Is it my duty to buy a 1911?

They are simple, elegant, very easy to shoot, and very easy to carry concealed. And you don't have to get one in 45.

Try going to a range that rents handguns and try out a lot of different ones before deciding what to buy, unless of course you have a lot of money to buy guns with. I bought my first 1911 about a year ago, the second one last November and am looking at another one now. The trigger's and the ergonomics are what makes me really love them, besides there are countless accessories you can customize yours to look like you want it to. My EDC is a Sig 238 and it is somewhat similar to a baby 1911 as far as controls go and I love it. Also have a couple of 22 pistols for cheap shooting and ended up buying reloading equip so I could shoot the 45, 40, 9, 357, and 380 cheaper. It is a fun and satisfying hobby so have fun.

yes it is your duty to buy one. And the 9, and the 38, and the 40.......... yes, one of each is your duty.

Seriously.

I felt the same way and bought a Springfield !911 and wont get rid of it. That benign said, it hardly ever makes it to the range. It is a great gun and good design for being 100 years old. But if you didn't qualify with it in the military or have any other sentimental reason to purchase one i would look at other ways to sped your money. I have several 45's and if you can find an old 220 for cheep i would pick it up they are nice guns. If you are wanting to spend some money , i love my HK45C with LEM. it is a little costly but IMHO it is blows away the 1911. but so does the 220 and usp. The best advise i can give you is go out ant shoot one before you buy one, some (no allot) of people really like them.

Absolutely....yes....then customize the crap put if it....make it yours.

Buy one if you feel attracted to them. That's what I did, and it was love at first shot. You may find out like several of us have that they can be very addicting.

I know my first gun is going to be a sr22 just to have cheap ammo and can shoot it in my yard for plenty of practice.

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You might want to check your local laws first. There are more than a few places that have laws against discharging firearms within a set distance of a residence or other certain areas.

What has attracted all you guys to the 1911?

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It's difficult to put into words, but I will try...

The 1911 is the perfect blend of form and function.

From an artistic standpoint, the lines and curves of the 1911 are very gentle. Not simply in profile, but from all directions. There are no (or very few) abrubt changes in angle. Everything feels deliberate. The lines are more akin to the revolvers it replaced, giving it an elegant appearance compared to the more boxy modern offerings of Glock, HK, Sig Sauer, etc. Even the venerable Hi-Power has more of a boxy, cobbled-together appearance. It's aesthetic qualities have never gone out of style like 20" AR-15s or wood-stocked hunting rifles.

From an engineering standpoint, I love that the pistol can be easily detail stripped and re-assembled without tools. I love how the entire gun is basically held together by the tension from the recoil spring. I love how all of the parts feel more like they fall into place rather than being put into place.
100 years of testing in the hands of millions of people have shown that the 1911 is a very functional, very reliable design. The fact that it does so without sacrificing aesthetics is something that is truly remarkable.

To put it another way, over these past 100 years the 1911 has always been stylish and always gotten the job done. To my knowledge, only one other thing can make such a claim...

the trenchcoat.

I may get one, after an M&P9c, Ruger Mini 14, EAA Witness P Carry, CZ 75b, FN FNX 9, BHP, Walther P99AS, a second Walther PPQ, a 'baby, take me back!' card (after my lady puts her foot down), and ... whatever else I'm forgetting

This is an expensive passion!

I have glocks, a revolver, .22, and my 1911.....nothing brings a smile like when shooting the 1911! The 1911 trigger is the best out of any other handgun I have shot and the accuracy is amazing! I think you are doing yourself an injustice by not at least shooting a 1911 rental to see if you like them. I also like the ability to customize the 1911 and make it yours.

Yes.... It is your duty to buy a 1911 type OR TWO!

I just know that I will end up with one and do not know why. I do not feel I need a 45 or a full size gun.

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Well, put it on your list if you want it, but it doesn't have to be at the top.
I have to say, I've owned guns for about 6 years now. I've been through my share of pistols and have yet to own a 1911. I've shot them. I like them. (first one I ever shot was a Wilson CQB that spoiled the heck outta me!) But from a practical standpoint I just haven't come up on a niche that the 1911 fills that isn't already filled by some of my other pistols. A high quality one is beautiful to behold, and they do shoot darn nicely.
I just know that if I got a hankering for a single stack, steel .45acp right now, I'd take a S&W 4566/4506 over a 1911 any day of the week and twice on Thursday. If I wanted polymer it'd be the M&P45.
So to answer your question... is it your duty? No. Are they nice to have? Yes. So for me it's on the list, but pretty far down.

I know many people will disagree with me on this. What can I say, I'm odd.

There are certain guns that are iconic. Not only do we get pleasure from shooting them, but also from simply owning them. As far as I'm concerned both these requirements are essential.

It's hard to put my love affair with 1911s into words... A 1911 was my first gun at 19, and I've loved them ever since. They look great, they feel great, they shoot great (single action triggers are so awesome), they even conceal great because they're nice and slim.

Plus, for whatever reason I feel better being called a 1911 fanboy than a Glock fanboy

Nobody said you've got to get a full sized steel frame .45 1911. My main carry piece is a subcompact alloy framed 9mm 1911, it's the sweetest little carry gun I've ever had the pleasure to shoot.

I'm a big proponent of the KISS principle. I used to want one of everything, then I wanted similar MOA but in several different calibers. Now, I'm down to a plan to only get 3 basic models: Full-size handgun, compact handgun of the otherwise same model (both in 9mm), and .223 carbine. So I don't buy into the whole "it's your duty to own 9, 40, 45, .357 sig, .357 magnum, and at least one each of Glock, 1911, CZ, Sig, and Hi Power."

Get what works for you, get what you like the looks of (and if it turns out not to be fun to shoot, make it a range queen), get what lets you practice, and get what's fun to shoot. Personally, for me, similar MOA is what works for me, is fun, and I'm not too big on aesthetics.

Yes it is your duty to buy or even better, build one! It's a blast buying the individual components, fitting them together and having a fully functioning piece of history! Some parts do require some fitting but it's WELL worth the effort if you have the mechanical ability!

My first handgun was a 1911 then sold it. I have bought and sold.a few more handguns after that including a hk usp. Now that I got another 1911 I'm never going without one again.

Understand first that the 1911 is single action only, and read about the different carry conditions 1-2-3.

If you're ok with this, there is no good reason other than money to stop you from getting one.

msrfrog wrote,
Being a auto tech, building one seems pretty cool. Any links on where to get all the different parts?

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This maybe a worthwhile article for you to read.

http://how-i-did-it.org/1911-project/index.html

No gun collection is complete without a 1911. I would suggest buying a new one with a reliable reputation as your first one because if you buy or build one that doesn't function properly it'll turn you off the 1911's real quick. :banghead: Nothing shoots sweeter that a well functioning 1911 .45ACP!

I don't know about "duty" but it is an irrefutable universal truth that every American should own a 1911 in .45ACP (None of that metric euro stuff) and a .357 Magnum wheelgun.

That's just the way it is.

No gun collection is complete without a 1911.

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I don't know about "duty" but it is an irrefutable universal truth that every American should own a 1911 in .45ACP (None of that metric euro stuff) and a .357 Magnum wheelgun.

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So, because I plan on having only 9mm PFSF pistols and .223 ARs, I'm suddenly incomplete as a shooter? I really don't like statements such as "every person needs to have ____ in their collection." I'm not pushing everyone else to get a Glock in their collection, I don't see any reason for others to push the "requirement" to have X, Y, and Z in mine.