Pistol conundrum

I've got a 92FS, and something to keep in mind is that it was made for ball ammo. It'll shoot that reliably all day, but really wide mouthed defensive rounds can give it serious problems.

I had a Taurus 1911, and it also had some issue with wide mouths, especially at the top of the magazine. Though Taurus isn't renowned for quality control.

There are a lot of newer 45s that at the least offer increased capacity and designs not meant to shoot ball, and then a vast array of features beyond that.

One thing about that 44 is that if you're the handloader sort you could save on money (and potentially tone the recoil down a little).

 

In 9mm, I'd go with the SIG Pro SP2022.

When it comes to revolvers, my heart belongs to the Smith & Wesson 327 M&P TRR8.

As for M1911A1 clones, go for the direct modern descendant: The Colt O1091

 

Close to 1000 hollow-points through my wife's 92, not a single problem.

You can shoot .44 Special rounds through just about any .44 Mag.

 

Boar? Not sure if I would trust a .45 with that, but certainly not a 9mm.

 

My last boar was a domesticated hog that got lose and ran wild for about 6 years and was causing lots of trouble here in NC. Several people had shot him and he was still running wild and causing lots of problems. I was going deer hunting one morning, and noticed that he had broken into my uncles fence to get at his feed troughs. I took my .308 Winchester from the rack and shot him 4 times. He still ran over a hundred yards, before dropping. Two of the bullets were in his lungs, one missed his heart by less than a quarter inch.

The boar weighed out at 532 pounds. I would NEVER knowingly go after any boar with any handgun, although I might carry a .454 Casull as back-up in emergencies.

Taurus makes an excellent stainless 454 5 inch barrel and you can use 45 colts in it for less expensive practice. Make sure to clean it well before changing back from 45 to 454. The 45 is a bit shorter so can cause a build-up in the cylinder. Full retail is close to 1000 dollars but it can be found discounted.
Oh, we ate the boar, he was a bit rank, but, lol. We also found 6 other bullets in the meat.

I know people hunt boar with handguns. A lot even go to special farms where they are stocked. To me they are a bit nuts. A real boar, wild or once domesticated is NOTHING to mess with, especially with a handgun.

 

I had a Colt Elite and hated it with a passion. It jammed with all ammo. I sent it back to Colt, they said nothing was wrong with it.
I fired a couple dozen brands of ball ammo in it, and it never shot more than two magazines without a jam. At 25 feet you would be lucky to hit a garbage can. I had it locked in a ransom rest and at 10 yards it held a 4 inch grouping. And....Colt got it a second time, with the target and they returned it, and had done nothing, saying once again, there was nothing wrong with it.

I sold it to a friend for HALF what I paid for it, less than 6 months after I purchased it. (the friend knew how much a lemon it was and bought it for his display case, NOT to shoot)

I also have a Smith and Wesson 45 ACP revolver that is the finest shooting 45 I have ever owned. at the full length of the local indoor range, I can cut the small identification image in the upper left hand corner or my silhouette targets 4 out of 6 shots, offhand at 75 feet.

I love the 45 auto with the exception of the one mentioned above, but have NEVER found one to equal the accuracy of the Smith revolver.

 

As you said, depends on the handgun.

I have shot a friends .460 Ruger, very awesome indeed. I believe I shot 454's out of it as well.

 

Try the Springfield Sledgehammer, a .500 Smith & Wesson. It's on the same level as a big-game rifle...makes that .308 look like a pellet gun! One hardball round from it will shatter--not break, SHATTER--a cinderblock. My uncle did the numbers: the handloads he put together for it have about the same energy as the rounds from his elephant rifle: that's a Holland & Holland double in .577 Nitro.

Just need the right handgun...my uncle loves his .454 Casull (a Ruger), there's also the .480, the .460, and, of course, the Springfield Sledgehammer. I'd bet a good handload in a .44 Magnum would also work.

