On Saturday, I had an itch that needed to be scratched. I scratched it and become $800 poorer as a result but happy with my purchase. I bought a new Colt .45 New Agent.
Some background. For awhile now I've wanted to consolidate the calibers within my handgun collection but at the same time find a new carry pistol in a caliber greater than .38 or 9mm. In my pistol/revolver collection I already have .45's, .357's, a 9MM and a lot of .38's. Most of these are full size rigs but I have a few .38 snubs as well. In any case, depending on what activity I'm doing, something from my collection gets carried.
Back to Saturday, I'm single so I didn't have the drama of justifying this purchase with anyone other than myself. After a short conversation in my head with my imaginary wife (she's a brazilian/swedish/asian mix - it's my fantasy after all), I decided I would get rid of one of my safe queens to justify the purchase. With permission granted from the imaginary wife I went out on a drive have a "look" at various gun shops. What I was looking for was a SIG 239 in either .357 SIG or .40 caliber. I have a SIG 220 .45 and I like it (I also have a full size Colt S80 1911 as well). At the shops, I was able to find 9mm SIG 239's but not the other two calibers. I then started really thinking, what do these two SIG calibers do for my ammo "consolidation" desire? Nothing, it just adds new different calibers to my ammo storage which is not good.
At the midpoint of my Gun Shop "Look" circuit, I came across the Colt New Agent under the glass case all shinny and new. I was surprised at my reaction just looking at it from afar. It was dark and good looking and just had that Old School look to it that might scratch my itch.
Once I held it in my hands I knew I was done. Here it was: It's a .45 and a 1911 - ammo/caliber consolidation desire met, and It has a 3" slide and weighs less than a SIG 239. Other positives included: a seven round magazine; the coloring on the frame and slide was magnificent and dark; field stripping would be slightly easier as It didn't have the same bushing as my full size 1911. For the size and weight in a .45, I had to own it.
I took it home, stripped, cleaned and lubed it and went to the range firing about 75 rounds through it along with my SIG and my other Colt 1911 for comparison sake. Yes, I felt a little more recoil in the 3" New Agent but not as bad as I thought it would be. It will be a fine carry piece.
As I read elsewhere on other blogs or forums, the Colt New Agent is very much a task orientated pistol. It has gutter sights and in my mind fills my purpose which is a short range, fast presentation, defensive weapon in a lightweight concealable package of forty five love. For most of my carry scenario's, I don't need sights other than the gutter sights that come with it. I subscribe to the 3-3-3 rule or whatever variation you have that say most of us civilian folk are not first responders, LEO, going to be in running gunfights, not going to be in a position of having to shoot beyond 15 yards for Zoombie attacks. I'm not an LEO anymore and I suspect if I ever needed to present my pistol to someone to save my arse it will be a close-in situation and without time for much sighting. In any case, the Colt New Agent .45 meets my requirements for typical carry.
Some background. For awhile now I've wanted to consolidate the calibers within my handgun collection but at the same time find a new carry pistol in a caliber greater than .38 or 9mm. In my pistol/revolver collection I already have .45's, .357's, a 9MM and a lot of .38's. Most of these are full size rigs but I have a few .38 snubs as well. In any case, depending on what activity I'm doing, something from my collection gets carried.
Back to Saturday, I'm single so I didn't have the drama of justifying this purchase with anyone other than myself. After a short conversation in my head with my imaginary wife (she's a brazilian/swedish/asian mix - it's my fantasy after all), I decided I would get rid of one of my safe queens to justify the purchase. With permission granted from the imaginary wife I went out on a drive have a "look" at various gun shops. What I was looking for was a SIG 239 in either .357 SIG or .40 caliber. I have a SIG 220 .45 and I like it (I also have a full size Colt S80 1911 as well). At the shops, I was able to find 9mm SIG 239's but not the other two calibers. I then started really thinking, what do these two SIG calibers do for my ammo "consolidation" desire? Nothing, it just adds new different calibers to my ammo storage which is not good.
At the midpoint of my Gun Shop "Look" circuit, I came across the Colt New Agent under the glass case all shinny and new. I was surprised at my reaction just looking at it from afar. It was dark and good looking and just had that Old School look to it that might scratch my itch.
Once I held it in my hands I knew I was done. Here it was: It's a .45 and a 1911 - ammo/caliber consolidation desire met, and It has a 3" slide and weighs less than a SIG 239. Other positives included: a seven round magazine; the coloring on the frame and slide was magnificent and dark; field stripping would be slightly easier as It didn't have the same bushing as my full size 1911. For the size and weight in a .45, I had to own it.
I took it home, stripped, cleaned and lubed it and went to the range firing about 75 rounds through it along with my SIG and my other Colt 1911 for comparison sake. Yes, I felt a little more recoil in the 3" New Agent but not as bad as I thought it would be. It will be a fine carry piece.
As I read elsewhere on other blogs or forums, the Colt New Agent is very much a task orientated pistol. It has gutter sights and in my mind fills my purpose which is a short range, fast presentation, defensive weapon in a lightweight concealable package of forty five love. For most of my carry scenario's, I don't need sights other than the gutter sights that come with it. I subscribe to the 3-3-3 rule or whatever variation you have that say most of us civilian folk are not first responders, LEO, going to be in running gunfights, not going to be in a position of having to shoot beyond 15 yards for Zoombie attacks. I'm not an LEO anymore and I suspect if I ever needed to present my pistol to someone to save my arse it will be a close-in situation and without time for much sighting. In any case, the Colt New Agent .45 meets my requirements for typical carry.
