[Haycreek]

Very few have been any more of a "die hard" 1911 person than me. I still like the 1911, but I recognize the inherit dependability of a good revolver, but I never carry the revolver, the fact is, a Glock is the one that gets carried. My experience has caused me to respect the Glock's dependability the same as the revolver. It is the tuffest finiish on any of my handguns, smooth corners, and carries great. When the need comes to perform it can do that also. I can't admit it to myself, but the Glock has become my every day handgun, and the 1911's are now my "range handguns" Have any of you been through a simular process ?

[Nick96]

I'm not exactly in line with the stated choice of hardware - but yes. With age and experience I have come to the conclusion of what's "really needed" rather that what I once "thought" was needed.

Acums Razor: When faced with a number of complicated variables with which to solve a problem - the correct choice is usually the simplest one.

[Brian Williams]

I thought it was Occams Razor and yes I have come to the conclusion that simple is best and that is why I carry a S&W 13 3" revolver. I can load it with just about any thing and it will shoot it.

[ChristopherG]

Ockham (sorry; educator's reflex)

[P95Carry]

My P95 does for me ''fit the bill'' .... rugged, dependable ..... just a pity that too much gun for summer CCW ... so back to lil ole M85 snubby ... still a good tool.

If you are comfortable, and it shoots well ...... and is dependable then ... it's prolly OK for you.

[Soap]

1911 full size for me! I carry it when the weather is 90 degrees, 0 degrees and everything in between. Its flat and I shoot it well. I really like the Glock series of handguns but it just doesn't do it for me like the 1911 does.

[Marko Kloos]

Well, the Glock is essentially a flat revolver, and it has the added bonus of being a cookie-cuttered impersonal self-defense appliance. It's not a bad choice for carry, and as simple as autoloaders get.

That said, I've always considered a 4" .357 revolver the ideal "all purpose" handgun, just because you can vary the ballistic output so much merely by using different loads. A 686 or Ruger GP-100 will shoot anything from mild .38 Special wadcutters to zesty .357 Magnum 700+ foot-pound deer stoppers. You just don't get that kind of flexibility out of an autoloader. A 4" .357 can do any job asked of a handgun in a competent manner.

[Phantom Warrior]

It can be spelled O-c-c-a-m or O-c-k-h-a-m. This link

http://pespmc1.vub.ac.be/OCCAMRAZ.html

is a good explanation of Occam's razor (I'm in the Occam camp) and also mentions that it can be spelled both ways.

[Lone Star]

I've always gone with "Occam", because that's the way that Robert A. Heinlein spelled it in, "Tunnel in the Sky", where it was used (as a pun or joke) by a survivalist for his knife. I eventually found the true meaning; I was pre-teen when I first read that splendid book. The term is Occam's Razor, for those who don't "get" the knife bit...

And I favor a Smith & Wesson M-66 with four-inch bbl. as the ideal all-round handgun. Of course, no one gun is IDEAL for everything, but it comes closer than anything else.

Lone Star

[Boats]

Did Occam's Razor have the worst grip angle ever put on a weapon? Howabout the Sword of Damocoles?:D

[AK103K]

A 1911 with the Glock finish would be my ideal pistol. Hard chrome will do until then. I havent found anything easier or more comforable to carry than the 1911. I carried a Glock for a short time, but had reliability problems with it and quickly went back to the 1911. The Glocks finish is a gun wearers delight. You can totally neglect your finish and it wont skip a beat.

[Mike Irwin]

"Ockham (sorry; educator's reflex)"

Don't reflex too hard, Chris. :)

Ockham is preferred, but Occam is also recognized as a legitimate variant by all of my dictionaries.

I did, however, see someone once spell it Oxham.

No. That's not right. :)

[DonGlock26]

I have some nice handguns, but when it's time to run out the door, I grab my G-26.

[ChristopherG]

Mike--yeah, I actually knew the alternate spelling; my post was a response to the original use (Acum) rather than the Perfesser's, which must have effectively crossed wires with mine. Too bad, cause I come out looking like a petty pedant. Sorry for the appearance of jerkitude.

