GhostShooter
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Less likely to fail than an auto and gives you the advantage of both .357/.38
IF you could only own ONE handgun...
- Thread starter Rival
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While I like the 45, I voted .357 revolver. Why? Because I like cavorting in the woods. I generally sleep with my handgun in my sleeping bag and I don't want something that can jam after the first shot (consider how the bag can interfere with the ejection or feeding).
Mike Irwin
Member
Since money appears to be an issue, I really think the .357 Mag. revolver is the way to go.
With so many having been surplused from police forces, the market is still glutted with revolvers, often used by in excellent mechanical shape, for not a lot of money.
With so many having been surplused from police forces, the market is still glutted with revolvers, often used by in excellent mechanical shape, for not a lot of money.
He's been to the range shooting with you and still can't figure out what he likes the best?
Personally, I'd think long term here and get a 9mm in a larger framed pistol. This way, he can sloooowly introduce his wife to shooting with a low recoil handgun. She will enjoy it... then... "Well, ok... but only TWO guns."
If he's already hurting for $, 9mm would be easier on the pocketbook.
Personally, I'd think long term here and get a 9mm in a larger framed pistol. This way, he can sloooowly introduce his wife to shooting with a low recoil handgun. She will enjoy it... then... "Well, ok... but only TWO guns."
If he's already hurting for $, 9mm would be easier on the pocketbook.
sonoranjack
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I voted for 9mm Glock 17. How ever if this is a new shooter who dosen't know. There for can't put into practice the safety rules. That new shooter should learn w/ a .38 cal revolver w/ a 4" barrel. A used S&W M10 w/ heavy 4" barrel.
Knives
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Currently my only handgun is a Kimber .45 Classic Custom, so I voted for the 1911. But I'm kind of biased. 
billcameron
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For occasional carry, night stand gun, woods gun, and informal target shooting a medium frame, 357 mag revolver with 4 inch barrel and adjustable sights- Smith or Ruger. Now if my emphasis was more on carry, but still want to do informal target shooting a glock 26, 9mm. In both cases have chosen gun with cheap, available ammo as I took this to be budget driven question.
Moondancer
Member
Our Choices Not Necessarily Best Choice
4" .357 Magnum, preferably in stainless, and with adjustable sights. S&W K or L, Colt Trooper / Python size, Ruger Speed / Service Six or SP-101 sized. (Don't know the nomenclature for Colt or Rugers.)
One gun. First gun. Maybe last if he wants to keep the wife , that depends on them.
My choice at present is a Kimber Compact .45, but that's what suits and works for me now. For decades, I carried a .357. I've had a Model 19, a Model 28, and still have a Model 686. All with 4" barrels.
Carried one for protection while a Deputy Reserve, and carried them CCW civilian. Worked well in both roles.
Hunted deer with the 686, and quite successfully, too, thank you. Although I now use a Ruger Super Blackhawk in .44 Mag for deer, the .357 has always performed nicely. Started handgun hunting with .38 Special wadcutters on squirrel. Did nicely there too. Accurate, low recoil, not much damage to the meat.
Combat shooting in the mid-80s. (Or at least what our department called combat. It was the standard MLEOTC course of 50 rounds up to 25 yards.) I had just bought the 686 NIB within months of their inital release, and the only thing I changed was to put on Hogue grips. Came in third in the county. Not bad at all for a stock 4" revolver.
Hmmm. Self-defense. Hunting, both small and large game. Fun and games. What more could we want from our handguns.
Now before I hear people telling me they can do all of that with their .45s, you're right. You can. But is that the BEST choice for a man looking for ONE gun. First gun. Again, as has been said already, the revolver is simple to operate. Maybe not the easiest gun to drive tacks with, especially if you learn to shoot it DA as you should, but nonetheless, simple. For a first gun, a single gun, I maintain that simplicity is important. And as much as we like our .45s, or 9mms, or .40 S&Ws they aren't necessarily simple.
(Of course, a nice Kahr in 9mm might make me change my mind!)
Edited for spelling other mistakes.
4" .357 Magnum, preferably in stainless, and with adjustable sights. S&W K or L, Colt Trooper / Python size, Ruger Speed / Service Six or SP-101 sized. (Don't know the nomenclature for Colt or Rugers.)
One gun. First gun. Maybe last if he wants to keep the wife
, that depends on them. My choice at present is a Kimber Compact .45, but that's what suits and works for me now. For decades, I carried a .357. I've had a Model 19, a Model 28, and still have a Model 686. All with 4" barrels.
Carried one for protection while a Deputy Reserve, and carried them CCW civilian. Worked well in both roles.
