If you could have only one pistol?

[Rexster]

See my avatar image, for my favorite pistol. Yes, a revolving pistol*. Ruger GP100, 4”, adjustable sight, original-pattern factory grip. The grip fits my hand perfectly. The trigger fits my index fingers perfectly. The arc of the trigger stroke is ergonomically perfect for me. This perfect fit assists in “natural point-ability,” so, it is no surprise that best accuracy potential is with a GP100. In my personal case, long-stroke double-action is more stress-proof than any other handgun trigger system. I can dress around a 4” medium-large-frame revolver. When I absolutely needed to fire a well-placed defensive shot, one night in June, 1993, well, y’all should get the idea, by now. I went home, later that morning.

Not knocking other revolver manufacturers. I am actually more likely to tote a shorter-barrel S&W K-Frame, on a day-to-day basis. I could just as well tote a Colt, though I would need to get used to that different trigger system, to do best work.

Not knocking autos, either. Today, my second gun, in the ”bag gun” role, was a Glock Gen4 G17, one of my former duty pistols, in a JM Custom Kydex OWB holster, which was acting as a glorified trigger guard cover, inside A Hill People Gear Tarahumara backpack.

*Sam Colt patented the “revolving pistol” a very long time ago.

 

[Rodfac]

Bannock...great lookin' Combat Commander. Mine mentioned in post 60, was that frosty satin nickle that Colt used on some Series 70 guns. It was a well used piece that I bought from a friend when he switched to Sigs. The Colt manuf. uppers in 9mm & .38 Super were Series 70's and fit without gunsmithing. As I recall, I switched out the ejector, the slide stop and of course the magazines to get them to function.

I quickly found that the 9mm slide would function with either 9mm or .38 Super barrels and magazines, and oddly enough shot to the same point of impact! But with the .38 slide and bbl., only super mags would work due to the cartridge OAL.

I ended up leaving the 9mm ejector in full time and found that it was 100% with the .45 as well. Overall, the .38 Super was the most accurate, outdoing even the .45, and preferred 124 gr bullets. Much later, I bought the Ruger CMD in .45, and found that those same 9mm & .38 Super uppers worked equally well.

The .22 upper is a Ciener from 20+ years ago. Accurate, but prone to FT feed if the slide hasn't been wiped clean of grease and re-oiled with something light, like Rem Oil. Too, I need to keep the chamber and bolt face wiped pretty clean for good reliability. I do have a Marvel .22 Upper as well, but don't recall if it works on the commander length frames...it's a great shooter on my Gold Cup, Ruger SR1911, and a WWll Remington-Rand 1911A1.

You've posted some good looking handguns over the years and with solid recommendations about same. I always check to see what you, Rio, Gordon, Pat Riot, Chicharrones, Spats, Nightlord, CraigC, Driftwood, 38 Special and a few others have to say about any given topic....lotta experience from you guys. Been a pleasure trading thoughts with you all. Best regards, Rod (And get me in the will, Bannock...you've cost me some extra $ over the years with your pics!)

 

[bannockburn]

You've posted some good looking handguns over the years and with solid recommendations about same. I always check to see what you, Rio, Gordon, Pat Riot, Chicharrones, Spats, Nightlord, CraigC, Driftwood, 38 Special and a few others have to say about any given topic....lotta experience from you guys. Been a pleasure trading thoughts with you all. Best regards, Rod

I thank you sir for the kind words, they are greatly appreciated!

Many years ago one of my Handgun Mentors got me hooked on the .38 Super. He and a buddy of his use to load the cases up to some super atomic levels
and quickly make their way to the nearest range to set them off! About this time while perusing my copy of "Guns Illustrated 1977", I came across an article written by James D. Mason titled: "Maximizing Performance from 9mm. Auto Pistols".

In a section titled "The Convertibles", he makes mention of all you have to do is either shorten the 9mm. ejector on a 9mm. 1911 or else replace it with one that's a .38 Super ejector to begin with. It will work with both cartridges. So whenever I get a .38 Super I go and get a complete 9mm. barrel assembly (by complete I mean everything I need like the barrel link, link pin, and bushing), that way all I have to do is swap out barrels and magazines and the convertible conversion is ready to go!

 

[Rodfac]

Switching out the uppers has worked well for me in the two guns mentioned. Given my druthers, I prefer the .38 Super, both for its accuracy but also for its handloading versatility. I don't hot rod mine, but do load it to slightly improve on 9mm ballistics. I'm well satisfied with 1200 fps with 124 gr jacketed, so long as the accuracy is there...like to see less than 3" at 25 yds from an improvised rest.

The two uppers I have in .38 super and 9mm, came from an add in the long gone "Shotgun News"....they were cheap by today's standards...around $100 or less, for the slide, bbl., recoil spring, slide stop and the bushing of course. No fitting, just slap them on the frame and go have fun. Some time later, I invested in a Barsto 9mm bbl. that was a tight link fit, requiring a stroke or two with a fine rat-tail file. Accuracy did not improve, however but the gun was as reliable as ever.

Best regards, Rod

 

[Jimster]

1911.

 

[CoalTrain49]

Sig P239.

View attachment 1192180

I have two of those. One for each hand.

 

[RevolvingGarbage]

I would choose my specific S&W M&P .38spl with 6" barrel and fixed sights. It's not exactly small, but it conceals well enough in most situations. It's got good enough power for defense or even hunting and being a .38spl, will always have ammo to shoot.

 

[Beck]

Not worried about consensus. Consensus is boring. My one pistol would be my S&W Model 915, which I've already owned since I bought it new in the early 1990s. It was my duty weapon for over 5 years. It's held up nicely and appreciated in value. I've got a bunch of S&W 15-Rnd mags for it, and a few 17-Rnd Mec-Gar. There's nothing outdated about this pistol, though no plastic to be found anywhere on it or within it... just like I like. I can still buy new parts for it, including new barrels.

