ONE good all around pistol

[Bobson]

Whoops. Just realized I didn't answer the question with my response.

JUST ONE PISTOL, for everything, forever? Without question - mine would be a Commander 1911 in .45 ACP. Wish I could say I've settled on one, or that I already own it. So far, a Colt XSE Commander (stainless, not alloy) is closest to being everything I want it to be, right out of the box. So that's my choice. Colt Model 04012XSE. Other subcompacts have their place, but this is about as close to an ideal do-it-all as I can imagine.

 

[Lucky Derby]

By limiting yourself to semi-autos, you are eliminating the best "do it all" handgun available IMHO.
A 4" medium frame .357 Magnum revolver. My personal choice would be the Ruger Security-Six, but there are many excellent choices in this class of handgun.
Here is my reasoning:
1. Can shoot anything from mousefart .38 Special target loads to full house .357 Magnums and everything in between.
2. Not dependant on the ammo (power level, clean, bullet shape) to ensure proper function, should lessor quality ammo be all that is available.
3. Large enough to be useful as a hunting weapon if needed, yet still small enough to be CCW without to much trouble.

For elephant though, I wouldn't even attempt it with any handgun.

 

[Panzerschwein]

A .357 magnum revolver, of the double action variety. Four inch barrel preferred for a ONE gun!

 

[bannockburn]

I would go with a Colt Lightweight Government in .45 ACP. Full size that I could add a .22 conversion to it and with an alloy frame so it would be a little more comfortable for CCW.

 

[jmr40]

Glock 20.

 

[HexHead]

Hmmm, boy that's a tough one. Lots of calls for the 1911, so I'll go one better, my HK45.

 

[mavracer]

About any service pistol in a reasonable caliber will do ~90% of anything you'd need to do with a handgun, it's really more dependant on the improvision ability of the ground strap.
As to what I'd choose as the one, I say it depends on the day and which way I want to hedge my bet. Might be a Commander in 38 super, a XSE light weight govt 45, a 1076 or maybe even just a HK P7 and I've got at least another 1/2 dozen that I could make due with.

 

[bikerdoc]

Full size 1911, just like Walkalong said.......but do not under value a 4 inch 357 Ruger security six, GP 100, or SP101.

 

[tommy.duncan]

To many choices!!!!
P226?? P220?? USP??
Revolver??
SRH?? SBH?? S&W??
Like usual something in 10mm (G20, 1911)
Tough Question!! No clear answer, only opinions.

 

[tarosean]

About any service pistol in a reasonable caliber will do ~90% of anything you'd need to do with a handgun, it's really more dependant on the improvision ability of the ground strap.

I'm gonna agree with this. While most of us here are enthusiasts/collectors, etc. All but a small handful of my handguns could fill all around pistol status. I am just fortunate that I don't have to..

However, to go from elephant to squirrel you'll need a TC Contender with a vast array of barrels, but that leaves you sans semi auto.

So I supposed I'd go with a COONAN 357.

 

[MedWheeler]

Until you further complicated the original question with your edit in post 17, I would have been the first to offer up a pistol in .22LR. There is nothing I use a handgun for that cannot be covered by a decent .22LR autoloader, such as my FEG AP-22 or a Ruger SR-22.

But, to require it be chambered for a caliber larger than 9mm Makarov (a silly requirement in itself) excludes pretty much everything.

Small enough for daily concealed carry in the steamy jungles and swamps of southern Florida? Not gonna be much of a fun plinker.
A slick-handling sport shooter/plinker? Not gonna be small or light enough for daily concealed carry here.

So, for my desires, I've not come across any suitable candidates.

EDIT: I see the OP was not the one to add the "service caliber" requirement. In response to that, I return to the "lowly" .22LR. I won't be hunting elephants with it. Of those I currently own, it would be the aforementioned AP-22 by FEG of Hungary. But a Ruger SR22 would do well, too, as would a Beretta 71A.

 

[Warp]

By limiting yourself to semi-autos, you are eliminating the best "do it all" handgun available IMHO.
A 4" medium frame .357 Magnum revolver. My personal choice would be the Ruger Security-Six, but there are many excellent choices in this class of handgun.
Here is my reasoning:
1. Can shoot anything from mousefart .38 Special target loads to full house .357 Magnums and everything in between.
2. Not dependant on the ammo (power level, clean, bullet shape) to ensure proper function, should lessor quality ammo be all that is available.
3. Large enough to be useful as a hunting weapon if needed, yet still small enough to be CCW without to much trouble.

For elephant though, I wouldn't even attempt it with any handgun.

I wish.

I have a 4" .357, a GP100, and calling it small enough to CCW without much trouble is a pretty sick joke. It's even worse to conceal than my G21 is or my G20 was. Which is to say, it conceals under heavy winter clothing, but that's about it.

 

[tomrkba]

I guess just about anything in a defensive caliber would do for my purposes. Smaller guns such as the Glock 26 or S&W M&P 9C would do well enough. I would likely choose something in 45 ACP since that is my favorite cartridge. If I had to choose right now, I'd likely move away from Glock and choose an S&W M&P 45 Compact or HK USP 45 Compact. Durability would suddenly become very, very important and HK has an excellent reputation in this regard.

