Most Dependable Pistol?

Revolvers.

Popcorn and beer? Check.

Most dependable? A good revolver is the most dependable. Automatics sometimes jam, even the best of them.

But, for an automatic, Glocks are generally very dependable. In my own experience I've found the Glock .357SIG's to be the most reliable, but my own experience with Glocks is only between the various 9mm models and the Glock 33.

Is the ability of the average shooter to hit a CD size target at 7 yards 95% of the time with the pistol being considered, without the benefit of hours of instruction, part of the reliability requirement?

If so, scratch all DAO pistols off the list.

Donning flame suit

If it's for both of you, you may want to look into the S&W M&P. By all accounts they are just as reliable as Glocks, but they have the advantage of interchangeable backstraps so that if you have shooter of different size hands you can pick three different sizes of grips on your gun and match the gun to the shooter.

(Caution: stereotype below)

You can use the large backstrap, and if she wants to shoot you can swap in the small backstrap so it fits a smaller hand.

SIG's---SA/DA.

My first choice would be a revolver. I have a Smith and Wesson model 10 4 inch police service revolver loaded with the famous "FBI" round. Most all gun fights will be won or loss in four rounds. Shot placement is key and especially the first one. Nothing wrong with a semi-auto but there is still more to think about in a semi-auto than a revolver. I own and shoot semi-autos and enjoy them. But at home if someone threatens the life of my wife or me then I will use the revolver first. Its always ready. Nothing to think about other than point and pull the trigger.

Good luck with your decision,
roaddog28

S&W .357 mag in your frame of choice. There are 7 and 8-models if you want more firepower. Shoot .38 spl or .357 as you prefer. Nothing wrong with Glocks, or any solid auto. I keep looking at Glocks all the time, and have practiced with several. There is no ultimate answer to revolver-vs-automatics.

Personally, I don't know what kind of circumstances might lead to a HD situation. In the best of all scenarios, somebody's banging on your door, yelling. Or you're awake and you hear the sound of breaking glass. Given that much warning, I'm grabbing the shotgun. Other scenarios have you with very little time and that's where "grab-point-shoot" has me favoring revolvers.

For fast, you can't beat a revolver. BUT get what she likes, and you can't go wrong. As to the Glock, it's a good pistol...I like the model 30. The recoil is linear, allowing quick follow up.

Some guys like guaranteed 100% reliability in a defense gun so they may go revolver.

I can live with 99.99% reliability as i think the advantages of a semi auto (reload times, triggers) far exceed the reliability factor you give up with this platform of handgun vs a revolver. I would trust my life with some Semi auto's and I would feel more comfortable defending myself with a semi auto.

With that said the only reason to get a model 23 vs a 22 or 35 is if you plan to carry it.

I would have a full-size or bigger gun for my nightstand gun with Max capacity. And I do a G34
The 23 is a nice weapon but will probably have some snap to it

roaddog28 said:

My first choice would be a revolver. I have a Smith and Wesson model 10 4 inch police service revolver loaded with the famous "FBI" round. Most all gun fights will be won or loss in four rounds. Shot placement is key and especially the first one. Nothing wrong with a semi-auto but there is still more to think about in a semi-auto than a revolver. I own and shoot semi-autos and enjoy them. But at home if someone threatens the life of my wife or me then I will use the revolver first. Its always ready. Nothing to think about other than point and pull the trigger.

Good luck with your decision,
roaddog28

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Road dog I don't think most gunfights are over in 4 rds, maybe 4 hits . I can't remember where some GunsnAmmo Mag or something talking about NY police shootings but average rounds fired in a gunfight was somewhere from 12-17. I think this took into account both parties firing so I guess cut that in half for a single weapon. Now if you are facing more than 1 attacker? I would want more than 5/6 rds from a revolver. I would remember too that most thugs out there are probably running around with Glock 17's and what not, so you're already at a huge disadvantage rd count wise before the fight even starts.

Just something to think about

It is my understanding that the average civilian gun play lasts two rounds.

But at home if someone threatens the life of my wife or me then I will use the revolver first. Its always ready. Nothing to think about other than point and pull the trigger.

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Same with my Star 30MI or Makarov. Both are DA/SA and have the hammer blocked unless the trigger is pulled. I'll vote the Makarov as the most dependable pistol. The Star does just as well but I don't know of anyone else who owns one so I can't comment upon whether or not they're all as good as mine. Lots of folks could chime in about the Mak, though.

