Decision time...

[Stuart C.]

Don't over think this.

In an instant, you're in a life threatening situation of either the four legged or two legged variety. Defuse and/or retreat are, unfortunately, not options. You need something that goes boom right now.

On a small lexan table in front of you are:

1.) a 1911 of recent manufacture with three year old mag springs and uncleaned after 300 rounds

2.) a Ruger Blackhawk (sa obviously) of similar caliber

You're equally adept at handling each.

Which one do you grab?

[Graybeard]

I'm not overly fond of Ruger's but absolutely hate the 1911 and don't really trust the .45acp really. So I'd grab by S&W 629 if of the four legged variety or my Glock .40 S&W if two legged. Yeah I know I cheated but at my house those WOULD be the options not the Ruger or the 1911 so it's real world for me.

[Almtnman]

I have been in a life threatening situation and basically couldn't shoot the .357 S&W in my hand drew on the threat. We had received a call about him, but was on him before we knew what happened and I was lucky to get out of it alive. He was about 6 to 7 feet away with a double barrel shotgun with both hammers pulled back and I had got out of the patrol car before I saw he had the gun. It was pointed right at my chest and I figured if I shot first, he would pull the trigger from the .357 hitting him in the chest. After several heavy verbal warnings, he laid the shotgun down. I was on the sidewalk alongside a four lane U.S. highway and every vehicle (18 wheelers included) that happened along at the time when seeing what was going on stopped back a good ways from the scene. Back then I carried first a .44 special S&W and later the .357 S&W, that was before the semi-automatic stage that we have now. Now, my carry pistol is a Sig P-220 .45acp as I have seen first hand experience many times what a .45acp is capable of doing. Then there was the knife incident, but that's another story.

[Castaway]

The closest one.  Unless the 1911 is especially tight and very finicky, it should shoot just fine. Three hundred rounds, even if loaded with Bulls Eye has never stopped or slowed down my Norinco, P-13 or Kimber.  If the magazines worked before, they should work now.  A three year old magazine isn't old and modern springs are very reliable.   As far as the Black Hawk, I'd never feel under-gunned with 6 rounds if the threat was that close.. you could always play Wyatt Earp and conk the threat on the noggin when you run out of cartridges.

[dakotashooter2]

The Ruger, cause I'm NOT adept with both.

[corbanzo]

If you did that in Alaska for four leggers... you have a pretty bad chance with both. 

So neither.

The blackhawk in .44mag would be a minimum.  Unless your 1911 is a .460 rowland.

[ncsurveyor]

I'm not overly fond of Ruger's but absolutely hate the 1911 and don't really trust the .45acp really. So I'd grab by S&W 629 if of the four legged variety or my Glock .40 S&W if two legged. Yeah I know I cheated but at my house those WOULD be the options not the Ruger or the 1911 so it's real world for me.

Hmmm, notwithstanding your distrust of the 45acp, the two choices at my home are Glock Model 30 and S&W 29N.  coincidence?

To the original question, both.  I'm ambidextrous.   

[Lloyd Smale]

if you took the time to think you are probably dead anyway. Id use the one on my hip

[Savage]

In my world any pistol that might be available to me would be as reliable as a mechanical object can be. So I'd grab the 1911. It's highly unlikely I'd have a loaded Black Hawk within reach in the house. BUT, if I did it'd be a .45LC.
Savage

[Stuart C.]

Dakotashooter, thanks for the straight answer.

[SHOOTALL]

RUGER ! no one said the colt had a round in the chamber  in the BH it could be seen ! and i can cock the hammer on either faster than racking a slide !

[Jerry Lester]

Unfortunately, I've been in several life or death situations. Like Lloyd said, if you took the time to think, you probably wouldn't survive. It's in those cases that you tend to fall back on pure instinct, and reflexes.

Dakotashooter's point is dead on too. A lot of people just aren't proficient enough with a semi-auto when it comes to an actual high stress senario. A revolver is as simple as it gets.

Myself, I could use just about anything, but I prefer a Single action. I know all the arguments about fire power, reloading, etc., but honestly, unless you're in an actual war, or combat situation, those arguments just don't apply. I've personally witnessed several "actual" fire fights, and been in a couple+ myself(got the scars to prove it). I've yet to see anything like whats depicted on TV, or movies. In most of the cases I've seen, very few shots were fired. The worst was when I was shot in my left thigh, and he fired about 5-6 "aimed" rounds from a protected spot while I emptied a 15 round magazine kinda wildly in an effort to exit the area. 15 rounds did no more than 2 or 3 would have. I was just scared to death(19 years old), and basically wasting my ammo, but it saved my life none the less.

Other than that night, I honestly don't think I've seen more than about 3 to 5 shots exchanged combined from either side. It's usually over so quick that unless you're right in the thick of it, you're still trying to figure out what's going on after the shooting has already stopped.

I know that it's common nowdays to carry a semi-auto for protection, but I'll take my tried, and utterly reliable 357 Blackhawk over any gun except maybe a good reliable carbine, or shotgun. I know that within 50 yards, if I keep my cool, I can absolutely finish any attacker with only one of my 6 shots. If the ranges are normal(5 to 25 feet) he's pretty much toast because I'll be shooting instinct(pointing only), and that comes so naturally that reflexes take over, and I know I'll be connecting with my shot before I really know what I've done. That takes us back to Lloyd's point... 

[SHOOTALL]

You and a couple others bring up good points , although i have not had to fire a shot in a social context i have been uncomfortably close , IE ducking and running and yes fear takes over , that's where training comes in and what you train with is what you need to use IMHO ! I see in print and places like this all the time that the SAA or like is a poor choice , next the revolver was said to be obsolete by a few ! then they started in on the single action auto !
I agree that what i have seen on the streets is nothing like the movies !
when i shot IHMSA i could get off 5 shots at targets up to 200 meters away ( and hit alot of um ) in about 40 seconds with a super blackhawk ! i still shoot SAA hand guns and would also feel comfortable with one , i also feel if you know what you have , what it will do ,and what you can do with it you are in good shape !
REMEMBER A GOOD SINGLE ACTION SHOOTER CAN FIRE A SHOT WHILE OTHERS ARE STILL TAKING UP SLACK IN A DAO AUTO !

[Foggy]

my revolver. I've used a 1911 in defense of my life they work and work well, not the magic bullet some think but one of the best. I have my Pet Model 28 S&W  I don't use my 1911 for home defence, because my Susan can't clear it fast enough if it jams up . But she hell with her victory model  I don't use my 1911 much any more  but it's been a safe queen I shoot my revolvers all the time