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Old March 21, 2013, 09:51 AM   #1
odugrad
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Combat handgun vs...

I have read some descriptions of handguns and they are called "combat handguns". What exactly qualifies a gun as "combat ready" or not? Just curious. And what are some examples?
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Old March 21, 2013, 09:57 AM   #2
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I hate that term. To me it's an example of poetic license used by some to suggest a level of reliability/ruggedness inherent in a handgun that is not inherent in others. I don't go into "combat" with a handgun. I've seen examples of many so called "combat handguns" that have failed. In all honesty I find little difference in reliability between most current production handguns.
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Old March 21, 2013, 10:05 AM   #3
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Combat handgun!!

Perhaps a combat handgun was meant to be a handgun that can be used under extreme conditions with a wide veriation of ammo and function reliably . Field stripped simply for cleaning with few issues in the design.

What it has turned out to be tends to be something else completely different most times.

For me a combat handgun would be a glock early 2nd or early 3rd gen .
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Old March 21, 2013, 10:15 AM   #4
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A combat handgun is going to be the next media coined term for a handgun that has one or more of the following features:
1. Colored black, OD green, or desert tan
2. Has a detachable "magazine clip"
3. Has ammunition capacity of more than six rounds.
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Old March 21, 2013, 10:16 AM   #5
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One more thing, Combat Ready Hand Guns are usually considered larger caliber 9mm and up as well as medium to long barrel or full sized.
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Old March 21, 2013, 10:50 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wreck-n-Crew
Combat Ready Hand Guns are usually considered larger caliber 9mm and up as well as medium to long barrel or full sized.
+1. In my experience, "Combat" and "Service" are euphemisms for full-size.

Comparable euphemisms for compact, subcompact, and micro-compact are "concealable", "backup" or "pocket", and "mouse" respectively.
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Old March 21, 2013, 11:36 AM   #7
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In my opinion a Combat Handgun is what ever you have at the time it is needed. I don't see the point of CC with one Handgun and Training with another handgun.

However, I'll agree with the association with "combat" guns being full sized.
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Old March 21, 2013, 11:44 AM   #8
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I've read a pretty convincing argument for a S&W J-frame snubby, dropped in a pocket, as combat handgun of choice.
I agree that the term usually applies to a "full sized service pistol", but when you think about how much room such a gun, and a couple of reloads, takes up on the belt, and how that space, and weight, would be better used for two or four more reloads for the primary weapon, tucking a snubby away might make more sense than a 15-round M9 and 30 more rounds of 9mm.
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Old March 21, 2013, 11:56 AM   #9
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A combat handgun is more tactical than other handguns.
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Old March 21, 2013, 12:05 PM   #10
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It seems that they generally have more features designed to make them easier/faster to use under duress, and fewer features designed to make them concealable. Also, generally their generally more geared towards reliability than aesthetics.

"Combat" upgrades - to me anyway - might be matte finish, beveled mag wells, trimmed mag release, night sights, and more aggressive stippling/checkering.

But, I don't think there's a standard definition.
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Old March 21, 2013, 12:32 PM   #11
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Quote:
A combat handgun is more tactical than other handguns.
Wears a lot of 5.11 clothing?
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Old March 21, 2013, 12:53 PM   #12
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Harris Publication?....

I guess you never picked up a Combat Handguns magazine?
The gun of choice?

As some left wing/anti 2A media wags call it.

A "combat" or "fighting" handgun is a revolver or pistol meant to used for defense or as a sidearm. The term is not as popular as the 1970s/1980s.

Harris Publications has a few great firearms/gun press magazines.
They do tend to reprint the same topics & run gun articles with completely different firearms(a Glock 21 .45acp with color pics of 2 uniformed cops holding HK P2000 pistols, ).