Hunted deer with the 686, and quite successfully, too, thank you. Although I now use a Ruger Super Blackhawk in .44 Mag for deer, the .357 has always performed nicely. Started handgun hunting with .38 Special wadcutters on squirrel. Did nicely there too. Accurate, low recoil, not much damage to the meat.
Combat shooting in the mid-80s. (Or at least what our department called combat. It was the standard MLEOTC course of 50 rounds up to 25 yards.) I had just bought the 686 NIB within months of their inital release, and the only thing I changed was to put on Hogue grips. Came in third in the county. Not bad at all for a stock 4" revolver.
Hmmm. Self-defense. Hunting, both small and large game. Fun and games. What more could we want from our handguns.
Now before I hear people telling me they can do all of that with their .45s, you're right. You can. But is that the BEST choice for a man looking for ONE gun. First gun. Again, as has been said already, the revolver is simple to operate. Maybe not the easiest gun to drive tacks with, especially if you learn to shoot it DA as you should, but nonetheless, simple. For a first gun, a single gun, I maintain that simplicity is important. And as much as we like our .45s, or 9mms, or .40 S&Ws they aren't necessarily simple.
(Of course, a nice Kahr in 9mm might make me change my mind!
)Edited for spelling other mistakes.
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branrot
Member
While all are excellent choices, my choice would be the 9mm. My first gun was a Beretta. Still have it. Can't argue with 15+1 rounds of 9mm, a round which can be bought for 5 or 6 bucks a box of 50, doesn't have much recoil, and still packs a punch. Being a capacity freak, though, if 15 round clips were not available, I'd be tempted to go with a 1911.
Fiveshooter
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Only One Handgun???!!!!
Hi Rival,
I have read the entire thread and after carefull thought and deliberation , If I were your friend I would get a different wife.
You are supposed to have only one wife not only one handgun.
Please bear in mind that I am a happily married man. I just happen to marry one that likes handguns too. Oh she does have other priorities and she put up a minor fuss at first but after the first forty or so handguns I bought she just kinda gave up on having any objections. Now when I am with her at a gun show trying to decide on buying a particular specimen she always tells me to "buy it so I won't feel like I should have later". I just celebrated 20 wonderfull years with this woman and not a day goes by that I don't think of how lucky I am to have my wife.
Best Regards,
Billy
Hi Rival,
I have read the entire thread and after carefull thought and deliberation , If I were your friend I would get a different wife.
You are supposed to have only one wife not only one handgun.
Please bear in mind that I am a happily married man. I just happen to marry one that likes handguns too. Oh she does have other priorities and she put up a minor fuss at first but after the first forty or so handguns I bought she just kinda gave up on having any objections. Now when I am with her at a gun show trying to decide on buying a particular specimen she always tells me to "buy it so I won't feel like I should have later". I just celebrated 20 wonderfull years with this woman and not a day goes by that I don't think of how lucky I am to have my wife.
Best Regards,
Billy
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OP
OP
Rival
Member
HOLD IT, HOLD IT!!!
My buddy made his choice and ordered his first gun today.
He got Colt 1911 series 70
His reasoning
Anyway, thanks for all your input
My buddy made his choice and ordered his first gun today.
He got Colt 1911 series 70
His reasoning
He chose Colt because of the name. Plus he wanted something different from what I have (Springfield).
Anyway, thanks for all your input
Just wanted to chime in that my fiancee was an anti and her grandmother founded a chapter of NOW in California. I had the "ONLY ONE!" option for a long time until my fiancee found one that she likes (Makarov). Now she understands and we're going to be getting firearm #5 soon . There is always hope...
. There is always hope...NJ3
Member
It's a toss up between a 1911 and a CZ-75.
I picked CZ-75 this time.
I picked CZ-75 this time.
I think that a quality 1911 will have more "gun" appeal than a plain jane Glock or Sig. If you can have only one you might as well get one you can pet, stroke, fondle...oops. Never mind that. Anyway I think the 1911s are sorta like HD scooters. You can tinker with them endlessly and still not loose interest.
If he is on a budjet, the 9mm makes sense because ammo is so cheap.
Also the CZ-75 is a lot less money than the SIG or H&K. I would go for a used Beretta 92fs, they are great guns and can be found for less than $300.00 if you look. A lot of people like the CZ-75 so have him hold one of these and the Beretta and see which one he likes better.
Also the CZ-75 is a lot less money than the SIG or H&K. I would go for a used Beretta 92fs, they are great guns and can be found for less than $300.00 if you look. A lot of people like the CZ-75 so have him hold one of these and the Beretta and see which one he likes better.
