How old are you, and what's your favorite kind of handgun?

[LAH]

63 & love sixguns, always have but I shoot a few autos.

 

[sappyg]

48 and own more polymer semis than anything else but when I'm honest with myself revolvers are my preference. This is subject to change at a moments notice.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

In years past I probably would have reacted more intensely than I'm about to, but somewhere along the line I've learned that some folks just enjoy hearing themselves talk and like picking fights. Those folks seldom have anything worth listening to, and since I don't want this fun and harmless thread to get closed because of a bickering match I'll stay calm.

THAT , THAT, is the whole problem; you did not/ do not see...nor apparently know the difference, Sir.

Incorrect. I am well aware of the differences between SA, DA, and SA/DA revolvers as well as the platforms involved. The reason I split thing out the way I did is simply because I've noticed a trend that people who are interested in revolvers are typically interested in all revolver types, like myself. To be fair, there are now polymer framed revolvers as well, so I could have split it there also, but it seemed inconsequential to me since the numbers of polymer models are few.

The split between polymer and metal guns is based on comments I see about "Tupperware" guns and "plastic fantastic" guns. There seems to be a split between semi auto shooters who will use, and some who seem to think they are garbage. I wanted to cover a wide range of ages and the poll only allows 20 choices max. So I needed to limit the choices to very large categories. Semi autos also could be split further into steel and alloy guns, and hammer vs striker guns. I just couldn't do it though with the limited options.

I am in my seventh decade and YOU did not know enough to write and ask the CORRECT question....!!!

.

This is totally wrong. I asked the question to which I wanted to know the answer, AND THATS WHY I STARTED THE THREAD, and did so in the general handgun section. That means I asked the correct question. To even make the statement you made is arrogant and presumption of the highest order.

If you don't like the way the question was asked, or have a question of your own that you want answered, or think anything besides single action revolvers are junk, that's fine. It doesn't matter to me. But do us all a favor, go over to the revolver section, START YOUR OWN THREAD, and ask the question you want answered. Don't ridicule others for not doing it for you. That's just lazy.

I can't believe that a harmless question could inspire such obnoxious behavior. Let's get back to it.

 

[CopperFouling]

I'm 28. It is a hard choice between 1911s and revolvers for me.

I've shot polymer handguns, too. They're definitely less expensive and quite reliable, but they just don't have the triggers that my 1911 or Smiths do.

 

[bikerdoc]

65, 1911 platforms.

 

[jimbo555]

64 and I went back to revolvers. Still own some semi's but they stay in the safe now.

 

[JohnKSa]

What's funny, if you look at what I own, you would never guess what my favorites are.

I like rifles more than handguns but I shoot handguns more (and therefore own more handguns) because of the practicalities involved with getting to the outdoor rifle ranges.

I like revolvers more than semi-autos, but I shoot semi-autos more and carry semi-autos exclusively. So I own more semi-autos than revolvers.

Narrowing things down to only semi-autos, I have three favorites. One steel frame, one aluminum frame and one polymer frame. Interestingly enough, all of them have different operating systems--one is a tilting barrel lockup, one has a swinging locking block and one has a rotating barrel.

 

[marv]

81. Revos.

 

[Skribs]

Interesting, so far 46-52% prefer revolvers, 25-47% prefer metal autos, and 6-22% prefer polymer autos in each age category. That means across the board, it's pretty much revolver > metal > polymer in terms of preference.

 

[hardluk1]

No right answer. I hunt with a revolver , enjoy all metal semi-autos at the range and carry a poly pistol.

 

[mattm0691]

23. While I do see that modern semi autos have a greater utility as far as SD situations etc go, I do prefer revolvers (especially single actions!), mainly because I feel they are more fun to shoot, and of course no brass can escape

 

[Ed Ames]

Is "interest the most" the same as "prefer"?

I am most interested in metal semi-autos because they are neat little engines and can be finely crafted bits of jewelry. They appeal to me the same way a nice watch appeals to me. So that's what I answered.

If I was a hunter I would prefer a revolver for power and simplicity. For concealed carry I prefer cheap plastic guns (I think Kel-tec might well make the best overall carry guns) because I don't care if they get scratched up or confiscated...though I have a cheap CC 1911 because it can serve double duty as a range toy and I can't afford to have everything I would like. If open carry was a factor for me I would probably prefer a plastic service size semi-auto for daily use and a good custom single action revolver for anachronistic formal dress.

 

[The_Next_Generation]

I interpreted this poll question as asking what kind of gun I like the best and have the most interest in, not necessarily what I think is the most utilitarian.

Currently, my only centerfire handgun is an FNX-45. As a college student finances are limtied I don't get to conceal-carry much. However if I am carrying, I'm hiking or climbing and that means OWB (just went yesterday, almost had to shoot a mountain goat ). For my purposes, the FNX is great. However, I don't really like the lines and "feel" of it. Functional? Extremely so. Do I fondle it because its purdy? No.

I would absolutely love to have a single-action (A Ruger 38/357/9mm convertible would be SWEET) just for the heck of it. I have a single-action 22 I enjoy shooting it more than any other handgun I have owned (Glock 22, Glock 19, Ruger 1911 and a Ruger MKII SS). I've shot with some of the cowboy-action shooters who lent me their SA wheelguns and I don't think I've had more fun on the handgun range.

I voted revolvers. They're romantic and in a DA/SA configuration still very applicable. My woodsgun will probably always be a polyemer semi, but you can't beat the look and feel of a nice sixgun

 

[Zaydok Allen]

I interpreted this poll question as asking what kind of gun I like the best and have the most interest in, not necessarily what I think is the most utilitarian.

