Work-alike guns

Technically, he's probably right. But, dang it, I can't help myself. I love all types of guns with all kind of calibers, so I end up carrying - depending on what I'm wearing and the situation - revolvers, 1911s, polymer guns, etc., etc.

On the plus side, this forces me to practice a lot with all of them.

As far as buttons and levers go, I think sig has it right.

All of my guns have a trigger. As long as that works, I'm good.

I came to basically the same conclusion and sold a perfectly good XD9 (kept the 1911 though).

I feel that this is true to a certain extent, though not necessarily 100% commonality. I.e. if my thumb swipes down for a safety on the LCP that doesn't exist there...no biggie. however, my thumb kept hitting the slide lock on the XD when held where it would for the 1911...so it got sold off.

Everyone should use Glocks or revolvers then.

Most of my HD handguns are DA revolvers or a SIG SP2340. The only other semi-auto pistols I have available for HD or personal defense are a Beretta 92F (duplicate of my Beretta 92FS duty weapon) and a Colt Series 70 MKIV Gov't Model 45 ACP. The 45 is in the safe and the Beretta I am extremely familiar with. The idea of the guns operating the same or similiar is a sound theory. You don't want to be familiar with one type and use something different when the chips are down.

"Beware the man who owns one gun." (He can probably use it very well.)

In a pistol course I took a few years back the instructor brought up something that I hadn't thought of. He said all your defense handguns should work just alike. It avoids confusion at a bad moment.

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I definitely agree, especially when you start talking about back up guns. If you end up going for a second gun you carry you are already having a real, real bad day and you're possibly working that thing at punching distance, while getting punched by the bad guy, possibly shot or cut already, etc. Something that would never catch you up under ideal circumstances can easily become a potentially lethal issue when your blood pressure is up in the black, your thinking is further eroded by trauma, etc. That's not the time to be trying to work your way through a different manual of arms.

I'd say either identical mechanics of function or, at the very least, a back up should have no required mechanics except pulling the trigger -- double action revolvers, or no safety back ups like the baby Glocks, Walther PPS, etc. at least minimize what you could have to remember under duress.

I've thought of this before, which is why all of my defensive handguns are DAO or DA/SA with no manual safeties.
I own all sorts of handguns but won't keep a handgun for defense unless all I have to do to make it go bang is pull the trigger.

I own all sorts of handguns but won't keep a handgun for defense unless all I have to do to make it go bang is pull the trigger.

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I agree with this. All the defensive handguns I own can be fired from their carry condition with only a pull of the trigger. This includes DAO revolver, DAO semi-auto, striker-fired semi-auto, and DA/SA semi-auto.

I have some SAO handguns, but they are strictly for targets or plinking. Don't get me wrong: there's nothing with with SAO in a defensive handgun if that's what you train with.

Very similar situation to Kendal Black's friend who carries a PPK and 1911. Thank God! I ran into the very problem in question on the training range and not on the street.

I had for years carried a BHP as my primary carry gun but decided to sell and go with the lighter, more concealable S&W 3913 just days before going off to a training school. And no, I hadn't taken it out and practice with it prior to going to training figuring that I would just get familar with the pistol during training seeing that we would be going through a little over a 1000 rds. during a couple days training secession.

The training (Executive/Dignitary protection) was offered by the then Mayor of Detroit Security Detail Leader, Ron Fleming, while the firearm portion was headed up by the City of Detroit PD Range Master, Michael Blount at the Academy's River Rouge range.

Starting out, we spent half the day in the classroom going over basics, range rules, etc... Towards the end of the classroom portion we were instructed that each one of us would be call out of the classroom and not to discuss what we did upon return.

What happen was that each of us was taken to the firing line and place approximately 3 yards from our target. The instruction was that upon the target turning to present a full profile, we had 2 seconds to draw our weapon, aim and fire one round into the center mass of the target before it would turn back. Simple right?

As the target turned, I drew my pistol and out of habit flip the safety down to take it off as I would my BHP only to engage the safety of the S&W. By the time I realize what I had done (pulling the trigger a couple of times and nothing?) and flip the safety the other way the target turn back and my 2 seconds was over. The only question that I was ask by the range officer was: "Where would you like your remains sent?"

Point taken!

Or be so different that they are hard to confuse like a revolver and a 1911.

I carried revolvers for 20 years and now semi-auto pistols but all do have the same basic double action trigger pull with no levers to play with. I do think that does work to keep things the same as much as possible for CC.

Jeff82 said:

"Beware the man who owns one gun." (He can probably use it very well.)

