Does anyone only have one handgun?

[Jim PHL]

This isn't "necessarily" another "If you only had one, what would it be?" They tend to be more about bugging out or SHTF scenarios. I'm more interested in those that intentionally and purposefully stick to a basic battery.

I have been toying around with the idea of further narrowing down my collection. I find myself not getting to the range as much as I'd like and when I do I tend to mainly just shoot my "pets" anyway, not everything I have. I'm still spending way too much time on the boards and buying too much stuff!

I don't think I could ever actually go down to one gun. But I was toying with the idea of going to a more basic collection. Along the lines of selling off most of my other guns for one high-quality 1911 I could use for carry and fun-shooting (something along the lines of a ltwt commander or CCO-style), a general duty revo along the lines of a 66 or 686 and then maybe something for the pocket like a 642.

I am not asking for your opinions on whether this idea is right for me, you can't know that. I haven't made up my mind to do it, either. I'm just curious about whether anyone has decided this was the right move for them? Or if you started with one or a couple and stayed there? Are you satisifed with your one (or two) guns? And most importantly, what are they? I will say my tastes and habits have led me to where I'm really only interested in J, K + L frame revos and 1911's. I have already begun getting rid of most of what I have that doesn't fit into that group, but I tend to add something that IS in that group when I get rid of something else!. I just wonder sometimes how many I need! (Bad choice of words, we all know 'need' has little to do with it once you get past your first 8 or 10 handguns!!

 

[RiverwinoIA]

i dont really count, since i only have one .22 pistol right now, but i have decided i only want 1 defensive handgun. I plan on a single stack 9 auto, something thats concealable yet shootable. I figure if i practice with one gun for years, and always have it around, should the need to use it arise, i will be prepared.

 

[Ala Dan]

Hey Jim My Friend-

Its definitely not in the cards for me~! I use too limit myself strictly to the
DA/SA platform of SIG-SAUER'S; but after rediscovering my interest in 1911's
and revolvers, its a crap shoot at best. I think the primary concern for each
is too know their operation and limitations; along with the individual user's
capability.

 

[22-rimfire]

I can see or understand someone only wanting to own one handgun. I started out with a 22 revolver (H&R999) and went for about 3-4 years with only that one handgun. My philosophy at the time was that hand guns were strictly utilitarian (a tool) and who needed more. I had long guns to cover every reasonable hunting situation that I intended to partake in.

Time passes and you see the difference in quality in different guns at ranges and in the store.... next thing you know, you're buying another one.... purposely of course. I have long passed that orientation on a gun is strictly for a utilitarian purpose.

I could see reducing my stash some what especially on the redundant ones that I shoot. But, we aren't talking many guns here. So, I doubt if I will ever be a one-gun man again.

 

[raghorn]

I'm pretty much a one-gun guy. Every now and then I purchase a new one to see how it compares. However, I've decided never to pare down my collection, I will save them all to pass along to my sons and their offspring.

 

[RyanM]

Beware the man with one gun, for he probably knows how to use it.

I've only got 2 right now, a Glock 23 and a Ruger SP-101. I like the Ruger more, and wouldn't feel too bad if I had to give up the Glock (as long as I got money for it!). I definitely wouldn't feel undergunned with a 5-shot snubby and some Speer short-barrel ammo. I shoot the Ruger much better, but that's probably because I've owned it longer and have practiced with it a heckuvalot more. X-ring rubber bullets are great training aids.

Personally, I think that it would probably be ideal (skill-wise) to just get one gun (or one "class" of gun, like Glocks, 1911s, K-frames, etc.) and do everything with that. Plinking, concealed carry, competition, everything. And I'd say that revolvers have an advantage over autos, since you could use X-Ring rubber bullets to practice whenever you want in your own home, for much less cost than buying regular ammo. And you can practice things you may not be able to on the range, like firing from unusual positions, shooting in the dark, moving while shooting, etc.

I am planning on buying more, but almost everything else on my list would be classified more as a "toy" than a tool or self-defense implement. Mateba Autorevolver, Serbu Super Shorty, USAS-12, things like that. The only gun on my "to buy" list that I'd consider CCWing is a 1991A1 mid-frame that a local store has for an incredible price. Hopefully by the time I can afford that, I'll also have the money to practice regularly, and figure out which platform (Glock, 1911, or snubby) works best for me. So in other words, I'm probably always going to be a one-gun kind of guy. One "serious" gun, and a bunch of "toys" and backups.

 

[The_Shootist]

One Handgun

I could possible get by with my SP101 and my Glock 19 - but hey I'm an American....I CAN own them, so I do!

Besides...what fun would just ONE gun be

 

[carebear]

I usually only have one ON me at any time.

All my autos are single-action Browning/Colt patterns or knock-offs (Ruger 22/45). Sweep the safety and bang.

Just kinda evolved that way.

 

[cvb]

One handgun?

