If you had to choose 1 handgun, what would it be?

.

Either a .357 Magnum or a .45 ACP.
After that, 9x19 then .40 S&W.

Well, this question gets asked a lot, in one form or another.

Okay, I succumbed to the hypnotic appeal of the .45. I actually think a .357 in a revolver is the better choice, but each time I see this question, I can see myself with a handgun, squeezing off a round. It's a 1911. :D

Without doubt a 3-4" J frame size revolver in .357 magnum (SP101). I could do the widest portion of activities with that gun. If it were accurate enough, I could even handgun deer with it out to maybe 50 yards. I ain't huntin' deer with no wimpy .45. :rolleyes: I could handgun small game with .38 loads. I could carry CCW with .357s. I would have protection in the woods from wild critters with a hot 180 grain handload, etc, etc, etc. I could even shoot revolver in IDPA.

But, I'm glad I'm not stuck with just one gun.

10mm Auto. Versatility personified.

Scott

.45acp, reliable, accurate, easily obtainable ammo. Also the preferred caliber for my favorite style of handgun(1911).

Jubei

Well, this question gets asked a lot, in one form or another.

Okay, I succumbed to the hypnotic appeal of the .45. I actually think a .357 in a revolver is the better choice, but each time I see this question, I can see myself with a handgun, squeezing off a round. It's a 1911. :D

I see the question a lot, but it usually comes with a lot of qualifiers like for target only, defense only, or concealed carry only. I'm just kind of curious what the best all-around caliber is. I don't really think the question can be answered though. If it could, we wouldn't all own multiple guns.

It'd be in .45 ACP, in a 1911 platform.

Chalk up another one for .45acp in a 1911

Tough choice Between 45ACP and 357MAG

357 mag, namely a nice P&R S&W M19 with a 4" barrel.

If you chose a caliber other than one I listed, please explain what and why.

Medium frame 4" .357 DA revolver for one gun only.

If forced to deal with impis of charging Zulus would opt for the 1911.

Before I got on this board, I though revolvers had been forgotten. It's good to know they at least have an equal following to the 1911, on this board at least. You'd never know it by reading the magazines. :rolleyes:

.45 Colt
Its not the most practical, but neither is the question really. A Stainless Ruger Vaquero in .45 LC was my first handgun larger than a .22 and was my only home defense and handgun hunting gun for a while. It can be loaded very hot, and very mild and I have a rifle for it too. Concealed carry is the only place is doesn't really shine, but one with a 4" barrel wouldn't be all that hard.

I swear this thread has come back from the dead . . .

http://grimjaw.net/images/zombie.gif

.357 Magnum.

jmm

Tough call, but .45 for me. My platform would be a USPc. I noticed there's a lot of votes but not as many responses with what the handgun would be. Hopefully more people start answering the original question from the thread title.

There's no other single handgun that can do what a 4" .357 service revolver can do.

Small game? Check. 38 wadcutters or round nose kill 'em dead, and don't waste much meat.

Medium game? Check. Hot n' Heavy handloads or Buffalo Bore-style commercial loads are proven killers on deer and pigs.

Personal Defense? Check. The only thing the M&S and Fackler camps seem to agree on is that the .357 has no superiors in this area. There are some that are as good, but none better.

Target Shooting? Check. 38 special handloading is about as cheap and accurate as centerfire handgunning gets.

Just about the only things you can't do with a .357 are truly big game hunting (more gun is a good idea), and Bullseye competition (which requires, for reasons I don't understand, a .45 ACP)

--Shannon

I chose a 9mm. Adequate for personal defense, widely available, comes in a firearm small enough to always have with me, is cheap to shoot, can be reloaded for additional cost savings, and is both practical and fun to fire in practice.

pax

9mm. My Glock 17 is my most used pistol for competition, and if SD/HD was a legal use in Australia, it would fullfill that role well as well.

However, my favourite firearm is my .357 magnum S&W model 66. If hunting was an option I would seriously look at keeping that instead.

Not listed.

4" barreled .44 Magnum

My only use for a handgun is defensive, so I'd stick with the caliber and platform I'm most familiar and confident with. 1911 in .45ACP.

.357 magnum

A Colt .45!

It was a toss up between .357 and 45ACP but I had to go .45....

