Your top "must own" handguns

Steven Roos

Steven Roos

Joined
Jun 29, 2002
Messages
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I am eagerly awaiting my 21st birthday for when I might begin my own collection of handguns, but for now, I'm doing my research.

For my first handgun, I am looking at the Glock 21. This is primarily due to the advice of a LEO friend who carrys a Glock 21 on duty.

However, there are so many other wonderful guns out there, and I'd be interested to see everyone's to 5 choices in handguns. Thanks in advance!
 
The .45 ACP Glock 21 is a great choice IF you have large hands, since it has a very wide/large frame. If you have "smallish" or medium sized hands, the .40 caliber Glock models 22 or 23 is an excellent choice.

Edited to add:

Ruger GP-100 .357 magnum (4 inch, stainless, full shroud).
Colt Combat Commander .45 ACP
S&W Model 4516 (Compact .45 ACP double-action)
 
Ones I wish I had back:

Browning Hi-Power
M19 S&W 2"bbl

Ones I still have:

Ruger MkII bull barrel
M29 S&W 4"bbl

These are the ones I have liked the most.

Springfeild Champion should be in there too, I suppose.
 
Originally posted by glockman99
The .45 ACP Glock 21 is a great choice IF you have large hands, since it has a very wide/large frame. If you have "smallish" or medium sized hands, the .40 caliber Glock models 22 or 23 is an excellent choice.
Click to expand...

I would say I have fairly good size hands, at least as large as my LEO friend's hands, so I think I'll be alright. However, considering I'm only 18, I have yet to be able to actually hold or fire any of these handguns to compare...:(
 
Five handguns.
  • Ruger Mark II, .22LR. This can either be a plinker or one of their target models if you think you might get serious. Everybody needs a plinking .22.
  • Colt 1911, .45ACP. This is a classic. I have a Gold Cup, but the regular models are just as good and other manufacturers are turning out excellent variations. It is easy to shoot and will enable you to participate in friendly competitions. For some reason the US military gave up their 1911s for guns that make much smaller holes.
  • Glock. 17/19/22/23/Whatever. I tend to prefer the full-sized pistols and would pick a .40S&W (Glock 22) but the 9mm are fun to shoot. The baby Glock in .45ACP is NOT the pistol to learn on. It is not going to be much fun to shoot.
  • S&W 686P, .357 Magnum, 6" barrel. Gotta have a wheel gun. This is a seven-shot full-size revolver. If you prefer, the Taurus M608 is just as good and has eight shots. On both guns the underlug and general mass make it a pussycat to shoot with all but full-tilt defense ammo. In addition to making a fun range gun (shooting light wadcutters) it makes one heck of a house gun because in a pinch anyone can use it (the original "point-and-shoot").
  • S&W 525. This is a six-shot .45ACP revolver. It uses spring clips to hold the autopistol rounds in the cylinder. It is a pleasure to shoot, accurate, and will get you into a lot of neat matches, such as steel plates and bowling pins.
There you have it. All of these guns are readily available on the secondary market. I personally own all but one of these guns. When I was competing heavily in IDPA I got to see and shoot enough Glocks to feel confident recommending one. I don't own a Glock simply because I was competing in single-action service pistols and spent my money on a Browning Hi-Power in 9mm and another in .40S&W.
 
Well since I live in NYC...I probably won't get one until I move to another state. Anyway, these are the handguns that I'd buy.

SigSauer P226
Baretta 96FS Inox
Browning P-35
Colt 1911A1
 
Just because you aren't 21 doesn't mean you can't hold, shoot, or even possess a handgun. Check local lawsm but I'm 20 and have had my CCW for over a year thanks to the shall issue policy of my home state (Indiana) and the fact that it is 21 to buy, 18 to possess in that state. Whatever the situation, have a friend take you to the range and get a feel for what you like.

I love the Ruger MKII. Mine is stainless, 6 7/8" barrel Target model with Hoge wraparound grips.

I am also a big fan of the Desert Eagle. The one I ahve on loaw form a friend is 50 AE, brushed chrome with Trijicon night sights. I love the power and I can handle it (I'm 6'4" and 235, though).

The next gun is one I want, a Taurus Tracker 357, is a good outdoors gun. Pretty easy to carry, accurate and powerful enoguh for most critters (especailly if you fire all seven shots).

Last but not least, Glock 19, the gun I am going to purchase as my carry piece once I save up the money. High cap, light weight and easy to cntrol in very rapid fire.
 
1.)Colt Python stainless 6" barrel.
2.)H&K MP5 9mm sub gun.
3.)A high end 1911 like a Wilson Combat, Kimber custom shop or Les Baer.
4.)H&K USP .45 tactical supressed.
5.)One of those Ruger MarkII's with the integral supressed barrel.
6.)Desert Eagle with all the conversion kits for the other calipers.

These are my dream guns. I don't have enough cash for any of the class 3 stuff now, but I don't care if I have to eat Ramen noodles for a year I will get them someday. The Colt Python is the one I have wanted the longest, ever since I saw one when I was like ten years old. IMHO the Python is one of the nicest looking guns ever. I feel that no collection is complete without a fine 1911. I just love the looks of 1911's. I would love to get a matching pair of 1911's one with ivory grips and one with dark grips of ebony or something simmalar. The one with the light grips would have a stainless slide and the one with the dark grips would have a glossy black slide. Kind of like display pieces but I would have to shoot them.
 
