiths(3), Kimbers(3), I'm in the process of going back to a lightly modified Colt .45. Concealable, potent, shoot it well, and if you ever have to point it at a bad guy, EVERYONE knows what a Colt .45 looks like.

The search has been fun, tried lots of different things, but for my money, 80+ year old technology with modern steel...finest kind. Now, if they ever decide to make a Browning HP in .45, I might have to mull this over. :D :D
 
I keep coming back to the compact Glocks as an outstanding all-around package for semi-autos, but if I had to pare my collection down to one gun only, it'd be my *&* Model 19 4" RB.
 
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