If You Could Own Only One Gun ?

[FLA2760]

HI EVERYONE
If for whatever reason you were able to own only one handgun (revolver) which would you choose. This would assume you had a CCW. Remember this would be your carry, range, home, and car gun. What would you load into your one gun? Thank You.
STEVE :D

[osirus101]

I think i would have to stick with the 454 casull if its just one gun...with the shorter versions available now aday...it would be tolerable as a CCW....45 colts are very comfortable for the range and would work quite well for defense then the 454 casull loads works good for hunting puposes :D

Osirus101

[Garand Illusion]

If I could only own one gun ... I'd get a second job to buy another one or two. :D

But seriously ... since carrying concealed is the limiting facor I'd base my decision on that. Get the largest caliber gun I can comfortably fire and conceal that makes the most sense to me. For me this would be a snubby (or possibly 3") .357

But there's really no WRONG gun as long as you can conceal it.

[Spitn Lead]

Ruger Redhawk Alaskan 454 casull, you have the option of 45lc or the mighty 454 small but very powerful,managable & accurate. JMHO.

[Sam Cade]

If you can only own one gun its time to use that one gun on a politico.

[saltydog452]

Most likely a 3", round butt, heavy barrel S&W Mdl 13. A 2 1/2" Python or a 4" Model 19 would be serious contenders also.

salty.

[progunner1957]

OK, I'll play the game. It would be either a .44 magnum or .454 Casull revolver, either a S&W or a Ruger Super Redhawk. I'd feed it .44 special HPs for defense if it were the .44 and .45 Colt for defense in the .454

[tanksoldier]

4" GP-100 .357... works OK for CC w/ 158gr JHP, should handle smaller game if you stalk well enough, say mule deer and below, with 180gr hardcast.

I wouldn't feel too bad with my current CCW, 2.75" .357 Speed Six. There are other ways of hunting besides a gun.

Either way, if it's your only gun, say in a SHTF scenario and you only have time to grab one, or loose the rest in a river crossing during a bug-out and only have what you had on your body at the time, a Ruger will fire full-house magnum loads forever... your grandkids will be shooting it.

[PaleGreenHorse]

Model 629 5"

[mathman]

Ruger Redhawk 44 mag with a 5 1/2 inch barrel...or...Ruger GP 100 357 mag with a 3 inch barrel.

[Marko Kloos]

Four-inch .357 Magnum L-frame S&W, the most versatile handgun on the planet.

[dr.magnum]

No one gun fits the bill for everything. The closest is a 4 inch .357.

[ron8903]

4" 686 smith

[gak]

I'm with dr.magnum (and others) 4" .357, preferably in some Smith configuration, either K (shooting moslty .38 125s and 158s for HD) or perhaps more likely (as the 1 gun scenario suggests slightly heavier duty, more versatile and, throwing another "what if" feature in- "lifetime," to me) L frame as Marko Kloos says. I like the idea of a 7 shot .357. Also, Tanksoldier has a good point re the Rugers in a "one gun forever" scenario.

[Detective_Special]

S&W Model 66 with a 4" barrel.

[gb_in_ga]

Hmm -- the 4" 686 I've got right now would do the trick. But, if I had to use it for CCW also, I'd change the old style wooden square butt grips that are currently on it for something less bulky. They are plenty comfortable and all, but not easy to conceal.

As far as what to feed it with, well, that's part of the beauty of the 4" .357 Mag. I see no reason to shoot full bore magnum blasters day-in and day-out at the range. So I don't, most range & plinking I do with fairly lightly loaded .38 spl -- cheaper and more pleasant. But I do let rip with some full power stuff on occasion just to stay familiar with it. For home defense, since I live in a fairly densely populated suburban area, I have concerns about overpenetration of walls and such, so I don't load full bore magnum blasters there, either -- I've got Speer .38 spl +p 125 gr Gold Dots loaded: enough to do the job while minimizing the risk of shooting through my house and through a neighbor's house as well. I'd probably keep those loaded for CCW use as well. Or not, maybe I'd opt for Magnum loads for that, a good case can be made for either. For hunting (except small game where I'll use light .38 spl), field & car use it gets full bore blasters: I've got some nice, warm Georgia Arms .357 Mag 158gr Gold Dots (they call them "Deer Stompers" and claim they are +p :eek: ) that'll handle anything I'm liable to encounter here in the South.

