You can only own ONE handgun

[Caliban]

in nyc, you're only allowed one handgun. so, the situation i'm facing is that i can only have one gun that will have to serve double duty as my hd gun and my target gun (no plans to hunt anything living). here's the question: what do you get and why?

rules of the game:

-$1500 price limit. maybe $2k. since i only get one, i'm willing to spend the cash on a top of the line production handgun, but i'm not shelling out for some tricked out custom that's going to spend most nights in a safe and one weekend or two a month at the range shooting paper targets.

-must not be something i'll want to replace any time soon. disposing of handguns and getting new ones in nyc is a real pain and involves paperwork and bringing the new gun to the cops for inspection. i'd love to start with a 22 and just buy a bigger pistol once i get the basics mastered, but i'm not willing to deal with the hassle, and i don't trust 22 for hd anyway. this one gun has to be a keeper.

-must be an autoloader. i'm just more comfortable with them, that's why.

right now i'm thinking about a sig x-5 tactical, which seems to hit the sweet spot of being ultra reliable and in a "big enough" caliber (9mm) for defense, but also something that will be way more accurate than i am for many years to come. i'm willing to consider 40 and 45, but i've only ever fired 9mm and i don't know if i'll care about the recoil difference, i will hopefully get a chance to test that out before i buy.

i know the standard response is "shoot lots of guns and buy the one you feel most comfortable with" but i'm going to have a very short window during which i'll have to purchase the gun after i get "approval" and i simply don't have time to shoot every gun i can think of. i already called my local range and they say i can't shoot a pistol there until i have my license (although for some reason you can shoot a 22lr rifle w/o a license, so i'm doing that in the meantime).

so: if you could only have one handgun (and no rifle or shotgun) what would it be? or, if you were suddenly forced to sell your entire collection and only keep one handgun, which would it be?

 

[357wheelgunner]

Sig P226 9mm, with the old stamped slide.

 

[cliffy]

What's the difference between . . .

A .22 LR and a .454 Casull are two different animules. These calibers I find not interchangable in usage. Both are at the extremes of useage, so choosing one over the other is ludicrious ar BEST! cliffy

 

[cslinger]

Smith and Wesson 681 Performance Center 7 shot 357 magnum. That is my 1 handgun.

In an autoloader a SIG P220 All stainless.

Chris

 

[belus]

I'm not familiar with the gun laws of NYC, but is a .22 caliber conversion considered a separate firearm? Under federal law I know it isn't.

If you're able, consider a CZ-75 with .22 Cadet Kit. It comes in 9mm or .40, and has options for DA/SA, or safety and decocker.

 

[Purple95]

I would choose a 3" or 4" modern DA revolver in .357 Mag. Something along the lines of a S&W K-frame or Ruger SP-101.

I think these are probably the most versatile, adaptable, and practical handguns around. I don't think any other single handgun can perform as many roles as well.

They can be loaded with cheap (yeah, right) practice ammo all the way up to extremely capable hunting/personal defense loads.

These guns are not difficult to conceal and will perform personal defense, home protection and hunting tasks with the best of them. Pair this with a .357 Mag carbine and you're all set.

Cheers,
dan

 

[Dionysusigma]

Yours.

 

[usmcpmi]

Kimber 1911 in .45acp. Easy enough to change out to a .22 for cheap target practice, but still plenty to stop BG's when necessary. .45 acp is cheap and easy to reload too. MG

 

[Wopasaurus]

I love my xd-45 compact.... however, if I could only have 1 gun.

I'd save up and get a 45 or 40 USP or SIG......

Either of those 3 should treat you perfectly.

Get night sights BTW.

 

[kentucky bucky]

7 shot .357 mag S&W. Very little to go wrong over time.

 

[Caliban]

all good suggestions. very interesting question about whether a conversion kit makes it a different firearm. i think they do it by serial number, which i would presume is on the frame and not the slide? maybe a good question to ask at my "interview".

 

[Wopasaurus]

all good suggestions. very interesting question about whether a conversion kit makes it a different firearm. i think they do it by serial number, which i would presume is on the frame and not the slide? maybe a good question to ask at my "interview".

The one that matters (at least in OHIO) is on the frame. There is a matching serial number on the slide and barrel and stuff. However, the one on the frame is the one that really matters as far as the law in concerned.

 

[Black Majik]

Hmm... are you set on 9mm?

Les Baer Custom Carry in 9mm

or...

in .45.

 

[SamG.]

Glock 17 Long Slide http://www.bren-ten.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/glock_od-g20longslide.jpg

 

[D-Man]

I think the X-5 Tactical would be a great choice.....when reading your post the 1st thing that came to mind was a Sig P226 Stainless Elite - the tactical would be the next step up from that.

I own the older P226ST model in 9MM that has been tuned by Grayguns, and that is a great range gun and also great for home defense use as well. Especially when you add the 20 round magazines to it.

 

[Loomis]

If you aren't planning on concealed carry, get something BIG. Is there a magazine capacity restriction in NYC? If not, go with something that holds LOTS OF AMMO. It sounds like price is no object.

