First jump into semi auto

[TomVA]

For woods walking and home protection, I would put capacity ahead of trigger or ammo cost, which means 9mm for me. I keep one mag loaded with ball ammo for walking and another with HP for home protection. Try holding a CZ75B 9mm DA/SA 16+1 and your shopping will be over.

 

[jstert]

ssbn617b, your situation resonates well with mine. my turn with a clapped out, m1911, 45acp in 1972 army training was simply awful and turned me to revolvers for a long, long time.

what else do you own now? where do you live and woods-walk? do you face ten-round mag restrictions? are you likely to encounter four or two legged apex predators? what is your recoil tolerance and hand strength? how close are you to collecting social security? do you like to tinker/modify or just want an out-of-the box tool?

my choice was a s&w shield ez 9mm, but i’m just about 80% happy with it. my decision process was based on:
1. name-brand maker with solid factory support and a long-earned, good reputation.
2. only lots of practice makes perfect, so cheaper 9mm beat out 45acp.
3. easy to rack, load, shoot, fieldstrip.
4. under ten-round mag capacity.
5. out of the box useable.

what i don’t like about the ez 9mm is its grip safety and mushy trigger reset, but it otherwise mostly matches my semiauto pistol needs needs now, and more so, in my looming old age. i still lean to a steel taurus m85 revolver, which was my sole firearm for 25 years due to frequent transfers, and my most-shot handgun, a ruger sr22 pistol.

practice does make perfect. do you have a 22lr semiauto pistol? mine is a ruger sr22. by all logic i should have gotten a ruger 9mm semiauto pistol as a stablemate, but you might consider a 22lr and 9mm semiauto pistol family affair. i’m very accurate with my sr22. it is my always snowbird and shooting range piece. it could even suffice as a ccw or woods-walking sidearm, for my humble needs anyway, ymmv.

good luck!

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I don't have a 9mm. I hand load and cast my own bullets. I find the .45 ACP very cheap to shoot.

 

[SSBN617b]

To all,
I own Ruger Gp100 357, Gp100 22 and Sp101 38 spl.
I live in a free state and have no mag restrictions. I am retired but just started a fun job. I have no intentions of CC a 1911, just want to revisit an old friend. If I like it a lot I may sell off some revolvers.
I am a traditionalist in a big way, and have little interest in wonder nines.

 

[westernrover]

My first time I ever shot a pistol was a 1911 in boot camp 1973. That gun just felt sooo natural in my hand. 2 mags later the chiefs were all over me asking me how long I have been shooting and if I still compete. Never shot before I said . I did well because I listened to the instructions and had no bad habits. Fast forward I guess I am revisit that first time love.

The Hamilton was decommissioned in '93, so I figured you were an old dude. Try a 1911/SX9 in 9x19mm.

 

[Hangingrock]

I first shot the 45ACP at MCRD Parris Island SC in 1964. To day as opposed to decades past and present I shot more 9x19MM than 45ACP because it is more cost effective. Yes I reload!

 

[bannockburn]

SSBN617b

When I first started to go big into semi-autos my favorites were (and still are), the Colt Government Model, along with the Combat Commander; all in .45 ACP. Except for my occasional dalliance with .38 Supers, and a Browning BDA .45 (a.k.a. SIG P220), and a HK P9S, I have been fairly content overall with my Colt 1911s.

But times were changing in the market place with more and more double stack 9mm.s being made and I found myself foregoing the usual single stack SAO 1911 .45 and looking at a lot broader element by way of Glock 17s, Ruger SR9cs, Star Model 28s, Steyr M9s, SIG P226s and P229s, along with CZ P01s and P07s. I currently find myself in the position of having quite a few more 9mm.s than .45s!

By going more with the 9mm. than the .45 ACP, I am enjoying the lower cost of ammunition, less wear and tear on my wrists and elbows, and a lot more lighter and compact gun (easier to carry concealed too), yet capable of holding more rounds than the more conventional design of the1911.

 

[I6turbo]

.....I’ve shot my CZ97B .45 more this year than all three .45 1911’s combined. ....

