Caliber recommendations .357 Sig and/or .45 ACP If leaning toward the Sig, go with the Sig over the Beretta, I have had both and while the Beretta is sexy the Sig is more reliable. If you want reliability and don't care what it looks like the Glock has half as many parts as other semi autos. The Glock is also less expensive than a Sig. Shoot them all and what feels best for you is what you will shoot better with.
While I have 357 Sig barrel for my 226, This is the last cartridege I would recommend for SHTF. Yes it has wounderful results from actual real world shootings, the reality is that it is not as wide spread as your more common calibers, is one of the most expensive of all handgun calibers, it is also a PITA to reload, and it will eventually beat the Sig's aluminum frames to death. It is probably the best self-defense cartridge ever developed, but not for SHTF/TEOTWAWKI. He would be better to get a 45acp or a 38/357 revolver.
Route Clearance, From a SHTF/TEOTWAWKI scenario you are more correct .45 acp or from an availability standpoint the 9mm. I have been in country stores in VA and WV that will have .45acp, 9mm and 12 ga. available on the shelf along with cold beer. Good point, I let my affinity for the .357 Sig get in the way of the actual question.
My personal one: I picked up a Taurus ( ok, quit laughing guys!) model 607 7 shot, with a ported, 6 1/2 inch bbl, blued. I can't set it down! It fits my knarled old hands like a chamois glove! I shoot all day with .38's and I have shot as many as 100 rounds of .357 158 grain, in a couple hours. With the furnished pachmayer grips, it is just right for me! I even had my youngest son try it out when he was 11, and he loved it, except the sound! ( bit loud!) That was 8 years ago. Now, I'm an old army guy, that loves them 1911's too, but this is just a lot more fun and easier to handle for me! Those 110 and 125 grain HJHP rounds, make a real devasting punch, when you need the speed and impact power... IMHO! Bill
ok there’s only two guns you need to consider when asking yourself this question. Either a Walther p22 filled will the largest bird shot you can find which If I’m not mistaken each cartridge has like 300+ pellets in them. ORRRRRR…….a Glock 18 with butt stock a hundred round man A.K.A. the Beta C-Mag. YouTube- Glock 298 rounds in full auto
I own a revolver too...a couple of them actually. Unlike those who are using Ruger blackhawks, redhawks and such, for my side arm and don't even think about laughing...I use a Uberti Remington 1858 .44 cap and ball, converted to firing 45 colt 250 grain slugs. It doesn't have the oompfh that the new wheelguns have, but I've used it in a burglary attempt already and it worked just fine. Is it the best choice? Heck no, but that is all I have for now and since I have little in an arsenal, I use what I have. The best SHTF handgun is the one you have with you at the time things go south. Remember, you can always pick up a weapon after you nail the idiot trying to take your life...but yes, you had best practice with that handgun much to be effective with it.
Perhaps buckball would be able todiscretely share a little of his experience with the big converted single action and the bogeyman?
Ouch, I just read that...didn't sound as good as when I was writing it LOL. Okay, let me rephrase it...2 idiots tried to steal firewood from the parents back in December. They got about 2 banana boxes full when I came out with my revolver and put one shot in the air. This made one run into the woods (stupid move on his part, as he didn't know the woods) and the other got back in his car and took off leaving his friend behind. A former state trooper that lives across the road grabbed his piece and we went hunting for the idiot on foot, while his wife called it in. Idiot was caught a few miles out wearing those baggy pants and sneakers (idiots don't know how to dress for winter apparently). Idiot who got away told the cops "we had to run, he had a cannon" LOL Cannon in this case is that the barrel of an Uberti 1858 has a massive round hole and anyone who sees it, thinks I'm packing a 44 magnum.
Will never knock blackpowder weapons. It could come a time when all of your centerfire ammo runs out, with smokepoles, you can at least make your own powder, cast bullets and if you have a percussion cap maker and some basic chemistry knowledge, percussion caps can be made from aluminum cans , just add your potasium chlorate for your priming compound
Make your own No.11 percussion caps. The Forster Tap-O-Cap allows the independent muzzleloader to create No.11 percussion caps from aluminum beverage cans and charge them with a roll of toy caps. These do-it-yourself caps are a superior alternative to commercial caps in may ways. The Tap-O-Cap comes with easy to follow instructions. These caps will also fit a No.10 nipple by depressing the sides or a No.12 by spreading the sides.
Yep, the only place that sells them is Mid South Shooters Supply, had mine on back order for almost 2 mounths. I also found that making these caps can be theraputic, beats making baskets.
Justin Wilson used to reply every time somebody asked him what wines to serve with that, "What kinda wine do you got?" There is no real answer to these types of questions. A man that only has a .22 but is willing to use it to take a life and is capable of hitting his target has a much better SHTF gun than an fantasy warrior with a .500 Nitro Expresss and ten beta-mags that isn't.
My $.02: First is reliability. The gun must go bang when you pull the trigger and keep going bang until you run out of ammo. Any gun that jams or misfires is worthless. Second is accuracy. That's combat accuracy, not target. If the gun isn't accurate enough to make repeated, reliable close (7 yards) head shots get something else. Third is speed. A .22 now beats a .44 later. This is partly how you carry and partly training. If the gun is for someone who doesn't train much a revolver is the only way to go. Fourth is power. A large caliber, heavy bullet has more stopping power but guns that shoot them are more difficult to control. Consider that you may have to make quick, multiple shots. Last is ammo. A gun that uses an unusual caliber may be useless if its ammo becomes unavailable.
to both posts above, are we done with: "best:"threads?just refer any future questions to replies above.. If you have a gun in reach ; If you need it,; if you get an accurate wellplaced shot off first,; If your gun functions; correctly then we can argue Glock V kahr v Ruger. et al ...
For me, a Sig220 for work and XD 5" .45 at home. Wife likes the Ruger LCP, and I do too, for a back pocket pistol. I would love a S&W 686, though. Read this article by Mas Ayoob, it helped me a few years ago. http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles/ayoob62.html For the SHTF gun, I think its all about sight radius: The longer the better And since handguns are only there to fight your way back to your long gun, I prefer the 18" sight radius a Rem 870 better than any of my handguns. My .02$ -semtex sends
