From an availability standpoint....

[Extremely Pro Gun]

I want to buy a new handgun. I have narrowed it down to the Ruger SP-101 357 with a 2 1/4 inch barrel and shrouded hammer. Or the Colt goverment model 1911 XSE in stainless.

The gun will be shot, allot! I need available ammo. And I would also like to know which one is most likely to be in high demand and hard to find later on down the road.

Thanks

 

[armoredman]

Two wildly differant models, that's for certain! Is this for range, home, or carry? Are you proficient with wiping off the 1911 safety prior to firing, or are you more a double action kinda guy? If you don't take off a safety before firing a lot, skip the 1911 if it's for home defense or carry. Don't like stout recoil and limited ammo? Then the 1911 is better - practice with that safety system on a triply checked unloaded gun a few thousand times, then at the range with a good instructor.
If it's for range and fun gun, either one will do fine, but I see more 38 and 357 ammo on the shelves down here - which means ZIP since my ammo supply cannot translate to what stores have in YOUR area - call around.
357 can be shot with 38 Specials, which is much cheaper than 45ACP, IIRC. That might be a factor for you.
Of course, my advice is worth exactly what ye paid fer it!

 

[Extremely Pro Gun]

Wiping the saftey??

 

[springmom]

I think he meant "swiping" the safety, as in clicking it into firing position. Not a difficult thing to do, as the safety is right up next to your thumb by the slide on a 1911.

Nobody can tell what ammo is going to be available in the future. You'll be in the best position to shoot "a lot" if you learn to reload for whichever caliber/gun you choose. Commercial ammo is much more expensive, over time, than reloading is.

Are you a long-time gun owner, and have you tried out these two types of guns? Just asking, as I too noticed that the wide disparity of the guns you mention. Often people will choose their gun based on what fits them best, and what they shoot best; and the answer to those questions is the answer to which gun you should get.

Jan

 

[Vern Humphrey]

You have posted two very good choices in handguns -- and the final decision will probably boil down to personal choice. Here are some things to consider:

1. Ammo availablity. Both .45 ACP and .357 will be available about anywhere ammo is sold. The SP 101 can also use .38 Special ammo, if you choose.

2. "Shootability." A snub nose revolver can be difficult to master. The SP 101's weight, especially if you choose the 3 1/16" barrel will be a help there. The M1911, with a good trigger is one of the most "shootable" guns you can find.

3. Carrying. The SP 101 is a bit lighter, but a bit wider than the M1911. The flat M1911 lends itself to carry in an IWB very well.

4. Manual of arms. The SP 101 as a revolver is easier to make safe and to see that it is unloaded. For combat/self-defense shooting, both guns take some training -- the SP 101 because you have to master double-action shooting, the M1911 because you have to master the safety and other controls.

5. Capacity and reloading. The M1911, with an 8-round magazine and one up the spout compares very favorably to the SP 101 with a 5-round cylinder. And the M1911 can be reloaded much faster.

 

[BlindJustice]

+1 on all points of consideration by V. Humphrey

add in, an SP101 as well as a standard plain jaine
1911, neither are going to go up in demand over time
however, the resale value has probably been determined
as to demand on the used market, for the SP101 anyway,
for a 1911 = it would depend on make/model

Randall

 

[Legasat]

From an availability standpoint....

The revolver can shoot .38 or .357.

.38 is cheap and plentiful for practice, and .357 hits as hard as a .45 for self defense.

 

[Water-Man]

If you want simple get the .357mag revolver. Easier to operate and clean. Less complicated but it doesn't take a rocket scientist to become familiar with a 1911 either. Both calibers will do the job. More recoil with the .357mag. More ammo capacity with the 1911. Neither is great for concealed carry but it can be done. Ammo availability is a crap-shoot. Both are usually available but not so much at present. Shoot them both and decide. Good luck.

 

[BlindJustice]

Hey, Extremely Pro Gun,

Is this your first handgun? how much experience with
firearms in genral? You're comparing Apples and ORanges

Consider

.45 ACP 5" Bbl.
Federal 230 gr. JHP = 895 FPS


.357 Mag .
Federal 125 gr. JHP
6" Bbl. Len. = 1702 FPS
4" Bbl. Len. = 1511 fps
3" Bbl. Len. = 1255 fps
2" Bbl. Len. = 949 fps


The slow burning powders used in the .357 mag
require a longer barrel to realize the ballistics
most often associated with this cartridge. It loses
a lot of velocity, and gains a LOT of muzzle flash
from the unburned powder esacaping the barrel
and egniting - to say nothing of the heavy recoil

From Ballistics by the Inch

http://www.ballisticsbytheinch.com/results.html


I have a full size 1911 5" Bbl. as well as a
S&W Model 60 3" Bbl. .357 Mag - my carry load
for the MOdel 60 is .38 SPecial +P Even with
.38 special, I don't think I've ever shot
more than 75 rounds through it in a
single range session. WIth the 1911 it would be
rare to shoot less than 100 rounds, unless I just
ran short on ammo.

