hey .45 aficionados

[FryeVRCCDS0067]

I will qualify that statement with the fact that while I LOVE the 1911 platform and think that John Browning was a freaking genius and is my hero.  Compared to the reliability of other modern firearms like the XD, Glock, etc...  the 1911 requires more experience on the shooters part to maintain and run it properly.  In right hands, its a thing of beauty and there is a reason it has survived for 100 years as an iconic platform and is the "gamers" gun for many gun games.

For the newly minted concealed carry or the average home defense gun that doesnt get the dust blown off of it very often...  for folks that dont shoot much... I dont think its the ideal gun.  

Couldn't agree more. When I think of "practical genus" John Browning, Bill Ruger and Jeff Cooper are pretty much at the top of my list.

And, as mentioned above, I don't think the 1911 is the ideal gun for those who don't shoot a lot. I do shoot often, though not nearly as often or as well as I'd like. Even so, I'm not that comfortable with the 1911 as a carry gun. I prefer the Para LDA or my KelTec "poodle shooter" for that.

My favorite semi-auto handgun to just shoot is the 1911. Shoots great, runs dependably and feels like you have a piece of American history in your hand. And, you do.

[Jess from VA]

Now that this thread has run its course, I was wondering if you guys have see these two new mini 9mm carry models?  (I carry a mini 9 instead of a .380....... not instead of a .40/.45)

First, the Kimber Solo.  Looks to have a Kahr trigger, and the rear end looks very like the old Colt Pocket Model 1903  (.32 ACP)

Kimber Solo Carry Overview



http://www.kimberamerica.com/solo

Second, the Sig P290.



GunsAmerica TV/Blog - Sig Sauer P290 Tiny 9mm CCW Pocket Pistol

http://www.sigsauer.com/CatalogProductDetails/p290.aspx

Both cost too much............ what else is new?

[torch1972]

I looked at the Solo recently and maybe due to being an early production model the trigger felt like a rubber band when pulling it,others have said they break clean, held it side by side with an LC9 and the Ruger is a bit bigger, fit and finish on the Solo was very good but poking around the forums they have had some early issues. I ended up with a Kahr CM9.

[PAVALKER]

I have a KelTec PF9 which is actually slightly smaller than the Ruger LC9, and it has a rail for a mini laser if desired.  However, the LC9 is smoother with rounded (melted) edges and might slide into a  pocket easier even tho it is slightly larger.

The Sig is priced at least twice that of the KelTec  and also significantly more than the Ruger LC9, but I bet it has it's market share due to brand loyalty.

The Kimber is ....     priced significantly higher than the Sig, but I also think it will have it's market share.

[designer]

Hmm,if your refering to my Kimber inputs, i wasn't bashing them, they are good and I'll give you that even thou I have had 2 and they were early models with alot of issues, they have improved but they are not the last word in 1911s...

when I was writing up my opinion I didn't say I had a Kimber, but every Kimber I've handled was smooth... with that said I would rather carry my colt or sig. 

[rodeo1]

any cal. without at least a 4 in its description is just too small.

[NICKYBOY]

I packed my 9mm XD-SUB with 18 plus rounds for years! But as I got more accurate I was able to move to XDS .45 with 5 plus one!

[RONNIEB]

Have a Springfield Champion, like the Colt commander that is my main carry. Have 2 Taurus pt1911's.one in 45 and one in 38 super. 2 Charles Daly governments consecutive serial numbers. Have polished the frame rails on all. I have done a trigger job on the Springfield (2 1/2 lbs).
They all running flawless.
Kimbers are a masterpiece of manufacturing, IMO they can be tempermental. I believe in the old timers saying "if it rattles it will shoot" for defense you don't really need a 1 hole 5 shot group at 25 yards. Nice tohang on the refrigerator but not necessary in a dark alley

[musclehead]

talk about a blast from the past

I've had my XD 45 for quite a while now 

haven't shot it in over a year. 

[czuch]

Takes alot to beat pumping a magazine into the offending coffiepot or sander ya set on the hill.
Of course I pack it in and pack it out so's not to get the land owner exited.
That would be a Colt. Inherited from a dear Brother.
I really dont have experiance with other brands so much, but just couldnt not add.

[solo1]

I'm a long time shooter and have owned a Colt Series70 but was dumb enough to sell it.

I have two Glocks, a model 35  (40.cal) and a model 22 (.40).  They are without doubt the ugliest guns around but they are reliable and long lived.  I like them because I like to see the expressions of SOME 1911 snobs, who immediately talk about Kabooms.

Having said that, I would not recommend them for new shooters. They have no traditional safety but are more like revolvers.  Too many owners with Glocks have had accidents because they don't know the gun.

I have owned many fine quality hand guns but in my old and lazy age, I like Glocks because they aren't particular about maintenance and don't rust easily.  The only problem is the standard plastic sights, replace them.

Buy a good 1911's and most companies manufacture good ones.

[T-Bird]

I like my Dan Wesson Bobtail 45, It is my primary range pistol.

[RDAbull]

I love my 1911 Remington Rand.  1944 build.
Its old, like me.
Its reliable, like.......oh well

[Trynt]

I've always been a Glock guy.  Simple, reliable, reasonably accurate. I currently own one 9mm & two 40's.  I never understood all the fuss about the 1911's.  That is, until I shot my son's Colt Combat Elite. It's accuracy, fit & finish is outstanding.  There is something about the way it functions and feels in the hand that is very satisfying and difficult to explain.  So much so, I had to buy one for myself.

[Odin1]

My daily carry is a Ruger P345, not in production anymore but you still can find new on auction websites, main reason i bought this is double action 1st round , single action afterwards, that way i dont have to carry a cocked weapon, when magazine is removed weapon is safe, can dry fire without damage, loaded chamber indicator, and at 15 yards will give you a 2.5 inch group, has 4.25 barrel, easy to conceal in waistband or shoulder holster.  I will not carry smaller than .45 ACP, its a man stopper.

[Jess from VA]

Hidin' in them bushes will do you no good... come out of there.  

Light is amazing.  Perp is blind.  Only bad thing, he cannot see the big hole at the end.

While I might have a couple other 1911s, I decided I just had to have one with a headlight.....& railed dustcover.  (who knew?).

[johnhunter44]

I wonder how many realized this thread started in 2011?  I plead guilty myself.  Read a lot of these until I saw the start date.  I wonder what the OP ended up with?  Love the .45

[Valkpilot]

i too am retired LE, but i gotta tell you, i have never owned a finer .45 than my kimber. whoever told you that they don't make a good gun is probably someone that cannot afford one, definitly not someone who ever "really" owned one.

this is the finest out of the box gun i have ever fired, pricey ? sure, but in the gun world, what ain't ?

+1

It's hard to do better than Kimber.