ONE good all around pistol

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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.
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This question requires clarification.

If money is no object, then one 1911 frame can become quite a few calibers from .22 to .460 Rowland.....if you're willing to buy various top ends. It can even become a carbine. But the total set up will cost several $1000. Same with Glock, altho a bit cheaper.

So, is this choice supposed to be one complete gun, or one gun with many barrels and/or top ends included?

The answer to this question will refine the answers you're getting.
 
Revolver that would be my first choice I love my 1911 but if I could only have one pistol out of my collection Colt Anaconda 44 Magnum Three inch barrel . Cross draw holster so I can drive ride my motorcycle or sit around comfortably and still draw if I need to .
 
David E said:
This question requires clarification.

If money is no object, then one 1911 frame can become quite a few calibers from .22 to .460 Rowland.....if you're willing to buy various top ends. It can even become a carbine. But the total set up will cost several $1000. Same with Glock, altho a bit cheaper.

So, is this choice supposed to be one complete gun, or one gun with many barrels and/or top ends included?

The answer to this question will refine the answers you're getting.
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Apparently he did give us an out, and partially defeated the purpose of the question (IMO)


Byrd666 said:
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.
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I agree, allowing that parameter nullifies the question as asked.

Why? Because the gun in any given configuration is worthless for another task....a situation that shouldn't apply to a true "all around" gun.
 
Here we have the most frequently asked question on all the firearm forums. It's well worth revisiting, because a one gun man is self-reliant and confident.

My choice would be a single action is 44Spl or 45Colt. I don't carry one daily because I'm not limited to one gun. My daily carry is a plastic striker fired 9mm. But that is most certainly not a do everything weapon.

My opinion of a single action is that nothing is faster on the first shot, and it can't be beat for a survival or woods gun. It won't fail and can be loaded for whatever. Accuracy is right up there with any other handgun.

Of course the downside is concealment and weight. No perfect one gun handgun exists, but for me, the closest is a Colt or Ruger big bore.
 
About six years ago, I decided to have one primary handgun for the majority of environments I'm in.

So, I had a Commander-length 10mm 1911 built.
 
Apparently he did give us an out, and partially defeated the purpose of the question (IMO)
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WITHOUT starting a peeing contest, my stating that conversion kits were totally acceptable, does not in any way defeat, nullify, etc. the purpose of the question. Meaning simply, that if you have a 3/4" ratchet with multiple sockets, is that still not one tool that can do many different jobs? The same can be said with a FS 1911 in .45 or 10mm with a .22 lr conversion kit. Is that still not one tool that can do many different jobs? The only thing those, conversion kits, do, is enhance that singular pistol.
 
Byrd666 said:
WITHOUT starting a peeing contest, my stating that conversion kits were totally acceptable, does not in any way defeat, nullify, etc. the purpose of the question. Meaning simply, that if you have a 3/4" ratchet with multiple sockets, is that still not one tool that can do many different jobs? The same can be said with a FS 1911 in .45 or 10mm with a .22 lr conversion kit. Is that still not one tool that can do many different jobs? The only thing those, conversion kits, do, is enhance that singular pistol.
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In that case I suppose I'll take a Glock 29, with every conversion barrel/upper there is, plus several of these types of items:

glock_full_full-tfb.jpg

IMG_2149.jpg

687_08263_roinb1.jpg


That'll do just about everything. :)
 
As much as I love my 1911's (I'd vote them for 2nd) I have to go with a 4" XD in .45. It covers all bases except maybe elephant, has 13rd mags (if you don't live in CA) and shoots very well. I have 3 XD45's around for protection.
 
My only one gun would be Glock 30Sf 45acp. BUT, asking for the perfect all-around gun is like asking for a great all-around golf club. A $1000 custom putter isn't worth 10 cents 400 yards from the green, and the latest titanium-graphite-plutonium Driver isn't real practical in a sand trap.

