If you could only own ONE, MODERN, CENTERFIRE HANDGUN, which one, and why?

[MCgunner]

You do know that bad guys often bring their friends with them, right?

Five shots, five dead BGs. No brag, just fact.

Actually, I don't worry much about biker gangs, street gangs, whatever, in a town of 12K that's the county seat. I guess if I lived in the fifth ward in Houston, I'd probably carry 43 Glock 17s located around my waste band. It's all about location and threat level I guess. But, I do carry a revolver a lot, most times two when I carry a belt gun. I use a handgun far more often for wild critters, hogs and deer, than for humans...as in I never shot a human. Given the choice of hunting inaccurate firepower or 1" at 25 yard accurate .357 magnum, I'll go with the revolver. My needs may not match yours, though.

 

[The_Shootist]

Only One?

My pre-ILS 686+.

Flexible enough to fit a self-defense/hunting/plinking role with either .38's or .357's

 

[Buck Snort]

Christcorp wrote: "A quality 4" 357 magnum such as S&W or Ruger is the only real answer. When you limit the parameters to only allowed to own one gun, the choice is simple. There is no other caliber of handguns more versatile than that of the 357 magnum. With it capable of also shooting 38 specials and 38 spl +P, there isn't anything from a 380 to a 45acp/lc or 41 mag that can beat it. Including everything in between."

I'm glad you stopped at the 41 mag. because the 44 mag. will beat it just about every time. The kicker is the added weight, but it'd be my choice if only one handgun was allowed per gunowner.

 

[David E]

The .357 is indeed versatile, as is the .44, but the most versatile PLATFORM would have to be the 1911

With various top ends, I can shoot .22 LR, 9mm, .357 Sig, 9x23, .38 Super, .40, 10mm, .45 acp and .460 Rowland, among others.

It's flat, easy to carry, quick to reload and is easy to shoot well. It's proven, parts are plentiful, as are various accessories and holsters. It'd be my choice if I was restricted by law to only one handgun.

 

[BusMaster007]

Ruger Redhawk 5 1/2" bbl. .44 Magnum.

Seems to be a very versatile choice if left with only ONE GUN.

 

[atomd]

At the moment I'm going to have to say a Les Baer 1911 Thunder Ranch. I'd order it without the FCS.

#1. Because it's a 1911
#2. Because it's .45ACP
#3. Because it has what I want without a bunch of BS.

There's a lot of crazy high dollar custom stuff that I drool over but I won't get greedy...that's good enough for me. For handguns that would make me happy. I can hunt with a rifle/shotgun/bow.

 

[NMGonzo]

Seems to be a very versatile choice if left with only ONE GUN.

I would disagree.

I had one and i could not conceal it efficiently.

I would go for the Alaskan next time.

Even if the 1911 has to go.

 

[easyg]

And on top of "dirty" autos being more reliable than revolvers (yes, I disagree) and having better double-action trigger pull (in principle I disagree with that too), now you say they are easier to teach people how to use!?

I told you, you are FORBIDDEN from reading here until you get some some more time with the knowledgeable shooters at the range...

...with your earplugs OUT!

Denying it is futile....the truth is that autos are easier to teach newbies to shoot well than revolvers.

I think that it's time YOU went to the range and learned the truth.
Quit watching re-runs of Bonanza and go and try an autoloader for a change.
Get with the times and ditch that old revolver.

 

[Legionnaire]

Only one?

Most likely a 4" stainless Ruger GP100 in .357 mag, although depending on where I lived, I might give the edge to a 5.5" Redhawk in .44 mag. With either, I'd want be able to reload from specials to magnums in a variety of different loads.

If it had to be a semi-auto, I'd opt for a Glock 23 and add a 9mm conversion barrel. I think the compact glocks (23, 19, etc.) are the best all-around size, and the 23 with a conversion barrel can dispense .40S&W and 9mm.

But absolutely only one gun would most likely be the GP revolver.

 

[tiburon]

Revolver= S & W Model 629 Classic (stainless with 5' barrel)

Pistol= Les Baer Custom Carry (stainless)

The 629 with a 5" barrel gives me some hunting options with stopping power

The Custom Carry because it is accurate, reliable and is .45 ACP

 

[Al LaVodka]

Denying it is futile....the truth is that autos are easier to teach newbies to shoot well than revolvers.