Another factor to consider for the 1911 is a
.22 LR conversion kit, very economical in order to
learn "squeeze the trigger" sight alignment, etc.

Randall

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Like the others have said, those 2 guns are on opposite sides of the spectrum. IMO you should pick the one that feels best in your hand and the one you can shoot best. Both the .357 Magnum and .45 Auto rounds are proven man stoppers so IMO that's a wash.

 

[Extremely Pro Gun]

I have shot and like them both. Right now the Ruger is easier to find than the exact Colt that i want. I like the Colt for IWB carry and the Ruger for everything else. (back pocket carry )

I have a glock 27, 22 and a taurus 38 sp. <---- Answer to some of yalls questions, not my first handgun purchase.

 

[c919]

well judging by the vast price difference, money isnt a huge issue....?

if i was in your shoes and wanted a .357 ruger and a 1911,
id be getting the SP101 and a ROCK ISLAND 1911, or a used 1911
(not too hard to find a decent one around the $500 mark).

both of which could be found for the price of a new Colt XSE.

i mean, those are just so different.... why not have both? you can easily make it happen. and those RII's seem like a great buy. i shot one at the range recently and loved it.

 

[David E]

A 4" .357, especially with adjustable sights, is a premier "all around" gun. A fixed sight snubby is not.

A .45 1911 requires a dedication to the system for serious use. Are you willing to put in the time it requires?

I'd also consider a 9mm, such as a Glock 17 or 34, a Smith & Wesson M&P (4" or 5") of a Springfield XD or XD-M

In fact, just yesterday, Walmart had 30 boxes of 100 rd packs of WWB in 9mm, as well as some in .40 and .45. NOTHING for .38 or .357, which was odd, I thought.

 

[texas bulldog]

if we're purely talking ammo availability, then 'round these parts lately i'd have to say the .357/.38 would be fed more easily. but that could easily change in a week or a month or any other amount of time without notice. and in "normal" times, you wouldn't have a hard time finding either. both were well-stocked anywhere as of last fall, that's for sure.

 

[10-Ring]

Kinda torn -- the versatility of the 45 acp and the Colt 1911 are a great combo. I've had my XSE for almost 6 years now and just shy of 12000 rounds and wouldn't trade it for anything. But since you say you'll be shooting it ALOT, the Ruger 357 magnum might be a good choice knowing you could shoot a fair share of 38 special through it depending on what is more readily available
For me, it would be a toss up.

 

[ben_i]

The Ruger is much cheaper. I have exactly what you want and I paid 320 for it locally. I just had to hunt around. The capability of the 357 to shoot 38's is nice. You just can't switch from 357 to 38 without cleaning the pistol first. Shooting the 357 in that gun hurts the hand pretty quickly.

 

[SHusky57]

since you already have glocks and a taurus 38 spl, I would say the Ruger.

Why?
1. Logistics - two guns that can shoot 38 special.... bulk purchases
2. Simplicity of operation - Your Glocks and revolvers all have similar manual of arms
3. Ruger SP101 is shiny.

 

[SHusky57]

You just can't switch from 357 to 38 without cleaning the pistol first

and why not?

 

[Hawaiian]

The current ammo shortage is temporary. It is already starting to ease up some. Buy the gun you like most and shoot best.

 

[hillbillydelux]

You just can't switch from 357 to 38 without cleaning the pistol first

and why not?

If you have ever tried it you will see why. 38 spl is a shorter round. Nasty crusty powder residue will build a ring at the case mouth of the 38 spl. Longer 357 case gets tight right about where the crimp needs to expand. Possible higher pressure. Best case accuracy suffers. Worst case revolver or shooter suffers.

 

[Hawaiian]

You can switch from 357 to 38. The problem is when you try to switch from 38 to 357.

 

[hillbillydelux]

Awww c'mon now you know what he meant.

 

[searcher451]

Anybody who resorts to running a poll on a gun board to determine his next purchase hasn't done enough testing of the guns in question. Put another way: The only guy who should be deciding your next gun buy is you. The observations, however genuine, of folks on this (or any other) gun forum should have no bearing whatsoever on the right selection for you. Take your two candidates to a range and run enough boxes through them to make an informed choice. One of them will fit your hand and eye better than the other; that's the one you want, and only you can determine it.

 

[crebralfix]

Buy both.

Use the 1911 for fun and carry. Use the Ruger for fun and carry when you don't want to deal with the 1911.

 

[easyg]

I recommend the Ruger.

.45ACP sells have suffered over the years as the popularity of other autoloader calibers have increased, so ammo makers might reduce the production of .45ACP ammo to increase production of .40S&W, 9mm, .380, .357Sig, and .4Gap ammo.

But when it comes to revolvers, the .357 Magnum and the .38 Special are at the very top of ammo production.