Note: I keep a .38 SPL K-frame by my bed, though, as I can point shoot way better with one.

F1 said:

It is my understanding that the average civilian gun play lasts two rounds.

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http://www.theppsc.org/Grossman/Main-R.htm

Here is an article i found on round count. The 2-3 average may be skewed by suicide from what it was saying. Notice that table stating 16 rds average for year 2000. Since that time you figure more and more people are using autos vs revolvers so the rd count would inevitably increase.

Again not sure how accurate that article is but I will try and find the mag i was reading that had even high statistics.

The two most reliable pistols that I own are the Walther P5 and the Walther P99. I've put thousands of rounds down the pipe of both of them, with never so much as a hiccup. If I was forced to rely on a handgun for my safety, it would be one of these two.

Sidearmed - But then you might also factor into the equation the number of times a gun is drawn in "situations" when the intimidation factor is enough to settle things down and no shots are fired, and that's the great majority of cases.

F1 said:

Sidearmed - But then you might also factor into the equation the number of times a gun is drawn in "situations" when the intimidation factor is enough to settle things down and no shots are fired, and that's the great majority of cases.

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I agree with what you are saying but a mute point in choosing a weapon. Any "drawn gun" should have the same affect on intimidation, except maybe dirty Harry.

My biggest concern in a gunfight - what weapon are you competing with on the other side? Maybe an AR/rifle/shotgun. How many attackers are you facing? I would want to have the highest capacity I could with the largest caliber I feel confident in shooting rapidly. If this is a home defense gun I would want to be prepared for anything. I would opt for a fullsize, max capacity semi auto. If you went the revolver route - i would be "quick" on my reloads

"Any "drawn gun" should have the same affect on intimidation"

Though I like pocket guns, a big gun with a big hole in the front has much more intimidation factor than a tiny gun that the bad guy might not even be able to see or might think is a toy. I think that any reloading scenario in likely civilian weapon confrontations on the street is highly unlikely.

"what weapon are you competing with on the other side..."

There's an infinite number of confrontations we can imagine, but you just need to reach a compromise between what is practical and what is likely to occur.

There's an infinite number of confrontations we can imagine, but you just need to reach a compromise between what is practical and what is likely to occur.

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Hence the M240b leaned against the bedpost.

honestly, any of the reputable major manufacturers are going to be very, very close to one another in terms of reliability. glock, sig, S&W, CZ, beretta, ruger, HK, etc, etc, etc are all going to be pretty similar reliability-wise. if your wife served in iraq, maybe she'd be most comfortable with the beretta 92 (M9). or maybe she hated it...who knows? point being, you should get what the two of you shoot the best. unfortunately, what she shoots best might not fit you best, so you'll have to experiment to find something you both like and shoot well. i'd recommend going to a range that rents handguns and trying several until you hit on one you both enjoy shooting. that'll be your winner.

I would like something quick, easy, and effective.......very accurate

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At least take a look at the 686, and GP 100. Load those with .38 spl and the size and solidity of the frame will keep the round under control. Extremely accurate. If intimidation helps, these have it.

F1 said:

"Any "drawn gun" should have the same affect on intimidation"

Though I like pocket guns, a big gun with a big hole in the front has much more intimidation factor than a tiny gun that the bad guy might not even be able to see or might think is a toy. I think that any reloading scenario in likely civilian weapon confrontations on the street is highly unlikely.

"what weapon are you competing with on the other side..."

There's an infinite number of confrontations we can imagine, but you just need to reach a compromise between what is practical and what is likely to occur.

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F1,

I don't care to carry this out, this debate is futile, your points made were just to argue. I have referenced a full size many times in this thread. The pocket pistol you referenced.

If what is "practical", and what is "highly unlikely" is what you want to bet on, be my guest. This is where we differ. Knowing that a Glock 17 is probably the most used 9mm currently and high cap firearms are flooding the market, i would venture and say it is "likely" that you would face a weapon of high capacity or more than one attacker with 6 or 7 rds in your own revolver. A gun fight may last 1 rd or 17, that's where that average comes into play. You may feel comfortable with 6 shots in a revolver where I do not. I can carry 17+ without an immediate worry of tracking my rounds or reloading. 'For the average person', should you have to reload the time difference from a revolver to automatic does not compare...