I’m a .45 guy.
That said, the G27 is THE best choice of a “one only” bug-out gun.
Why? It’s small & very concealable.
“…but it’s a .40” – yes it is, but simply change out the barrel & it’s a 9mm. All the 17, 19, 26 & 34 barrels, etc., parts will drop right in. Get a G35 barrel & have a full-sized .40 to go along w/ your full-sized (albeit strange looking) G34 Franken-nine! …& everything in between!!!
Grab the mags from 10 rd to 30 in either caliber & they’ll work just fine.
So for a little extra weight in your kit you have a .40 & 9mm in all shapes & sizes . .

I’ll keep my 1911 .45acp and snubnosed 357. Can conceal both of them at the same time and have the range and the firepower for anything i need.

I respect all opinions but I’m not bugging out without my Beretta 92FS. 20 years without a failure is good enough for me.

Who’s bugging out? Not everyone for sure! Most city dwellers will have to hit the pavement if and when they can but you’ll have to be quick and decisive to get out of dodge! I originally hated the Glock up until I took the leap and bought the 21 many years ago. Still hated the hump in the grip so I remodeled it to my taste and feel but one things for sure, I’ve put every know ammo type in it and it spits it out, you just cant ask for more, especially since it’s on target too! I do however still prefer my 45, 1911. Yep I’m a die hard old goat!

All excellent pistols. I’ve used the P226 and still own a Glock G19 and G17. I can own any pistol I want and after 50 years of shooting and using them on the job, the Glock 17 and 19, are the best handguns around. Although not part of this pick, I still keep (2) K-frame S&W .357s and (2) J-frame centennials. After decades of having several score of handguns I’ve thinned the heard (an hair). The G17 I was issued performed exceptionally well. After reaching a recorded 22,000 rounds of +P+ ammo I simply stopped counting. I guess I went to 35,000 when the department finally issued me a Glock 34. Glock in the second and third generation are exceptional pistols. The Gen 1 and Gen 4 Glocks are simply OK once the recalls corrected the issues. The more complex recoil spring system in the G22 leaves me cold, as it has more parts to fail. The issues with premature wear on the .40 S&W chambered pistols is well known. With modern ammo the 9mm will do well in any gun battle where a pistol makes sense to use. Some have suggested the CZ-75-type pistols. Unless they have improved the ones I used in years past showed poor durability, and are too large for most people to use in the DA mode. Add a couple AR-type rifles and you can do just about anything imaginable, except for shooting birds on the wing.
The authors picks are quite reasonable.

your one thing all you guys that want to bug out and get ready for bug out need to remember when you’re out of bullets you’re out of gunpowder and the world has gone to hell you’re not going to go buy bullets you’re not going to be able to make your own bullets so get yourself a high powered air rifle and I’ll add a little mold for melting led and remaking pellets for your air rifle and a hand and you will always be able to get food and maybe no one will hear you out in the woods with your Big Bang gun you will be heard you will not be heard whether 177 rifle and rabbit for dinner keep that in mind bugout fellows

All good guns, mostly just personal preference. I don’t prefer external safeties, while my brother does; I like my Glock 19, he likes his XD.

If you shoot it well, then there you go.

Am just filling the truck with every gun I own and all the ammo. Then I will head out in to the woods and open up the first gun store of the new age. I will be rich.

The Keltec PMR-30 with its 30 round capacity in 22 magnum and two spare magazines gives you 91 rounds.

Let’s face it, those people who are reading this article already have The guns that they will bugout with. You can forget about spare parts unless you have food or women to trade. Or if you’re planning on being an outlaw and steal the parts. I will grab my guns and
holsters a long range high power rifle and a bow. I will bury the
Other guns in ammo cans packed with grease. I have been thinking about buying some cheapo guns to trade for laundry service from the liberals who
have voted against gun rights.

Unfortunately all of your choices were wrong. One must remember than in a catastrophic situation concealment will be even more important than in a normal situation and that the catastrophic situation is far more likely to occur during the hot summer months because that is when the weather is most likely to become extremely violent. In winter we do have storms but people tend to be bottled up to seek warmth.

In such situations Law Enforcement will tend to confiscate all weapons to protect themselves and law or no law it will be ignored just as it happened during Katrina and despite the re-form law passed since this too will be conveniently ignored in a future Katrina even it takes place in the same city so the concealment factor is critical. Also during a disaster normal people will be frightened if they know you have a weapon and the scum bags will also take any weapon they see that is available including killing you to get yours. So once again concealment is paramount which leaves out your Sig P226 choice.

Ah ha? But how about your choice of the Glock 19, that is concealable you say. Yes I agree but it is not a good choice as if you lose or do not have time to take a holster with you the super dangerous designed Glock has to be carried with the chamber empty or it will go off in your pocket or in your waist band. Just handling the weapon in times of stress is a bad idea with a round in the chamber as well because a slight snag of the trigger sets it off.

