I prefer a few different pistols simply because of a few different roles that they are primarily used for.
The first is a Ruger 22/45 LITE with suppressor.
Purpose: As a secondary weapon to " backup" an M14 rifle, and small game hunter.
Reasons:
1. Gun, can, and ammo are very light in weight/ compact. Important when the rifle you carry is chambered in 7.62x51mm with a loaded 20rd M14 magazine at 1.5 lbs each.
2. I actively hunt small game with it now, and have so for several years now, so it has met my requirements in terms of effective range and reliability.
3. Extremely quiet, 0 muzzle flash, and virtually no muzzle rise or felt recoil while firing it. Very easy to place pills with either hand via 1 handed operation in event that other hand/ arm becomes injured.
4. 22lr is very affordable, and our group already stocks it deep. Also have rifles chambered in 22lr such as the TCR22 and 1022.
5. 22LR as a " last ditch" up close defensive cartridge. ( Don't care if 9mm, 45acp, 357mag, or 44mag is a better in the defenses.....as none of them come remotely close to 7.62x51mm fired thru an 18in bbl semi-auto rifle)
The second = Ruger LCP.
Purpose: CCW, back up to a rifle or another pistol, deep conceal, or as a stand alone EDC .
Reasons:
1. Its a frickin pocket gun. Easy to carry every day in any type of clothing I care to put on.
2. Has passed my evaluations concerning reliability, terminal effects at close distances, and can use it one handed with either hand.
3. Not a 380 vs 9mm thing here. 9mm didn't meet requirements concerning weight/ space, and havent found a reliable 9mm mouse gun as small as the LCP yet...lol
Note: It has served as a back up to other handguns such as the Glock19, XD40, and GP100.
Last pistol mentioned here = An AK pistol chambered in 7.62x39mm.
Purpose: CCW, PDW, HD, closer quarters security, brush hunting weapon. ( Very handy to carry while both hands are being used for other chores around the farm here.)
Reasons:
1. Been around the AR types and 5.56mm my whole life, and use both currently in the Infantry. Wife has one around that she uses to teach others with. Other than that.....we have no use for either in a rifle, much less a pistol.
2. Mine are 100% reliable so far, and chew thru any type of decent ammo out of the various AK magazines I keep via AK rifles...including 75rd drums.
3. Meets my requirements via Terminal effects, barrier penetration, and body armor where 40snw, 9mm, 357mag, and 5.56mm fall short. ( Including 357mag fired thru an 18in bbl rifle)
4. As our secondary centerfire cartridge, we stock 7.62x39mm deep, and everyone in my clan has at least 1 AK with 21 or more mags. Ammo is very cheap to stock.
5. This is a pistol, so can be carried concealed with permit. It can also be kept loaded inside a vehicle while traveling. Something that is often illegal to do with rifles, shotguns, pistol caliber carbines, and short bbl rifles.
6. The design is very easy to use left handed, and immediate transition from one hand to the other is smooth/ fast.
Note: Also like revolvers as they are fun to shoot, and used to be cheap enough to buy them as cache guns chambered in 38spl.
11B