Para P-13 with 2 extra mags - but then I miss a lot.

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TOMBECK

I have the base model #108282
which is Stainless 5" Bbl. great fit/finish
and features for the money.

Randall

Great responses, thanks everyone. I'm not really surprised by the preponderance of 1911s, but I am a little surprised by how few M&Ps got the nod.

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Don't need no stinkin' sigline

I do have another .45. I don't carry it much but it is great fun to shoot.









"Yes officer, may I help you?"

"We have received reports about automatic weapons fire, sir."

"The reports are accurate. Is there anything else?"

first edition Colt Delta Elite 10mm, s.s. and Ti bearing and bbl bushing assy, nite sites, beaver tail, ambi thumb safety, carbon creations grips....bucks like a stung mule but it is a 10mm after all.

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I'm only allowed 30 characters

That King's custom is awesome. I've never seen anything they did that I did not like.

Seems I saw quite a few SIG P220's listed, I'm in good company!

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I hope I copied that right

One of these.

I have like new WW11 Ithaca that I have had since 1957. It is a keeper.

Wow, Most interesting thread ! I have owned 6 or 7 1911's and currently own just 2. I have a 70's series 38 super Govt. Model which dosen't apply here, but I like it alot anyway.

My current 45 acp is a Les Baer Premier II Tactical. It is one of the guns that came with the 1 1/2 ", 50 yard targets. It is amazingly tight and still runs without a hitch. I lucked into this gun and I say that because I was able to buy it for dealer cost. A friend that shoots ,who had an FFL bought it and later decided he had too many personal 45's. He made me a deal I couldn't refuse.

I"ve had a couple of Kimbers and wouldn't hesitate to buy another. Matter of a fact, I'm trying to figure out a way to come up with the required coins to buy one of their new Super Carry Pro's. I first saw the Super Carry line at the NRA Convention in Charlotte this year. I've had a burning desire for the Pro size ever since.

"Yes sir there is. I was wondering if you would mind if I fire that fine weapon you got there?"

All I can say is WOW! That sir is beautiful.

I currently have 3 Colts: one made in 1910, one made in 1918, and a Gold Cup from 1979. Also have mid-WWII Remington Rand 1911A1. All give reliable service. I like my .45s to say "Colt" on them or at least be a military contract model.

A USGI 1911A1. Ithaca frame and Colt slide, with a stamp from the Mt. Ranier Ordinance Depot, making it probably an arsenal rebuilt pistol. Frame serial no indicates 1943 mfg. date. I learned about shooting a 1911 with this pistol. It is still tight, and demonstrates good reliability and combat accuracy.



These are my two norincos. All steel. No MIM, no stampings, no investment casting, just forged steel. So far, they have proven very reliable. I have been running magazine checks in order to select a half dozen magazines for the two from old mags I have had for years. So far, nary a bobble from either gun. I only shoot hardball in my .45s. If it was good enough for Alvin York, Chesty Puller, Audie Murphy, John Basilone, etc., it's good enough for me.

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Georgia On My Mind

Ruger KP90. It was my first handgun purchase & I did a LOT of research. IMO there is no better bang for the buck in a DA/SA .45 bottom feeder. I also looked at the RIA 1911 but felt the DA/SA was more suited to my needs. Out of the box 1911's don't really fit my hand anyway.

The KP90 is a substantial hunk of iron...err... stainless. Some say it's ugly, but I like the lines, the heft, the feel. It's all business. With stock grips it fits me OK. With the Hogue finger grooves it's like it's built just for me.

The sights are adequate, with good mags it has a rep for combat brick reliability. The SA trigger is getting better with wear, and the DA trigger is VERY nice.

What would I change? I would like a decocker only version.

It's accurate enough. I woulda had one ragged hole but I jerked a few. My bad.



It's a nice mate to my "other" .45ACP

a 1951 Colt Government

colt 1911 ; prefer no frills [ internal work only] ;just like the original with lanyard ring and simple fixed sights [ big and mean ] ; have one in 45 auto and a early brushed chrome combat commander in 38 super. these are my first choice for ccw. 2nd choice beretta 8045; a little thick in the butt area butt; still conceals well. 3rd choice; glock 30 for summer and damp weather carry. i hate plastic guns but like and own glocks; 20 ported, 23, 30, 26.

I've certainly enjoyed looking at all these fine 45's. there seems to be a particular affinity for the 1911, however. I have to say it's my favorite as well as for the way it shoots and feels. I've done my best work with it.

