What is the best hand gun?

[Doglover]

I am looking for a High quality and dependable hand gun for personal protection and target shooting.

What Company and caliber would you advise?

Thanks

[DM]

Do you want a semi auto or a revolver??

Handguns are so specialized these days there is NO ONE company that makes the best of everything. Same with long guns...

I like S&W revolvers, others like Dan Wesson or Ruger or ??... I'm not a big semi auto fan, especially for new gun owners, others love there semi auto's, so......

I base my opinions on my past experiences, and so do other gun owners....

DM

[RangerRick]

Personal protection and target are two horses of a different color.

Caliber, revolver (double/single action), semi-auto, combat arm, machine ect, ect.

Perhaps you may want to throw in a few more qualifiers as there are literally hundreds and hundreds of hand guns to consider and I'm fairly sure everyone here has their own opinion.

Rick

[Toad_Sticker]

if you want an auto.
1911's are used in bullseye compitition they also make a great defensive hangun.
In a revolver a Ruger GP 100 is great .
without having more info tho it is really hard to recomend anything.
There could be things you want that would make those choices poor.
TS

[Uncle_Alvah]

Too broad a question for a meaningfull answer.
Please don't take that wrong, it's not meant to be insulting......

[hunter63]

.50 s&w Desert Eagle, nobody will fool with you.

[Old_Dog]

"What is the best handgun"? The one you have with you!

[remington]

Without knowing more information I would say a Glock 21 in 45 ACP. Good all around round with not much recoil.

[ryanmercer]

"What is the best handgun"? The one you have with you!


:) Nice. ;)

[fishercat]

I carry a S &W model 65 357 revolver but am considering a Glock 23 for easier concealment and more rounds in the gun .

[lostinthewoods]

The best handgun is the " one you use to fight your way back to the battle rifle you never should have put down." ;D

I agree with the others here I think we'll need a little more info to help you make a good choice. Besides the "best" hand gun is kind of like asking who's the best candidate for president. lol




lost

[jim]

The 1911a1 in .45 ACP has reigned supreme for almost a century now. Prior to the easiy access to body armor, it was unbeatable. For the most part, it still fills that roll if you're up to it. The Glock may well be a close answer for you.

Get some training, and decide what caliber you like.

jim

[Doglover]

Some good models for me to research.

Any other advice on what to look for in a handgun?

As a child my father was a gun collector and have shot several revolvers (44 mag and 357mag both rugers I believe, a 38 and his WWII 45 service revolver are the ones I remember) the one I remember liking the best was the 357 mag.

I know revolvers are most reliable but most guys I know own Glock autos...what do you guys think?

Any other advice would be great.

[jim]

As long as you can keep it clean, a revolver would work in almost any senario you are likely to survive. On a battlefield, the 1911 has again proven itself supreme, and has the highest documented one shot stops (over 1,000) in US Army records, and has proven to be the most reliable pistol ever in actual combat and combat situations. It's as reliable as man stopper as can be had in a caliber that the average man can handle, but could be bested by the .40 with good JHP's. The future will tell.

I've shot a great many 4'bbl .38.,357 revolvers that could shoot better than any man can hold them. The .357 is great, and while I prefer 158 gr. SWC's and the Winchester 145 G JHP Silvertips,the 125 gr. JHP's are probably the best that can be had. They have the intrinsic accuracy to hit a standing man at up to 125 yards (no, I can't do it either) if you're able. The factory .38 Spl. wad cutters are probabably the most accurate ammo you can buy or afford to shoot.

I used to zero for 3" high at 25 yards so extreme range shooting was easier. If I were starting over, I'd just zero anywhere from right on the money to 1" high at 25 yds and practice a lot with whatever ammo I chose.

If you get into reloading start off with Unique, Win. 231, and Bullseye powders, CCI primers, and Winchester brass.

Anything specific you wish to know?

jim

[Doglover]

Thanks again....food for thought

[Matthew]

I carry a Heckler and Koch USP Compact in .40 S&W as an armed citizen. For that purpose, I think it is hard to beat the .40. It was one of the first rounds developed to be a hollowpoint, so many of the premium jacketed loads are effective with little danger of overpenetration.

While no one can question the .45 for sheer power, it is harder to get a 45 ACP load that won't overpenetrate, especially in a short barreled weapon. This is what makes the .40 ideal in my mind.

[Uncle_Alvah]

most guys I know own Glock autos...what do you guys think?


Glock- Tupperwear for cops......

Check out the offerings from CZ.
www.czusa.com

[Doglover]

After some research I have narrowed my focus on two guns

1911 and Ruger Redhawk .44

1911 because it seems to be at the top of every list I see.

