All The Same Handguns

[urbaneruralite]

I don't get it. They're all three the same model, use the same cartridge, and everything? Why not just one and some spare parts?

All mine are double action revolvers. I would rather all the same cylinder latch style, but they don't all make everything. I have too many uses for handguns to settle on just one. At a minimum I'd have to have a .44 and a .22 because you can't use the .44 for small game here.

 

[BSA1]

What the O.P. is describing is a very narrow focus on what he considers handguns to be useful for which in his case is only for defense. By doing so he is ruling out the fact that a handgun can be a multifunctional tool. By selecting Glock 21’s he is also limiting effective defense from other types of threats.

This is not to say that his decision is wrong. In his case other types of handguns does not meet his needs. I have known very proficient rifle marksmen who are lousy shots with a handgun.

I think the nature of THR forum is most members enjoy owning a wider variety of handguns and using them for more purposes than the O.P.

 

[Tinker]

OP (if you are still reading this)

Your idea is perfectly logical. Not a plan I'd totally subscribe to, but it is logical. For home defense....all I'd add to your formula would be some shotguns.

But, you might want look really closely at your triplet 21's. Are they REALLY identical? Any observable, though minute, differences? Range scratches on one? Rear sight slightly off center on another?









(I have a buddy with OCD...that last part would have messed with his mind...just having some fun. No meanness intended)

 

[fredflyer]

Very good discussion! Very close to my questions, too. So I'll tag on here instead of starting a new thread. Hope y'all don't mind. I have a Beretta PX4 in .40 SW. I would like to also have a 9mm, and maybe a .380. The posts here would lead me to think that having all three in the PX4 frame could lead to real confusion, both in operation and in cleaning. My current thought would be a second PX4 in .40, and different makes in 9mm and .380. What say y'all?

 

[amprecon]

My family members all shoot the G21 better than any of the others they have tried, so as far as family members being proficient with the G21, they are more so with the G21 than any of the rest.

As far as my uses for a pistol, the #1 use is defense, I am able to ccw the G21 fairly well. I have tried other smaller handguns for ccw and I never shot any of them that well. So my thinking is, if I can conceal a G21 and shoot it well, then why trust something I don't shoot that well, especially under duress.

For utilitarian uses, for what I'd use a pistol for, hunting, scavenging, woods defense, I can hit with this gun, so it's why its the only platform I have decided to have. If I want to shoot squirrels I bring the Marlin 60 or 870 along for that.

All three of the G21's are exactly the same, same 3.5lb disconnector, same Tru-Dot fixed sights, green front, orange rear. They do have very slight wear marks in different areas of the slides, but if I were to pick one up in complete darkness I would not be able to tell you which one I had. Which is what I am looking for, familiarity. The same thing I want my family to experience should they need one for defense.
If they all lay disassembled on the ground, I could pick up the pieces in the dark, put them all together and know they would feel and function exactly the same.

I really like the .45acp caliber, it is just plain effective. When I had 9mm's I would take a 9mm and .45acp cartridge and just hold them together in my hand and the difference in size is significant. I know, it means heavier bullets=more weight, less capacity, but 13 rounds of .45acp is no handicap.

I have yet to shoot a 9mm that has been as accurate as my G21's in .45acp. A full size S&W M&P CORE 9mm I rented came very close, but the other most accurate handgun I have ever fired was a FNP-45, but I had to concentrate more-so with it than I do with the G21 to be as accurate.

I have owned G17's, G19's, G36, G41, G23's, yes they are all Glocks, but yes they all feel different, even the G41. With the closest matching back strap I could find to match that of the G21, it still felt different. The grip texture was different, the sight picture was different as it had a longer and thinner slide. The decrease in overall weight I could feel and it affected my point shooting.

I have long-guns for other purposes, shotguns, carbines, bolt-actions, so my fields are covered as far as other needs are concerned. I have also looked hard at reducing my caliber foot-print and duplication but that's a whole 'nother thread.

