Why have a variety of Pistols?

B

bdog

New member
I mean if you just enjoy shooting and want to have different guns that is one thing, but if you primary reason in having a handgun is for defense, then why not just have one type of gun (not necessarily one gun) so that you are very familiar with it? I mean I have several handguns that are very different in operation and it seems that in a life or death situation you might panic and not remember which gun you are holding.

I agree that guns are cool and I want them all, but in a practical sense I am thinking of getting down to only one type of handgun, (probably a couple of them for backup purposes) so that I will get so used to it that it is an extension of my body. Does this make sense to anyone or is it just another stupid idea? :)
 
Go out into your garage and look in your tool box and check whats in there, each tool has a special job. Try and saw a board with a screw driver, try and unscrew a bolt with a saw. The same thing applies to guns, they are specialized for their assigned tasks. Try and shoot skeet with bolt action deer rifle, try and carry concealed with a Desert Eagle, try and shoot targets with your back up gun. You don't really need any excuses to buy another gun, what works at my house is, hey baby this is another investment.

7th

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SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL POLICE, KEEP THEM INDEPENDENT.
 
I think what you've described is one valid school of thought. There are others.

Mine is to have a wide variety of guns in a wide variety of calibers. My aim is to have wide proficiencies. Plus, if the SHTF and ammo is scarce, I'll have someting in which to use any ammo I can find and I'll be well-practiced and good at using it.

So far, I have 12 gauge, 20 gauge, .410, and .22 long guns.

In handguns, I'm short but building .45, .357, and .22. My next purchases are 9mm and .380.

I've had 35 years of experience with firearms. While I think there is something to be said for muscle memory and same manual of operations all the time, I think it can be over-rated. When I've been in the field, I've never fumbled with what I've been carrying. When the pheasant goes up, I've never stumbled over whether I had a top tang safety or a trigger guard safety. I've never tried to pump an auto loader nor have I stood there waiting for the pump to auto load. YMMV.

Or, maybe I just want them all?

RJ



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"Never turn your back on the crew."
 
All of my semi-automatic pistols operate in the same basic manner. The trigger releases the sear, the hammer strikes the firing pin (or in the case of some, the striker is released) and the gun goes "BANG". This is an oversimplification of course. If you are worried about panic causing you to be unable to remember how your gun works, I suggest you enroll in a quality shooting school ASAP. Mindset is the difference between panic and conflict resolution.

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Guns cause crime like spoons cause Rosie O'Donnell to be fat!

I hunt, therefore I am.
 
Don't get me wrong, I shoot quite a lot and feel confident. I am well aware how the guns work, but say for example 9 times out of ten I carry a Glock in which you just pull the trigger, and at other times I carry an HK USP with the safety engaged. (I know you can carry it without the safety engaged but I feel more comfortable with). Say I am carrying the HK or a 1911 cocked and locked for that matter and TSHTF and I forget about the saftey since I usually carry the Glock and I pull the trigger and nothing happens. I am sure I will very quickly realize what went wrong and disengage it, but that split second could cost me my life.

As far as rifles and shotguns go, I see no reason not to have lots of them because as 7th Fleet said they all serve a different purpose. But in my opinion a combat handgun serves only one purpose so you should find which one you like best and practice with it a lot.
 
The "one defense gun" is a valid arguement. Many law enforcement agencies follow it, but I think mostly because most members are not shooters. In fact, way too many are only marginally adequate. (Been a lawman for about 18 years now.)

The military stays with "standard" guns for partially the same reason, and for ease in ammo supply and repair parts.

For us self supporting shooters, the variation in handguns is not such a problem. I carry three types of autos a couple double action revolvers depending on my mood. Never have had a problem with "change". Except I miss a thumb safety on the Glock.

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Archie
 
Why?.......Why not????????
Think of it this way: Do you want the same steak every meal; or would you care to try a buffet? Oversimplified, perhaps; but I like a choice. :)

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NRA LIFE MEMBER
ILLEGITIMI NON CARBORUNDUM
 
All my Glocks, after I've owned them a while, develop odd wear-marks to the oxide finish on the left-rear of the slide (and I haven't even owned a 1911-type for 7 or 8 months now...). Even though I carry one or another of my Glocks 99 and 44/100ths percent of the time, I stay in practice with 1911's and my P7M8.

Draw, briskly squeezing the frontstrap and wipe the thumb; this seems to work for me (even if my friends occasionally notice my wiping a non-existant safety on my Glock and get a chuckle at my expense :) )

What can I say, my carry pistols do stay pretty much standard, but I like variety in my (non-carry) handgun collection; currently have .32 ACP, 9x19mm, .357SIG, 10mm Auto, .44 Spl, .44 Mag, and .45 ACP... Subject to change without notice! :D (I have a soft spot for off-beat cartridges, too. I've had .41 AE & Magnum, .32-20 and I'm currently prowling about for a lightly used *&* 331/332 in .32 H&R Mag...)

