VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! Please VOTE on your favorite HANDGUN.

[jonhearn]

I would like to buy a handgun and would like some advice. So please just spell out clearly, your favorite gun, make, model, etc... Then a reason. THANKS EVERYONE

-Jonathan

Ok RNT, Thanks, I should clarify... I'm looking for any caliber, any use, any style. Just so long as you adress all the criteria. I.E: Glock 30, autoloading, 45acp, great for concealed carry, nice fit...
I hope that covers the question.

[RNTbomb]

Are you looking for advise on single action revolver, double action revolver, semi-auto (large or small caliber). Or just what are favorite handgun is from Mark II .22lr all the way to the Smith and Wesson .500 S&W Magnum... Out of all the handguns I have held and shot I like my S&W 5906 9mm. I like the way it fits my hand, the way it shoots, I have never had a feed problem and I looks pretty cool, but this is coming from a person that is not a big revolver fan.

[hunter1992]

My favorite would have to be a Ruger Mark II 22 long rifle

[Linethrower]

Anything that is S&W cant go wrong.

[Buckbuster]

The one gun that I regret selling is a Beretta 92. For me, it's the untimate handgun for personal protection, comfort and convenience as well as a lot of firepower.

For hunting, I tend to lean toward the S&W handguns, mainly because of their grip. I have very long fingers and can wrap them around a Ruger grip about one and a half times.

I've killed whitetail with S&W revolvers in the .357 Mag and .41 Mag calibers. The only issue I had with the .41 is that a shoulder holster was mandatory. I had the 8-3/4" barrel, which is basically a one-handed rifle, and when you carry it on your waist it will pull your pants down around you knees in short order.

I've shot the 500 and wouldn't care to do it again.

I loved it, but finally sold the .41, so I could buy a .270 rifle. So many firearms, so little time, so little money.....

[chinook]

Certainly the Ruger Stainless SP101 .22 with a 4" barrel gets my vote. It's a perfect fit for my small hands. Accurate beyond imagination. And the most used of all my hanguns. It's highly concealable. Easily picks off little edible critters to 50 yards. Carries like a dream. Besides all that. They made a law that says everyone must own one. Believe me, I've got many bang sticks and this one is my pick!

[BULLSEYE]

buy a s&w and pop a cap

[Dclewis]

Love my contender! Lots of calibers and accuarate. Dave

[Fowl_Hooked]

Kimber,Colt,S&W,Springfield, ParaOrdanance, etc.. 1911, 45 ACP, Auto Loading. Fits any size hand. Nearly 100 years of use can't be wrong.

[Todd G.]

If its a "REAL" handgun it has to be a Colt Single Action Army revolver in .45 Long Colt! Nothing feels sweeter in the hand and carries more character than a "Real" Cowboy Gun! I prefer the 4 5/8" barrel and blued finish.

If its an auto, nothing will ever stack up to the 1911 in .45 ACP. Its the ultimate in speed gun games, self-defense, and all around shooting pleasure combined with knockdown power.

[Buckbuster]

I'm with you on the "Cowboy" guns. I'd love to own one. Problem is my hands are fairly large and their small grips just don't fit well. I'm thinking that I need one anyway, and will eventually buy one, for no other reason than want.

I too am a devoted fan of the 1911 in the .45 ACP config. When I was shooting the .45 in the military, our handgun instructor's philosophy was that even if you hit the enemy in the hand it would knock him down, and you could get another round or two in very quickly.

I just like the extra number of pops you get from the Beretta. It might not have the knockdown power of the .45, but you get a lot more chances to get the job done. As every gun enthusiast knows, there are pros and cons about every caliber. That's why we have to own so many. How many different sizes of screwdrivers do you have to own to be fully prepared for any job that might come up? Get one of each!

I rest my case.

Buckbuster

[airborne]

Ruger 44 Mag--- Single action---Stainless--- Houge Grips--- 7 1/2 in barrel--- ported--- with a red dot scope. Oh yes.... a huge smile when she goes off!!!

[Yooper]

I'm a fan of Ruger Stainless single-six revolvers. For plinking the .22 Single Six is a bunch of fun.

[SCOPEOUT]

1911 Springfield milspec (45 ACP) in stainless. Very comfortable grip, extremely accurate out of the box, elegant, simple to use.

[Float Pilot]

This is like asking which day was the most pretty.

Carry Gun: (protection/duty)
In my past career I had the chance to carry lots of duty guns in duty rigs and plain clothes.
Both autos and revolvers.

The one that gave me the most warm and fuzzy feeling was the Sig P-220 45acp. With night sights.
It always worked. I had three and shot two of them to death. They are reliable and accurate. Plus the grip size is good. And they point about like a 1911. I have a couple of those too but ,,, that Sig 220 had something special about how rough it could be treated. I lost the last one in an emergency plumbing deal.... I really miss that gun....

Hunting / Fishing protection:
I guess my old 6.5 inch S&W M-29. It is smooth and accurate. I load 310 grain hard cast keith type slugs right at 1200fps (chronoed). It is not as powerfull as some of the newer hand cannons but it is balanced and quick to draw and fire. I tried a Glock 20, 10mm in this role for a while, but I could not draw it quickly and fire accurately without having to re-position the gun in my hand.