I think that it's time YOU went to the range and learned the truth.
Quit watching re-runs of Bonanza and go and try an autoloader for a change.
Get with the times and ditch that old revolver.

Easy;
I wish I could just say I am an Instructor and end this. I can't. I'm an Instructor Trainer. Have been one in uniform.
Take a class or do a home-study course, maybe compete, become a member-of-service, enlist... I don't know what else to tell you.

Revolvers clearly offer an inherent, simple, reliability as well as strength and accuracy that recommend them to this choice. And to learn with? A given son. They don't even have safeties!

Al

PS: Even try one of these lighter S&W .357's, either 6" 7-shot or 5" 8-shot.

 

[m&pman]

The sr9 ruger would be my choice! I just love everything about this gun

 

[m&pman]

I would have a very hard time letting either go! The xd or m&p

 

[David E]

Revolvers are easier to understand, but harder to shoot well. This is due to the long trigger pull in double action.

A 1911 or Glock/M&P/XD is much easier to learn to shoot. Jeff Cooper found it took the revolver shooters 25% longer to attain the same skill level as the semi-auto shooters. Altho, he was comparing them to a 1911, not the DA/SA trigger of some semi-auto systems.

A revolver withstands neglect better than an auto; the auto withstands abuse better. Not too many militaries still field a revolver for a reason.

The well-rounded shooter knows how to operate and hit with both.

 

[mjb]

It would have to be my Colt Officers .45 ACP. Stainless with stag handles. I can conceal it, and yet it is big enough for ome defense.

 

[D_Burchfield]

Decisions, decisions... Like hso said- Browning Hi-Power, I LOVE mine. Or am I in the 4" .357 camp? I LOVE my S&W Mod. 65 also. The merits of both pistols and revolvers always makes for a lively debate.That being said, for me, there's something about 13+1 that is very comforting. BROWNING!!

 

[Revolver Justice]

I would either have to pick my Glock 17 or S&W 64 with a four inch barrel. If I can only have one pistol I want a full size one. I would just have to dress around it when the situations call for concealment.

 

[bannockburn]

Only one centerfire handgun...

My Colt Custom Gunshop Combat Commander in .45ACP.

 

[StrawHat]

The same revolver I have been carrying since the 80s, my 4" barreled N frame in 45 ACP. I built it befor the concept of the Mountain revolver and like the skinny barrel and reloading capabilities. I handload and have worked up some great loads for it. Next project is to find a good load for the 235 grain full wadcutter bullet.

Yes, I consider a revolver and the 45 ACP to both be "modern", if we can include older or perhaps ancient rounds, I would be equally happy with the same N frame chambering the 45 Long Colt cartridge.

 

[cla55ic]

I currently have a Sringfield Armory XD-40 with a Sig Sauer STL900L for home security. A S&W 4506 as my carry, however Im thinking on changing to a .357 sig for my carry. What do all think and if so what manufacture.

 

[easyg]

I wish I could just say I am an Instructor and end this. I can't. I'm an Instructor Trainer. Have been one in uniform.

I too was an instructor/trainer in uniform.

Take a class or do a home-study course, maybe compete, become a member-of-service, enlist... I don't know what else to tell you.

Been there, done that.
U.S. Army and Gulf War vet.

Revolvers clearly offer an inherent, simple, reliability as well as strength and accuracy that recommend them to this choice. And to learn with? A given son. They don't even have safeties!

A loaded revolver is no more simple to operate than a loaded Glock.
Glock pistols, S&W M&P pistols, and plenty of other pistols don't have a manual safety to worry about either.
A revolver is certainly not inherently stronger than an auto....
Drop both a revolver and a Glock off of a three story building and I'll bet that the Glock will still function afterwards.

PS: Even try one of these lighter S&W .357's, either 6" 7-shot or 5" 8-shot.

If I had only one handgun it would have to be concealable.
And there's just no way that I would try to carry and conceal a 6" 7-shot revolver, or a 5" 8-shot revolver....especially in summer where shorts and t-shirts are the fashion of the day.
The very notion is just silly.