Only one ... handgun?

[teamnelson]

45-70, I don't think you NEED more than one, if you operate accordingly.

[Daman]

Well I have a shtf bag under the edge of my bed. It contains the following:

-entry shotgun with legal specs and pistol grip
-Colt 357 4 inch barrel
-250 shot shells
-50 slugs
-300 357 cartridges
-fixed 4 inch blade case with leather sheath
-2 mag lites
-4 extra sets of batteries for the mag lites

The wife keeps a bag also:

-22lr pistol with extra clips (one of those pocket pistols)
-2000 rounds of 22lr
-DL copies
-cash
-a couple lites and batteries

I think everyone should have a grab and go pack. After we have kids, there will be more sustainability items added for them.


Daman

[PKnTX]

I'm different than most here (don't hate me, can't help it )
in that I truly have only one handgun and probably won't have
another for some time.  So when making the decision of what
best fit my needs, I went with the Ruger SP101, 2-1/4".

The versitility it affords in ammo, dependability, ruggedness and
simplicity sold me.  It carries well in either of the two holsters I have,
conceals fairly well in one of them. 
Like said, it's all I have for now but until that issue is cleared up,
I don't feel under gunned.

Next buy, I'm thinking Single Six, also in stainless.

[Will52100]

It realy depends, if it's grab and go see who's knocking on the door at 2am, it'd be my kimber 1911, if I had time and only one gun for long term survival in the wilderness or a complete breakdown of society?  Then it'd be one of my 73 peacemakers in 45 colt.  There accurate, tough, easy to repair and are virtualy jam free.  I live in the country so area makes a differance as well.  If I was putting a bug out bag together for the city it'd probably be my Ruger mark 2, in 22LR, accurate, low noise, plentiful ammo.

[kernman]

I only own 1 handgun, a Security Six in 357. Most versatile handgun round (coupled with the 38 Special) in the world, in my opinion: squirrels to deer.

I would love to have a marlin 1894 lever action in 357/38 special, that would be the most versatile rifle in the world, at least for my purposes.

the 22 and 12 gauge rate high, but you cant reliably take deer with a 22 and 12 gauge ammo is too heavy.

[TomRob]

Morning:

I still think the 357/38 is your good all around gun. Now I'm also looking at the Taurus Judge. It will shoot 410 slugs, shot, double oo shot and now double oo with shot. In Indiana you can use 410 slug for deer. Also it will chamber 45 LC.  Soon Taurus will have the Judge Circuit rifle. It made like their wheel gun. It would be a good all around gun.

[eye shot]

Hi Point 9mm pistol & 9mm carbine. They use same ammo & mags and shoot flatter than a .45acp. You can carry alot of ammo and if things get bad it would be easyer to get ahold of.

[Empty Quiver]

If I may I will disagree about the 9mm availability in a "situation". Witness the recent ammo shortage, everything dried up very quickly, 9mm was the first to leave and the last to return around here. We didn't even "have anything to fear but fear itself", and the shelves were empty. If that is your overriding criteria may I suggest .32 auto and .25 ACP, as they have never been out of stock at the local Wally World.

If those who have bought cheap and were stacking deep are willing to share, then it's a fine idea. Stock as much ammo as you can for the weapon you own and don't worry about availability.  I'm a optimist, and I figure about two mags is all it is going to take for a firefight to be over. You will be over run or will have attracted help by then. I have enough ammo to get by far longer than that though because I tend to be wrong about a lot of things.

[teamnelson]

I'm really hoping more people choose 9mm simply so I can have the the tactical advantage

And if I'm down to one handgun, walmart probably isn't open either.

[Squib]

oh!  9mm bashing..

TM, what does a real man throw downrange?  I wish you, me and my old gunner (Tim Ablin) could sit down and have this talk...

[Badnews Bob]

I don't know about other real men but I throw .38s and .357s down range, Or .45 ACP in a auto loader. 9mm Is the weaker cousin of .38/.357s. I doubt I will head off in a SHTF type of deal with a autoloader so a .357 it is for me.

BTW I am not bashing 9mm I have two of them, I like them, but with ball ammo they don't cut it, with better bullets they work very well. .357 is still going with me if I have to run.

[Squib]

9mm weaker than 38?  not with factory ammo... I suppose you can handload 38 to (lower)357 power if you're careful (I've tried splitting the difference before for experimentation purposes) but then I am using a revolver instead of a semi (not my preference in a full sized gun).  I didn't see the point.  then again when I use .357 I use H-110 handloads with light bullets so (assuming I can even hit anything due to the muzzle flip) they will really be one hit wonders.  9mm standard or hp will be really quick doubletaps with minimal hand fatigue, recoil, flash and every magazine you carry bumps you up logistically.  38 standard/factory loads are weak, and go in a limited capacity and slow to reload revolver.  what good is that for anything but ccw/mug-me-now situations?

9mm Luger is not a BETTER round than 38 S&W Special, but considering weapon platform to fire it and hotloads for 9mm or 38- I don't see the point of 38 unless it's a pocket gun.

ps- I usually carry a pocket gun with 38 so I'm a hypocrite (but I got tired of carrying a cz-75)



what .357 loads are you using bob?

[eye shot]

If things went bad 9mm, 223, and 308 would be the easyest ammo to come by. The police quit using 38 because it wouldn't always penatrate windsheilds, the 9, 40, and 45 will.

[45-70.gov]

if things go  bad

the  store shelves would have been  looted
so  commercially  available...is a non-relavent  term

the  casualties  will be the source  of resupply

[Badnews Bob]

I use 158 gr SPs 170gr Gold dots or 180gr hardcast. I don't use light bullets  and I don't really believe speed is what works best, A 170 gr bullet out of my .38 will do more than a 115 out of a 9.