However, a SA 1911 I had many years ago totally soured me on the 1911 and I never got over it. I also had a friend with a Colt Combat Commander that always, no matter how much tweaking with the extractor, would feed properly. No amount of magazine changes helped. If I could find a 100% reliable out of the box 1911 I'd buy one in a minute.

To date, it's a hard matter to say which I like best...my 4506 or 4566TSW. Both are superb examples of S&W's finest. Never a problem-just load up and shoot.

My #1 .45 is a Colt Combat Commander that I picked up second hand at a gun show. It two tone (blue on top nickle on the bottom) and lightly customized with adjustable S&W revolver rear sight!
#2 Is a stone stock S&W model 645! What can I say but I am a fan of Miami Vice. And it IS stone dead reliable!
Almost forgot to mention that the Colt is a Series 70 and eats mostly Federal HydraShoks. It is uncommonly reliable.

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"Long live the S&W 3rd. Gen.!"

Smith & Wesson 4506 - half the cost of a 1911, twice as sturdy, just as accurate, and if you run out of ammo, you can use it for a club.

I own several 1911 model handguns of various makes with each having a 5" barrel. My favorite is a recently acquired S&W. Pricey but just as good and possibly better than a custom. Accurate right out of the box.

Life is good

Hi:
#1- S&W Model 28-2 converted to .45acp (4" barrel)
#2- Glock Model 21
#3- Glock Model 30
Plain Jane Models dependable and accurate.

My daily CC Beretta Cougar Mod. 8045. Works best for a "lefty".

The first Beretta Cougar's were made in the 1960's and were exactly like the Italian WW2 1934 Beretta's in 380 ACP

My favorite .45 Auto is a Remington Rand 1911A1 (Circa 1945) shown here in shootin' trim.

My apologies to the purists, but the original Keyes grips (which I have) are too small for my big hands.

e-Left.jpge-Right.jpg

I don't shoot it as much since learning of it's historical value (All correct parts for a RR of the era), but it is an old war horse and I start feeling guilty if I don't take it out to the range and let it run and roar a bit every month or so. I usually feed it LRN and LSWC, but it'll digest about anything you want you put in the feeding trough and when I do my part, it'll walk tennis balls as far as I can see them.

John

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Age + Treachery = JohnnieB

I thought I should always hang low in a S&W forum about my love for Colt 1911s. Sure see a lot of them here. I have a handful in 10mm and one 45, a bead blasted ss 1991a1. I keep a 220 45 on the nitestand.

Also reminds me to go kick myself again for having traded off my Series 70 Gold Cup in the early 80's.

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9tenz

what he said !

if i lived in free america, a Tommy is probly the class 3 gun id try to find a way to afford

HK USP45c.

Most accurate and problem-free 45acp weapon I've ever owned and shot.

I have one too....same thing here. More accurate and reliable than any 1911 or other 45 auto I have owned.

One that I had and let go-a S&W 745. It was dead nuts accurate and reliable too..wish I had kept it.

Here's a group of 8 shots fired at 21 feet (rested). The grouping can be fully covered by a quarter. The USP45c exhibits phenominal accuracy for a compact, short barreled 45acp..!



It was actually more accurate than it's big brother,..my Tactical...

Without a doubt, the 1911, although I generally prefer the Commander size pistols, although I really feel the 1911 *must* have a beavertail grip safety for it to be comfortable. The SIG P220 is a close second, though.

I have always liked the Star PD, am proud of the early Kimber CDP Custom and carry (usually) my Double Eagle Colt.

Regards,

Tam 3

I'm another one of those 'never really thought the 1911 design was all that' people and never thought enough of them to own one. I was probably put off by stories of how great they were, always followed up with how much you had to pay for them because they were a Colt then how much more to make it shoot right because you had to have it worked on and add all the tricked-out aftermarket stuff and blah, blah, so I figured why bother. However, I now do have one of the S&W target models and with its standard tricked-out sights, grip safety and trigger improvements over the Colt 1911 it was a really nice pistol right out of the box that is superbly accurate, utterly reliable with any sort of ammo, and easy to shoot.

Beyond that I have a 4506, 4586, 4516 and 457S. All of them are rugged, have been reliable, and are good shooters. So I sorta like S&W 3rd Gen 45ACP autos, especially the 457S for a carry gun.

And I'd probably be happy with a HK USP in 45ACP, but I'm already covered pretty well there with 40S&W so see no need to change cartridges.

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" I said, good DAY! "

I'm a fan of the USP .45 series also. Here's the cluster of them I own. Totally reliable - my main criterion for a combat pistol. Accuracy is also right up there with the best of them. I was interested to see "Jack Bauer" (played by Keifer Sutherland) in the TV series 24 used a USP compact throughout the final season.