Flying/Survival vest gun:
I have a little S&W 8 shot .22 Model 317 AirLite with a 3 inch barrel and standard adjusable sights.
It goes flying with me every time since it lives in my survival vest pocket. It is accurate and so light that I forget it is there. I have it inside a bag with a box of 50 .22 Stingers. If I have nothing else, I will have my vest and a 22 to zap little lake ducks, birds, big fish and other eatible critters.


It the bedroom:
Ever since I lost the Sig220 I noticed that I have my old (1960) 4 inch 357 mag Python up by the bed.
Kinda odd since I always thought of myself as a 1911 type of guy. But the Python is there....Must be because the wife can use it without having to remember anything....

I have some Colt SAAs for cowboy shooting but they sit in cases. Just like some of the other gunlocker queens.

[Kellyelk]

Ruger 44 Mag--- Single action---Stainless--- Houge Grips--- 7 1/2 in barrel--- ported--- with a red dot scope. Oh yes.... a huge smile when she goes off!!!


I agree!!

My Ruger 44 Mag is double action, Stainless with a six inch barrel. Soon to have a Leopold scope for hunting deer!! (Christmas present from wife 2 years ago) She also got me a Stainless RugerP85 9mm for Fathers Day that year. It is my second favorite.

I have to say that the horror stories of shooting the 44 are not entirely true. Was pretty darn nervous before I let the first shot go, but after that I will have to second Airborne's thought of the HUGE SMILE every time you let it go!

[wranglerdude]

.22=S&W K-22 6" Super smooth!

.44 Mag+Ruger Superblackhawk 3 screw

All time favorite= Colt Goverment Model .45 ACP! Thousands of rounds in IPSC Competition. Best for self defense.

Wranglerdude

[JoeMZLDR]

Ruger and Colt for me. The Colt I have is a Colt Cowboy which, is no where close to the Standard Colt but, It works for CAS. I also have the Ruger Vaquero which is a bit stoughter and used for CAS also, both in 45 Long Colt. Both very comfortable to shoot. My hunting handgun is a Ruger Super Redhawk in 454 Casull (scoped) which is NOT comfortabel to shoot for long but, a fantastic handgun to hunt just about any large game animal around, but I use it for Whitetail.

[257Magnum]

Sig-Sauer P229 .40 s&w. Very accurate, fits hands well, more than adequate mag size, I love this Gun!!! second favorite is the Para Ordnance Warthog, .45 acp, great for concealed carry and fun to shoot

[dubyam]

I like my Glock Model 23 in 40S&W. It shoots anything, does so with better than appropriate tactical accuracy at high speed, and does not care how it is treated or handled, it just wants to be shot. Never a failure, after greater than 5000 rounds through it. It is not pretty, and I have a Hogue grip sleeve on it because it is one of the pre-finger-groove models, but other than that, I love this gun for what it is:

The best tool for the job, when the job is concealed carry or getting out of a firefight alive.

[GSwan]

I love my new Smith and Wesson 329PD .44 Mag/.44 Special. It's very light, being made with Scandium and Titanium alloys. It has a bright red fiber optic front sight which is very quick and accurate. I carry it loaded with Federal 300 gr hardcast bullets for black bear and mountain lion protection while backpacking, and with 210 gr Speer Gold Dot bullets in a .44 Special for self protection against 2 legged critters. The .44 Special load with the 210 gr Gold Dots clocks at 918 fps which makes it fun to shoot and a great self protection round. It's well made, as all Smith and Wesson guns are, and it has a great trigger. The light weight allows also stand up well in wet damp conditions.

[idahoelk101]

COLT take your pick. 1911 if you want an auto loader, Cobra for conceled carry, python for paper hole punching, anaconda for big bore, SA for cowboys, woodsman for 22lr. Nuff said.

[Float Pilot]

I guess the question would be really more specific ,,"if " it asked which one if you could only have ONE and never be able to get another.

In my situation I would have to give up all the others and probably settle for my old 6.5 inch M-29 44 mag S&W.

Backwoods defense
Home defense
Hunting
and self defense.

In a pinch, it would be good for several things. Not great in all situations , but good enough to get by all of them...

[waynemorgan]

has to be my new S&W 460v,the best they have ever made

[Muthagoose]

I have 2 the SW 29 and Super Blackhawk,,,

[bcwhit]

S&W mod 19 357 mag

[wyovamag13]

HK USP compact in 40 S&W. its a double stack compact, super comfortable, accurate, light and its a super high quality firearm. Mine is the all black, but you can get a stainless action. picked mine up new for a little under $800, I have a concealed permit, but don't carry it often, there are tons of nice holsters out there for it, I have a polymer one made by blackhawk.

[aaronandtraci]

Check out the Springfield XD series. I have an XD9, and love it! Lots of great safety features, accurate, and fairly inexpensive.

[aaronandtraci]

For concealed carry, I have a Kahr Arms PM40. It is the perfect combination of size and power. Some say they have had trouble with jamming, but mine has been great. I was surprized at the accuracy for such a short barel, though you wouldn't want to shoot it all day.