Yes I did have only one handgun for a while, reasoning
with the beware- the -one- gun type. I decided not to
take myself too seriously and ended up with quite a few.
Carry over, familiarity(travelling to other countries)
and realizing that other family
members need to be involved for their own protection also are
to me justification. Hey that one handgun did save my bacon
at one time; didnt have to pull the trigger but enough to make
the other party think twice, thank God.

 

[Bobo]

I have only one gun. I bought the gun for particular purposes. It should serve those purposes quite well. Don't plan on getting any more. I have other interests with higher priorities for my money and time. I learn a lot here at THR for using my gun more effectively. Great members - great forum!!

Thanks to all
Bobo

 

[silverlance]

sig p228

but I'm looking forward to

mosquito
mak
springfield 1911

i'm pretty decent with my p228, but my reasoning is thus:

everyneed needs .22lR!

mak is for my bathroom who cares if it rusts.

the 1911 is a legend and a beauty to shoot..

 

[TimboKhan]

pssh... one gun. Hey, .22 Rimfire, if you ever decide to sell that H&R, send me some pics and a price, I would be very interested in it, as that is my all-time favorite .22 revo. Anyway, to answer the question directly, like alot of us on here, at one time I was a one pistol man, and that pistol was a blued MkII with a bull barrel. I always knew that I would eventually add more pistols to my collection, and the only reason that one was the first was because it was a fun, cheap gun to shoot. I sold that gun to my buddy and bought pretty much the same gun, but in Stainless, from my dad, but I will probably buy it back off him at some point because I have gotten oddly sentimental about the whole thing.

 

[David W. Gay]

"There can be only one..."

I only have one handgun, mostly because I have not been able to afford another. That, and I like the idea of reflexively knowing how to handle the one I do have.

Also, I came into the interest and hobby of firearms late in life (late 30's), compared to most around here. I absolutely love the hobby, but it is rather expensive, compared to my other hobbies (which aren't exactly cheap themselves). There are just way too many, way cool guns, I'd love to try.

And I will, with no doubt, aquire additional handguns with time, but I will probably always use a 1911 platform based pistol as my primary carry. Partly because I really like the design, and partly because of the reason sited above.

-In anycase, Carry on!

 

[Peter M. Eick]

For over 15 years I only owned a Colt Diamondback and I shot it "a lot". I got quite good at it and had a lot of fun with it, but then the desire for more power lead me to the autoloading side. Now after a 10 year wondering through the autoloaders, I am down to a few types of guns. I got rid of all of the "routine" guns and kept the custom ones. I guess I would sum it up that for a single gun, a 38 special Diamondback can get boring after a while.

What I should have picked up was an 38/44 Outdoorsman. Then I could have hot-rodded the 38 special and still just shoot revolvers instead of both types.

 

[Lucky 7]

I had a SW 686 w/ 4" barrel for 2 yrs. I put over 2 cases of just .38 spec through it and nearly 1000 rds of .357 magnum. As soon as i turned 18, though, i started buying CZ75 type weapons (see my signature). They all break down the same, heck i can swap a few parts and how them funcution flawless.
Regards and Semper Fi!
-L7

 

[Shootcraps]

One Handgun?


Nobody on these boards. We're gun junkies and we gotta have our fix. I just bought a gun, so I'm good for at least 72 hours.

 

[f4t9r]

More than one for me
Do know some with only 1. most are revolvers and know some who have bought a cheaper model like hi-point just to have something for protection
I would have to say 1 is better than 0

 

[Wedge]

I only have one handgun since that is all I can financially afford at the moment. I don't plan to continue with just one thuogh (but I have been saying that for almost 3 years).

 

[armoredman]

I have only one handgun for now, but that surely isn't by choice. My CZ75 PO1 is the best I have ever had, though! I will get a CZ75 BD fullsize, a CZ75 PO1 for the wife, a CZ 75 Compact 40, and maybe a few others...see a trend?

 

[Ky Larry]

I have been cleaning out my gun safe lately. As I get older, I'm finding myself focusing more on shooters than safe queens. In the last year, I've sold or traded SIG's, S&W auto's, Ruger auto's and a Weatherby rifle for a Python, a S&W Model19, a S&W Model 17,and a S&W Model 686. Nothing wrong with the guns I traded, I just didn't shoot them very much. The ones I traded for get shot a lot. I probably won't get down to one gun, but the few I keep will get used a lot more.

 

[TOADMAN]

Only one gun and it breaks = no gun till it gets fixed!
Two guns much better - always have a back-up gun.

 

[RUT]

You're kidding, right???

 

[dasmi]

I've only got one handgun right now. I plan to remedy the situation by the end of the year.

 

[spacemanspiff]

i'm down to one handgun now.

 

[Byron Quick]

I have a difficult time wrapping my mind around the concept of only one handgun. I have three .45 ACP 1911's, two 10mm 1911's, two 6 inch S&W 29's, and 3 S&W 57's among my handguns.

One handgun would be SO boring.