what handgun or two that will do it all ?

[Curtis]

Quick question: Why is it one needs adjustable site when hunting but not when defending themselves?

Pat

If your smart you don't defend yourself at hunting distances.  Jurys frown on that, you know.
 
Curtis

[Hooker]

Quick question: Why is it one needs adjustable site when hunting but not when defending themselves?

Pat

If your smart you don't defend yourself at hunting distances.  Jurys frown on that, you know.
 
Curtis

And this has what to do with site equipment?

Pat

[Dave in WV]

1911 with the 45 super kit and a Ruger .22 with a 5.5" bull barrel.

[DickelDawg]

Many people who undoubtedly have more experience than I have replied to this post.In my humble opinion, one .38/.357 and one .44 mag. pistol can be handloaded
for any occasion from .38 wadcutter target loads to full power .44 mag. loads. These two pistols will handle any situation I have ever come across and more.

[Old Griz]

Griz, You may have to trade up your peuwney .44 MAg for a .454 Cassull or .480 Ruger.   

If they'll ever come out with a .480 Bisley I'll do it in a heart beat! Until then I'll just keep buying ammo for all my underpowered guns! 

[Old Griz]

so yeah i got a .22 and .357 mag, but its a vaquero, with a fixed blade sight, i think for hunting id be better off with adjustable sights.
and i guess my worries about the .357 being enough for deer is .. well.. over lol. i  got the message fella's it'll do the job if i do !
meaning i should trade the vaquero in for a redhawk or blackhawk..

If you have practiced beforehand with your hunting ammunition, then you know where your bullet is going to hit, so aim accordingly. I keep a notebook that shows were every brand and type of ammunition hits with each gun. I have several fixed sight guns, that I would hunt with without hesitation. Now if you're just tired of the Vaquero and want to get a new gun, that's a different story! Everybody needs a new gun every now and then.

[Scibaer]

ok, today i bought a Ruger 50th Anniversary Flattop New Model Blackhawk in .44mag with adjustable sights and a 7in barrel.
i got the plastic presentation case, in like new condition ( it dont look like its ever been shot really ) for $350.
it glossy, black finish with gold letterings.
so, how did i do ?

[SHOOTALL]

to round out my collection, i need some help/suggestions on handguns.
i have several handguns now, but what I'm wanting to get help with is what handgun or two of them, that will do all my handgun firearm duties, hunting and self protection ?
 the criteria should include caliber, action type and classic, quintessential make and/or model.

first personal protection , a gun you can have with you in all climates in all weather that will work all the time . A J frame in 357 mag would work. It can be conceled on your person in all but the skimpest of atire. It can be loaded with 38 wad cutters for small game hunting in an emg or same for plinking. If you reload more the better. Note I see little need for a 22 LR handgun if you have a 22 LR  rifle.
second a 10 mm Glock  it will survive in wet nasty conditions , it will work on most game or bad guys . it is light for aval . power and carries a bunch of bullets. You can lube it with oil off a dip stick , you can swim with it in salt water then wash it in fresh water .
And I pratice what I preach !

[SHOOTALL]

Quick question: Why is it one needs adjustable site when hunting but not when defending themselves?

Pat

If your smart you don't defend yourself at hunting distances.  Jurys frown on that, you know.
 
Curtis

And this has what to do with site equipment?

Pat

If your adjustable sight gets broken on a hunt you miss a shot if it breaks in a gun fight it could be really bad . 

[muznut 54]

Blackhawk 22lr and the mag cylinder and a 500SW mag. 

[mannyrock]

 
  Hmmm, sorry but to cover EVERYTHING, you are going to need four.
 
   1.  S&W .22 LR revolver, 4 to 5 inch, for plinking, practice, fun, small game, and training others.
 
   2.   A lighweight .357 revolver, or 9mm/.40 semi auto, as a carry gun and bedstand gun.  Depends on which one works best for you.  Certainly can't go wrong with a S&W J Frame .357 with a 4 inch barrel stoked with high quality .38 P+ self defense ammo, or a good 9mm semi-auto, with high quality self defense ammo, especially if your wife will be using it as well.
 
  3.  A .45 semi auto, any good brand, with 10 round capacity, for a natural or man-made disaster.  Regular ball ammo is all that you need.
 
   4.  A .44 magnum Blackhawk revolver, in suitable barrel length, for big game hunting.
 
     If you don't hunt big game, then drop no. 4.   If you have enough training and skill to carry a .45 semi-auto as your lawful carry weapon, then you can drop no. 2.
 
  So, if you are an average shooter, living in the suburbs, who occasionally hunts, you need four guns.
 