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

Here is my favorite one



Paladin, my wife loves the USP. We have two full size ones in both .40 and .45.

I have two Colt Series 80 1911s. I like both buy carry and shoot the National Match model most often. I shoot with LEOs on a regular basis and they always seem to shoot my 1911s better than their duty weapons. I love 1911s.

The only "1911" is a Colt, everything else is a 45 auto. I own Colt 1911's, and Smith 45's.

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Sure you did

The only "1911" is a Colt, everything else is a 45 auto. I own Colt 1911's, and Smith 45's

Had a S&W 645. It was an OK pistol. Traded it away.

Couldn't wait to get my hands on one when I found out about the CZ-97. Bought one , absolutely fantastic pistol , as are all CZs. But the grip was not to my liking , so it went away.

[QUOTE=Bullseye 2620;135635353]Yep, that's the ticket.

Here's mine, originally built by Mike Curtis former head of the USMC WTB gunsmithing program, and then totally rebuilt by David Sams, former head of the Army's AMU gunsmithing program. . .probably the only gun in existence with that lineage. When David rebuilt it, I had him replace the UD with the Bomar rib. I don't shoot it as well as when it had the dot, but it makes up for it with "old skul kewl" IMO. That heavy steel rib really tames recoil during rapid fire strings.

Just found this thread. I also own a Curtis 1911. He did mine just as he retired from the Marine Corp. It has been shot constantly for the past 15 years and is still a very accurate pistol.

Stu

I've tried...a few .45 autos,really the one at the bottom is my favorite:

Colt Commander,did in most of the trust I might have had for 1911's,sorry they are junk.

Glock 21 nice gun but funny mags.

Para "GI Expert" yea right,this one nailed the coffin on the 1911 shut for me,two in twenty years from two different companies that don't work? en~I guess a loose one with ball works fine,but I do prefer to have a choice in ammo.

4506-1~what can I say? works,fits my hand,comes up with the sights aligned,I can get the safety on and off easy=perfect!

I've looked at HK,FN,Ruger,Sig,and a whole lot more,knowing me I'll probably try them out over time but as of now I am 100% always reaching for my 4506

My favorite 45 Auto ?? A picture is indeed worth a thousand words....



Just wish it were real instead on an airsoft gun.

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A closed mouth gathers no foot

I just bought and haven't yet shot a Colt Defender (3") I'll let you know if it's my favorite.....

Hundreds of thousands of shooters would disagree with that. All of the top gunsmiths in the US would probably disagree also.

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Sure you did

Back before the 1968 gun control act ,I ordered a 1911 from the DCM thru the NRA. It is a Colt and rattles like a can of bolts but I can still hit a 8 in. pie plate 10 out of 10 at 30 yards. Cost $14.00 plus USPS shipping It is Old and Worn just as I am.

S&W 945 tops the list.

I have several 1911's and a Kimber Eclips target w/22conversion runs a close second.

Starting to like my Springfield V10 not a big fan of compensated guns for carry but I have found myself carring this one as of late.

When I shoot with my buddies for bragging rights this is what I use. The 945

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SC Army National Guard

Unlike some posters, I have had great luck with the Para Ordnance. My favorite is the 7.45 LDA (now marketed as the 7.45 SSP). I've carried it as my duty weapon for 5 years, with absolutely no problems. (Currently have the Carry 6.45 LDA as an off-duty.) Plentiful single-stack mags, but a double-action lockwork. The 7.45 is decently accurate, even at 50 ft. I really notice the missing 2 inches of barrel on the shortie, but at close range, it still spits out .45 rounds, so I'm plenty comfortable with it.

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LEO since 1981.

That is your opinion and you have the right to it but I bet you never heard a gunsmith say that. The 1911 is about the most dependable gun ever made. I own a large number of guns and a few of them are 1911. I trust my life to a 1911 daily as did a few million soldiers over the years.

A few people get a 1911 and fail to take the time to learn proper shooting with them. They shoot different but also better.

Wilson CQB.

Buck

Thats how I got my Kimber Eclipse Target, Springield TRP, Sig GSR and another Sig that has the tacti-cool rail I forget the model. Fella said they were junk. lol I have had no problems with any of them.

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SC Army National Guard

My favorite was my customized, "limited" racegun . . . a 1st generation Colt Combat Elite. Alas, I shot it loose and traded it.

Today my 1911 variant pistols are only two . . .

A first generation Kimber Ultra CDP (a very fine little aluminum-framed officer's sized pistol, and

An early (2003) LDA pistol, the Para Ordinance P14.45 LDA "Limited."

Both are quite reliable and accurate.