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I know this is a commonly repeated phrase, but my experience with people who only own one gun is that generally they're not "into" shooting and typically don't practice much or shoot well.

For a defensive pistol, I want to be able to just draw and squeeze. So I have Glocks and DA revolvers. At the same time, I am comfortable shooting a 1911 on a static range against a timer, but I find I have to remember to let the trigger reset. Odd it's not the thumb safety that gets me in trouble, but the lack of return pressure on the trigger. But there's no danger in swiping the imaginary thumb safety on a Glock or S&W K-frame.

Mine all function the same. No manual safety or SA capability. Glock, M&P, Kahr, DA revolver. I own one DA/SA pistol but it rarely leaves the safe.

I thought of this over 15 years ago

and have been trying to apply it ever since. At one point the only guns I had for defence were two revolvers, two Glocks and a Smith 4516-1. The Smith was carried with the safety off, used only as a decocker with the first shot being fired double action. So all guns worked basically the same way, point and pull. I was proficient with all. Then I bought a couple of 1911's along the way and decided right away that they would not be used for self defence. This turned out to be a good choice because neither worked well. both were sold and all was right with the world. I wouldn't own another 1911 for another 15 years.

Practice, practice, practice with what you carrry. Don't let games get in the way. Along the way I started Cowboy Action shooting. Doing things the same way every time, with the same equipment, was what made for a good score. Muscle memory became evident to the point if you changed from a Marlin to a 73 rifle you would inevitably short stroke the 73. The model 97 Winchester was my shotgun of choice and I was so proficient with it that one went into the closet for HD. About threee years ago I went to the range with my daughter with my self defence guns, including Glocks and AR's. Just as we started practicing, I drew my Glock and went to a two handed stance. Just as I was about to pull the trigger, I realized that my left hand thumb had just tried to cock the hammer and was now right behind the slide. Muscle memory had reared its head.

After that I started shooting less and less Cowboy action and started practicing more. I have also switched over to the 1911 as my primary defensive sidearm with two Glocks also still in the lineup. I practice primarily with the 1911 so, when I do change over to the Glock, my thumb still snicks off the nonexistant safety. Not a problem. Accuracy is better with the 1911 but I can still hit quiclky with the Glock. I also carry an LCP as a back-up but have never had any problems transitioning. The only competition that I compete in now is IDPA. When I go to a match I do not do anything different from what I do on a daily basis. My 1911, usually a KImber Tac-Pro II, is on my right hip in a Milt Sparks VM-II. On my left hip is a forward canting Double mag pouch made by HBE leather with two KIM PRO or Wilson 47D's. Even my clothes are the same. I will not change gear or caliber just to gain a perceived advantage.

There is some merit to the idea, but I carry and shoot multiple types of handguns and don't have trouble remembering how controls operate at the range. Much of it is psychological. If you think you might forget or be confused in a serious situation, you probably will, and should select your handgun(s) based on the KISS (Keep It Super Simple) principle.

I'm no expert, but I think its also important that you can tell instantly tell how any particular defensive handgun works as soon as it fills your hand, instinctively and naturally.

I believe in the idea that your various carry guns should work alike. I rotate among various 1911s and a Hi Power, as well as a Beretta .380, but all share a manual safety that is in the same place and works in the same direction. My one "stray" is an occasional Glock with no thumb safety. These are the pistols I have used for years and the existence of the safety, and the way it works, have become second nature.

I recently took a defensive class with my Hi Power, everyone else was using XDs and Glocks. The instructor made a point of almost being critical of my choice of a pistol with a manual safety -- but he did pull me aside at the end of the class to note that he had been watching me and observed that not once did I miss the safety or fumble with it.

Rule one of a gun fight is have a gun. So if I can conceal it adequately or not counts a lot more than its operational mode.

As the gun comes up I swipe off the safety with my thumb, if its a Kahr or XD or whatever that lacks a safety, it still shoots when I pull the trigger.

I despise DA/SA operation but as long as its a decocker, and not an actual safety they still work fine as above when decocked.

merlinfire said:

I'm no expert, but I think its also important that you can tell instantly tell how any particular defensive handgun works as soon as it fills your hand, instinctively and naturally.

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Merlinfire got it right:

If you can't figure this one out, you need to become more familiar with your guns or take up golf.

When my nephew was in his senior year of ROTC, I gave him a Smith 5904 to learn to shoot with. When he graduated, his carry piece became the M-9 which exactely the same control as the 3d generation Smith.

Maybe I'll get it back someday.