CommanderCrusty
Member
I just returned from the range after shooting two very different .45 autos--the Para 1911 and the Ruger P345. One was an excellent Threat Management Tool, the other an excellent Gun Fighting Weapon.
These guns could hardly be more different. The Para was a GI Expert. Single action. Frame mounted safety. Eight round mags. The Ruger was a traditional double action (TDA). Slide mounted safety. Eight round mags and a magazine disconnect. Most people love or hate one or the other. Me, I grew up with the 1911 as it was my father's favorite pistol, and I've been shooting them for more than 30 years. On the other hand, I carried a TDA .45 for more than 15 years as my EDC. Here is what I learned after shooting them back to back from 21 feet to 25 yards.
The Ruger shot a little left for me. I was 100% reliable in this second 100 rounds (the gun is new and I had some first round failures to feed in the first 100 rounds.) Both guns had low recoil. Both had low profile safeties.
The Para shot a little to the right for me. It was also 100% reliable and has been since it came back from the factory for a repair. (Honestly, I expect every 1911 to need a trip back to the factory for something.) The steel 5" 1911 did recoil LESS than the 10 once lighter, plastic frame Ruger, and the frame mounted safety was easier to use than the slide mounted safety on the Ruger TDA.
While I am very comfortable with either pistol and either manual of arms. I can say without hesitation that the TDA Ruger is by far the best Threat Management Tool around. Safety on, or safety off, this gun is without a doubt SAFER for holding folks at gunpoint than the 1911. No, the Para didn't go off accidentally, but the trigger pull was a lot shorter and lighter. It went off sooner than I expected. That's good, right? A surprises break? Better accuracy and all that? Maybe not. The group in the neck area of the green target (above) was fired standing at 25 yards, each shot double action. The shots fired single action at 25 yards with either pistol strung a bit vertically around the center ring (at top of page).
Also, the features on the Ruger make it safer for moving around in a public place, for routine administrative handling, for walking around my home (and the dog, and the furniture and the black cat, and the clumps of cloths that didn't make it into the laundry). I also prefer the features of the Ruger in a struggle for the weapon, or when getting near someone who might be a threat to me. That's what I like about the slide mounted safety, double action trigger pull and the magazine disconnect.
On the other hand, if you really needed a pistol to save your life Right Now, I believe, very firmly, that the 1911 is a better Gun Fighting Weapon. Sure you can use either gun for either purpose. I have alternately kept one or the other by my bedside in confidence. However, having shot them both, I will be using the 1911 a bit differently now. When necessary, I'll be walking with the 1911 muzzle pointed down at the ground, NOT at low ready. And I don't plan on ever taking anyone at gunpoint with a single action pistol. I'll either be pointing the pistol in a safe directions (like the ground), or raising it to fire immediately. That's were the 1911 excels.
Am I saying you should or shouldn't carry a TDA or 1911? Not at all. I was just surprised to see such a big difference in handling. I guess I shouldn't have been surprised--the 1911 was designed for cavalry soldiers on the battlefield, while the P345 was designed for police officers on American streets. Different missions.
The questions is, which mission is more similar to yours? And how can you adapt your gun handling to better meet your mission requirements?
PS
The little target in the upper left of the above photo was done with the Ruger, single action, standing at 21 feet.
These guns could hardly be more different. The Para was a GI Expert. Single action. Frame mounted safety. Eight round mags. The Ruger was a traditional double action (TDA). Slide mounted safety. Eight round mags and a magazine disconnect. Most people love or hate one or the other. Me, I grew up with the 1911 as it was my father's favorite pistol, and I've been shooting them for more than 30 years. On the other hand, I carried a TDA .45 for more than 15 years as my EDC. Here is what I learned after shooting them back to back from 21 feet to 25 yards.
The Ruger shot a little left for me. I was 100% reliable in this second 100 rounds (the gun is new and I had some first round failures to feed in the first 100 rounds.) Both guns had low recoil. Both had low profile safeties.
The Para shot a little to the right for me. It was also 100% reliable and has been since it came back from the factory for a repair. (Honestly, I expect every 1911 to need a trip back to the factory for something.) The steel 5" 1911 did recoil LESS than the 10 once lighter, plastic frame Ruger, and the frame mounted safety was easier to use than the slide mounted safety on the Ruger TDA.
While I am very comfortable with either pistol and either manual of arms. I can say without hesitation that the TDA Ruger is by far the best Threat Management Tool around. Safety on, or safety off, this gun is without a doubt SAFER for holding folks at gunpoint than the 1911. No, the Para didn't go off accidentally, but the trigger pull was a lot shorter and lighter. It went off sooner than I expected. That's good, right? A surprises break? Better accuracy and all that? Maybe not. The group in the neck area of the green target (above) was fired standing at 25 yards, each shot double action. The shots fired single action at 25 yards with either pistol strung a bit vertically around the center ring (at top of page).
Also, the features on the Ruger make it safer for moving around in a public place, for routine administrative handling, for walking around my home (and the dog, and the furniture and the black cat, and the clumps of cloths that didn't make it into the laundry). I also prefer the features of the Ruger in a struggle for the weapon, or when getting near someone who might be a threat to me. That's what I like about the slide mounted safety, double action trigger pull and the magazine disconnect.
On the other hand, if you really needed a pistol to save your life Right Now, I believe, very firmly, that the 1911 is a better Gun Fighting Weapon. Sure you can use either gun for either purpose. I have alternately kept one or the other by my bedside in confidence. However, having shot them both, I will be using the 1911 a bit differently now. When necessary, I'll be walking with the 1911 muzzle pointed down at the ground, NOT at low ready. And I don't plan on ever taking anyone at gunpoint with a single action pistol. I'll either be pointing the pistol in a safe directions (like the ground), or raising it to fire immediately. That's were the 1911 excels.
Am I saying you should or shouldn't carry a TDA or 1911? Not at all. I was just surprised to see such a big difference in handling. I guess I shouldn't have been surprised--the 1911 was designed for cavalry soldiers on the battlefield, while the P345 was designed for police officers on American streets. Different missions.
The questions is, which mission is more similar to yours? And how can you adapt your gun handling to better meet your mission requirements?
PS
The little target in the upper left of the above photo was done with the Ruger, single action, standing at 21 feet.
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