CF

Last edited by Spats McGee; March 21, 2013 at 02:42 PM. Reason: Removing asterisks
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Old March 21, 2013, 01:02 PM   #13
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Here's an easy way to tell what all those confusing gun terms mean:
Assault rifle - one being used to assault you.
Defensive rifle or handgun - one you use to defend against the above.
Combat handgun - one used by either the attacker or defender, once the trouble starts.
Or
It ain't what's in their hand, it's what's in their heart.
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Old March 21, 2013, 01:02 PM   #14
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It's a "marketing term" ..../ I wouldn't get too hung up on what it is or isn't...

Buy what you want, what you can afford - shoot what you want ...in whatever caliber and size you want....( you can make an argument that a Single Action revoler could be a "combat handgun" ...and while I like them a lot / my reloads speeds on them kind of suck.../ but it could still be a great combat handgun.....
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Old March 21, 2013, 01:45 PM   #15
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Once the term becomes common usage, the anti-2A folks will be saying they're weapons of war and don't belong in our hands, just like they're doing with AR-type rifles.
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Old March 21, 2013, 03:29 PM   #16
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Quote:
What exactly qualifies a gun as "combat ready" or not? Just curious. And what are some examples?
Is it loaded?

Suitably lethal caliber (NOT 25 ACP)?

Not a single action revolver, cap and ball . . . ???

Be skeptical and cynical about marketing hype. If you're not in the armed forces, "combat ready" is not something you need to worry about personally.
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Old March 21, 2013, 03:49 PM   #17
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It is a marketing term, dems would call it an assault handgun. For some reason no one is willing to call them defensive guns which is what they really are.
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Old March 21, 2013, 04:36 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ScotchMan
A combat handgun is more tactical than other handguns.
Quote:
Originally Posted by TunnelRat
Wears a lot of 5.11 clothing?
A combat handgun and 5.11 clothing are essential if one is an elite operator. Other essential accessories are aviator-style sunglasses and one of those baseball caps with the Velcro where you can stick patches on it, colored tan Flat Dark Earth, of course.

Chicks dig elite operators.

<snicker>
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Old March 21, 2013, 04:59 PM   #19
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I think the term elite operator has been upgraded to operational athlete.
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Old March 21, 2013, 05:14 PM   #20
RBid
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When I think of a 'combat handgun', I think:
- service caliber
- track record of reliability
- duty/service/"full size" frame

"combat" is generally associated with LE or service work, but this isn't always the case. One of my coworkers is a civilian, who has never been in law enforcement or military service. He has been in combat, while working in maritime security. More than a few of my customers have been in shoot-to-live scenarios, which many of us would call 'combat'.

As a civilian who carries for the purpose of defending my loved ones and myself, I have a healthy interest in making sure that my carry weapon is 'combat ready'. I also have a healthy interest in making sure that every choice that I make in life keeps my loved ones and myself away from situations in which I am forced to enter combat.
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Old March 21, 2013, 05:24 PM   #21
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I specificly bought my Colt ''Combat'' Elite cause it said, ''combat'' on the slide. It must be a combat gun, right?
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Old March 21, 2013, 05:27 PM   #22
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Quote:
Wears a lot of 5.11 clothing?
Quote:
A combat handgun and 5.11 clothing are essential if one is an elite operator.
Hey.... I am wearing 5.11 pants right now... What are you saying?

Quote:
Other essential accessories are aviator-style sunglasses and one of those baseball caps with the Velcro where you can stick patches on it, colored tan Flat Dark Earth, of course.
Oh nevermind, I don't have those so I guess I'm doing alright.

Quote:
Chicks dig elite operators.
On second thought.... I'm gonna go get some Aviators and one of those elite operator hats


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Old March 21, 2013, 05:33 PM   #23
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I think of it as "combat" as opposed to "target".

A target gun might have a super light trigger pull, weaker recoil springs for lighter loads, very tight tolerances for maximum accuracy (but with potentially less reliability in less than optimum conditions).
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Old March 21, 2013, 06:13 PM   #24
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What Xero said...
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Old March 21, 2013, 08:28 PM   #25
ClydeFrog
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Man caused disaster?...

Is that like man caused disaster? Or rendered harmless?
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