That was me -- I had a 1911 that I enjoyed shooting. I also admire the 1911 design as I do most of JMB's guns, so there was that attraction to the 1911 as well. But then.... I bought a CZ 97B and it instantly became the .45 ACP that I found myself shooting. I really think it shoots as soft and nice as my 9mm guns, and it's very accurate, really a great handgun. It's a shame that more people didn't give them a try while they were in production and selling for a couple hundred bucks less than they are now.

 

[IbexArmament]

Hello Friends,
Been thinking for a while but life $ got in the way. Anyway I am still looking into a 1911 but am caught up in the .45 vs 9mm conundrum. My issue is based on ammo cost for the most part.
Long term I think .45 might suit my personal protection but am thinking cost of ammo in favor of 9 mm.
I could buy one and sell and move on but looking for advice.
Mitch

Modern 9mm is a better round than .45. If you're gonna reload, get 10mm, ay?

 

[Archie]

I've just never like 9mm. But it is true it's a cheaper ammunition.
I keep several - back ups - Government Models in .45 ACP for serious use. I do not shoot them as much, but I keep them and carry one for defense at need - which is daily in my mind. For fun and practice I shoot mostly .38 Special and load for it.

Did I say I've never liked 9mm?

 

[Pat Riot]

Get yourself a Glock. Owwww…Who threw that!

Lots of good recommendations. With ammo prices as they are I would go with the 9mm. Later when prices are more realistic get a .45 ACP pistol.

 

[CapnMac]

Anyway I am still looking into a 1911 but am caught up in the .45 vs 9mm conundrum. My issue is based on ammo cost for the most part.

Ammo prices are kind of all over the place. Availability shows no real bias--other than by region.

Look closely at the Armscor/RIA and Tisas varieties out there.

For one, you can get a 1911 in either caliber to the same overall dimensions, so the "fit" will be the same with either either ammo.

Some of the SDS imports are incredibly inexpensive and the "tea-sauce" (TISAS) are legit for 1911s.
This is my Commander-sized TISAS (they call it a "Tanker") in 45acp

(those are Hogue grips--a decided upgrade, as was the arched mainspring housing.)
My cost was right at $400. A similar one in 9x19 would have been similar.
So, if a person were of a mind to getting one in the "other" caliber would be easy enough.

Oh, and Bud's has a bunch of these on sale over the TG holiday--not that I'm an enabler or any such thing . . .

If it matters, 45acp is one of those calibers near ideal for a simple Lee Loader, too.

 

[aaaaa]

I've just never like 9mm. But it is true it's a cheaper ammunition.
I keep several - back ups - Government Models in .45 ACP for serious use. I do not shoot them as much, but I keep them and carry one for defense at need - which is daily in my mind. For fun and practice I shoot mostly .38 Special and load for it.

Did I say I've never liked 9mm?

Only thing is that one might do well to have a couple of 9mm guns because in the worst case scenario, the bottom falls out of society, you can't buy ammo as we have anarchy, what you find is what you use. Most abundant caliber ammo out there probably is 9mm, so at least have one for emergency capability.

 

[Mosin77]

I used to be a diehard for “I’ll shoot my favorite calibers and the price disparity is never enough to matter.” Except that, nearly 3 years on, .45acp is readily available, at least online, but is still $0.50/round in bulk. Basically double the pre-crazy price. 9mm is also double the pre-crazy price, but it’s considerably cheaper, so I have switched over to it for most of my recreational shooting. Before the panic I mostly shot .45 and .32 auto.

 

[sgt127]

I love .45’s. Particularly 1911’s. Carried one has a duty gun for 20 years.

But, retired now, I just don’t shoot .45’s that much anymore. I’ve got a little posse of girls I shoot with. They all have nines. So I shoot a Sig P239 9mm as much as anything. As my usual carry is..a P239 in 357 SIG.

But, I picked up Springfield Armory EMP4 in 9mm. It’s a light trim 1911 with a very decent trigger.

A bunch of the old hardcore .45 shooters seem to be moving to 9mm. Bill Wilson. Ken Hackathorne.

A 9mm you can afford to shoot, a lot, beats a .45 that you really need to save up to go shoot.

If moneys no object. And you’re arms, wrists are good. No arthritis etc. get a top tier 1911 and, live life.