The Redhawk because of the verstile uses of the gun due to different loads and ammo. It also seems to be very durable.

I also have access to both guns for trying them out.

Comments welcome.

[Doglover]

Glock- Tupperwear for cops......

Check out the offerings from CZ.
www.czusa.com

What do you mean by "tupperwear" for cops?

[scoutinlife]

http://www.springfield-armory.com/prod-xdpstl-45acp.shtml

If you looking for a good auto for defence I recommend these I just ordered the 45 tatical will go pick it up next fri! ;D

I have a couple of friends that own them and they are sweet they took the best of the glock,sig,1911 and combined!! ;)

http://www.shootingtimes.com/handgun_reviews/springfieldxd_061206/

[RangerRick]

I've been carrying conceled since 1974 in one capacity or another and have carried many different pistols. The type of gun that would qualify as the best hand gun has little importance if it is setting on the nightstand when you're having lunch at MacDonalds.

Comfort is """THE""" most important consideration when deciding on a carry weapon. Of secondary importance is everything else because if you don't have it when you need it nothing else matters because you just lost the game.

During the summer I carry a Colt Government Pocketlite in .380. This looks like a small version of the 1911, very slim and light weight. During the rest of the year I carry the 4", 1911 in .45 because it is slim lined and is the most comfortable carry in a .45 round as the .45 round is the premo man stopper under "any" circumstance.

If God forbid I have to pull it I want it to put the target down rather it hits a heel, hand or heart. My life, my wife's, my children or grandchildren is worth nothing less.

I also carry as my backup a North American Arms .22 5 shot revolver in a knife holster on my belt. I figure I'd rather have that in a knife fight then a knife.

A comfortable carry, for whatever that means to you should be your most important consideration.

Choose wisely Grasshopper your life may depend on it.

Rick

[Archangel]

If I had to choose it would be between a 1911-45 and a 357 six shot. The most import thing, I believe, is a gun YOU can shoot. Get with some friends and try a few out. Just my 2-Cents, MICHAEL

[Doglover]

http://www.springfield-armory.com/prod-xdpstl-45acp.shtml

If you looking for a good auto for defence I recommend these I just ordered the 45 tatical will go pick it up next fri! ;D

I have a couple of friends that own them and they are sweet they took the best of the glock,sig,1911 and combined!! ;)

http://www.shootingtimes.com/handgun_reviews/springfieldxd_061206/


Very interesting...thanks

[clawhammerdan]

For cheap plinking and fun (but not for protection) a .22 either revolver or semiauto.

I'm partial to revolvers because I think you can carry one with the hammer over an empty chamber, whereas with a semiauto, they're a little bit trickier...Can't always tell if there's one in the chamber, and for protection you'd most likely want to have it cocked with safety on.

I'd suggest a .357 revolver with good rubber grips. The Ruger Black Hawk and some of those other pistols don't have very comfortable / stable grips IMO. A .357 has alot of whallop and if you're just practicing with it you can practice with .38 which is a bit cheaper to shoot.

[Backwoods_Bob]

"a High quality and dependable hand gun for personal protection and target shooting."

Well, there certainly are plenty of good guns to choose from out there!
*
You mentioned a Ruger Redhawk and a 1911 -
Honestly, I can't think of two different guns!

One is a modern hand cannon, the other an almost 100 year old automatic.

Still, both are good guns, and I wouldn't mind owning either!
I particularly like the .44 magnum. I hand load this round, and get allot of fun and economical shooting out of it. My Ruger bisley is very accurate!
A Ruger .44 will last a lifetime - They are very reliable, about as reliable as anything can be - They are powerfull enough to kill anything you could care to.
My .44 has sat by my bedside at night and traveled around the woods on my hip for a good many years, and with mild hand loads is great for training new shooters and for hours of fun target work.

But for self defense most people will tell you the 1911 is a better way to go. It can simply throw more volume of fire than a revolver. Any auto can. *Not everyone thinks this is a big deal ( I don't ). But many do.

The .45 ACP is much less powerfull than the .44 magnum, yet it is considerd by many to be a quite effective man stopper, thank you!
I wouldn't care to try it on a bear though...

Of course, a big part of self defense is having that gun on you when you need it!
It will do you no good at all back at home in your sock drawer when you get car jacked on the way to work!

So, if you can get a CCW permit wher you live you might want to think about getting something small enough to carry -

The 1911 is just about as big as you'd want to go for daily carry - The big Ruger is right out for that!
My hoglegs -
http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/etdbob/guns/P1010025-1.jpg
The big .44 is for around the homestead, the smaller .357 is for in town.