Definitely a .357 mag revolver, 6". Wide variety of ammo choices, easy and cheap to reload. Will do anything/everything offered by the other choices.

.357.................but I'd be really irked about giving up my K-22. :fire:

10 MM auto any day for anything

Never want to have to chose for real,but if I did today, It would be .357 and probably in my 3" SP101 or a K frame Smith. If concealment were never a concern,I'd probably chose a larger frame.
SKIP

Just about the only things you can't do with a .357 are truly big game hunting (more gun is a good idea), and Bullseye competition (which requires, for reasons I don't understand, a .45 ACP)


I have a friend, very good shot, is into bullseye. He had two comp guns, a S&W M41 and an S&W model 52. Neither is a .45. I've fired both guns and they're unreal target guns. The 52 is chambered for specifically the .38 special wadcutter. It won't fire or feed anything else. It's tailored for bullseye competition only.

I understand .45 acp is popular. If you tighten up a 1911 to the point it is really no longer a reliable fighting gun due to the lubing and cleanliness it requires, it can be a VERY accurate platform. Out of the box, though, I've seen few autos, other than that 52, that can match a good quality revolver for accuracy.

.45 Long Colt.

I can hit what I aim at with it. I can reload it easily with my portable Lee loader. It is time tested. And most important, if that is all I had, finding ammunition for it is not a chore as most gun shops carry an old box or two of 45LC if I need a new box...

If I had to pick one (and it wasn't to go off to war with), it would be something that can go into a pocket. .38+P or 9mm. Don't own either one, but if limited to one handgun for street carry, that would be my choice.

The Real Hawkeye? said it there.
again its not listed bur +1 on the 44 mag.
can be loaded with shot, roundball, light bullets to really heavies, from tame to 'that was a bit much' If I couldn't handload then the 357
I am only glad that the only justification I need is " I wanna ........."! The only restriction is my pitiful income!
alms? alms for the poor I say?

A 4or 5 inch barrelled .357, Lee loader or Lyman Tong Tool, box of hard-cast 158's, and a can each of Unique, 2400, and 296, please.

GP 100 4" Stainless with adjustable sights. 173gr Keiths over a healthy dose of 296 and a magnum match.

One load thats all that is needed. a couple of HKS Speedloaders and at least two holsters. One OWB and another IWB and if well heeled an Alessi Bodyguard Shoulder rig for seated travel.:)

If it were a true "only one" case, just for reliability, durability, versatility and magazine capacity, I'd probably want a (real FN) Browning Hi-Power.

.357 Magnum, wide range of makes and models, very available ammo, with
a wide range in power of loads (doubled with the use of .38s) powerful yet
easily controlled, and good for defense and hunting.

More than likely a Ruger.

If I lived in the city, a Smith & Wesson 629 4" .44 magnum. I would use handloaded 180gr JHP's at about 1300fps, or 240gr JHP's at about 1100fps. Nice light recoil, but dang effective.

If I lived in the sticks, a Ruger Redhawk 5.5" .44 magnum. Bigger gun, not as easy to conceal, but then again you don't need to do that in most rural places.

I have 2 different .45's, a 9mm, a .357/.38 snubbie and a .22, but I like my .44 the best. I couldn't part with it.:cool:

S&W Model 19 .357 mag

My initial reaction was SW 642 or derivative.
In my mind, a great all-round side-arm for carrying.

Ultimately, I would choose a .45 "by God" Colt revolver. Easy to reload, reliable, reasonably accurate, and somewhat concealable w/ a Birdshead Vaquero).

I have a couple of Glocks, but if could have only one, it would be the Vaquero.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v22/denfoote/N-frameSmith.jpg

:neener: :evil:

What, no 10mm? or .44 Mag? What kind of poll is this! :neener: JK. To answer the question, assuming ammo availablity is not a concern, then 10mm.

.357 so I could both handgun hunt for deer and carry.

Sorry John Moses Browning. Good thing we have more than one choice.

denfoote -- I know I am one of the great unwashed who know not the S&W nomenclature...what model is that?

Very nice!

the single vote for the .380 is because it fits in my pocket and it will do the job if i do mine. not too large to carry all the time. it never gets left at home!!! i have .38 .45 but they are just too large to carry all the time.

If I had the choice of just one it would be a 1911 in .45. If ammo was a true factor it would be a 9mm because of the nato status.

