Work-alike guns

[Carl N. Brown]

I have two go-to defensive weapons: 2" .38 revolver and 4" .357 Security Six, with similar stocks, both usually loaded with +P .38 Special.

I have a number of different handguns I consider target guns or collectibles not even weapons for defensive use, but weapons should be kept simple and sweet.

 

[Kendal Black]

^^ That's what I ended up with too, a .38 snub and a .357 full-size. Both guns are the same brand, so the cylinder releases work in the same direction on both, and I got the same brand of speedloaders for both, so all the knobs work the same.

Before my shooting school epiphany I used the .38 snub and a famous brand .45 automatic. You know what? If you've shot a revolver empty a tap-rack-bang drill doesn't put it back online.

 

[Manco]

In a pistol course I took a few years back the instructor brought up something that I hadn't thought of. He said all your defense handguns should work just alike. It avoids confusion at a bad moment.

Makes sense to me. The rule in my household is that defensive handguns all go bang when the trigger is pulled, with nothing else to fiddle with--that's utter simplicity in addition to consistency.

 

[danprkr]

True for less experienced shooters like my wife. Which is why I'm transitioning to all Glocks. She loves hers and won't consider anything else. So while I'm not selling my 1911 or GP 100s, I'm getting multiple copies of the Glock 19 to scatter about the house so no matter where she is she can grab that which she is comfortable with.

 

[Remo223]

Makes sense to me. The rule in my household is that defensive handguns all go bang when the trigger is pulled, with nothing else to fiddle with--that's utter simplicity in addition to consistency.

That's why I removed the lawyer lock from my brand new S&W.

 

[leadcounsel]

I think you are best suited to become expert with your DEFENSIVE weapons, but proficient with all common guns. One never knows the situation he may find himself in - such as using an attackers handgun after a struggle. Would be a bad time to try to figure out why a Browning HighPower won't fire without a magazine, for instance.

 

[Cosmoline]

I think when you're just starting out you should try a wide array of handguns, rather than immediately sticking with the first one you use in training. But once you get to know what works best for you, it's good to focus on training for that platform. And it's not a bad idea to have extra copies of the same. Plus .22 rimfire versions, red training guns, and so on all geared around the same basic platform.

 

[toivo]

I think you are best suited to become expert with your DEFENSIVE weapons, but proficient with all common guns.

That sounds like good advice. For example, I don't own an AR and I have no immediate plans to get an AR. But I was just thinking the other day that it might be a good idea to ask some of the AR owners at my club to give me some basic instruction on the AR. Knowledge is never a bad thing, IMO.

 

[Dr.Rob]

I only have one DA/SA pistol (FEG 380) and I find transitioning to it after shooting multiple single actions to be 'actively thiking' about how to make it work. Lack of an external slide stop, 13 pound DA pull make it VERY unlike my other choices.

It's become a range toy rather than a night stand gun. if I practiced with it like I do with my BHP clone or 1911s I'm sure I could develop the muscle memory to 'not have to think' to make it work.

Don't seem to have that issue when I pick up a revolver.

 

[danprkr]

I think you are best suited to become expert with your DEFENSIVE weapons, but proficient with all common guns.

That would be ideal of course, but in the case of my wife I have a hard time getting her to the range more than 3 or 4 times a year, and so a gun she can operate is better than no gun at all.

 

[Jim in S.A.]

I have both. The PPK isn't problematic because I use the safety only to decock the pistol. Once a round is chambered, I decock, which lowers the hammer, then flip the safety off, relying on the DA trigger pull for safety. It's not really prone to an AD/ND because of the long pull so I find the safety superfluous.

I guess it's conceivable that in a moment of extreme duress, I could flip the PPK safety down due to my 1911 training, but if you have ever tried the safety on the PPK, you're not likely to confuse that long 90 degree throw with the short arc of a 1911.

The other thing is that I practice a lot, so my hand "knows" which weapon I'm holding. That said, I know it's not everyone's cup of tea, but I'm not concerned about it personally.

 

[essayons21]

Whats most important is making sure that you train your muscle memory one way, and that way works on all of your defensive guns.

For example, I usually carry a 1911, which is the platform I am most comfortable with. My grip has the firing thumb resting on the safety, with my support hand thumb over top of the firing thumb, so the safety comes off when I grip the pistol. My other carry guns are a xD subcompact and a P3AT, and with the same grip there are no problems. I have a Stoeger Cougar, which is my fiance's nightstand gun. Even though it has the Beretta-style controls, which are opposite from the 1911's, it sits with a round in the chamber, safety off, decocked (hammer down). The slide mounted safety is so high that my thumb doesn't hit it when I go to swipe of a 1911 safety, so there are no issues.

You don't need to go out and buy all Glocks or all 1911s for defensive handguns. Train one way, then make sure the guns you have all work in that way. Most will, with some exceptions. Even though I like some HK handguns, the funky magazine release turns me off of them for defensive use.

 

[NoirFan]

This is a major reason I have only S&W and Ruger revolvers, the controls are in the same places and they all work more or less the same way.

I also like to have one sighting system for all my rifles and shotguns, so those which don't come with aperture or ghost ring sights get aftermarket parts.

 

[birddog]

When I first started carrying, I thought that was a good idea, too. Now I have a few regular carry guns, and only a few of them are similar. I think it's imperative to become familiar with whatEVER or however many guns you are carrying.

I'm also a guitarist, and find that my hands remember just fine when switching from a thin-necked Les Paul, to a fat-necked Strat, or to a high-stringed acoustic. The key is to practice with all of them.

Your muscle memory is much more expansive and capable of variety than you might think.

 

[gatorjames85]

The rule in my household is that defensive handguns all go bang when the trigger is pulled, with nothing else to fiddle with

+1 They are all either DA/SA Pistols, DAO Pistols or DA Revolvers

 

[HGUNHNTR]

Originally Posted by Jeff82
"Beware the man who owns one gun." (He can probably use it very well.)

Actually, its probably rusting away in a sock drawer.

 

[tazbigdog]

Depends on the person. I trained with different guns (revolvers and semi-autos) at tactical shoots. I got comfortable with using anything that went boom.

 

[KnightHawk67]

I carry a 1911 when I can, and a CZ RAMI when I need something a little smaller profile. They have identical grip angles, safeties, slide locks, and mag dumps. I figure if I need to use them, I will probably revert to my most basic training & not have to try to remember how this one or that one operate. I have others, but those are my constant companions.