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Newbie needs advice

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banjoman2255

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Jul 14, 2009
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57
Location
Jackson, Mississippi
I recently graduated from Ole Miss and moved into a house full of women with my girlfriend. As the man of the house I feel that it is important to provide security for my lovely ladies. I am interested in purchasing a 1911 for home/personal defense. I am willing to spend about a thousand dollars and have a friend who can get just about anything at wholesale. What do you pros suggest. I have my eye on Kimbers.
 
Are you going to leave it at home or CCW or both? That needs to be taken into consideration. A full size 1911 can be carried concealed but the smaller commander size and smaller are much easier. You also need to consider practicing with the 1911 or any gun for that matter you purchase.

For a thousand you should be able to get a reliable and functional 1911 easily.
Personally I like the Springfield and Colt 1911's. I have never owned a Kimber so I can't make a suggestion there.
 
As the "man of the house" also don't forget that those lovely ladies have an interest in protecting themselves. I laud your interest in providing protection for you and your roomates, but have you talked to them about your plans? I'm sure you have considered this, but you wouldn't want your plans to be a surprise to any of your roomates.

That being said, to answer your original question, I believe also that a Commander sized 1911 might be a good choise. I personally have the Dan Wesson Bobtail Commander and it is in your price range and a first quality pistol. Never owned a Kimber myself so I can't say there.
 
I have discussed gun ownership with the girls as well as the homeowner/landlord and they are all in agreement that it would be a good idea. We live in a suburb of Jackson, Ms that is very safe but Jackson is awful and has tons of crime.
 
Really, as far as I'm concerned, the primary advantage of the Commander size is for a little easier concealment. There is only 3/4" difference in barrel length. I guess it is more just personal preference. Also, I have owned both Full and Commander size and just prefer the balance and the way the Commander size points. My DW Commander is also my daily carry piece and while you wouldn't think 3/4" makes that much of a difference, it does to me in how comfortable it is to carry.

All that being said, shoot both and see which you like better.
 
Kimbers are great 1911s! Extremely well made with quality parts and they're very accurate. They have a pistol for just about any style you like. Personally, my favorite is the Grand Raptor.

Colt would be my second nod. It's hard to be Colt quality!

For the price range that you're looking at, there won't be anything that isn't up to par. When you get in the higher end 1911s, they're all going to please. It will really boil down to personal preference. My preferences just happen to be Kimbers and Colts and it's probably because I've just been exposed to them and shot them more than anything else. Get something that you're going to be very happy with. If you're going to spend that kind of money, go to a gun range and rent several different 1911s and see what you think. You want to make sure you get something that you'll be happy with for a long time. Full size, commander, officer, bobtail, compact, there are a lot of different options available. Don't rush the decision.
 
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You can pick up a Kimber Stainless II for under $1,000. They are a traditional 1911 pattern pistol. Except, they are a bit tighter, and a bit more accurate than a field grade pistol.

You can probably find someone in your area that knows the 1911 and what makes a nice one "Nice". Get them to take you shopping, offer lunch. The deal you can get on a good used 1911 might leave change in your pocket to pay for lunch and still have enough left over for a little Tupelo 2-step'n.
 
Springfield Armory Operator would be a superb choice. it was supposidly made as a defensive gun. and Springfield is arguably the best all around manufactuer of the 1911
 
Don't take candy from strangers. Do your own research, head to several gun stores in your area, look and feel as many as you can. talk to as many people as you can. Don't make a choice based on any single source. You also would be wise to consider that Colt has been making them longer than any other Mfg. by about 50 years.
 
Personally, I'd stay with the 5" 1911 if you don't plan on carrying it. My experience has been that the best 1911 for the money, in your price range would be:

1. Colt
2. Dan Wesson
3. Springfield Armory

Specific recommendations would be the Colt Gold Cup Trophy, the Dan Wesson Pointman 7, or the Springfield Armory "Loaded".

Good luck and happy shooting!
 
First of all, make sure you do all your own research, just take what we say as 'advice' and nothing else.
Secondly, before you buy anything, go to your local range and rent a variety of 1911's, Kimber, Colt, whatever you see---and shoot some other .45's (HK, SM M&P) as well, so you have a good frame of reference. The $$ you spend on rental fees is well spent, and hey--it's an afternoon at the range, what's more fun than that?
Finally, remember for home defense, ammo is crucial as well. Make sure you research the various loads out there--range ammo, and 'tactical'. There are a lot of excellent personal defense rounds being produced right now.
If I were in your shoes, I'd probably grab a nice, used Kimber, full size, and load it with Hornady Critical Defense. For range ammo, Blazer Brass is cheap and decent.
Good luck. Make sure you include your girlfriend in your range trips!
 
You can certainly look at the 1911 platform, just understand it requires a little more training than point-n-click guns like the Glock or other non-safetied types.
 
I recommend a Springfield Micro Compact Loaded it'll probably be about 1,000 but I've been happy with mine. However in the Summer in shorts and a Polo my Keltec P3AT is alot easier to conceal so the Springer goes with me in cooler times. For 1,000 you could get a good used 870 12 GA, a P3AT and and base RIA 1911 and still have a buck or two for shells so you might consider something like that as well.
 
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