What handgun if you were homeless?

[Min]

If you found yourself living on the streets of a large U.S. city, for whatever reason and even if temporarily, which gun would you have with you. Obviously, no long guns, only handguns that can be concealed (provided you have a concealed permit and provided that was even still applicable).

Factors to consider:
Ammo cost and availability
Weight
Size
Reliability

For me, it would be the Glock 19 with AA .22 conversion kit like this, minus the suitcase.




or perhaps a revolver like this?

 

[Knightrider03m]

Very nice S&W.

I would carry the only gun that I have right now (in the sig).

 

[OOOXOOO]

If I was homeless I would be living in the woods, therefore I would choose a rifle. Being homeless in the city is not an option for me.
In order of importance to me
1. Water
2. Food
3. SHELTER

As much as I love firearms if I was homeless I would have much bigger fish to fry.

 

[CoRoMo]

It would have to be a Ma Deuce .50 cal, Humvee-mounted dual setup.
That way I could sale it and buy a home.

 

[ssjones]

If you were homeless in a city, you'd probably have to stash it occasionally like hanging in the library, subway where I bet no CC is honored. So, it has to be a revolver that can take abuse and still fire. Cost of ammo, I'd go .357 and shoot .38's. You probably don't have access to cleaning materials. An auto might not do as well as a wheel gun in that environment.

Read "The Road" for just this scenario. Keeping his handgun in ammo gets interesting. It's a good read and soon to be a movie. From the same guy who wrote "No Country for Old Men" (also an excellent book).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Road

 

[.357MagTaurus]

Homeless Scenario

I guess in that situation , I would prefer to carry a Taurus Stainless revolver, probably a model 605, with the longest barrel available, in .357 Mag., so I could also shoot 38"s. Let me see.....Bullets or a hot cup of Java? Let you know when that comes to pass

 

[geronimo509]

I have to admit that I am not a huge fan of glocks, but i respect them and would go with a G19 with 6 mags full of the cheapest hp's. No need to clean, they can get dirty, and have a large capacity.

 

[woad_yurt]

P3AT! Maybe a small revolver. Something very pocket-able.

 

[Funderb]

I don't think I'd have anything. I'd be homeless.

 

[Glockman17366]

What ever I could steal...

 

[wyocarp]

I'm not sure one could have a concealed permit without a place of residence. I'd probably do the woods thing.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

I don't understand the premise of this question. After any chain of events or actions that would leave me homeless, chances are I would have no guns left, period.

 

[jaholder1971]

I'd be selling the gun for money to feed and house myself.

 

[wrs840]

Smith 442. Black. Easily pocketable. Runs fine no matter how much snot and vomit is on it.

Les

 

[rbernie]

I don't understand the premise of this question. After any chain of events or actions that would leave me homeless, chances are I would have no guns left, period.

I think that this is the OPs way of starting a 'what gun if the SHTF' thread without being so obvious about it.

I find the premise ridiculous (if you've ever been homeless, you'd know several reasons why you'd have no gun) but if it makes y'all happy to talk about such silliness I'll not stop you.

 

[ShadyScott999]

if it makes y'all happy to talk about such silliness I'll not stop you.

That is defiantly a lapse in judgment. LOL

 

[Duke of Doubt]

There's homeless, and there's homeless.

Many seasonal loggers live in the Maine woods, sometimes living out of abandoned cars, sometimes out of seasonal camps during the off season. I call them "technically homeless," in that they aren't like the NYC mental patients who may come to mind when you hear the word "homeless". They have few possessions and no burning desire to acquire more, but they do not typically collect welfare or consume social services. You almost wish they did, in some cases. Many of them have guns. They hunt, after a fashion -- not in a manner we might find sporting. Some sell poached meat. Some grow weed. Encountering some of them in the woods can take you both back, and aback.

 

[armoredman]

Point one, lots of us loosing our houses, myself included. When it happens, I'll be moving to a rental, temporarily homeless, I guess.
What handgun? All of them.

 

[PeteyPete]

G19 fits the bill....reliable, readily available 9mm, concealable, and virtually maintenance free.

 

[Deltaboy1984]

What ever you have . In Texas you can get a CCL as a homless person.

 

[sm]

Don't ask...

When me and mine were on the streets, blending in, which includes living in a "cardboard city", getting free meals at missions, churches, and using free McDonald Gift Certs...etc.

Snub nose .22 revolver, Beretta Bobcat in .22.

We also had a Vic SAK Spartan, Vic Classic SD, inexpensive pocket knives of various sorts, Carton Cutter, Screwdriver, AA Maglight, metal coffee cup, 1/2 pint bottles...
We did this during the heat and humidity of the south, and when it turned cooler in the fall.

Ask any LEO in private what they are liable to find on a homeless person, or hobo riding the trains...

*smile*

 

[Indifferent]

I actually work with a young man that was homeless for a year and a half.
He had his Ruger.
I'd keep my Taurus.

 

[bigfatdave]

Revolver in whatever I could get, for the low maintenance factor.

Realistically, if I were to BECOME homeless as a surprise, I would have the exact firearms I have now - and thinking about it, it isn't too bad of a loadout, even though 2 aren't concealable, they could be stashed in a backpack.

As far as a gun for ... ... let's call it "extended civil instability" I'd go with .22LR and 9mm - and be as far from urban centers as possible. Once again though, realistically I'd still be working at the middle-of-nowhere generation facility I work at now, until the power grid goes down, anyway. We have onsite security and lots of room - in event of "extended civil instability" I imagine there would be a tent city ringing the plant.

 

[winston smith]

Walthers P5. Its the last gun I would ever give up.

 

[jackstinson]

I find the premise ridiculous (if you've ever been homeless, you'd know several reasons why you'd have no gun) but if it makes y'all happy to talk about such silliness I'll not stop you.

Agreed.
Having been there, I suppose my answer would be "none". People who have not been homeless have no real appreciation for what it entails. One is more concerned with food, what bridge is safe to sleep under, and how to get out of the situation asap (unless one is homeless by lifestyle choice). The $18 spent on a box of .38's would buy food for a week.