chaim
Member
OK, I'm thinking about getting another big bore service pistol. I love my Charles Daly 1911, but with over 10K rounds now it is getting a little loose and could use a tune-up. I'm using this (the fact that it may be at the smith for a few weeks) as an excuse to shop for another big bore service pistol as it shows up the fact that I don't have a spare- my only other full-size is a 9mm.
I don't want any bashing of any of the brands I'm listing. I'm not a newbie and I know what is good and what I like. I trust Taurus (I've had 4 with no problems) and don't want Taurus bashing. I don't want any 1911 suggestions- I love 1911s, but I'm going to hold out for the Taurus 1911 to come out to see how it looks before I buy another 1911 since I'm thinking that Taurus may be my next 1911.
What I do want:
-A full-sized, or larger intermediate sized, big bore handgun.
-I prefer single stacks in .45ACPs
-I prefer double stacks in full-sized, or near full-sized, .40S&Ws
-Mostly I'd prefer to be at 30oz or less, though there are a couple guns I'll make exceptions for
-I prefer fixed sights, but again, I'm willing to consider exceptions
-I would prefer .45ACP in most cases, but in some guns I'd prefer a .40S&W
-I want a gun that is pretty durable
-I would prefer DAO without a safety, a decocker only, or a frame mounted safety that works up for safe down for fire (only a few exceptions on this one).
-I would prefer a service size gun that is carriable (for winter carry anyway) to one just too big to ever consider carrying, but this is a secondary consideration living in MD (I only can carry when out of state).
-I want to be under $500 (MD prices- here, a SA Mil-Spec is usually around $550) and I'd prefer to be no higher than the $400-450 range.
Here are my main options right now:
-Taurus 24/7 in .45ACP. 12+1 rounds of .45ACP and not too terribly thick. See below for other criteria.
-Taurus 24/7 in .40S&W. Basically a larger version of my Taurus PT140 Milennium Pro that I love so much. 15+1 rounds of .40S&W. While, I'd generally prefer .45ACP right now, in this gun I'd prefer .40S&W. More rounds, similarly effective rounds, same sized gun. The biggest thing in the .40S&W's favor is that I could use the 24/7 mags as extended mags to reload my PT140 M. Pro. The DAO 24/7 is being discontinued for a DA/SA version- should mean clearance prices on the DAO 24/7 soon, but could also mean parts availability could become a problem a few years out.
-Taurus PT100. I want a big bore sevice pistol. I want a PT92. I'm only going to be buying a few guns this year, so this compromise will give me a little of both (more or less- it will be the PT100, the .40S&W version of the 9mm PT92). I may be totally happy getting basically the .40 version of the PT92 and a big bore, or I may be disappointed because of too many compromises (it isn't the 9mm PT92, it isn't a .45ACP). It is also the largest and heaviest of the options I'm currently considering.
-S&W SIGMA in .40S&W. New these run a bit under $400 around here. The new SIGMAs have fixed the issues of the original ones. Decent gun, S&W, good price.
-S&W 457. A little smaller than most of what I'm considering, but a nice .45ACP for under $500.
-Taurus PT945. One of my top two choices right now. Good gun, accurate, reliable, inexpensive. Fits my hand very well.
-Ruger KP345. The other of my top two choices. Probably the best Ruger auto ever made. Fits my hand well, well made, single stack (so thin), reputation for decent accuracy and it is a Ruger (thus reliability and durability).
Guns out of my price range that I'd consider (if I can find them used at the right price- though this makes them harder to find):
-Any S&W .45
-SIG 245. A little smaller than the others, but a nice gun.
-A SA "Loaded" or Kimber Custom II
-Ruger P90. Not really out of my range (at the top of it locally), but it is quite a bit bigger than I'd prefer. However, it is a great gun- accurate, nearly indestructable.
I don't want any bashing of any of the brands I'm listing. I'm not a newbie and I know what is good and what I like. I trust Taurus (I've had 4 with no problems) and don't want Taurus bashing. I don't want any 1911 suggestions- I love 1911s, but I'm going to hold out for the Taurus 1911 to come out to see how it looks before I buy another 1911 since I'm thinking that Taurus may be my next 1911.
What I do want:
-A full-sized, or larger intermediate sized, big bore handgun.
-I prefer single stacks in .45ACPs
-I prefer double stacks in full-sized, or near full-sized, .40S&Ws
-Mostly I'd prefer to be at 30oz or less, though there are a couple guns I'll make exceptions for
-I prefer fixed sights, but again, I'm willing to consider exceptions
-I would prefer .45ACP in most cases, but in some guns I'd prefer a .40S&W
-I want a gun that is pretty durable
-I would prefer DAO without a safety, a decocker only, or a frame mounted safety that works up for safe down for fire (only a few exceptions on this one).
-I would prefer a service size gun that is carriable (for winter carry anyway) to one just too big to ever consider carrying, but this is a secondary consideration living in MD (I only can carry when out of state).
-I want to be under $500 (MD prices- here, a SA Mil-Spec is usually around $550) and I'd prefer to be no higher than the $400-450 range.
Here are my main options right now:
-Taurus 24/7 in .45ACP. 12+1 rounds of .45ACP and not too terribly thick. See below for other criteria.
-Taurus 24/7 in .40S&W. Basically a larger version of my Taurus PT140 Milennium Pro that I love so much. 15+1 rounds of .40S&W. While, I'd generally prefer .45ACP right now, in this gun I'd prefer .40S&W. More rounds, similarly effective rounds, same sized gun. The biggest thing in the .40S&W's favor is that I could use the 24/7 mags as extended mags to reload my PT140 M. Pro. The DAO 24/7 is being discontinued for a DA/SA version- should mean clearance prices on the DAO 24/7 soon, but could also mean parts availability could become a problem a few years out.
-Taurus PT100. I want a big bore sevice pistol. I want a PT92. I'm only going to be buying a few guns this year, so this compromise will give me a little of both (more or less- it will be the PT100, the .40S&W version of the 9mm PT92). I may be totally happy getting basically the .40 version of the PT92 and a big bore, or I may be disappointed because of too many compromises (it isn't the 9mm PT92, it isn't a .45ACP). It is also the largest and heaviest of the options I'm currently considering.
-S&W SIGMA in .40S&W. New these run a bit under $400 around here. The new SIGMAs have fixed the issues of the original ones. Decent gun, S&W, good price.
-S&W 457. A little smaller than most of what I'm considering, but a nice .45ACP for under $500.
-Taurus PT945. One of my top two choices right now. Good gun, accurate, reliable, inexpensive. Fits my hand very well.
-Ruger KP345. The other of my top two choices. Probably the best Ruger auto ever made. Fits my hand well, well made, single stack (so thin), reputation for decent accuracy and it is a Ruger (thus reliability and durability).
Guns out of my price range that I'd consider (if I can find them used at the right price- though this makes them harder to find):
-Any S&W .45
-SIG 245. A little smaller than the others, but a nice gun.
-A SA "Loaded" or Kimber Custom II
-Ruger P90. Not really out of my range (at the top of it locally), but it is quite a bit bigger than I'd prefer. However, it is a great gun- accurate, nearly indestructable.