What Makes a 'Best' Gun?

Officer.com ^ | 1/8/07 | STEVE DENNEY

[dirtboy]

Man, if five or six rounds of carefully placed .45 cal. don't do it, it wasn't meant to be. Throw the gun at the guy and run.

For personal defense, I always figure that if you need more than 5-6 rounds, it's time to get somewhere else in a hurry.

[Tijeras_Slim]

A touch of gun porn for the revolver lovers.

Smith 1917 with commercial grips.

1954 Smith Highway Patrolman with Moose Stags

Smith 1 and 1/2 .32 Centerfire circa 1880.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Now, a revolver is certainly not as sexy, true.

See #22 and bite your tongue.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

1. It has to fit your hand (like a Browning Hi-Power and 1911).
2. It must go Bang when you pull the trigger (like a BHP and 1911).
3. It must hit what you aim at (Like a BHP and 1911).
4.Ir must eject and reload a cartrige when fired (like a BHP and 1911).

Wheel guns must work and fit the hands also, like a Dan Wesson. S&W and Ruger.

[Jaxter]

In the winter when I can wear a coat I carry my S&W Model 915 (9mm, 15+1)and either my S&W Model 638 (.38SP +P) or my Taurus Model 605(.357 Mag) for a backup. The .38 is very light and has a shrouded hammer so you can just carry it in your jacket pocket if you like. I like the reliability of a revolver. I've also had my eye on a Para Ord Warthog in .45ACP for a while now. They just look so darn cool..

[Billthedrill]

One thing about running 200 rounds of self-defense ammo through your prospective carry piece is the cost. OTOH, what's your life worth?

I wouldn't personally use a new firearm as a carry piece at all. They need to earn their way onto my belt. Of the three I use for that purpose at the moment not a one has fewer than 5000 rounds through it. And it does take a deliberate effort to practice with each of them, because there are other firearms more fun to shoot. So little time...

[Anticommie]

Now, a revolver is certainly not as sexy, true. But when you absolutely, positively got to kill everyone in the room, I'd go with a revolver.

Right, long time ago I asked a guy who knew guns "What handgun should I buy for selfdefence", he answered: If you need to shot somebody YOU WANT HIM DEAD. I took his advice and got S&W .38. It is not a .45 but I believe that in need it will kill everyone in the room.

[Spktyr]

Here's my criteria, in order:

1. Reliability: Nothing else matters if the weapon fails to go "bang" when you pull the trigger. Get something that is as reliable as possible.
2. Accuracy - both weapon and user: A .50AE weapon is useless if you can't hit anything with it. Likewise a hit from a .22 can kill if delivered by someone with good shot placement. Get something that you can hit with.
3. Power: "Knockdown power" is a myth, but the bigger the caliber you can accurately hit with, the better.
4. Magazine capacity/reload speed: Enemies do not always come solo like they do in kung fu movies. They also do not always come in convenient six-packs, nor are you a movie hero that can put a bad guy down with just one round and never miss. You may also wish to use suppressive fire. Magazine capacity is an additional weapon - if you have it.

[Spktyr]

The problem with a revolver is that the bad guys don't always come in six packs. Or, for that matter (if you're not a Hollywood hero), do they always go down with just one shot.

Kill everyone in the room? Maybe - if there's only 3-6 guys. # 7 will kill you.

[kAcknor]

"Best gun for what?"

Bingo, we have a winner!

The use determines the need.

[robertpaulsen]

"I took his advice and got S&W .38."

A poster recommended the Taurus 85 to me for the wife -- a little less expensive. Nightstand gun. We don't have concealed carry here.

[BuffaloJack]

The best gun for what?
Accuracy & marksmanship?
Close quarters?
Night fighting where you can't really aim?
Do you want to kill a Rhino or Squirrel?
Deer Hunting?
Inexpensive plinking?
Home protection?
Do you have to carry the darn thing for long distances (25+ miles).
Does it need to penetrate armor?
Does it need to be automatic?

Not a very good question. The author just wants to state what he likes.

[Domandred]

Nothing beats a good wheel gun in reliability

[theDentist]

(in keeping with the subject matter): BullsEye!

[P8riot]

1911

[P8riot]

[corlorde]

.40 S&W is what I carry as well.

As for the thread topic, I would say the best "gun" is one that's in your hands when needed.

[Sender]

I have a Kel-Tec P32 that I used to carry because it is so light and flat. I started practicing more with it and before 1000 rounds I started having jams and misfires. I put a heavier recoil spring in it with limited success.

Inspecting the gun, I find that the barrel locking area is deformed and mushed up. I sort of fixed it with a file but I no longer feel confident in the gun. Also the ultralight hammer seems not quite up to the job of reliably firing a primer. When I asked my dealer about it he said "Hey, this kind of gun was not meant to fire thousands of rounds".

So I'm back to either a .45, Makarov or .38 snubby. They work and they don't wear out.

[absolootezer0]

Nothing beats a good wheel gun in reliability

yeah but the longevity of a wheel gun is limited. 5,000rds of hot .357 is really starting to take its toll on my wheel gun.

[FNG]

That Warthog looks cool, but choosing a 1911 over a S&W auto is a big mistake. The design of the extrator and feed ramp of the 1911 have been obsolete since 1935. John Browning fixed these flaws in the Hi-Power. 1911s require far too much modification to be reliable, and will require more work to keep them running over time. I'll put my S&W 4506 up against ANY 1911 in a torture test and the 1911 will always choke first.