What is your choice for the best handgun for self defense? Why???

[policerevolvercollector]

As a strictly practical matter, what is the ONE handgun that would be or actually is your "go to " for self defense? Why?? Please explain.

To answer this, I had to reevaluate and stop romanticizing my image of my revered pistols.

I started in law enforcement carrying my own 4" Model 19 .357. It was everything I needed back then (30 years ago). But, now she's retired. In today's world where multiple assailants are more and more prevalent, it is a sad (but true) indictment of our society that a six shot revolver can no longer provide the level of protection needed to cope with the situations faced by officers on the street in this day and time.

My choice is the Glock pistol. The Glock 22 to be exact. I own several Glock models and am issued a Glock 30 at work. ( a fine gun in it's own right!).

The Glock 22 was my duty gun for a long time before our transition to the 30. It carries 15 + 1 in the proven .40 S&W caliber in a package that weighs in at less than my beloved Colt 1911 and that straight "out of the box" is ready to go. The Glock does not require any expensive add ons. It is not pretty. But who was I trying to impress by carrying a pretty gun...?

 

[colt3374]

Semiauto's , I'd own all Glocks if I could shoot them accurately.

 

[P&R Fan]

If I knew I was gonna get in a gunfight I would probably also choose a Glock. I have three. A G22, G23 and a G27, all in .40 S&W. My favorite is the G23. Small enough to conceal and holds 14 rounds. I don't care if it gets dinged up and it always works.
My second choice would be my 2 1/2" M66-1.
Jim

 

[GatorFarmer]

A Taurus PT92 that I kept because I had it around. I have a large number of magazines for it, I know how to use it, and I plenty of ammunition for it. A great many handguns exist that are theoretically better. I have owned guns that I liked better. But I have this one to hand and it works.

 

[bigsteve113]

As a LEO my go to guns are my Glock 27 and 23, and my LCR .357. After I return to civilian life, after retirement in a few short years I will likely mostly go back to my 1911, 4" 66, and LCR.

Reason why? I like them better, I shoot them better, and I will be more in the defensive mode than offensive. Won't have to worry about going out and gettin' the bad guys, will only have to worry about the ones that want to come and get me! Under those conditions I can rely on quality, more than quantity. Won't feel the need for high capacity as much

 

[RobertJ.]

If I knew a gunfight was imminent, and I was limited to 1 handgun, it would be my BHP.

Why? Because it shoots like crazy!

 

[S&W SS Revolvers]

Semiauto's , I'd own all Glocks if I could shoot them accurately.

I am in my mid-fifties today. Even living in stinky ol' Denver personally I like revolvers with 6+ rounds. They are what I learned on. Auto's seem to escape my skills. With that said if a revolver doesn't get the problem solved for us/me; best guess is it's over.

The .357 capable revolver is my personal choice. What you can shoot accurately is the one to have. A Model 627 is a personal dream to own. The psychology of an 8 shot revolver is priceless...

 

[wheelyfun66]

I will be more in the defensive mode than offensive. Won't have to worry about going out and gettin' the bad guys, will only have to worry about the ones that want to come and get me! Under those conditions I can rely on quality, more than quantity. Won't feel the need for high capacity

I've changed carry guns many times, because I love ALL guns!
But, for a true "self defense" gun, I really love snub revolvers with bobbed or internal hammers, in 357 mag caliber.

I can grapple with an aggressor and still fire into their body (without worry about malfunctions).

I can fire from odd angles without malfunction.

I will not get a double feed or failure to eject.

There are drawbacks to revolver for defensive weapon (low capacity, slow reloads) but for a civilian who stays away from high risk areas and is in bed before 10pm......

The following are some examples of what I have carried IWB:

 

[ColbyBruce]

I like my S&W 3953 most of all for around town and road trips.

A 3" heavy barrel, round butt K frame revolver is tough to beat, especially in .357 magnum. I wear these around our house in the mountains stuffed with 180 grain bullets.

I bought this S&W 58 back in 2008 as a bear protection handgun. It is kind of heavy to tote, but very impressive. It has been replaced by my S&W 1006 in warmer weather.

 

[USAF385]

I'll play....

I'd grab my M&P 9 full size. It is without a doubt the most accurate gun in my hands..... with quick and accurate follow up shots. In all of the many, many rounds through it, I've never had a single issue. I trust it almost as much as one of my revolvers.

