1911 Barrel Length for hunting?

[Bowhunter57]

I'm considering the purchase of a 1911 style pistol, in 10mm, for hunting coyotes inside 50 yards. The debate in my mind is whether it's worth the extra money for an extra inch of barrel length, from a 5" barrel to a 6" barrel. Honestly, for my hunting purposes I don't see the difference in ballistics....only a longer sighting plane.

Next question: Iver Johnson or Rock Island Armory?

Thank you, Bowhunter57

 

[243winxb]

Guaranteed to shoot 3" groups at 50 yards. https://www.lesbaer.com/Premier6Hunter.html

 

[JTQ]

While there are more and more options for 6" 1911's becoming available, the 5" 1911 is still the standard, and your holster availability will be exponentially greater with the 5" gun. However, if you know what holster you plan on using, and you really probably only need one, and it is available for a 6" gun, that point is moot.

The other thing to think about is the 5" 1911, in .45ACP, is a pretty well thought out gun with over 100 years of sorting out the issues. The further you get away from that, the more problems you could expect. A 6" 1911 in 10mm from a semi-custom maker like Ed Brown, Les Baer, Wilson Combat, STI, etc., is probably pretty well thought out and tested. A 6" 1911 in 10mm from an overseas manufacturer may not be so well thought out.

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

http://www.ballisticsbytheinch.com/10mm.html

 

[BigBore44]

I'm considering the purchase of a 1911 style pistol, in 10mm, for hunting coyotes inside 50 yards. The debate in my mind is whether it's worth the extra money for an extra inch of barrel length, from a 5" barrel to a 6" barrel. Honestly, for my hunting purposes I don't see the difference in ballistics....only a longer sighting plane.

Next question: Iver Johnson or Rock Island Armory?

Thank you, Bowhunter57

A 5” gun is fine. And RIA all the way. The Tac II like mine has a polished feed ramp, fully supported chamber, heavy barrel, ambidextrous safety, and adjustable trigger. All those options for $500?

 

[entropy]

Perhaps the minimum barrel length in OH is over 5". Here in WI, it is 5 1/2".

 

[FL-NC]

You are just shooting a dog. That said, why a handgun? Just to make it more challenging?

 

[mcb]

If your going to hunt with it with iron sights the longer sight radius is nice. Not only do you get a little bit more velocity (just a little in this case) you get a bit more mass and this can help tame the recoil if you're pushing the loads.

If I was going to do it I would go 6-inch and I would have a look at Remington R1 Hunter (6-inch 10mm) if you can find a good deal on one.

 

[CraigC]

+1 on the 6" Remington. Looks like a lot of pistol for the money. Came real close to bringing one home but glad I waited now that they have a bronze finish version. Still want to have a blued 6" .45Super or Rowland built.

 

[Bowhunter57]

I greatly appreciate all of the experiences and suggestions, so far.

Perhaps the minimum barrel length in OH is over 5". Here in WI, it is 5 1/2".

entropy,
Ohio's regulations for deer hunting is 5" or longer. However, there are NO restrictions for hunting varmints. I guess I should clarify "NO", by saying there are no full-auto weapons, no 30+ round magazines and no explosives...which leaves out an RPG. 24/7 and 365 hunting with no bag limits.

You are just shooting a dog. That said, why a handgun? Just to make it more challenging?

FL-NC,
I've hunted everything, except coyotes, so YES the challenge. Also, I'm currently hunting with a Savage 22-250 that's sitting on a bi-pod next to me, while I'm holding a shotgun for close range shots. It would be much simpler and lighter weight to carry a hunting pistol. Revolvers are too hard on the ears...especially in a wooded area. I'd even considered a 9mm or 45acp, but a 10mm will double as a legal cartridge for deer hunting and .357 caliber is the minimum caliber size.

Bowhunter57

 

[SDGlock23]

5" is plenty as long as it's legal to use and as for caliber, you could kill a 'yote with a 9mm @ 50 yards, so it doesn't HAVE to be a 10mm, a .45 would work just fine although the 10mm would be a bit flatter shooting. I've heard real good things about the Ruger SR1911 10mm, some claiming 3" groups @ 50yds.