Which .45?

[Ringtail]

Never shot a glock. I have shot most of the XD variants in 9mm .40 and .45 and they seem like good guns to me. I would feel well armed with any of the guns you listed. But my 1st choice would be a 1911. There are lots of reasons why I would put the 1911 1st, but the most important is the single action trigger. Without much trouble you can get a 4lb. trigger with no discernable take up. For me the trigger is the most important component of accurate shooting and the 1911 has (or can have if you make it so) the best trigger of all the common autos.

As far as magizine cap it should never be an issue. If you can't solve you problem with 8 rounds you probally won't be able to solve it at all.

To sum it up a plastic gun will serve you well right out of the box, but a 1911 has the potential to be something really special. Just one man's opinion.

By the way, someone has a really nice .45 revolver!

 

[BlindJustice]

Nice 25 S&WFan - usually stags? what's the barrel cut to 3" ?

My 625 has the Master Revovler Action Job from the S&W Perf. Ctr.
with Guy Hogue full profile finger grooves/checkered Rosewood grips.
so, add $275 to the purchase price. If I had to choose tween it and
the S&W 1911 I have for 50 yard shots, it would be the 625 I'd pick up.

What's the J-frame in the pic? I've got a MOdel 60-15 3" adj. rear
sight, & plain ramp front with a dab of yellow epoxy paint across
the middle of the ramp.

Randall

 

[Ringer]

I like Glocks but the G21 is huge. In .45 I'd lean towards S&W M&P or maybe an XD.

 

[samurai]

Glock30

 

[Kind of Blued]

Due to the rapid descent of the sky as of late, I'd go with one of the (cheaper) higher-capacity guns and spare mags. You'll likely be able to get a 1911 any other time.

I'd go with the XD just because the G21 is designed for gorillas. I gripped a G19 and an XD 45 recently and the XD was still (despite being a 45 instead of a 9mm) more slender and comfortable in the grip. A 45 Glock can only be worse. But those are my hands, so I recommend groping them yourself.

P.S. Budsgunshop has XD45 Compacts for $499 and Springfield is running a "two free magazine" promotion. Check their website.

 

[Blacksmoke]

Start with and master the 1911. Then if you move on to the Springfield XP or other more modern design you have something to evaluate the new gun against that is kind of an industry standard for about 97 years.

 

[mfcmb]

I recently bought my first .45 after comparison shopping extensively. I wanted a full-size, DAO, semi-auto, so that knocked out 1911's, revolvers, and a bunch of other good guns. My primary choices ultimately boiled down to Glock, S&W M&P, and Springfield XD. They all seem to be solid choices. I found that the 4" ("service" model) Springfield XD fit my hand best, bought it, have put several hundred rounds through it, and am very happy with it. I'm confident it will be reliable, rugged, accurate and last forever. I'm very happy with my choice.

 

[Blacksmoke]

MFCB,
I have read and heard only great things about the Springfield XD in .45 ACP.

WHo know, maybe I will sell one or two 1911s and buy one?

 

[Hostile Amish]

I'd get the 1911, the Glock feels like a water gun and the XD feels similar.

 

[AJMBLAZER]

Bottom line: I'm turning 21 soon and I'd like to purchase a pistol before late January. My budget for the gun is $500-$600 (not including ammo, accessories, etc). I'd like to buy new. I've narrowed my caliber down to 45 ACP. (I'll most likely be buying a .22 pistol as well, but that's another thread).

I'm stuck between a few different models, in particular the Springfield Armory XD, the Springfield Armory GI 45 1911, the Glock 21, and the Glock 30. I've shot Glocks before and have liked them. I realize the two styles are pretty different, I'm just looking for input from people who own/have owned both. Is the GI 45 a quality gun? I know it's relatively inexpensive compared to other 1911s. Which will last longer, shoot better, fail less, and be the most dependable? This will be a plinker/HD/SHTF gun. Size doesn't matter as it will not be a CCW gun. Also, I live in CA so magazine capacity isn't too much of an issue.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Beg, borrow, and bribe to test fire the guns you will be selecting from. I'm a bit of a military historian and bought a 1911A1 first thing but have considered other handguns. Glocks just don't work for me and my hands. If they did fit me better I'd probably have bought one already. Rugers have a good reputation and double as a hell of a blunt instrument if some sort of malfunction should happen. My buddy has a XD .45 and it is a nice piece.

