Need .45 Auto recommendation

[Archer1945]

Personally I go for the XD45, just got one and love it. A Colt Series 70, had one and loved it. The Sig P220, would have bought it but couldn't justify difference in price between it and XD, besides I like the longer barrel on my XD.

As to breaking in a handgun, figure at least 500 rounds before everything is seated and inplace the way it should be. Handguns are tools and any good mechanical piece of equipment is going to need some break-in. The only ones that don't are so poorly made and loose it's lucky they work. If you don't think a firearm needs a break-in period just shoot a brand-new gun and one with a couple of thousand rounds through it. Even if they came off the assembly line side-by-side they will feel entirely different. If you don't want to take time to shoot 500 rounds through your gun before you start carrying it, then spend the money for a Les Baer, Wilson, or other such gun; you might then have to use only 250 to 300 rounds to break it in. Even though my XD45, which I just bought put 75 rounds down range with no problems I still would not use it for a carry gun until I put 200 - 300 more rounds through it then another 50 to 100 rounds of the ammo that will be used in it in case of a serious social event.

 

[jlh26oo]

I love logic

Personally I go for the XD45, just got one and love it. A Colt Series 70, had one and loved it. The Sig P220, would have bought it but couldn't justify difference in price between it and XD, besides I like the longer barrel on my XD.

As to breaking in a handgun, figure at least 500 rounds before everything is seated and inplace the way it should be. Handguns are tools and any good mechanical piece of equipment is going to need some break-in. The only ones that don't are so poorly made and loose it's lucky they work. If you don't think a firearm needs a break-in period just shoot a brand-new gun and one with a couple of thousand rounds through it. Even if they came off the assembly line side-by-side they will feel entirely different. If you don't want to take time to shoot 500 rounds through your gun before you start carrying it, then spend the money for a Les Baer, Wilson, or other such gun; you might then have to use only 250 to 300 rounds to break it in. Even though my XD45, which I just bought put 75 rounds down range with no problems I still would not use it for a carry gun until I put 200 - 300 more rounds through it then another 50 to 100 rounds of the ammo that will be used in it in case of a serious social event.

So we have:
a) any good mechanical equipment needs a break in period
b) if a firearm DOESN'T need a break in, it is poorly made and loose
c) poorly made and loose = lucky to be working

b -> c) if a firearm DOESN'T need a break in period, it is lucky to be working

If a gun works 100% out of the box, it is lucky to be working at all.

 

[Stachie]

Sigs are nice!

 

[shooter1]

First off you eliminate all 1911 platform guns! Simply put they are not that reliable out of the box, and no I am not going to use 500 rds to break in a gun.


Wow! That was pretty close thru the 70s when the old service pistols were being cobbled up by would be gunsmiths trying to make bullseye guns out of them. For the last 20yrs any 1911 from a reputable manufacturer could be expected to perform pretty much like any other platform right out of the box. Most malfunctions with any auto pistol are caused by three things:
Bad ammo--------Bad magazines--------Operator error. The 1911 is no exception.
Most who say the 1911 platform must be tweaked to run, are only repeating what they have heard, and have limited, if any first hand experience.
str1

 

[tnieto2004]

Check out the XD's

 

[Richard2003]

Lots of reccomendations.
I may stay away from Kimber as I have heard that you have a 50% chance of getting one that doesn't need service and the company is hard to deal with.

Richard

 

[Lurper]

Richard,
Your best bet for the money is not to look for something that is reliable out of the box. The Taurus PT1911 is a good basic gun. Start with that and use the other $500 for training. Or, get it hard chromed (far superior to stainless) and use the remaining $300 for training and ammo. As you better define your needs, you can modify the gun to fit them. I haven't counted, but in the few months since I have had my PT1911, I have easily put more than 5,000 rounds through it in 3 months w/o a single malfunction! I have put more than 3 million rounds through 1911's throughout my career and would trust nothing else with my life. My PT1911 is both my carry gun and one of the guns I compete with. Right now, you would be hard-pressed to find a better gun for the money. I modified mine to fit my needs and still have less than $600 in it and when it is hard chromed I will have less than $800 in it and will put it up against any 1911 I have owned (and that's quite a few).

