New Handgunner.
Hello 'yawl from Arkansas!
I used to shoot a lot when I was living on a farm growing up in Northeast Missouri.
After I left home for college, I lost interest. I had to qualify with a pistol when I went through AOCS with the Navy, but I was beginning to believe the public health crap about a gun in the home being more likely to be used against you than in protecting you.
After the Navy, I went to medical school and became a psychiatrist. When a patient threatened to kill me (I used to receive about 30 emails a day from him. This went on for months) and I found out that, as much as everyone sympathized with me, no one could actually do a damned thing about it!
Not the county prosecutor, not the police, the sheriff's department, a couple of federal police forces (since I'm a federal employee), NO ONE.
Except ME!
When I realized that the official 'serve and protect' types had no legal duty to protect me, and that their only duty was to come and draw a chalk circle around the dead bodies of me and my family and go, "Tsk, tsk. He sure was a nice fella! What a shame!", and fill out the paperwork, My wife and I decided to get our concealed carry permits.
Well, I needed a gun too. My father had several nice ones, a Browning High-Power in 9mm, a Remington 870 Police Riot 12 gauge shotgun (which both seemed to disapeer when he passed away). I inherited a little Beretta 950 JetFire, made in Italy and chambered for .25 ACP.
After much research, I realized that if this coked-up patient ever came after me, a .25 ACP wasn't going to do much more than piss him off even more.
So, to make a long story short I bought a Colt's 1991A1 Commander NRM in stainless steel. After being obsessive in making the decision I decided 1) if I were going to buy a .45 ACP it was going to be a stock Colt and 2) all of this replacing and tweaking, while justified in some instances, was mostly driven by market forces (hey, I'm an audiophile too, talk about market forces and obsessions driving people to mortgage the house!).
I bought my Colt from SpecializedArmaments.com who had the best price and had them in stock. They also sent it within the day I ordered it 2-day air! Say "Hi!" to Tina if you decide to check them out. I had a problem with one of the magazines being a little tight and sent it back for replacement, she turned it around right away. Good company! No I have no financial interest in the company. They're in Mesa, Arizona.
I've learned how to strip it down to the last pin and spring. I found a few burrs and have smoothed down any sharp edges (dehorned) it. There was a small burr on the top edge of the hole in which the disconnect rides. I figured out if the burr got stuck and held the disconnect down the pistol wouldn't fire, but this was easily fixed.
The rangemaster told me I'd bought a fine gun, but recommended I let the gunsmith do a "trigger job" on it. Honestly, I've learned so much about the piece on my own that I can understand that someone not so technically inclined should let a 'smith look over any new gun for reliability issues. But as for the trigger, the stock one has a little uptake, some movement up and down if you wiggle it, but once my trigger finger is on it, it breaks like glass and there is no overtravel.
So, all in all the only mod I've decided on is a Cylinder and Slide extended, wide thumb safety. Everything else, the sights, the feel of the trigger, the reliability (100% after 500 rounds of 230 grain fmj) of the stock O4091U is excellent! I'm going to save up for another for my wife.
I may change the grips someday. The stock rubber grips look O.K., probably good if your hands are wet, but the do tend to increase the friction on the draw if under clothing (looking at Micarta grips).
Well, next is a 12 gauge riot gun then an assault rifle, several thousand rounds of ammo, some courses at The Chapman Academy, and I'll be done. I promised my wife!
(m77-.308) and glock 17&26. I want to get into IDPA or so shooting this year.