Ideal House/Range handgun?

[Richard]

If you were to choose one handgun to serve your range and home defense needs what would you opt for? In my mind three calibers come to mind and they are the 9mm, 10mm, and the 45acp. By limiting myself to these calibers, my choices are:

9mm:
Sig P226
Glock 17
Browning High-Power (BHP)

10mm:
Dan Wesson Patriot Commander
Glock 21 with a 10mm conversion barrel and magazines

45acp:
Glock 21
Glock 30
Para Ordnance P14

Now I have my candidates by caliber but I then look at them by their type of action. Those that know me acknowledge my love of S/A pistols and I could be well served by my Browning High-Power, Dan Wesson Patriot Commander, and Para Ordnance P14.

The other group of handguns that have my complete respect are Glock safe action pistols. This battery would be the Glock 17, Glock 21 with a 10mm-conversion barrel and magazines, Glock 21, and Glock 30.

My first instinct is to choose the Glock battery and few can argue against it. My only reservation is the trigger on Glock pistols irritates my forefinger during long ranges sessions.

My second instinct is to choose the pistols I love to shoot and they are 1911s and BHPs. I enjoy the accuracy and power of the 1911s and there is no handgun I shoot better and faster than the BHP.

I have at this point eliminated the Glocks from consideration based solely on my love of S/A pistols. Which of the Browning High-Power, Dan Wesson Patriot Commander, and Para Ordnance P14 pistols will get my nod? I am sure my Para Ordnance P14 gets the gold. Why? It is accurate, reliable, and has the firepower to handle all occasions.

The reason I opted for the Para Ordnance P14 over the Dan Wesson Patriot Commander and Browning High-Power is I prefer large slow bullets for home use and my recovery time between shots is faster than with the 10mm Dan Wesson.

What is your ideal range and home defense handgun?

Regards,

Richard

 

[hrgrisso]

Sig

I love my Sigs. I use my SigPro 2340 in .40S&W with hi cap mags. I'm hoping to trade up to another SigP226 Elite later this year. I already have a 226 and love dropping a 20rd mag into it and letting them fly.

Accurate as all get out.
Comfortable and fun.

Oh and just a thought. Most Sigs will be available SAO soon.

 

[Ala Dan]

Toss Out The 10mm

and stick with either the 9m/m, or .45 ACP. With that said, I prefer SIGS
myself; and a nice 9m/m P228 (maybe a P226 ?) or a .45 ACP P220A most
likely would fill the bill very nicely. I recently semi-retired my above SIG's,
in favor of the polymer framed Springfield Armory XD-.45 ACP full size gun
as my home D' handgun choice. The reason, its very hard too beat 13+1
of .45 ACP~!

BTW, my reasoning for tossing the 10mm is simple, its too damn
expensive to shoot; and the recoil from such weapons as a Glock
29 is terrible.

 

[Exmasonite]

what about the springfield XD?

9mm is 16+1 capacity, the .45 is 13+1 (without getting into the compact/subcompact, etc).

 

[DirksterG30]

For me I would pick the Sig P226, or my CZ P-01. The P-01 is also one of my carry guns, so I am very familiar with it. I do like the longer sight radius and reduced recoil of the 226 for home defense, since weight isn't as much of an issue around the house.

 

[GunNut]

Out of your choices I would choose the Glock 21, but I wouldn't feel under armed with any of the 9mm or .45ACP choices.

My HD handgun is my secondary weapon anyways, my first choice is a Remington 11-87 Police 12ga semi-auto shotgun.

Steve

 

[Juna]

Of your choices, I'd say BHP. But I chose my CZ-75 over the BHP, and I find it pretty much ideal for HD.

 

[BADUNAME13]

Something with a light.

I used my P14 limited for some time. But while I have one of those Surefires which does not need a rail (One of the old ones which replaces the slide release)

I wanted a pistol which could do it all. One I could slide the light off and put in my holster and carry all day. (Also wanted it to use my 1911 mags)

I bought a Kimber Warrior. I shot it right out of the box. (No cleaning/oiling just striped it to inspect it) I'm up to 400 rounds. when I'm up to 1,000 I'll clean it, run 200 HP's through it and replace my CCW with it.

Streamlight TRL1, 10 round Power Mag and it's VERY nice sitting next to the bed.

