best shtf fighting handgun ever made

[Lloyd Smale]

my vote is for the glock 22. if concealment is no issue imo its the most capable fighting handgun ever and is what id hope to have on my hip if shtf in any way. i own many glocks but the 22  is the only one i own more than one of, i own 3!!

[AtlLaw]

Boy that's a hard one...    Lessee here... assuming we are excluding the AR pistol, I guess I would have to pick the pistol I had the most ammunition for, or in that light, one that there will be plenty of ammunition for laying around on bodies, depending on the SHTF scenario.

I should think that would mean a 9mm.  So, if that is the case I'm in a less then optimal position as I gave my large capacity handguns to one of my boys. I do still have a Colt 1911 9mm though.

Nevertheless I would opt for my S&W 45 Shield.

Wait, that wasn't the question!  Sorry... 

To answer your question about my opinion, I would have to say the M1911.  I carried one for 2 years in the RVN and never once worried that it wouldn't work in the myriad of conditions we operated in or that the 45 ACP wasn't powerful enough to stop a man.  Capacity aside, what else is there! 

[JeffG]

I'm 100% on board with the Glock 22. Durable, not finicky, goes bang every time!

[orerancher]

+1
1911 .45 auto

[Lloyd Smale]

cant put capasity aside though. i love 1911s and do carry a 45 shield often but neither would even be a consideration if i had to defend my home or worse yet have to head out for a while. now of course my first choice would be an ar15 but im talking fighting handguns not rifles or concealed carry. i do own a bunch of ar pistols they dont fit in a hip holster 9 vs 40? id take 15 rounds of 40 any day over 17 9s and i dont have to look any further than the barn to find enough 40 ammo to arm a platoon. if i could carry two guns of any kind id take a 22 and would be hard pressed to choose between my binary 40 ar pistol or a 556 pistol. id prefer the 556 for a bit more range but i can make center mass shoots at a 100-150 yards with the 40 ar and mags could be used in both guns. so unless 2-300 yard shots were required i dont need a 556 rifle and in a situation like that your better off passing on shooting someone that hasnt done anything and giving away you position to possibly a superior force and just retreating to safety. so the 2 40's would have to be my choice. love the 45s and have glocks and an ar pistol chambered in it too. but its no more powerful, mags hold less, doesnt shoot near as flat and ammo weights more. but that so i could take off carrying a 45 combo and not feel i made a mistake but would know i could have done better picking the 40s. another cool kind of a bug out gun bag i have is a 7.5 556 pistol in a bag with a supressed 300bo upper and a 22lr conversion bolt but with 2 uppers and enough mags for all 3 i think id be ready to toss it in the ditch after 5 miles, all that said it would take ALOT to get me to leave the property. food here. unlimited fresh water and a crap pile of fury to unleash

Boy that's a hard one...    Lessee here... assuming we are excluding the AR pistol, I guess I would have to pick the pistol I had the most ammunition for, or in that light, one that there will be plenty of ammunition for laying around on bodies, depending on the SHTF scenario.

I should think that would mean a 9mm.  So, if that is the case I'm in a less then optimal position as I gave my large capacity handguns to one of my boys. I do still have a Colt 1911 9mm though.

Nevertheless I would opt for my S&W 45 Shield.

Wait, that wasn't the question!  Sorry... 

To answer your question about my opinion, I would have to say the M1911.  I carried one for 2 years in the RVN and never once worried that it wouldn't work in the myriad of conditions we operated in or that the 45 ACP wasn't powerful enough to stop a man.  Capacity aside, what else is there! 

[Dee]

If I were Bill Jordan I would say a Model 19 Smith loaded with the best of all of time 125 SJHP in 357 magnum. But I'm not.
I consider the Sig P365 Xmacro one of the best pistols I've ever trained with so that would be my personal choice.
Realistically, the best fighting handgun ever made is the one any individual person shoots the best.

[Bob Riebe]

    I would say the 1911 or designs, especially Sig. based off of it.
    Glocks in conditions of dust or dirt, need regular cleaning.

[Lloyd Smale]

swish and a 1911 around in dirt and see which quits first. now ive never subjected my guns to that but have shot them with dirty coventionaly lubed bullets to the point they were filthy without cleaning or oiling and have shot them dry with no oil and a glock will typicaly last 2-3 times as long as a 1911 before it has reliability issues. not just glocks either ive shot m&ps sigs Berrettas and even cheap tarus's and my psa glock clone to the point it was so greasy you could barely hold on to it and it just kept going. i took that psa gun out of the box without lubing it and shot its first 2k rounds without a bobble. sprayed it out with brake cleaner and again without oiling shot another 1k. these first 3k rounds using 30 round mags and pulling the trigger as fast as i could, gun got so hot you couldnt touch the slide.