[big daddy 9mm]

a beretta 96 or 92 but since I could only go with one I would probably go woth the 96. :) :)

[Boarhunter]

Do not overlook my personal favorite "do it all" revolver, the Smith 329 scandium .44 magnum with a 4" barrel and only 26 oz of weight. Shoots anything from the mildest of special loads to the most frightening of magnum loads and carries open or concealed without bother. That would be my last gun to give up....

Either that or my Smith 325 scandium .45 acp revolver (3" snubby) if ammo availability were an issue.

Boarhunter

[cen]

Taurus tracker 627 .357 4", sweet in stainless, and 7 shots.

[BlueTrain]

This is fun to think about. However, I don't have a license since I live in a pretty safe area (I live near Washington, D.C.) and my personal experiences have not suggested it would be useful to be armed very often. Or as Jeff Cooper said, "I don't go in places like that."

But seriously, there are so many situations and so many choices. The requirement to pick only one handgun (revolver or pistol) is a realistic one both for reasons of economy and also because when you go somewhere, you would usually only take one gun.

My wish gun is a .38 super Government model. My wish second gun (I know--you didn't ask that) is a .380 Government model. Guess what: I like Colts and they both work the same way and both are hard to find. I've owned more than one of each, too.

My idea of a more practical revolver is a 3" S&W M13 or variation thereof, even in .38 special. This isn't a hunting situation and even a .38 special will handle anything around here at arms length transactions. For a .357 I'm happy with the light bullet loads. Terrific blast but recoil isn't so bad.

But since I said I like Colts and I'm very much a traditionalist, I might even pick a Colt Police Positive Special and they are really hard to find.

Funny, I don't have a single one of any of those at the moment, though I've have at least two of each at one time or another. So what do I have now? A Star BM and a 4" S&W M13.

I don't think the ammunition matters as much as all that given other, more important problems, such as carrying the weapon concealed day in and day out, and, should the time to use it ever arise, actually drawing the gun and hitting the target in time to prevent whatever I needed to shoot to prevent. Generally, the latter problems seem to be just assumed away in most discussions.

My wish list could go on, by the way.

[Pointer]

Glock 27

(S&W.40 for those who don't know.) :)

[FLA2760]

Hi Everyone
I see that many of you chose a 3 or 4 inch .357 from S&W and a few from Ruger. I was thinking along the lines of a 3-4 inch .357 also. The versatility of being able to load it with .38, .38+ P, and the .357 is a big plus. I chose a revolver do to its ability to generally be able to shoot various brands of ammo with a high degree of reliability. I love my Glock but if it has to be one it will be a wheel gun. Are there any revolvers in .357 that have the capability to shoot .22 LR with a conversion cylinder like some of the NAA Mini revolvers do? I think that there is such a conversion kit for the 1911 type .45 but I am not sure. I thank you for your replys.
Steve :D

[gb_in_ga]

"Are there any revolvers in .357 that have the capability to shoot .22 LR with a conversion cylinder like some of the NAA Mini revolvers do?"

Not that I've heard of. Maybe there's a Dan Wesson convertible that'll do it, but that would be the only possibility. Since the bores are completely different and it is a big hassle to change barrels on your typical revolver, this sort of thing just doesn't happen. The pat answer is that if you want a .22 lr revolver, get a .22 lr revolver.

Not all is lost. If you choose to reload, you can load light .38 spl loads that are very mild, accurate and quite inexpensive. With that in mind, the need for a .22 lr conversion for cheap, low recoil training becomes a non-issue.

[Alaskanmonte]

I would buy a Ruger SP101 3" (.357). Small enough frame for CC, but stout enough for lots of full house .357 ammo. I like the SP101 gun and I would not feel bad having this as my only revolver.

[Garand Guy]

Hmmm... Seems like I just started a poll for a question like this...oh, well.

Given the criteria, my preference for the odd, I'll go with the S&W 500 Mag with a 4" barrel, and Hornady 350gr XTP-HP

If we're only allowed one gun, might as well make it a big one :D

[rgoudy1975]

No one gun fits the bill for everything. The closest is a 4 inch .357.
+1

[Boarhunter]

Garand Guy,

The 4" barrel on the Smith .500 mag to make it more concealable, right?

Boarhunter

[abelew]

Id get the 4" 500, because you never know when your going to be taking out light armor during a shtf scenerio, while hunting elk at 200 meters, and skulking around a residential forest in search of that last scrap of food left after the martians invaded the subdivision you reside in.

