There is no perfect handgun

sheepman · September 22, 2012, 05:47 PM

In 1955 (age 9) I started shooting a S&W k 22 now 57 years later and hundreds of handguns later there still is no one perfect handgun. Have spent lots of money buying and trading for different guns (I did find the perfect woman but not the perfect gun). For autos the Glocks and 1911 are OK, in 22 the S&W 17 and colt woodsman are OK and in an in Revolvers I like the Ruger and S&W. . What is your preference, these are only my favorites. As this is based on personal preferences there is no wrong answer.

myshoulderissore · September 22, 2012, 05:56 PM

I am fond of most any solidly built gun, and a few not-so-solid ones as well... You speak the truth, man, although I haven't shot a WC Supergrade, that might change my views...

However, you found *A* perfect woman, not *THE* perfect woman. Unless you found my wife also!

Kreyzhorse · September 22, 2012, 06:21 PM

My Springfield TRP 1911 is pretty close to perfect for me. An excellent combo of accuracy and reliability. The only draw back is that it is a bit large for year round CCW and while I don't consider it a safe queen, it isn't my camping beater.

arch308 · September 22, 2012, 06:24 PM

I wholeheartedly agree sir. Every so often I think I've found the perfect one but after a while the newness wears off and the search continues.

Sparks1957 · September 22, 2012, 06:29 PM

I am getting closer to finding "my perfect gun". My CZs and Sigs have me pretty satisfied, and the feverish pursuit of the next new gun has definitely cooled down.

I'm always looking, and finding new ones of interest, but I doubt I'll find any that fit me better than those.

Schnitzjr · September 22, 2012, 06:32 PM

Yes, there is a perfect gun. It's called a Walther PPQ.

rightside · September 22, 2012, 06:33 PM

What a boring world this would be if there was a "perfect" gun or anything else. I had the perfect wife, I know because someone else thought so too, and she left with him!

Bob Wright · September 22, 2012, 07:05 PM

Quote:

There is no perfict handgun

?????????

22-rimfire · September 22, 2012, 07:07 PM

I like just about any gun that shoots to some degree. But that doesn't mean I would necessarily buy it. With revolvers, I buy S&W, Ruger, and Colt. I like 1911's and Glocks also, but I like just about anything that functions. I generally stick to the "name brands", but those brands change over the years based on knowledge.

Bob Wright · September 22, 2012, 07:07 PM

Schnitzjr wrote:

Quote:

Yes, there is a perfect gun. It's called a Walther PPQ.

You have that in your deer stand?

Bob Wright

shabodah · September 22, 2012, 07:08 PM

I'm not sure his using of "women" instead of "woman" was mistake...

jborushko · September 22, 2012, 08:22 PM

Coonan 1911 are pretty perfect

sheepman · September 22, 2012, 09:06 PM

It was a mistake, the one I have has tolerated my gun buying habit for 38 years.

Hal · September 22, 2012, 10:20 PM

Quote:

What is your preference

The first D/A center fire revolver I bought was my S&W Model 19-4, nickle finish w/a 6" barrel - P&R.
Many guns later, it's still my idea of perfection.

It's the only gun I own that I have 100% confidence in saying, "If I can see it I can hit it".

HOWEVER - as much as I hate to admit it - it's not perfect in that it's not the ideal concealed carry piece....

For CC, I have to compromise & become mortal

.

**Mike Irwin** · September 22, 2012, 10:31 PM

I found the one true handgun the day I picked up my first Smith and Wesson model 1920 4 inch. Everything else is a poor second place.

jimbob86 · September 22, 2012, 10:34 PM

Pefection does not exist this side of Heaven. And if it did, it wouldn't last 5 minutes before someone jacked it all up.

Indi · September 22, 2012, 11:05 PM

This whole time I thought the g23 was the perfect gun.

jimbob86 · September 22, 2012, 11:10 PM

If it were, it'd be accurate enough for Bullseye competitons. Never seen that.

BIG P · September 23, 2012, 01:39 AM

Agree.If there was someone would still complain about the trigger or the grips. Myself wouldnt know perfect if it bit me in the backside.

