The Question is Asked
Les answers the question: If I could have one handgun to last the rest of my life, what would it be?
My answer is the Sigarms P229 (which I have). Why? In my opinion, Sigs are superior to all other handguns. The reason is that they are durable, easy to operate, and hands down the most reliable gun I’ve ever owned. I’ve put thousands and thousands of rounds through the three Sigs I’ve owned. I have had one jam that was due to an after market (i.e., not a Sig) magazine failing to feed a round. Also, on Sigs, all three functions are easily reached with your thumb. The magazine release, slide release, and decocker are located near where you thumb lies, unlike the 1911 (a fine gun, but not conveniently designed) where people with small hands can’t engage the slide release without two hands and other folks can’t do it without sacrificing site picture. Also, 9MM is a standard military round and there will never be a short supply of it.
A close second was the 1911 (for the same reasons above) but it’s awkward ergonomics caused it to lose out.
If the question was: If I could have one gun (i.e., not just handgun) to last the rest of my life, what would it be?
A Springfield M1A Scout (one I don’t have). Small, accurate, reliable, and there are enough military surplus parts and ammo to keep you in business indefinitely. The AR15 (which I have) came in second but was beaten due to the fact .308 Winchester is superior to 5.56X45MM for hunting and almost anything. Sure, you can carry more 5.56 but with a .308, you don’t need that much.
August 6th, 2003 at 11:56 am
Damn fine choice. I’ve got the Sig .45 p220..a bit hefty, but plenty of knock down power. I have read about the non-factory mags being shitty knockoffs so it doesnt surprise me. I have yet to have any problems whatsoever with jamming and it is very simple to break down and clean.
August 6th, 2003 at 12:03 pm
I had a 220 until a few months ago. Someone offered me a more than fair price for it so in the spirit of capitalism and the evil gunshow loophole, well, you know where I’m going with this.
August 6th, 2003 at 6:42 pm
Uncle, I appreciate your remarks, but on the question of changing magazines….I always figured that if I couldn’t get the job done with a single 8 round M1911A1 magazine, then the fault was my own. I mean that with my limited skills, I could probably shoot between two and four persons with 8 rounds, and that, having done that, there were still more people who needed shooting, then maybe I was in a situation where discretion would have been the better part of valor.
August 6th, 2003 at 8:54 pm
good points, but i’m talking about at the range when i practice rapid fire drills at paper targets 🙂
August 7th, 2003 at 4:15 pm
I am truly fortunate in my pistols, Glock 10mm, HK USP Tactical, Taurus .357 Tracker, and a Colt Anaconda.
The Tactical is a mean ass .45…I can’t live without it.
October 18th, 2003 at 12:24 pm
Well if I could only have one gun it would be a Sig P220 .45, I recently purchased mine but my brother has had his for 17 years, he purchased one of the first Sig P220’s that were sold in the US with the side button magazine release, and after 17 years (the way my brother and I take care of guns) it looks new, he has fired many thousands of rounds thru it and has never, and I mean never had one misfire, jam, stove-pipe or any other problem with his Sig P220.