My favorites that I own are:
(no particular order)
1.Colt 1911 Series 70
2.Colt Python, six inch barrel
3.Smith & Wesson Model 57, six inch barrel
4.Smith & Wesson Model 15, 4 inch barrel
5.Ruger Mk. II
 
I'm glad to see we have a lot of Desert Eagle fans. It took some doing but I have a DE with all three barrels. You can see a picture of my USA-made .50AE setup in this thread. I still smile when I think about shooting hot .357 Magnum loads through the Desert Eagle and getting exactly the same recoil as my Ruger Mark II .22LR :D:D:D!
 
Originally posted by Stiletto Raggio
Just because you aren't 21 doesn't mean you can't hold, shoot, or even possess a handgun. Check local lawsm but I'm 20 and have had my CCW for over a year thanks to the shall issue policy of my home state (Indiana) and the fact that it is 21 to buy, 18 to possess in that state. Whatever the situation, have a friend take you to the range and get a feel for what you like.
Click to expand...

Well, its worth a shot, even in CA...any links to CA gun laws?
 
Rev. Pete: So are you saying the Glock 21 is a "baby .45"? It seems pretty big to me...what do you mean?
 
What a question!

OK, well...

Everyone should have at least one Glock, which model is the one you shoot best, rent them and see.

Everyone should have a quality 1911, I Like Kimber, mine is a few years old, ive heard though that the new ones arent as good. Springfield makes a decent 1911, cheaper than Kimber.

Probably the finest production pistol is the Sig Sauer P226 9mm. The precision, fit and finish is phenomenal, it's dead reliable and super accurate. Holds 15+1.

Everyone should have a .22 pistol, and Ruger makes a fine one for a reasonable price.

Everyone should have a S&W .357 magnum, lots of models to choose from.

Everyone should have a good, high-capacity shotgun. I like the Remington 870 Marine Magnum.

And, finally, everyone should own a good rifle. AR-15, AK-47, M1A, FAL are all good choices (assuming the AK is one of the better quality ones, same goes for the FAL), if i had to pick one, the M1A Match. Tough to beat 20 rounds of .308 in a rifle with a great 2 stage trigger that shoots MOA and is super reliable.
 
Also, I don't have the cash (or space!) for a real gun safe. I guess I could put handguns in my smaller firesafe, but what about rifles? Would a trigger lock be alright?
 
I like Glocks too, in whatever size and caliber you prefer. My wife and I are saving up to buy her a 26.

My other choices:

1) H&K P7 M8: An unusual but outstanding semi-auto design. My daily carry.

2) Taurus M617T: My favorite revolver for concealed carry. Titanium keeps it light while an exceptional grip and factory porting make it easy to control. 7 rounds of .357 Magnum (or .38 Special) provide plenty of power for a wide range of situations.

3) Taurus M627 Tracker: If I had to make do with only one firearm this would be it. 7 rounds of .357 Magnum (or .38 Special) in an accurate, compact, easy-to-control revolver.

4) Taurus M444 Raging Bull: Add a scope and you have the equivalent of a hunting rifle that still carries like a handgun. This .44 Magnum can stop any animal in North America and can reach out beyond 200 yards. Porting, compensation, a special grip, and simple weight make it comfortable to shoot, even with heavy loads.

--Bob Q
 
A well-rounded, limited-budget armory should include the following:

1) Deer rifle/general purpose rifle: A lever-action, Winchester 30-30. Great brush gun.

Or a scoped Remington or Ruger bolt action, preferably in .280 Remington.

2) A home defense gun: a Remington 870 12 gauge. Would also make a great bird gun. This model can also be modified to make an excellent military style survival weapon. All around, one of the most versatile firearms available.

3) A very reliable, well-made, high capacity semi-auto pistol: Glock 19 or the 22.

4) A well made, powerful, double action revolver: S&W or Colt, in either .357, .41 or .44 magnum.

5) A totally fun, reliable, inexpensive to shoot plinker: Ruger 10/22

6) A match, small caliber, pistol (for inexpensive competition): Ruger Mark II, bull barrel Gov't Target model.

Other considerations:

7) A highly accurate varmint rifle: Ruger No. 1 in .22-250.

8) An inexpensive, highly reliable "assault" style weapon: an AK-47/AKM variant.

EDITED: I TOTALLY MISSED THE "HANDGUN" ONLY REQUEST WHEN I POSTED THIS. MY APOLOGIES. :footinmou
 
There seems to be a lot of support for the GLocks in genersl, but why no support for the Glock 21?
 
Colt Ser. 70 .45ACP - reliable, tons of parts, no crap to hang-up
Smith Mod. 19 4" - Medium weight, excellent shooter, concealable
Smith Mod. 629 6" - .44 Mag, barrel long enough for hunting
Ruger MKII-Gov't - great target piece
SIG 229 - 9mm - high cap, high quality.(this is on my want list)
:(
 
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