   If you are an urbanite who shoots regularly with his .45 auto,  and doesn't hunt, you only need two guns.  (Course, this is a rare bird.)
 
  I understand that in the State of New York, you can only own three handguns?   In that case, I would think that you would ordinarily need no. 1 and 2, and have to decide whether to drop no. 3 or no. 4.
 
   Other combinations are certainly possible.
 
Regards, Mannyrock
 
 
 
 
 
 

[popplecop]

Have a number of older S&W 5 screws and really like them, but for hunting I like my Ruger Single Actions.  For hunting I use them in 44 mag., 357 mag. 32 H&R mag and an 22 rf. that takes care of my hunting needs and then some.

[Scibaer]

manny,
 its nice to spend other fella's money huh ..  just razzin ya brother..
 after i asked for opinions, and read thru what everyone wrote, i'm starting to thing your right.
 today ( see my above post ) i got a new model flat top in 44 mag
i have already, a .22 revolver, a new model vaquero in 357 mag. ( not sure that im keeping it just yet )
 and i have been shopping for a 1911..
yes, 1 handgun aint gonna cut it.. and three can to the job but that big ole blackhawk's 7 inch barrel sure aint a CCW gun lol ..

now, manny if you want to lend me one of your handguns, i promise to return it in 50 years and i'll use my own ammo 
if not, i got my eye on a new remington r1 ..donations accepted

[Curtis]

Quick question: Why is it one needs adjustable site when hunting but not when defending themselves?

Pat

If your smart you don't defend yourself at hunting distances.  Jurys frown on that, you know.
 
Curtis

And this has what to do with site equipment?

Pat

Your opinion may differ, but to me intended use has everything to do with sight choice.  For example, adjustable sights can snag when trying to deploy a defensive weapon.  I will go further to say that for MY intended use at the ranges involved, a defensive pistol or revolver need not have sights at all.
 
Curtis

[Brett]

Your opinion may differ, but to me intended use has everything to do with sight choice.  For example, adjustable sights can snag when trying to deploy a defensive weapon.  I will go further to say that for MY intended use at the ranges involved, a defensive pistol or revolver need not have sights at all.
 
Curtis

I would have to a agree with this statement.  As long as you use a proper grip and trigger squeeze and practice point shooting sights are not required on a CC weapon.  If you cannot consistently hit center mass of a human sized target at 7 yards sans sights you need to practice more.

[Hooker]

Curtis Fair enough , but I'll go you one better.
Adjustable sites are a nice convenience but are unnecessary whether for hunting or defense.
My S&W 64-4 38 spl has been used on every thing from snakes to 100 yrd steel banging to falling plate matches, and some very respectable placings in bulls eye matches. Sites are not adjustable.
My GP100 except for the convenient windage adjustment when it was new the rear site was screwed all the way down and that is where she stays.
It's taken quite a few deer and hogs at ranges from arms length to 80 yrds and it's my favorite 200 yrd steel banger. I get tickled at folks who fuss over adjustable sites for this and fixed for that. The issue complicates handgun selection especially when trying to choose a do all gun or two.

Pat
 

[Curtis]

My S&W 64-4 38 spl has been used on every thing from snakes to 100 yrd steel
banging to falling plate matches, and some very respectable placings in bulls
eye matches. Sites are not adjustable.

Agreed.  I have a Ruger Speed Six (fixed sights) that some day when I have time I need to explore where it hits at different ranges with various ammo.  However, my main interest lies in my scoped and adjustable sight Contenders.  I may never get around to experimenting with it, but my Ruger is at the ready for defense if I need it.
 
Curtis

[Redhawk1]

As I see it, if someone wants adjustable sights or not, who really cares? If they work for them, or they think it helps them, who is it to tell them different? Personally I like adjustable sights on my hunting handgun. I have had to make small adjustments to the sights to get the bullet to impact my target where I was arming. So they work for my. As for self defense handgun, I don't have adjustable sights, but then again I am not trying to shoot 100 yards with my defense handguns either. Also the OP was not asking about sights, but what handgun or 2 would do it all.. 
 

Curtis Fair enough , but I'll go you one better.
Adjustable sites are a nice convenience but are unnecessary whether for hunting or defense.
My S&W 64-4 38 spl has been used on every thing from snakes to 100 yrd steel banging to falling plate matches, and some very respectable placings in bulls eye matches. Sites are not adjustable.
My GP100 except for the convenient windage adjustment when it was new the rear site was screwed all the way down and that is where she stays.
It's taken quite a few deer and hogs at ranges from arms length to 80 yrds and it's my favorite 200 yrd steel banger. I get tickled at folks who fuss over adjustable sites for this and fixed for that. The issue complicates handgun selection especially when trying to choose a do all gun or two.

