45 dilemma

[Stilch]

I've owned one of the early 'billboard' SW1911's for quite a while;
it's a great range gun. I've also been thinking of getting one of the new Remington's that 40Cal mentioned earlier.

 

[M29since14]

This is a no-brainer. You don't plan to use the gun anywhere except at the range and everyone knows that 1911s own the range. Simple as that. Nothing else even comes close.

LH doesn't matter since you don't use a safety at the range.

If you do decide to carry the gun, ambidextrous safeties work very well on 1911s and LH-ers usually don't complain about the mag release. I gather you can operate it with the index finger just as easily and we RH-ers do with the thumb.

There is nothing wrong with a P220, except it has an aluminum frame and the DA feature is not needed on a target gun. For a target gun, I would not want an aluminum-framed 1911, or any other .45 with an aluminum frame. Some models of the P220 are available in stainless, I believe, and also in SA-only.

 

[Matt C.]

I vote for the 45XX

 

[ColColt]

4506, 4566 or 4563TSW.

Ditto...plus the Shorty 45. Like many, nothing feels as good in my hand as a 1911 but, I've never put 100% faith in most of them. Some can be very finicky.

 

[T.Webb]

I've got 2 1911's, a Sig P220, and the S&W 4566. I'm also looking at a FN .45 and maybe a compact S&W (CS 45).

But, so far, the Sig is my all time favorite. Next is my Taurus 1911, then the 4566. The Kimber seems to dragging in last place thus far. We'll see where the FN and the compact S&W lands in the mix.

 

[oldman45]

I have a couple S&W 1911 and a few other brands including a Kimber. After buying a 1911 pro, I carry it 100% of the time and it is the best gun I ever handled, shot or owned. Had it a month and thinking of buying another while I can.

 

[RRH]

Ditto...plus the Shorty 45. them.

I just don't think that you can go wrong with the 3rd generation S & W's.

 

[roughneck6]

Concur with the 4566, many out for sale at a good price. Heavy, but I carry it CCW in shorts with a bianchi inside the pants holster and do not notice the weight. It is a workhorse gun, very accurate, will eat anything. After I bought it used, I sent it back to the factory and had it bead blasted to original finish. It looks brand new. Next to a revolver, very reliable! I also own and M&P 45 compact. Eight round magazine, about 10 ounces lighter. Great trigger, very accurate. I have a Colt 1911 Light Weight Commander. The only issue with carrying a 1911 for most people is getting use to having it locked and cocked on your hip, and the muscle memory in dropping the safety prior to firing. As a Police Officer having been in three shootings over the years, I can say that even with alot of practice, under stress, you need to limit anything on your weapon that could interfere with your pulling the trigger and getting the first round off fast and accurate. In the end, it is about shot placement and speed of clearing your holster, either a duty or off duty concealed holster. Hope this helps.

 

[Waldo]

I think every one should have a 1911.

 

[Kilted Cossack]

tocohillsguy:

Based on what you've said so far, I'd get a 1911.

Here's my reasoning: you're left handed, you're a newbie to the .45 ACP, and this will be a range gun---plus you've already got a couple of nice compact 9mms for carry (love the PSP!).

I'd advise getting the 1911 because, well, because it's an American icon. Icon is overused, but the 1911 packs a ton of history into a 39 ounce frame: from John Browning to Audie Murphy to Patton to Frank Hamer to pretty much every dogface, jarhead and squid in WWII, Korea and Vietnam.

I know this is the S&W forum, but I wouldn't get a S&W 1911. The external extractor, however functional and however much of an improvement it is over the original design, isn't the "original design." I'd probably get a Springfield Armory Mil-Spec. This isn't the base model---that's the GI---but the Mil-Spec has better sights and a slightly lowered ejection port while still retaining the classic look.

The only choice you listed that I would advise you not to get is the XDm45, and that's only because it's brand spanking new. There might be bugs that need working out over the first couple of production runs.

Although I rely more and more on 9mms (S&W 5946 and 6944, Browning Hi-Power and HK PSP), the .45 ACP is still my favorite centerfire handgun cartridge. The recoil isn't bad at all---a slow push more than the brisk slap of a +p 9mm or a .40 S&W.

I've probably owned more .45 ACPs than all other (centerfire) handguns combined, and as of today I have two 1911s and, umm, err, five S&W N-frames (1917, five inch 1955 Target, six inch 1950 Target, 325 and a 3" 625).

If you get one .45, I'll bet you end up getting another one, too.

Good luck on choosing!