Oh--and to actually try to contribute something to the thread, let me say that Glock surprised me, too. I came at handguns through revolvers, and thought I'd be a revolver guy through and through; but I got a Glock and just can't stop being glad for how easy it is to shoot, to care for, to feed, everything. I don't carry a Glock, 'cause the 17 is all I've got, and it can't compete with a J-frame for the lazy carrier. But it's certainly become the gun I'd rely on.

CG

[MCNETT]

All-purpose? My G20. It can shoot Hydrashoks (180gr @ 1020fps, which is a .40 load) all the way up to my 200XTP @ 1300+fps for hunting. It can be concealed and it rides my hip while backpacking or hiking in the woods. BTW, it has taken both deer and black bear for me as well!
-Mike

[firestar]

Someone pulled an Occam's Razor on me once so I pulled my Occam's Pistol. :D

[Mike Irwin]

"came out looking like a pedant..."

And I didn't? :)

Oh, and for an all-purpose handgun?

Nothing beats a 4" S&W Model 19 in .357 Magnum.

[355sigfan]

The closest gun I can think to a true all purpose pistol would be a 44 mag mountain gun. With full power loads it can be used to hunt and for bear protection, with medium loads its good for home defense and can work for ccw. With light loads its a fun plinker. Would I rather carry a 1911 or a Glock for on and off duty carry yes of course. But the 629 can fill a variety of missions.
PAT

[Rob96]

I would have to say the 4" 357magnum fills theniche. Given the variety of loads available it can put food on the table for the family, to protecting the family. Also given the availability of ammo, every shop I have been too has a good supply of 357/38spcl, it makes the best general handgun IMHO.

[litework]

I agree with 355sigfan. I think the .44 mag is pretty versatile. Load it with Glaser Safety Slugs or something similar, and you've got a viable defense gun. Load it with Garrett hard cast bullets, and you've got a gun capable of taking down deer and bear. Sure, I would prefer an autoloader chambered in .40 or 357 Sig for self defense, and I would prefer my .454 for big game. The .44 mag is a healthy compromise.

[pogo2]

I have to agree with the original poster that 1911's are nice for the range, but the best all-purpose handgun may be the Glock.

When you say "all purpose" regarding a handgun, I think you are really talking about CCW, home defense and range use. A few people may hunt with a handgun, but rifles and shotguns are so much better suited for that purpose. So I would tend to ignore hunting as a commonly-required handgun application.

Of the applications mentioned above, the most demanding is CCW. Many handguns are adequate for home defense, where size and concealability are not an issue, and almost anything can be challenging and fun to shoot at the range. So if a handgun is good for CCW, it probably is qualified for the other two applications.

Since the attributes for a good CCW gun include reliability, light weight and reasonable dimensions, significant caliber, good ammo capacity, accuracy, safety, tough finish and simple controls, it would be hard to improve on a Glock.

[litework]

I think what you are going to see pogo2, is a difference between what urban American and rural America feels are versatile guns. While you guys in San Diego think the 9mm is versatile, some people in rural Virginia feel the .44 mag is about as versatile as you can get. I think Smith and Wesson, Ruger, Dan Wesson, and a few others would disagree with you about hunting being a non-common application.

[blades67]

I don't have an "all-purpose" handgun. That's why I have many handguns.

[Preacherman]

I'd have to go with 355sigfan on this - a .44 Magnum is probably the most versatile all-round caliber I can think of (although I wouldn't object to a hot 10mm. in an auto caliber, it's more of a .41 Magnum equivalent, and lacks a bit at the top end if this is needed). I'd carry Cor-Bon 165gr. .44 Specials for self-defence (at about 1200 fps out of a 4" barrel, they're plenty hot enough!), 240gr. JHP's for general use and deer-size game, and Garrett Hammerheads for the really heavy stuff. Because of the latter ammo, though, I think the S&W Model 29/629 would be a bit light - I've seen heavy loads blast these things into reverse rotation of the cylinder after about 100 rounds! Therefore, if I had the choice, I'd go for a Ruger Redhawk, either with the 5½" barrel, or chopped back to about 4½" for ease of carry. It's a bit heavier and bulkier than the S&W, but not enough to matter. Stainless, of course, to make routine cleaning and maintenance just that much smoother: and probably a better set of sights, either the Millett combination, or Hamilton Bowen's custom units.