I love shooting 1911s, mostly because they have great triggers and are (if you get a good one) VERY ACCURATE. but show me one that will do that or run reliably filthy dirty, its why the originals had such loose tolerances if a baby could lift one he could use it for a rattle. today most are much tighter fitted which is a 2 pronged sword. theyve become very accurate but at the expense of the ability to run dirty like a good combat gun has to. when i shot ppc i had to pull down my 1911s and clean them right at the shoot at least every 500 rounds and if i had time every other round i shot. ive got glocks in the safe that probably have 2k and were stuck back in because i know they will go bang and its about a waste of my time to clean them. most of my black guns get cleaned once a year in the winter when i have nothing else to do. to say a 1911 needs cleaning less than a glock is just silly. ive put 100s of thousands of rounds through both and have owned at least 30 of each and know better enough to say you bring your 1911 over and ill supply all the ammo and we will do 2 shoots, one starting cleaned and oiled and one by subjecting both to any dirt or mud or sand you choose and we will shoot them till they stop. if my glock wins you go home without your 1911, if your 1911 wins ill give you your choice of any gun in the safes and pay for any gas food or lodging it took to get here.

 i dont have a sig 1911 but do have 3 colts, 2 springfield, 6 kimbers, a les baer a sti and do own 17 glocks, 12 m&ps. 3 sigs and probably at least a dozen other various black guns and actually shoot them and my idea of going to the range isnt a 50 round box of ammo, i take coffee cans of it. if 1911s ran like your trying to tell me i wouldnt have changed 25 years ago when i thought black was blasphemy and about bought my first glock, a 23, kicking and screaming because my best friend who was also old school and forgot more about guns and has put more rounds down range than all of us here combined was with me that day and about held me at gun point and made me buy it because the glocks he owned had amazed him. nope, soory but this aint my first rodeo!!!
   

I would say the 1911 or designs, especially Sig. based off of it.
    Glocks in conditions of dust or dirt, need regular cleaning.

[Lloyd Smale]

i will live the rest of my life without ever stepping into a town with more than a population of 20k and the only 4 lane road i will drive on is a 100 mile stretch south of the mackinac bridge to get to the granddaughters house. svhit the biggest city ive been in in the last 30 years is green bay WI. like i said let them idiots kill each other and the liberal and welfare trash that makes up 80% of the population in those bad cities. if your there and are in that 20% good i kind of feel sorry for you, KIND OF!! most here are over 70 and dont work and are living there by choice not necessity. pack your crap and come to GOD'S country. homes are MUCH cheaper and you can walk outside and piss on a tree, not some homeless mexican or cross dresser sleeping on your sidewalk. i think we waste WAY to much tax money fighting crime in big cities. either give the police free reign and lots of ammo or close the police stations there close them off and watch the liberal voting ranks decline rapidly!!

[ironglow]

I would  pick a rifle...but that's just me...

  Meanwhile; here is perhaps the best known SHTF handgun we can see today...  https://www.firearmstalk.com/threads/pattons-colt-45-single-action-army.143704/ 

[Lloyd Smale]

yup but the post was what HANDUN is the best FIGHTING TOOL 100 years ago it was the 1911 and a 150 years ago id agree with the saa. but there's many better than either of those today. but i guess the both better than a stick

I would  pick a rifle...but that's just me...

  Meanwhile; here is perhaps the best known SHTF handgun we can see today...  https://www.firearmstalk.com/threads/pattons-colt-45-single-action-army.143704/ 

[ironglow]

yup but the post was what HANDUN is the best FIGHTING TOOL 100 years ago it was the 1911 and a 150 years ago id agree with the saa. but there's many better than either of those today. but i guess the both better than a stick

I would  pick a rifle...but that's just me...

  Meanwhile; here is perhaps the best known SHTF handgun we can see today...  https://www.firearmstalk.com/threads/pattons-colt-45-single-action-army.143704/ 

  I'm not that much a handgun affectionado to sincerely assess which is best; but I do assume since SHTF includes defense as well as small game hunting, logistics (how many rounds can I pack) etc., there would likely be a multitude of options.

