Home defense with a 1911

If you're concerned about round count, keeping a spare mag works. Or you can keep a spare gun handy, too. Or both.

Keep what you've got and double up on your mags...then you're talking 66 rounds

I dont use a 1911, but I dont see any particular problem with using one. It was good enough for the US Army for many years. It sure beats having no gun.

Personally, I think which particular gun you keep for HD is less important than the fact that you Do keep a gun for HD and have within reach when needed.

Before we had CHL I kept a Colt stainless 1911 on the nightstand, but now I just use my holsterd CCW.

I don't worry about the capacity, the pistol in the home is only in case I have to fight my way to the shotgun in the closet.

Although I own a 1911, I don't use it for my HD pistol. I do, however, keep a Sig P220 Carry Elite Dark as my primary HD gun. Same capacity as the 1911 - 8+1. It wears a Streamlight TLR-1. I do not worry about the "low capacity". I have a 10-round mag for it, but it sticks out about 2 inches below the grip, and makes the gun harder to get in and out of where I keep it. Of course, the 10-round mag, and an additional 8-round mag are nearby if I find myself needing more than 9 rounds of 230-grain .45ACP hollow points.

If the only gun I had was my S&W 1911 Stainless, I would have no reservations about using it as my HD gun. If I were devoted to the 1911 platform, I'd get another 1911 with a rail for HD, as I believe a light on a HD gun is extremely important (in addition to a rugged single-level handheld light).

Yes. Next to my shotgun and M-1 carbine.

if you consider a 1911 being a "low round count"....my first impression...is that you are a spray and pray shooter....especially since you stated you use two guns instead of a spare mag

I keep a Sig 1911 in the night stand with a spare magazine.

I am not conerned with round count as if I anticipate more trouble than what the 1911 and three guard dogs can hanfle, I will grab two Glocks and don tactical vest with a lot of loaded magazines and reach for the shotgun while my wife dons her vest with her Glocks and reach for the AR.

My EDC is a 9mm commander, and it goes on top of my nightstand at the end if the day.

I keep one in my living room loaded. If 8 rounds doesn't take care of the problem, then a bigger problem came through the door than I ever anticipated, and I doubt that having more bullets will help. I keep an FNP-45 with 15 rounds in it next to the bed.

I do. I have a handfull of full mags sitting with my 1911. If you've got the mags, you may as well load them.

If you can't get things squared away with 7 or 8 rounds another 7 or 8 probably won't help you much.

I prefer the 7 round mags in my 1911s. One 1911 does bedside duty and a flashlight and a spare mag sit right next to it. If 15 rounds can't solve the problem there's always the shotgun... I expect it would be plenty, though. The 1911 gets the call because I shoot it better than any other gun I own.

7 + 1 rounds is plenty. If it's not practice more or get a 12 ga.

If 7-8 rounds bother you, then don't use a 1911.

I keep a 1911 next to me, and I've never felt underarmed.

I like a heavier trigger for a home defence gun than my 1911's have. But the round count doesn't bother me at all, my normal go to is 6 shot 357. Although I've been thinking of replacing it with my P220 just because I like 45's, but it is one of the guns that stays in my truck so I really just need another P220.

I don't keep a 1911 for Home defense. I just use my carry gun. If I can't handle an issue with 5 rounds of 38 special+p, I don't think any handgun will save me. Especially with home defense, you must be aware of your target and what is beyond it. I only plan on shooting when I am certain of hitting the target.

You expecting a grizzly bear attack or a flash mob? Somebody would really want you or your stuff real bad to stick around long enough to see you run the magazine dry. However, if you have capacity worries you might as well just get what makes you comfortable. There's a few .45 ACPs that will give a much higher capacity. I don't know about the others, but the grip on a Springfield XD isn't much bigger than a 1911 grip even with the double stack.

If you're fairly well versed in using a pistol, 8 or 9 rounds is plenty to start with.

It'll be fine if you do your job. Keep a spare mag and flashlight handy.

Lemme see...I have two 1911s by me and my wife has her Nighthawk by her side of the bed...yep, all set.

.357 magnum said:

I an curious if anyone keeps a 1911 on their night stand for home defense? I have been apprehensive of doing such a thing because of the lower mag capacity. If you use a 1911 for Home Defense to you keep a spare mag next to it? Right now I have a Springfield XDM 9mm with 20 rds and a Taurus Model 845 .45acp with 13 rounds both doing duty in and on my night stand. [I do the 2 gun method rather then spare mag]

Thank you Everyone

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Threefiftyseven,

Back in collage, a century ago, I kept a Colt LW Commander .45 as my gun. One night a car's alarm went off outside my window. So I got up, put on shorts and t-shirt, and slipped my commander on my belt under the t-shirt. While examining things outside the cops showed up and flashed their search light on me. So I walked up to them and they asked me who's car it was. I told them and then got the owner of it to come down (two story house) and turn it off. Cops never knew I was armed (didn't matter really cause I was on their side.)

Thing is, 8 rounds in the gun and no spare mag. Was I worried?

No.

I was already a IPSC competitor (back in the walk-n-draw days) and I felt confident that eight was plenty.

Actually today I still do. While I pack a Glock or S&W J I still do have some 1911s and always will.

Don't worry about high capacity guns and lots of ammo. Better to shoot 1000 rounds and keep 10 than shoot 10 and keep 1000 rounds!

Deaf

My bedside gun is a Springfield TRP with TLR-2 on it. I have a few mags in the nightstand. I keep this gun beside my bed over all my other handguns beside its the gun I'm the most accurate with. I'd much rather have 8/8 on target than 8/17.