[teamnelson]

Squib, 9mm is a training round, with onesonek performance on nearly every piece of paper I've fired it on. Penetrate windshield? Hardly, but my 158gr .38 can, and drop a steel ram at 100yds, well past the mer of a 9mm. Ever seen what a 9 at pbr does to a saapi? nothing.

As far as what will be available when shtf, the 9mm and 5.56 and 7.62x39 will most likely be wasted at a higher rate than others, by sick, tired, hungry and untrained survivors. And they will draw attention to themselves by others of the same caliber. A patient man with a .22 pistol may never want for anything. How's that for a real man?

[SHOOTALL]

Store shelves might contain odd cal. rounds as few guns would fire them and added weight would make it a bad option to carry it if it could not be used.

[SHOOTALL]

Re supply would come from the dead . Food , medicine (as long as it last ) , tools , ammo ,guns etc would all be picked up . Not a very pretty picture really . So it would be better to vote in people who can keep this from happening !

[Couger]

 Re supply would come from the dead.   Food , medicine (as long as it last ) , tools , ammo ,guns etc would all be picked up . Not a very pretty picture really. So it would be better to vote in people who can keep this from happening !  

A grim but true "picture" methinks - for a SHTF world!  I'm not a sci-fi buff, but have wondered how a "terminator-type world" could ever happen?  Too unlikely?  What about an "I Legend" type world?

But a single foraging gun with some defensive uses?  I would likely go with one of several .22's (and avoid any "combat") unless I managed to perfeckt a .357 with light wadcutter SG loads?  (I would still try to avoid any "combat" or defense-confrontations)

I got lucky and just won (last night) a single-cav Lyman mold on eBay for the 358495 141grn wadcutter!  (for volume target shooting would prefer the semi-wadcutter design).  My goal is to perfekt a SG soup-can type quietish-load.

But a .22?  I am still looking for a doner-.22 (and action to make a single-shot "rifle-pistol"), but could see a fellow using the Ruger SingleSix or semiauto Rugers for "easiest" choices and solutions.  And also the NAA Mini-Master with its five single-action shots and 4inch bbl could prove VERY USEFUL, or the T/C Contender.  

I wonder if the new youth-size (copy of a Contender) T/C Hotshot will ever be offered in a pistol?  And if so, and if its dimensions are small enough - could it be evolved into a "compact" Contender?  

[SwampThing762]

My one and only handgun is a Glock 21 in 45 ACP.   I only need a handgun for defense.   Small game will be obtained using traps, and I have several premade fishing lines that need only be tied to branches.  For medium to large game, I have a 44 magnum handi rifle and remington 30-06.

ST762

[Squib]

.22lr is acceptable to some people but a 9mm isn't?!  I still don't get it, a tiny, pathetic round is useable in trained hands but an intermediate round is not. 

[don heath]

Squib...one of the points about being 'undergunned' and knowing it, is that you will go a long way to avoid the confrontation. I personally don't belive that any handgun posses any real 'stopping power' - some are alot better than others...but still If you belive you are well armed you do not back off as readily as you might otherwise do. I see this with rifles- we carried 7,62 as our standard...enough to kill an elephant, buff or lion if push really came to shove, but not something you would choose to use in anything other than dire emergency (or after alot of experience).

In a survival situatuion, AVOID confrontation, aoid being seen, avoid, avoid avoid....and only as an absolute last resort use any sort of weapon- and even then, if you can stab the bad guy in the back while he is asleep, it is soooo much safer than shooting him in the chest when he is armed and awake...and it saves ammo.

Personally I would never choose anything smaller than a .357, but then I am thinking in terms of bigger animals than man.
Last thought...most people fall down when shot wth anything- from no 9 bird shot up. Angry, high or drunk men take a hit to the CNS to stop...and if you are going to hit the CNS you might as well use a .22 as a .44

[teamnelson]

Good points Don! If it's teotwawki and I'm carrying a handgun, then any bullet wound has a reasonable chance of being fatal. Gut shot with a .22 gone septic in a world with no ER, yuk. Also, were all going to be sick & tired to varying degrees so any trauma will be exacerbated. If it's real bad well all be avoiding each other.

[SHOOTALL]

Any gun that needs a mag. can be a single shot in no time at all from loss or damage . A mag adds moving parts . The ammo for a 22 LR is the problem in many areas of the world. A center fire revolver just makes good sense .

[Winter Hawk]

Ruger Blackhawk in .357 with the 9mm cylinder.  Lots of choices for ammo there.  Mine walked away in our move to Ohio.  Strangely enough, it was packed in the same box as the Winchester 88 which was the only box of all our belongings which was opened, and the only item stolen.  I suggested that maybe one of the packers took it, but the packing company over ruled that.  They did pay for a replacement though.  Now I have a Security Six as my one & only handgun.

=WH=

[SHOOTALL]

sorry for your loss but you had/have a good gun !

[WD45]

Only one ?? Mine would have to be a revolver with dual cylinders either 357/9 or 45 LC / 45 acp. There are no mags to malfunction or lose. The brass does not go flying where I have to look for it so that it can be reloaded. It has more versatility in that it can fire more than one type of ammo. easy to reload most of the revolver cals even with and old tong tool. In a bad situation where ammo would be scarce there is much to be said for versatility. To me even the revolver in 327 fed would be better than a auto due to the many types of ammo it will fire. In a situation where the only ammo available is what you can find,scrounge or take the more types you can actually use the better off you are.

[Mnswede]

Blackhawk 45LC with 45ACP cylinder.

[blind ear]

5 shot  357 DA with a 4-5" barrel. Consealable and will kill most anything. Several ammos. eddiegjr

[Lloyd Smale]

just the thought gives me nightmares but id have to pick a 4 inch 629 if i could only have one.