If I Could Only Own One Handgun – My Choice
Over the last few months, I’ve been asking friends and other shooters a question over dinner or drinks at the bar. I always start out by setting a foundation explaining the concept. Let’s say you had to sell every handgun you own and had an unlimited budget to buy one handgun. I always tell people they have enough money to buy any pistol ever made but you’ll be stuck with that handgun for the rest of your life. I often ask this question to friends and family and surprisingly I have never gotten the same twice yet. When given the opportunity to own any handgun ever made, people tend to shy away from the generic Glock 19 and start thinking better.
Some Answers I’ve Gotten So Far
This is one of my favorite Ice breakers around new people I often meet in the industry. I’ve had this conversation a few times standing around the circle bar at SHOT Show all talking about what they want to own. I’ve gotten everything from Glock 18s to Gold Tiger Striped Desert Eagle. People typically have a model they would pick and usually there will be a good story to go along with their choice. Lately, this has been one of my favorite conversations to have with people because it really gives insight in what they like and why.
My Choice
Every time I have this conversation I always debate if I should change my answer but every time I end up saying the same thing. Growing up, I was a die-hard steel gun guy who loved everything with a metal frame over the polymer wonders. At 24, I had the same opinions of a 65-year-old man who says polymer wonder guns are garbage. Over the last few years, my opinions on striker fired polymer guns has changed. I have trashed my SIG P320 X-Five. I’ve beaten up the gun in drills and courses and shooting thousands of rounds through it. Now I will admit the bore axis is rather high.
Even with a high bore axis, it’s something I have gotten used to through training and reps. The big party piece of the P320 is the chassis system. The chassis system from SIG was one of the first pistol chassis systems that was commercially available. Now if certain people aren’t fans of SIG could always go with Zev or other Glock chassis systems. These chassis systems can change calibers and sizes. The P320 system can turn a single handgun into a number of different configurations. I really think it’s cool to be able to have different styles depending on what you want to run.
I won’t lie, the super high end 2011 handguns and other well-built pistols are tempting to pick for the sake of conversation. Out of everything I always come back to the SIG P320 and its versatility. It may be a lame answer but realistically I love to shoot the gun and typically the X-Five is the gun I shoot most at the range.
Overall Thoughts
The concept of only owning one handgun is tough and not everyone is open to figuring it out. I love having this conversation as an ice breaker or while I’m out with friends. Everyone typically has a different reason for picking their one handgun. It’s just something to talk more about shooting and why we love it. My handgun choice will probably change over time but thats all apart of the fun with this game. Let me know what you would pick for your only handgun in the comments below. If you have questions feel free to contact me on my Instagram page @fridgeoperator. Stay safe out there.
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I'm an avid shooter and love educating whether it's at my job or in the shooting community. I'm an average joe that really loves talking with other people about firearms and other passions.I'm active on Instagram on @fridgeoperator.
More by Matt E
Comments
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I have not shot enough different types of handguns, much less owned, to make have an informed decision. I have never shot a 1911 pistol, nor a Beretta 92 or PX4 Storm (both felt comfortable in my hand and are on my bucket lists). I have shot a CZ 75 D Compact which was excellent. I tried Glocks but not my cup of tea.
I guess out of the guns I own it would be the SIG P250 either compact or subcompact size. It's the forgotten, older sister to the P320. It's a hammer-fired DAO with a somewhat long, but smooth trigger pull. Like that older sister she still knows how to perform. Super reliable and capable. I have both frame sizes in .40 and .357 SIG barrels which offer a wide variety of bullet weights and velocities.
A close second is the Walther P99c AS in 9mm. A striker-fired but in DA/SA. It's single action pull is very light and crisp.
I like the idea of the P320 chassis, but until there's a 22LR conversion kit, it will never be my choice for "only gun".
My "only gun" needs to be useful for carry, defense, home defense, and plinking.
A 2011 is lovely, but a bit much to carry, unless you can get ahold of a compact grip unit. And yes, there are 22LR conversions available. Also, you're playing the lottery with reliability. Of course, with unlimited funds, you could afford to fix or replace whatever it takes to achieve reliability.
Or maybe a CZ-75 Compact. More compact than the 2011, with a factory 22LR conversion available. (Or at least I think the conversion will fit the compact frames. Maybe it's only for full-size)
So I guess that leaves Glock … and it can be converted to 40 S&W or 357 Sig. There's 2 different companies that make 22LR conversion kits. You can easily add lights, lasers, optics. You can have the frame recontoured and stippled by a specialist (I hate those finger grooves, especially on the G19).
I hate to say it, but if I could only have 1, it would be a Glock 19 with a bunch of different uppers and customized frame.
And I don't even like Glocks!