Which one should I keep?

[Ledhead686]

I own three handguns (in addition to a Ruger Mini-thirty): a Charter Arms .38 snubby that I keep in the glove compartment of my car, and two Ruger semi-autos -- a P90 .45 ACP and a P89 9mm. Unfortunately, for personal reasons I must sell one of the Rugers. I'm been going nuts over here trying to decide which. Seeing as how the gun I keep will be used for both HD and as a sidearm if and when the SHTF, which one do you think I should hold onto...and why? For me, it's one helluva domescratcher, lemme tell ya: I can't decide whether to opt for stopping power or greater mag. capacity...

Your thoughts, gentlemen?

thanx

 

[raghorn]

Flip a coin.

 

[JohnKSa]

If economic reasons are behind the sale, it's worth noting that 9mm practice ammunition is cheaper than .45 fodder.

Also, you can ditch all the cleaning equipment for the .45 since your two remaining pistols would use the same cleaning kit.

 

[Surefire]

Keep the one you enjoy shooting the most.

For me that would be the .45 ACP. For you, that may or may not be.

 

[Ledhead686]

Unfortunately, John, economic reasons are indeed the reason I need to sell one of these guns (don't know why, but I was kind of embarrassed to say so... )

I've taken into consideration the fact that 9mm is cheaper, but that's a secondary factor, IMO, when your life may be at stake. (Though I target-shoot for fun, the possibility of a life or death emergency is the primary reason I own firearms in the first place). I read somewhere yrs. ago that FBI stats show most gunfights in the home occur within a 7-10' range. Seeing as how if I did find myself in such a situation with a single BG, I'm pretty confident I wouldn't miss and thus in this particular instance I would opt for stopping power over mag. capacity. On the other hand, if a SHTF scenario did arise with the likelihood of facing multiple opponents...

Are you following me?...or am I not making too much sense?

Surefire: That's yet another thing I can't decide -- which one I enjoy shooting most. :banghead: I really like 'em both equally. (Now, are you guys sorry you replied to this thread or what?! Lol! I hate to be such a nuisance...maybe I'm better off taking raghorn's "flippant" advice after all).

 

[lawson]

keep the one you can shoot best with.

 

[JohnKSa]

Well, I'm not trying to push you hard, but being able to practice is a very important component in preparation for self-defense.

And while self-defense encounters tend to occur at short range, it's not at all uncommon for people to miss. I remember seeing a dashcam video of a shootout between two cops and two bad guys that started out at arm's length ranges. Everyone unloaded a magazine and no one was hit.

lawson's advice is very good.

 

[HSMITH]

Although I am a 45 guy from way back I say sell the 45. A 9mm that you practice with and can actually hit something with is better than a 45 that you never shoot.......

 

[meef]

Since you're selling for economic reasons - sell the one that will fetch the most money.

 

[Jim PHL]

Ditch the snub and put one of the Rugers in the glovey!

 

[Ledhead686]

I think I know the video you're taking about -- the one in which those two brothers on the run from the law were pulled over in their van and shot it out with the cops?! I remember that specifically because of the lousy marksmanship by both parties involved. And now that I think about it, although I'm fairly accurate with the .45 at short to mid-range distances in the field and at the range itself, the stress of being in such a situation could indeed throw off my accuracy...

Up until just a few short mos. ago, I had never owned/shot a 9mm (always had more powerful hg's; .357's, .45's, .44 mags, etc) and was surprised at how accurate they are. And taking into consideration I'm a relatively small guy -- 5' 10", 165 lbs -- maybe I am better off with the 9mm.

Thanks to all of you for your help, I truly appreciate it -- looks as though you've answered my question.

Piece.

 

[Ledhead686]

Jim, that's the reason I bought the snubby in the first place: neither of the Rugers would fit in the glovey...(though the next car I buy, I'll make damn sure I have enough room to hold an RPG in the glove compartment. Lol!)

