Home defense with a 1911

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.

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What's the largest room or shooting distance in your home?
Why do you think you need more when you have the advantage of the layout and everything else?

To the people that replied in a Negative Manner real gun fights are NOT as easy as they may look on Television. For one example I have had to use a shot or two just to keep a person Pinned in a location so you do NOT lose track of them. I was undercover ATF for almost 9 years until being shot. I do NOT panic in a Firefight.

The Best to All!

Frank

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So being someone who has trained and "been there done that" more than the vast majority of people on this forum, my question is, what information/insight did you expect to get out of this thread that you don't already have?

I have a 1911 on tap. If home defense can't be accomplished within 8 rounds (i guess it's possible), the 30-30 hanging next to it will finish the job. But realistically, if i can't solve the encounter in 8 rounds, i have a bigger problem than I first thought.

I've got a .45 Witness doing nightstand duty. 10+1 and a spare mag, but I'd rather not have to shoot 21 rounds through my house. I'm hoping if it ever comes to that I can do it with 3 shots or less. The Witness is SA/DA with a safety, so it functions much like the 1911.

Accuracy is paramount. Speed is important, but not as important as accuracy. The .45ACP round is a powerful round, especially in hollow point. 7 or 8 rounds of that should be plenty to stop an attacker or two even from furthering their endeavors. Keeping an extra mag or multiple extra mags should be sufficient for your needs. If you are worried about a more serious threat (Such as 3 or more attackers armed with long guns and ballistic vests), you may want to save and invest in a long gun yourself. You want my final opinion on your question, OP? I think your 1911 with an extra mag is great for home defense.

I used to keep a 1911 for HD, but have moved to a double stack 9mm (Walther PPQ) primarily so my wife could use it when I’m not home. She wasn’t fond of my 1911(s) and wouldn’t practice with them. Secondary reason was to gain a rail for light/laser.

Chuck

It's silly to shoot twice. That's why I carry a10mm.
Just line up all twelve attackers, in the hall way.
One round of 10mm, self aiming of course, will explode them all.
Clean up the mess.
Rub my feet.
Clean my gun.
Call the police.
Then, with it's last bit of momentum, ring the neighbors doorbell. Asking for a cup of sugar.

Used to, spare mag next to it. In the nightstand drawer, not on top. I was carrying a 642 at the time. When I got home, the snub and the flashlight I also carried (managed a bar that was fairly dark), went next to it. My carry gun switched to a Glock 19, so the 1911 went into the safe. I keep the Glock and an extra mag bedside now. The 642 stays there as well. Too easy to slip into a pocket without having to open the safe.

The Range Officer usually stays on the Missus' side. She hasn't requested her Sigma from the main safe even once since the Springfield came into the house.

I used to keep a 1911 (Kimber Classic Custom) on the night stand for several years and never had any concerns. I also had an M1 Carbine next to it as well and if I really thought the balloon had gone up, to heck with the 1911, it would be the carbine I'd grab.

I recently purchased an XDm 4.5 in .40S&W and figured a TLR-4 would work well with it. Being the first pistol I put a light on, I was impressed at the results enough to replace my 1911 with it for nightstand duty. I find 17 rounds of RA40TA inspires a tad bit more confidence, especially since I can illuminate my target.

The Kimber still enjoys target time, but I must say that I like the XDm.
I also replaced the M1 Carbine with a Mossberg 590, but I still believe it would be next to impossible to find a better weapon than the M1 Carbine for such a role.

Be REALLY careful with ideas like, "seven .45 bulets is plenty" or "one 10mm is plenty". This is not anywhere close to true. And even if it were, you don't know how many shots it will take to get that one GOOD hit.

The reason I rely on long guns for home defense, is that in my home, I am not restricted to the portability, convenience, and concealabity of a handgun. Why should I limit effectiveness?

I keep my Ruger SR1911 with 8-round mag filled with Federal 180 gr. Low Recoil Hollowpoints. There are very few situations that I can think of where I would feel out-gunned with 8 rounds of .45 acp...and if I am, then there's always the shotgun in the closet

So you would WAIT until you felt outgunned to grab your best weapon?

mljdeckard said:

Be REALLY careful with ideas like, "seven .45 bulets is plenty" or "one 10mm is plenty". This is not anywhere close to true. And even if it were, you don't know how many shots it will take to get that one GOOD hit.

The reason I rely on long guns for home defense, is that in my home, I am not restricted to the portability, convenience, and concealabity of a handgun. Why should I limit effectiveness?