Besides perfect for what ?

mrt949 · September 23, 2012, 07:57 AM

At the age of 63. I guess the one i have had the longest is my RUGER SECURITY SIX 4 " 357 MAG new in 1976 .Surived one divorce 2 home roberies 3 major job losses .I guess it's my perfect gun.

pete2 · September 23, 2012, 10:52 AM

The closest thing to the perfect handgun is the S&W model 19. Yep, it's a revolver. Lightweight, pleasant to shoot with .38 specials, powerful with .357 mag., very accurate, single and double action. I thought everyone knew this already.

Gatofeo · September 23, 2012, 11:10 AM

There IS a perfect handgun.
It's owned by a 27-year-old lingerie model who has a summer home in Montana, and a winter home in Arizona, has a bank account as stuffed as Dolly Parton's bra, likes to buy guns as gifts for her man, and wants ME as her man!
I wouldn't care if it were a single-shot, tip-up Harrington & Richardson .22 with a rusty bore! If she owned it and met the above qualifications ... that would be the perfect handgun!

CDW4ME · September 23, 2012, 11:15 AM

For CC a subcompact Glock 26/27/33 is as close to perfect as I have found, had one since they came out - mid 1990's.

gak · September 23, 2012, 12:12 PM

Pete2 said
" The closest thing to the perfect handgun is the S&W model 19. Yep, it's a revolver. Lightweight, pleasant to shoot with .38 specials, powerful with .357 mag., very accurate, single and double action. I thought everyone knew this already."

+1 Pete2 has this down. My version of this is.a 65 LS (Lady Smith). But I also agree with the premise laid out by the OP re perfection. My 65, like all K's, can't (or shouldn't) shoot the hotter 125 gr .357s on a regular basis (not that I'd want to that much). So, empiricallly, the Ruger Speed Six would seem to be the answer to that, very similar package to the K-65 except IIRC it is a little heavier. But,...I don't like the Ruger trigger, cylinder relaease and lines as much; just never been a huge Ruger DA fan. Then there's the 686 Plus in a 3 or 4" - also a candidate for perfection. But it's bigger and heavier yet, making it less ideal than the above two for carry. Oh well, no real perfection out there. There's always something someone can criticize that has some objective merit.

So...I'm back to my beloved 65 LS. Darn' close for the rounds I shoot normally anyway - 3" heaven. Oh, that it could be a 7 shot and load major zombie killers, but then it wouldn't... Oh well! All I know is "perfection," if it exists, is.a revolver

riggins_83 · September 23, 2012, 06:53 PM

For me it's all application, more of a "There's no perfect handgun for all applications I need."

For carry I have 0 complaints on the Glock 30, easy to conceal, shoots very well, I can rapid fire with 230 grain ball at 10 yards into the head of a silhouette target.

Other handguns fulfill the need for home defense and woods guns for me.

For a carry gun it needs to be reliable, easy to self service and something I can shoot accurately quickly. The Glock 30 fills that for me.

September 22, 2012, 05:47 PM	#1
sheepman Senior Member Join Date: November 26, 2007 Location: North Eastern Washington State Posts: 341	There is no perfect handgun In 1955 (age 9) I started shooting a S&W k 22 now 57 years later and hundreds of handguns later there still is no one perfect handgun. Have spent lots of money buying and trading for different guns (I did find the perfect woman but not the perfect gun). For autos the Glocks and 1911 are OK, in 22 the S&W 17 and colt woodsman are OK and in an in Revolvers I like the Ruger and S&W. . What is your preference, these are only my favorites. As this is based on personal preferences there is no wrong answer. __________________ The best gun is the one you have when you really need one Last edited by sheepman; September 22, 2012 at 09:03 PM.