[Lloyd Smale]

but your first priority is keeping your family and you alive to eat that small game. yup 22s are lighter but a 25 round 1022  mag takes up the same room as a 22 round .40 glock mag. ya you can carry them bulk but good luck loading those little things in a mag during a gun fight and you will because your probably going to need 5-10 to stop someone and more likely you wont need to reload because if you havent taken care of business in the first 1-3 shots any of your family that didnt get killed will need a shovel  people have somw warped dream of a senerio like that becoming an extended hunting trip. well the game will all be dead the first year and whats left in your dream world will be starved 2 legged people that would kill you for a pack of matches and that goes especially for areas like i live in that will be a magnet for every scum ball fleeing the city. i aint hiking in the woods with no squirrel rifle and especially no 22 pistol unless its in my backpack and my glock 22 in on my hip and hopefully i have an ar15 in my hands, there is no place for pop guns and nostalgia guns when things are serious. pretty bluing and fancy stocks dont buy you a thing, you guns will be tools and id much rather build a house with a passlode gun then a chrome hammer with a fancy wood handle that was made in 1911!!

yup but the post was what HANDUN is the best FIGHTING TOOL 100 years ago it was the 1911 and a 150 years ago id agree with the saa. but there's many better than either of those today. but i guess the both better than a stick

I would  pick a rifle...but that's just me...

  Meanwhile; here is perhaps the best known SHTF handgun we can see today...  https://www.firearmstalk.com/threads/pattons-colt-45-single-action-army.143704/ 

  I'm not that much a handgun affectionado to sincerely assess which is best; but I do assume since SHTF includes defense as well as small game hunting, logistics (how many rounds can I pack) etc., there would likely be a multitude of options.

[Dee]

yup but the post was what HANDUN is the best FIGHTING TOOL 100 years ago it was the 1911 and a 150 years ago id agree with the saa. but there's many better than either of those today. but i guess the both better than a stick

I would  pick a rifle...but that's just me...

  Meanwhile; here is perhaps the best known SHTF handgun we can see today...  https://www.firearmstalk.com/threads/pattons-colt-45-single-action-army.143704/ 

  I'm not that much a handgun affectionado to sincerely assess which is best; but I do assume since SHTF includes defense as well as small game hunting, logistics (how many rounds can I pack) etc., there would likely be a multitude of options.

An old Ranger once attended the Governors' Ball in Austin Texas. A high society older woman walked up to him and asked: I noticed that your wearing your pistol, are you expecting trouble here at the Ball?
The old Ranger politely removed his hat and replied: No mam, if I was expecting trouble,  Ida brought a shotgun.

Point is, nobody has ever experienced a "SHTF" scenario here in the United States so its all pure speculation, the best handgun for one, may not be best for another.

[Lloyd Smale]

were at a major tipping point with russia and even more so China today and the reality is we could be tomorrow. ive heard you sing the praises of the glock 23 for years so we arent far apart. matter of fact one of the rare times we agreed was years ago when youn said the 23 was your choice to carry. but now  its kind of like trump derangement syndrome. if i posted the sky was blue youd find some way to argue it. that said you are right in that whatever you carry, being proficient with it is more important than model or caliber but the sad thing is most here are FAR from being really proficient with a handgun. ive even heard some claim the 40 kicks to much!! heck my wife will shoot a 44mag! dont think a 12 gauge is a choice for them if they expect trouble! first time they unleash some mag OO buck theyre going to need new panties!! kind of why i left my shockwaves out of the equation. but i am open to discuss any gun you feel is better than a high capacity 40 like the 22 for open carry. no brainer if you ask me. yup a smith or sig might be just as good but i dont see that theyre better. ive got sunday go to church guns and concealed carry guns too but im talking tools to stop fights not hip decoration or something im trying to hide. just the opposite in that situation. I want them to see that big glock on my hip. just that might keep a guy alive for another day.

[AtlLaw]

Looking at the original question again, I see that my interpretation of it was wrong...again!     the question was about the best shtf fighting handgun ever made. Nothing about combat proven/shtf tested.  So, to me that would mean a self-loading, large capacity magazine, ubiquitous caliber, full sized (esp. bbl. length) weapon of proven durability.

Well, as strange as it may sound for one who carried a handgun as part of his daily dress in the civilian world, I always considered them a weapon of last resort; right up  there with a knife.  So I have no idea what is currently available out there.  Hell!  I've never even held a Glock! 

So, I will leave the debate to you more learned gentlemen and maybe I will glean some knowledge concerning the current state of fighting handguns.  But what do you expect from a guy whose EDC is a S&W Bodyguard .380!

[Dee]

were at a major tipping point with russia and even more so China today and the reality is we could be tomorrow. ive heard you sing the praises of the glock 23 for years so we arent far apart. matter of fact one of the rare times we agreed was years ago when youn said the 23 was your choice to carry. but now  its kind of like trump derangement syndrome. if i posted the sky was blue youd find some way to argue it.

