How Do You Define "Utility" In A Handgun?

[The Night Rider]

Utility
A. The state or condition of being useful.

B. Usefullness. Something that is useful.

Someone started a discussion on another forum asking which was more important Utility of a handgun or Capacity but he never really defined what "Utility" was in a handgun.

So my question is what makes a handgun "Useful"? How do you define "Utility" in a handgun?

I have a Glock 19 that I've carried for 10 years. I carried it at work for the last year that I was working. I never had to fire it and only ever had to draw it once and honestly "had to" was kind of subjective.

I was on my way to work one night and there was some Maniac in the middle of the road swinging what later turned out be a trailer hitch. As I maneuvered around him he stepped towards my car and raised the trailer hitch and I drew the gun and floored it. TO CLARIFY I DROVE AROUND HIM I'm pretty sure the outcome would have been the same if I'd been completely unarmed.

So how do you define the usefullness of a handgun?

Is a Glock 17 more useful than a .38 revolver?

Is a .50 Desert Eagle more useful than a Glock 17?

 

[JeeperCreeper]

Without a specific role, I would define utility as a "do all" handgun if I had to define an arbitrary category.

My idea of utility handgun:

1. Midsized 10mm pistol with a light/optic (home defense, hunting, woods carry, concealed carry, range).

2. 357 revolver that can do all the above, just in another way in another style.

I had a XD45 compact that I used to consider in that category as well. I would carry it everywhere. Small enough but big enough. Able to handle all loads from mild to wild depending on the "mission".

 

[35 Whelen]

Everyone has their own definition of utility.

I live on rural property so my definition of utility includes doing with a handgun such things as hunting deer, walking up on/killing wild hogs, dispatching rattlesnakes, shooting stray dogs, as well as the possibility of shooting coyotes, shooting bobcats, or even defending ones self from an irate bovid, in addition to SD carrying in town. If I'm really just outside around the house I normally carry a 4" Model 10 stoked with a heavily loaded 158 gr. SWC.
But when I'm off in the pasture away from the house I carry some version of a .44 Special revolver, mostly this one-



Actually I've been carrying it more and more lately. It's very accurate and capable of being loaded so that it'll handle anything in the Lower 48.

For field utility use, I couldn't take a striker fired auto very seriously, but that's just me.

35W

 

[tubeshooter]

Maybe the person that started that thread meant "versatility" more so that "utility"?

I think people generally know the things that guns are normally utilized for (defense, hunting, recreational shooting, etc.). But some guns "wear more hats" a lot easier than others...

 

[trackskippy]

Id say utility, gun wise is, something you have on you all the time, just like your pocket knife, that will handle most things you might need to use it for, should you need to call on it. You have to realistically assess what that might be, and go from there.

I would think most of the current duty sized, and maybe even some of the compact size autos would fill that role, up to the point that larger, more dangerous animals come into things. Although, most of the larger caliber autos, loaded with proper ammo, will probably still work fine there too. Once you get into the heavier calibers, the harder the guns become to shoot realistically with, and the added ammo of the autos gives you more options and chances.

A revolver is fine too, as long as what youre likely to encounter, doesnt have a likelihood of running on past its capacity. Most of that is likely going to be people related but covers the larger animals as well.

 

[Tallball]

Some of my handguns have actually utility. I carry them, or they are kept loaded for HD. I kept a Judge loaded when there were copperheads in the backyard.

The rest are range toys.

 

[sparkyv]

For me, firearms are tools, and if a firearm sits in a safe unused, it has no utility. Needless to say, I don't have any safe queens.

Everyone has their own definition of utility.

 

[jmorris]

So how do you define the usefullness of a handgun?

Can it do the job I have it for, when I need it to. If it can’t, it’s less than useful.

 

[Coyote3855]

Different tools for different jobs. My carry gun going to town is different from the one I carry on the tractor which is different from the one I carry hiking in the woods. Usefulness appropriate to the possible application of the firearm.