As for the 1911's I'll be the heretic and suggest you check out the Armscor/Rock Island Armory M1911A1 series. You can get their Tactical version for under $500 if you look around and their plain GI model like mine for $350 without looking too hard. They have a good reputation and their US customer service is excellent...not that I've needed to use it with mine.
Also remember GI = usually 230gr FMJ only, small hard to see sights (and I'm only 30), narrow safety and biting hammer while the milspec/tactical models tend to have the modern improvements in those areas.

 

[Prepster]

In my experience the Springfield GI is accurate and easy on the hands, although sights are a little small. I respect the rock solid reliability of Glocks and XDs, but they sure look hideous next to a stainless GI.

 

[eldon519]

It seems to me that for a newcomer looking to buy their first weapon with the intent of building a collection in the future, Glocks have fallen a little bit down the latter. For the longest time, they were the only competitively priced quality polymer. Now there are a variety of polymer pistols at the same price with the same quality and reliability who have taken innovation further, particularly in the realm of ergonomics where Glocks are rather lacking. The biggest detriment I see with Glocks is that they have a significantly different grip angle which for me personally makes it awkward to go back and forth between it and just about any other main brand of semi-automatic pistol. XDs, MPs (by the way, I think you should seriously consider the S&W M&P .45), HKs, and 1911s are all much more interchangeable.

It's one man's measly opinion, but while Glock used to be the king of polymers, their failure to keep up with advancements in ergonomics has cut into their market domination.

 

[possum]

i am a huge xd fan and i own 2, i am also a fan of the 1911, sa 1911's in particular. i would say for your first gun get something easy to shoot and maintain, and for that i would say go with the xd. i am not a fan of glocks in .45

 

[Big Daddy Grim]

XD simply for all the accessories it comes with and if you get the tactical barrel they are excellent shooting guns mine is very accurate but don't get me wrong I love 1911's but for easy cleanin and breaking down plus the money you can't beat the XD.

 

[WardenWolf]

Get a Ruger P90. Accurate, very reliable, American-made, with good safety features. Single/double action with thumb safety is a lot safer and more convenient than either an old-fashioned single action or other quirky mechanisms like Glocks use. It's a simple, reliable, solid gun that's a major step over the standard 1911. It is, at its heart, a 1911, but with the added bonus of single/double operation.

 

[M203Sniper]

 

[ZeBool]

If limited in mag capacity, most definately the 1911. Other wise I would personally go with the XD, as it shares the same grip angle as the 1911, but has greater capacity.

 

[f4t9r]

Those models can be rented at the range ,you could try them out. My choice is the 1911

 

[hawk45]

Go feel them all.. here is what I have experience with:

Glock 21
Glock 21sf (slimmer grip - prefer)
Glock 30 - Ultimate compact 45 (10 rounds)
Springfield Mil-Spec - Classic excellence
Kimber Compact - Great single stack 1911df
Sig 220 - A truely great .45 built like a tank.

I don't think there is a bad one out there.. the XD's and M&P's get great reviews too.. Just go with what you like.

 

[Hawk]

Definitely try before buy if at all possible.

I had a Glock 21 - very servicable but the ergonomics are "unique". Some folks take to them, some don't. Trigger is workable but spongy.

1911s - To me, these seemed easiest to gain proficiency with due to the agreeable trigger. The STI Spartan is in your range as are a number of other choices.

I never tried the XD-45 or M&P but their users seem a happy lot.

Since this is in "general handguns" you were bound to get a revolver nomination. I have a 325 and really like the thing. I shoot it more than my mutant-1911. But. I have to. Getting proficient with a revolver's double action trigger is an ordeal and a half if you're used to a 1911.

The general consensus is that double action is the only way to run a defensive revolver and the trigger is long and heavy. Unlike an autostuffer, it's difficult to do much to improve it without compromising, sometimes severely, the "six for sure" mantra. A defensive revolver should be able to pop S&B and Fiocchi and messing with the trigger will get you into a club where people discuss "Federal primers only, seated just so" which isn't "six for sure". You might find yourself celebrating two out of six lighting off. Autostuffer triggers can be tuned without compromising reliabiltiy - this isn't the case with revolvers.

The revolver is an excellent choice if you're planning on putting a LOT of time into getting proficient with the beast - it's fun doing so but it'll rack up a sum of money in a hurry. Moon clips are cheap but the appliance to load the things isn't - it's probably a "wash" with a couple of Wilson mags.

