words of wisdom requested

[gburner]

I have owned a bench built 1911A1 for several years, built on an Essex frame and slide, mil spec, park finished with polished throat/feed ramp. I only shoot ball thru it and it is one of the nicest, most reliable handguns I have fired. There is only one problem...I'm thinking of trading it for a BHP or clone.

Without initiating a flame war, will you fine folks advise me re: the relative merits of each firearm, firepower, appropriateness for conceal carry, reliability, accuracy and ease of takedown/cleaning.

As always, thanks in advance.

 

[Smoke]

Before any of us can answer........and I'm not being critical......but why?

 

[FPrice]

Gburner...

"There is only one problem...I'm thinking of trading it for a BHP or clone."

I echo Smoke's comment, "Why?". But perhaps from a slightly different pov.

Both are good examples of great firearms. It sounds like your 1911A1 was made for you and it's a good fit. And the .45ACP round is certainly a reliable caliber for sport, self-defense, or competition.

OTOH the BHP is another classic. It certainly has made it's mark in the firearms world as a reliable pistol. And modern 9mm loadings perform very well.

My suggestion is to keep the 1911A1. AND buy a Browning in addition. That was you will have two fine firearms.

My 2 cents. (2.04 cents adjusted for inflation).

 

[gburner]

Without putting too fine a point on it, I'm in the situation where I have to trade a weapon to buy a weapon.
Nuff said?

 

[Marko Kloos]

Both are outstanding designs.

The BHP is a bit flatter than the 1911, making it a great IWB gun. It fits into 1911 holsters as well, so you wouldn't have to swap leather.

The BHP holds a few more marbles in the tank than the 1911. You get 13+1 rounds in a C&L BHP, which is plenty of ammo on tap. (I won't go into the .45/9mm debate here, but suffice it to say that a good 9mm +P HP will kill people just as dead as a .45ACP.) There are aftermarket and contract magazines that fit flush and hold 14-16 rounds.

Recoil on the BHP is a little lighter, and BHPs have a great reputation for accuracy and reliability.

Takedown of a BHP is easier than field-stripping a 1911. You just align the slide notch, push out the slide stop lever, and pull the barrel and slide off the frame...no bushing, no swinging link.

They're both classic designs and serious defensive guns, and both are fun to shoot. Another BHP has been on my shopping list for a while. Whether it's worth getting rid of your 1911...that's a question only you can answer. I've certainly traded my share of good guns...some got me equally good or better guns in return, and on some deals I had serious seller's remorse.

 

[SADshooter]

Could you easily return to a 1911 of the same quality/characteristics if (theoretically) you got tired of the HP, and decided the 1911 suited you better? If you're confident you can, go for it. If not, sleep on it a while.

On their relative merits (reliability/cleaning/ergonomics for carry, etc.), I'd call it a toss-up but for two points: 9mm ammunition is cheaper. .45 is considered by many (including me) as the preferred defensive caliber. How much shooting do you do, and how much would you rely on this pistol for personal protection?

I regret parting with every firearm I've sold or traded, even the ones I never particularly cared for.

 

[Dobe]

GBurner,
Make yourself happy. I personally went the other way, and sold the BHP. But, if money were there I would probably acquire another. Of course that would be after I had accumilated a fourth Kimber, an AR, an M1A, a 629, and a 617. BHP's are good dependable handguns. It is you that you must satisfy. If you do not reload, you will certainly appreciate the 9mm. I bought a CZ 75B SA in January for that very reason. I could not pass up the cheap ammo.

I always found the BHP a fun and accurate handgun. I just hated the trigger.

 

[AK103K]

I have both and I'm in the same boat as you, as a lot of times I sell one to buy one. The High Power is a nice pistol, but I think you will regret getting rid of the 1911. Maybe start saving for the HP and get it down the road and have both, that way you have the best of both worlds. I've sold things for something I just had to have, and wished I hadnt once the "newness" wore off.

 

[MJRW]

I'm thinking about the time and work put into that 1911 you described. It doesn't sound like it can be reproduced. However, you can at any time you are able to purchase the BHP just like the one you are looking at right now. I would say wait. Unless you are never going to be able to have both. Then I too echo the sentiment of "why?" What appeals to you about the BHP over the 1911?

 

[Sean Smith]

The BHP is a bit flatter than the 1911

I don't see how that is physically possible. Not trying to be rude, but that doesn't sound right. The BHP is a double-stack gun, the 1911 is a single-stack. At least in the grip, the BHP has to be fatter.

 

[Smoke]

Both are good guns and very similar.

If you feel you must trade, then do so. I prefer the 1911 platform and the 45acp round myself. If I had to look for another platform it would be the BHP.

I'm still curious as to your motives to trade.....

do you just want to try something different?
do you want a smaller caliber?
do you not like the 1911?
do you like the HP better?
will the BHP be the same quality as your"built" 1911?
are you trading up or down?

 

[Meowhead]

Keep the 1911. You've got it set up just the way you want; it will be difficult and expensive to get another like it should you regret selling this one. And you will.

 

[seeker_two]

Keep the 1911 & save up for the BHP. You'll thank us later...

 

[Marko Kloos]

I don't see how that is physically possible. Not trying to be rude, but that doesn't sound right. The BHP is a double-stack gun, the 1911 is a single-stack.