 

[osteodoc08]

Whichever you do decide to sell, PLEASE don't sell it to a pawn shop. If you sell it on here, you'll get more money for it.

 

[Ledhead686]

Believe me, Doc, I'm not that stupid (at least not anymore ).

When I was a lad of about 19, I found myself in similar financial circumstances and found it necessary to pawn a .30-06 Remington 700 BDL in absolute mint cond. It had a high-quality Weaver scope and a beautifully-woven leather strap. I figure the whole rig was worth about $650 or so at the time. Know how much I got for it? $125!! It taught me a lesson I'll never forget: never walk into a pawn shop again with the intention of selling anything; do so only with the the intention of buying. To this day, whenever I think about it, I kick myself in the ass for being stupid enough to do such a thing.

ciao, all -- and again, thanks for your suggestions. I've definitely made up my mind and I'm keeping the 9mm.

 

[osteodoc08]

We've all learned some hard lessons in life. Some harder than others...
I hope you get back to where you need to be, financially, and have another "back in the day" story for down the road.

 

[MDG1976]

If economic reasons are behind the sale, it's worth noting that 9mm practice ammunition is cheaper than .45 fodder.

Also, you can ditch all the cleaning equipment for the .45 since your two remaining pistols would use the same cleaning kit.

Since you are selling for $$$ reasons, this advice seems to be spot on.

 

[Ledhead686]

I hear you, MDG. That bit of advice (along with the rest of the well-informed opinions voiced here) factored into my decision to hold onto the 9mm.

Thank you.

 

[kmrcstintn]

$ .02

Here's my situation and what I decided on.

1) What I had: Ruger gp-100 4" stainless, Marlin 336 .30-30, Mossberg 500 12 ga w/ 3 barrels (hunting combo), S&W 642; already sold the Beretta 92 & CZ 75BD

2) Totaled automobile & lost job

3) Sell off firearms (keep I for PD); quammed over Ruger and S&W;couldn't decide over HD vs CCW

4) Finally decided to keep the S&W for CCW & HD...very hard and uncomfortable to CCW w/ 41 oz steel revolver & I've practiced a good amount with it to feel comfortable with using it

5) Get more comfortable with your snubby cuz one never knows if another sale is necessary (Ruger 9mm) and you'll want to hold onto something for personal defense (Charter Arms)

 

[lyricsdad]

hmm i think i would have kept the ruger, and the mossberg.

ruger for ccw, and mossberg for hd. The mossberg you could have probably sold the other barrel pretty easily especially during the hunting seasons. would have also gotten more money for the other weapons, and keeping the ruger would give you an excellent pistol for ccw.

 

[Socrates]

I'm in a similar spot.

Suffice to say the accurate firearms are probably the only ones I've really missed selling.

One's I'm sorry I sold, on other basis, or didn't buy, are Mac 10/11's, M1A forged, and, the one I really kick myself for, a Detonics CombatMaster VI.
I LOVED that gun, and, it drove tacks.

We'll see how things play out, but, I was FORCED to buy a .500 JRH Maximum, and a FA .475 recently.

S

 

[Ledhead686]

Socrates -- were you magnum-forced to buy these guns?...did some put a gun to your head?!

I know, I know...cornball humor on my part to be sure, forgive me. I'm just in a silly mood this afternoon is all. But I do know what you're talking about. I've also bought guns that I just couldn't pass up due to them being one helluva deal. Actually, I wasn't even in the market for another gun when I decided to buy the 9mm. I had a Ruger mini-thirty, a .45 ACP, and a .38 snubby prior to buying the P89. I didn't really need this piece. I'm of the "get proficient at one particular sidearm/rifle/shotgun" school but this deal was just too sweet to pass up -- I was salivating like a male dog after a bitch in heat. In my younger days, I would scour the classifieds and horde everything I thought was a real bargain. Only problem was, the more I added to my collection, the less was the probability I'd actually practice with these firearms at all, let alone get proficient with them.