Name your top 5 handguns and why...

[kilopaparomeo]

I had fun with this thread in the rifles section so let's try it here.

Even though I'm mostly a rifle guy, I'd like to know your top 5 handguns and why.  Same rules as before...not an objective "Glock vs 1911" type thread but rather what you like and why.  Extra points for sentimental and or experienced-based choices.

I'll start:



1.  Les Baer 1911 -- I like most handguns but the 1911 is by far my favorite.  Maybe I'm in the minority, but I haven't found them to be finicky or anachronisms, and I've been shooting them for 25+ years.  The current crop are reliable, handsome, accurate and affordable.  This Les Baer is by far the most accurate, tight and nicely made one I own.  It is a pleasure to hold and shoot.  Beautifully made, its action and trigger are like they were made by Swiss clockmakers.  JMB really was a genius.

2.  Browning HiPower/P35 -- The first centerfire handgun I owned was a Belgian-made HiPower.  I learned to shoot automatics with that gun.  After 1000's of rounds, I could shoot it pretty well.  In a fit of idiocy, I sold it to a airline pilot I knew and regretted it ever since.  This is one of the FN HiPowers that were out a few years back and I bought it as a replacement.  It is nice and shiny but not quite the quality of my first...you never forget your first.

3. Ruger Mk II -- This is the first handgun I bought.  I've had it for over 25 years.  I shot NRA Bullseye with it, have run 10,000's of rounds through it plinking and it is still accurate and reliable.  Now my 12 year old son has adopted it.  When we go shooting, this is the one he wants.  I suppose I'll have to go buy one of the new Mk III Hunters as a replacement for me.

4. Ruger Blackhawk, .45 Colt -- I had a great friend that I grew up with...from Cub Scouts and on.  John and I took different paths in life...me corporate and he went the "good ol' boy" route.  We never let a week go by though, that we didn't talk.  When we were in high school and college, John and I would spend all day Saturday at my family's farm shooting.  More often than not, I was shooting this Blackhawk and John was shooting his .41 Mag Blackhawk.  We'd spend the week working up handloads and take them out on Saturday to shoot.  We'd spend a lot of the time just talking and spending time together.  We both shot our first wild boars these pistols.  John fought in Gulf War I and never was quite right after that.  He died of a brain anuerism in August 2006.  I miss him.

5.  S&W 1917, .45 ACP -- This one was made in 1918.  I love the story of these pistols...speaks to American innocence as well as its ingenuity of getting materiel in the hands of its troops.    The single action pull is crisp and light and the double action is like butter.  This is a beautifully made pistol with commercial style finish.  Its finish and lockwork are 98%  It is a joy to hold and shoot.

And again, because I'm a chick$#!*, I'll put in the honorable mentions...



1. CZ-52 -- big, ugly, overly complex but I like that it represents Czechs thumbing their nose at Mother Russia and keeping their arms industry alive.  What can I say?  I grew up during the cold War.

2. SA XD45 -- again, big and ugly, I appreciate it because it always goes bang, feeds anything, is very comfortable and...it isn't a Glock.

3. HK P7 -- mechanically interesting...I appreciate the low bore axis and lack of recoil as well as the accuracy.  The retarded gas blowback and squeeze cocker shows the Germans sure can do some complex mechanical things

4.  Finnish M28 Luger -- surprising ergonomic and very accurate, this DWM  is the pistol I bought with the small bit of money my Mom left me when she died.  Better to put it into a pistol that I will have forever then see the money disappear.  

5.  Ruger Vaquero, .45 Colt -- these are my Cowboy Action match guns.  The SAA is incredibly ergonomic and a mechanical wonder.  I really enjoy handling and shooting these guns.  They just feel right and anytime I missed in CAS, I knew it was me and not the pistols.

[1911 Junkie]

Oh my!

1. Para 1911 .45 ACP........like it needs any explanation. 

2. Ruger Single Six .22 ......Very first pistol I ever shot.

3. Ruger Blackhawk .357.......First "big" pistol I ever shot.

4. S&W M&P 9........the only "plastic" pistol I ever liked.

5. S&W 625..........Takes the same ammo as my 1911. 

Honorable mention to Ruger Mk II and S&W 617.

[bulldog75]

1. Smith and Wesson model 66 it was one of my first duty hand gun that I love  because there are only the three in my department that were issued and I got the last one. The last of the old guys in the department. The others have retired or past away. Man cannon .357
2. Glock 26 she is dependable.
3. Taurus 92 AF. Was the last hand gun that my dad shot with me.
4. Beretta M9 she is a very reliable hand gun and I have big hands, so it fits my hams well.
5. Springfield 1911 nuf said.

[PegLeg45]

Top Left: My go to 1911. Colt 1991A1 Commander. The guts are slick, it is reliable and I have bet my life on it more than any other gun I own.

Top Right: Springfield Loaded 1911. Christmas present from my wife. Will put 7 shots in a silver dollar if you can do your part.

Middle: Colt .380 Gov't Model. People always assume it's a Mustang instead of the Gov't Model. Very accurate even with the factory sights at 15 yards and under.

