If you could only use one handgun for Concealed Carry and all your hunting...

[Berger.Fan222]

Impossible scenario, especially when the OP said "ALL" your hunting needs. If it will reliably bring down a human or a deer it won't be appropriate for a rabbit or a squirrel. I'm hoping we eventually run out of "if you could only have, choose, own, buy, shoot one" scenarios.

Some years ago, my family lived on a farm. It was not actually the same pistol, but my wife and I used identical model pistols to routinely take rabbits and deer and also to shoot varmints, mostly as targets of opportunity while carrying for self-defense. It was a 9mm JHP that was reputed to be good for self defense, and from the injuries to the deer, I think it would have been. I think hunting rabbits and small game with FMJ bullets would waste less meat, but I recall cleaning the rabbits, and it was not too bad.

The keys to accuracy were a decent site radius and a quality pistol (and lots of practice).

When intentionally hunting, we always used a "more appropriate" gun: centerfire rifles for deer, rimfires for rabbits and squirrel, etc. But we shot a lot of critters that just popped into view while going about our business, and a 9mm JHP can do an adequate job.

 

[WestKentucky]

6" taurus m44. I carry it in a shoulder holster under a light shirt or a jacket, and it's a dandy of a shooter. It would do well with anything from rabbits with a spl up to elk with a mag.

 

[Vodoun da Vinci]

Only one? I'd take my Dan Wesson 15-2VH....I can shoot .38 Special or .357 Magnum and have barrels from 2 1/2" to 4" to 6" and can change 'em out in a couple minutes. Soon I'll have an 8" and I have dreamed about owning a 15" from EWK.

Got 110 gr. wadcutters for light .38 loads and lead semi wadcutters in 180 gr. which would be some pretty potent magic out of a 15" barrel in .357.

VooDoo

 

[Beachcomber]

Thermactor said > "Sig Sauer P226. I can put a variety of slides and barrels in to go between .22, 9mm, .357sig and .40 S&W."
__________________

I chose a Glock 22 for the exact same reason that Thermactor suggested... except I didn't have to buy any slides as the barrels I purchased would fit the Glock 22 slide.

I bought Lone Wolf 9mm and 357 Sig barrels. These two barrels coupled with my factory .40 S&W barrel and my .22 conversion kit gives me four caliber on one handgun frame. I also purchased separate 9mm and .357 Sig magazines to aid cartridge feeding reliability.
.

 

[Inebriated]

Glock 33.

 

[Nom de Forum]

The G29 10mm is the only one I can think of that is truly small enough for most CCW situations and yet has the power for the most hunting situations, especially with a drop-in extended barrel and 15rd mag with grip extender.

 

[huntsman]

The G41 would qualify in Ohio as a whitetail gun, I'm not sure how it would be to CC.

 

[Warp]

As useless as these "just one" things always end up being, there does seem to be a recurring theme.

The most versatile handgun, without playing the barrel/caliber/upper swapping game, is a mid size in 10mm (semi) or .357 magnum (revolver).

The .357 main advantage is using two different cartridges with zero changes to the gun (.38spl and .357) while the semi auto advantage is capacity as well as more easily being able to change cartridges/calibers.

The way I see it anyway.

 

[Catshooter]

Berger,

The only thing that makes these "One gun" threads worth reading is a post like yours. Real life experience, not guesses, opinions and stabs in the dark.

What were the pistols you and your wife using to such good effect?

Thanks.


Cat

 

[SDGlock23]

It is an interesting concept, something small enough to conceal well, light weight and yet have enough potency to get the job done hunting (assuming up to deer and hogs) as well.

The answer is easy really, pretty much any .40 or .45 ACP handgun will fill those perimeters nicely, so take your pick. My choice would be a Glock 23, even factory ammo (both .40 and .45, even 9mm) is plenty for deer inside 50yds which is as far as 99.8% of anyone with a smallish handgun would even dare.

10mm works too, but it's somewhat rarity and that it won't kill anything a .40 or .45 can't already kind of makes it almost silly. The .357 Mag is a great choice, but the platform really kills the whole concept of concealability. A 4" GP100 as far as revolvers go isn't huge but compared to 4-5" semi autos its massive and it's capacity comparatively poor. If you're leaning towards a revolver I'd go for a 4 5/8" Ruger Blackhawk in anything from .357 Mag to .45 Colt, the later being my favorite cartridge of all time, plus the .45 ACP cylinder (for the convertible models) comes in super handy, a 9mm cylinder is offered for the .357 Mag model covertible.

Deer aren't hard to kill and honestly any service caliber handgun would work with proper shot placement. The reason many will disagree with this is because sadly many focus on ft-lbs and have their mind made up that they need a certain amount or else it won't work, which is garbage. For hogs the bigger .40 and .45 with a tougher JHP or hardcast will get the job done. It is stretching things to have a small handgun that you can also hunt EVERYTHING with, but as long as your everything doesn't include brown bears and rhinos then really there are a lot of options.

