So I have the chance of purchasing just one handgun, out of these following choices, please advise me:

Walther PPK .380
Walther P-38 (Not matching, not original finish)
Walther P22
Beretta Bobcat .22LR
Ruger Mk. III with 5.5" Barrel
Ruger Charger
Beretta M9
SIG-Sauer P226 X5
USP Tactical 9
Glock 34
FNP-45
Para Ordnance 14-45

Please advise.
Intended use is general use, meaning self-defense, plinking, target, suppression.
Note at present my carry gun is a .22LR pistol, so yes, I feel comfortable with something in that caliber.

Thanks,
Lava

Yikes, those are some crappy choices.

I would be ok with a P226 but I would not want a beavertail.

I guess I could live with a USP Tactical-9, but I would rather have a Glock 17 and it sure also costs less.

I could live with an M9, but would not be all that happy compared to a Glock 17.

The one handgun to have, when you can have only one handgun, is the best handgun design ever - the Glock 17. A 19 is ok also. The 34 - I suppose - but a little long.

If those really as the only choices, then I suppose I would take the G34 or HK.

Given the list you have provided here there are many different features that all have that make them very different and unique. I don't know if one choice is necessarily better than another but if i had to choose I'd personally go with the FNP 45 (assuming you are referring to the tactical version). I have one and absolutely love it. There are several features that make this choice more desirable in my opinion...

1) High capacity magazine. (The pistol was designed to have the capacity of a 9mm with the knockdown power of the .45).
2) Tall factory trijicon night sights that will clear a suppressor
3) Factory slide milled to accept a co-witness sight (trijicon RMR, Doctor Optic, etc...)
4) Full ambidextrous controls (safety, slide release, mag release...)
5) Has a very 1911 feel to it (hammered, and can be carried cocked and locked)

Hope this helps!

Good luck with your decision.

I'm a big Sig fan but not the beaver tails.

Since your listed purpose is an everything gun the only gun I would pick from that list would be the G34 and I'm not a Glock fan.

Out of curiosity, what is limiting you to those choices?

M&P9 or G19-17

Glock 17 or 19 if only one. 9mm is plentiful and in the odd event that you actually need to replace a part, those pistols are common.

M&P 9

you should add "other" to your poll

Mostly availability. I have the chance to purchase a brand new handgun from a gunstore and have it properly registered. True, they do have the whole line of Glocks, Sigs, HK's and Berettas. I just went with what I more or less knew on that list. I chose the Glock 34, I admit, because of the longer barrel (I tend to prefer long barrels). I chose the X5 because I liked how it looked, the longer barrel, and the 1911 ish controls. If you guys feel there is a better choice among those, please, by all means let me know.

It's just that this is very likely to be my last weapon purchase in a very long time, and the only weapon available to me. So I need a good choice.

Thanks,
Lava

You forgot the work horse for 100 years the good 'ol 1911
For when you only want to shoot once.

Another vote for a G19.

Another vote for the G19 which isn't on the list, as others have noted. (That is if I could only have one handgun period...ever).

But this reads like it's a budget question and someone is having an estate sale. In the case where I have X amount of money and want a new (new to me) pistol, and must choose one of these... It'd be between the HK USP 9 and the Walther P38 (I know the P38 is chunk of steel, but I've always wanted one for some reason).

M&P45

rivercityrats wrote:You forgot the work horse for 100 years the good 'ol 1911
For when you only want to shoot once.

Add my vote to the connoisseur 'rivercityrats' choice. And if you can get
a snail drum and shoulder stock you have it all.

Lava, out of all my collection, unless I am going out to a black tie
event where the PPK is the correct carry as it does not ruin the tux lines,
it is the .45 NM 1911A that has been and always will be my only piece to stake one's well being on.

As a brilliant and erudite Marine who organized the USMC Scout/ Sniper School once chuckled, as he amazingly and
repeatedly placed every .45 shot in the X-Ring, "just one round really does it."

Good luck on any of your choices.


Best.

I like longer barrels also, but if you could only have one gun I would still pick Glock 17 over Glock 34. I own both.

Only one general use, Glock 17 by far.

rivercityrats wrote:You forgot the work horse for 100 years the good 'ol 1911
For when you only want to shoot once.

That's why I chose the FNP-45... I would take the HK Tactical 45 over it though

I've got all sizes of glock from 26, 19, 17, and 34.

The one I carry everyday is the 19 for size and ammo capacity.

I compete with the 34 and it is crazy accurate and easy to shoot, but too long to conceal inside the waist band.

For car carry it's great. All of the glocks work with 31rd mags, so keep plenty of those around for a max reload.

The 31rd mags in a 19 with shoulder holster, actually carries very well, and doesn't print. If you're going into a especially hot area.

The Sig 226 has never let me down.

Given all the guns range in calibers it's hard to say it's better than another for your needs/scenario.

I haven't shot all of the guns listed but I think you would be very happy with any of those guns to be honest.

Wow! Horrible choices if I had to have one gun to fit the bill for multiple uses!

M&P 9, Glock 19 or 17 or something similar. Something with inexpensive ammo that is easy to find anywhere, that is reliable and has one consistent trigger pull. Though this would include things like the walther p99, the decocker has horrible placement, so I would vote against something like that.

You forgot the Nighthawk 1911. I like my Wilson CQB too.

Glock 19 only.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_W0OOZMmx0

i own a few M&P's, glocks, and HK's, and althought i don't own the FNP45-T, it's next on my list. i've shot it and it's very nice. i'm hoping to get one soon.

It'd be real hard for me not to pick a P30L or a HK45, but then again, i've got a HK boner

silencertalk wrote:Yikes, those are some crappy choices.

indeed



Get a P22 so you can share the frustration everyone else has had with regards to accuracy and reliability