 

The 44 is out. The guy selling it has decided to hold onto it.

However, we have a new entry.

The Ruger SP101 357 with the 4.2 inch barrel.

The advantages? Cheap plinking ammo in the form of 38's. Can be loaded up with 357's for the nature experience, which would make it a decent sidearm.

Disadvantages? I can not really think of any.

 

I use only high velocity 125 grain hollow points in my 357. It has range as well as stopping power. I don't hunt with is it is for self defense only.

 

What guns do you already have?

 

The only disadvantage I can think of is the lack of capacity of a revolver.


I picked up a M&P40 subcompact a couple of weeks ago, excellent little gun. Due to the size, it definitely seems to have more recoil than the M&P45.

 

It would only be a sidearm for hunting. I have a Savage 110 30.06 for reaching out and touching critters.

But i do love the simplicity of wheel guns, the ease of cleaning them, and the fact they do not jam.

 

Sounds like the .44 would be your best bet. I wouldn't want to shoot a hog with anything less.

 

Sweet.

I have to go to Nevada to pick up high capacity clips. If I bought an auto, it would only have a 7 or 8 shot capacity.

 

To reach out and touch someone (thing) I would use my good old M-1 garand. That tried and combat tested weapon that has never jammed on me yet. Of course I take good care of it and make sure that it is well oiled

 

Hmmmmm.... you should be able to get 10rd. mags in California. You certainly wouldn't want to take 10rd.+ mags back to California....

 

The only valid disadvantage of the 357 is in night firing. The muzzle blast of a full power (or higher) 357 while most assuredly blind you at night, making fast follow up shots extremely hard. The 357 has the best stats of any handgun ammunition in self defense. It has RECORDED the highest number of one shot stops of any caliber. There are others that come close and for me, having the ability to see at night for multiple shots outweighs the slight advantage in one shot stops. (if it becomes necessary to fire in self defense, I will most certainly not fire one shot) I do at times carry a 357 for self defense, but it is a revolver loaded with +p 38's. My preference of self defense is 45 acp and the Glock 36. For wildlife situations I carry a Ruger Alaskan with 2.5 inch barrel. My daughter lives in Alaska and no hand gun smaller than the 454 would make me comfortable there. But, when in Alaska I am seldom far from shotgun and rifle.

 

Go with whatever makes the most sense to you. We all have our preferences (coughberettacough), but you're the one who's stuck with the thing.

 

I'd pick one that you can fire at a car window and hit only window.

 

well now TFM , hmmm ..

it's clear that your looking for a home defense handgun .

the Baretta is great , if you use the 'talon' HP ammo . plenty of goodies as well , love the lights & lazers , and a 15 rd clip helps the recoil & confidence , and . your wife could shoot it .

I had a S&W 629 , stainless & scoped with a Leoupold Silver Shadow 4X scope , hunted with it , .44 mag , beautiful weapon , but hard to wear comfortably , and heavy , and a person carries a gun a whole lot more than they ever shoot it . but definately not a ladies gun , nope .

ahh now , the venerable Colt .45 , yep , it's a classic . lot's of folks got 'em .

Now me , I favor a Glock .40 , plenty of goodies .

I got a .12 ga slug for the charging buffalos . lol .

my favorite ? a .54 black-powder TC Renegade . lol

go figger ? hawhaw .

 

So what was the choice? The answer on the 24th

 

I'm not a gun guru...but want to participate in a thread that finally brings together liberals and conservatives.

I like the Ruger 9mm because it doen't hurt my hand when I fire it. And sometimes I hit something.

 

Indeed. I had a P89 for a while. Not a single time did it jam.

 

Frankly, consiering it will be 99% a toy for you to play with (and considering I am anti-gun but I am still an enthusiast), I would go with the Smith and Wesson 500: the most powerful handgun ever made. It can stop an elephant flat out. If you're going for a gun, why waste your time? Go for the best! And good luck shooting that monster with an 18 inch barrel!!!