How many different handgun types?

[Guy Miner]

I got an interesting question from a group of new handgun students the other day. She was trying to learn & master both a .380 semi-auto and a .38 special lightweight snub-nose revolver.

The revolver was giving her fits, but she shot the .380 semi-auto very well. She asked me "What do you think about me carrying the semi-auto when I travel and keeping the revolver on the nightstand at home?"

Very gently I asked which one she shot better, and why she'd even consider trusting her life to a gun she doesn't shoot nearly as well. I think the revolver is going up for sale soon. Hopefully she'll buy a case of .380 ammo and work on really mastering that gun.

I've run into this before, with cops & private citizens alike. Some shooters can go from one gun to another with barely a hiccup. Others can learn one, then anything else is a struggle and their performance goes way down.

Probably why I carry my 1911 all the time. On duty. Off duty. Plainclothes. Even while hunting, if I take a handgun... I can and do shoot other guns well, but I shoot the 1911 best. Not just accuracy, but speed in action.

What are your thoughts?

Guy

 

[truck driver]

I shoot alot of Bullseye pistol compitition and favor the 1911 for just about all phases, rim fire ,center fire and of course .45. I also shoot revolvers in compitition. I guess I'm one of those people that can innerchange.
But I think the Young lady probably had problems with recoil in the revolver and the .38 is more powerful then the .380.
I would carry my 1911 Ball gun so I could shoot 230gr Hp if I had to use it for self defense.
But I keep a Colt Detective in .32 SW long in the night stand with 90gr HBWC loaded inverted, Ya one big A--S hollow point. :mrgreen:

 

[BobT]

I'm a 1911 guy too. I'm not the greatest pistol shooter but I can get by with a few different types. I can shoot revolvers about as well as the 1911 in most cases. The one pistol I have never had much luck with is the Glock, no idea why but I just can't seem to get the hang of it. I am a retired Navy Gunners Mate and trained many young sailors how to handle the 1911 so I know all the basics, I just make the Glock work for me.

 

[JD338]

My favorite carry gun is a 1911 Kimber Tactical Pro II. It is sometimes just a little too big to carry so I opt for a Ruger LC9 or LCP, depending on what I am wearing.

I carry my 1911 when I am hunting too. Last year I had something happen to me while walking back to my truck one night. There are a lot of wolves and a few mountain lions in the area but I have never been really that concerned about it. I was about 1/4 mile from my truck when I got the eerie feeling that I was being followed. I kept shinning my Sure Fire light behind me but never saw anything. This is the ONLY time in 30 years I have ever had this feeling. I was glad I had my Kimber with me.

JD338


JD338

 

[Guest]

Interesting question.
Also interesting how her self defense "nighttime wakeup" was the one she doesn't shoot as well. I agree with you that the default for that option should be a no thought required, as far as operation, weapon you can fire accurately. FWIW, I really think any handgun that is carried or accessible needs to be one the shooter is comfortable with and can shoot accurately. Don't really care what that winds up being as long as they like it, can shoot it, and are comfortable with it.
Never fails to amaze me the people in my classes that bring a pistol they are not real comfortable or good with. or perhaps have never even fired. Either someone convinced them that was what they "need" or they read a story about that particular pistol or some other outside influence caused the choice. (The whole "unless it starts with a 4 it's no good for personal defense" bit maybe?)
It's also why I have a whole bunch of different ones available to shoot. From 22's on up. If a grip is too large or they're leery of muzzle blast or recoil, it allows some additional options. (At least that's what I told my wife was the reason I have all these handguns :lol: )
Although not normally a Glock fan(no disrespect intended to Glocks or folks that carry them), my current carry is a Gen 4 20SF. For some reason that one worked for me. Also really like the 10mm. Believe Col. Cooper was right on that call. Fun gun and pretty good shooter.
Also occasionally carry a CZ. The custom shop in Mesa does an amazing job with CZ pistols. (can you tell I really like 'em? :lol: )
Kind of hard to go wrong with a 1911 though. Lot of proven history and reliability there plus they are a hoot to shoot.
Guess I rambled there but your post got me thinking. Thanks!
Dewey

 

[skidmark]

I bought my wife a SW 36 classic for her carry weapon she did not
feel comfortable with a semi with one in the pipe. She carries hammer
down on an empty chamber SA style. 4 rounds I know. I load light
unique loads for range work for her she is very petite with small hands
and is recoil sensitive however she has mastered the revolver and is happy with her choice.
I dont think she will feel a +p if she is in a defensive situation.