 

[JohnKSa]

...which was more important Utility of a handgun or Capacity...

No reason for it to be an 'or' decision. Nothing that I'm aware of says you have to choose between them. You can have both.

 

[35 Whelen]

Different tools for different jobs. My carry gun going to town is different from the one I carry on the tractor which is different from the one I carry hiking in the woods. Usefulness appropriate to the possible application of the firearm.

I always consider a utility firearm to be one that is not perfect for any one task but will work passably for just about any task. e.g.- A '94 Winchester 30-30, a 4" .357 Magnum revolver, etc.. Switching firearms depending on the job at hand means those firearms are for specific tasks and not utility.

35W

 

[The Night Rider]

Everyone has their own definition of utility.

Merriam-Webster would disagree with you.

Maybe the person that started that thread meant "versatility" more so that "utility"?

Maybe but I have to go with what he actually wrote and what he actually wrote was "Utility".

And the specific question was "What's more important utility or capacity?"

Before I can answer that,I have to define "Utility".

I own a Smith & Wesson M&P 9 and a Glock 19. I live in Colorado so both handguns are limited to 15 rounds. I would carry either one at work, it wouldn’t make a difference.

Given the type of animals I'm likely to run into in the mountains around here again I'd carry either one and some bear spray.

So how do I decide which one has more "Utility"?

For me, firearms are tools, and if a firearm sits in a safe unused, it has no utility. Needless to say, I don't have any safe queens.

OK where does capacity fall on that metric?

I always consider a utility firearm to be one that is not perfect for any one task but will work passably for just about any task. e.g.- A '94 Winchester 30-30, a 4" .357 Magnum revolver, etc.. Switching firearms depending on the job at hand means those firearms are for specific tasks and not utility.

35W

Based on that definition for me all handguns are eliminated.

If I could only carry one firearm it would not be a handgun.

So based on the responses that I'm getting from this discussion I think the question that was asked in the original discussion was very poorly worded and that's why I had such a hard time getting a handle on it

 

[CDW4ME]

Is a Glock 17 more useful than a .38 revolver?

It is if you "need" more than 5 or 6 bullets.

Useful to me is directly related to carry. Usefulness from not to most:
-22lr, 25, and 32 acp are not useful to me for carry - I can do better.

-I begrudgingly carry a 38 snub in a Smartcarry with/and a LCP 380 holstered in pocket of gym shorts when going to the gym; holstered LCP is put in locked locker and 38 snub stays on me while I exercise. So, in that specific situation I have to admit those handguns that I don't prefer to carry are useful.

-Cargo shorts around the house, maybe walking the dog: Sig 365 holstered in pocket, now we are closer to a handgun I'd prefer in my hand if I had to defend myself and so I rate the Sig 365 as more "useful" than the 38 snub or 380 LCP.

-Pinnacle of usefulness as related to carry: Glock 34.5, 22.5 or 20SF - if I'm away from home (Wal-Mart, Publix, errands, out to eat) one of these most "useful" pistols will be AIWB; any one of those would also be prime candidate for HD. (If I need to generalize and I probably do a Glock 19 goes here, 30SF under a 10 round limit)

 

[mcb]

Right or wrong when you someone says Utility in the context of a Handgun I think of the handgun I carry out at the hunting property when working and exploring. I do not think of CCW. That is the connotation that combination of words (utility handgun) has for me. It may not for other people.

In that context I carry an S&W model 10 as my utility handgun. Unlike my CCW that I pray never gets used in earnest, my utility handgun is something I hope to use and in reality gets used pretty frequently in that utility role. I have had my CCW since ~2006 shortly after Ohio made it legal and thankfully never had to use my CCW. On the other hand my current Utility revolver has been a steady companion since ~2014 and many many varmints have been dispatch with this revolver over the years.

