A Holiday Quiz. A Choice of One Gun. To Defend Yourself In the Home ,On the Street or in the Wild

[Hokkmike]

If it’s one caliber rather than one gun, I still would chose .357.

A S&W K-frame .357 revolver along with a scoped Rossi 92 lever action in the same caliber would suit my needs in my present location.

Your picks are GREAT - but what if you had to pick only ONE gun? Which of the two would you pick? Or maybe something else?

 

[dweis]

I chose "other" because they all would work for me on the street or at home, and "in the wild" is relative to how wild a place you might venture into.. As I look at my 82nd birthday approaching in April, my notion of wild is the dog park.

 

[Frulk]

Coop... You're right about the RedHawk. I have the 2-inch brick (lol) version. You won't forget it's on your body...EVER.

About the 329: I bought my first one a long time back and carried it over many years while back packing in the Wind Rivers Wilderness in Wy. while flyfishing. Prior to that I carried a Blackhawk in .45Colt with 4.5-inch barrel with handloads for that purpose.

I responded to the thread question with what I thought was my best option looking at what I had laying around.

Shooting factory ammo in .44 mag is close to brutal...getting back on target with follow-up shoots is difficult. One of the things the instruction manual points out is any ammo you're using load the cylinder and then fire a round and check for bullet pull after EACH round.

I never used my reloads in it and only factory ammo. I would shoot it 2-3 times a year prior to week+ plus trips. Always shot standing up with both hands trying to simulate how I would use it in the backcountry. I gave that gun as a wedding gift to a good friend's son who also backpacks in the Winds but didn't have a sidearm. I missed it and ended up buying another one 2-3 years later.

I never have put .44 special through it. BUT a friend bought one for the express purpose of using it as a CCW. He had a smith he likes in Colorado work it over and then put a round butt synthetic stock on it (that I've not been able to find anywhere). He said he can shoot .44 special accurately and doesn't mind carrying it all day (which doesn't surprise me as it's that light).

 

[Speedo66]

Your picks are GREAT - but what if you had to pick only ONE gun? Which of the two would you pick? Or maybe something else?

Well, I carried a S&W Model 10 for many years before we transitioned to Glocks, so I guess I’d stick with the .357 handgun.

Walking around with a rifle would probably not go well where I live.

 

[d2wing]

Would you want the .223 in the wild? I think not.

Really. Do you have grizzly bears in Florida? It depends entirely on what conditions and needs you expect to encounter. City, country, mobile, stationary defending property, or all of the above. Also your proficiency with your weapon. The OP said defense. You need rate of fire and ammo if you consider roving gangs which is not far-fetched these days. I am a combat veteran. I understand how it works and what works. In Alaska you might need more. Actually a .22 LR might be preferable if defense wasn't a consideration. A louder more powerful guns says here I am come and get me. Of course any weapon is far superior to none and I agree with several choices for different reasons.
I would actually want a .357 revolver as well. I shoot it better than a .44 Mag. A SA in 9 MM, or .40 makes sense too.

 

[IJ1981]

Really. Do you have grizzly bears in Florida? It depends entirely on what conditions and needs you expect to encounter. Also your proficiency with your weapon. The OP said defense. You need rate of fire and ammo if you consider roving gangs which is not far-fetched these days. I am a combat veteran. I understand how it works and what works. In Alaska you might need more. Actually a .22 LR might be preferable if defense wasn't a consideration. A louder more powerful guns says here I am come and get me. Of course any weapon is far superior to none and I agree with several choices for different reasons.
I would actually want a .357 revolver as well. I shoot it better than a .44 Mag. A SA in 9 MM, or .40 makes sense too.

I am also a US Army Veteran. Thank you for your service! Great handgun choices.

No grizzlies in South Florida but we do have thousands of Burmese Pythons up to close to 16 feet long, slithering through the Everglades!

 

[IJ1981]

I would be using what I use right now, a G23 in .40 S&W. Concealable, adequate capacity, works well enough in the role of CC/SD/HD and in the wild (I only have mountain lions, no tigers and small bears). The much bigger threat is feral dogs and their deadbeat owners.

What? No .505 Gibbs?

.505 Gibbs is out ot stock worldwide!

 

[d2wing]

I am also a US Army Veteran. Thank you for your service! Great handgun choices.

No grizzlies in South Florida but we do have thousands of Burmese Pythons up to close to 16 feet long, slithering through the Everglades!

I hate snakes. I'd really want a full-auto AR. I saw plenty of snake in Nam. A 12 gauge with heavier shot is what I'd pick for just them. Also a lot depends on if you need stand-off range or expect just close encounters. Thank you for your service.

 

[Captains1911]

Your title says “gun” but you listed cartridges. Also how is .223/5.56 not included? Sorry, but big time fail.

 

[IJ1981]

So sorry! "We can't please everyone but you got to please yourself".

