I am a rifle looney at heart but another thread in the hunting rifles forum has me curious....I would like to hear some opinions from handgun looney's on what guns should be included in a basic handgun battery of say 5 guns, I know you need a home defense handgun and a carry gun ("pocket rocket") and I wouldn't think any basic handgun battery would be complete without a 22 lr in the mix, I know it's that way with a rifle battery.................But what else would be considered a must have in a 5 gun battery?............Fire away and build your basic do-all 5 gun battery's.........Thanks Hb
Are you out of your mind!!! A 5 gun battery!!!
You need at least;
Single Actions: 22 caliber, .357 Mag, and a .44 Mag or a .45 Colt
Double Action: 22 caliber, .38 Spl, .357 Mag, and a .44 Mag or a .45 Colt
500 S&W, for when you just can't reach that RPG S&W 629 .44 Magnum 8 3/8" for accuracy, knock down, and minimal wallet damage S&W 629 .44 Magnum 5" for all of the above if you need not so concealed carry that'll go through the average wall. Taurus 24/7 Compact 45 for a concealed carry that may not be the lightest but makes up for it with knockdown. Browning Buckmark Bullseye .22 for when you just want to shoot for the joy of shooting and it has to be cheap. CCI Stingers make this a powerful pleasure, target rounds are a hoot to 50 feet.
I think you guys are still missing the boat. Combining "handgun Looney" and "basic battery" in the same paragraph risks a matter/anti-matter implosion that could melt every Glock frame within 100-mile radius. The various HL 5-gun lists could take a lot of turns, but a reasonable start could be:
- .40 S&W Hi-Power converted to 9mm Luger. - A S&W M19 you don't need, but you already had a nice set of grips. - An in-the-white Colt 1911 that still gets used all the time, but you're not done dicking with it. - S&W M696 converted to a 4.5" barrel by Hamilton Bowen. - A Super Redhawk that's for sale in the Classifieds.
Forgive me my nonsense, as I also forgive the nonsense of those that think they talk sense. Robert Frost
Off the top of my head, these would cover things pretty well.
5" 1911 .45 S&W Model 29 .44 mag(or a Bisley Blackhawk if you are a single action guy) Ruger MKII (or Colt Woodsman, or Browning Buckmark) .22LR S&W 2" J frame .38 Glock 19 9mm
MS
Crap ...now I have to buy a G lock!
Liberalism is a mental disorder that leads to social disease.
I think you guys are still missing the boat. Combining "handgun Looney" and "basic battery" in the same paragraph risks a matter/anti-matter implosion that could melt every Glock frame within 100-mile radius. The various HL 5-gun lists could take a lot of turns, but a reasonable start could be:
- .40 S&W Hi-Power converted to 9mm Luger. - A S&W M19 you don't need, but you already had a nice set of grips. - An in-the-white Colt 1911 that still gets used all the time, but you're not done dicking with it. - S&W M696 converted to a 4.5" barrel by Hamilton Bowen. - A Super Redhawk that's for sale in the Classifieds.
Here's what I would suggest, broken down by type and some possible options:
.22 revolver: Ruger Single Six, S&W Model 17, 18 or 617, Colt Diamondback
.22 autoloader: Ruger Standard or Target, High Standard, Colt Woodsman, S&W 41
Compact Defense/Concealed carry - could also double as home defense: Revolver options from S&W Chief's variations and Colt Detective Special variations to S&W Combat Magnum size.
Semiauto options from compact 9mm single stack designs to compact 45
After that, your choice will depend on your interests: a hunter might choose a .44 magnum , a target shooter an accurized .45 1911, an IPSC shooter a high capacity semi-auto, etc.
Actually my basic handgun list is an even dozen, and it would be more if I was a hunter. :-)
Very sound reasoning here jlin222....I am not a handgun hunter either anymore (been there and done that) so it does make My choices a little easier.............Hb
Here's what I would suggest, broken down by type and some possible options:
.22 revolver: Ruger Single Six, S&W Model 17, 18 or 617, Colt Diamondback
.22 autoloader: Ruger Standard or Target, High Standard, Colt Woodsman, S&W 41
Compact Defense/Concealed carry - could also double as home defense: Revolver options from S&W Chief's variations and Colt Detective Special variations to S&W Combat Magnum size.
Semiauto options from compact 9mm single stack designs to compact 45
After that, your choice will depend on your interests: a hunter might choose a .44 magnum , a target shooter an accurized .45 1911, an IPSC shooter a high capacity semi-auto, etc.
Actually my basic handgun list is an even dozen, and it would be more if I was a hunter. :-)
If I counted correctly there are 18 handguns on your 'basic 5-gun' list.
Forgive me my nonsense, as I also forgive the nonsense of those that think they talk sense. Robert Frost