Sorry, no photos today. I'm down with a bad flu, so about all I can manage is surfing the web and sipping chicken soup.

I did recently remove the Hogue grips I had on it for almost thirty years. I slapped on a rare to find Uncle Mike's grip for the full size 3rd generation Smiths. I'll keep them on there for a while before I decide. I had really gotten used to the Hogues. I like them both, but we'll see. I've also got both styles of the S&W factory grips... curved back, and straight back. The only grips I haven't tried are the Pachmayrs. I might give them a whirl one of these days, but I don't think I'll like them on this particular model.

 

[W.E.G.]

If I can have ONLY ONE pistol, things have gotten weird.

Real weird.

In that CIRCUMSTANCE, I think I want a double-action revolver. There are lots of good choices in that category.

 

[weisse52]

One of my Colt 1911’s in .45.
The ones I own have proven reliable. Been shooting them since mid 70’s so very familiar.

 

[Space Ghost]

I hate "only one" type questions. Too many choices... so hard to narrow it down. That said, if I really HAD to...
I could hunt with pretty much any of my hand guns.
I could defend my self with pretty much any of them.
BUT... I can only be quiet with one of them.

 

[potmetal]

I agree withwhat others have said, there's no perfect one and only pistol, and I think people start these kind of things just to post pics of personal favorites. Frankly I read them to see all the cool guns that you guys have and feel so fond of.
As I age and find myself in some health issues that have seriously slowed down my ability to get to the range, I have sold off some guns and am keeping a few that I really trust and enjoy. One I am sure will stay with me is a S&W first gen, M&P9c. With the standard 12rd mags it is pretty compact to carry, and it can take the 2.0 15rd mags and full sized 17rd mags. Ruger's SR9c is a similar gun and has the choice of 10rd or 17rd mags. Both are pretty accurate and reliable.
Keep posting pics, you guys have some cool looking guns.

 

[jmorris]

One...for what? Anything? Probably something like a Contender. It could be a pistol, or a rifle or a shotgun, just not a really great version of any of them.

That said, "a jack of all trades, is a master of none." was around before, "a minute", was used for things that happened a decade, or so, ago.

 

[LV Gun]

One gun ? - mine would be a S&W 627 PC 8 shot in 38 Super

 

[BBarn]

What I generally shoot the most, a 1911.

 

[Cornhusker77]

I've been thinking about this.
First off, I'm not a Glockophile. They are dependable, accurate, ugly and boring.
That being said, If I was absolutely left with one gun, I guess I'd maybe keep my Glock 32. I have the barrels and mags for .40 and 9mm as well as the original .357 Sig.
I shoot it well enough and could shoot it better if I shot it more.
I have a lot of handguns I like better, but I guess I'd keep the Glock. (I'm so ashamed )

 

[trackskippy]

If it has to be "one and only", it would be a Glock 26. You can carry it where you might a small back up gun, and it shoots like a 17.

And with a simple mag change, it can have the capacity of one too, and more.

 

[Riomouse911]

Only one forever, eh?

Either a 4” S&W Model 66 or 686+.



Stay safe.

 

[JohnKSa]

There was a time I thought I would only have one handgun. I spent a lot of time thinking about it and then bought a 4" stainless steel .357Mag DA revolver. I still think, given my requirements at the time it was a great choice.

I don't really know what I would do these days and I'm glad I can own several. Best I can figure would be a 9mm autopistol that would be small enough to carry/conceal relatively easily but large enough to enjoy at the range for a long shooting session. Writing that sentence makes me even more glad I don't have to pick just one.

 

[Beck]

RE: Post #83. I'm still not feeling very well today, but here's an old photo of my S&W 915 I've posted in the past. It doesn't look very flashy here, but there it is for folks who like photos. It's still got the Hogue grips on it here. Really nice grips. The Novak sights were installed for me by former Illinois State Trooper and all around S&W Guru, Tom Kilhoffer of central Illinois.

 

[Sarge7402]

This comes up now and again. My preference would be for something that shoots more than one calibre. This would put the 1911 high on the list.

That said, of what I currently have, I would say my 1911-380.

Nice pistol . Course my pony is dao and fits in a pocket holster with a smaller print than my Walther

 

[Mercy Me]

Semiauto would be my CZ75 Pre-B in NP3:

Revolver would be a more difficult choice, but I would have to give the edge to my S&W 28-2 4" circa 1967. It's the one on the right, the left one is from 1979. With bigger and less ugly grips of course on both of them.

What’s so special about the CZ75 Pre-B in NP3.

 

[Muskyhunter1]

Many years ago when I was a police officer, I had a Smith & Wesson Model 10 heavy frame in 38 Special with pachmyer rubber grips. I was deadly with that gun. I cant believe how many grouse I shot in self defense with it lol. I even took down a Timber Wolf with it.

Had to trade it in when we transitioned to Sig P229's in 40 cal. They wouldn't let us keep them as they gave the revolvers to another LE agency.

Dam I miss that old gal.

 

[jmorris]

If I can only have one, I would want the one that can be as many other things as it can be. That would be the 1911, it can be lots of things and with an SVI slide (removable breechface) any caliber one can get mags for, using the same slide/frame. Others just are a top end swap.

Like throw on a CO2 powdered .177 top end.



Perhaps smaller wasn't what you were looking for and would like to have a bit more energy further down range? How about a .308 top end?



Or maybe not even use it as a pistol?

 

[King Medallion]

Tough call, revolver it would be one of my Uberti Remington 75's in 44-40. Auto is easy, my old Colt Guvment 1991 with the billboard side.