recomend an auto for CCW

[bigmike45]

mattdus,

it's a shame that you are not comfortable with the cocked & locked 1911 you like so much. please understand that functional failure in a firearm can happen anytime to any gun. the 1911 has proven itself again and again to be one of the safest design with all its redundant safety systems, and with proper training of the gun operator, is almost flawless. i would be more concerned about a non 1911 that doesnt fire when needed, due to mechanical malfunction. like i said earlier. all man made products, such as guns, can have a functional failure. like the others....i am concerned that the accidental discharge was simple operator error.

my suggestion is use what you like, train in its proper use, shoot it often. this will help increase your comfort zone. another suggestion is to unload the gun, remove the magazine, cock & lock the gun and carry it around your house and other places unloaded until you are sure it won't malfunction. check it often to see if the hammer is down. if not, it has not malfunctioned. get yourself some snapcaps and load a magazine full and practice cycling, loading, unloading, testing the trigger using the different safety features....even try to make it go off with the safeties engaged and of course I mean when using the snap caps. eventually you should build that comfort zone to carry the gun the way it was designed to be carried...condition one....cocked & locked.

 

[Thain]

I did say it was an illogical feeling, didn't I? But I've done alot more reading on the matter, and I'm coming to think of condition one as perfectly safe.

I'm a totally newbie to handgun ownership, and as my general comfort level with them grows (and my savings account does) a M1911 will be on my list for it's sheer reputation and looks... if nothign else.

Like most folk, I imagine I'll be sucked into its cult in good time.

 

[DHart]

I am totally comfortable with Condition One carry on a 1911... especially so with one of Colt's Series 80. With a Series 70, if the sear were knocked off the hammer hooks by some severe jolt, I think it may be possible for the gun to fire. With a Series 80, even if the sear got knocked off the hammer hooks or even if the tip of the sear completely broke off, the hammer would fall, but the firing pin block would prevent the falling hammer from driving the firing pin toward the primer. I think Colt's Series 80 is a superb design, especially for a carry gun, because is really is a very safe, very tried and true 1911 design. I wholeheartedly recommend the design to anyone wanting to carry a 1911 cocked and locked. Beyond that, I often carry series 70 design 1911's and feel quite confident in their safety.

On this topic, I have found that extended thumb safeties, especially AMBI thumb safeties can be inadvertantly swept off - this is a real concern to me. On the other hand, I have never had a GI-style, single sided thumb safety ever accidently sweep off of safe on a 1911... the single-sided GI-style thumb safety is exceptionally secure. Obviously, my preference in thumb safeties, expecially on any 1911 I carry concealed or in a fanny pack is for GI-style, single-sided only. I am not a fan of either extended or ambi thumb safeties at all. I think John Browning had is right in designing a non-extended, single-sided thumb safety. Of course lefties really do need the ambi, but other than that, I think they're more of a liability than an asset.

 

[waterhouse]

If you don't want cocked and locked, want 9mm, want single action, and have the money, I'd look into the HK P7. The squeeze cocker is about as safe as can be, the gun is slim, and it isn't plastic.

 

[Sir Aardvark]

My primary carry pistol is a SIG 229R in .40S&W. I like it a whole bunch and I would recommend it to everybody.

Still though, I think you should reconsider the parameters you made in your initial query; you start out by saying that you like .45ACP and SA, but then ask for firearms that do not have these features. I realize a Glock is not a 1911, and you did mention you are not enamored of plastic, but I carry the below as my second CCW pistol and I am quite happy with it.

Glock 30:

Plusses = .45 ACP, single action trigger, holds 10 rounds, lightweight, small, supported by a large aftermarket, reported to go "Bang!" every time, more or less rustproof.

Minuses = thick as a brick, requires excellent trigger discipline, has no soul.


Say what you will about Glocks..... I'll still carry my Model 30.

 

[Graystar]

Technically speaking, the Glock is the safest gun to carry and I’ll go +1 on a G26 with the Pierce extension if you’re looking for the safest gun possible.

Practically speaking, I’d carry a 1911 around, cocked and with the safety OFF, with as little worry as I would a Glock. The grip safety works, and it’s all you really need.

Personally I prefer Glock because it’s lighter, and the baby Glocks have a much smaller grip (which helps with concealment.) But if you have a 1911 and you like it, carry it. It’ll be safe and work just fine.

 

[psyopspec]

mattdus, what failed mechanically on the 1911 your friend had the AD(ND?) with?

 

[TexasRifleman]

.

 

[Highland Ranger]

I like the 45 better than the 9mm. HK USPc, 1911, etc good choices in 45.

If size matters, check out this thread - great job by Bobo in comparing small pistols side by side: http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=171820&highlight=Small+auto+comparison

 

[Newton]

SiG P239 in 9mm loaded with 127gr +P+ Ranger Ts.

It really is all you need.

 

[mattdus]

mattdus, what failed mechanically on the 1911 your friend had the AD(ND?) with?

to my understanding the hammer notch was worn and allowed the hammer to follow the slide forward. I find it hard to belive that is what happened though as it never gave me any problem and was still fairly new, I do still have a feeling that he did something wrong, but if it happened to him it could happen to me. I suposse part of my problem is also that the majority of my training revolves around revolvers shot strictly DA, although I am not nearly as good that way as I am with a SA auto. I have decided that I will be sticking with the 1911 (thats really what I think I wanted anyway ) I will just have to find a better quality gun that is still close to my price range, that way I might feel a bit better about it