Can you describe the best handgun
- Thread starter mrt949
- Start date
- Status
Claude Clay
Member
Sig P239 in 40 S&W; decocker, DA/SA model
gglass
Member
Since you threw hunting into the equation, I would have to say 10mm for a semi auto or 357 magnum for a wheel gun. If you would be hunting something really big, then all bets are off.
For the average individual, a medium frame 357 Magnum revolver.
You can go from plinking to plumb serious self defense and some hunting.
It is strong enough to take mid size game and small enough to CCW if you find the right combination.
You can go from plinking to plumb serious self defense and some hunting.
It is strong enough to take mid size game and small enough to CCW if you find the right combination.
gwnorth
Member
I honestly do not think that any one hand gun is going to cover the range of uses you mention well. A good hunting handgun is not going to make a very good concealed carry weapon, nor is a serious target range gun.
Any gun that excels at one of those uses, is likely to be mediocre at best, and usually down right terrible, at one or more of the others, since your range of uses covers an awful lot of ground in terms of calibre, barrel length, sights, weight and size.
Which of course is why so many gun owners own more then one gun - one size does NOT fit all situations at all well in this case.
Any gun that excels at one of those uses, is likely to be mediocre at best, and usually down right terrible, at one or more of the others, since your range of uses covers an awful lot of ground in terms of calibre, barrel length, sights, weight and size.
Which of course is why so many gun owners own more then one gun - one size does NOT fit all situations at all well in this case.
Ditto_95
Member
1911, what else has been around for over 100 years?
whitefeather
Member
- Joined
- Jan 19, 2006
- Messages
- 124
I'll side with a couple that have already been mentioned:
10mm (in autoloader form like a Glock 20 or a Colt Delta Elite) or a 4" .357 revolver (like a S&W M19 or M27).
Both calibers have enough power for defense or hunting up to large deer. I'd give a slight nod to the .357 due availability of ammo and load variations. But if I were more focussed on the defense aspect, I'd go with the 10mm autoloader.
10mm (in autoloader form like a Glock 20 or a Colt Delta Elite) or a 4" .357 revolver (like a S&W M19 or M27).
Both calibers have enough power for defense or hunting up to large deer. I'd give a slight nod to the .357 due availability of ammo and load variations. But if I were more focussed on the defense aspect, I'd go with the 10mm autoloader.
gwnorth
Member
Doesn't drive a nail or cut wood worth a dang
SimpleIsGood229
Member
Nope. There simply is no ''best.''
dmazur
Member
I'm kind of new to revolver shooting, but I think if I had to, I could use it for those three uses, as it's a Ruger SBH in .44 Magnum with a 4-5/8" barrel.
It would feel like a Swiss army knife, capable of performing in multiple roles but not really best at any one of them.
The lock time is pretty long for target use, it could use a longer barrel and a scope to make it better for hunting, and the 6 shot capacity is definitely a limit for self-defense.
It's an interesting question. However, I'm really stretching to try to come up with a situation which would require a Swiss army knife type of solution.
It would feel like a Swiss army knife, capable of performing in multiple roles but not really best at any one of them.
The lock time is pretty long for target use, it could use a longer barrel and a scope to make it better for hunting, and the 6 shot capacity is definitely a limit for self-defense.
It's an interesting question. However, I'm really stretching to try to come up with a situation which would require a Swiss army knife type of solution.
possum
Member
i don't hunt with a handgun or anything for that matter, however i do shoot/ train alot for the fight of my life that hopefully never comes, and the best handgun hands down for me is a sa xd, my sa xd service model in .40 to be exact.
i use it for everything ccw/hd/comps etc.
12000rds and still going strong it is a purpose built gun that i would take anywhere anytime to do anything.
i use it for everything ccw/hd/comps etc.
12000rds and still going strong it is a purpose built gun that i would take anywhere anytime to do anything.
22-rimfire
Member
I am not aware of one handgun that meets all your specifications. Like the "what handgun for bear?" threads, there is no one size fits all.
buck460XVR
Member
- Joined
- Feb 6, 2007
- Messages
- 10,085
+1..........It couldn't be put any better.
now if you're talking nightstand SD and not CCW, than I think a 6'' .357 or .44 wheelgun would be a safe bet if one only wanted ONE handgun. Pleasant to shoot and accurate at the range, capable of taking deer sized game and smaller and more than enough to deter most home invasions other than gangland hitmen.
oneounceload
member
For target and hunting, my XP-100 in 7mm BR will kill deer to 250 yards...(It's for sale if interested). I SUPPOSE in a pinch you could use it for defense, although it is a single-shot bolt action handgun
federalfarmer
Member
- Joined
- Oct 3, 2008
- Messages
- 312
1911.45acp
Fishman777
Member
- Joined
- Sep 20, 2007
- Messages
- 520
Pick one:
1. Medium-framed .357 magnum (my choice would be the GP100).
.38/.357 - This is enough gun in my area. Love these cartridges.