Pat

[Empty Quiver]

Quick question: Why is it one needs adjustable site when hunting but not when defending themselves?

Pat

I'll add my .02 worth. Lots of those who know, or at least proffess an opinion carry a gun all day every day. As such that gun will end of getting some misstreatment it'll bang stuff, get hooked on seatbelts, you get the idea. Now which appears more robust? A tiny bit of sheet steel held by a couple tiny screws, or a hunk of forged steel driven into a dovetail? If you plan on a dresser drawer carry for home defense adjustables would pose little problem.
 
Take a very good look at the adjustables that you would carry some fit my earlier description some don't.

[Scibaer]

Here is a pic of the handgun i picked up yesterday.. with the help of you fella's.
i'm not saying that i wont get something else too, but with my .22 this is a good start on my original post.
this will go into my permanent collection

[Drilling Man]

  I've spend weeks at a time in the Alaskan bush, living in a tent with my 6" S&W M-29 (44 mag.) in a shoulder and a High Standard Victor (22LR) at camp/sometimes with me, depending on what i was doing that day.
 
  Today, i could replace the M-29 with a 4" S&W M-19 (357 mag.) That i sometimes carried long ago and do carry now for a defence gun...  BUT, i'm NOT giving up my 22 semi auto!  It's just too usful!
 
  DM

[Gray Paw]

I like the idea of 2 similar revolvers, one in .22 and the other in .357.  If you wanted to get Rugers with extra cylinders you could shoot everything from .22 short, .22 long, .22 long rifle, .22 WRF, .22 WMR, .38 Special, .357, and 9mm with just 2 handguns. 

Good .22/.357 S&W pairings would be the 617+686 if you like stainless K/L frames.  Models 60+63 if you like stainless J-frames.  Then there's the legendary K22's Models 17(6") and 18 (4"), which can be paired with the Model 19 in .357.

I would be tempted to go for the older 4" K-frames in blue or 3" J-frames in stainless.  They'd be easier to carry.

[45-70.gov]

............will do it all?


assumes   no long gun
if you have long guns


concealed carry is the only NEED for a had gun


so 357 j-frame smith or ruger LCR
with 22 understudy for practice/back up for backup

[Lloyd Smale]

I guess if i had to narrow down to just one gun to do everything i do with a handgun it would probably be a 4 inch n frame smith 44mag. I could load it up to hunt the biggest animals i hunt and load it down to pot small game. Its borderline large for consealed carry but in the right rig does pretty well. Loaded with hp 44 special ammo it would do that duty well. Now enough of this foolishness. Everyone knows you need at least a dozen handguns. It would be about like having a tool box with just a hammer in it.

[Brett]

....Now enough of this foolishness. Everyone knows you need at least a dozen handguns. It would be about like having a tool box with just a hammer in it.

Most sensible statement I've read in this thread so far.   

[45-70.gov]

....Now enough of this foolishness. Everyone knows you need at least a dozen handguns. It would be about like having a tool box with just a hammer in it.

Most sensible statement I've read in this thread so far.   

maybe the OP wants to know what he needs 2 of
so  he can bury  them  for the EOTWAWKI......there are intire forums for this bs

[Curtis]

Lloyd, I want at least one of each! 
 
Curtis

[ole 5 hole group]

 Pick any 2 calibers your little pee pickin’ heart desires and you’ll be good to go but you better think about your sights because you will be getting older sooner than you think and those irons will become real fuzzy.  Better mount a light weight red dot on those puppies and be done with it.  There’s a couple different real nice models on the market and all you need is a little cash – maybe a little more than a little bit but they are worth every penny when your eyes get older than your mind thinks you are.

My choices would be the SW 41 short barrel in 22lr and a Baer full size 1911 45ACP with a couple heavy recoil springs & buffer but I would also sneak in my SW Model 25-2 modified to 45 Colt with a 4” barrel just so I can go 1 up on Lloyd in diameter size on the heavy cruiser.

[Scibaer]

my pumper never picked a pea

[teamnelson]

S&W 627 N Frame 8 shot 357 5" barrel ... plenty of sight radius and gun for heavy loads to 100yds; 100 yds on a sillywet range.
S&W 617 10 shot 6" barrel.


or


1911 .45 with a quality 22 slide ... if you have to have a semi-auto action. I've found the .45 to be less desirable for defense/hunting than the 357, but the .22 is more accurate than the 617.


or


Bisley 357 7.5" barrel
Single Six Convertible .22