Qualities of a good "offensive" handgun?

[walking arsenal]

I like the Idea of a offensive handgun. The idea seemed to work in Vietnam with the hush puppies.

But the word "offensive" says to me that you may be looking for trouble and a handgun is not a very good choice for an attack weapon.

For a discreet defensive weapon i think this works.

Sometimes discretion i a good idea.

For instance, If your town was in chaos and you came out of your house with your AR in hand who's to say that the good guys might not mistake you for a bad guy?

Now days it seems that anyone with a gun and not in a uniform is a possible BG.

And in a less than stable environment double so.

And handgun is something you can hide so you don't draw attention to yourself.

Is it the best option? No.

But sometimes you have to take what you can get.

 

[john1911]

Assume no rifle or shotgun can be had for the situation. I'm aware that handguns are less than ideal, but "something is better than nothing" applies, and assume a long gun cannot be an option.
And reliability is assumed. If it wasn't reliable, why would you be using it?

If you simply wish to add "your scenario stinks, I'd use a rifle or shotgun"--please go to Rifle Country.

Okay, okay I'll play by your rules.

I would use my .88 mag semi-auto revolver to take out one of the rifle toting henchmen (there are henchmen in this scenario, right?). I would then take the dead henchman's rifle while uttering a cool catch-phrase. I would then proceed to destroy the rest of the henchmen. This would lead to the epic final battle with the chief villain, which I would win after being severely beaten. I would probably win by throwing the villain off of a building, impaling him on a strategically placed sharp object, dropping a large object on him or making a 1000 yard shot with the gun he dropped while he flees in a helicoptor, jet or expensive auto (causing it to explode in a fiery inferno) (extra points for combining two or more) while uttering my catch-phrase. I would then sweep the heroine off her feet and return to the boudoir for some victory lovin'.

 

[Rexster]

Guys, the "offensive" pistol is a perfectly valid concept; I carry one to work with me every night. "Offensive" may well mean a fighting pistol, or a battle pistol, as opposed to a defensive pistol. My duty pistol is a SIG P229R with the DAK trigger, a nicely compact defensive pistol. When something gets scary, and I cannot lay my hands on a shotgun or carbine, for whatever reason, I reach for a Ruger GP100 with a 4" barrel, because I can engage targets with greater confidence at longer range, and because no matter how much I practice with my other types of handguns, I shoot a 4" lugged-barrel adjustable-sight GP100 better than I shoot any other handgun, when the shooting must be done in a big hurry. Sure, the sixgun will run out of ammo more quickly than some weapons, but most fights are determined by the first few rounds, and my P229 and a concealed "backup" SP101 snubby are there in reserve.

Edited to add: The GP100 was my duty sidearm for a while in the mid-90's. The purple sore over my hip bone took a while to go away after I switched to a lighter duty sidearm. I now must use a DA .40 auto as a duty pistol, but still have a bit of latitude in my "backups."

 

[walking arsenal]

.88 mag semi-auto revolver!!

Dude, I hear those things shoot through schools!

In all seriousness though.

Websters dictionary online defines the word "Offense" as "The action of attacking the enemy" and Defense as "Protection from harm".

So really I guess we are just arguing semantics.

I still stand by my earlier post.

 

[HM2PAC]

john1911 wrote:

Okay, okay I'll play by your rules.

I would use my .88 mag semi-auto revolver to take out one of the rifle toting henchmen (there are henchmen in this scenario, right?). I would then take the dead henchman's rifle while uttering a cool catch-phrase. I would then proceed to destroy the rest of the henchmen. This would lead to the epic final battle with the chief villain, which I would win after being severely beaten. I would probably win by throwing the villain off of a building, impaling him on a strategically placed sharp object, dropping a large object on him or making a 1000 yard shot with the gun he dropped while he flees in a helicoptor, jet or expensive auto (causing it to explode in a fiery inferno) (extra points for combining two or more) while uttering my catch-phrase. I would then sweep the heroine off her feet and return to the boudoir for some victory lovin'.

DUDE!!!

I hope to God you make a sequel!!!!!

 

[CountGlockula]

I chose: Longer barrel for the accuracy, since I have a long slide Glock.

 

[dwave]

I'll agree that a handgun is not the best offensive weapon, but to those who say it's not an offensive weapon at all, I have a name to throw out:

Sargent Alvin York.

He used a 1911 very effectively as an offensive weapon.

 

[JesseL]

Guys, the "offensive" pistol is a perfectly valid concept; I carry one to work with me every night. "Offensive" may well mean a fighting pistol, or a battle pistol, as opposed to a defensive pistol.

If you go looking to start a fight with it, it's offensive.
If you carry it in case you find yourself in a fight you need to stop, it's defensive.

A pistol's only advantages are that it's easy to have with you all the time and it may be concealable.

If you involved in an offensive action, you know there is going to be fighting and you should probably bring a long gun.

If you believe you will probably be attacked and involved in a defensive engagement, you should probably bring a long gun.