[Dr.Rob]

He didn't add hunting to his all purpose list, but the 3-4" 357 revolver is hard to beat in that category. (up to say, whitetail)

Still, last weekend I saw a guy shoot an IDPA match with a 4 inch 629.. pretty cool.

[jem375]

The all purpose handgun is the 44 magnum........I use Garrett's 310 gr. hammerheads for big game, Garrett's 250 gr. self defense load, my own reloads of 180 and 240 gr. JHP's, plastic capsules loaded with #9 birdshot for snakes or birds at close range, and also load Hornady's .433 round lead balls(120 grs.) with one or two balls used with unique powder for target or just plinking around...the 357 mag can also be used in this manner.......

[Brad Johnson]

I have to go with the .357 Mag as the ultimate "All Purpose Gun."

During the Y2K uproar there was an excellent article in one of the gun rags about which gun to have if you could only have one. Theire recommendation was a .357 Mag with a 4" barrel. The reasons (as best I recall) were...

- Ammunition availabiliy. You can shoot both .357 Mag and .38 Spcl. In a pinch you can even use 9mm either with clips or by simply wrapping a piece of wire in the extraction groove.

- Effective stopping power. The .357 Mag is still at the top of the heap against societal predators.

- Survival / Food Gathering. A 4" .357 has the power and accuracy required to effectively harvest most game, up to and including deer and elk, at distances out to 50 yards.

- Carryable. Even the largest production .357's are still relatively totable given the proper holster.

- Reliable and easy to care for. Hey, it's a DA revolver. With a little oil and a stiff brush you can easily keep it properly cleaned, lubricated, and protected from the elements.

- Repairable. Most DA revolver mechanisms, while precise, are not overly complicated. Somone with a piece of metal, a small file, and a lot of patience could easily fabricate replacement parts if they wear out or break.

Brad

[TooTech]

What about autos that that allow you to switch the caliber by changing the barrel?

.40 S&W or 9mm or .357 SIG

[355sigfan]

TooTech

These are fun guns, however the 9mm, 40sw and 357 sig all fill the same nitch which is self defence against humans. They could also serve for small game. They may even take medium game in a pinch. Big game needs a bigger caliber however. Guns carried in my area in the woods are usually carried for bear protection. I don't trust anything smaller than a hot loaded 44 mag for that. I don't really trust any pistol. But its a good back up to the rifle.
PAT

[22luvr]

The 4" barreled .357 magnum can be put in the nightstand for home defense, in the glove box for auto defense, and holstered for personal defense.

It can be shot using mild .38 spcl loads by a mere child learning how to handle a handgun or stoked up with some 180 gr + P hot loads to hunt game; You can buy .357 mag shot shells for snake country; it has a simple battery and can be handed to a novice in an emergency with a few quick instructions on it's use; an all-steel 4" .357 magnum also makes a good bludgeon when empty; it can be laid in a safe, taken out and shot 100 years later with confidence; it can be shot in SA or DA, depending upon the situation. AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, THEY SURE ARE FUN TO SHOOT!

One of these indispensible items should be in every basic personal arsenal.

[Gordy Wesen]

I'd have to say the Glock 29 - 10mm is a dandy. I'd like to see it also in a single stack like the Model 36. One can shoot reduced velocity loads if preferred but in my opinion it is 11 rounds of good medicine for couger, bear and malcontents who may wear heavy clothes. The 36 is a great 3 season gun in the city.


_________________

"I liked being an intellectual - I was faithfully learning to make simple things complicated."

[Berg01]

S&W 686 4" bbl.
Kimber Srainless Target w/ Rimfire Conversion

[makdaddy03]

22lr revolver.