September 22, 2012, 06:21 PM	#3
Kreyzhorse Senior Member Join Date: April 12, 2006 Location: NKY Posts: 10,815	My Springfield TRP 1911 is pretty close to perfect for me. An excellent combo of accuracy and reliability. The only draw back is that it is a bit large for year round CCW and while I don't consider it a safe queen, it isn't my camping beater. __________________ "He who laughs last, laughs dead." Homer Simpson

September 22, 2012, 08:22 PM	#12
jborushko Senior Member Join Date: August 5, 2009 Location: Tacoma WA Posts: 465	Coonan 1911 are pretty perfect __________________ EDIT: yeah i always "edit" my posts

September 22, 2012, 09:06 PM	#13
sheepman Senior Member Join Date: November 26, 2007 Location: North Eastern Washington State Posts: 341	It was a mistake, the one I have has tolerated my gun buying habit for 38 years. __________________ The best gun is the one you have when you really need one

September 22, 2012, 10:31 PM	#15
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 14, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 33,114	I found the one true handgun the day I picked up my first Smith and Wesson model 1920 4 inch. Everything else is a poor second place. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

September 22, 2012, 05:56 PM	#2
myshoulderissore Senior Member Join Date: September 12, 2010 Location: Boise, ID Posts: 447	I am fond of most any solidly built gun, and a few not-so-solid ones as well... You speak the truth, man, although I haven't shot a WC Supergrade, that might change my views... However, you found A perfect woman, not THE perfect woman. Unless you found my wife also!

September 22, 2012, 06:24 PM	#4
arch308 Senior Member Join Date: November 6, 2011 Location: DFW, Texas Posts: 705	I wholeheartedly agree sir. Every so often I think I've found the perfect one but after a while the newness wears off and the search continues.

September 22, 2012, 06:29 PM	#5
Sparks1957 Senior Member Join Date: September 4, 2011 Location: Vermont Posts: 1,396	I am getting closer to finding "my perfect gun". My CZs and Sigs have me pretty satisfied, and the feverish pursuit of the next new gun has definitely cooled down. I'm always looking, and finding new ones of interest, but I doubt I'll find any that fit me better than those.

September 22, 2012, 06:32 PM	#6
Schnitzjr Member Join Date: July 11, 2012 Posts: 25	Yes, there is a perfect gun. It's called a Walther PPQ.

September 22, 2012, 06:33 PM	#7
rightside Member Join Date: February 4, 2012 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 66	What a boring world this would be if there was a "perfect" gun or anything else. I had the perfect wife, I know because someone else thought so too, and she left with him!

September 22, 2012, 07:07 PM	#9
22-rimfire Senior Member Join Date: February 19, 2005 Location: Tennessee Posts: 4,333	I like just about any gun that shoots to some degree. But that doesn't mean I would necessarily buy it. With revolvers, I buy S&W, Ruger, and Colt. I like 1911's and Glocks also, but I like just about anything that functions. I generally stick to the "name brands", but those brands change over the years based on knowledge.

September 22, 2012, 07:08 PM	#11
shabodah Member Join Date: September 2, 2011 Posts: 52	I'm not sure his using of "women" instead of "woman" was mistake...

September 22, 2012, 10:34 PM	#16
jimbob86 Senior Member Join Date: October 4, 2007 Location: All the way to NEBRASKA Posts: 5,252	Pefection does not exist this side of Heaven. And if it did, it wouldn't last 5 minutes before someone jacked it all up. __________________ TheGolden Rule of Tool Use: "If you don't know what you are doing, DON'T." http://nefirearm.com/

September 22, 2012, 11:05 PM	#17
Indi Senior Member Join Date: October 23, 2011 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 176	This whole time I thought the g23 was the perfect gun. __________________ I dont understand why people get addicted to drugs, when they can get addicted to guns instead!!

September 22, 2012, 11:10 PM	#18
jimbob86 Senior Member Join Date: October 4, 2007 Location: All the way to NEBRASKA Posts: 5,252	If it were, it'd be accurate enough for Bullseye competitons. Never seen that. __________________ TheGolden Rule of Tool Use: "If you don't know what you are doing, DON'T." http://nefirearm.com/

September 23, 2012, 01:39 AM	#19
BIG P Senior Member Join Date: July 8, 2010 Location: North Georgia Posts: 1,463	Agree.If there was someone would still complain about the trigger or the grips. Myself wouldnt know perfect if it bit me in the backside. Besides perfect for what ?