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"..but never ever Fear. Fear is for the enemy. Fear and Bullets."
10mm: It's not the size of the Dawg in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog!
 
Maybe I can put it to you this way..
I own a kel tec 9mm that I normally carry on warm days when no jacket is worn. I like the gun, but if I had a choice I would opt for a larger gun/caliber.
So when it is jacket weather, My S&W 4006 rides on my hip. I love the way it shoots and it is a full size gun with larger cartridge. I prefer my Ruger P-90 for HD one of the reasons is it seems to have less report than the .40 S$W.
When deer hunting, I prefer to carry a Rossi 971 .357 mag with 6 inch barrel as a sidearm. One good thing about a revolver in the woods is that there are no little springs or small parts to get lost like is possible when field stripping a pistol. I have already broken down my 4006 and had the slide rod go flying under the pressure of the spring acroos the room. If I did that in the woods, the gun would be useless.
So as for when I am hiking, I own a 4 inch Rossi in .38 special.
2 weeks ago I purchased a Ruger 22/45 for plinking, practicing tactics and target all at relatively cheap ammo prices..
Wow, I dont even wanna get started on my long guns ;)

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"what gives a government that arms the whole world the right to disarm it's own citizens?"
 
Interesting thread.

FWIW, I own a variety of guns, but my defensive sidearms all operate similarly: squeeze the trigger and they shoot, with no thumb safety. They include a Glock, a SIG, and a S&W revolver, each for its own set of carry conditions. This, to me, represents a practical balance between consistency of operation and specialized use. (Fortunately, though, I haven't had to put it to the ultimate test.)



[This message has been edited by jimmy (edited October 21, 2000).]
 
I shoot what I consider my primary defensive pistol in IDPA. It's also shot with the same ammo all the time.
I also shoot a .22 target pistol quite a bit, in fact more than all the rest of my handguns combined.
 
Good idea... wait, I've had that one before!

My defense battery of handguns includes:

Four Glocks (9mm)
Four Kel-Tecs (9mm & .32)
One Kahr (9mm)

All have a very similar manual of arms, ie point and pull the trigger, then repeat as necessary.

No manual safeties, no awkward (H&K) magazine releases, no decockers, no change in trigger pull from shot to shot...

Like I said, goodd idea! :D

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Make mine lean, mean, and 9x19!
 
I have a variety of makes, models, and action types because I try to invite new shooters to the range a lot and bring them into the Fold. I am a Glock fan myself but they ain't for everyone so maybe the new guy would prefer a SIG or a 1911 or a Beretta or a revolver.
 
To me, firearms are like cars, motorcycles, knives, etc. All do the same thing in there respective areas but each different make/model of car, motorcycle, knife is functionally and/or physically different from another make/model of car, motorcycle, knife, respectively. The big plus for firearms is that they are considerably cheaper than a car or motorcycle and do more for fun than a knife. (Stamps and coins are, IMO, boring.) If I had a choice, I might possibly pick cars over guns to collect. (Well, maybe not.) Until I win a much rolled over Powerball, guns it is.

If you're concerned about possibly not working a gun correctly in a heated situation due to an excess amount of information in your mind concerning which gun you have in your hands, try training more profusely with your intended defense gun. That way it will stick out in your mind more than the others when things get more focused.

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- Ron V.

[This message has been edited by hksigwalther (edited October 21, 2000).]
 
My defensive handguns are all wheelguns. The grips have been twiddled a tad on some so that they all point the same. The calibres are assorted as are the bbl lengths but they all draw and drill alike.

Long ago when gettin ragged about havin multiple guns for each purpose my response was; "But honey, we're not supporting two dozen drivable Ferraris' like the XXXXXs"

Not even Francis Bannerman had too many guns.

Sam...my favorite 9mm is the 9X32R
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by George Hill:
Why not just eat the same meal 3 Times 365 Days? Your only EATING for Nutrients... Right?[/quote]


Uhhh, don't we all do that??? Uhhh fellas help here. Do you know "sumting" I don't? Fellas?

TFW
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Dennis Olson:
Why have a variety of Pistols?

Because I CAN, and I WANT them.[/quote]

RIGHT ON!!!! :D :D
I just knew that SOMEBODY named Dennis would bring a measure of sanity to this thread!!
Keep up the good logic.

Dennis

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Yeah, I got a permit to carry,it's called the friggin Constitution.---Ted Nugent

"Glock 26: 17 rounds of concealed carry DEATH comming your way from out of nowhere!!! THAT'S FIREPOWER, BABY!!!"

Taurus 605: Five hits of .357 MAG that will just ruin your day, Scumbag!!!!

[This message has been edited by denfoote (edited October 21, 2000).]
 
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