10mm auto.

.357 Mag. S&W Model 686 (but i do love my Ruger P89 9mm)

4" bbl stainless steel double action .357 magnum revolver.

It's interesting that so many have justified their response of .357 etc with comments such as, "I can kill meat with it", or, "it's the best self-defense rnd", etc.

But I have issues with that logic. The poll asks "if you had to choose one handgun, what would it be?"

The question puts no restrictions on what other guns one can have.

For a handgun, I'll stick with my Kahr K9 as main handgun, because it's light weight, easy recoil, reliable second shot. I'll take my SW 642 as BUG. Either will do for those times that I'm away from my beloved long guns.

Add to that my Rem 870P for SD (far more adequate than a .357), my CZ 452 in .22LR for small game acquisition, & (someday soon) a bolt action rifle based on the .308 (I'm guessing either .308 or 7mm08) for larger game (e.g., deer).

Wise is s/he who reads the question carefully, grasshoppa.

:evil:

Nem

In an end of the world situation, I would pick the .45 ACP as long as I was in the United States. It is popular enough to find ammo for in this country and gives me a little bit of comfort over the smaller calibers. I would probably opt for a Glock 30. I also have a friend who has used a 5" barrelled 1911 to take a couple deer and a 230 gr Gold Dot did just fine. So if I was inside say 20 to 25 yards and needed to eat, I wouldn't hesitate.

In this world where ammo can be scrounged up for just about anything, I go with my Glock 20, 10mm Auto. All the simplicity and power, and most of the versility of a .357 Magnum revolver with nearly 3x the capacity--what's not to love?

10mm Auto. Versatility personified.

Scott

I'm shocked the poll didn't include the 10, the results might have been surprising. Another vote for that.
And no I didn't click on "other".

In the list given, I'd choose .45

Ignorance, that is about the .22lr conversion units available for 1911's, some of which group 1.5" at 50 yds, guaranteed, that .38 wadcutters might as well be .22lr's for no more than you can do with them, and ignorance of the fact that you can get a 165 gr .45 jhp to 1400 fps in a standard 1911 with 10.0 grs of Unique. Dean Grennel and Mason Williams were doing so in 1973, without the advantages of heavy springs or a fully-supported barrel. If you want to use a hard cast 160 gr swc, you can get 1450 fps with relative ease, with half a grain less powder.

I swear this thread has come back from the dead . . .

http://grimjaw.net/images/zombie.gif

.357 Magnum.

jmm

That's why I picked 9mm. More firepower to kill the zombies :D

10mm again. 41 mag performance out of a semi-auto.

Colt Gov't .380
very easy to carry
I'll have this with me when I won't carry the .45 or .357 or .44
Plus, my wife can shoot it.
If I can only have one I want one that I can ALWAYS carry and my wife can shoot.

I have a friend, very good shot, is into bullseye. He had two comp guns, a S&W M41 and an S&W model 52. Neither is a .45. I've fired both guns and they're unreal target guns. The 52 is chambered for specifically the .38 special wadcutter. It won't fire or feed anything else. It's tailored for bullseye competition only.

I understand .45 acp is popular. If you tighten up a 1911 to the point it is really no longer a reliable fighting gun due to the lubing and cleanliness it requires, it can be a VERY accurate platform. Out of the box, though, I've seen few autos, other than that 52, that can match a good quality revolver for accuracy.

It is my understanding that the official NRA Bullseye rules require 2 or 3 guns: a .22, any centerfire, and a .45. Which explains why most shooters just use the .22 and the .45, only 2 guns to master, vs 3.

Am I wrong?

--Shannon

.40

Make mine a 10mm :D

My Venerable Three inch RUGER SP101 in .357 Magnum!

1. No key lock on this revolver!
2. Reliable to the extreme.
3. Indestructible.
4. Dishwasher safe. :D
5. "Smart Gun Technology"... It can't fire unless the trigger is pulled. ;)
6. Easy disassembly.
7. Very accurate.
8. Powerful caliber.
9. Optional .38 Special capability.
10. Ammo is fairly cheap and readily available.
11. No need to chase brass.
12. Simple... Point, Pull!
13. Small enough for concealed carry.
14. Fantastic Value for the money.
15. With Fancy Wood Grips on... SEXY!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v246/wmlapham/RugerSP101002.jpg

.357 without a doubt and also without a doubt the 4" GP-100. Love it and just got back from the range with it.