 

[Muss Muggins]

If I know for sure that I'm going to a gunfight, Sig Sauer 1911 Tac Ops. If I need my little gun to fight my way to my big gun, Glock 9mm, 17, 19, or 26, whatever is handy.

 

[moosedog]

I prefer the Glock in 40 caliber or any other 40 caliber that is DA every shot and has no external safety or decocking lever.
When the pucker factor is on you don't need extra gadgets to worry about, just point and shoot.

 

[BAM-BAM]

Trollygun makes a good point........

The answer is different for a police officer on duty in a big city, many here are retired and at home in a small town or quite suburb ..... to hiking in the woods or mountains..... to TEOTWAWKI.....

For 20 years a 3913 and a spare mag. or 3" 66 with 1-2 speedloaders met 99% of my perceived needs...... in the past 6 months I've "upgraded" to my PC 6906 w/ a spare 15rd mag with the +2 adapter as my primary concealed carry.

I still carry with the hopes of never having to use or even draw my weapon....

 

[keithherrington]

It's a simple question...

with a similarly simple answer. It's the one you feel confidence in as you carry it day to day. I did not interpret your question as asking for some idealized weapon, but rather as you state you needed to "reevaluate and stop romanticizing my image of my revered pistols." I did the same when I moved from Maryland (where getting a CCW is nearly impossible) to Virginia where they are easy to get and even promotes open carry. As a graduate of Gunsite the specific criteria for me is rather straight forward: a balance between speed (of draw and followup shots), power (terminal ballistics) and accuracy (center mass shots under stress at practical handgun engagement ranges). Even though I've carried as a Federal Agent for years, albeit in the past, I recognize that carrying concealed as a private citizen requires some very careful thought and consideration. For example, I love my S&W M&P 45 and 9mm handguns, but consider them just too large and heavy for day to day concealed carry throughout the year. Fortunately, I have a love of revolvers, shoot them very well and have a large selection from which to choose. What I ended up selecting were several mid-sized and small-sized revolvers with barrels between 2.5 and 3" in length. Another consideration was whether to carry stainless or blue steel. Since the mid-Atlantic region weather ranges from very hot and humid in Summer to very cold and snowy in Winter I need a gun that is not sensitive to surface corrosion and can withstand a bit of harsh use.

Bottom line: I keep my three blued Performance Center guns (shown below) as house guns, and as backups if one or both of my primary guns go in for repair.




However, my day to day carry guns are the two shown below. The Model 66-4 is currently being customized by David Sams to make it more suited to my specific requirements



With my choice of weapons (and their modifications) I've addressed to my satisfaction two of Gunsite's three considerations: speed and accuracy. Because all of my choices are 357 Magnums, my last consideration - power - has been addressed by my careful selection of ammunition. My choice is Remington's 125 grain Golden Saber round (SKU GS357MA). It's a mid-range load optimized for low flash out of short barrel guns, and is known for both its accuracy and its terminal performance.

I look forward to any and all comments.

Keith

 

[fyimo]

I own lots of handguns but my concealed carry pistol is a Sig P228 9mm with a Mec-Gar 15 round magazine. It goes bang every time and I shoot it very well.

 

[eveled]

Just for practicality, my sig p250 subcompact .45acp. For those not familiar the p250 is a modular system, different frames and barrels to swap around. The s/n is on the trigger mechanism.

The sub compact holds 6+1, and accepts the magazines from the compact and full size. So it is easy to carry a ten round reload.

It also has night sights. Stone cold reliable with all ammo I've tried. Hammer fired with a true double action trigger. The longest double action trigger but also the smoothest trigger I have ever tried. No safety buttons.

The p-250 gets my practical vote, maybe because I like revolvers and it has the same trigger, with the faster reloads. For those who like the modular concept but want a striker fired the p-320 would be a great choice. Ed

 

[Laketime]

A basic GM 1911.These days one made by Springfield Armory.I loved shooting Wilson's and Ed Brown at paper and steel plates, but for a SD scenario I want a looser tolarence gun for functionality under harsh condition.

 

[MOONDAWG]

It would be this one...

 

[ColbyBruce]

I agree with "fyimo" on the Sig P228; it is a fine pistol. Mine is the DAO version.

 

[Rpg]

Easy choice for me: Colt 1911 in 45 in Commander configuration.

Easiest to shoot well ( for me), very comfortable to carry, highly effective round and plenty of ammo (8 rounds: 7+1) for anything except the universally dreaded zombie attack.