Seriously though, if you got one of those new sw 460 thingies, you could shoot .45lc, 454 casull, and sw's 460 loads though it, the only drawback would be the long barrel that is used for the gain twist rifling

[bjmanersr]

S&W 14 in the front but i would have to keep the 15 in the back

[TX_RGR]

All these guys packing 5 lbs of steel with 8" barrels as a carry gun make me laugh. And shooting expensive custom ammo since it is your only range gun too? .357 snub is not a bad idea. It's pretty versatile. I would go with a .44 special shortie. It gives you just a little more versatility.

[Tacblack]

The 627PC 3" 8X 357mag seen in the movie Bloodwork. 125grn 357mag for carry and special for gun games.

[Bullrock]

If You Could Own Only One Gun ?
My SW 29-2. I'd shoot myself in the head with it and then bury it where no one else would ever find it!!!! :eek: :eek:

[Glenn E. Meyer]

686 - and I don't have one. Dear, can I buy ... ??? :o

[m14nut]

this would be a tough decision :mad:
I have three that would fit the bill.

A stainless Security six in 2 3/4" .357
A 4" model 28 Smith .357
Or My 4" 45colt Mountain gun in stainless.

What a damn toss up.....

I'll say the N framed Mountain gun.

[Mister_Dinky]

If You Could Own Only One Gun ?

Then there would be only one gun "on paper".

[Garand Guy]

You got that right! :D

[Garand Guy]

My SW 29-2. I'd shoot myself in the head with it and then bury it where no one else would ever find it!!!!

How in the duce would you manage that?

[Laz]

I shot myself in the head with a .50 Desert Eagle once. Fortunately, it was with the empty case and not the bullet. Right in the forehead. Still drew blood and wounded my "machismo" with my shooting buddies. I'm not going to buy one.

[22-rimfire]

It would have to be a 6-inch Model 57 Smith as long as the ammunition availability issue is not relevant. Otherwise, it would be a Model 29.

[Pappy John]

A S&W .44 Mountain Gun.
With loads from mild to wild.

I do get to keep my re-loading press, don't I? :cool:

[Bullrock]

How in the duce would you manage that?

I don't know, but I'm working on it... ;)

[BlueTrain]

I already posted one reply but after thinking it over I decided that, since life is short, it would have to be something I haven't already owned.

Which narrows it down a lot.

[Windjammer]

I'm not a Law Officer, I not wear a sports coat to work, so a snubbie .38 spl with 158gr hp swc +P allows me to "Conceal" & "Carry" ( both at the same time) ;)

[Rinspeed]

Easy answer for me 4" 686.

[azredhawk44]

The one I already have... ruger sp101 .357 3". She's a tank and can reliably, repeatedly be put on torso-sized targets at 100 yards.

[Anibal]

Easy answer for me too, a 4" model 586. It is almost the same as a 686 but a 586 is what I have.

I agree wit several post a good revolver with 4" barrel .357 Magnum is the most versatile handgun.

Anibal.

[Rinspeed]

Easy answer for me too, a 4" model 586. It is almost the same as a 686 but a 586 is what I have.

I agree wit several post a good revolver with 4" barrel .357 Magnum is the most versatile handgun.

It's funny, I hate stainless handguns but the 686 was my first revolver. I bought it from a friend years ago for $175 and I almost passed on it at that if you can believe it. Now it's hard to find a clean one for less than $350-400.

I didn't know at the time what classics the 586/686s were. Now I have several revolvers including a 27-2 and a couple 28-2s. Times do change and so do people, the next one on my list is a 29-2.

[Holman]

SW 329PD
44 Spl.
4" barrel
26 oz.
6-shot

any questions? :cool:

[Boarhunter]

Holman,

I am with you on that one!

Boarhunter

[ewayte]

I already have my Armageddon gun - a Ruger Blackhawk Convertible with 4 5/8" barrel. It can shoot .38, .357 Magnum and 9mm so I think I'd be covered in the ammo department, should the need arise.

[JB696]

If I could only own one gun, you can bet it wouldn't have a stupid lock built into the frame of the gun.

[cje1980]

Tough call between my 4" and 6" GP100s in 357Mag. I think the 6" has a little more reach and accuracy for hunting though.

[seth]

http://www.taurususa.com/imagesMain/H_444SS6.jpg

[stormyone]

Ruger GP100 4" .357

[625]

Four-inch .357 Magnum L-frame S&W, the most versatile handgun on the planet.

686 Mountain Gun all the way!! My 625 is just too heavy and not as versitile, but still my favorite.

[Ramcharger]

Wow even joking I can't answer that one...:cool:

Either my 1911 or my 3 screw .357 blackhawk?