If you think you probably won't be attacked and involved in a defensive engagement but admit it's remote possibility; you should probably still have a long gun - but it will probably be more practical to settle for a handgun.

Handguns obviously can be used offensively; people do so daily; but it's either for a less than honorable purpose (murder, robbery, etc.) or due to highly unusual circumstances (Alvin York).

 

[Mandirigma]

....

 

[Ala Dan]

Here Is My Take On The Matter

Revolver or Autoloader, makes NO big difference one way or the other

.45 caliber, which is definitely on the + side

be familiar with your choice, cuz YOUR life may (and probably will) depend on it. Practice, Practice, Practice, know that your chosen load will deliver its
projectile to POA; and what the results will be, having been tried against
as many targets of various materials as possible.

finally, when the time comes to defend yourself (or a loved one); make NO
mental errors; as they can be very unforgiving in a time of need.

*Some of the choices you listed in the poll are enhancements; and not at all
necessities~! {Respectfully Stated}

 

[gallo]

If you mean offensive to the senses, tact and sight, a block it is. Otherwise, offensive / defensive, I say, tomatoe/tomato.

 

[spiroxlii]

+1+1+1+1+1

The reason we mostly concern ourselves with handgun defense rather than handgun offense is because somebody who is planning to go on the offensive would be best served by a long gun.

If I had no long guns on hand and I had to go out seeking to make contact with a target, I would want a weapon in 9mm Parabellum, because its recoil is mild (faster follow up shots), its ammo is relatively light (you can carry a lot of it), cheap and readily available (common all over the world), and effective against human targets (9mm works, even if you like .45 better).

I'd either want a weapon with an external hammer and a decocker safety (like my Bersa) or a weapon with a grip safety and trigger safety (like my XD), because both of those options are "point and click" designs for the first shot. I would also be comfortable with a 1911 style pistol carried cocked and locked.

 

[biscuitninja]

Must work, must have adequate capacity and must be large enough to stop the person with minimal work.

-bix

 

[KowBoY_NE]

i will play along.....

ok, here I go again on my own....(sorry)

if by what you are getting at is likely here lately of "Postal" in Mall" shooting people at random in large numbers, and you are like me and have to assist regardless of reprocussions then....

-Accurate, hits almost where i want it to at decent range...50 yrds
-Grip to accomadate my preference, 1911
-.45 will do, anything else is just urinating in the wind IMHO.
-Night sites are great for me, so I'll keep them.
-2/3 X-tra magazines is standard for MY carry.
-Laser grips are convienent, also a light rail for night "shop shooting"
that would about cover it i think.

in no way am i hinting at the idea of going on a rampage in this one... i am looking at it more of an offensive for defense type of call. Sometimes when SHTF you might be the only one that can help and respond in the time required to make a diffrence. that being said i hope none of you take this the wrong way, i am just playing along for the sake of the post instead of telling the "starter" ""to go grab a rifle:banghead:"", that is not why he started this thread.

--James


-

 

[feudist]

The IPSC "Open" gun is essentially an Offensive Handgun.IPSC field courses are defacto assault courses.What evolved there,under Darwinian conditions,is a pistol optimized for hammering multiple opponents from 3 to 50 yards,in the shortest time possible,while at a dead run.
Points/time=hit factor,and the open gun delivers the highest hit factors.
24-28 rounds,optically sighted,a short <3lb trigger and a compensator that shoots flat and soft(though it will give you a nosebleed).

 

[Firepower!]

For me it is hard to concieve the idea of an offensive handgun. I always think of them as side arm. Now that said, which side arm I would like if I go in the battle field: Glock 18C or Stichken APS. Do not need any accessories.

 

[Zach S]

The only differece in an offesive and defensive handgun is the application you use it in.

For a defensive handgun, I would use my G19 next to the pile of magazines in my closet. For an offensive handgun, I would use my G19 next to the pile of magazines in my closet.

When I get the money, I'll probably replace my G19 with an XD45.

 

[Trempel]

With a shoulder stock, 600 rounds/minute or more, and at least 20-round magazines.

If the weather is that bad, I'll just stay at home though.

 

[DougDubya]

Beretta 93-R with lanyard-based sling for full-auto control. 20 magazine, 3-shot bursts, fold-down foregrip lever. Good enough for the Executioner, good enough for me.

And it's 1100 RPM

 

[Zak Smith]

USPSA/IPSC "Open" pistol with optional suppressor.

 

[ducktape944]

de cocking lever!

 

[Autolycus]

What a refreshing poll.

 

[Monkeybear]

The most important qualities of an offensive handgun for me are the letters CZ and the numbers 75 written on the slide.

 

[ARTiger]

 

[steveracer]

Reloading fast is an easier skill to learn than to grow larger hands, so the wide grip for capacity is lost on me. If it doesn't fit you, it will never feel right, and therefore you were better off all along with a smaller gun and more mags.
Steve