Bottom Left: My #1 gun. My first 1911. Colt Ser. 70 Gov't Model .45 ACP. It is ugly and scarily accurate.

Bottom Right: Colt Ser. 80 Gov't Model .45 ACP. My second 1911 and in excellent condition even though it has probably been shot more than ay of the others over a 20 year period (anal retentive when it comes to maintenance and such).

[tombogan03884]

No particular order,
1) Rock Island Armory 1911 45 acp, Over the years I have owned and shot a number of 1911's and this is the first one that has been both accurate and 100% reliable
2) Browning BuckMark .22, will shoot as accurate as you can aim, while being simpler to reassemble than the Ruger.
3) Norinco model 213, This is a Chinese copy of the Tokarev chambered in 9mm, crude, inexpensive, and another 100% reliable gun, very slim for CCW, I used one to out shoot a guy with a S&W mod 39 (He was so PO'd he sold it to me for $150  )
4) S&W model 17 .22 the first hand gun I learned to shoot with
5) S&W .357 Magnum, The first centerfire pistol I shot was a model 27 Highway Patrolman with a 4" barrel, I find the smaller K frame more comfortable and currently have a model 13 that I am well pleased with.

Honorable mention
Ruger Blackhawk .357, the first pistol I bought for myself when I got out of The Marines, accurate and reliable.

[Sponsor]

[m25operator]

This is easier than the rifle portion.

1) S&W 686 6", this is my 2nd, I absolutely wore the 1st one out at 50,000 rds, the 2nd has 60,000 + on it. DAO the barrel is ringed from a squib, but does not shoot any different. Accurate to 100 yards every day.


2) Glock 21, home done grip reduction, Meprolight tritium sights, 3 1/2lb connector, titanium firing pin, accurate reliable, with me everyday. Thousands of LEAD rounds through it. It just fits and works and of course is ugly.



3)  Model 29 5" classic hunter with 2x scope, this dude will shoot 4" at 100 yards with 300 grain XTP bullets.


4) Caspian frame, Springfield upper in 9mm, pure fun to shoot, 20 rd mags a lot like shooting a 22. my 1st Bomar melt sight installation.


5) NO picture, model 41 S&W with 2 skinny 5" barrels, one factory and the other one I cut from a 7" barrel, Accuracy unbelievable from both barrels.

Honorable mentions.

6) 4" model 57 S&W great packing revolver.


7) 5" S&W 625, we have a long history, and she shoots great, I also shoot .45 Super mag in her, 185 grn pills at damn near 1300 fps.

[blackwolfe]

No pictures, and no particular order except No. 1, my first gun.

1.  Ruger Security Six.  .357  Stainless Steel.  4 inch barrel.

2.  Ruger Speed Six  .357  Stainless Steel.   2 1/2 inch barrel round butt.

3.  Ruger SP101.  Stainless Steel.  .22  4inch barrel with short shroud.

4.  Ruger Blackhawk  .45 Colt/.45 Auto convertible  4 5/8 barrel.  Custom scrimshaw grips and .44 Bisley cylinder turned down smooth and reamed to .45 Colt by John Gallagher.  Closest thing I have to a custom gun.

5. 1911  Take your pick.  Colt Government model, lightweight Combat Commander, or a Rock Island Government model.

6.  Browning High Power .40 cal  or an old FN High Power in 9mm.

7.  High Standard Supermatic Citation.

8.  Colt Woodsman .22, Second Generation.

9.  Ruger Redhawks in .44 or .45 Colt

10.  Smith & Wesson Model 17-4  ,22 cal, 6 inch barrel.

I guess that's my 5 and the honorable mentions wrapped up in one.

[Majer]

in no special order

Colt 1911 Gov't model .45acp, the 3rd handgun I bought, it will feed empty cases has never failed me.

Ruger Blackhawk 3 screw in .357 mag Love these guns, I have 5 of them

Ruger Single Six in .22 LR only(1958 gun made before .22mags were available) scary accurate

S&W pre K-22 I traded a Ruger SP101 in .38 for this gun, made in the late 40's early 50's, smooth & accurate
I have used this gun to out shoot scoped .22 pistols in a .22 combat shoot

Browning HiPower 9mm, the only 9mm I own, i can close my eyes and raise the gun up and the sights are lined up perfectly, one I will never sell

Honorable mention...
S&W Model 29 .44 Mag, scoped 6 inch barrel will shoot 2 inch groups out to 100 yards with Federal 180 gr HP

S&W 422, very accurate, has RedDot scope on it, have shot cat tails(The Plant not kitties HAZ) with it at 20 yards and cut them with 1 shot

S&W 342 PD Airlite Ti .38 special +P has become my daily carry gun, light & powerful

[CJS3]

My two remaining 1911's (Taurus and API), my Ruger single actions (44Mag and 45 Colt), and my S&W M28 (357). Just because they're so damned much fun to shoot.

[PegLeg45]

Man I really love those grips on your guns, CJ.