You asked for a great all-around gun for everything for SD to elephants, it doesn't exist. In fact for the record a .500 Smith won't handle elephants. And cutting down a Barrett 50 to a 4" isn't real practical either. :D
 
Semi-auto guys are so funny! :cool: My one-gun would be a 4" .357 Magnum revolver, DA please. It can be carried concealed (though a 2.5-3" gun would be better), you can change the grips out to fit most folks hands (try that with a Glock 21!), it is legal to hunt all big game with in my state, it isn't dependent on the power level of the ammunition or springs for proper function, and is generally accurate and hard hitting out to ranges beyond the capability of most shooters. Oh, and I've yet to meet a K or L frame S&W with a bad single-action trigger.
 
I'm going to have to go with the Glock 19/Glock 23 answer. I do everything with it that you mentioned, except hunt. I wouldn't want to shoot a bear or elephant with it, but see no practical need to do so. If I can find a bear for survival food, certainly I can find something smaller. LOL
 
Byrd666 said:
Never knew that option was available. I HATE Glocks, They just flat out don't fit me. But That is an awesome idea.
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I already mentioned the 1911 outfitted with multiple top ends, barrels and carbine options.

You could easily set one up in .22, 9x19, 9x21, 9x23, .357 Sig, .38 Super, .40 S&W, .40 Super, 10mm, 9x25 Dillon, .41 AE, .45 acp, .45 Super, .460 Rowland and .50 GI to name a few.

In addition, you could get top ends that allow several RIFLE calibers in single shot configuration.

Add the Mech Tech carbine in various calibers and you have a very versatile serial numbered frame..... I mean, gun.....

Of course, it would cost well over $10,000, but I don't recall a price cap being mentioned.

This would be a great choice if the govt limited how many handguns you could own, but maybe not the best choice for the original parameters in the OP
 
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It doesn't exist in a pistol. Like a couple have said the 10mm starts trying to be a deer gun, but it doesn't quite get there. The other end of the spectrum for hunting is that anything good enough for deer or black bear is too much for rabbits. It's not like a 357 max revolver than can be loaded to ridiculousness or downloaded to a super light load. The semiautos operate by using up recoil, and only work well in a certain recoil range. And extra and your slamming the slide into the stops hard enough to damage the gun over time. Any less you get a really odd bolt action. If you want a wide range of functionality get into the revolver world with pretty much any of the calibers with magnum in the name.

If your set on semiauto go custom built 1911 or glock in 10mm with a 10" barrel. That SHOULD put it up into a hunting ready power range. Kinda kills the sd part though
 
wanderinwalker said:
Semi-auto guys are so funny! :cool: My one-gun would be a 4" .357 Magnum revolver, DA please. It can be carried concealed (though a 2.5-3" gun would be better), you can change the grips out to fit most folks hands (try that with a Glock 21!), it is legal to hunt all big game with in my state, it isn't dependent on the power level of the ammunition or springs for proper function, and is generally accurate and hard hitting out to ranges beyond the capability of most shooters. Oh, and I've yet to meet a K or L frame S&W with a bad single-action trigger.
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A shotgun can be carried concealed too.

For the vast majority of people this seems to be one of those things where theory and practice differ.

Edit: So as not to get off topic any more:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=9485875#post9485875
 
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For a do-all handgun, my first choice would not be a semi-auto. If forced to pick a semi-auto, put me in the Glock 23 camp, along with a 9mm conversion barrel and a couple of 9mm magazines. I'd use the .40 barrel for serious work and the 9mm for plinking. I like Warp's idea of a carbine conversion, too.

For me, though, my do-all handgun would be a 4-inch .357 mag revolver and a reloading setup. With the ability to reload across a wide power and bullet spectrum, it would cover all the bases.
 
...my do-all handgun would be a 4-inch .357 mag revolver and a reloading setup. With the ability to reload across a wide power and bullet spectrum, it would cover all the bases.
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And this is the real answer, as others have noted. I'd specify a Smith & Wesson K frame, altho a Smith & Wesson Mountain Gun in .44 magnum is another, but only if you reload and don't mind the added cylinder girth.

Pick one of these and you'll have ONE physical handgun, ready to go as is without add-ons, conversions, barrel swaps or kits.

It covers more bases than any other stand-alone handgun.
 
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