Favorite handgun caliber?

SWB · Dec 2, 2005

You started this thread asking about handguns and now you're on to rifles. Back to handguns since I haven't put in my 2 cents worth.

It seems whatever handgun caliber I am shooting well with at the time is my favorite. I love shooting the old 22 autos. I currently have a Colt Woodsman, a Colt Huntsman and a High Standard Model HD. I would love to get my hands on (and have been looking for a while) for a pre 84 High Standard Supermatic Trophy. I also have one of the older (circa 51) Ruger Mark I. It was one of the first made after Sturm died and they switched the emblem from red to black.

On the other hand, I also like the versatility of the 38special/357 since I have 4 of those in various barrel lengths in both S&W and Ruger. As far as a carry gun, when I went in to get one the dealer suggested I get one of the aluminum framed chief's special that only weigh 15 oz. I'm from the old school and like steel, but he said that most people get tired of lugging around heavy objects and start leaving the heavier guns behind, but never think twice about carrying 15 oz. all day, so I bought one. It shoots surprisingly well. If I had to have only one gun, this may be it.

I also love the 45LC in my Ruger Blackhawk with a 7 1/2" barrel. Loaded up it is as good as a 44 mag (am I starting something?).

Finally, I also love my 45ACP with good sights and a trigger job.

As I said before, whichever handgun caliber I am shooting at the time seems to become my favorite handgun caliber as long as I am shooting well with it.

Steve B

RoyJackson · Dec 2, 2005

"On the other hand, I also like the versatility of the 38special/357...
As far as a carry gun, when I went in to get one the dealer suggested I get one of the aluminum framed chief's special that only weigh 15 oz. I'm from the old school and like steel, but he said that most people get tired of lugging around heavy objects and start leaving the heavier guns behind, but never think twice about carrying 15 oz. all day, so I bought one. It shoots surprisingly well. If I had to have only one gun, this may be it."

Although my favorite carry gun is a Glock 19 on my hip, my most frequently carried gun is a Taurus M85 Ultralite (Aluminum frame, Titanium barrel shroud and cylinder). This fine little gun weighs under 14.5 oz (unloaded) and is an outstanding gun for pocket carry (use a holster designed for pocket carry if you want to do this). With pocket carry, there is no need for a covering garment.

Sigarms · Dec 3, 2005

Sad thing is when disscusing (sp?) firearms, it can be easy to get off the original subject /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

SWB · Dec 3, 2005

"Although my favorite carry gun is a Glock 19 on my hip..."

Are you ever worried about the Glock misfiring the one time you need it? I just read recently that several police departments are getting rid of the Glocks for that reason. I know that autos for carry guns are what everyone wants these days. I know that the chances you will ever need your carry gun are slim and the chance that an auto will misfire or jam just when you need it are also slim. However they are still more likely to do so than an airweight revolver. I would hate to be one of the rare "incidents" that make up the statistic.

Steve B

Sigarms · Dec 3, 2005

What are those "several" police departments now picking up now that they "dropped" the glock? A revolver?

Don't think so.

Most likely the department in question dropping the Glock had to many ND's, they would just hate to admit that.

Could you list the Police departments, date and events per you reading about the Glocks missfiring?

RoyJackson · Dec 3, 2005

( "Although my favorite carry gun is a Glock 19 on my hip..."

Are you ever worried about the Glock misfiring the one time you need it? I just read recently that several police departments are getting rid of the Glocks for that reason. I know that autos for carry guns are what everyone wants these days. I know that the chances you will ever need your carry gun are slim and the chance that an auto will misfire or jam just when you need it are also slim. However they are still more likely to do so than an airweight revolver. I would hate to be one of the rare "incidents" that make up the statistic.

Steve B )

I doubt if the cops get away from Glocks. They're an extremely robust handgun...probably one of, if not the toughest, handgun available. Also, Glock gives them a heck of a deal, I understand.

There have been a number of negligent discharges though...since Glock has a high percentage of the law enforcement market, it seems more prevalent with them. If we did a statistical study, we'd probably find out Glocks are no more prone to ND's then any other semi-auto.

Glocks do not have an external safety. It's just a matter of keeping one's finger off the trigger until the target is acquired. However, that seems to be too difficult for some of our police officers. Of course, cops do work in a situation where use of a gun is more likely (hence, stress). However, most ND's I've read about were not in stress situations.
Some of the readers may remember the TBN thread concerning the DEA agent shooting himself in the leg in a school, during a lecture. This was a cop who has no business being in law enforcement or carrying a gun.

And, before anyone jumps on the "no external safety" band wagon, remember, very few revolvers have an external safety either.

I feel extremely safe with the 19. It as reliable as it gets (although many semi-auto handguns like some ammo better then other types). I do know enough to use a modicum of caution when handling the gun and re-holstering.

BTW, when I first got my little Taurus Ultralight, it had a problem "light striking" the primer. Once Taurus put a slightly heavier spring in it, that revolver has been reliable ever since. Semi-auto's aren't the only guns that may misfire... Of course, with a revolver, one just pulls the trigger...semi-auto would require racking the slide.

Dargo · Dec 3, 2005

( "Although my favorite carry gun is a Glock 19 on my hip..."

Are you ever worried about the Glock misfiring the one time you need it? I just read recently that several police departments are getting rid of the Glocks for that reason.)

That's news to me. I've seen on several websites where individuals and companies have been performing torture tests on the Glock pistols. Not only do they last for over 70k rounds, but they still exibit reasonable accuracy then and have less malfunctions than most all previous service pistols. They have a more stellar performance record in the vast number of police and military agencies than any other pistol. I've fired thousands of rounds through my Glocks and have yet to have a single misfire.

I was one who took many years before I'd buy a Glock because I thought they were ugly. However, I see my Glock pistols being about as accurate and dependable right out of the box as anything made in the world for any price. I'm not saying that I don't believe you read that somewhere, I'm just saying that I do not believe it for one minute. It sounds like me to be a story fabricated by someone with an agenda to sell some firearm other than a Glock. From doing a huge amount of research to talk myself into buying my first (of what is now about a dozen and a half or so) Glock, and from my extensive use of them, I'll just go on record of saying I find the "problem" you mentioned with Glocks as being a fabrication by someone.

Dargo · Dec 3, 2005

( However they are still more likely to do so than an airweight revolver. I would hate to be one of the rare "incidents" that make up the statistic.

Steve B)

I completely and totally disagree with that statement. I have had several of the lightweight, and S&W airweight, revolvers fail to fire. Never with any Glock I own and never with a Glock that anyone I know owns. And, some of these Glocks have never been cleaned and have been really abused.

I'm not really a Glock lover, and have more pistols from 3 different manufacturers, but I think anyone who questions the reliability of Glocks will get funny looks from gunsmiths and professionals.

RoyJackson · Dec 3, 2005

"I was one who took many years before I'd buy a Glock because I thought they were ugly."

Well, they sure aren't pretty!
I bought my first Glock in the late 80's when some of the idiots in Washington were calling them a "terrorist" weapon invisible to to airport X Ray machines. Apparently, they never saw an X ray of a glock...it looks just like a gun.
Well, as soon as they said that, I knew I had to have one. Still own it too! That was a Glock 17L. This gun has a very light trigger (used as a target pistol) so I don't carry it. Sure is a nice "ugly" gun though!

SWB · Dec 3, 2005

The LAPD was one of them. A link to a recent article in the LA times about it is shown below:

LA Times Link

Apparently Portland Oregon also had problems. The article I read is shown below:

Portland Oregon Link

The gun affected was the Glock 21.

MikePA: Cleaned up links.