[MJRW]

Many moons ago I developed a list of what I felt I wanted and/or needed.

The original list included:

1. The always next to the bed gun.
2. A .22 for cheap practice.
3. A hefty carry piece with a potent round and capacity.
4. A light carry piece with a potent round.
5. A project crowning jewel.

Backtrack: Early on I got a Sigma .380 as a gift and not knowing diddly about firearms. I shot this gun and didn't enjoy shooting. I only shot it to be familiar with it and accurate. I thought this was what shooting was. Then I shot a Firestar, a Kimber, an HK, and a Taurus and realized shooting could be much better. That was when I figured out shooting was fun. Further research started me to believe I wanted to carry. A disturbing situation later and I decided I should. Then the list got developed.

The next to the bed gun became a Ruger GP-100 4". This was "my gun" for quite awhile. It still remains my go to. The .22 happened when I happened upon a nearly new Smith 422 for dirt cheap.

Research led me to the Baby Eagle .40 for carry. It was a potent round with a capacity of 10 in a small package with a manual safety. Everything I wanted. Having had reliability issues with that and having gained experience in firearms, this one is going to the back of the gun closet if not sold.

A Bersa .380 was happened upon for dirt cheap and has become my favorite carry piece and second favorite shooter. For just over 220$, I had a gun, 3 mags, and a holster. I found much application for this sitting somewhere between needs 3 and 4. It is quick to put on, light, and very concealable.

Not-so-bright family members put a 686 4" in my possession for very cheap. I found a good use for this as well. Being so similar in so many ways to my Ruger, I could shoot this without putting wear or dirt on my Ruger and always have a back-up to my most important piece. This one was also had for about 200$.

So far in this collection, I've got 420$ in 3 guns (Sigma, Bersa, and 686) that were not on my list.

I recently acquired a smith 637 as my light gun with a potent round. Shortly after that and also recently, I purchased a replacement for my Baby Eagle which is still being repaired. This is the glock 19 I can't shut up about. So the list has filled out like this:

1. Ruger GP-100/Smith 686
2. Smith 422
3. Glock 19/Baby Eagle .40
3.5. Bersa .380
4. Smith 637
5. ????

I think the Baby Eagle may go, not certain yet. It will depend on how happy I am when it comes back. But that still leaves the crown. I have a couple of options I am considering:

A. Tricking out that 686 with as much cool stuff as I can do to it.
B. A 1911.

Given these two options I have these questions.

A. What would you do to a 686 to make it just one hell of a piece?

B. Which 1911 do you consider to be the jewel of the crown. Not just in performance/cost (a la wilson or les baer sp?), but also in namesake (for me that rings of Colt) and so on?

[10-Ring]

A. All I'd do to a 686 is trigger work.

B. As for the 1911, I'd go w/ a basic Colt & after shooting it a while, changing out what you need...ie, bull barrel, trigger work, new sights, beavertail, hammer etc.

[yankytrash]

You can go 2 completely different directions with the 1911 - full-blown IPSC-style racegun, or classic. I've personally always thought I'd come across an ol' Remington Rand that had US Property markings, but I'm still looking...

Other than the classic, I go for mid-range: Maybe a little magwell flare, some Hogue wraparounds, an ambi safety, 17# spring, full-length guide rod, and perhaps polish up the trigger group but leave the correct trigger pull. As of late, I've been dabbling on smooth high-ride grip safeties too. Past the cost of the gun, it usually only sets me back about $100, doing all the work myself.

[caz223]

Leave the 686 alone, unless the sights are unusable, the grips are uncomfortable, or the trigger is bad. (All 3 unlikely.)
The crown jewel of my collection is my razorback 10mm from Dan Wesson.
Pick one up and find out why.
At around $800 it's a real steal.
If you want to spend more look into valtro, and have work done to get rid of the horrid rollmark.
If you must get a colt, get it checked out before you buy it, some are good, some are bad.

[Brian Williams]

Do both.
1. Get a nice new rollmark model 1911 Govt mod from Colt. These are real nice and made the way they should be. Get a few mags to go with it and shoot it.

2. Get a Trigger job on the 686 and replace the front sight with a gold bead. Have the whole thing polished and then bead blasted with very fine beads, this gives it a real fine smooth finish that is fairly non-glare. Have the cylinder converted to moon clips and chamfered. Also have the barrel shroud cut back to look like a 66 While you are moonclipping check out a conversion to include 9mm, 9x23, 38 super. Get some Spegel grips to put on and you have a nice must have setup.

My must have handguns
22 revolver
22 auto
38 snub
357 DA
Large bore DA 41, 44, 45 acp or colt
Large bore SA 44, 45colt
Blundernine
1911A1

OBTW lose the BE.