first 45 cal. pistol

[jorawil]

I have a few pistols but none are 45 cal. I am looking to buy my first. I am undecided on a 1911 or the new springfield 45 xdm 3". I don't really want a full size 1911. I have looked at the kimbers and springfield 1911's and like both. I really like the kimbers. Any thoughts would be helpful.

Thanks,
jorawil

 

[audioshooter]

What do you want it for? EDC or a range toy? If for EDC id say get the XDm. I shot one in 9mm this weekend(along with the Garand and a Mosin) and was very impressed with it. It has been added to my list of weapons to purchase. I also have the 1911 and love it. I would recommend against the new Kimber's due to a recent decline in quality. im sure there is someone who will let you get some range time behind their weapon. My 1911 has been modified for competition, o it wont be a great example of the stock Springfield. If you just want a range toy, the Taurus 1911's are actually good for the price.

Hope i helped.

 

[jorawil]

I want the gun forhome defense and just shooting for fun.

jorawil

 

[audioshooter]

In that case I would go with the 1911. In less you just need to have a Springfield I would look into a Taurus.

 

[2011Corvette]

I would recommend looking at Wilson Combat. They make a fine 1911.
A little higher in price but you will never be sorry.

 

[3fifty7]

My first was a Colt 1911 so Im Very partial.

 

[CUJOHUNTER]

If you don't go with a 1911,I suggest you try a Sig P220.The Glock 21 isn't too shabby either.

 

[Hattrick 22]

My buddy recently bought a rock island armory 1911 .45 you can find one around 400 if you look around budsguns had a good price on them. I am not sure of anyones elses experience with them (granted mine was just a couple of range trips with my buddy) but it seemed like a sturdy and well built pistol not to mention it shot like a dream.

 

[Sin-ster]

My buddy recently bought a rock island armory 1911 .45 you can find one around 400 if you look around budsguns had a good price on them. I am not sure of anyones elses experience with them (granted mine was just a couple of range trips with my buddy) but it seemed like a sturdy and well built pistol not to mention it shot like a dream.

Good value for a completely vanilla, entry level 1911.

But he expressly said he didn't want a FS 1911.

Whatever you do, don't end up with a 3" 1911. A 4" on an Officer frame is just as portable and easy to conceal, without the nasty issues inherent to 3" 1911's chambered in .45 ACP. It'll also be more enjoyable for you to shoot.

Any focused and informed suggestion would require a bit more info from you. What are you looking to spend? Are you averse to anything? Are you against anything full sized-- or just a 1911?

 

[noob]

What's your budget? That will make the decision easier, bc the xdm is around 600 so a 600 dollar 1911 would get u a mil spec Springfield, a Bunch of different used 1911s etc, a sig 220 can be had for around there used. Other options that werent stated was a usp 45 full size, m&p45, and ruger p345. There's so many options, you may wanna see what others have, shoot them and find out what you like best. I have a 4 inch Springfield 1911 that I like a lot, and never gave me problems.

 

[Det.Blair]

Try a Remington R1 or enhanced version. My R1 has had no problems.

 

[Devilneck]

You won't go wrong with a Glock 21, S&W MP.45, or a Springfield XD .45

If you choose between those three, you cannot make a bad choice. Just pick the one that feels best in your hand.

 

[Devilneck]

Try a Remington R1 or enhanced version. My R1 has had no problems.

I want one of these myself, along with the S&W1911.

 

[swamper]

Gonna throw the obligatory HK45C LEM out there.

 

[Guate_shooter]

It depends on budget

I would DEF look into a GLOCK hard to go wrong with those, M&P45c is also a nice weapon IMO.

1911's are nice to have but I have reassons to believe they WONT stack up against a new combat weapon system. THey are the most accuate machines though so take the good with the bad and make a smart decition based on needs.

HK also puts out AWESOME products if your budget allows it

 

[jorawil]

Thanks for all the replies. I had B.J. pawn order me a xdm 45 cal. 3.8 . I decided I will also buy a 1911 in the next couple of months. I am partial to springfields, possibly 4" or full size. I am also willing to spend between 1000 and 1500. I think that anybody with guns should own a 1911.
Thanks,
Jorawil

 

[Guate_shooter]

Yeah, I used to think that way too...

.

Correcto

 

[Sin-ster]

I never thought that way.

 

[JBP55]

I never thought that way.

But you were not Old School Military and brainwashed about the awesome power of the mighty .45 ACP.

 

[Sin-ster]

But you were not Old School Military and brainwashed about the awesome power of the mighty .45 ACP.

Yet I carry a .45!

The 1911 is a great firearm, on many levels. JMB knew what he was doing when he designed it-- over 100 years ago. These days, there's just too many options I favor.

The same tight tolerances that make them such great shooters can make them quite finicky as well. Especially in a gun that gets shot as much as I like. But because of their prolific presence in competition shooting, I see them choke way too often for my tastes-- even tuned to optimum levels and running hand loads that I *know* are carefully put together and specced.

It's also MHO that they are definitely not suited to the vast majority of the people who carry them for SD or use them as bedside guns. Even a malfunction that a simple tap-rack would solve seems to freeze such folks up as they try to figure out the problem. Even more importantly, the manual of arms with the thumb safety alone takes quite a bit of practice-- work that very few folks are willing to put in. If I did carry one regularly, I'd also pin the grip safety, as did all of those Rangers back in the day. Mention that to your average 1911 owner these days and they look at you like you've just sprouted horns.

I do however share Steve's old school reverence for the .45 as a chambering. The timer (and recently, an outlaw IDPA event) showed me that I can run my pistol of choice close enough to 9mm options that I just favor the bigger holes. Some recent reading and discussion with ME's and other folks who've seen a lot of wounds reinforces my preference. Heck-- the heavy "push" of the rounds actually favors my shooting style, and I find the sights track ridiculously well for me, especially with the +p loads that I carry.

All of that said, I *do* carry a 1911 a select few days out of the year, when I'm visting the parents in Florida. And I drill the living **** out of the drawstroke, spend retarded amounts of cash on live fire while I'm in town, and recently invested quite a bit of time, effort and cash to get it fitting my hands the way that I prefer. In essence, if that's my best available option, I certainly don't feel out of place! I just prefer another platform.