Now my wife thinks differently that I do -
her all time favorite weapon is this oldie but goodie -
http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/etdbob/guns/P1010014.jpg *
An old Colt .32 automatic.
It's as smooth as a worn bar of soap! They just don't make 'em like that any more.

It is almost 100 years old though, and I have gotten her to carry a keltec .32 in her purse as a daily carry gun.
The keltec is about the easiest gun in the world to carry!
here is a shot compairing the two -

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/etdbob/guns/P1010016.jpg
Most folk will shake their heads at carrying such small guns - But they will surely end a fight!

Her "out in the woods gun," what she carries about the homestead is a much bigger Glock 17L.
This is a 9mm with a six inch tube -
http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/etdbob/guns/P1010018.jpg
As you can see, it dwarfs the two smaller pistols -
This means it will never be carried in town, and lives at home.

Food for thought! :P
*

[DM]

What would be the advantage of carrying a S&W revolver with an empty chamber under the hammer?? There's NO WAY it will fire the round under the hammer even if you beat on the hammer with a rock or something...

DM

[Doglover]

Some great posts, I wish I lived in a State with CC....Here in Wisconsin we are still trying to get that :-/

[Badger]

If you are looking for an "ALL in One Gun" I'd have to say either the Glock 17 or Glock 19.

[hangfire]

That's easy. The best hand gun is the gun that is the best choice for what your goal is. If the goal is self defense, then the best hand gun is the one that your are proficient with and keep with you.

Being proficient with a firearm implies practicing with the firearm. Even if the goal isn't for self defense, but rather for hunting or target practice, familiarity and accuracy still is high on the requirements list in order to be any good with the firearm. That requires shooting it, which requires being able to afford to practice with it.

I personally like the Bersa 380 for a conceal piece. Cheap yet durable and accurate. Rates very well in the magazine and website reviews. The only complaint I have with it is the price of the ammo. Although I'm not a big 9 mm fan, I might have to rethink my thinking on the 9 mm based alone on the price of the ammo. At dicks sporting goods currently remmington 9 mm ammo goes for 10$ per box of 50, it has more power for a cheaper ammo price then even my 380. Someone told me they think that's because of the sheer flood of 9 mm ammo on the market, available from so many sources that it keeps the price down.

I'm very tempted to get a springfield XD in 45 caliber with the high capacity 13+1 capability of the pistol, essentially springfield armory's answer to the glock. I like the idea of a modern accurate 45 caliber pistol with very high one shot stop cability for a when the chips are down side arm, but not as a conceal piece.

In short, I don't think it's all that hard to figure out what the best hand gun is, it all comes down to asking your self in honesty what is the most imporant usefulness of said handgun. Reliability? Knock Down power? Concealability? Accuracy? Price?

Think about it in terms of the goal at hand, and the rest will slowly fall into place

[flatwater]

The best gun is one you will carry with you , one that your accurate with , one you can continually practice with and one you have confidence in. and only you can find the answer to your question. It also has to fit your hand. So go to an indoor range that lets you try different guns and find one that fits you.
Flatwater

[Stinger]

One you can draw quickly and hit with! ;)

[remington]

Tupperware? If you're meaning that as derogatory toward Glock's than them is fighting words. Glock=Reliable. That has been proven over and over. They are the downright toughest, most accurate, most user friendly guns out there. They have high-capacity. A 1911 style safety, in a gun fight, is something else to do before you can fire. With the Glock its simple; aim, fire, end of problem.

[Rick]

I just got a Ruger GP-100 in stainless with a 4" barrel.

I'm pretty happy with it. I wouldn't feel terribly under gunned in most situations with a .357 mag, and the .38 spcl is a real joy to shoot.

[DM]

I'm pretty happy with it. I wouldn't feel terribly under gunned in most situations with a .357 mag, and the .38 spcl is a real joy to shoot.

I don't feel undergunned at all with my S&W M-19 357 Mag... I've been shooting it so long, even at 100 yards i hit well with it...

DM

[WRTN]

Doglover,

In answer to your question, the prime descriminator with respect to a handgun firearm in my opinion would first require, how concealable must the weapon be?

In this day and age if you carry; you don't want ANYONE to know about it even if you have a permit.

With that being the case, something along the lines of a Walther PP in .32 ACP or TPH in .22. Another possibility that is a revolver is a LadySmith. .38, very controlable and concealable.

These are most certainly NOT firearms for home protection of any type of a fire fight. They are simply a very concelable firearm to protect you close in to allow you an avenue of escape preferably without having to fire a shot. These particular firearms have about the same sillouette as a man's wallet in his pocket and go pretty much un-noticed.

