What gun do you want in your hand?

[CAS700850]

At the distances involved, shot spread will be minimal. The Columbus Ohio cop that took out the shooter at the Alarosa night club used a short-barreled (18 inch) Reminton 870 loaded with #4 Buck. All pellets hit the head at about 25 feet.

 

[nomadboi]

...bet that wasn't a pretty cleanup...

 

[Tylden]

I would go for my CZ P-01 9mm. Why ? Because, even though there are larger calibers out there that may pack more of a punch, I'm used to shooting my P-01. I know that gun pretty well now and have the confidence I can put the bullets on target. I'm not saying a 9mm is better/worse than other options, or that a CZ is a better brand than someone else's...I'm saying that this particular weapon is the one I'M the most consistent with...the one I shoot the most, the one I'm most comfortable with, and the one that is on my hip readily available.

 

[LiquidTension]

I trust myself with my carry gun the most, so that's what I'd use - 4" 1911. Until I get a .44mag anyway.

 

[sarge83]

Two choices:

S&W M-19 .357 4" 125grain JHP if I am downstairs and need a weapon.

Colt King Cobra .357 4" 125 grain JHP if I happen to be upstairs and need a weapon.

 

[Magnum Mike]

In this hypothetical situation, well that would be a choice between my Smith & Wesson 686 (stainless steel) in .357 magnum, with an 8" barrel, and 125 gr. Hornady hollow point, or my Ruger Redhawk, with an 8" barrel in the .44 magnum caliber, and the Hornady 185 gr. hollow point, whichever I happen to have out of the safe. In either case, the bad guy won't live to say "ouch".

 

[TarpleyG]

On the 1st Tuesday night of each month, the shooting club I belong to has informal drills taught by one of our more knowledgeable guys who has attended class upon class. I usually just shoot the IDPA match that we also put on but this past Tuesday I opted to do drills. He told us to take a $10 bill out of our wallet. I only had a $20. He stapled my $20 and several other's $10s to the heads of IDPA targets exposing only about half the head. Object of the drill was to do a failure/Mozembique drill without hitting the bill. If you hit the bill, it was his. From 3, 7, and 10 yards, most of us missed our bill and still made the head shot. Just goes to show what a little pressure would do.

To answer the question--either one of my 5" Kimbers will get the job done.

Greg

 

[Biker]

If I was carrying my G23, I'd take the head shot in a heartbeat. However, my usual carry gun is a Taurus 450. Armed with this, I'd put 5 in his upper torso.
Biker

 

[GunGoBoom]

Since the hypothetical is limited to handguns in front of me at home, and since presumably I wouldn't *know* that I'd be limited to one shot at the time I heard the scream, and since precision is required being that the loved one is adjacent to the BG, this is a job for the CZ75; close second is the 5" Raging Bull in .454 casull. Since one may very well not have a shot at chest/COM, since it could be occluded by the loved one, or could pose a danger to the loved one by shooting through the BG's center of mass, I'd likely go for a head shot (low rear) or neck shot.

 

[Moondoggie]

Any one in the safe that's bigger'n a mousegun...they'll all hit exactly where they're being pointed, especially at 7 yds or less.

Starting from R to L it would be .44, .41, .45, .45, .45...besides the ones that are in other rooms all starting with 4.

My POA would be the middle of the forehead.....the force of the blow alone would be enough to prevent him from stabbing anyone for awhile, if ever. No point in over thinking this...a straight shot most anywhere in the head is gonna put a crimp in just about anyone's day. More if it's determined that they're needed.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I wonder about those of you who'd use buckshot - the BG is holding your loved one in his arms, so you'd be as likely to hit him/her with part of the shot pattern.

If you're close enought to risk a shot with a handgun, you're so close the buckshot swarm won't be more than an inch or two wide. Besides, he might have an accomplice.

 

[MilsurpShooter]

 

[Ky Larry]

I'd grab my Kimber Custom Defender II .45 ACP loaded with WWB 230 gr JHP's. This pistol has Crimson Trace grips and the Novak sights are set dead on at 10 yards. I'd aim for a spot between the BG's eyes about 1.5 inches above the bridge of his nose.

 

[Wags]

Browning Hi-Power.

 

[CZ-100]

CZ-85 Combat, 147g JHP, at that range, Two shots Right Between the Eyes.

 

[Gordon Fink]

Fortunately, I can make that shot with any of my handguns from the sub-compacts to the full-size … on the range at least.

~G. Fink

 

[ewb45acp]

My Kimber pro-carry

It's my regular carry piece. I can hit well with it. A 230 gr Hornady XTP should work well enough.

 

[Smoke]

Para Ordnance P14 Limited with the Hogue wrap-around grips.

I shoot it better than any other gun I own. Just having it in my hand instills some confidence.

Hot placement depends. If he is quarted towards me and the strong hand is to me...I'm aiming for his ribcage. Other wise probably his eye socket.

Smoke

 

[charlie fox]

My G19 as it's the one I carry and practice with - two ot the chest, one to the head...as many times as it takes!

 

[katonk]

G19...double tap to the forehead.

 

[SatCong]

I well take a Les Bear Custom Carry, 4inch!

 

[gulogulo1970]

My most accurate handgun is a Kimber Eclipse. That is the one I would want to use for one shot.

 

[Red Dragon]

Since I only have one decent handgun, I would grab my Ruger P89 and pop a shot to the upper chest and follow up with a headshot. Ya mess with my friends and family, you aren't going to be around to answer questions later.

 

[Standing Wolf]

Pre-agreement Smith & Wesson model 629 .44 magnum. If one shot in the head won't get the job done, I'd have to figure I was up against Rockzilla.

 

[athlon64]

4" S&W 686 with 125g JHP, and I'd use it single action. I'd be confident with 7 yard shot.

The LEOs would then show up and take it away for the investigation.

'Cause it's stainless steel, hopefully it'll be in pretty good shape if/when I get it back months later. If I don't get it back, well, I could get another one, if all the legal proceedings that follow would allow (it's a common, replaceable piece).