 

[shooter1]

I have put more than 3 million rounds through 1911's throughout my career
WOW, dude!!! My math is a little rusty----but,--That's over 163 rds a day for 50yrs @ $5 a box, about $275,000 for ammo. I love to shoot, but not that much----
str1

 

[Fun2Shoot]

Cut and paste from the 1911 poll thread:

I'm a 1911 part-timer. I've had a used Colt Commander in the 1980's - real good gun. A 1980's NIB Colt Govt 1911 9mm - nightmare - trying to forget the whole affair.

And now I own my grandpa's Colt 1911 WWI sidearm from his US ARMY service in France (bailing France out the first time).

That Colt 1911 just runs great!

However, after reading about a bizillion posts about every 1911 brand ever made on about 8 different gun forums for over a year, it seems to me that the plain-Jane S&W 5" 1911 stainless model is a great shooter right outa the box and very, very few complaints when compared to all the other 1911 makers.

I voted S&W 1911 and will buy one just as soon as funds permit.

 

[1man]

HK USPf or USPc
Sig 245 or P220
1911 from Springfield, Para Ordnance, Colt, Kimber, STI, Wilson, Les Baer, Clark, Ed Brown,

 

[P0832177]

Quote:
First off you eliminate all 1911 platform guns! Simply put they are not that reliable out of the box, and no I am not going to use 500 rds to break in a gun.

All of mine have been.

Well Geez you must be the exception to the gold standard that has tainted 1911's from the get go!

Quote:
and no I am not going to use 500 rds to break in a gun.

No flame intended - but don't listen to the above. I like the 1911 & Kimber in particular, but whatever you choose, especially in a semi-auto, run 5 or 10 boxes of ammo through it before it goes from a range queen to a CCW piece & you trust your life on it.

Wrong again buddy simply put many customer service people tell people do not send in the gun till you have shot 500 rds of ammo through it. Well, any normal person is going to make sure SD ammo works, I want reliable out the box and that sure is not a 1911....

First off you eliminate all 1911 platform guns! Simply put they are not that reliable out of the box, and no I am not going to use 500 rds to break in a gun.


Wow! That was pretty close thru the 70s when the old service pistols were being cobbled up by would be gunsmiths trying to make bullseye guns out of them. For the last 20yrs any 1911 from a reputable manufacturer could be expected to perform pretty much like any other platform right out of the box. Most malfunctions with any auto pistol are caused by three things:
Bad ammo--------Bad magazines--------Operator error. The 1911 is no exception.
Most who say the 1911 platform must be tweaked to run, are only repeating what they have heard, and have limited, if any first hand experience.
str1

There you go assuming things. Been shooting longer then some of you been alive. My experience with 1911's is quite extensive Colt, Springer, AMT, and custom guns.
Sure gun might feed hardball, but the gold standard for reliability was to feed the Speer 200gr Flying Ashtray! Most guns need throating or a good polish job of the feed ramp etc.....

All you people that can have your opinion, and that is great. But, the reality is that most of you are gun owners and not shooters. Big difference!

Geez I know many people that think the 45ACP is the be all end all, but the reality sets in feeding one is expensive.
I watched shooting buddy find that out last summer! He had to have a 1911 Kimber Team Match. A shade over a grand. Well, it was fun for a box or two of ammo, then he decided it was too expensive to shoot.

And, when it comes to reliable out of the gate well the 1911 does not fit that heading. Of course nothing is perfect.
I would rather buy a G21 for 550 and slew of ammo and know it works then to buy a Kimber for over a grand and have issues.... The 1911 is an acquired taste and a person has to have tolerance for indulging tweaks...and the maintance issues with keeping springs changed out.

I have combined 41K through my USPf (33K) and USPc (8K) aside from changing the magazine springs in the USPf
and just recently changing the recoil spring in the USPf along with firing pin spring they have been 100 percent reliable....

 

[hatterasurf]

Take a look at the new FNP-45.

 

[Redhat]

PO832177

Sorry you had such bad luck with the 1911 platform. Mine shoot great!

