[ARCHIVED THREAD] - The Best Handgun For SHTF Is... (Page 1 of 3)
Posted: 7/11/2008 2:43:59 AM EDT
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In your opinion, what's the best handgun to have should "the excrement interface with rotating air circulator"? This is just an informal poll to see where everyone's loyalties are...  Please...No bashing or flaming of another brand/model of handgun or another member's choice. You have your reasons for what you prefer and they have theirs...Please be respectful. ETA: My choice would be a Springfield Armory XD45...affordable, reliable and 13 + 1 shots of .45ACP goodness.  |
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9mm, 40 cal, 38 or 357, 45 cal. All will work with a headshot, so it depends on what you like and will stock up ammo for. I prefer a 45. I have a Springfield XD Tactical, and I'm looking for a good used 1911, preferably a Springfield or Colt, just because I shoot well with them. I do have a Taurus PT99 9mm and a Ruger GP100 with ammo for both, but my "go gun" is the 45. |
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The real answer is the gun you have with you. The detailed answer is, you may find it handy to have a defensive handgun, a working handgun, and a .22 rimfire handgun. As an optimum defensive handgun, I favor the 1911 in .45 ACP. As a working handgun, an optimum might be a Ruger NMBH in .45 Colt and .45 ACP. A rimfire handgun might be a S&W 617 or Ruger MK IIIHunter. If you want to try to use only one handgun to cover all these bases, then I would probably pick my S&W 627PC in .357. |
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S&W 66 or 65 stainless, more reliable than any auto including glocks. Plus 125 grain HPs leaving the barrel at 1200+ are proven one shot man stoppers period. On top of it all you can also shoot 38 SPC ammo, so with 357, and 38 spc scrounging is easy heck most gas stations in the country sell 38 spc. 357 magnum > 9mm 357 magnum > 45 APC |
| I would have picked glock, but the very real possiblity of it being used as a chew toy and destroyed by a large dog won't allow me to choose it as the one gun. I guess I'd say any mid-frame,steel 9mm high-cap pistol would do. I'll go with the S&W 5906 because that's what I have but many others would work fine. |
+1. Plus reloading for a revolver is easier than a pistol, especially if the quality of your reloading supplies is suspect. Plus it is easier to hold onto your brass with a revolver. |
This one would be nice 
Seriously, though, I'd like a 1911, a good 9mm and a .357 revolver. If I could only have one, the Medusa would be nice (for .357, .38 Special and 9mm). |
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If you might need to shoot animals in addition to self-defense against two-legged attackers, a revolver in .357 Mag at minimum or a Glock 20. If shooting animals is a non-issue, Glock 19, CZ-75, Browning Hi-Power or a reliable GI-type (or close to it) 1911. This is not an all-inclusive list. |
+1 The nice thing about having a nice gun that you can shoot well with, is that it leads the way to MORE nice guns that other people had and don't need anymore. If a man with a Hi-point can shoot better than a man with a glock, he gets the hi-point AND the glock. It's like trading pokemon. |
You know, that gun has to get in your hand somehow. I understand that the little saying sounds cool, but a gun isn't going to magically appear in your hand when you need it. I have no numbers on this, but I'm willing to bet that an overwhelming percentage of the handguns used for SD where chosen by the user and actually placed in their own hand by him. |
Right, and the one in MY hand will be one that I've proven to myself is reliable, that is of a design that I can manipulate and hit well with under stress and of a caliber I feel comfortable with. What works for me may not be what works for you. So these "what's the best" pissing matches are a useless waste of time. Some how you read the simplicity of my post as "Whatever the handgun fairy tosses me." |
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Sort of depends on the situation and AO.... a 1911 will take on anything that walks and make it not walk..... but a nice Ruger 357 will do the same thing. I have both and would be hard pressed to decide.... if I was in the city I would go for the 1911, but here the revolver will do all I need of it. |
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The best handgun for SHTF is the one you have in your hand when it happens. While I would feel confident with a great number of guns, I would prefer one of my G19s. I have plenty of mags(22 not including G17 mags), ammo (1500+ ranger 127+p+) and practice with them. |
| I voted 1911 but the real answer is any handgun that you can afford to shoot/train with, hit what you aim at, is dependable and preferably a somewhat common caliber (9mm, .45, .357 etc). This of course is IMHO but just because you dont have a specific gun is a specific caliber doesnt mean you arent ready for SHTF. Mindset, Mindset, Training, Mindset. |
I'll +1 this one because it sums up my thinking pretty well.
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Hey Stan, what kind of knife is that? |
Blackhawk MOD Elishweitz Nightwing. I also wrapped the handle with some grip wrap. I can take a better photo of just the knife by itself if you'd like. |
That's my primary choice for home defense with the Glock Laser and light combo and Glock night sights. I have 3 sizes (full, compact, sub) in each common handgun calibers of 9mm, 40 S&W, 357 Mag, 357 SIG, and 45 ACP. S can HTF anywhere. So for home defense, the G21 + Rem 870 + AR15 16". In the car, HK USP 40 full size or G31 357 SIG or AR15 16". For conceal carry, Walther PPS or G19 or 1911. |
Wow, im gonna be the first to say this but............ 9mm beretta 18 rounds of HST goodness is what i want defending my home when SHTF, with my ar pistol and beowulf coming in neck and neck in 2nd and yes i would have no hesitation throwing 10 beowulf rounds at someone, even if they go through walls and stuff, i have to defend my household by any means
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In a SHTF/society collapses scenario, the best choice is going to be the most availible. Any gun used by a LE agency/military will be around*in mass* making parts and ammo availible. The US military uses the Beretta M9, making this an excellent choice for a SHTF weapon. Local/state agencies use the M92 and M96, further increasing the supply of necessary parts/components. Were you to purchase an M92FS/M9, you could be supported by M96's. Replace the slide/ammo/magazine on your 9x19 with that of the M96 and you are in business. Other parts are also interchangible... In a SHTF scenario, there will be a sizable military prescence, meaning there will be lots of M9 parts and components. Sig P226 and P229's are used by the US government/military and state/local LE agencies, making parts and components reasonably availible. Glocks are also exceedingly availible, perhaps more so than the Beretta. If a local agency has 20 sworn officers, 20 will be carrying an issued side arm. Encounter 20 soldiers and you will encounter only a few handguns. Glocks also have universal and interchangible parts. 9x19 is among the most popular calibers in existance, making it a natural choice. Its also a very capable performer, even in FMJ form. While JHP's are obviously preferable, droves of people were sold farms by FMJ 9mm ammo. The next best choice would be .40 S&W, as its exceedingly popular with LE agencies. Its also readily availible at local retailers. Still, the military/NG has millions of rounds of 9x19 and 0 rounds of .40 S&W. .45 ACP and .357 Sig will be the scarcest of the duty calibers. While both are used by LE agencies, the majority use .40 and 9x19mm. The handgun that I count on to protect me in case of emergency is a Glock 17. While I own a Beretta M9, Sig P226 and others, were I only able to take one-it would be the G17. Its simplicity/durability/reliability are unparralelled, as is the availibility of ammo and components. The best SHTF handgun is the Beretta M9/92FS or Glock 17. |
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It really is way more simple than so many of the posters here try to make it. Most of these guys demand KISS rifles and there is a reason for that, however you can't get any more KISS than a revolver. There is no magazine to get lost, after all the SHTF. the glock simplictiy that is so touted is mearly an attempt to make an auto as easy to use as a revolver. The stopping power of 45 APC is great but not as good as 357 magnum. Penetration through barriers is also better with 357 magnum, research the history of the round and you will see this is why it was designed. |