I prefer my 325 to my 1911 for fun shooting but I don't know if I'd recommend it as a "first firearm". Then again, if you're just starting off, you haven't been "spoiled" by an autostuffer trigger and might take right to it...

 

[Agent-J]

glock 30 is nice, but it has a weird magazine that doubles as a pinky rest. with this setup the grip is a hair too short and the mag pinches my pinky.

the XD45c is essentially the same thing as the glock 30, but the mags are more flush and it fits in my hand just like a glock 19.

 

[Pilot]

Springfield Armory Milspec 1911A1. Better sights than the G.I. and other nice features like a bevelled mag well and lowered/flared ejection port.

 

[Irish Maddog]

I own a xD .45, having shot literally hundreds of different pistols on staff "artillery" days, and I think it's a perfect starter gun. Good feel, combines the point-and-aim of the 1911 with the Glock's safety features and I absolutely love the tactile features that tell me when it's cocked and when there is a round in the chamber.

My friends have all fired the xD and one cop buddy and one military buddy, after firing mine and hearing me rave about, promptly went out and bought their own. One got an xD 9mm, another got a brand new XD-M, which I envy greatly. These are some of the most comfortable, most safe, most enjoyable pistols you'll ever fire.

xD all the way!

 

[gepreston]

Not too sure who else said this but I’d go to a range that rents and try as many as you can! I’ve got a few 1911s and I’ve shot several different “plastic” guns. I like them all but I LOVE my old Colts! Some of the Glocks had heavier recoil (I think it was a 36, don’t remember for sure) but I’d still buy one if it came at a decent price. On a different note, I wouldn’t limit myself to “new” guns only. You can find some great deals on “slightly used” guns with “handling” marks (read a scratch or two). I just bought a nice newer S&W Model 36 for my wife at a pawn shop for $265. That left enough money to by a few boxes of ammo and a used 870 for the camper all for under $500.

 

[S&Wfan]

Blindjustice wrote

Nice 25 S&WFan - usually stags? what's the barrel cut to 3" ?

It was converted by a great gunsmith in the '80s. The barrel is 3 1/4" and it has the most incredible trigger (both double and single action) I've ever encountered.

My 625 has the Master Revovler Action Job from the S&W Perf. Ctr.
with Guy Hogue full profile finger grooves/checkered Rosewood grips.
so, add $275 to the purchase price. If I had to choose tween it and
the S&W 1911 I have for 50 yard shots, it would be the 625 I'd pick up.

Glad someone has weighted in who shoots a bunch and knows what the gun rag pushers don't tell folks in their quest to sell new jam-o-matic bottom feeders to the public for their advertisers!!!

What's the J-frame in the pic? I've got a MOdel 60-15 3" adj. rear
sight, & plain ramp front with a dab of yellow epoxy paint across
the middle of the ramp.

Randall

It is a nearly "new" 1964 nickel-plated Model 36. Shoots good too! Here's the first cylinder of wadcutter I ran through the gun (standing/unsupported @ 10 yards . . . into a small 1" black square target. Who says snubbies ain't accurate?!!:

BTW, my wife loves her '71 Model 37 Airweight J-frame with a 3" tube. She shoots it real good too!


BACK TO THE .45s . . .

This is the accuracy of my short tubed 25-2 .45ACP revolver. (another picture showing it's typical accuracy) BORINGLY accurate, ragged one hole, five-shot groups . . . standing/unsupported at 10 yards . . . and it launches coke cans in the air at 75 yards with high consistency too . . . and NEVER jams!

I hope the original poster won't waste his money on somebody's "FOR SALE" .45 auto that jams . . . or a cheap new one that won't be what he needs. I hope he'll consider a good, used S&W 625 moon clipped revolver!

Extremely accurate, extremely reliable . . . and extremely smart.

T.

PS: Stags usually? Yes, now that I use 'em with Tyler T-grips. However, when competing in the "gun games" I'll revert to Hogue "Goodyears" to keep the revolver properly indexed better in my hand . . . shooting double action.

PPS: If the original poster opts for a .45 auto, I hope he saves and gets a quality gun! It's got to go bang every time, have a great trigger for consistent accuracy . . . and be accurate too from the bench!

Still, I'd rather enter a fight with my 25-2, than my very reliable, but high dollar Kimber officer's sized .45ACP CCW gun (shown) . . . or my good old Colt Combat Elite full size custom limited gun used in many a "gun game."

SIX FER SHURE!