September 23, 2012, 07:57 AM	#20
mrt949 Senior Member Join Date: November 16, 2008 Location: CENTRAL FL. Posts: 1,392	At the age of 63. I guess the one i have had the longest is my RUGER SECURITY SIX 4 " 357 MAG new in 1976 .Surived one divorce 2 home roberies 3 major job losses .I guess it's my perfect gun. __________________ BUY CHEAP GET CHEAP .

September 23, 2012, 10:52 AM	#21
pete2 Senior Member Join Date: May 15, 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 415	The closest thing to the perfect handgun is the S&W model 19. Yep, it's a revolver. Lightweight, pleasant to shoot with .38 specials, powerful with .357 mag., very accurate, single and double action. I thought everyone knew this already.

September 23, 2012, 11:10 AM	#22
Gatofeo Senior Member Join Date: October 1, 2004 Location: Remote Utah desert Posts: 215	There IS a perfect handgun. It's owned by a 27-year-old lingerie model who has a summer home in Montana, and a winter home in Arizona, has a bank account as stuffed as Dolly Parton's bra, likes to buy guns as gifts for her man, and wants ME as her man! I wouldn't care if it were a single-shot, tip-up Harrington & Richardson .22 with a rusty bore! If she owned it and met the above qualifications ... that would be the perfect handgun! __________________ "And lo, did I see an ugly cat. Smoke. Brimstone. Holes in parchment. And this ugly cat was much amused." --- The Prophesies of Gatodamus (1503 - 1566)

September 23, 2012, 11:15 AM	#23
CDW4ME Senior Member Join Date: March 18, 2009 Posts: 501	For CC a subcompact Glock 26/27/33 is as close to perfect as I have found, had one since they came out - mid 1990's. __________________ No internal lock or magazine disconnect on my pistols!

September 23, 2012, 12:12 PM	#24
gak Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 2005 Posts: 2,715	Pete2 said " The closest thing to the perfect handgun is the S&W model 19. Yep, it's a revolver. Lightweight, pleasant to shoot with .38 specials, powerful with .357 mag., very accurate, single and double action. I thought everyone knew this already." +1 Pete2 has this down. My version of this is.a 65 LS (Lady Smith). But I also agree with the premise laid out by the OP re perfection. My 65, like all K's, can't (or shouldn't) shoot the hotter 125 gr .357s on a regular basis (not that I'd want to that much). So, empiricallly, the Ruger Speed Six would seem to be the answer to that, very similar package to the K-65 except IIRC it is a little heavier. But,...I don't like the Ruger trigger, cylinder relaease and lines as much; just never been a huge Ruger DA fan. Then there's the 686 Plus in a 3 or 4" - also a candidate for perfection. But it's bigger and heavier yet, making it less ideal than the above two for carry. Oh well, no real perfection out there. There's always something someone can criticize that has some objective merit. So...I'm back to my beloved 65 LS. Darn' close for the rounds I shoot normally anyway - 3" heaven. Oh, that it could be a 7 shot and load major zombie killers, but then it wouldn't... Oh well! All I know is "perfection," if it exists, is.a revolver Last edited by gak; September 23, 2012 at 12:25 PM.

September 23, 2012, 06:53 PM	#25
riggins_83 Senior Member Join Date: January 19, 2009 Location: Wherever I may roam Posts: 1,456	For me it's all application, more of a "There's no perfect handgun for all applications I need." For carry I have 0 complaints on the Glock 30, easy to conceal, shoots very well, I can rapid fire with 230 grain ball at 10 yards into the head of a silhouette target. Other handguns fulfill the need for home defense and woods guns for me. For a carry gun it needs to be reliable, easy to self service and something I can shoot accurately quickly. The Glock 30 fills that for me. __________________ l've heard police work is dangerous. Yes, that's why l carry a big gun. Couldn't it go off accidentally? l used to have that problem. What did you do about it? l just think about baseball. -Leslie Nielsen