this topic surely has been discussed quite a bit, nevertheless i’m interested in your choice of 2 SHTF handguns.
as i live in europe, i’m sadly not allowed to possess more than two handguns.
i thought of going with two different calibers, so i can switch to whatever the situation demands.
as a platform for the .45, i was going to get a HK45 (preferably in the tactical configuration, once that will be released, for use with cans), only heard good things about it, HK is a reputable manufacturer, ergonomics are good with my hands. only con is the low capacity.
for the second caliber i haven’t quite decided between 9mm or .40SW, maybe .357SIG (though i guess there’s no need really for that, as the .45 already covers the “big-hole-maker”).
what do you guys think of the HK45 for a SHTF/zombie scenario?
and what second caliber/gun do you recommend?
reliability is of course a must, as well as handling. keep in mind that in a SHTF scenario, concealed carry doesn’t really matter, so large frame guns are no problem. money isn’t either, if your life depends on it.
In Europe, it probably to stick with 9 mm-- getting a G19 and G17 makes a lot of sense; if you want to go with 2 calibers, a 9 mm P30 and HK45 would also be a good option.
If I could only own two handguns, it’d be two of the same. Probably 2 Glock 19s.
It’s nice to have a duplicate backup gun for training classes.
You can share mags between the guns.
Since they are the same caliber, you can only worry about stocking one caliber of ammo.
Probably two Glock 17’s for me. Especially in Europe.
Parts should be readily available, I would think more so than an American design.
9mm should be plenty available in Europe, and is a good performer.
Mags, gear and accessories should be readily available.
You would have commonality of mags, and gear in case of failure of one pistol allowing the remaining pistol to continue to run, as well as parts commonality with both so that in a worst case scenario you may be able to create one working pistol out of two dead ones, or in the case of friends or family you would be able to utilize/share mags, ammo, etc.
Other options I’d consider would be other popular European Full-Size Mil/LE 9mm offerings, like those from Beretta, H&K, SIG, and CZ. But I find these generally more expensive and of more complex (DA/SA) design requiring greater skill to detail strip or replace parts.
The caliber isn’t really that important. In Europe, it is going to be MUCH easier and cheaper to get ahold of 9mm ammunition. The differences between the 9mm, .40, and .45 are very minor in the grand scheme of things. Pick a pistol that is reliable and durable, then pick one that you shoot well, and then shoot the crap out of it. Much easier to do that in 9mm.
The .40 beats up on guns. There are only a few pistols that handle the .40 well such as the S&W M&P, H&K USP/P2000/P30, or Sig P229. If you insist on shooting .40, pick the right pistol to shoot it out of.
I personally do not ever see the need for .40S&W. It was a solution to smaller framed FBI agents having difficulty with 10mm offerings. American LE then latched onto it and it’s popularity grew.
I do not see it really does anything better than 9mm or .45ACP, and I would think in Europe .40S&W would be the hardest of the three to find ammo for.
For me .40S&W recoils a little sharper than 9mm. It’s not a problem, but for new shooters, those that shoot rarely, etc. I’ve found it can be a little more intimidating and therefore harder to get good hits with.
.45ACP is a great round and I love it, but to get the same number of rounds in the mag you get a much larger grip and heavier package.
I feel you would be best served with two like pistols in the same caliber. Either two 9mm’s or two .45ACP’s. At most I might go with one full-size and one smaller model of the same pistol, but then you may begin to loose some parts commonality.
I do not think .40S&W really has any ballistic advantage over 9mm or .45ACP.
sure. i live in germany, and the gun laws are pretty restrictive. as a hunter i’m allowed to possess two handguns max, and long guns as many as i want.
carry is NEVER allowed, weaponlights are forbidden, silencers need a special permit.
so far, so bad.
HKs and glocks are very common, as are SIGs and 1911s. nearly no M&Ps.
do you generally think there is need for a caliber like .357SIG? would it ever make sense in a SHTF environment? i guess not, due to lack of ammo.
what are your thoughts on the glock 34/35? do you see any advantage of the longer slides?
The longer slide gives you a longer sight radius. That allows you to make more precision shots, especially at longer ranges. However, it also takes longer to align your sights, and if you aren’t very steady you can be thrown off target easier. In my experience, the 4" barrel is the ideal length as it offers the best combination of speed, shot precision, and forgiveness if you jerk the trigger.