 

[10-Ring]

Of the choices you provide, I would go w/ 9mm & for the platform....the BHP Tough platform to beat

 

[ReadyontheRight]

Dan Wesson 1911 in .45 ACP for the great trigger or the Glock 21 for more rounds at a time.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

For home defense, go with a shotgun. For carry, go with a handgun. Carry your handgun in the house, just in case you get caught separated from your shotgun.

 

[tango3065]

Glock for all purpose, but when things go bump in the night or the door bell rings after dark I have a J frame S&W airweight and my hand in my pant pocket.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

IMO, the Ideal House/Range Gun is a 4" 6,7 or 8 round .357 Magnum Revolver.

My 4" S&W M619 fits that bill perfectly and my 3" Ruger Service-Six isn't far behind it!

 

[longeyes]

Longeyes say: Glock--17, 19, or 30.

 

[_N4Z_]

My ideal house / range "handgun" is either of my two .357 Rugers. The revolver trumps the auto for reliability and accuracy, in my opinion.

That said though, they serve only as a means to get me to my Remington 870 12 guage.

Pump shotgun trumps handgun in most HD situations. Again, IMO.



* For invading undead zombie hordes - move now to the AK with many magazines at the ready.

 

[tbtrout]

Sig P220 or Kimber Warrior

 

[nathan]

HD is Colt 45 series 60. CCW makarov in 9 mm mak. Car gun is FEG PJK 9 HP or a Norinco 54 1 in tokarev rd. The best is scram out if you feel you have the chance.

 

[Nail Shooter]

G19. Not on your list, but could be if you were going to go out and buy. In my experience, it's just as accurate and reliable as the G17, plus small enough to carry if you should ever want to do that. Regards,

NS

 

[DMK]

Out of the guns I own, these are the contenders:

CZ40B 40S&W - 12 round mags
CZ75B 9mm - 15-25 round mags

Colt CCO 45ACP - 6-8 round mags (CCW)
Sistema 1911A1 (customized) 45ACP - 7-8 round mags

S&W Model 28 - six rounds of .357Mag

S&W 642 - five rounds of .38 Special (CCW/BUG)

Out of those, I consider the CCO to be my best CCW and the CZ40 to be my best "combat handgun" where concealment isn't a requirement. I've shot the CZ40, the CCO, and the CZ75 in USPSA competition. I preferred the CZ75 and CZ40 for that type of action.

One day though, I'd like to find a CZ75 in .40

 

[moxie]

You answered your own question:
"there is no handgun I shoot better and faster than the BHP."

Why fool around?

 

[Ragnar Danneskjold]

Sig 229. Hands down.

 

[DaleCooper51]

For an overall house/range gun it would be either a 3 or 4 inch k-frame Smith and Wesson. If it were just a range gun, I would opt for a 6 inch 38 or 357, but if using it as a nightstand gun, I think the shorter barrel would be a better fit. Like others have said, the handgun would be as backup for when the 12 gauge runs out of ammo.

 

[Stoney]

For me it's a S&W model 19 with a 2.5" barrel. Sweet trigger, good sights, and plenty of power in that 357 magnum.

 

[waynedm]

9mm:
Sig P226 - would work well.
Glock 17 - would work well.
Browning High-Power (BHP) Single action for SD?

10mm:
Dan Wesson Patriot Commander. Again, single action?
Glock 21 with a 10mm conversion barrel and magazines - Why not just get the G20 and be done?

45acp:
Glock 21 - Good choice.
Glock 30 - Good choice.
Para Ordnance P14 - Good choice in LDA.

How about Rugers, CZs, Berettas, FNPs? If you love the Hi Power you'll love the CZ line of pistols. Try one out.

 

[LanEvo`]

If you were to choose one handgun to serve your range and home defense needs what would you opt for?

Easy. I'd take an L-frame S&W revolver chambered for .357mag/.38spl with a 4" or 6" barrel.

In my mind three calibers come to mind and they are the 9mm, 10mm, and the 45acp.

You can't get any more versatile than the .357mag/.38spl. Load it with 148 gr hollow base wadcutters for the range, 125 gr jacketed hollow points for defense, and 158 gr lead semi-wadcutters for hunting. What more do you need?