By the way...does Speer still make that round?

 

[shooter1]

PO832177

Sorry you had such bad luck with the 1911 platform. Mine shoot great!

Don't think Po832177 had too much trouble with the 1911s. With 3 million rounds fired.
str1

 

[J32A2]

HK usp45 or SIG P220!!!!!

 

[Lurper]

PO
As a professional shooter, I beg to differ. The 1911 is one of if not the most reliable platforms available. The best part about the 1911 is the wide variety of parts and modifications available for them. Why do you think it is the weapon of choice for most professionals?

Str
When you have a range in your back yard and sponsors who pay for your ammo, it's easy to like shooting that much!

 

[1977kaw]

My Brother and I Vote:

S&W 1911 we both love the fit and feel $750 approx. SC and PD 4-1/4 " barrels

 

[HoustonHusker]

My brother Kaw is right...and when I carry my PD I can hardly tell I've got it on.

HH

 

[SatCong]

Go with Les Bear PII or Concept VI.

 

[Anna's Dad]

I really like my Ruger P345. You could buy 2 of them and have money for ammo for $1000! Great gun. Its utterly reliable, much better ergonomics than previous Ruger designs and just plain fun to shoot.

 

[TomN]

I'm really liking my new M&P 45. It fits my hands better than the Glock 21 and 30 and it's lighter than my 1911s. In fact it's my new carry pistol.

 

[Lex]

Sig P220.


Lex

 

[mpmarty]

In a 45 auto the last brand I would recommend is a Glock. The design is so flawed it is almost funny. Take a nice steel magazine like the XD has and wrap it in this stupid plastic crap so it gets real fat, then make a grip frame to hold it out of the same stuff and make it thick also for driving over it with a truck (normal use for a pistol right?) so you wind up with a grip like a two by four that sets the barrel at an un natural angle with a silly hump in the middle of the backstrap. Wow, that took real talent. Go out and rent some 45s and shoot them then buy whatever you like best and don't worry about what other folks think, you are the one paying the dough and depending on it. Congratulations on picking an adequate caliber and whatever you settle on, shoot it a lot!

 

[Cousin Mike]

The .45 and I...

...it's been a journey, to put it bluntly.

My first .45 was an Auto Ordnance GI 1911 - razor thin sights, no beavertail, and crappy plastic brown grips. It cost me $380. It ran like a champion right out of the box, but it was a little uncomfortable to shoot... okay, more than a little. The lack of a beavertail combined with the arched mainspring housing really hurt my hand, and the crappy sights hurt my eyes.

So I got a Sig P220 and put the AO 1911 in the safe, where it stayed for a long time. The P220 and myself were (and still are) a match made in heaven, and the only way I'd ever get rid of it would be to trade it in for one of the new beavertailed P220's (can you tell I like beavertails? )...

...but I missed my 1911. I'd sampled some of Kimber & Colt's offerings, and started to see what I'd been missing. When I took my concealed carry course, I was privelaged enough to sample a custom 1911 from Wilson Combat - and that was it. I knew I needed another 1911. Maybe not a $3,000 custom piece, but something much nicer than I had.

Last week I got rid of the AO and bought a Smith & Wesson 1911. I couldn't be happier. I guess what I'm saying boils down as follows:

1.) Get a 1911... you will one day anyway. And if you get a 1911, don't get a cheap, basic 1911. Get some bells & whistles, even if it's just a beavertail safety and some nice sights. I won't give brand-name advice, but I went with Smith & Wesson after a lot of careful consideration. With $1,000 to spend, you're not short on choices, and you can have something you'll be proud to own.

2.) It's REALLY hard to beat a Sig - so if the 1911 isn't the way you want to go (this time), invest in a P220 and enjoy

3.) Take whatever's left, buy ammo, and have fun... and then, of course, come back & tell us all what you got.

...but only if you have pics.

 

[crebralfix]

SIG P220
SIG P220 Carry
Glock 30
Glock 21
Springfield XD 45
Springfield XD 45 Compact
CZ-97
HK USP Compact 45