Mine would be a Ruger SP 101 357 MAG 4 in barrel, stainless. Went with a revolver because this would be the only gun I could have. The SP is still concealable with a five shot capacity. Double action so a speed loader or strip for quick reload is an option.
Me too will work with two types of ammo without any problems, so if you can't find one maybe you can find the other, I'm think survival situation here. Not any of the autoloaders I know of can do that. I'd be looking for a rifle chambered the same way like a Henery or Rossi 357, as a companion gun for longer range situations.
If armegedon arrives that's what I'd do.
38/357 revolver - you can load cheap, if you get lead you can shoot for less than the cost of a 22LR.
You can load hot, very hot, if you want - put holes in engine blocks.
Get a 357 chambered lever rifle and the same applies - it can be a cheap plinker or a deer killing machine out to 100, 125 yards at 2000fps.
Bullets from 100gr to 180gr.
My favorite.But,of the handguns I presently have,I'd pick the USP45 fullsize and maybe change it to Super.If I could pick anything,a Blackhawk in 45 Colt.Just like the performance spread of 38/357,wimpy loads but the top end is above a 44mag.
Gabby,there are autos that can do this but the heavier loads are not common like 38/357,44sp/mag.The 45acp has a few choices but reloading is almost necessity.The 45 Super is up around 45+P/+p+.I'm having brainfade but I think the 460 Roland is the big boy.You can convert an acp with basically a barrel and spring change,enjoy the powderpuff acp and up rounds,but if you need a little testosterone throw in a Roland.They are a handful and perform up around the 44mag.They can be a little hard on the gun though.Just for info,many people don't know about these rounds since they came out of "wildcat" status and went to production.
It's a more or less 'custom' cartridge based on the .45 ACP. You can buy the heavier walled brass and load your own, but you also need a barrel in your pistol that is designed for it, because the case head is not supported well enough in a standard pistol chambered for .45 ACP. Buffalo Bore manufactures .45 Super ammo, and the pistols are available by special order from a few manufacturers.
Personally, I'd rather go with a 10mm. If standard loads don't do it for you, you can order a stronger recoil spring and shoot some hot, heavy loads that would be comparable to .45 Super. The Glock G20 was purpose-built for the 10mm, and a 22 lb. Wolfe recoil spring will upgrade it for the hottest Buffalo Bore cartridges, as long as they have jacketed bullets.
Ruger GP-100, SS with a 6" barrel, in .357 Mag. will kill anything from small game to large game in North America. This caliber will allow the shooter to load up or down, depending on the need. Also, it offers the .38 Special ability, which has extreme accuracy for plinking or small game. The action is reliable, it's easily cleaned and is simple in its' function.
Bisley summed it up well.It's about the next level above +P+ and about the equivolent of the old 451 Detonics.The old 45 Win Mag is the next step up I believe.The Super is one of the easier conversions,when you get above that you need to offset high slide speed.The compensators are great for taming recoil but the added weight helps a great deal in slowing the reciprocating mass,along with springs.1911s are nice because a square bottom firing pin stop can be used and prevent getting real heavy on the recoil spring.
Even though most of these are available to buy,I still consider then more in the wildcat arena.I would normally go to a revolver for serious power but since I like the USP the Super would be the extra power if I needed it.I have 12 rounds at factory 44mag power levels to provide food and just swap a mag back to normal SD 45s with no respringing of the gun.I'd prefer the 45 Colt but if you get in the SHTF/appocolypse scenario you're at a tactical disadvantage with a revolver.
after doing some research the 10mm has the highest muzzle energy of any semi auto pistol, with one exception -
that would be the desert eagle in 50AE
too bad the industry didn't provide a lower E level cartridge so the law enforcement wouldn't go to the .40
It's a more or less 'custom' cartridge based on the .45 ACP. You can buy the heavier walled brass and load your own, but you also need a barrel in your pistol that is designed for it, because the case head is not supported well enough in a standard pistol chambered for .45 ACP. Buffalo Bore manufactures .45 Super ammo, and the pistols are available by special order from a few manufacturers.
Personally, I'd rather go with a 10mm. If standard loads don't do it for you, you can order a stronger recoil spring and shoot some hot, heavy loads that would be comparable to .45 Super. The Glock G20 was purpose-built for the 10mm, and a 22 lb. Wolfe recoil spring will upgrade it for the hottest Buffalo Bore cartridges, as long as they have jacketed bullets.
The 10 is a good round which puts the 10/40 in the 38/357 and 44SP/44mag catagory.Although the 45acp/Rowland conversion requires physical changes,the Roland is a serious hurt on the wrist and the target comparatively speaking.Yeah,you don't just buy ammo at the local gunshop,but the same is truer about serious 45Colt.I believe if you want more you need to re=evaluate your caliber choice,but limited to one gun,there's more to be had if you roll hour own and much gooder performance.Good pick though.Make a 45 Colt into a 5 shot on a Blackhawk,the 10 is a wimp and you'll know on the first round.It can equal the Cassul if you can handle it.Linebaugh started it I believe and Bowen followed.If you want to test for carple tunnel,try the next punchout on a Blackhawk 475 Linebaugh,drops a charging Cape Buffalo-3rd nastiest critter on earth.You will have carple tunnel after a box of those.Serious 45 Colts hurt,real easy to induce a flinch.
Handgun? 1911
Long gun? 12 gague shotgun. With the appropriate shell, you can be effective against anything that flies, walks or crawls on the north american continent.
I don't have a handgun yet. After Christmas I am going to start shooting and see what I like best. Right now just off reviews, I really like the Springfield XDs.
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