If you could have only one handgun, what would you choose?

I'm probably another that would go with a 357 revolver, my 7-round 686 with 5 inch barrel.

Yep, the 686 would be my choice as well... 4” barrel though.

I’m not saying it my favorite gun ( though I do like it a lot) it is just honestly the best all around pistol. Tough and up to almost any task.

If I had to choose just one it would be my S&W M64 snubby. Though if I still had it, I would choose my 3" M65 , mainly for the versatility of of being able to use ,357

Either:

Ruger Blackhawk Convertible 38spl/357mag and 9mm.

Or:

Glock 29 with multiple Lone Wolf conversion barrels.

This is a easy question for me to answer...

I would own the only one that the Government says is legal.

I was raised poor and have been down on the floor financially through a bankruptcy. Despite those hardships I retained gun ownership.

Not the spirit of the topic you want but I reject voluntarily owning only one gun.

Smith and Wesson Model 66, 4 inch barrel, smooth wood finger groove grips, magna ported. Powerful, reliable and versatile.

IronHand

I presume the one gun would also have to be the “family gun”. Therefore, for us it would have to be a .22. Kids and wife like shooting 22s, but not much else. It would also have to be small enough to use as a CCW, but still reliable. That means a M&P22 Compact in my house. My Beretta 71 would be a close second, but magazines are harder to find. I could also attach a light to the M&P.

My Dan Wesson 357 witch I can use 38 38Sp and can change the barrels from 2 In 4 In 6 In 8 In 10 In That gives me 5 guns in one I also want my reloads

Glock 19, hands down.

There are some times it’s not great to carry, but no matter your attire you could probably find a way.

A longer barrel and grip might be better for HD but it’ll do the job.

Hunting with a handgun? Meh, in this fictional scenario I’ll just hunt with shotguns and rifles. That’s an activity I don’t really see as particularly important for a handgun since long arms generally do it better.

A double action 357. Probably a Smith & Wesson. 4 to 6" barrel.

Today it’s this one.

I'm not really sure that it's in the "spirit of the game" to choose something like a Glock with a 22 conversion kit, AND conversion barrels and magazines to shoot several different calibers. If so, that's the obvious choice.

If I could really only have one handgun, it would probably be a medium-framed 4" 357. I'm old-school. That was my first "real" handgun. You can CC it if you have to. It's a solid choice for SD. You can take deer and other game with it if you're close enough.

My logical choice now is likely my Glock 23. Simply boring, but I have a 9mm barrel and .22LR conversion kit. I like versatility.

Another option I'm really liking and will try out when get home is the Sig P320 chassis. You can go between 9mm and .40S&W; sub-compact to full size, competition to tactical, and even a pseudo PDW-like chassis with arm brace.

Of course, I do like the idea of a steel frame (be it semi-auto or revolver) as they will last quite a long time. My CZ85 has always been a sweet shooter; I don't think I could ever part with my Dan Wesson CBOB, and the grip of the Hi-Power feels like it's made for my hand...sure glad I don't have to make the "one gun for your life" choice!







ROCK6

I've said this before, but my "one and only" handgun, if that were ever forced upon me for whatever ungodly reason, would be my Colt Delta Elite. 10mm is versatile enough to cover ALL bases I can think of.

To me it's like saying, "If you could have only one screwdriver...".

Good quality (i.e reliable), full size, steel 1911 in 9 mm with adjustable night or fiber optic sights. Depending on the example, it might benefit from a trigger job. Load it with 147 grain, standard pressure, Federal HST.

The 1911 would do for defense against human assailants and for hunting small to medium size game. For large game, the gun would be a medium or large frame .357 magnum revolver with a six inch barrel. Minimum would be a Ruger GP100 or a S&W 686.

Jeb Stuart said:

Don't really know, but would not rule out this gun below. Rugged, dependable, shoots 38.cal, 357. and the much available 9mm.

Blackhawk Convertible.

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This is my answer to a T. Not my favorite caliber to shoot, but a gun that eats three different commonly found cartridges that can take most any reasonable game and do a good job in the defense role is tough to beat.

I still think I like my little .45 acp Charter Arms pitbull the best. Great shooter, great cartridge, no mags.

That said, on a camping trip in black bear country this summer, the Ruger convertible stoked with hard cast .357 is going with us to the cabin.

Ruger Security Six or GP100. Self defense and hunting capable.

Blackhawk .45 Convertible

My head says Glock 19, but my heart says Browning Hi-Power.

Personal defense is my primary use for handguns. That said, a gun that can be used for gun games, hunting, or whatever is great. I always have a dilemma between semiautos and revolvers. My 629 can do anything I ask of it, but is suboptimal for defense. It is decent in that role with good 44 Special ammunition. However, so is 45 ACP, which is my favorite cartridge. Therefore, it is usually between my guns in 45 ACP. I like my SIG P220 Legion SAO, but the safety is incorrectly placed for high thumb shooting. I like my Dan Wesson Valor Government, but a Commander carries better and I am always suspicious of 1911 reliability. I always come back to my Glock 21 and 30. The 30 g4 is very accurate and carries well. The S&W M&P 45 M2.0 carries better than a G21 and is tied with a 1911. I would likely choose the Glock 30 as a good compromise carry gun. A Dan Wesson Valor Commander in 45 would give it good competition, but my current Valor Commander is chambered in 9mm. I would really like to try a 1911 like the Bill Wilson Carry (Officers frame, rail, night sights, grippy texturing). Maybe an HK 45 Compact will beat them all, but they really need to update the frame to P30 style before I will jump. So, for now, the simple Glock 30 wins.

Or maybe the Glock 21. I cannot be sure.

One gun to handle everything from CCW to Ursus arctos horribilis?



Glock 20, small and light enough to be concealed with my every day attire, big enough to be shot comfortable and to make good use of the ballistic potential of the 10mm Auto. The 10mm Auto brings the versatility of the .357 Magnum to an autoloader holding 15 rounds in the magazine.

Three screw Blackhawk in .41 magnum.

Just because it is the last handgun I'd ever part with.

^ that’s how I feel about my Blackhawk.

while it may not be as practical for SD as my Glock or Shield9 it’s the handgun I enjoy shooting the most.