Posted on Feb 1, 2018
If you could have only one handgun, what caliber would you pick?
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Posted 8 y ago
Responses: 24
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.45 ACP. The bigger the hole, the faster the bad guy bleeds out. I'm not buying the modern ammo makes 9mm as good as .45 bullshit.
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CDR Dan Cunningham
Cpl Mark McMiller - That does it - back to the shop I go next week! You'd be a big hit at our local restaurant, where we all pull out our latest acquisition and put them on the bar for everyone to examine. Easy to tell who's from NY and NJ that way.
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Cpl Mark McMiller
CDR Dan Cunningham - LOL, I can imagine the NY and NJ people ducking for cover under the tables and peeing their pants.
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If I had to chose one for everything, I think a double action .357 Magmun with at least a 4" barrel, preferably a bit longer as a personal preference. Big enough to hunt medium size game, more than adequate for self defense, plus you can shoot .38 Special if you need something a bit lighter.
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CMSgt David Allen
I have a S&W model 686, action smoothed and trigger lightened. It’s an excellent and accurate revolver. However, it pales in comparison with my Colt Python. The colt’s out of the box trigger and action is heads n shoulders above the modified 686, and it’s accuracy is unparalleled. The only down side is that it’s become so valuable in recent years that I don’t often shoot it now. Same for my Colt Anaconda.44 Mag, and Colt Diamondback in .22.
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.22 mag... Not the man I used to be. Won't be out stalking terrorists, that's for sure. But, if ever I happen upon a bad guy, the .22 mag should be enough to enter a brain bucket and ricochet around until I get their attention.
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CWO3 Dennis M.
CMSgt David Allen - I own both, two .45 Colt Auto's and one .40 S&W Beretta 96. I also own a Beretta 92 in 9MM. I agree faster is not always better, but the key factor is accuracy. I think the drop rate of the .40 is less, and the recoil is less, so second tap is usually closer to the first tap target point. The .40S&W clips also can carry more ammo than most .45's. I am a retired LEO, and I can tell you many, many more LEO's carry the .40 over the .45! Our own State Police switched to .40 S&W years ago and many are very happy with the 40 S&W. By the way, the Gold dots are an excellent round for the .40! I also hear the Hyrdo-Shocks are also a good round, but have never tested them out.
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CMSgt David Allen
My two brothers, and their wives are LEOs. They’ve carried a variety of service weapons over the years including the .45, 9mm and .40S&W. One brother prefers his Kimber .45, the other his Glock 9mm. Their wives both prefer 9mm and one carries a Glock, the other a Sig P320. So, I guess it’s all personal preference. Their agency converted from the Hydroshock to the Gold Dot. They recommended it to me and I did too.
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CPT Erik Spike Thiesmeyer, Sr.
I love my S&W, M&P in .40cal. I can really shoot straight with it. Sometimes worry about ammo availability here in California.
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CWO3 Dennis M.
CPT Erik Spike Thiesmeyer, Sr. - From what I hear, all ammo is getting harder and harder to find in California!
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I thought for sure that there would be some die-hard .45 caliber guys on here! 9mm is just so universal (and common), it's hard to beat.
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CPT Jack Durish
I used to own a Browning Hi Power 9mm. Beautiful weapon (blued with walnut handgrips) but not impressed with the "Hi Power" part of it. If I wanted/needed stopping power, I'd go for the .45
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Only one?.....My FN 5.7 A round for every purpose, even hunting if you had to. Dead flat to 100+ yards. I call it the "Gamechanger"
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The .45 ACP has been my go to caliber the past 32-years. My favorite is the Sig Sauer P220. I like the 230 grain bullets. I use FMJ for range work, and JHP (Gold Dot) for EDC. The 9mm comes in 2nd with me, especially with the evolution of the ammo. I also occasionally carry either a Sig Sauer P225, or recently a Sig Sauer P320 Carry, both nice weapons.
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.357 is versatile and fairly effective, you can fire .38 for target to save money and get a rifle in same caliber and be set, there are more extreme calibers in handgun and long guns but this is a decent midpoint for most applications, I shoot a Dan Wesson model 14 and it's pretty accurate, if you factor in spouse she can fire .38 rounds or maybe consider 9 mm for both
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9mm parabellum, because it is one of the most widely used cartridges in the World, can be used in a pistol or rifle, can take down small to medium, and is excellent in self defense role.
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GySgt John O'Donnell
Nice duel use of 9mm. There are a few awesome pairings out there now, which is why if only one caliber was available, 9mm to me is the best.
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