What gun would you choose?

[Warren]

Imagine you are a procurement officer in your country’s defense department.

War is in the offing and the leadership of the country has decided that semi-auto handguns are to be phased out and replaced with revolvers. You do not know exactly why this is but the usual suspects of corruption and incompetence* spring to mind.

Regardless of the reasons the task has fallen to you and your staff to select a revolver for the branch of the armed forces your office supplies.

The war will start in under a year so you need to have the supplies of guns in place ASAP.

There is so little time that your bosses have said not to have a new revolver designed, rather you have to go with an off the shelf model. You can have some things changed like grips or sights but there is no time for a major rework of the weapon.

You can choose any company in the world save the country you will be going to war with which does not produce quality revolvers anyway.

So what one do you choose?

What make and model will it be?

Remember some of your country’s soldier’s lives may very well depend on this decision.

Lastly, as if you are not busy enough, your office has been tasked with drawing up the specs for the cartridge to be used in the weapon.

The SF guys will work their own loads, you need only worry about what the frontline soldiers will be shooting.

So what bullet design (no JHP per the Geneva Con.) at what weight and at what velocity would you choose?








*Not saying that a revolver would be a bad choice but that choosing to bring it in given the circumstances outlined would be incompetent.

 

[stv]

S&W 329PD with .44 Special SWCs.

 

[MrMurphy]

First, I'd have the procurement officer shot.


After that, Ruger GP-100, 3" or 4" barrel, with .357 SWC's.

Either that a similar sized .45 Colt.

 

[FunGunner]

I'd say the GP-100 .38sp 4 inch, with 158gr ball

The pistol is a last ditch weapon in war, if you have to use your pistol in a fire fight, you are having a really bad day and be really lucky to survive.

 

[Curare]

S&W 625

First of all, get the stinkin' Geneva Convention--JHP misinformation out of your head. Educate yourself here.

Smith and Wesson 625 4"
-stainless steel
-full moon clips of .45 ACP
-fit with fixed triutium sights
-Hogue rubber grips

 

[Werewolf]

S&W 686+ w/4"bbl and blued finish (.357Mag) using 158gr JSP's.

Hogue wraparound rubber grips (monogrip). For the guys having to do urban combat there'd be a holosight option.

 

[Curare]

I'm curious, why would you have a weapon of last resort fitted with an optic that needs to be turned on before it could be used? I'm just imagining bad guys rushing at you when your M4 fails, and in addition to the amount of time it takes to transition to your revolver, you also have to turn on its optic for aimed shots. (And seeing that you only have 6 shots, I'd want those to be aimed). Just my opinion on the impracticality of this idea.

This hypothetical situation does not elminated the soldier's primary war fighting implement--a rifle, which is just fine in urban conflict.

 

[Werewolf]

This hypothetical situation does not elminated the soldier's primary war fighting implement--a rifle, which is just fine in urban conflict.

I beg to differ. In tight quarters a rifle is not just fine.

I expect my opinion is a factor of my own xperiences. While in the Navy I served on a number of ship rapid reaction forces on both Destroyers and Cruisers. That force is tasked with defending the ship in the event of enemy intrusion - i.e. terrorists. In those situations both rifle's and shotguns were for all practical purposes useless in passageways. Which is why when inside the ship the guys armed with pistols were up front. Only when entering an open space did the rifle and shotgun guys move forward of the pistol guys.

Not all urban combat takes place in open rooms where a rifle even a small and short one like an M4 has freedom of movement. Some of it will take place in hallways. It is a real PITA to maneuver even an 18" shotgun in a hallway quickly. Don't believe me - try it - it isn't fun or easy.

I'm no expert on CQB but I've had training in it and personally I'd take a 1911 over a SG or Rifle in that situation any day. Given open spaces and CQB I'd take the SG. In any CQB situation you can keep the rifle. A submachine gun on the other hand...

As to the holosight - batteries are cheap and the good ones have lives in the hundreds of hours. Turn on the holosight when it is anticipated that you may need it. In the event you don't have time to turn it on then your target is probably close enough that point shooting is the best way to go any how.

 

[Preacherman]

Given military restrictions on the use of JHP or soft-point ammo, I'd go with a 5½" Ruger Redhawk, stainless steel, in either .44 Magnum or .45 Colt. I'd load .44 Specials in the Maggie, or an equivalent load in the .45. Sure, this revolver is large and heavy, but not that much larger or heavier than a GP100, and if I have to stick with solid ammo, I want the extra punch of the larger round.

 

[45R]

That sweet looking gun in "The Ghost in the Shell"

 

[Curare]

Werewolf, I agree that pistols can be an asset for CQB.

Why the optic? Is that what you used in the USN for CQB training? While I'm not trained in CQB, I've never heard of a unit using optically sighted pistols for CQB. Please name one.

 

[Delmar]

I'd go along with what Preacherman suggested. If it can't expand, I want something poking the biggest hole hole as practical. Would be nice to have a 7-8 shot capacity, but that would be quite a load in a 40+ caliber. The Redhawk is a sturdy revolver and apparently can take quite a beating with heavy loads.

 

[entropy]

That monstrosity the redneck kid in "Three Kings" had...that should get them to reconsider...Or order Korths, heck might as well go all out.. OK, Pythons, save the DoD a few bucks..

 

[RVSinOK]

I think I have to "kind of" agree with Werewolf. I think the S&W 686+ is an excellent choice, but it is stainless steel. The 586 is the blued version.

The 686+ gets you 7 shots of .357 mag, plus the durability of stainless steel. Works for me!

 

[RandyB]

A 5 inch barrelled (by golly if I'm ordering them they can make with 5 inchers) Ruger GP-100 in .41 magnum. I'd look towards the .357 or the .45 colt, but like to split the difference in weight and caliber.

 

[antsi]

I'm with Curare - S & W 625. Reasons: .45 ACP is effective in FMJ (without JHP and expansion, pick a larger caliber). .45 ACP is also a good subgun caliber, if your military also wants to use SMG's. Also moon clips would be a cheap and effective way to get quick revo. reloading.