 

[Mike J]

Another vote for a Dan Wesson revolver with a pistol pac. I only have the 4" barrel for my model 15-2 but I like it a lot & with a 6" or 8" barrel it would work well enough.

 

[qwert65]

I would go one of 3 ways;
10mm
357 3 or 4 in barrel
Or a .45LC which is what I would choose. I'd prefer a blackhawk but might go with a SAA for the cc

 

[zerobarrier]

I carry a S&W M69 with 44spl and would use it to hunt with using 44mags.

 

[murf]

my kimber loaded with either a 265 gn swc or 185gn xtp. for vermin i would have to aquire a 22lr conversion.

murf

 

[huntsman]

When intentionally hunting, we always used a "more appropriate" gun: centerfire rifles for deer, rimfires for rabbits and squirrel, etc. But we shot a lot of critters that just popped into view while going about our business, and a 9mm JHP can do an adequate job.

You just answered the ultimate one gun for survival question

To me Hunting means abiding by the rules of fair chase and all State games laws and thus would influence my choice in firearm, if we're just talking sustenance food gathering that's a whole nother ballgame.

 

[Snejdarek]

Considering that the law does not have any restrictions regarding firearms that may be carried concealed in the Czech Republic (E category firearms license being necessary for both ownership&CC)... I guess it would be a short barrel VZ-58. 5 or 10 rds mag for hunting and 30 rds mag for self-defense.

 

[Salmoneye]

GP100
4"
.357 mag

 

[Iggy]

.45 Pistol Pac?

I carry this one. It's 101 years old, and I "can" fire 45ACP with moon clips, 45 Auto Rim, 45 Colt, or 45 Winchester Mag brass loaded to 45 Colt velocities with moon clips.

 

[Catshooter]

Sweet piece Iggy. I was hoping you'd chime in.


Cat

 

[Warp]

Considering that the law does not have any restrictions regarding firearms that may be carried concealed in the Czech Republic (E category firearms license being necessary for both ownership&CC)... I guess it would be a short barrel VZ-58. 5 or 10 rds mag for hunting and 30 rds mag for self-defense.

How do you conceal that?

Carrying a rifle is legal in many of the States as well, but virtually nobody ever does that and nobody, that I know of, does it regularly. Especially not concealed, because how would you?

I mean, I could legally have carried my suppressed SBR with my hard/rifle rated armour and a bunch of mags when I went to the mall yesterday...but I'm not about to do that lol so I'm not about to use that to answer the OP's question

 

[Nom de Forum]

.45 Pistol Pac?

I carry this one. It's 101 years old, and I can fire 45ACP with moon clips, 45 Auto Rim, 45 Colt, or 45 Winchester Mag brass loaded to 45 Colt velocities with moon clips.

Very cool. That piece has real character. I am thinking of doing something slightly similar. A SRH in .454 shortened to 4.5 - 5 inches and set up for clips. I have seen a few online and like what I see. Some are also milled down to reduce weight. I just may go to the expense of doing this because I don't like the Alaskan and would like the extra velocity of a longer barrel. For me autos are tools and revolvers are tools and toys because revolvers are more fun than autos, especially really powerful revolvers.

 

[Snejdarek]

How do you conceal that?

Quick draw back-pack. It is not the best of options compared to the swiftness of drawing a pistol, sure.

Plain cloth governmental bodyguards use them here for their Scorpions (vz.61/Evo 3) and HK MP5s. Since also private security must carry concealed, they also use either back pack or overcoats in case they carry SBRs (for high profile bank transports and similar).

 

[Warp]

Quick draw back-pack. It is not the best of options compared to the swiftness of drawing a pistol, sure.

Plain cloth governmental bodyguards use them here for their Scorpions (vz.61/Evo 3) and HK MP5s. Since also private security must carry concealed, they also use either back pack or overcoats in case they carry SBRs (for high profile bank transports and similar).

Any pics of your back-pack?

How many seconds does it take to get the first shot on target (shot timer measurements preferred)?

What else do you carry in the pack?

 

[Snejdarek]

Any pics of your back-pack?

I don't use any - this was just a hypothetical answer to hypothetical question - there are no limitations on number of firearms owned in the Czech Republic (only higher criteria for safe storage of more than 2/10/20), so I don't need to worry about having to choose one for both CC and hunting - not that I would ever hunt...

I carry CZ 75 Compact D ("PCR"). I will try to find some pics of back-packs online when I have more time.

 

[Gun Master]

HG for CC & Hunting?

Referring back to the original question:
Can't do it in this "real" world. I think of it like a "wanna be" or "wish I could" question.
Sorry, don't mean to burst anybody's bubble.
Besides, there are too many choices out there. That's where all the fun is.