If you only had 1 handgun

[Juggalo Reign]

Im in the market today for a new handgun. I have a $400 price limit firm. I currently have no handguns. Im not new to them ive just traded them for other firearms. If you could have only 1 pistol in your collection right now what would it be? Im assuming 75% of you will say 1911/glock so to make it fun we will leave those out of the discussion. Thank you.

 

[TXdefender]

In your price range with maximum versatility a 4" .357mag. Can shoot full house 357 or 38. I'd go for the Ruger GP100, got one and love it.

 

[Juggalo Reign]

Also I probably should have been more specific. This will not be a carry gun so size is not an issue, nor will it be for HD. I have my trusty mossberg for social work. Looking towards the category of fun, reliable, and affordable to shoot.

 

[TXdefender]

I'll still stand by my recommendation.

 

[Sheepdog1968]

How about a Ruger Mark II or III. That 22 pistol is very fun to shoot and light on the pocket. They also make a 22 45 that is bait more styles like a 1911.

 

[Walking Dead]

I'd go the 9mm route. Easy to shoot and cheap to feed.

For the price I'd look at the Sig SP2022 or the Ruger SR9.

 

[Driftertank]

Good .22 rimfire seconded. I got a "Walther" P22 for just under $400 couple years ago. I wanted a rimfire that handled like a full power centerfire, so the full slide and control locations on it were nice, as opposed to the slide tabs or short slides of most .22 pistols.
As a bonus, it's the only .22 semiauto i, personally, have ever fired that has never had a feeding or ejection stoppage of any kind, with any ammo, ever. YMMV

 

[allaroundhunter]

Ruger SR9 (9mm) or Ruger MKIII (.22)

 

[BADUNAME37]

I owned a Ruger SP-101 at one time and I wish I never would have gotten rid of it. It was a strong gun that shot .357 Magnum loads extremely well!

 

[Got_Lead?]

Haha, you'll get as many opinions here as there are guns made.

If a fellow likes to shoot a lot and is a reloader and boolit caster, then I presonally would go with a stainless GP100, or Security Six. But then there are plenty other good revolvers that I wouldn't pass on either if the deal presented itself.

If a fellow still wants to shoot a lot, and doesn't reload, then perhaps a .22 would afford a lot of shooting on the cheap. My choice here is the Ruger standard auto, MKII, MKIII, No MK, etc.

If you are wanting an autoloader, I am kind of partial to the XD line, been pretty happy with mine.

Guns are like eating peanuts, it's hard to stop at just one.

 

[csa77]

well if its not for self defense and strictly range use id say one of the new ruger MKIII 22/45 with replaceable grips and stainless 5.5 barrel. if you can get it used spend the left over cash on a mkII volquartsen trigger/hammer/sear set and make sure to get a MKII hammer bushing


gun becomes simply amazing with those parts.

 

[toivo]

Looking towards the category of fun, reliable, and affordable to shoot.

"Reliable" comes in a lot of flavors, but "fun" and "affordable" says ".22" to me. The basics: Ruger Single Six or Mark III, Browning Buck Mark, S&W 22a, Beretta Neos, etc.

Another lesser-known .22 that I like is the Bersa/Firestorm 22:

It's pretty much identical to their Thunder .380, and it's a good training pistol for somebody who might carry that or a Walther PPK.

well if its not for self defense and strictly range use id say one of the new ruger MKIII 22/45 with replaceable grips and stainless 5.5 barrel. if you can get it used spend the left over cash on a mkII volquartsen trigger/hammer/sear set and make sure to get a MKII hammer bushing


gun becomes simply amazing with those parts.

I can second that as well. I have a friend who has that set-up (all except the replaceable grips), and it really is "simply amazing."

 

[Manson]

What I think makes TX's suggestion the best idea for a one gun only person is you won't out grow it and maximum flexibility. .38's are cheap enough to practice with and if you should decide to back up the shotgun for HD the .357 will work. If at some point you decide to carry it will do that job also. And with all that selling and trading you do there will always be a market for that particular revolver.

 

[SRH78]

Oh boy, this depends on what you plan to do with it. Imo, either something like a GP100 in 357 magnum is extremely versatile and fills several roles very well and is very mild with 38s. On the other hand, unless you need something bigger, a good 22 makes an awful lot of sense. If you want something bigger than a 22 but are a semi auto guy, a full size 9mm would make a lot of sense. As far as which particular handgun, I would handle a lot and see what feels nice in your hand.

 

[bigfatdave]

This will not be a carry gun so size is not an issue, nor will it be for HD.

Looking towards the category of fun, reliable, and affordable to shoot.

given those concepts and the limited budget ... you'd be a fool to get anything but a common .22lr handgun.
Get the Ruger mkI/II/III or 22/45, or a Browning Buckmark - whatever fits your hand.
Preferably used.

There is no reason to buy a "range toy" gun in a centerfire caliber unless you reload or have a line on really cheap surplus ammunition (and the days of ten cent per round Tokarev ammo are over)

If you absolutely refuse to go rimfire, the CZ82 is about the best deal in the handgun world right now - get an ugly surplus one for $200 and grab a few used magazines, then spend the rest on ammo at about twenty cents per round

 

[MachIVshooter]

If I could only have one, it'd be my S&W 1006. But that doesn't meet your $400 purchase or affordable ammunition criteria. I guess I'm no help at all.........

 

[Manson]

Just cheap to shoot and fun. The Ruger or Browning .22.

 

[smalls]

Not for any sort of defense work?
Hi point. Spend the rest of that $400 in ammo.

 

[Bushpilot]

This question again huh? OK, Either a 4/6 inch 357 or a good 22 auto.

 

[Smith357]

A police trade-in S&W 5906, all stainless steel, and all over GunBroker for $350 and in the CDNN catalog on page 27 for $299 . It is easy to dress one of these carried a lot shot a little Stainless pistols wear with a green scrubbie and a set of houge grips. for $400 you will have an accurate all steel 15 shot 9mm.


Or you could go with a trade in S&W Model 64 4 inch wheelgun from J&G sales for $300

 

[bannockburn]

Fun, fairly reliable (given the nature of rimfire ammo), and affordable could be a .22 which a Ruger 22/45 would fill the requirement of being under $400 at $300 or else a Beretta Neos for $240.

In a centerfire I would look at a Ruger SR9 or SR9c for $400, as it also is fun, reliable, and affordable to shoot.

 

[gpjoe]

For fun, I'd have to go with a Ruger .22/.22 mag convertible cowboy gun.

 

[Narwhal]

My M&P 40 pro 4.25".

Great, light trigger. Goes thousands of rounds without cleaning. Accurate enough to shoot 5-6" groups at 25 yards with almost any ammo. Enough firepower to take down most unarmored living things within range (50 yards). Ammo readily and cheaply available throughout the US. Can be had for under $500. 16 rounds as fast as you can pull the trigger. Small and light enough to conceal but large enough to grip comfortably and retain a respectable sight radius.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Ruger SP101 for sure. It's the first handgun I ever bought. I'd be the last to go. It's on my hip right now as I write this in a Starbucks. It does everything I need.

 

[Nullcone]

TXdefender wins:

In your price range with maximum versatility a 4" .357mag.

Pick your own flavor.

/thread