Kahr K-9 hands down. For a while it was my only handgun and I was happy with it. It is a great CCW gun but can also be used as a car gun, HD gun or plinker because it is accurate enough to hit with. My main use for a hangun is self defense not hunting.

It would have to be a .357 mag. It's powerfull with magnums, can be down loaded with .38spc, and is very accurate:) . My handgun choice would be my S&W 686+, 3inch. I can conceal it:p , holds seven rounds:eek: , adjustible sights:cool: , sweet trigger:D , and looks sexy too:evil: . It has an anti bad guy detector on it as well;) . I need to get the reloads its own bullets upgrade soon:scrutiny: .

Kahr K-9 hands down. Yeah! <cheers from the peanut gallery> Me, too!

My handgun choice would be my S&W 686+, 3inch. What? :what:

But, but...what about your user name? I thought you were a dedicated Kahr guy.

Wow, I feel so betrayed, so abandoned, so ... let down...

:D

Nem

Handguns I could live without....

This one's easy, that POS Phoenix Arms HP.22 that doesn't work anymore. I have a couple of others I don't really have love and affection for, but they're so cheap, why sell 'em? One's an AR7 Explorer II, charter arms. Shoots fine, just bought it cause it was cheap. Another is an old Erma LA22 Luger action .22 that still shoots, but is prone to jam. It's an old gun I got used 35 years ago and hang onto it for memory's sake. Another is a Ramline plastic .22 that is really light, shoots great, never jams, but has a light hit now and then that fails to fire. It's enough to P me off. But, it's a good shooting, easy packing pistol. I need to see if I can find ammo that it can more reliably fire. It's just got a somewhat weak hammer spring I reckon. Heck, it might be worth something someday. Ramline made most of their money on extra capacity mags and they were outlawed so Ramline went belly up. I don't know if too many of these nifty little accurate, lightweight .22s were sold before they went bankrupt. I really, really like the little pistol if it'd just fire reliably. Besides, it's almost ALL plastic except for the barrel, bolt, and aluminum receiver. It's enough to give 1911 guys nightmares. :evil:

The one I'd hang on to come heck or high water....

I need a long time to figure that one out. I'm very attached to all of 'em. I'd fight to keep most of 'em.

I chose a 9mm. Adequate for personal defense, widely available, comes in a firearm small enough to always have with me, is cheap to shoot, can be reloaded for additional cost savings, and is both practical and fun to fire in practice.

pax

+1

because .45/70 is a hand gun round if you have a BFR :neener:

My Venerable Three inch RUGER SP101 in .357 Magnum!

1. No key lock on this revolver!
2. Reliable to the extreme.
3. Indestructible.
4. Dishwasher safe. :D
5. "Smart Gun Technology"... It can't fire unless the trigger is pulled. ;)
6. Easy disassembly.
7. Very accurate.
8. Powerful caliber.
9. Optional .38 Special capability.
10. Ammo is fairly cheap and readily available.
11. No need to chase brass.
12. Simple... Point, Pull!
13. Small enough for concealed carry.
14. Fantastic Value for the money.
15. With Fancy Wood Grips on... SEXY!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v246/wmlapham/RugerSP101002.jpg

That's a beautiful gun (and would be my first choice too), but I'd trade the pretty hardwood grips for ugly rubber in a heartbeat. Also, I'll take mine in Titanium.

So... I've got all my handguns all lined up in front of me and I got to make a "Sofie's choice". first of all, it's not fair. They're all beautiful, and they are all mine. But if I can depersonify them for a moment, I would probably choose one of my gunsmith custom Colts which all happen to be 45acp 1911's.

one of those big bad ass .500 Magnums :) thats one big bore if you ask me :)
hehehehe

I personally own a 9mm Taurus and for the sake of commonality, I would get an other 9mil if I decided to buy another gun, probably a wheelgun because I already have an Auto. That makes for slim pickens, luckily Taurus makes a 9mm revolver and its not too expensive, and I have had nothing but trouble free performance from my Taurus pistol, so I been looking into picking up the wheelgun too

what about a .500 short magnum revolver

why didnt anybody say a FN?

is the magnum 357 snub 2 and a half inch barrel anygood?

