Love at first sight is such a weird thing...

[WinchesterAA]

So after unloading my AK and my 870 I'm in the market for a new gun to follow me around in all the strange places my truck takes me. I went to just about every gunshop in the South Houston area (8 or 9) including carter's country and academy on the off chance they had something that caught my eye. No bueno, el-cheapo and plastic fantastics. I almost bit the bullet on an HK P7 til I realized the mags cost 60$ a pop.

So I was bummed. I was gunna have to go abroad to find something that fit my needs, or so I thought.. Then I remembered a little gem I went to one day from reference from an old supervisor I had. I stopped by there, and my eyes focused immediately. Didn't see anything else on the rack but this poor lonely little Hi-standard Crusader.

I don't know why I like it, or anything like that, but tomorrow it will be mine, unless of course ya'll can talk me out of it between now and then.

So, what say you on the topic of Crusaders. I've never seen one before, and with tax and all of that it's 595$ OTD. Good deal?


ETA - 34 views and no word.. Sounds like something not everybody and his uncle owns. From what I've read though it's a lot like the RIA compacts except with novak sights and a different name. 600$ seems a bit high compared to the online deals ranging from 450-550$ but I figure with shipping+FFL I'd be looking at about 6 anyway.

 

[bofe954]

I think for 6 bills I'd keep looking. I'd also be tempted to look at a commander sized (4 or 4.25 inch barrel) vs an officer size 1911.

Here is one example-
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=359137

I don't know the seller, but you'd be more likely to have a reliable gun with the longer barrel and you'd have a springfield which would get you decent customer service. Just an opinion...I have ZERO experience with the handgun you are talking about, but that is what I would do.

If you hate plastic but aren't set on a 1911 $600 should get you in a used sig P228, you could get the older S+W autos for <$400. You could get a CZ P-01 new. These are decent options if you can handle DA/SA handguns, I have never liked them personally.

If you are stuck on an officer's size 1911, you aren't that far money wise from a colt defender. I'd search the gunsmithing forum on defender's and small 1911's before purchase though.

Sorry to be a wet blanket...

 

[1911Tuner]

Once...when comparing and immediately settling on one of three outwardly identical Smith & Wesson revolvers, a wise, old gentleman spoke up and told me:

"Revolvers are like that. You know it when you put it in your hand."

 

[Feud]

If it is a good price for that gun, then I say go for it. Sure, there may be other guns that, on paper or in someone else opinions, are a "better" gun for the price. But the most important thing is that the new owner is happy, and if that's what has caught your eye then that's what deserves your money.

 

[WinchesterAA]

Hmm.. that was my initial impression on both counts TBH, but this thing was smoother and more solid than my colt. Doesn't mean much til I shoot it, but it'd sure be a fun gun if it worked, and would be easy to carry.

Still thinking about that P7, though. I want a really good, really easily concealable pistol in either 9mm or 45ACP.

I didn't realize how good of a shot I was til I got my colt up and running, so I fear the weakness of the 9mm a lot less, especially after a trip to my deer lease provided stomping grounds to land myself dinner in the dead of night on a snap shot on a rabbit across the trail.

My price range is 1k and despite all I've learned about anything.. My mind has gone entirely blank on this subject. I literally drove around all day going to gun shops and found not one thing but this HS Crusader that gave me the warm fuzzy.

OTOH, there's an alternative option that I'm not entirely sure about..

This Briley barrel in my 1911 uses that spherical bushing they came up with, but for all intents and purposes the way it mates with the slide looks the same as a typical bushing.

I'm wondering, if I got a 5" barrel, a normal bushing, and a new guiderod couldn't I swap it out and have a regular non-compensated govt model?

THAT would be a good deal. Cuz then I'd have a crapload of money for ammo too.

It would also curtail to my very flexible and mildly amusing style of having guns that just don't look like they should work, but for whatever reason are the only ones that do, and I get to laugh and make fun of everyone else's fancy crap while I'm blasting away with my ultra-beater deluxes. The HS would lead me astray in that regard, which in my experience has been a total waste of time, but now that my firearm industry contacts are growing and I've become friends with a few local gunsmiths maybe a pistol I tune myself wouldn't be a bad thing. I don't know, but this $ is burnign a hole in my pocket almost as big as the hole left in my chest from selling my AK and shotgun, and I desire greatly to fill that void.


Further note - Concealing my 1911 with ciener kit on it in an IWB holster is both comfy and concealable, much to my surprise. With compensator, the end pokes out slightly below my pocket (damn near to the knee), all I need is that comp gone and I'm good to go with a better holster so barrel length isn't an issue for my intended method of carry.

Add to that fact nobody really makes an IWB holster for a gun that's just shy of a foot long.