EAA witness:

http://www.eaacorp.com/handguns-witness-elite-gold-EI.html

CZ:

http://www.cz-usa.com/product_detail.php?id=39

HK mark 23:

http://www.hk-usa.com/mark23_general.html

STI edge:

http://www.stiguns.com/guns/Edge/images/EdgeWeb05_800w.jpg

 

[lechiffre]

hk p7.

 

[Caliban]

mm, nice links.

pretty sure there's no mag cap limit. and i'll definitely never be carrying concealed (or otherwise), so i don't mind something big.

i wonder if i could legally get a suppressor for that hk...

 

[zxcvbob]

How about a .45 EAA Witness with all the caliber conversion kits?

 

[jackslayer]

Smith and Wesson 627-5 performance center .357 mag 8 shot revolver. For target shooting you wont find a more accurate production handgun. For self deffense It is arguably the best round ever made. At very least you won't ever find yourself undergunned. And you can get one for about $1000.00 so you could spend the reest on ammo or a rifle or....

In states where you have a 10 round limit there is little compromise in an eight shot revolver.

 

[JohnKSa]

A full-sized 9mm is always a good choice. They hold together well, tend to very shootable and the ammo is relatively inexpensive.

The Beretta Steel or the Beretta Billennium are very nice steel framed pistols based on the 92/96 series aluminum-framed pistols. Should be very durable, very accurate and very reliable. The extra weight will make them easy shooters.

The Beretta Steel has a Vertec style frame which mimics the 1911 grip angle and provides a reduced reach to the trigger--a good choice in the event that the standard 92/96 series are on the big side for your grip. Both the Steel & the Billenium have a frame mounted safety. Both take 92/96 or 90-Two magazines.

The Billennium is going to be on the high side of your price range, but you can probably find a used one in excellent condition for between $1500 & $2000. The Steel should run you around $1K

 

[woad_yurt]

Only one semi-auto pistol? Seriously, I'd go 7.62x25 with a Norinco 54-1. I love that pistol & I love that caliber. Powerful, accurate, very slight recoil, easy to break down & clean and very simple & dependable. Surplus ammo for range time and Wolf hollowpoints for defense. Also, it is within the ammo capacity regs in NYC. If you prefer 9 MM, there's the Model 213 Norinco. Same gun, different caliber. I have one of each and they both cost less than $225 each. The 54-1 I got online, unfired, in the original box with the original papers, for only $223.

There is another, a bit less powerful, but great nonetheless. A Makarov. Small enough to carry, dependable as any revolver, cheap ammo, simple, rugged, pleasant to shoot, etc. Also, it is within NYC's capacity limits.

I like the Com-Bloc pistols because they are simple. I like to tinker with my own stuff, not relying on a gunsmith. These things are easily maintained, cleaned, etc and they were made to keep working without the extensive support & training we give our own military or police. They are the firearms equivalent of an old slant six Plymouth Valiant, one of which I also own. My Mak and 54-1 will be going strong when we're all dust.

 

[Drgong]

BHP and spend the rest of the money on ammo and or custom work.

 

[Odd1]

With that price range you can be well served by many handguns.

I would first consider what action types you are most comfortable with.

If you like SA, I would choice a Les Baer or a 1911 of the standard. You can pick you caliber.

If it is DA/SA or DA choices are endless.

Sounds like the gun will spend most of the time in a safe. So I say get any stock service gun from Glock, Sig, Beretta, Springfield, S&W, etc for less then half the price. Then buy a great deal of ammo and get real comfortable with it.

Any of those service pistols will do what you want.

That does not help, but I am only saying you really can not go wrong by buying the one that feels the most comfortable based on the limited time you have to shop around.


I forgot, not knowing current gun prices in NY you may have to spend that kind of money for a stock service pistol. I was going off what things cost in Texas, and 1.5-2K goes along way.

 

[mhinagoya]

I'm a 1911 45 acp guy, but in the case of only being able to own one, it would have to be a 4 inch .357 Smith.

As much as I love my 1911 pistols and the .45 ACP cartridge, the .357 gets the nod for versatility. That being said, my wife owns two .357s. I don't own any. She has a model 19-2 in unfired condition with the original box and papers. If there was ever a more perfect handgun made, I don't know about it. No, it isn't for sale and probably never will be.

If you choose to handload, Hornady hollow base wadcutters in a .357 case, loaded down to target velocity will give amazing accuracy in a good gun.

If not a S&W (and I could find one) I would buy a Dan Wesson pistol pack with a set of barrels. That way, you could have a .357 with all barrel lengths from two inches to 10 inches and even mount a scope on one of the longer ones if you so desired.

All the guns mentioned in the posts above are fine firearms and any of them would serve you well. I have only spoken to my own opinions.

Many years ago, an old gentleman told me that I should wear the watch and buy the gun that smiles back at me when I look at them (my own reflection). I have found wisdom in his words. I've never been sorry that I bought the one I really wanted.

Bill.