Well, I guess we agree again, because if someone (mainly me), disagrees with you, or has a different opinion, it becomes exactly like Trump Derangement Syndrome. You suffer from those same frailties as they do.

You have Dee Derangement Syndrome .And just like those others suffering from Trump Derangement Syndrome, your insecurities, along with "your picked on mentality", and your super thin skin, you believe I'm after you, which then causes you twist off and go into  your syndrome trance and use the same tactics other liberal Trump Derangement Syndrome sufferers do. You start hitting me with Insults and attacks. It works for them, and you think it works for you. If someone (I), disagrees with you, or has a different opinion, or you just don't like them (me), you just try shutting me down with  insults, and personal attacks. With  your Dee Derangement Syndrome you struggle just like the Trump Derangement Syndrome sufferers, and you have the same mental weaknesses. Hate eats the hater, not the hated. Bless your heart. 
I have not until now, said one disparaging word toward you, or your  opinion, yet, here you are again, taking  offense. Apparently Bill is ok with that, as he let's you get by with it.
You have the option of pretending I'm not here, but clearly you don't possess the ability.

Now, back to the topic.

In the 1970s & 80s I ran back and fourth between the Model 19/28 Smith and 1911 Colt, and unlike most everyone here I used both to settle 2 separate actual SHTF short lived scenarios. Both served their purpose at the time.

Then, for several years I preferred the the Glock 23 when I went to work. After that, for several years I preferred a Model 686 but, a few years ago I had an opportunity to shoot a Sig P365 and was immediately impressed.

I now make a P365 Xmacro my daily carry. It's lighter to carry, an 18 round capacity, and it (for  me), shoots as good as anything out there, along with being very reliable.

And, as I'm not looking for Russia, or China to invade the United States any time soon, and at 75 years old, total knee replacements, and general age related wear and tear, I'm thinking more about thuggers, muggers, and thief deterrents, and thats about all the S, that might HTF, and hopefully it won't. 

If however, I lived in certain parts of Alaska, my all time best SHTF handgun might be the Model 29 Smith, or a quality 10mm.
Different strokes, for different locale folks.

[Lloyd Smale]

    odd thing is i respect your opinion on this subject more than anyone else's here. but you sure get rattled easy   hope you control your emotions better when bullets fly. guess you must or you wouldnt be here today! odd that i rattle your cage so easily pretty comical that you claim i have thin skin. i posted what i thought was the best fighting handgun. if you dont agree maybe stick to giving FACTUAL reasons why im wrong. im open to any arguments as to why a different gun is better for the purpose stated in the original post. absolute only negative i can come up with is 9s will be easier to find ammo for if you werent intelligent enough to have your own stockpile before something happens and my guess even then your not going to find a tree with boxes of 9s on the branches or someone handing it out free if theyre still breathing. with 2 hip replacements a total knee and a total ankle along with 10 back surgerys.  i too worry about self defense and would choose different for daily carry although where i live chances are rare that i will need it. but that's not the scenario i was addressing here. that and ive worked very hard all my adult life to overcome my medical problems and at 69 i can take care of business just as well as i could have at 40. just might be a bit sorer tomorrow. 

were at a major tipping point with russia and even more so China today and the reality is we could be tomorrow. ive heard you sing the praises of the glock 23 for years so we arent far apart. matter of fact one of the rare times we agreed was years ago when youn said the 23 was your choice to carry. but now  its kind of like trump derangement syndrome. if i posted the sky was blue youd find some way to argue it.

Well, I guess we agree again, because if someone (mainly me), disagrees with you, or has a different opinion, it becomes exactly like Trump Derangement Syndrome. You suffer from those same frailties as they do.

You have Dee Derangement Syndrome .And just like those others suffering from Trump Derangement Syndrome, your insecurities, along with "your picked on mentality", and your super thin skin, you believe I'm after you, which then causes you twist off and go into  your syndrome trance and use the same tactics other liberal Trump Derangement Syndrome sufferers do. You start hitting me with Insults and attacks. It works for them, and you think it works for you. If someone (I), disagrees with you, or has a different opinion, or you just don't like them (me), you just try shutting me down with  insults, and personal attacks. With  your Dee Derangement Syndrome you struggle just like the Trump Derangement Syndrome sufferers, and you have the same mental weaknesses. Hate eats the hater, not the hated. Bless your heart. 
I have not until now, said one disparaging word toward you, or your  opinion, yet, here you are again, taking  offense. Apparently Bill is ok with that, as he let's you get by with it.
You have the option of pretending I'm not here, but clearly you don't possess the ability.

Now, back to the topic.