 

[CopperFouling]

In my history I have had numerous types of handguns in various calibers, but being the pragmatic weirdo that I am, I felt the fewer calibers I had, the better off. It is kind of relieving to only have to buy one caliber of handgun ammo.

Given your parameters, the only drawback to your thinking that I see is this: If you're not a handloader (I don't remember seeing you mention that), having only one caliber during some sort of buying frenzy might be a problem if you don't have much ammunition on hand. On the other hand, since you know that you only shoot .45 ACP, you can always concentrate on buying a lot of it, thereby avoiding said problem.

Otherwise, I tend to side with your idea of simplifying. One of my friends has over 700 firearms, and at this point, he "discovers" that he owns firearms as he's putting others away. I definitely don't have the inclination (or funds) to be like him.

 

[BSA1]

Of course those of us that own multiple handguns and calibers have good, high demand stuff for bartering.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

Very good discussion! Very close to my questions, too. So I'll tag on here instead of starting a new thread. Hope y'all don't mind. I have a Beretta PX4 in .40 SW. I would like to also have a 9mm, and maybe a .380. The posts here would lead me to think that having all three in the PX4 frame could lead to real confusion, both in operation and in cleaning. My current thought would be a second PX4 in .40, and different makes in 9mm and .380. What say y'all?

This post might be a better fit for my thread on not rotating carry guns.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=766737

IMO if you want to go with different calibers you’d be better of staying with the same platform. I’m not familiar with Berettas but maybe a sub compact in .380, a compact in 9mm and then the full sized .40 you already have. Ideally I’d stay with one caliber so I’m not all over the map on buying but you already said you want some other calibers.

As someone (essentially) said in the other thread the more you reduce your variables the better off you are. 3 guns by the same manufacturers would give you 3 sets of similar controls and sights and reduce your learning curve as you switch from weapon to weapon.

 

[fredflyer]

Thanks TM

I just checked the Beretta site, and the PX4 does not have .380 as an option. .45, .40, and 9mm are the only choices. Maybe I should migrate to the XD- XDM frame? or Glock? or something like that? I've only put 150 rds or so through my "new" PX4,but i do like it a lot.

I agree that part of my whole question set would fit well with your other thread. I will probably post a thing there about carrying more than one gun at a time. My position is that IF you are going to carry 2 guns, they should be IDENTICAL! I've heard it called the "Texas spare mag" option.

The other part of my question is the posibility of mixing up parts if I have a .40 and a 9mm disassembled at the same time.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

I just checked the Beretta site, and the PX4 does not have .380 as an option. .45, .40, and 9mm are the only choices. Maybe I should migrate to the XD- XDM frame? or Glock? or something like that? I've only put 150 rds or so through my "new" PX4,but i do like it a lot.

I don’t know enough about Berretta to comment intelligently. I do know that GLOCK has a sub compact .380, a compact 9mm and a full sized .40 as does the S&WM&P line.

I can throw this out from my own experience. When I first started buying guns I was all over the map on calibers and I bought a lot of odd ball guns that I ended up dumping at a loss. If I had it to do over again as I said up thread I would have picked 1 type of gun for instance a GLOCK and got a 9mm sub, a 9mm compact and a 9mm full sized. In the case of the GLOCK all three would take the full sized magazine so you have the 3 guns and the 2 magazines they come with and all you have to do is buy 10 or 15 full sized magazines for spares. Plus you only have to worry about picking up 1 type of ammunition.

I agree that part of my whole question set would fit well with your other thread. I will probably post a thing there about carrying more than one gun at a time. My position is that IF you are going to carry 2 guns, they should be IDENTICAL! I've heard it called the "Texas spare mag" option.

Again the GLOCKS would fit this scenario say you choose a GLOCK 19 and a GLOCK 26, both are 9mm and both will function with the GLOCK 19 magazine ( no trying to remember which magazine is where) or you could carry a M&P 9c and an M&P 9.

The other part of my question is the posibility of mixing up parts if I have a .40 and a 9mm disassembled at the same time.

Don't take them apart at the same time