What would your priorities be if you could only have one handgun?

[wlewisiii]

woods carry protection: 1
hunting:1
concealed carry:3 (Now that I've moved out of the big ciry)
competition:5
range fun: 1
home defense: 1

Where you live? Yes
Where you work? Yes
Where you camp? Yes
Where you hunt? Yes
Where your travels take you? Yes
What competition you enjoy? No
Caliber? Yes
Ammo cost? No, I reload.

Either the Blackhawk I have or the 4" Redhawk I want in .45 Colt.

 

[danez71]

You pretty much got it right on, except I would have to put a 1 on hunting.........and that would have to be my Ruger in .327 Mag.

I thought about that but since there wasnt a restriction on having a rifle I put it lower.

If I can have a rifle, I wouldnt hunt with a pistol.


If he he meant this as "you can only have one gun and it has to be a handgun, I would have put hunting as another tie for 1st"

 

[Skribs]

If I could only have one, it would be concealed carry. As it is, I'm looking at narrowing down my collection to 2 models - one model is full size, the other compact for the same overall. If I were to select one model, it would be the compact - because I could always use the full size magazines with grip extensions, but could not use a shorter grip on the full size model.

I kind of went into specifics, but that's what I'd consider, and how I'd consider it.

 

[goon]

I can envision a factor where this might be the case - economic factors.
Some people just don't have hundreds of dollars of disposable income every other month.

I'd choose a gun that could cover self-defense uses, target and recreational shooting, and uses like camping/hiking. I also have found that it's good to consider how you'd go about introducing a new shooter.

My exact choice would be a 3" Ruger SP-101 .357 Magnum. It's not ideal for a lot of my uses but it's good for a lot of them, great for a few, and can be used for others if it really has to.

It can do CCW in most cases, clothing and holster dependent.
It's also totally suitable for home defense.
It's great for target shooting - .38 Special ammo is very common and not too expensive. I reload, so it's even cheaper for me. Also, while not as good as a .22LR, a light .38 Special load in the SP-101 isn't too unpleasant to introduce a beginner to shooting a handgun.
It's a .357 - which is enough to stop anything I need to stop in the woods in my area.

Obviously, anyone who has only one handgun and who shoots much or who wants to expand his or her interests would be well advised to add a couple more as finances allow.

 

[oldbear]

showmebob, all of your options could come into the decision most of would make, yet I would base my decision on the following factors, in order of importance :
Home/personal defense, concealed carry, range use.

Would your choice be influenced by:

again in order of importance: caliber, where I live, and where I travel.

 

[MedWheeler]

I don't hunt, and I do carry a firearm for defense pretty much everywhere. Since the thread does not exclude a long gun for home defense, HD would be of less importance in selection of a handgun. Virtually all of my handgun needs can be met with a .22LR pistol of good quality (yes, even personal defense.)
I do enjoy shooting, so "range fun" and "cost of ammo" will be high on the list of criteria, along with concealability, which would be based on attire.
So, top criteria? Personal defense (CC), range fun, and cost of ammo would likely all tie up the top spot.
I've actually scored all of my handguns (dozen-plus) on a points scale using these criteria, and the one that eeked into the top spot by a small margin was indeed a .22LR pistol. Since I did that, I've acquired another .22LR pistol that scores even higher than that one did.

 

[JohnKSa]

I got into shooting for the recreational aspects of it, but as I get older, CCW/self-defense is starting to compete with recreational shooting as the primary reason I own a handgun. I'm still more interested in handguns for recreation/competition than for self-defense, but I think that may change over the next few decades.

For many years, I've answered that if I were forced to choose only one handgun, it would be my first gun, a 4"bbl full-sized SS .357 revolver. I would still say that if you asked me that today, but I'm starting to think that in the not too distant future, my changing focus might drive me to choose something more appropriate for concealed carry if I were force to narrow things down to only one handgun.

 

[OregonJohnny]

I can't see myself using "hunting" as a priority for owning 1 handgun. The only hunting I do on a regular basis is bird hunting with a shotgun. So a long-barreled big-bore revolver is out.

My top 3 priorities would probably be:

1. Concealed carry
2. Home defense (as a secondary to a shotgun or AR)
3. General woods/camping/hiking wilderness defense in the "lower 48"

There are several handguns that can fill all 3 of these roles, but I would probably narrow it down to my 2.25" Ruger SP-101 in .357 Magnum. Short of grizzly bear defense, competition, long-range target shooting, and legal handgun hunting, a snubby .357 Magnum revolver can fill just about all other roles that exist for a handgun.

A very close second choice would probably be a rugged polymer compact .45 ACP semi-auto, such as a Springfield XD45 Compact.

 

[Collects]

"What would your priorities be if you could only have one handgun? "

Buying additional firearms.

 

[saltydog452]

All of the above/One size fits all

The best fit into that large niche would be something on the order of a K-22.

salty

 

[Plan2Live]

Selecting one that is drop dead (no pun intended although it fits) reliable.

 

[CDR_Glock]

I've been thinking about the subject for some time now and it would be a very tough choice for me to make. So, I thought I'd see what all on the High Road have to say on the subject.

The title says it all. What would be the deciding factors for you and in what order of importantance?

woods carry protection?
hunting?
concealed carry?
competition?
range fun?
home defense?

Would your choice be influenced by:

Where you live?
Where you work?
Where you camp?
Where you hunt?
Where your travels take you?
What competition you enjoy?
Caliber?
Ammo cost?

My priority would be concealed carry, woods carry and home defense. The choice is influenced by ammo availability, reliability of the gun and cost of the gun and ammo. If hiking I want reliability even in dusty or dirty conditions.