 

[wayno945]

How was the trigger on the revolver? My jframe had a horrible trigger pull from the factory. Wilson combat springs and some internal polishing fixed it. It's a shame Smith and Wesson sold out to the safety nazis.

 

[skidmark]

Actually the pull isn't to bad for me but a good bit stiff for her she has really small hands,
but I agree with you it could use some work.

 

[CatskillCrawler]

I've carried pistols(P-239 and PM-9) since the beginning and have always had a P-220 for my bedside gun. I've always felt I shot these better than the avarage bloke. I have recently exchanged a Model 19-3 for my bedside companion. I shoot this revolver extremely well and am looking for more revolvers to bring into my lair. I still love my pistols and will never carry a revolver but I have caught the wheelgun bug bad. In my case it wasn't a hard transition as both the SIG and Kahr have a long double action first shot trigger pull as does the revolver. No safety to worry about.

I have no issues switching between the two types of handgun. Just align and squeeeeeeze.

 

[big rifle man]

I carry a 1911 Kimber Pro carry or a Sig Sauer P938. Both guns function the same and in the heat of having to use a weapon familiarity is good. I keep a Ruger GP100 at home and have taught the wife to be comfortable with it. She has shot my .45 but feels the revolver is much more simple. She has also learned that with a revolver if you pull the trigger and nothing happens all you have to do is pull the trigger again. With a semi auto a sequence of events has to take place before you are in action again. A set of comfortable grips on the Ruger has helped her considerably. She shoots .38 specials for practice and .357's (occasionally) to experience what a full house round is like although as was mentioned previously if she had to use her firearm I'm sure the noise and recoil would be secondary. I was brought up on Revolvers but was able to transition easily to semi-autos.

 

[Elkman]

I got rid of the revolvers several years ago. Now only semi autos, my wife shoots the Glock 9mm well, for the amount of practice we get. My choice are 45's, I just like the feel.

 

[Oldtrader3]

I have been shooting revolvers since the 1950's and prefer them for most applications. I have shot auto's for match rimfire and .45 Auto Match but I am not as comfortable as I am with a revolver. To each their own, I quess. I own (7) revolvers, mostly S&W J or K frame, chambered from .22LR to .45 Colt, plus one .22 Auto Walther.

I even won a regional match with a S&W Combat Masterpiece .22LR, shooting against about 40 others with .22 Auto, match grade, pistols some years ago. So I am stuck with the revolver it seems.

 

[tecumseh]

my 1911 combat commander fits me like a glove and is the one I shoot best out of what I own.

As far as revolvers go I'm pretty much a Ruger man, My super blackhawk 44 mag fits my hands much better the the S&W 629 classic did. I dont shoot it all that much but it doesn't take long to get the feel for it after a few rounds have been run through it.

For the record thats no slam against S&W! I happen to think they make a great product, the Ruger was a much better fit for me.

 

[Oldtrader3]

We each have our preferences. This is what makes a horse race!

 

[Darkhorse]

A few years ago I let my wife choose her handgun. I advised an auto. She picked a revolver. Not a bad choice at all really. Revolvers almost always shoot when asked to. Turns out she couldn't rack the slide due to spring weight on the autos. She really likes the trigger pull (me too) on the Ruger LCR in .38 special. She shoots it well and is comfortable with it and that's what's important.
Currently, my CC weapon is the S&W M&P .40 compact. I carry it both inside the waistband and strongside. I did some minimal trigger work, just smoothing some things up to get rid of the grittiness. No apex parts as I want a CC as close to factory as possible. I put a set of Trijicon nite sights on it. The gun runs everything I've fed it without a single hiccup, unlike some other autos I've had.
I've shot so many different types of firearms over the years I can basically go from one to the other without thinking about it. But for those that can't they need one they are comfortable and accurate with.

 

[Oldtrader3]

How was the trigger on the revolver? My jframe had a horrible trigger pull from the factory. Wilson combat springs and some internal polishing fixed it. It's a shame Smith and Wesson sold out to the safety nazis.

You must have gotten a "Friday" revolver Wayno? I own (3) J-Frame S&W revolvers and have owned a half dozen more in the last 50 years. Most of them had excellent single action triggers and pretty smooth double action as well.

 

[Wincheringen]

The more time you spend with a particular platform the better you will get. I had a chance to the meet the only 6 division USPSA Grand Master, and that is exactly what he did. I have a couple S&W M&P pistols, but most of my fleet are revolvers and 1911s.