 

[nettlle]

I have government models and commander models in both 9mm and 45acp. I can reload 45acp as economically as I can purchase factory 9mm. Gives me a choice with no drama. It's been my experience that I can shoot 45acp more accurately than 9mm.
If I were only allowed one caliber it would be 45acp.

 

[Archie]

Only thing is that one might do well to have a couple of 9mm guns because in the worst case scenario, the bottom falls out of society, you can't buy ammo as we have anarchy, what you find is what you use. Most abundant caliber ammo out there probably is 9mm, so at least have one for emergency capability.

In fact I do have four pistols in 9x19mm. They are all in my 'historically significant' collection. Two High Powers (one marked FN and one marked Browning), a S&W M39 and a Beretta Brigadier. I'm not really worried about the worst can scenario as I'm considerable older and rather unsuited to living rough. I'll probably time out or be killed in the first conflict.

My luck is that I'll survive a long time.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Modern 9mm is a better round than .45. If you're gonna reload, get 10mm, ay?

But modern .45 ACP is better than 9mm. Anything done to improve the performance of the 9mm can be done to improve the .45.

 

[SSBN617b]

Vern,
I have to agree but looking at my funds the 9 mm is looking promising. All I am going to do for 100% of the time ( I hope ) is paper punching.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Vern,
I have to agree but looking at my funds the 9 mm is looking promising. All I am going to do for 100% of the time ( I hope ) is paper punching.

You have a good point. But it has always been a mystery to me why people who CAN carry, don't.

 

[sgt127]

Vern,
I have to agree but looking at my funds the 9 mm is looking promising. All I am going to do for 100% of the time ( I hope ) is paper punching.

Even though it’s “just” a 9mm. If you can become proficient and confident with it, you are better served with a 9mm than a .45 you can’t afford to shoot.

And, the paper doesn’t care.

You can always add a .45 1911 down the road.

Life was a lot easier when the department supplied duty and training ammo.

 

[orionengnr]

Since someone mentioned .22LR, buying a 1911 in .45acp and then buying a .22LR conversion kit is an enjoyable, economical option.
I have one built by Ceiner (no longer in business AFAIK) and one built by Kimber--used both yesterday.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Even though it’s “just” a 9mm. If you can become proficient and confident with it, you are better served with a 9mm than a .45 you can’t afford to shoot.

And, the paper doesn’t care.

You can always add a .45 1911 down the road.

Life was a lot easier when the department supplied duty and training ammo.

That's why everyone should handload. When you do, the .45 ACP is price-competitive with the 9mm. A 230 grain bullet cast from wheel weights, loaded over 5.0 grains of Bullseye is pretty cheap.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Since someone mentioned .22LR, buying a 1911 in .45acp and then buying a .22LR conversion kit is an enjoyable, economical option.
I have one built by Ceiner (no longer in business AFAIK) and one built by Kimber--used both yesterday.

You've got that right -- I carry a Kimber, and I have a Colt Service Ace kit mounted on an M1927 Argentine.

 

[trackskippy]

That's why everyone should handload. When you do, the .45 ACP is price-competitive with the 9mm. A 230 grain bullet cast from wheel weights, loaded over 5.0 grains of Bullseye is pretty cheap.

Not really, it just relative. 9mm is still cheaper if you reload. I load both, and a lot more 9mm than 45acp these days.

Reality is, and it doesn't matter what the type of gun it is, 9mm is just easier to shoot well with (its just physics ), and not the pipsqueak that you often hear from those who insist 45acp is better. A good hit with either will give the same result, and a good miss with either will do the same. Whatever you shoot best with, in a realistic manner, just not target shooting, is the gun you want.

The only way to figure out what gun will work the best for you and why, is to give them all a good try, or as many as you possibly can, and decide that answer for yourself. Thats the only way I know anyway. I have, or have had, most of the different types of handguns, and shoot at least one of the basic types on a regular basis. A good example of any of them will work fine, if you are willing to put in the time and effort to learn the gun and shoot it.

SA, DA, DAO, striker, whatever, as long as you have a quality gun thats been vetted, the only weak point in the mix, is you.