In the beginning, I chose the 1911 and .45 ACP because I grew up in a non-gun household, and therefore had to learn about firearms by reading. Historically, the 1911 had been used by Cpl. Alvin York in his heroic feat, and had been favored by many other men who used them in historically documented accounts. (I am a history buff, from an early age.) Then, as I approached the age I could buy a pistol, I read the writings of such men as LTC Jeff Cooper and Mas Ayoob, who favored the 1911. (Yes, Mas was a proponent of the 1911 and .45 ACP at the time.)
Later, I had to use revolvers as a rookie LEO, and made it a point to really learn the platform, even if I thought sixguns were becoming obsolete. Thanks to excellent academy instructors, plus reading the writings of such folks as Bill Jordan, Skeeter Skelton, and Jim Cirillo, I grew to really appreciate sixguns. I still occasionally use large/medium-framed sixguns, but more often use SP101s these days. I have actually fired a hot .357 Magnum in self-defense, and am satisfied that it performs well. There is nothing obsolete about revolvers.
I reverted to .45 ACP 1911s for duty and personal-time concealed carry for a while. I have kept my best 1911, a Baer TRS, though it has been relegated to a recreational weapon for now.
I am presently required to carry a .40 autoloader as a primary duty pistol. When I first switched, I could have used a G22, a P229, a Beretta 96G, or an obscure decock-only 3rd-Gen S&W, the model number now forgotten. I liked the P229 the best, but settled for a G22, for monetary reasons, and because I couldn't seem to really be able to reach the SIG's trigger in DA mode. (I must buy my own duty firearms.)
In 2004, I got to handle a P229 with a short factory trigger, and was able to reach the trigger just fine. The first shooting session confirmed that the P229 is a much better pistol for me than a G22. As I built skill, it seemed the P229 may be a better pistol for me than a 1911. Time will tell if I ever go back to the 1911 as a first-line, go-to pistol.
Even though the .40 S&W is my mandated duty cartridge, I do like it quite a bit. I had briefly experimented with a .40 BHP when they were introduced. I don't believe there is much, if any difference in on-target performance between the .45 ACP and .40 S&W, and since I believe shot placement trumps the tiny difference in bore diameter, by far, I will stay with .40, and the P229, for now, rather than divide my training time and budget between two dissimilar platforms. Notably, my SIGs and revolvers complement each other; practice with one aids my performance with the others. (My main carry/duty SIGs have DAK triggers, which mimic S&W/Ruger revolvers' trigger pulls.)
The P229 is big enough to be a duty pistol, and small enough to be a concealed-carry gun most of the time. The SP101 can handle real magnum loads without killing my hand, and the factory grip LOCKS into my grip like no other handgun. Life is good!
Later, I had to use revolvers as a rookie LEO, and made it a point to really learn the platform, even if I thought sixguns were becoming obsolete. Thanks to excellent academy instructors, plus reading the writings of such folks as Bill Jordan, Skeeter Skelton, and Jim Cirillo, I grew to really appreciate sixguns. I still occasionally use large/medium-framed sixguns, but more often use SP101s these days. I have actually fired a hot .357 Magnum in self-defense, and am satisfied that it performs well. There is nothing obsolete about revolvers.
I reverted to .45 ACP 1911s for duty and personal-time concealed carry for a while. I have kept my best 1911, a Baer TRS, though it has been relegated to a recreational weapon for now.
I am presently required to carry a .40 autoloader as a primary duty pistol. When I first switched, I could have used a G22, a P229, a Beretta 96G, or an obscure decock-only 3rd-Gen S&W, the model number now forgotten. I liked the P229 the best, but settled for a G22, for monetary reasons, and because I couldn't seem to really be able to reach the SIG's trigger in DA mode. (I must buy my own duty firearms.)
In 2004, I got to handle a P229 with a short factory trigger, and was able to reach the trigger just fine. The first shooting session confirmed that the P229 is a much better pistol for me than a G22. As I built skill, it seemed the P229 may be a better pistol for me than a 1911. Time will tell if I ever go back to the 1911 as a first-line, go-to pistol.
Even though the .40 S&W is my mandated duty cartridge, I do like it quite a bit. I had briefly experimented with a .40 BHP when they were introduced. I don't believe there is much, if any difference in on-target performance between the .45 ACP and .40 S&W, and since I believe shot placement trumps the tiny difference in bore diameter, by far, I will stay with .40, and the P229, for now, rather than divide my training time and budget between two dissimilar platforms. Notably, my SIGs and revolvers complement each other; practice with one aids my performance with the others. (My main carry/duty SIGs have DAK triggers, which mimic S&W/Ruger revolvers' trigger pulls.)
The P229 is big enough to be a duty pistol, and small enough to be a concealed-carry gun most of the time. The SP101 can handle real magnum loads without killing my hand, and the factory grip LOCKS into my grip like no other handgun. Life is good!
