If you could have only one handgun......

[Erik88]

I was going to say Glock 19. But since you are limited to 10 round mags then I would go for a bigger caliber. Too many choices out there.

I would need a BIG BIG pay raise to move to Hawaii as the cost of living is much higher.

[Kenstaroni]

No amount of money is worth living in a communist, rights violating state. A stack of phony paper will never be worth my civil liberties.

Edited March 9, 2012 by Kenstaroni

[Guest bkelm18]

That's about as possible as time travel.

Just using it as an example.

[Caster]

No amount of money is worth living in a communist, rights violating state. A stack of phony paper will never be worth my civil liberties.

I will second that.

[RobertNashville]

Perhaps I'm in a minority here, but gun laws are not at the top of the list of things to consider if I were considering a job related move. My family's well being and quality of life are more of a priority. I'd move to Chicago/NYC/DC if it meant a better life for my family.

Before you can have a quality of life, you first have to have "life" and moving to an area known to be dangerous to life while concurrently being unable to have access to the best tool to protect life seems like a bad idea to me.

Just my $0.02

[Guest wmann]

well lets put it all in perspective-

A. I live in Memphis.

B. I live in Memphis.

C. I live in Memphis.

D. Before that was Badhdad...

E. Before that was a "secret" army base in the Pacific

I get the drift on the restriction of said rights and freedoms-

but....the perks are-

• year round climate
  
• 6 figure income- I hope
  
• gateway to more international ops/travel
  
• all the fresh coffee/pineapple I can choke back
  
• one way ticket out of Memphis
  

[Good_Steward]

Another vote for the .357 revolver.

[hipower]

well lets put it all in perspective-

A. I live in Memphis.

B. I live in Memphis.

C. I live in Memphis.

D. Before that was Badhdad...

E. Before that was a "secret" army base in the Pacific

I get the drift on the restriction of said rights and freedoms-

but....the perks are-

• year round climate
  
• 6 figure income- I hope
  
• gateway to more international ops/travel
  
• all the fresh coffee/pineapple I can choke back
  
• one way ticket out of Memphis
  

Do I sense that you might not be very fond of Memphis?

[Guest wmann]

i'm sure memphis has its bright spots I just aint found them in 4 years here!

[Guest RCLARK]

Glock 23

It makes a bigger hole than the Glock 19

It's half the weight of a 1911

It holds more rounds than a revolver

Bigger than a little gun....and littler than a big gun

[hipower]

Counter with this. G19 with JHPs.

Same or bigger hole.

Half the weight of a 1911

It holds more than a revolver or a G23

Bigger than a little gun...and littler than a big gun.

[Guest RCLARK]

JHP was a given. The G19 is on my short list of next purchases. The 9mm is cheaper to practice with. Interestingly (or I guess oddly) enough....my Glock stays home most of the time. I carry a Kahr PM40 and bag a 1911 in the car. The G23 defends the family when I am not home. If I had to grab one gun to bail out with it would be the Glock.

Counter with this. G19 with JHPs.

Same or bigger hole.

Half the weight of a 1911

It holds more than a revolver or a G23

Bigger than a little gun...and littler than a big gun.

[Guest wmann]

so are you confident that your family members can rack the slide in an emergency? thats assuming that you dont keep one in the chamber.....folks with small children around and all- but I guess a loaded revolver would present the same hazard with children.

[k9wh91984]

For just home defense, you need a good 18" 12 guage shotgun, preferably pump in my opinion so there is no reliability issues. I don't think there would be an issue with you owning one of those. In a defense situation I would not grab my HK or AR, I have had to grab my Winchester Defender 1300 12 guage pump. I trust that gun in my hands, my fiancé, or my mother! Put a good recoil reducing stock on it like a Blackhawk and anyone can shoot it accurately and comfortably.

Edited March 10, 2012 by k9wh91984

[hipower]

Not a bad line of reasoning, but we've all strayed a bit from the OPs question I think. If we could have only 1 gun, what woud it be. In fact I may have strayed here. I don't remember, was it all-round choice or have just one weapon. Lots of difference in those options. Anyway let's have at it again.

[Guest RCLARK]

Boys are 18 and 21. They and swmbo can all shoot. There is a loaded revolver....a loaded Glock.....a loaded .380.....and a loaded Mossberg 500....placed strategically around. If they get past the outside dog, circumvent the alarm system and manage to calm the inside dog....they'll likely get 2 in the chest from the Mossberg....but they have all been instructed that if they have to get out quick to grab the bag with the Glock in it on they way out the door. That one is placed close to the exit of preference. If we can only grab one handgun....that's the one I want.

so are you confident that your family members can rack the slide in an emergency? thats assuming that you dont keep one in the chamber.....folks with small children around and all- but I guess a loaded revolver would present the same hazard with children.

[Guest RCLARK]

The question was handgun... I agree on the shotgun though for a best single weapon. Hands down.

Not a bad line of reasoning, but we've all strayed a bit from the OPs question I think. If we could have only 1 gun, what woud it be. In fact I may have strayed here. I don't remember, was it all-round choice or have just one weapon. Lots of difference in those options. Anyway let's have at it again.

[SonnyCrockett]

my SHTF gun of choice will always be my SIG P226 40....IMO SIG is the best combat handgun made to date....Your mileage may vary

[TripleDigitRide]

well lets put it all in perspective-

A. I live in Memphis.

B. I live in Memphis.

C. I live in Memphis.

D. Before that was Badhdad...

E. Before that was a "secret" army base in the Pacific

I get the drift on the restriction of said rights and freedoms-

but....the perks are-

• year round climate
  
• 6 figure income- I hope
  
• gateway to more international ops/travel
  
• all the fresh coffee/pineapple I can choke back
  
• one way ticket out of Memphis
  

Since you specified "handgun", I would at least consider a Taurus Judge.

With the cost of living over there, I hope your income will be in the high six figures.

[Will H]

I would choose my Beretta 92FS. 9mm is the next cheapest thing to 22. It's about the only semi auto more reliable than a Glock, but there is a trade off. The 92 is a big heavy hoss. If you are not carrying it then there is no issue there.

[Guest Brianf88]

I moved from Chicago to be in this great state that you can pretty much own what you want and CARRY! If I had to move I would keep my beretta special duty since I wanted that gun since it came out. If I did not own a gun a really nice 1911. Since you said you wanted a revolver for easy use why not the sw 500

[tnhawk]

1911 or 92FS

There are places worse than Memphis.

[piper266]

None of the above. Turn down the job and stay in a free state!

[K191145]

I going to throw my thoughts out there on this- because it will be a home defense gun and because you cannot carry and are limited to 10 rnds.....and because the likely hood is that my wife may need to use it if I were not there I am thinking revolver for simplicitys sake. She loves to shoot but in a high stress situation I dont want her to have to think about slides or safetys. So even though I love my Kimber and my Glock....I may go with my SP101 or my s&w airweight 38.

If it's not going to be carried and kept in the house I would get a 4" barrell .357, maybe a GP 100 or a S&W loaded with .38+ps for the wife to handle. I don't know what you think about Taurus but they make a 7 shot .357 in their tracker series. Like I said if it's to stay in the house maybe something with a little heft, better recoil control.

[Guest wmann]

thanks for all the great input yall- and for the record yes there are places worse then Memphis and I've been to a few of them.