I'm a poor target shooter. 9mm gets my vote.

That's a beautiful gun (and would be my first choice too), but I'd trade the pretty hardwood grips for ugly rubber in a heartbeat.

Something more like this?

http://img15.imgspot.com/u/05/364/22/SP1010161136086740.jpg

.41 maggy in SnW 657. dunno why i prefer this gun, but, i do. it is my do most things except CCW. it is my way favorite plinker too. reloading makes much shooting possible i do and i do.

why is everyone picking 357?

when it only has six shots?

45ACP

It'd be a 22rf. Maybe a Ruger Super Single Six with interchangable 22rf Magnum cylinder.

salty.

Colt comander 45acp

The 1911 can be had in a dozen calibers, from .22lr to 45 Super, to include 9x19, 9x21, 9x23, .38 super, 460 Rowland, 40 Short and weak, 10mm, 9x25 Dillon, 38 Casull, .30 Luger, probably others that I am not familiar with. Some require only a barrel swap, some require barrel and mag change, some require slide-group and mag to be exchanged, some require slide-group, mag, and ejector change. You can get barrels from 3" to 7" long, weighted stocks, butts that are .5-3/4" shorter than normal, alloy, polymer or steel frames, double stack or single, DA or SA or fast action trigger pulls, whatever you want. So there's nothing even remotely approaching the 1911 when it comes to versatility. It can be 20 ozs and 6.3" long, like a .38 snub, or it can be 50 ozs and 11" long. In fact, there used to be conversion kits to make the 1911 a single shot 308, or a muzzleloader, and there's a kit to convert it into a carbine, too.

Or 7, in the case of the 686+

If I had to pick one, I'd prolly go w/ the 45 acp...but it would be tough!

why has no one mentioned a good ol slingshot yet?
:fire: :fire: :fire:
hahahaha LMAO, hey no FFL required, can't argue with that :D

In addition you might also sprinkle some spent .44 casings around the back door.:D :D

In addition you might also sprinkle some spent .44 casings around the back door.:D :D How about adding some empty 12 ga. shells along with an old shirt with a bullet or shotgun hole and some dried cow blood around the hole?

Hmmm.

:evil:

[QUOTE=Nematocyst-870]How about adding some empty 12 ga. shells along with an old shirt with a bullet or shotgun hole and some dried cow blood around the hole?

I am really not a highjacker of threads but it appears I am going from bad to worse.

You could also keep a 3' x 7' flower bed in the backyard, never plant any flowers and always keep the soil tilled and piled. Keep the shovel stuck in the bed.
:evil: :evil:

There's no other single handgun that can do what a 4" .357 service revolver can do.

Small game? Check. 38 wadcutters or round nose kill 'em dead, and don't waste much meat.

Medium game? Check. Hot n' Heavy handloads or Buffalo Bore-style commercial loads are proven killers on deer and pigs.

Personal Defense? Check. The only thing the M&S and Fackler camps seem to agree on is that the .357 has no superiors in this area. There are some that are as good, but none better.

Target Shooting? Check. 38 special handloading is about as cheap and accurate as centerfire handgunning gets.

Just about the only things you can't do with a .357 are truly big game hunting (more gun is a good idea), and Bullseye competition (which requires, for reasons I don't understand, a .45 ACP)

--Shannon

All of the above. Plus I could use it as excuse for a lever gun in the same caliber. Of course, if this was some kind of .gov decree, all the others would not be turned in. (What others?)

A 2c .22lr accomplishes the same jobs. The 10c per shot savings pays for a $200 .22lr conversion unit in a mere 2000 rds. That's less than a year's "skill maintenance' shooting. You can certainly shoot a .357 or .38 revolver in the "any centerfire" matches, if you don't mind finishing dead last.

I don't know, but I do own an assegai. Damn fine weapon in its own right.

+1 pax

9mm is the caliber that does it all (but not especially well).

Tough choice. If centerfire, a 9x19mm. But maybe a .22 rimfire.
----------------------------------------

http://ussliberty.org
http://ssunitedstates.org

Easy answer - I only have one handgun!
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b13/armoredman/G101avatarpic.jpg

Love my 1911, so .45ACP it is.

But I am open to the possibility that .357mag/.38spl is better, or that .40S&W in a different platform, (CZ75, SIG P226R, etc) is more useful.

