Good .45 for under $1k?

He needs to get to a range and shoot some. There are some big differences between the models you are suggesting. All of the guns you named are good guns.

Sig p220 sao.

When I first got out of the army, my first gun was a Taurus T-92. I liked it at the time, but I have since grown far away from the Beretta/Taurus. Seriously I hate them now when I have to shoot them.

I got a 1911, it was an Auto-Ordnance, and it was terrible. I shot some nicer 1911s, but I couldn't talk myself into shelling out for anything other than a used base model. (The base models then weren't as good as say, Norincos are now.) I carried a Glock .40 for years, and it wasn't bad, I had a Sigma, a Sig, a Hi-Power .40, etc before I tried a 1911 again. I realized that a decent 1911 has the feel and trigger that works best for me. I can shoot just about anything pretty well, but I don't ever see myself switching from a 1911.

What I think really means less than squat to your friend. I won't be shooting to save his life. HE will. He might like something now, and as his skill and experience evolves, he might change his mind later. The only way to know is to try as many different guns as possible.

STI spartan.

Dawson precision has em' around $600 ish, and may give you a military discount.

Might look at the CZ97b.

Definitely a full sized weapon,

But it sure shoots sweet.

isher

I will have to echo mljdeckard. The fit in his hand is what it really is all about.

For me the 1911 is my hand. I don't have any that are under $1,000 so I am not sure what to advise.

Although I have what is considered "large" hands, nearly everyone that I take out who has not shot before loves and prefers my 1911s. They are heavier than the plastic polymers and when shooting the steel, they seem to prefer them to my S&W M41 ,22s; even the girls, (sexism aside).

So, that is my two cents.

One of my hardball guns is a Colt 70. They can be found for under $1,000. Granted mine has been made over by a master smith, Clark Sr., but I really love the trigger control that only comes with a 1911.

If your friend wants a "feel", I would get him a 1911.

ps Happy Birthday to your buddy, and tell him the members of THR welcomes him back.

1911 officers model. Been using and carring one for 18yrs. I have a Kimber in SS, Colt, and a Charles Daly in SS. They all function, fire, and group in an almost identical manner. No one pistol really stands out of the three. The least exspensive of the 3 is the Daly and it is on par with the others when shooting identical ammo. The Kimber is their bare bones basic model with all stock parts and is slightly more used than my Colt and Daly but not any better dispite its price.

S&W M&P45, Sig P220, or HK USP45.

Enachos, you then also might like STI's video of the 1911 in action

http://www.m1911.org/STI1911animation.htm

Click "Hide Frame" and "Hide Safety" and you will see that little interface between sear and hammer that makes the 1911 soooo sweet.

Compact:

Kahr K45
Glock 36

Compactish models:

S&W M&P 45 Compact
Springfield XD 45 Compact
Glock 30 SF
HK USP 45 Compact

(In increasing size)
Sig P220
Glock 21 SF
Springfield XD 45
FN FNP 45
HK

Not sure where the CZ falls since I haven't measured one. They're quite big.

Remember, the first gun requires holsters, mag holders, extra magazines, ammo, solid belt and cleaning stuff.

Get a 1911 if he wants to have a relationship with his gun and he has enough money to make sure it works.

Don't forget revolvers! The S&W 625 is a great gun. Either get one with the lock and buy "THE PLUG" (see the S&W Forum) or get an older 625 or Model 25.

If it was me, and you were set on a .45acp, it would be a 1911 (my preference is stainless Colt's - I got a factory new 1991a1 combat commander recently for $879.99, which was the best price among the 5 best known gun shops near me). Or, a SIG P220 which, depending on specific model choice can come in below your limit of $1000. One shop near me has a P220 Combat (for $1049.00), which I love the look of but not sure a chrome barrel and phosphated internals is worth the premium price (to me at least, others may think it worth the $).

1911s are a bit long in the tooth as far as design is concerned. They're horribly overpriced and many come out of the box needing work to make them reliable.

I've got a Sig, S&W 645 and I've shot a Glock, and all these are better choices in my opinion. (My favorite is the 645, which unfortunately isn't made anymore.) If your buddy is extremely competent, the Glock is extremely reliable. The Sig is reliable and has a great, modern design, but I just don't like the feel of it as well.

It does have the advantage of still being made.

I would highly recommend a Springfield XD .45acp. Extremely reliable, hella fun to shoot, and surprisingly accurate.

If I could do it all over again, I would get the 4" barrel with the subcompact grip. I currently own the 4" with a full sized grip, and it has an irritating habit of printing unless I'm careful.

I bought a Springfield XD in .45 ACP and I LOVE mine so much that I bought another one in 9mm for my wife and she's loving hers. Excellent guns for the price. The .45 ACP I bought at Gander Mountain for a little under $600 and the 9mm I bought at an "Evil" gun show for $535. I think I got a better price on the 9mm because the XD-M had just come out. The regular XD's are just GOOD reliable guns. We've fired probably around 1000 rounds through each and haven't had so much as a hiccup in either one. They go bang every time and continue to go bang everytime we pull the trigger.

I have a S&W 4506 and a Colt 1911 Combat Elite, both bought new in the very early "90's. Both are fine pistols, but I prefer the feel of the Colt. The 4506 is a whopper.

There are lots of good makers of 1911's out there, but if you become a 1911 fan you will always want at least one Colt in your collection no matter how many you have. I like the Series 70 Reproduction or the Commander (Model 04691).

I also like the Ruger .45's, both the P90 and P345. Both are solid pistols. The P345 feels good in my hands much like my Colt.

Current Colt's are out-of-the-box excellent. I would highly recommend the O1991 Government Model - and at $730 shipped it's a great price on the real-deal.

+1 on the Springfield XD-45. I have 5K rounds thru mine, no problems, NO jams with ball or JHP rounds. 13+1 of .45 acp is very nice.

Hk usp 45

Another +1 for the XD45. I bought a 5" Tactical a few years ago and it's now been 100% thru at least 5K. I liked it so much I bought a XD9sc, and then a XD45c 4".

Very impressed with it's ergonomics and accuracy, and 14rds of 230gr on tap.

You can buy a XD45 with NS and SS, plus a bunch of ammo for $1K.

I off duty carry a Kimber Tactical Ultra II as my main CC gun. I have a Kimber TLE II that is a great gun.

My dept issued gun is a Sig P220.

Of the 3 I would say my favorite one to shoot is the Kimber TLE II, damn accurate and very easy/soft to shoot. The Tactical Ultra II, being a 3 inch barrel with a 1/4" less grip is a little easier to CC and is just about as accurate as the full size.

Tell your buddy, Thanks for his service.

When I got back from my first tour - I was a lot like your friend. I had $$$ and wanted a nice pistol. I bought a fairly expensive well know brand 1911. Even thou I was in love with its appearance, I got nothing but heart break with it's constant problems.

Fast forward to 5 years later and my grandmother passed away. I took $1000 of my inheritence, determined to buy a 1911 worthy. I then turned to the legend and bought this....



COLT Combat Elite. Ran perfect out of the box, feels right and is very accurate. "Looks good" too.
Will

Current Colt's are out-of-the-box excellent. I would highly recommend the O1991 Government Model - and at $730 shipped it's a great price on the real-deal.

Click to expand...

+1....and stainless pony ain't much more.