[porkskin]

s&w bodyguard in steel frame. ultimate carry gun, steel frame reduces recoil. my airweight is the last gun i'd sell.

[lawboy]

this type of decision forces one to prioritize ones uses for a gun as no one gun can truly perform all tasks. For me, defense would be the priority above all else. for that purpose I would pick either my s&w 19-3 2.5-inch nickel-plated .357, or my two-tone browning hi-power 9mm, original fn manufacture. Either would do just fine. I'd take one of these defensive guns and adapt it to all other gun uses as best I could, but a true defensive gun would be my choice without question.

[BredanSIG]

GP-100 3" short shourd.......and that gun might be in my possesion by early next week....wOOt!

[Tim Whittaker]

If only one gun were the case, I'd go with a Dan Wesson 715 .357 Magnum with 2.5", 4", and 6" barrels. 110gr. all the way up to 180gr.

[Tankholler]

S&W 586 4" bbl. is a fine choice.

[Daniel BOON]

I carry a 4" smith mdl 25; out in the woods its loaded with 250 gr hard cast; in the asphalt jungle of Las Vegas/clark county, its loaded with 230 gr, jhp; both loads make nasty holes.........game over.

[RevolverLover]

Ruger GP-100 4" w/adj. sights

[tube_ee]

I'm gonna chime in with yet another "4 inch .357 Magnum."

Cheap paper puncher? Check. 148 - 158 gr lead, 3 - 4 grains Bullseye. Around .22lr prices, more accurate than most handgunners can shoot 'em.

Small Game? Check. Target load .38s = good small game medicine.

Medium Game? Check. Heavy bullets and big powder loads kill deer and hogs dead.

Self Defense? Your kidding right? The only thing that the M&S and Fackler factions can seem to agree on is that the .357 mag service revolver is near-perfect in this role.

The only thing you would need "more gun" for would be hunting large or dangerous game.

Plus, there's so many great guns around in this caliber. Smiths, Colts, Rugers, all can be had for small coin on the used market, and they're all great guns, and better than just about anything made today.

The .357 doesn't get much press these days. That's because it's already almost perfect. It's tough to make a living writing stories about a platform that's been great for 70 years and is still great today.

--Shannon

[Longbowshooter]

I got a 4" GP100 because it would fill every role satisfactorally.

[deputy tom]

S/S, 4-in. L-Frame,round butt, S&W 686 .357 Magnum with a Tyler T-Grip adapter.tom.:cool:

[bjmanersr]

Screaming 40 caliber will stop a deer or a man.IF YOU CAN SHOOT IT!!Thats the secret--practice-practice

[joshua]

One revolver and no hunting purpose according to original post. That's easy a 4" Ruger GP100. I know I don't have one but I think my 6" GP100 SS will suffice. Accurate, reliable and will last two lifetimes. josh

[model 25]

Gotta be my Early mod 625 45acp mountian gun, Crimson trace laser site. Hunt with Auto Rim ammo and protect myself and family with 230 hydroshocks. Full moons make for fast reloads. Not the muzzle blast of 357s and 44s.

Wish I had an early (no safety) model with a three inch barrel.

Model 25

[Scope]

If it had to be a revolver I would choose my 6" Colt Python .357 mag.

[Radagast]

If carry is an option, 4 inch model 66. If not, 5 inch 627.

[baildoc]

S&W Model 58 or 57. You like what you like;)

[Russ5924]

S&W Model 66 four inch barrel I just like those revolvers:D

[gmoney]

Smith & Wesson 625JM 45.ACP

[gordo b.]

Just one gun? It's a toss up between a mint original factory engraved Walker Colt or the same condition factory .45acp Luger:D

[13.45]

3" .44mag

[gdeal]

http://www.ruger.com/Firearms/FAProdView?model=5719&return=Y

http://www.ruger.com/Firearms/images/Products/49L.gif

[Hammer It]

Hello Steve
I like the S&W-J-frame revolver due to the compact size. I carry the one shown and it is a model 631. They are hard to find in the .32 H&R magnum caliber but are out there. S&W only produced them from 1990-1993 and the total was 5000 between three models. This is a very accurate revolver, report is loud, but not alarming, accuracy is excellent, and the handloads can reach .357 level easy. Odd part is this model is a 6 shot and all other's in center fire are 5.Best Regards, Hammer It.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v258/hammerdown-7/DSCF4858.jpg

[Tamara]

A 4" round-butt Model 19.