I do agree with the 9mm caliber but not because you will be able to get spare ammo, you will not. No one is going to give you ammo or will any ammo be available either, what you have at the time is all you will have during the crisis. I agree with the 9mm because most have greater firepower and most people shoot more accurately with them because of the mild recoil especially under the stress of life or death situations and like it or not the big bore boys should look at this months article in Sho tGun News on the 9mm and the FBI findings as to the comparisons of actual shootings with the different calibers. The FBI found that caliber is largely irrelevant with todays modern developed and improved handgun ammo. The 9mm is cheaper to buy so you will probably have more on hand if a catastrophic situation arises. In other words when during a non-crisis you will be more likely to have bought and stored more 9mm than the more expensive rounds.

I think the ideal gun would be one with a manual safety as well and at the very least one with a traditional long double action pull on the first shot. Although in normal times sleeping with a hand gun in bed with you is not quite the safest thing to do trying to do this with a Glock or copycat brand is not possible unless the chamber is empty and it will take two hands to charge the weapon as well if needed during an attack. Even the old fashioned single action hammer fired autos can be thumb cocked on the draw but with the hammer down can be kept loaded while sleeping but again this would only be done during an extreme crisis situation. Some more modern autos have manual safeties and well as exposed hammers and are double and single action. Again a gun of this type could be slept with as well.

My first choice would probably be for the compact version of the CZ 75 compact series or even sub-compact series.

Second choice although this is pushing it because of the slightly increased size would be the Walther P99 or HK P30S (manual safety)

The Sig P228 or P229 is small enough to fit the bill but has no manual safety.

And last but not least the Walther PPK or PPK/S versions that were MADE IN EUROPE ONLY are very concealable and lethal with modern ammo in both .380 acp and yes even in .32 acp and they have manual safeties as well making them very safe to handle, carry or even sleep with in an extreme emergency.

Everyone has a favorite, and I cannot disagree with anything on this list. I initially had a gut reaction to the M&P but the annotation cured that concern. However, very rarely considered, I think largely based on numbers produced, this list should include the IWI BE99 (Baby Eagle) – it strips like a 1911 so it easy to clean and maintain, has a 15 round mag w/1 in the chamber, and ambidextrous de-cocking safety (I shoot left, my wife shoots right, and as your article points out, there needs to be consideration for family members who may need to use the weapon). I own two, one full size steel frame and a mid-size poly frame. While I and my wife (who is only 5’4″) both prefer the feel and handling of the full size steel frame, make no mistake, if the SHTF, that 3.9″ poly goes in the bag first and if time and weight allow, I am grabbing the 4.5″ steel frame for a backup.

I find it difficult to believe 40 cal ammo would be more available than the combination of 38 spec and 357, both fitting the same ubiquitous revolver. Yea, yea, I know, there is that ammo capacity thingy, but I continue to believe in the reliability of revolvers rain or shine even though I own more semi-autos than revolvers.

Glock fan boy alert! #1 AND #2 out of five – seriously?!?

I like the Glock G27. Really accurate and can use all of the Glock .40 magazines. Also I think the G27 has about the same felt recoil as the Glock G26, so I would prefer the .40 caliber.

I have to agree with the writer, you cant beat a Glock 17. 9mm is hands down the most plentiful handgun ammunition (say in an scavenging scenario) Glock as a brand is excellent because it works and its dirt cheap, no complicated safeties or decockers which in high stress situations can hinder your ability to get off the very critical first shot, and you can easily teach a child to use one because of this.

Interesting read!

I am curious to know how this was measured. Was this article written out of your own personal experiences with the above or did you pull stats/reports on how often certain makes/models were taken to a gunsmith for repair?

WHY

#3 – Smith & Wesson M&P 9*

Why are all of the gun writers in love the Smith & Wesson M&P piece of shit.

Its like they are payed to be in love with them.

What about a 1911.

Good list .. I would have to give the #1 spot to the CZ sp-01 tho .. it out shoots the G17, is just as reliable, has way less recoil and comes with 19 round mags

I’ll stand by my Beretta’s, M-9 and Nano for back-up. If SHTF really I wouldn’t leave the house without a long gun.

Surprised the XD-40 made it over the XDM-9 didn’t make it with its 19+1 capacity

I think the G19 and G17 should tie for #1 I have both and the advantage is the G19 can use G17 magazines so the firepower is equally the same the only difference is the slide length. And you can put a G17 barrel in a G19 and it will work. Also the internal parts on both are interchangeable.

The real question maybe what out of your 5 top picks sold the most over the last few years. Glocks are extremely plentiful and so are the parts – Hence back to glock again.

Nice collection. But if you cannot afford these guns and you’re on the run I would not rule out a Heritage Arms Roughrider single shot revolver with a 6 1/2″ barrel for hunting small game. It also comes with a .22 mag cylinder. The advantage is if you’re retreating and on the move you can take a brick of .22’s and some CB caps, and it also seems .22 magnum ammo will always be plentiful even when .22lr is not. While you could press it into service as a self-defense handgun you’ll have to change your tactics. Easy to handle, you can pick one up for around $200. I wouldn’t overlook it as a survival option for the long haul.