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I agree with your basic premiss; however, I like many others live in a rather densely populated subdivision. Standing in my living room, facing the front of our house, we have neighbors with children at 12 O'Clock (directly in line with out front door) approximately 300 feet away. The same is true at 1 O'Clock and at 2 O'Clock at slightly greater distances. At 3 O'Clock we have an elderly couple less than 100 feet away. And so on and so forth as you move around the clock ... many adults and children in range and very capable of being grievously injured by a high powered long gun. I mean, if it's not "high powered" it's not effective seems to be the general consensus.

I have a proven reliable mini-30 and a dozen 5, 20 and 30 round magazines. I have a Garand that's just as reliable and thirty loaded Enblocs. I also have a 12 gauge pump shotgun ready to go and my wife's 30-30 is likewise ready.

I choose to first go to a pistol. My responsibility doesn't end at the walls of my house even though I also am not restricted to the portability, convenience, and concealabity of a handgun.

You do realize that thos pistol bullets are more likely to go through more walls than a good defensive round out of your mini, right?

You do realize that thos pistol bullets are more likely to go through more walls than a good defensive round out of your mini, right?

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Can you explain this please? I believe most assume a 223 round from a rifle will penetrate sheet rock easier than a 45 acp Gold Dot.

tipoc

Being able to hit my target is more important than having a 10+ rounds vs. 7~8 rounds.

I have an M&P 40 becuase I don't hit any better with a 1911. If I hit significantly better with a 1911, then I would choose 1911.

However, ignore those who say "X rounds is enough," "If you can't solve your problem with X rounds."

Those statements are ignorant. Period.

No one knows how many rounds will be enough.

I use M&P40, but it's certainly not because I somehow came to a conclusion that 15 rounds is "enough."

mljdeckard said:

You do realize that thos pistol bullets are more likely to go through more walls than a good defensive round out of your mini, right?

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There's some very good reading here: http://www.ar15.com/ammo/project/Self_Defense_Ammo_FAQ/index.htm#OVERPENETRATION

And of course there's this fun stuff: http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/bot1.htm

But the Mini-30 is just one of several rifles. That means nothing really, except that I don't own a gun that fires a .223 varmint round and I can assure you a 150 grain bullet from a Garand and the 170 grain bullet from a 30-30 is a better perpetrator than the 40 S&W class of ammunition. As is my pump slug gun.

We all have our opinion and this is mine, and the fact is my opinion is of no use to anybody but me. I guess if George Patton had had a gun chambered in 40 S&W he's have called it "the greatest battle implement ever devised".

tipoc, your post made my day

About the 1911, I do not see why it would not work as a HD gun. Just make all rounds count and know where each of them is going

"I wish I wasn't carrying so much ammunition" said no one who had survived a firefight ever.

I am a 42+ yr Leo retired, 2 times around the world-Glad to be home. G22wLight is bed gun, G21+2 mags close. Ruger Mini14/Light/EoTec/HS 12Ga 16" Rifle sight gun also close.
Hope NSA gets all this-I am just a retired GI/Cop who loves America and feels sorrythat Odumba is mmessing it up!

1911 for HD

I use a Glock because I live in CA. We have weird liability laws that make DOA easier and cheaper to defend in court. I have full confidence in the 1911 and carried one as a heavy weapons gunner in Vietnam, but I use a Glock now.

No. I use a Glock 19 w/ an M3. Also have an AR15 in reach.

The biggest reason I dont use a 1911 for HD is the lack of a rail, the lack of desire to add one. I kept putting off geting a Surefire 310/610R due to another hobby (hot rods), and it was discontinued. Same story with the Dawson rail...

If I could afford a railed 1911, or if surefire would breed an X300 with a 610, I'd use a 1911.

Well, I like the 1911 platform a lot. However, I've never felt that it is quite reliable enough for the job, and they are a little more complicated than I care for. I have several 1911s, and due to the higher cost of ammo, I don't train as much with them.

I personally prefer the more simple and more reliable other platforms, which are also less expensive to train with in smaller calibers.

Magazine capacity also controls round count and would influence my caliber selection. I prefer 25-30 rounds of .40 caliber or 9mm over 8 rounds of .45 (higher cap 1911 mags never seem to work). However, if I were in a locale that prevented 11+ round mags, I would possibly opt for the 1911...

The 1911 is an excellent firearm and if I were more limited in options I would feel comfortable with one as my nightstand gun and/or carry gun. But I simply prefer more modern/more reliable/greater capacity designs.

Yes, I use a Colt 1991A1 (ORM) and have it in a small safe next to my bed. It contains the gun and two spare magazines. The safe is opened each night. I feel perfectly safe.