 

[Nom de Forum]

I only have the one centerfire semi auto, a Glock 20. It does everything I need it to do. Its a little large for comfortable deep concealed carry but it would still work with the right holster. It has proved to be a competent hunting sidearm having taken several head of big game and many varmints. When it comes to caliber compatibility the Glock 20 is among the most versatile auto platforms available, only rivaled by the 1911. Besides the standard 10mm I can shoot .40 S&W via a conversion barrel and I also have a .22 LR conversion slide for it. If I so choose it can be converted to fire upwards of a dozen different cartridges. I could live very happily for the rest of my life with just this one Glock 20 for all of my handgun needs.

I will second that selection. If you can have only one gun to accomplish the most missions the G20 is the most versatile. Once the pistol is in your hand it is much easier for a large pistol to do what a small pistol can do than the reverse.

Warp - Just curious...what clothing do you wear when concealing that G20?

Clothing very similar to what all the guys carrying 1911s, Sig220s, CZ75s, etc. are wearing.

 

[Byrd666]

Are we allowed to have a .22 conversion for that 1911? If yes it makes the choice even better!

Absolutely! I see no reason why a conversion kit can't be used to enhance the attributes of said tool. And if that conversion kit comes in multiple configurations, that's all the better.

Thanks for the responses so far guys and gals. I am once again learning a of some of the options open to us. Though I know that one semi auto pistol is not a "fix all" or "be all" tool. But, I'd like to think, as you have shown, that one pistol can do most jobs in any situation and for whatever need may arise in any environment.

 

[kwguy]

Wow that's a tough one, but it makes one think. That can range from ccw / self defense to protection in the wild from from animals. If that were the case, a glock 20 would be a decent choice, but to ccw that thing, one would need a big coat. Maybe a glock 29.

Maybe it comes down to the round that can serve all the needed purposes, and then finding a semi pistol to match. The 1911 platform is certainly a very good one, so maybe a 1911 10mm might fit the bill. And I believe ccw for that piece of iron might be a little easier than the G20...

 

[Nom de Forum]

Wow that's a tough one, but it makes one think. That can range from ccw / self defense to protection in the wild from from animals. If that were the case, a glock 20 would be a decent choice, but to ccw that thing, one would need a big coat. Maybe a glock 29.

Maybe it comes down to the round that can serve all the needed purposes, and then finding a semi pistol to match. The 1911 platform is certainly a very good one, so maybe a 1911 10mm might fit the bill. And I believe ccw for that piece of iron might be a little easier than the G20...

A 1911 by virtue of being thinner is somewhat easier to CCW than a G2. Both pistols are heavy and similar enough in size to require essentially the same attire for concealment. Depending on your stature and if you have reasonably broader shoulders than your waist an untucked button-down sport-shirt conceals a G20 well enough. It works for me in hot weather.

 

[Wishoot]

Elephant Hunting???

Definitely my LCP.

 

[huntsman]

if you had to choose one, and ONLY ONE, semi automatic pistol for everything, what would it be? A pistol that can be used for home and self defense. A pistol that can be concealed for every day carry. A pistol that you can use for hiking, walking the back forty and hunting(everything from elephant to squirrel,(ie; survival food)) with.

My choice for everything but what's in bold is a S&W 4566, legally I can hunt deer in my state with a .45acp but I'd need a 5" barrel, but I don't want to CC a 5" barrel so....

 

[herkyguy]

XDs 4" barrel with extended 9 rd mag in 9 mm.

I can conceal it. It will deal with the threats I deem to be realistic in my neck of the woods.

Lightweight. Reliable. Fun to shoot at the same time.

 

[welldoya]

My choice would be either a BHP or a Kahr CW9.
I really like the size of the Kahr. It's small enough to conceal but still feels like a full-size gun. I don't like for my fingers to hang off the grip.

 

[ATLDave]

How about a Witness Elite Match in 10mm? You can certainly use it for home defense. I use it for USPSA shooting (with downloaded ammo). Fine for woods work. Accurate at the range. It's a little bit big to carry concealed, but doable with an appropriate holster and cover garment.

Same arguments work for the Glock 20, if you like that platform better.

 

[XD 45acp]

<-------------- Yup. Now, if you take the semi perameter off the table and said Gov't only allows 1 handgun period, then I'd be thinking more on the line of S&W 66 4" or a 4" Python.

 

[mdauben]

So here's my question, if you had to choose one, and ONLY ONE, semi automatic pistol for everything, what would it be? A pistol that can be used for home and self defense. A pistol that can be concealed for every day carry. A pistol that you can use for hiking, walking the back forty and hunting(everything from elephant to squirrel,(ie; survival food)) with. The same pistol can also be used as a range gun, a truck gun and a competition gun. And of course, a plinkin' gun.

I think you're asking too much for any one pistol. I think you can come close (if you chop off the "elephant" end of the hunting spectrum) with a good midsize 9mm pistol. For a factory pistol, I'd be very tempted to offer a Glock 19, as its a very good do everything choice. Small enough to CC, large enough for HD, good capacity and very reliable. If a custom gun was possible, I might think about a tuned up Browning Hi Power.

Most of the time 9mm ammo is usually cheap enough for centerfire plinking and range use. Is a solid SD performer with premium ammo, should be able to take game up to deer size at close enough range. Probably not the best choice for competition (minor caliber and not bullseye target accurate, although in a tuned Hi Power it migth) and of course not the best choice for large and/or dangerous game.

Still, I think the G19 or Hi Power hits most of your points, at least well enough to get by.

 

[B!ngo]

A S&W M&P 340 would be very high on my list. But tough for any range or practice use.
My H&K P7M8 or M13 would score very high in every metric but camping/hiking but I'm likely to choose it.
B