In the 1970s & 80s I ran back and fourth between the Model 19/28 Smith and 1911 Colt, and unlike most everyone here I used both to settle 2 separate actual SHTF short lived scenarios. Both served their purpose at the time.

Then, for several years I preferred the the Glock 23 when I went to work. After that, for several years I preferred a Model 686 but, a few years ago I had an opportunity to shoot a Sig P365 and was immediately impressed.

I now make a P365 Xmacro my daily carry. It's lighter to carry, an 18 round capacity, and it (for  me), shoots as good as anything out there, along with being very reliable.

And, as I'm not looking for Russia, or China to invade the United States any time soon, and at 75 years old, total knee replacements, and general age related wear and tear, I'm thinking more about thuggers, muggers, and thief deterrents, and thats about all the S, that might HTF, and hopefully it won't. 

If however, I lived in certain parts of Alaska, my all time best SHTF handgun might be the Model 29 Smith, or a quality 10mm.
Different strokes, for different locale folks.

[Dee]

Don't recall disagreeing with your pistol choice. Couldn't find that anywhere in my original post. I posted my opinion, and thats all. You're the one that took exception to my not picking your Glock 22. Read your own post.
Your choice is a Glock and mine no longer is. I've always went with what I thought was best for me at the time, and I shoot the P365 better than the Glock.
As to the 9mm vs other rounds? I'm in the same camp as the old Ranger.

[Lloyd Smale]

dont see where i disagreed with you or bashed your sig either in this post. but somehow it sure rattled you. i dont disagree with the old ranger either other than this post was about handguns and id look pretty funny with an 870 on my hip in a holster

[Dee]

Lloyd you haven't rattled anyone. Your as easy to  turn off as my television. Sig Saur doesn't need any defense. Go back and read your own post directed at me. Do you not understand what you yourself said in it?

[Lloyd Smale]

your right in that sig doesnt need any defense. they make fine guns. no you go back and show me what i said other than if i say the skys blue you will say its not!! no big deal because thats the way youve been for years and get so flustered you say your done with this place and go away only to come back a few months later. but that too is ok because its entertaining watching you stomping off over and over and over because someone dares disagree with you. usually me. its why a whole section had to be shut down when your idea of moderating was dictating. one things for sure. the only reaction youve ever got from me was a smile. funny thing is i never onced posted there because i saw day one that it was dee's guide to being a christain. now ill give you the last word because i really dont give a crap what you carry or what your opininion is of me!!

Lloyd you haven't rattled anyone. Your as easy to  turn off as my television. Sig Saur doesn't need any defense. Go back and read your own post directed at me. Do you not understand what you yourself said in it?

[ironglow]

  "yup but the post was what HANDUN is the best FIGHTING TOOL 100 years ago it was the 1911 and a 150 years ago id agree with the
   saa. but there's many better than either of those today. but i guess the both better than a stick".
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Whereupon I said..." I would  pick a rifle...but that's just me..."

   My point was that a handgun may not be the right choice, especially since you seem to be most concerned with stopping any "raiders" before they
  get you or your family.
  Lets's face it with a reasonable rifle...almost anybody can 'reach out and touch' a pistol holder,even while far out of range of his target.

  ...Which is obviously why snipers use RIFLES, rather than HANDGUNS... 

[Graybeard]

OK, enough of the same old BS rehashed by you two. From this point going forward I will delete the entire post if either of you address the argument further. Doesn't matter if you post ten paragraphs of worthwhile info and one sentence of the BS, it will all go.

[Dixie-Dude]

Well, I like the Springfield XDM.  I like the handle safety like on a 1911.  Extra precaution.  It holds 18 rounds of 9mm.  It is very accurate.  I tried the Glock but the handle comes with inserts for small, medium, and large hands.  My wife can handle it, but she couldn't handle the Glock.  For me, it is the most accurate handgun I have.  I have a 1911 in 45acp, a Colt.  I also have other revolvers and such, but the Springfield for me is the best. 

[Casull]

Glock, Sig, 1911, etc.  In a real SHTF time, it'll probably be some 15 y/o with a scoped .22 and ghillie suit that pops you in the head and takes whatever it is that you're carrying.

[Dee]

OK, enough of the same old BS rehashed by you two. From this point going forward I will delete the entire post if either of you address the argument further. Doesn't matter if you post ten paragraphs of worthwhile info and one sentence of the BS, it will all go.

Ok, let's see if it works.

[ulav8r]

What is a Glock 22?


P.S.  I am not interested enough to look it up.

[Lloyd Smale]

full sized 15 round 40 sw and ill him have the last word

What is a Glock 22?


P.S.  I am not interested enough to look it up.