 

[Murdock]

Thus far I've been able to resist the 45 Caliber

Resistance is futile.

You have received several recommendations to get a 1911. I own several, Colts, Kimbers and one Colt/Essex I built a long time ago. I have no real preference between brands, but will admit to being enough of an elitist that the little horsey on the Colt appeals to me.

My safe also has 18 S&W revolvers, a .40 SIG P229, an HK PSP and a S&W ASP to choose from for carry. With all of that stuff available to me, a 1911 in .45 ACP is my chosen carry gun 99% of the time.

That said, the 1911 is not for everyone. The manual of arms is a bit more involved than a Glock, HD or M&P. Many people just can't get past the idea of condition one carry (an emotional issue, not a practical one), and the grip safety is also controversial as unnecessary (I rather like it). The combat Tupperware is just simpler.

My next purchase will likely be an M&P .45. I am impressed with them. From the perspective of ergonomics and simplicity, they are very hard to beat. Felt recoil is mild, the trigger takes only a little getting used to and is more than adequate for IDPA stuff, the grip comes with 3 different configurations, sights are excellent, they have a rail for a light, etc. What's not to like? The only deficit I perceive in the M&P is that the factory has yet to come out with a .22 conversion unit for them. (I mean come on, guys! Just do it!).

The HD has a grip safety, for which I frankly don't see a need in a "safe action" weapon, and they are only partly made here. Otherwise superb. If you must have a grip safety, this is the way to go.

The Glock reputation for reliability is inflated, but still well-earned. I would own one, but they don't fit my hand as well as other choices. Just remember that Glock owners have to be constantly prepared to be defensive over the gun's inherent ugliness.

 

[tocohillsguy]

Resistance is futile.

You have received several recommendations to get a 1911. I own several, Colts, Kimbers and one Colt/Essex I built a long time ago. I have no real preference between brands, but will admit to being enough of an elitist that the little horsey on the Colt appeals to me.

My safe also has 18 S&W revolvers, a .40 SIG P229, an HK PSP and a S&W ASP to choose from for carry. With all of that stuff available to me, a 1911 in .45 ACP is my chosen carry gun 99% of the time.

That said, the 1911 is not for everyone. The manual of arms is a bit more involved than a Glock, HD or M&P. Many people just can't get past the idea of condition one carry (an emotional issue, not a practical one), and the grip safety is also controversial as unnecessary (I rather like it). The combat Tupperware is just simpler.

My next purchase will likely be an M&P .45. I am impressed with them. From the perspective of ergonomics and simplicity, they are very hard to beat. Felt recoil is mild, the trigger takes only a little getting used to and is more than adequate for IDPA stuff, the grip comes with 3 different configurations, sights are excellent, they have a rail for a light, etc. What's not to like? The only deficit I perceive in the M&P is that the factory has yet to come out with a .22 conversion unit for them. (I mean come on, guys! Just do it!).

The HD has a grip safety, for which I frankly don't see a need in a "safe action" weapon, and they are only partly made here. Otherwise superb. If you must have a grip safety, this is the way to go.

The Glock reputation for reliability is inflated, but still well-earned. I would own one, but they don't fit my hand as well as other choices. Just remember that Glock owners have to be constantly prepared to be defensive over the gun's inherent ugliness.

Wow, an ASP. That's a rare bird. I'm sure the forum members would like to see and hear a little more about that one. I've never heard how they shoot, what they weigh, or generally how they compare to a 3913. As for the 45 ACP, how low in the weight/size department are you prepared to go, before you find the recoil unacceptable? Seems that you have a preference (which I seem to share) for metal guns. As you suggest, I'm a bit leary of the cock and locked condition one for concealed carry, but perhaps I would get over it. I remember talking to a gun nut LEO a couple of years ago, and he also loved his 1911's, but in his opinion the Glock was the best fighting pistol ever built. If he was expecting trouble he was going to grab the Glock (and a long gun). He also said the revolver was still useful as a BUG, and when shooting from behind a hand held police shield. I think I need to find some shooting buddies that have some 45's I can try out, or I need to pony up the cash to rent a few variants.

 

[T.Webb]

As far as "Condition 1" for carry, try a little experiment that was suggested to me by someone on another forum.

Take an empty cocked 1911, with the thumb safety in the "off" position, drop it into your holster and wear it around the house for a couple of weeks or even months. Then note how many times you hear the trigger go "click". For me, it was over a month, and zero times. And that's with the thumb safety off. Now my only issue with the 1911 is that the exposed, cocked hammer digs into my er, ah-em ... muffin tops.