I should have clarified it, although I did say that its flatness made the BHP great for IWB carry: the BHP is flatter in the slide than the 1911.

The grip on the BHP is a bit wider across the grip panels than the grip on a 1911, due to the double-stack magazine...although the grip on the 1911 is unneccesarily wide for a single-stack gun, thanks to the beefy screw-on grip panels.

 

[Sean Smith]

OK, gotcha.

 

[goon]

If you like the 1911, then stay with it.
If you can, try a BHP before you decide to trade your 1911 on it.
I would NEVER trade my PROVEN defense gun for a gun that I had never laid eyes on before.
If it were me, I would just keep the .45.

 

[Indigo22]

I cant believe that no one has said anything about having your reliable and familiar 1911 fitted with a 9mm barrel and clip ... or maybe the 9x23 ... Keep the 1911 and have a second barrel fitted. You have invested alot into that gun and adding a 9mm option will only make it better. There's a Colt Combat Commander out there thats slicked up right fine that I should NEVER have let go.

 

[Feanaro]

Here are my words of wisdom. Well not mine but... still. "Whatever you do, you'll regret it." ---Allan McLeod Gray, 1905-1975

You have two fine(IMO) pistols before you. The question is, have you tried both? Don't buy anything you haven't had a chance to try out yet or you may regret it even more.

 

[Thumper]

gburner...do your best to fight the urge!

Hang on to your 1911 and put back a little at a time 'til you can grab the Hi-power.

I've been right where you are. Too many times.

You know I'm right...just hang in there.

 

[Delmar]

MERITS?
The Hi-power shoots a lower recoiling round and will hold 13 shots on a pre-ban magazine.
A bit, but I think way overrated simpler takedown drill.
The grip feels right in my hands-only you can be the judge of that.
9MM ammo is cheaper.

M1911 has a superior trigger mechanism-something the Hi-power will never achieve with its pivoting trigger and odd linkage, not to mention the magazine safety. Your call as to whether to disable it.
It's flatter overall and easier to conceal, IMO than a High-power, but the difference is not all that great.
You can get thin grips for the 45 if that feels more comfortable to you.
You have your choice between flat, arched and wedge shaped spring housings on the 45, not to mention short, medium or long triggers, manual safeties of various styles, slide stops, barrels and what not. End point is the 45 is kind of the Chevy of autoloaders-everyone makes parts for it.
The bushingless feature of the high power has always struck me as something not being necessarily an improvement-its a $10-$20 part on the 45 and is easily replacable. What do you do when the Hi-power gets wobbly up front?
If the swinging link is something you detest, have the frame machined for the Hi-power type lug and be happy.

Shoot both and see which one does you best before you trade it off. Nothing wrong and everything right if the Hi-power does better in your hands, which is the bottom line every time.

 

[New_comer]

After the love has gone...

what used to be right is wrong... (EWF in background)


Err.. huh? Oh....


'Tis your gun, your money...


If that's what's needed to light yer fire...


JUST DO IT!


Going more modern, eh? Can't blame you for that...


FWIW, the BHP's do away with 'features' I don't personally see as proving the 1911 as a better handgun, like that grip safety, or the larger caliber.


But, the mag safety of the BHP bothers me as well (If you can disable it...). The higher capacity makes up for that though, and I'm a 9mm kind of guy. You also get the chance to use top quality JHP's than the usual ball in your old 1911...


BTW, you also mentioned clone. What clone?

 

[TheMariner]

I wouldn't sell....

Fate would screw you anyway.... ALways does... you have something you like that works... never surrender that for an unknown... And by unknown I mean a piece (on an individual basis) that you haven't had time with to see if its something you like...

 

[Country Boy]

A Few Questions

I own and shoot both designs, so I'll comment. Both guns have the single action design, and both have features that people don't think necessary, the 1911 has a grip safety, and the BHP has the magazine safety. Firepower is generally 7+1 of .45ACP for the 1911 and 10+1 or 13+1 of 9mm for the BHP. I'm 5-11, 175#, and I have no problem concealing either gun IWB by simply untucking my shirt. Reliability depends on the specific gun, but modern examples of either should be as reliable as anything on the market. I have no information that one caliber/platform is more accurate than the other. Both my 1911 and my BHP shoot quite accurately with qualtiy ammo. I don't see takedown as much of an issue. I can fieldstrip my BHP in 10 seconds, and my 1911 in 25 (guesstimates). Time isn't so crunched for me that I can't enjoy the extra 15 seconds of fieldstripping a 1911.

We could probably give you better advice if you mentioned a few more details. Why are you falling for a BHP? What is drawing you to it that your 1911 doesn't have? What do you intend to use your gun for? Personally, I would be VERY unwilling to trade a gun that has served me well for one that is an unknown quantity. If you're worried about hollowpoints in a 1911, TRY THEM, and see if they are reliable or not. More information would help.

Going more modern, eh? Can't blame you for that...

More modern? Kind of like dumping a great-grandma for a grandma, isn't it?

 

[sm]

Tough call. Good advice from others. If this something that is really special? Any way to obtain without having to sell.

Just reminded of what a friend said . " I wish I'd sold that daughter, bad enough she wrecked the new car, took too long to get out of college, spent too much of my money getting married...his wife chimed in " and kept daddy from guns and me from antiques". This couple recommends selling kids to support one's interests.

Just a thought.