All in all, I prefer a 4" 8 round 357 Magnum such as my Pro Series 627 S&W. It fits the bill for all of the above. I love my Pythons but I'd like more than my usual 6 rounds. My second choice is a Glock 30 which gives me capacity and caliber, 45 ACP.

 

[JohnBiltz]

Concealed carry is the only one of those needs that cannot be done with a rifle or shotgun.

 

[huntsman]

woods carry protection? yes#4
hunting? yes#3
concealed carry? yes #1
competition?no
range fun? yes#5
home defense? yes#2

I can meet #2-5 with 1 gun but not #1

Would your choice be influenced by:

Where you live? yes #1
Where you work? no
Where you camp? no
Where you hunt? yes #2
Where your travels take you? yes#5
What competition you enjoy? no
Caliber? yes#4
Ammo cost? yes#3

All this taken into account my 1 gun would be my .45c/.45acp Blackhawk, for CCW I'd need a pocket gun

 

[Chevelle SS]

Is it a 1911?

 

[BSA1]

I would own the one gun that the government said I could LEGALLY own...

Think about it.

 

[waidmann]

Single handgun priority list:

1. Power and accuracy to reasonably engage a large human in winter clothing to 25 yds.
2. Reliability in a point and pull format.
3. Reasonable ergonomics.
4. A measure of concealability.
5. The ability to consume various loads for training, recreation, pest control etc.

Then I get to a 3" barrelled .357.

 

[skt239]

As many have already said, this topic comes up far to often. However, I'll hand it to the OP, at least he put some thought into it...

I don't really hunt and I live in the city so personal protection would be my main concern. I'd have to go with a 3 inch .357 revolver.

 

[thecarfarmer]

1. Personal defense... that's why they were invented, right? So, it has to be reliable, take a good defensive round, take an inexpensive enough round that I can afford to feed it, and not so punishing that I won't want to practice much with it. And the gun has to be reliable, and able to be carried concealed (I work in a kind of sketchy neighborhood).

As far as competition (I don't compete), hunting (live in a city), range practice and the rest go, all those would fall secondary to the handgun's primary purpose.

-Bill

 

[slow944]

4" Colt Trooper MKIII in 357 is all I would need for SD and small game hunting.

 

[Snag]

One handgun? My choice would be dictated by my ability to carry it concealed and caliber. After that nothing else really matters. If I can carry it concealed location doesn't matter, it's like a wallet, it goes where I go. If I pick the right caliber hunting, range fun, competition, self defense, etc are all taken care of.

 

[showmebob]

Thanks to all

I wanted to take a moment to thank all of the HighRoad members who took the time to give this subject thoughtful consideration. It is enlightening to read others thoughts on the subject and it brought out some things I hadn't considered.
There are many reasons why a person may only have one handgun. It might be their first or last, evacuations, financial reasons etc. The question I asked in the OP was answered fully.
Thanks again for the replies, shoot straight and often

 

[Old judge creek]

I've been thinking about the subject for some time now and it would be a very tough choice for me to make. So, I thought I'd see what all on the High Road have to say on the subject.

The title says it all. What would be the deciding factors for you and in what order of importantance?

woods carry protection?
hunting?
concealed carry?
competition?
range fun?
home defense?

Would your choice be influenced by:

Where you live?
Where you work?
Where you camp?
Where you hunt?
Where your travels take you?
What competition you enjoy?
Caliber?
Ammo cost?

First off, I'd like to congratulate the OP! Well done, Sir. This is a point of view I've never seen posted before. Yet, for all my years as an Instructor, my first question when any student asked about which gun to buy, was "What do you intend to do with it? What purpose will it serve you?"

Frankly, I wish I'd have had the notion to ask this question years ago.

One Handgun?

For me, personal protection is first and foremost and that includes at home (which could be either in the 10th largest city of the US or in my cabin on my ranch in the high Nevada desert), in the woods, when on the trail, in camp, and concealed carry

This would heavily reflect consideration for carrying concealed, as well as where I live, camp, hunt, prospect, travel. Caliber and ammo component cost are also factors. (I reload and I'm retired)

For me, I'd probably be happiest with a Single Action 44 magnum or 45 Colt.

 

[Skribs]

I posted earlier, but I guess I could clarify within the survey, as a lot of others have...

woods carry protection? I got an eliptical so I don't have to hike
hunting? I have a grocery store where all the work up until me cooking and eating has been done
concealed carry? definitely
competition? I don't compete, but action pistol might be fun. either way, I'd use my carry gun for competition, because it would be further practice with my carry gun
range fun? I have range fun with my carry guns
home defense? My carry gun is my home defense BUG. If it works outside it will work inside. Of course, the light rail I would mainly use for HD.

Would your choice be influenced by:

Where you live? Not really
Where you work? Nope, since I can't carry at work anyway
Where you camp? I'm a nerd, camping is worse than prison. At least in prison you get internet and basic cable.
Where you hunt? See above - I don't hunt.
Where your travels take you? I like where I live, why do I want to travel?
What competition you enjoy? Don't currently do competition.
Caliber? I'd go 9, so not much problem with selection here.
Ammo cost? No. I'd pay more for a bullet I deemed to be better.

 

[Smith357]

If it come down to being allowed just one then we are in a world of deep doo doo
In order of importance to me would be

1. home defense - Protecting my family is a fathers main job.
2. hunting - Gotta feed them
3. concealed carry / woods carry protection - Need to stay alive for one and two
8. range fun -
9. competition -



I choose the gun with these things in mind
A Caliber for hunting, must be able to drop large four legged and two legged critters
Ammo availibilty - I must be able to supply it

None of this other stuff factors in.
Where you live?
Where you work?
Where you camp?
Where your travels take you?
What competition you enjoy?

My choice is a large frame, big bore, revolver with a 3-4" barrel.