But ya gotta stick with what you know, and right now, that's 1911s in .45ACP.

Give me a USP Compact .45 and I'm a happy camper

9mm.

why is everyone picking 357?

when it only has six shots?
Because it's a proven, powerful, readily available round.
Six shots is plenty, usually, and having 17 rounds of 9mm, or 20 rounds of 5.7 won't do a lick of good if you can't hit your target.
Anyway, my choice is .357 magnum, preferably in my Ruger service six, or a 686.
http://sixforsure.org/gallery/albums/uploads/handguns/normal_4.jpg
http://sixforsure.org/gallery/albums/uploads/handguns/normal_servicesix-newgrip1.jpg

If you had to choose 1 handgun, what would it be?
The Taurus PT-92AFS that I have now.

In your title you say 1 handgun, but the poll choices are all calibers.

If I could only have 1 handgun that is fairly easy, at least to narrow to the top two choices. I would pick either a 1911 or a 3" K-frame. Since most 1911s are in .45ACP and most 3" K-frames are either .38spl or .357mag (and .357mag is more versitile since you can also shoot .38spl) that pretty much makes my caliber choices, but it has nothing to do with the caliber over the other choices, and everything to do with the guns. Now for exceptions, I could have a Taurus Tracker in .41mag cut down to 3" and not have to do .357mag (as much as I love .357mag, I like .41mag better) and I could always get a 9mm 1911 (cheaper practice ammo) but those aren't really the classic calibers for these gun types.

Now for one caliber I'd argue that .357mag and 9mm are probably the most versitile (cheap practice ammo available along with very capable defensive ammo).

Ignorance, that is about the .22lr conversion units available for 1911's, some of which group 1.5" at 50 yds, guaranteed, that .38 wadcutters might as well be .22lr's for no more than you can do with them, and ignorance of the fact that you can get a 165 gr .45 jhp to 1400 fps in a standard 1911 with 10.0 grs of Unique. Dean Grennel and Mason Williams were doing so in 1973, without the advantages of heavy springs or a fully-supported barrel. If you want to use a hard cast 160 gr swc, you can get 1450 fps with relative ease, with half a grain less powder.

You've got to be kidding, .357mag leading out of ignorance! Actually, it is often the more experienced members who choose .357mag, and today many/most newbies to shooting pick autos while only with experience do they gravitate to revolvers.

Handload and most of the cost advantages of .22lr are out the window.

Get a .45ACP 165gr bullet to the same speeds as a 158gr .357mag and the maggie is still the better choice. Why you ask. Because the .45ACP is very limited in bullet shapes due to the need to be sure it will be able to feed in an auto. The revolver round doesn't have that limitation so it can have some pretty huge holes in those hollowpoints and you can use more variety in bullet shapes. You get more versatility and in a less expensive package to begin with.

I picked the .357 Mag

Something more like this?

http://img15.imgspot.com/u/05/364/22/SP1010161136086740.jpg



Yeah, baby!

why is everyone picking 357?

when it only has six shots?

If you can't take care of your problem w/6 shots . . . .

why is everyone picking 357?

when it only has six shots?

http://tinypic.com/jpkn4p.jpg

Now don't get me wrong, I prefer self-loading pistols and external safeties, but 8 rounds "fer shure" of .357 will do just fine.

Something more like this? I gotta say, those are beautiful.

Would you mind naming them for this student of revolvers?

And what grips are those, please?

Nem

If you can't take care of your problem w/6 shots . . . .

Agreed, there. If you can't stop a threat with six shots, you either:

A) have terrible aim or
B) are in combat

:D

B) are in combat :D

... and need a rifle... But that's another thread :p

If I could have only one handgun, and since I live in the city, I would choose the 45 ACP as it is accurate, reliable, concealable, and has greater capacity than the 357. Put me in a wilderness situation and I would take a 357 in 5 or 6 in barrel length.
Hey, how about making it which 2 handguns would you select! For me a much easier choice!

Well as it stands, .357 is clearly leading wheelie guns and the .45 is clearly leading the autoloaders. Makarov has yet to get a single vote, wonder why ;), everything else is basically getting a vote or two :) what I do find interesting is people dont seem to find the .40 as attractive as I thought they would have. 9mm is doing ok in this poll. Most interesting.