2. Glock 20 with a .40 S&W conversion barrel. Similiar power to .357 magnum, greater capacity.
2. Large-framed revolver in one of the following: .44 or .454 or .460. These actually would be the best choice, but my least favorite option.
While I don't like big bore revolvers, I recognize that these big bores really can do it all. The ammo is expensive and the recoil can be pretty brutal, but they are the *only* guns that *really* can do it all.
.44 special/.44 magnum (Buffalo Bore Heavy .44 magnum +p is nastier than a lot of factory .454 loads.
.45 colt/.454 - .45 colt and .44 special are very similiar. Factory .45 colt loads would be tame as kittens in a heavy gun. .454 is pretty nasty.
.45 colt/.454/.460 (.454 is somewhat crazy, .460 is absolutely insane.)
I'm sorry. 9mm, .40 S&W, .45 acp are not flexible enough to cover every application. They are decent man-stoppers, but they are good for little else. .45 acp would be the best option of the three, but a poor choice compared to the first three choices listed above.
1. Medium-framed .357 magnum (my choice would be the GP100).
.38/.357 - This is enough gun in my area. Love these cartridges.
2. Glock 20 with a .40 S&W conversion barrel. Similiar power to .357 magnum, greater capacity.
2. Large-framed revolver in one of the following: .44 or .454 or .460. These actually would be the best choice, but my least favorite option.
While I don't like big bore revolvers, I recognize that these big bores really can do it all. The ammo is expensive and the recoil can be pretty brutal, but they are the *only* guns that *really* can do it all.
.44 special/.44 magnum (Buffalo Bore Heavy .44 magnum +p is nastier than a lot of factory .454 loads.
.45 colt/.454 - .45 colt and .44 special are very similiar. Factory .45 colt loads would be tame as kittens in a heavy gun. .454 is pretty nasty.
.45 colt/.454/.460 (.454 is somewhat crazy, .460 is absolutely insane.)
I'm sorry. 9mm, .40 S&W, .45 acp are not flexible enough to cover every application. They are decent man-stoppers, but they are good for little else. .45 acp would be the best option of the three, but a poor choice compared to the first three choices listed above.
For sure the gun that is "Best" for one thing will not be the Best for all things.
A gun that will do a decent job with all tasks you mention however is available in a few formats that would be all fair choices.
Mine at this time is a 4" barreled revolver in medium frame, and in .44 magnum caliber. If you wanted it to be in .357 Magnum - I wouldn't argue against it. If you wanted it to be a 6 inch barrel - so be it ! (self defense does not necessarily mean a carry gun)
In auto's , I do agree the 10mm has a lot going for it. Particularly in the hunting roll , over many other calibers that auto's are chambered in.
A gun that will do a decent job with all tasks you mention however is available in a few formats that would be all fair choices.
Mine at this time is a 4" barreled revolver in medium frame, and in .44 magnum caliber. If you wanted it to be in .357 Magnum - I wouldn't argue against it. If you wanted it to be a 6 inch barrel - so be it ! (self defense does not necessarily mean a carry gun)
In auto's , I do agree the 10mm has a lot going for it. Particularly in the hunting roll , over many other calibers that auto's are chambered in.
Phydeaux642
Member
- Joined
- Jul 16, 2007
- Messages
- 1,886
Not one perfect one, but if I had to choose something that could be used in those situations I would pick a S&W 686 with a 4"bbl.
MCgunner
Member
It does not exist. That's why I have more'n one gun. Okay, 20 is getting carried away, I could probably do it with 10, but hey, it's a free country..........so far. I don't try to ride my GoldWing in the dirt, either. I have a dirt bike for that. I can ride that little dirt bike on a 2000 mile trip, but I'd druther have the GoldWing. I can hunt deer with a 4" K frame .357, but I'd druther have my Contender.
I don't try to ride my GoldWing in the dirt, either. I have a dirt bike for that. I can ride that little dirt bike on a 2000 mile trip, but I'd druther have the GoldWing. I can hunt deer with a 4" K frame .357, but I'd druther have my Contender.- Status