DMK
Member
If I could only keep one of my hanguns, without a doubt, it would be my CZ-75B Mil. Full size double stack 9mms are the best general purpose handguns out there. Sufficient for defense, easy to shoot, and cheap enough ammo to shoot often. I'd really hate giving up my CZ-40, 1911 and other pistols, but man, they are expensive to shoot regularly.
Plus with the CZ-75, he can add a .22 Kadet slide later for real cheap practice.
If it was for carry, I'd go with something like a CZ-75 PCR or similar sized nine.
Plus with the CZ-75, he can add a .22 Kadet slide later for real cheap practice.
If it was for carry, I'd go with something like a CZ-75 PCR or similar sized nine.
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happy old sailor
Member
i voted for the 38/357. i like K guns.
then i thought, he will be buying ammo otc, and 357 is way more expensive than cheap practice 9mm fmj. if money is tight, can he handle this end of it.
but, if time is not tight, he can get a little Lee Loader and build a box or so of .38 spec a week and shoot for a little less than 9mm.
using cast bullets.
what am i saying here. i am a little short on info to make a decent recommendation. so, either of these two, depending.
then i thought, he will be buying ammo otc, and 357 is way more expensive than cheap practice 9mm fmj. if money is tight, can he handle this end of it.
but, if time is not tight, he can get a little Lee Loader and build a box or so of .38 spec a week and shoot for a little less than 9mm.
using cast bullets.
what am i saying here. i am a little short on info to make a decent recommendation. so, either of these two, depending.
bowhnter
Member
Based on your post I'd reccomend the Browning Hi-power. Simple and 'cheap' to shoot. 9mm rounds are everywhere for pennies. I just bought 100 rounds of Winchester in the wihite box at wallyworld for 8 bucks! If he can lose the restrictions, I'd tell him to get a 1911. Contrary to popular belief they are soft shooting IMO, and should he want to carry it *I* believe it's a better option than the 9.
Climb14er
Member
Like many others who've had lots of guns
my recommendation is for an HK USPc 9mm with nite sights.
Reliable, low recoil, accurate, inexpensive ammo to practice with and with a top notch defense load, it's very leathal.
And I take this over my .357 and 1911's.
my recommendation is for an HK USPc 9mm with nite sights.
Reliable, low recoil, accurate, inexpensive ammo to practice with and with a top notch defense load, it's very leathal.
And I take this over my .357 and 1911's.
Marko Kloos
Moderator Emeritus
A 4" .357 Magnum revolver is the single most versatile handgun you can own.
You can avail yourself to literally hundreds of different loads in both .38 Special and .357 Magnum, from very mild .38 wadcutters all the way up to 700+ FPE "Deerstoppers". It won't care about the shape of the bullet, or the powder charge. It's easy to use, easy to teach, and easy to maintain. It has no magazine to lose or mag springs to wear out. It can be used for CCW, home defense, plinking, range use, and hunting.
A 4" .357 is the Universal Handgun. It can do any task in a competent manner.
You can avail yourself to literally hundreds of different loads in both .38 Special and .357 Magnum, from very mild .38 wadcutters all the way up to 700+ FPE "Deerstoppers". It won't care about the shape of the bullet, or the powder charge. It's easy to use, easy to teach, and easy to maintain. It has no magazine to lose or mag springs to wear out. It can be used for CCW, home defense, plinking, range use, and hunting.
A 4" .357 is the Universal Handgun. It can do any task in a competent manner.
Gordon
Member
Right after I got out of Army the next day I worked for Defense Intelligence Agency. I only could have on my carry permit one gun. One of the choices was 1911 .45acp so I got one of the brand new Combat Commanders. I never regreted the choice in trips to Thailand,Germany,or Rhodesia(especially Rhodesia) . It was carried in a Chick Gaylord made holster with a double belt mag pouch. I only had to pull it once on a taxi driver and never shot anyone in the two years I carried it . It kept me warm and comfy so much so that I quit job when assigned to desk job in belt way with no permission to carry.
JeepDriver
Member
9mm
Get him a Ruger P-95 DC. Even though it isn't on your list
I have one that has been 100% reliable from day 1. And after 10,000+ rounds of just about every ammo I can think of It is still 100% reliable. 15 round mags are still around at good prices ($15-25)
The 9mm is such a cheap round his wife can't really say much about the ammount of money he's spending on ammo. $35 at Walmart get him 300 rounds to go shooting with.
Get him a Ruger P-95 DC. Even though it isn't on your list
I have one that has been 100% reliable from day 1. And after 10,000+ rounds of just about every ammo I can think of It is still 100% reliable. 15 round mags are still around at good prices ($15-25)
The 9mm is such a cheap round his wife can't really say much about the ammount of money he's spending on ammo. $35 at Walmart get him 300 rounds to go shooting with.
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