Other good choices have already been mentioned such as the M1911A1 of various types. Another good choice that will not break the bank is the CZ-75. This model is among some of the most reliable and accurate firearms in the world.

Some others that are good choices but VERY expensive are Sig Sauer 226, 228 and Beretta 92F and its variants.

None of these weapons are easily/comfortably concealable with perhaps the exception of a being carried in a purse or hand bag. They can be conceal carried via various shoulder or hip holsters but you must wear a jacket or shirt to cover them and the outline of the weapon usually still shows through.

I would strongly recommend sticking with calibers that are in abundant supply and readily available currently as well as in the event of a disaster situation such as 9mm or .45 ACP if possible. This may not always be the case for small sillouette highly concealable firearms. My favorite choice that is a reasonable compromise for concealability and effective fire power is the Colt Officer's ACP in .45 ACP. Small sillouette, large bore caliber with VERY effective fire power, but is very limited in ammo capacity.

There are LOTS of other choices and I am sure MANY opinions but concealable and highly effective in a fire fight situation does not always go hand in hand in my opinion. Hope this gives you some ideas and choices to consider.

[GUNSLINGER]

In my opinion, overall the best pistol is the Glock. I prefer .40 cal. Glocks are known to run even when dirty, wet, sandy, frozen..you name it. They hold more rounds than the old but still great 1911. They can be easily added onto with a huge array of aftermarket products. Most of the Glocks come with the convenient rails now. Lights or lasers or combos are easy to slide right on and off without needing a gunsmith to help you. Also the customer service at Glock is the best I have ever heard of. If you do run a Glock into the ground, good luck, they will fix it at no cost.

I prefer the .40 cal because it gives you a good balance of stopping power and number of rounds available. With around 80% of the stopping power of a .45 you can carry twice as many rounds. Also 40's are very common nowadays, and not really expensive...... yet. But I would recommend getting your ammo cheap while you can. it is only going up from here.

[Badger]

I am looking for a High quality and dependable hand gun for personal protection and target shooting.

What Company and caliber would you advise?

Thanks

Have you looked at a Glock 17 or 19? Glocks work right out of the box. ;D

[Gibbonboy]

Although it's not my choice, I'd say Glock in either .40 or .45. I'm just plain used to 1911's, I carry a Kimber Stainless Custom II. Used to carry a full-size, but that gets old, especially in "shorts weather". Many of my friends and my wife carry Kel-Tec .32's or .380's. I prefer a larger pistol, but my wife loves hers. Something that small is really just for jamming under someones' ribs or chin and emptying it.

I'm looking now at a Taurus Judge in 45 LC/.410- looks like a neat thing to play with. 5 shots in a stainless revolver.

Absolutely the best gun is one that you will carry- it will do you no good under the seat or in your closet at home. Thank God I live in a "shall-issue" state, although some state reps are sniffing around that.

[farmboy]

http://www.springfield-armory.com/prod-xdpstl-45acp.shtml

If you looking for a good auto for defence I recommend these I just ordered the 45 tatical will go pick it up next fri! ;D

I have a couple of friends that own them and they are sweet they took the best of the glock,sig,1911 and combined!! ;)

http://www.shootingtimes.com/handgun_reviews/springfieldxd_061206/


Scout,

You got the .45 almost a year ago? How do you like it?
Anyone else have or shoot one? What are they going for?

Thanks,
farmboy

[scoutinlife]

Scout,

You got the .45 almost a year ago? How do you like it?
Anyone else have or shoot one? *What are they going for?

Thanks,
farmboy

Hey Farmboy I still love it! Added a xml light to the rail now it my home defence go to gun now. Also picked up another one in 9mm compact. I'm a XD nut I reckon ;)!

[farmboy]

Thanks Scout, man that was fast. I will look for one and try it out.

farmboy

[dannistim]

To me, The best handgun is one everyone "of age" in your household can fire accurately, is compact enough to tote around concealed if necessary and chambered for a respectable caliber. In my house this is a Ruger SP101 .357 mag. with Uncle Mikes boot grips that is normally loaded with .38 SPC+P. Although that may change since my wife just went out and bought herself a .40 that matches mine for my birthday (I get my old one back ;o)...

[PK.]

For best all-around, my S&W model 25-5 with a four inch barrel would be the one if it was all I could have. I have a Glock, a series 80 1911, a series 70 1911 and a number of others, but for all around usage, that old 45 long Colt is about as versatile as you can get. My 6" model 29 would be second.

Elmer Keith is my hero.