If you could only have one handgun, what would it be?

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My SA XD Service Model in .45ACP

It will take anything you can throw at it or in it and still keep putting rounds down range.
 
Ya know, ever since reading the first post of this nature I've pondered what pistol it would be if I could only have one, I mean to have to pick one to have from now on - no matter what. Well, I "cut my teeth" so to speak, by learning to shoot a handgun with my versatile S&W .357 revolvers and as much as I love that rythmic turn of the cylinder with a smooth trigger pull staging just right before a nice clean break.....and as much as I absolutely love and trust my "1911Tunerized" Kimber for feeling so right in the hand and putting the big 'ol bullets where I point it, ahh, love that .45.......and then there's the out of the box reliability of my Browning High Powers (preferably without the mag safety!) .... sigh .... well, as much as it would pain me.....if there could only be one..... it'd be a Glock 17....especially if it was for a SHTF type of situation where civil order was out the window and survival was foremost....

Ok, reasons being; they work....and for the occassional take it all apart and clean it out sessions you can disassemble it down to nothing with just a punch, parts are drop in ready and inexpensive meaning you can have a spare parts stash and not have to worry about fitting the parts before they'll work (heck, Glock will repair 'em for free if you get it to them), most Glocks have small parts compatibility, meaning, in the event of a "disaster", you could probably find parts, if needed that is - heck, these things even work when some of the parts are broken inside! Durability, mankind, they (re)wrote the book! ... no rust worries and if you can't find the recommended 5 drops of oil for the inside that's ok, just get the crude out and it'll still work! You can't shoot the rifling out of the barrel, even after 100 thousand rounds, they'll still shoot straight.

Ok, now for the 9mm caliber, First - because this is what the Glock was designed around and appears to have THE most trouble free record for a Glock pistol... Second - after all of my years of being in search of the "magic" bullet I finally accepted what the "old timers" were saying all along, hmm, reckon me becoming an "old timer" myself coulda had anything to do with that?? - they ain't no magic bullet! The bullets that work are the ones that hit what they are suppose to (internally, that is - not the spot on the outside) - those 'ol heavy .45's are great at this but a hot or heavy 9mm ain't no slouch either and that brings us to Three - 9mm is the world wide standard, so ammo will be available by some means...

Thinkin' on it, the Glock 17 is sorta the modern version of what the 1911 was made to be way back when - a tough, reliable handgun that will just plain work, easy to maintain, easy to shoot.....

Yep, it sorta pains me to admit it 'cause I really like all of my revolvers and 1911s and BHPs but for a "ONE ONLY" it'd have to be the G17 ... and even when narrowing it down to the "just the Glock" family, it's tough picking between my "baby" Glock 26 - a truly amazing little pistol - and the "Grand Pa" of 'em all....the 'ol 17.

Man, ain't it great that we don't HAVE to pick just one! Let's keep it that way when it comes time to VOTE !
 
I think mine would be my Redhawk in .44 mag. It's my favorite hunting handgun. Loaded down, it'd do fine for home defense. The only issue is it's size. I couldn't carry it concealed. I'm not willing to sacrifice hunting for anything though, not even concealed carry.
 
I should vote for the 38/357 wheelgun, but I have to think this over......

You said only one handgun. So I can have a lever or pump rifle fill the needs that my six shooters can.

So its a standard MK2 Ruger in 22lr!

Jerry
 
As little as 5 years ago I'd probably have said a 4" to 6" .357 revolver. But that was before I discovered 10mm Glock pistols. So today, I think my choice would be a Glock 29. Supremely rugged and reliable. Small enough to carry and conceal, powerful enough to take medium sized game cleanly and more than powerful enough for protection against two legged critters and anything up to black bear with DT ammo. Add a longer barrel and get more power. Add a ported barrel and get more controllability. Add a Glock 20 magazine and get 16 rounds on board. Add a .40 conversion barrel and shoot the most popular police round in the country, available anywhere.
 
Revolver Smith & Wesson .357 Magnum 66 pinned barrel recessed cylinder custom round butt with 4 inch barrel Cocobolo grips its an old trusted friend.;)
Semi Auto Colt Series 70 Commander Satin Nickel with carved Ivory grips its my most sentimental pistol.:D
One for each hand.:evil:
 
Sig Sauer P-226 9mm. My go to gun.

With only one handgun ammo prices wouldn't be such an issue so I might go with my P-226 .357 Sig which I also have the .40 bbl.
 
Revolver:

A stainless steel S*-Six Ruger, 4" barrel, 6" if all that was available. Of currently made wheelies, the GP-100. As much as I like my SA revolvers, I'd take a DA .357 Mag

Auto:

Springfield Armory "GI-45"
 
P226 X-FIVE

226X5-left.jpg
 
For several years, the only handgun I owned was a
Ruger .357/.38 Security Six (four inch barrel).
After I had to sell the Security Six, I turned around
and bought a Ruger Mark II .22 (six inch barrel).
Since then I have accumulated several handguns.
Including a .357/.38 Security Six (four inch barrel).

The Security Six capable of firing the range of
.357 Magnum and .38 Special loads is probably the
most practical one gun. But the Mark II is a close second.
 
Either:

1) H&K P2000 9mm

OR

2) CZ 75D PCR 9mm (with a .22 LR Kadet conversion kit if I'm allowed to count that as one gun :D )
 
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