Turning 21 next week! Help me choose a 1st pistol

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TheLastBoyScout

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I've been looking forward to turning 21 and buying my first handgun in my own name (I've already got 2 thanks to PA's laws on parental gifts of firearms). Right now I'm leaning heavily to some kind of 1911... I've got a price cap, but it's enough to cover a new mid-range model or a nice used on at my local shop.

The primary purpose for this gun would be concealed carry, with some IPSC/IDPA use. The only unbreakable requirements for features are whatever it is needs an ambi safety and better sights than the WWII 1911 my brother shoots.

Like I said, I'm primarily looking at 1911s, but I'd be interested in any suggestions, preferably in a major caliber.

I've already got a DA/SA and a "safe-action" style pistol, both double stack mags, so I'm looking to try a straight SA design with a single stack mag for ease of concealability.
 
I'd put a plug in for the Sig 220 SAO's.

But I'm sure alot of people will say to go try some before you buy. That's good advice. See if you can find a place to rent a few and see what feels the best to you.

HTH
-Ted
 
Does that mean you DON'T have a quality .22 autoloader? Then, by all means, get a nice "loaded" Springfield (or Kimber, or S&W, or Colt, or Rock Island, or Sig, or...) full-size 1911 based .45. Then immediately save-up for a Marvel .22 1911 conversion (1" @ 50 yards!). I don't know how fine a shot you are NOW...but I GUARANTEE you've be twice the shot in half the time on 1/10th of the money if you'll follow this old graybeard's advice. It's trigger time, not caliber, that makes a pistolero. Unless you've got a Federal Ammunition sponser's logo on your favorite shooting shirt...you'll be GLAD you made this move.
 
Ghost.... that looks like a nice conversion kit.

I fired my first .22 pistol a few weekends ago (my buddy's P22), and it was a lot of fun. I've been throwing around the ideas of "P22 & PT1911" vs "all the $ in a Springfield or Kimber" in my head since that experience. A kit that just modifies a full-size pistol would be even better for training, provided its a "drop in" type install.

Can't beat the ammo cost, and .22 makes even more sense to me in a pistol than in a rifle.

My price cap is around $800-900.
 
1911's are nice enough guns.

Now its time to get over it.

Get a Glock.

th_sissypistol.jpg
 
My vote is for the Kimber Tactical Custom II. It's what I picked up when I turned 21, and I think it would fit your needs perfectly. Full size 1911, aluminum frame for carry, night sights, ambi safety, mag well. I've got over 2,000 rounds through mine, and it runs like a champ. Not one malfunction that couldn't be contributed to mags. Mine doesn't like WC 47D's, but loves KimPro Tac mags. It's more accurate than I am for sure. I see used one's going on gunbroker in your price range quite regularly.
 
Let me tell ya', that's THE BEST 1911 .22 Conversion available anywhere. And while it seems expensive, it's one of the few gun toys that really DOES pay for itself! Like I said, buy your 1911, then SAVE for your Marvel.

No slam on the Walther P22...but you're in a WHOLE NEW LEAGUE of precision & quality with Marvel. We're talking Olympic Rimfire Match Pistol accuracy here, on a 1911 receiver you already know. The PERFECT combo.
 
Hi,
If the bottom end of the the pistol is not as good as the slide you are just not going to get the kind of 22 you want to shoot much.

For less then $300.00 you can get a nice Ruger 22 pistol and shoot 1000s of rounds through it and then be ready for a big brother some time after you are handy with the little brother.

That is a suggestion that is smart shooter wise stuff.

;)
 
The man already said he wanted a IPSC/IPDA SA pistol, most likely a 1911A1-derived design. He's already got a SA/DA pistol (could be anything) and a "safe action" pistol (GLOCK?). If he's got $800-900 to spend...he can certainly buy a quality 1911A1. Where does a Ruger .22 (Mk III or 22/45?) come into this scenero? As an alternative to the Marvel .22 Conversion or as an alternative to the yet undetermined IPSC/IPDA SA pistol? I'm just trying to keep up. Because ANY of the 1911A1 alternatives I mentioned with a Marvel upper will shoot circles around the best Ruger .22 autoloading pistol in the catalogue.
 
For around $800 - $900 there are a few options you can look into. The models you can check on would be the Springfield Loaded model, Colt Government, Kimber Custom II or TLE, and the S&W 1911. As much as I'd hate to say it, and although they're the same platform... try each of them out. They'll all shoot differently, handle differently and all around have their unique qualities that'll either make or break that specific model.

The Loaded is the only one without a FPS, but it has a retarded ILS in the MSH that can be swapped out easily. If you don't mind the FPS, the Colt, Kimber and S&W are excellent production 1911s.

If you do stumble onto the Kimber, make sure it's a internal extractor model. If you stuble onto a Colt, make sure you do a once over for asthetics consistancy. If you stumble onto a Springfield, make sure you get rid of that god-awful 2 pc guide rod. Lastly, if you stumble onto $1500, buy yourself a Les Baer.

Anyways, good luck in your search!
 
----quote--------
Then immediately save-up for a Marvel .22 1911 conversion
-----------------

Agreed.

In your $8-900 price range, I would go for a less-expensive 1911 like a Springfield Mil-Spec or GI. Also consider used. You could still have a very serviceable 1911, and get the Marvel kit right away well within your budget.

Also, as Ghost alluded to, the more .22 you shoot, the better shooter you will be. If you shoot 75% .22 and only 25% .45, you will be a better shooter and have a lot more change in your pocket too. If you decide you want to fancy up your 1911, you will be able to afford to do that.
 
If you want a GLOCK, there are .22LR kits for it also. I don't know much about them, but with searching you can find loads I'm sure.

I also should mention that AA is working on a .22LR kit for the XD...
 
I have a Ciener kit for a glock 17 and I also have a AA for a glock 22 that I use. They are interchangeable for those two.

They are no where in the same class of what others are talking about for high quality marksmanship. 4.5" barrels are not what or where olympic shooting is at.:what:

Unless that is the designated length and type of fire arm used :uhoh:
 
In your price range I would highly recommend the PT1911, its a lot more gun for a lot less money then those other guys, you should have enough left over to even pick up a nice Beretta NEOS 22 (not pretty but fun to shoot and very accurate) you should have enough left after that for a nice holster for the PT1911 and some ammo for both.;)

Happy shooting

Oh dont forget to come back and let us know what you got along with a nice range report :)
 
How about a CZ75B SA with a Kadet Kit? That has everything except the single stack.
 
D'OH!

Called up the local (Charleston) FFL this weekend... they said they couldn't sell a handgun to me since my DL is from Pennsylvania.

...but Thanksgiving furlough is only 3 weeks away...
 
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