My Smith 620:D

I chose the 9x19 based just on ammo cost and availability and my Sig 226 is dead reliable. That said, my Dan Wesson and 1911's are more fun to shoot.

If I could only have one woman for the rest of my life, what kind of woman would that be?

Hmmmmmmm..........

if limited to only 1 it would be my S&W 657 .41 magnum

...what I do find interesting is people dont seem to find the .40 as attractive as I thought they would have. ...

IMHO, the .40 is a bit too snappy for my taste. For example, a standard 40 180 grains shot in a full size USP, for me, seems to kick more than a 45ACP 185gr GD at the same velocity in a Kimber. Go figure.


BTW, I picked 357magnum. It goes great with my Marlin '94. :D

-Pat

Have to be a 1911 in .45 for me. May not be the best choice all around, but I've carried one so long I can't see myself without it.

i carry a ruger p345 as my duty weapon and have owned a few 9mm back in the days but will never carry one again its a 45 from now on

Like jeremywills I am very surprised that the 40 doesn't seem to be more popular.

I go with the .357 simply because it has a nice balance of power and "shootability" for me, is commonly available, has a variety of different loads if your a reloader, and is sufficient in both defense and hunting (within reason). Other rounds likely fulfill these qualities for different folks, but I just happen to like the .357 best.

I would have to go with a Glock 17, 9mm Parabellum, then a .40 cal. Personal choice, of course.

Well as it stands, .357 is clearly leading wheelie guns and the .45 is clearly leading the autoloaders. Makarov has yet to get a single vote, wonder why ;), everything else is basically getting a vote or two :) what I do find interesting is people dont seem to find the .40 as attractive as I thought they would have. 9mm is doing ok in this poll. Most interesting.

Like jeremywills I am very surprised that the 40 doesn't seem to be more popular.



I'm not so surprised, I'm only surprised that the 9mm isn't doing even better.

Basically two different questions were asked that could result in different answers. Both "what one handgun" and "what one caliber" were the basic questions. Not what is your favorite or most used gun, or caliber.

In my case, .41mag is my current favorite caliber, and .40S&W may be my favorite defensive auto caliber, but neither is a good choice for one gun/caliber to do everything. If picking an auto caliber 9mm is just more versatile (good for defense, cheap for practice) and .45ACP is the classic 1911 chambering (based on platform and not caliber the 1911 would be my auto choice). In revolvers, there just is no better choice for the one platform question than a nice 3" K-frame which basically means a gun chambered for either .38spl/.38+P or .357mag (I'd pick the mag since it can also fire .38s). Anyway, that is why my two favorite calibers don't make the list. I'm sure others have other thought processes that bring them to their choices and they don't necessarily match what is their favorite or most used.

x

.357mag if I chose a revolver or 10mm if I wanted a semi-auto.


Luckily, I don't have to choose and can have a few of everything.:neener:

Steve

1st choice .357 magnum
2nd choice .45 ACP
3rd choice .22lr

2nd and 3rd are a real toss up for me.

-Jim

I had to go with the .45 but the .357 would probobly be a better choice as you could have a good high power round as well as the .38 special fpr practice. but I just love the .45acp

10mm in a custom 1911.

.44 mag
kid

When I was down to one pistol, it was a concealable 12 shot 9mm with two extra mags.

Therefore, having lived the scenario - I polled 9mm.

The question asks "which handgun," but the selections in the poll refer to "which caliber." But I went with the caliber of that gun that came to mind when I saw the question, my Glock 23 in 40 caliber. If I owned the G19 in 9mm, I would probably just as 'sold' on it. It's just a great combination of compactness, capacity, and ease of use.

45 hands down with 10mm a close second....:D

Would it be cheating to have a Sig P229 in 40 calibler, then get a 357 sig barrel and also a 9mm barrel? I would still only have one handgun!:)

For me it would have to be a .357. I read somewhere the .357 has dropped more bad guys, one shot, than any other. Besides, my father gave me the 'family' .357 on my 30th birthday (blackhawk).

Other, a 10mm.

.45 colt 1911

I hate these polls, because I hate to think about "just one." But if I had to cull the handguns, I think the last one I'd part with would be my Glock 23 (.40) ... or maybe the S&W 4013 (.40) ... so I guess I'd vote .40S&W.

Handgun: 9mm.....It is cheapest.

Rifle: 22lr