Rick Nelson ,Garden Party, 1972

 

[tommy.duncan]

Well... This will be hard for me,
I am a huge 10mm fan but I don't carry 10mm daily.
My normal EDC is a P226 in 357sig. 13+1 with 2 full mags seem to be OK with me.
I bought this pistol as an experiment after the cartridge was released, it grew in me.

But I do have a P320 X10 comp in route!! Might have to re-evaluate my EDC!!

 

[IJ1981]

-z

Well... This will be hard for me,
I am a huge 10mm fan but I don't carry 10mm daily.
My normal EDC is a P226 in 357sig. 13+1 with 2 full mags seem to be OK with me.
I bought this pistol as an experiment after the cartridge was released, it grew in me.

But I do have a P320 X10 comp in route!! Might have to re-evaluate my EDC!!

I really do appreciate my Glock 29 10mm.
It it is not that slim but readily concealable with a good Milt Sparks Redi Max holster. 10+1 capacity.

It is ultra reliable and for home, street and field ,it is the perfect companion.

In second place is the Glock 36, 45 ACP. ultra slim and light. Only drawback is 6+1 capacity , so I carry a extra mag..

2 great Glocks.

 

[tommy.duncan]

I really do appreciate my Glock 29 10mm.

I have a G29 that I carried like twice. I like shooting it but not very concealable.

That is why I will need to re-evaluate the new Sig 10mm comp. Nothing in stone

 

[Frulk]

Maybe it’s just me but I’m really enjoying this thread. Some great responses.

 

[IJ1981]

So am I! It is good to have a thread with excellent ,level headed, informative responses without any rancor.

Very very cool for Christmas and the New Year. Happy Holidays to you all, THR!

 

[captain awesome]

Not a lot my M1A Socom wouldn't take care of, accurate, fairly compact, light for a battle rifle, 20 round standard mags, smaller mags available if necessary, and powerful. Has a removable picatinny rail for a scope or you can put a red dot on the main rail farther down the rifle (which I did) or just use the iron sights.

If a handgun makes more sense (which in my current situation does) then my Smith & Wesson 329 PD 44 mag as others have suggested as well. Light, powerful, packable, concealable, accurate.

 

[Ignition Override]

Is this for a Road Warrior fantasy, or simply what can be concealed while walking?

In my car- my VZ-58 in an area of known serious urban “unrest”, which can not be avoided .

On foot any rifle carbine would be crazy. My Sig P225 concealed if outside the car.
With no experience hunting there is no possible scenario for me to be in the woods unless jogging at a park.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

The basic premise, "Choice of one gun for defense in all situations" basically rules out long arms. I can't imagine carrying a rifle or shotgun everywhere. For a defensive pistol, I chose the .45 ACP in the gun that was designed for it, the M1911,

​

 

[jstert]

my vote was for “other,” a 38sp snubbie revolver. in my case for 25 years all i had in a series of antigun locales was a taurus 85. easy to conceal carry, proven platform/ammo, simple manual of arms.

 

[dogtown tom]

Would you want the .223 in the wild? I think not.

I would.
I would take my 5.56 AR15 over any handgun listed and not bat an eye. Oddly, the US military made that same choice decades ago.
Don't see many .375 H&H or .44 magnum in combat.

But the entire poll is fail. It's not a list of "guns" but calibers/chamberings.

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

An all-in-one?

A .475 Wildey.

Loaded with .475 Wildey magnum, super-whamodyne, magic armor piercing, heat seeking, incendiary, explody bullets.

 

[Whiskeyhotel2020]

I chose a ten the problem I have is witch one. I have a kimber TLEII and of course a glock 20 gen3. Now I'm a 1911 guy through and through however there something to be said for 6-7 more rounds the glock carries. I begrudgingly admit that the glock has multiple advantages for all around in gun/cartridge combo in this scenario. I'm assuming it's a gun we currently have in our collection.

 

[savagelover]

Overall the not listed .45 ACP for home and carry. As to in the wild? Likely the same. Maybe larger if the wild has lions and tigers and bears. The .45 ACP in a 3" barrel flavor 1911.

Ron

Lions,tigers and bears,oh my..

 

[JTHunter]

There is one good reason to prefer the 12 gauge over a center-fire rifle and that is "coverage". Using some form of buckshot (OO, OOO, #2, or #4) covers a wider area at any area beyond 1 foot better than any rifle bullet with less chance of over penetration. That "spread" also forgives "stress induced shakes" that can destroy almost any hope of accuracy from a rifle.
Granted, in an "outdoor/back-country" situation, rifles might be better because of the longer range and deeper penetration, but a load of #4 Buck into the face of a charging bear will still be devastating.

 

[hutch51]

Home and street a 1911 in .45.
Wild - Not so sure. We don't have grizzlies out here - south central Kansas - but have seen bobcats, deer. Might carry a rifle in the wild, but the OP asked for one.

I also enjoy these kinds of threads, especially the lubrication stuff. I just might accidentally learn something