[Handy]

I would say an all purpose handgun has to be reasonably compact, especially accurate and flat shooting and handle/reload quickly. The idea is, you can defend yourself, or hunt with it. It should be able to harvest everything from squirrel to deer.


In the broadest sense, a .357 Magnum with a 4" barrel is the obvious choice. Larger magnums to, but I'd favor the lighter faster rounds to make ranging less half-hazard. Possibly a .41 as a sleeper compromise?


Autos are tougher, because the ideal do-it-all caliber for autos is probably 10mm, but there are almost no 10mms that are going to compete in accuracy with a cheap revolver.

A fixed barrel auto could do it, but the only options are in 9mm or smaller. 9 is a very flat shooting cartridge; I'm certain I could hit a deer at 100 yards with my fixed barrel 9s, but it wouldn't kill it at that range.

[glockgazda]

Realy we are talking the one do it all gun but with a little narrower range. So realy it depends how much power you need, here is my list:

Ruger Redhawk .44mag, 5.5" or chopped to 4";
S&W 329 (new Sc gun in .44mag);
Glock 20, with grip chopped to accept 29 mags, and extra .40 conversion bbl;
Glock 29, with extra .40 conversion bbl;

For me it's Glock 26, since I am primarily concerned with cc. For hunting/backpacking I can get a different gun.

[Johnny Guest]

Oh, heck! Phantom Warrior beat me to it–same reference, too. Oh well, since I’d already written most of it off-line - - -

ChristopherG - -
My MSN search yields most returns with spelling Occam. Not arguing–Just how I’ve usually seen it written. ;)
http://pespmc1.vub.ac.be/OCCAMRAZ.html
“Occam's razor is a logical principle attributed to the mediaeval philosopher William of Occam (or Ockham). The principle states that one should not make more assumptions than the minimum needed. This principle is often called the principle of parsimony. . . .”
Must note, however, that the Encyclopæædia Britannica site spells it your way.

Lone Star - - Same place, same book, where I first encountered the phrase. Must have been around 1958 or 59.

Original topic: Being old and sot in my ways, I'd probably stick with my .45 Commander, unless willing to accept the extra weight and size. In that case, probably my .45 Colt Mountain Gun. And, with that honest reply out of the way, I have to admit that I could easily live with a three- or four-inch .357.

Best,
Johnny

[dhoomonyou]

Glock 30.

[TheFrontRange]

I'm a 1911 fan, too, but have recently acquired both my first SIG and my first .40-chambered pistol in the form of a P239. This pistol fits my hand well, has shown itself to be very accurate and utterly reliable, and carries like a charm in a Kramer Confidant holster shirt.

I still dearly love my Kimber, but I find myself turning to the SIG more and more often when I head out the door. Carrying the light SIG in the Kramer shirt frees me from the fanny pack, vest, jacket, untucked shirt routine I've normally held to.

[CZF]

You guys are on the right track.


The Smith & Wesson MOUNTIAN GUN is THE revolver!
light as a Model 10, and as powerful as a 629.

Built on the N frame, but with a K frame sized butt. Light
profile barrel of the old Model 24s.

Has the fast action of the N frame, and is very fast from a
quality holster like the Bianchi.

Loaded for defense with the excellent .44 Special 200 gr SILVERTIPS or a sturdy Magnum 240 gr JHP. The light 629 is wonderful to carry all
day.

My MG has the Best action i've ever encountered on any
revolver, period! Buttery smooth and crisp like you would not
believe.


Very versatile in load range..
Should one prefer Big Bore revolvers with Magnum punch.


However, i find the 10MM Witness to be more to my liking.
The 10MM SILVERTIP gives me TEN rapid fire shots..and
quicker reloads. pefect for my needs, but i still have the
MG if i need full-house .44 power.

[mrstang01]

Uh, CZF, I thought the Mountain Guns had N frame grips? Has that changed with the new ones? I know the new X frame for the .500 has the K frame size.

Michael