Correct. For instance, I am most interested in and like all revolvers the most (own 9), but I do own a 1911 and two polymer guns as well. For carry, I find polymer guns to have the most utility as they are small light weight and easy to conceal. I view polymer guns as tools that are easily replaced if damaged or confiscated.

But my true interest is in revolvers, old and new, of all types. Four of the 9 revolvers I own are collectors items, and antiques. I don't shoot those as one doesn't function properly and the other three are in such nice shape, that I just want to preserve them. But if I had to ditch one of them, or a semiauto, the semiauto would go.

 

[Ed Ames]

I'll revise my previous answer then to "none of the answers reflect my preference".

I don't actually care about action type or material. I care about the enginering, the construction, the feel.

The last time I went shooting I brought a muzzle loading flintlock pistol and had a lot of fun blowing smoke. That pistol sits on a cradle on my desk because I like looking at it. Will I ever carry it? Nope, but it has nice wood, nice metal, classic lines, and enough interesting mechanical flair (exposed springs, clamps, nicely made parts) to appeal to my aesthetic sensibility. Plus a sort of pseudohistorical credence - I doubt it is much like anything you would have actually encountered in 1830, but it captures the je ne sais quoi of the era well enough for my untrained eyes.

I want to get a S&W No.3. I have a 1-1/2. These are revolvers but it isn't their revolverocity that pulls me in. At the same time, I have picked up semi-autos that I simply had to own once I touched them. Again, beauty to my eyes has nothing to do with the type of action or practicality. My "carry" 1911 is stainless steel with dark cocobolo scales that I hand refinished because when I saw them I liked the wood but knew I could do better. I did. It isn't the classic 1911 of 100 years ago, but it has a balance of form and function that resonates for me (at a price I could afford). I don't like it better or worse because it is a semi-auto, I like it because it feels like a minimal approximation of quality to me.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

I'm 33 and prefer to shoot revolvers. Single actions to be specific, but I like the doubles too.

I do carry a polymer auto for CC though. Like you I prefer the wheelies but realize that the smaller polymer semis are the cat's meow for carrying all day.

 

[mavracer]

I'm 48 and feel about all guns like Townsend Whelen felt about rifles.
Only accurate guns are interesting. I do prefer the asthetics of metal and exotic wood.

 

[rockdoc806]

I'm 77. Prefer revolvers. Carry Ruger LCR .38. Have several semi-autos, shotguns, and rifles.

 

[mdauben]

AT 56, This is a tough question to answer. If I'm looking at it stictly from a SD point of view, my "favorite" would be a high capacity polymer semiauto. If I want to shoot bullseye targets, I like the metal frame semiauto. If I was to look at it from a strictly fun point of view, the revolver would win, hands down.

I guess if I have to go with my heart and pick one... its revolvers!

 

[gamestalker]

I fall into the 56-65 yr. range, no need to elaborate more.

My handgun affections have always been with revolvers. But more specifically, I like the big bore magnum offerings, though I enjoy shooting all others, magnums just satisfy my desire for power.

It's in this respect, that I have difficulty understanding those who own one or several magnum class, or even a standard cartridge offerings that never, or on very rare occasions only, will they shoot full throttle ammunition. I mean cost, recoil, and firearm quality aside, of which recoil and cost can be managed very effectively, I can't see the personal justification in owning something as awesome, and as big and nasty as a well built magnum class revolver. I can't count the number of times I've chatted with someone shooting such a fine specimen, and when I ask them if they ever shoot the real stuff, they very often return with a quick, Your kidding right? or," No way you'll get me behind a full magnum load!", or even regular 38 special scare the heck out of me.

I have a friend of mine that just simply loves buying guns, he has a dream collection of them, but that's about it, he loves buying them. A few years back he bought a S&W 500, NIB. He called me up to ask me to take it for a test drive for him. I jumped at the opportunity, who wouldn't, right? So I loaded up 100 rounds of full throttle 43.0 grs. of H110, 350 gr. XTP's, and met him the next day at my designated shooting spot. After having shot several cylinders I started feeling guilty about having all the fun. So I loaded up another cylinder full and offered him the revolver, to which he informed me he can't muster the nerve to shoot something like that. I honestly thought he was joking at first, but he wasn't. So after some discussion about his fears, in which I attempted to reassure him it's a perfectly safe gun, he still insisted he wouldn't shoot it. So at this point I only had one lingering obvious question, why did you buy it? His answer was, it looked really cool. As I later learned, he also has a bunch of other magnums he has never shot.

GS

 

[JR24]

I'm 30 and I like, have and carry all of the above. My real passion is 1911's though.

 

[Sheepdog1968]

Metal firearms with wood interest me the most. Having said that, I have no issues with polymer striker fired pistols. For a conceal weapon, I'd probably go with the striker fired polymer pistol becuase of weight more than anything else.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

gamestalker, I agree. If you are going to get a magnum, than it should be fed magnums on a relatively regular basis. Not much point in owning one if you dont. I really love my 460 magnum, and enjoy watching milk jugs explode at 50 yards like they were hit by a rifle.

Big bore magnums are a hoot, and useful!

 

[MinnesotaFats]

I agree completely with post 67. Accurate guns interest me most and since i shoot revolvers most accurately, that was my choice. If i had a 1911 or a polymer that i could shoot more accurately than i could my Smiffs or my Blackhawk, then Id pick one of those options.

 

[MinnesotaFats]

Gamestalker and Kodiak, i own three .357 mags that i shoot .38 specials out of way more frequently than .357 mag loads and definitely not because im scared. But isnt that the nice thing about them though? Having more than one option? Really the only time i shoot full house loads is at paper before deer season. Oh and at deer during deer season