My CCW is selected as much for concealability as shootability. My utility handgun does not need to be selected for concealability and is thus a larger handgun worn openly. I like revolvers and I like the ability to shoot rat shot on occasions when the application calls for it and thus a revolver works well for me. 38 Special is fairly gentle on unprotected ears compared to many other cartridges. Given the critter I am most often shooting 38 Special has more than enough lethality for me also. The model 10 with its fixed sight, steel frame, and rubber grips also handles rough handling and bad weather fairly well.

 

[jmorris]

Right or wrong when you someone says Utility in the context of a Handgun I think of the handgun I carry out at the hunting property when working and exploring. I do not think of CCW.

I think of all sorts of stuff. My XP-100 is probably the most useful pistol I have for hunting or target shooting long distances with small groups but it is less than useful for most other tasks.

Utility in my carry guns, is generally using the first shot round I load in them on our property but I haven’t been in any pistol fights, so I guess all of them I have carried have never been utilized in saving my life. Does that make them useless? IMO only if it can’t help me if I ever do need it.

 

[WrongHanded]

Utility is based in practical functionality. First you must define the purpose, or intent of use. Only with context can we apply the concept of utility.

 

[Riomouse911]

It almost seems like the original question was posted by a one-gun type of guy: do you buy a do-all gun, like a .357 revolver or do you buy a larger capacity gun like a Glock 17 or M&P, etc.

If a one-gun situation is my new reality, I will choose utility to do more than capacity to carry more.

I don’t have a one-gun mentality, I did my best over the years to have enough options to tailor my “gun for that day” to the task at hand, be it grizzlies or gophers or goblins.

Stay safe.

 

[dweis]

I use the word “utility” as an adjective, as in utility knife or utility pistol. The meaning of the word as an adjective is kept as a useful product or service rather than for show. So a collector firearm is not a utility product but an EDC is.

 

[The Night Rider]

If a one-gun situation is my new reality, I will choose utility to do more than capacity to carry more.

The original guy did not posit it like that

 

[Varminterror]

Tools for tasks. Horses for courses.

Alignment of capability aspects of a device with the demands of the application in which it is deployed is what defines its utility - its usefulness.

Capacity is an aspect, not utility. For certain applications, higher capacity is a critical aspect, for other applications, capacity is of almost no importance.

Personally, I have never found much “utility” from a full size 357mag revolver compared to alternatives - never found full size 357mags to be very useful. Being bad at a lot of things doesn’t make something useful, or versatile.

 

[dannyd]

Ruger GP100; you can throw it, shoot it or hammer with it. Your Choice.

Your Mileage May Very

 

[35 Whelen]

Ruger GP100; you can throw it, shoot it or hammer with it. Your Choice.

Your Mileage May Very

Exactly. Also chambers multiple cartridges, is sufficiently capable of completing most tasks and isn't dependent on magazines.

35W

 

[JeeperCreeper]

Maybe the person that started that thread meant "versatility" more so that "utility"?

I think people generally know the things that guns are normally utilized for (defense, hunting, recreational shooting, etc.). But some guns "wear more hats" a lot easier than others...

Sports Utility Vehicle or Sports Versatility Vehicle???

Either way, we all the know the real reason they sell so well is that they are way cooler than a minivan.

I wonder if we can translate that metaphor to guns?

 

[JohnKSa]

Some thoughts.

I have a few guns that aren't as useful as they might otherwise be because I'm afraid to damage them. I will shoot them at the range, but I wouldn't want to get them dinged up or worn from a holster if I can help it.

Along the same lines, I have some guns that I consider to be fragile or high maintenance and that limits their utility. I'll pick another gun that's easier to maintain or that is more durable given the choice.

I have a few guns that aren't as useful as they might otherwise be because they are much heavier or larger than other guns I own that will serve essentially the same functions.

I have guns that aren't as useful as they might be because they are really made for a very specific purpose and don't do other things well at all. I use them for their very specific purpose but other guns get used more because they are more general purpose.

 

[Coyote3855]

"When it is no longer subject to the discipline of ordinary life, language breaks out of its restraints and leads us into awkward and puzzling idioms which we mistake for metaphysical difficulties."
--Abraham Kaplan