Speaking of self defense / survival

[JB73]

I have been working on personal finances for quite a while, and getting close to being stable. once I am I plan on expanding my personal armory.

currently I on a model 94 Taurus .22 9 shot revolver. it is perfect for learning to shoot, and plink away. I have learned how to properly clean and lubricate a gun, and I have taken this revolver apart almost fully and back together as practice getting to know my weapon and how it works.

After much thinking, reading here, and reading other places I have absorbed a LOT of information on guns, and different opinions on them.

Wanting more "power" I have thought about a 9mm, .357, .40, and .45 caliber guns. Originally I bought a revolver for many reasons.
1: it's safe. you can tell extremely easily if it is loaded or not.
2: it has less "mechanics" that a casual owner has to concern themselves with maintaining.
3: you can spin it around like a cowboy for fun (yeah I know a gun is not a toy)

I have decided for the next gun I will be getting an automatic. I do have to worry about the grip size, as I have smaller hands. I have held a .45 with a 15 round magazine, and I could barely hold it. I want a gun that is safe and comfortable for me to shoot, so that is out. I have shot a .40 before and it was fine, though again with a high capacity magazine I couldn't comfortably hold it. I have never shot a 9mm, and never have shot a .357. I have never seen a .357 other than a revolver, so that is out since I want an automatic.

I did hold a .45 with a 9 round magazine at a local gun shop and was really surprised how comfortable it was. it did have a weird safety, a lever on the back of the grip where you had to hold the gun holding down the lever to fire it. I didn't care for that it just felt awkward.

the 9mm is going to be the cheapest to shoot, the .40 not too much more.



From everything I have heard here though I should go with a 1911 .45.

So anyway, I'm not going to afford a Kimber, or any other high priced brand like that. From my understanding a 1911 is a 1911 mechanically, they will all have the same parts, it's just the quality of how those parts fit together (correct me if I am wrong).

In the $500-$700 range what would you recommend? I'd like to get a gun that I can do things with like add dot sights, an under barrel light maybe, rubber grips maybe to make it more comfortable, I don't know what else.

Thanks, and feel free to let me know anything I am missing in my analysis of what gun to get.

[moot]

Sig makes 9mm .357s I think.

[kamilyun]

I have a 1911 (my Grandfather's service pistol), and for my next gun was thinking about either a Glock or a Springfield.  1911 is manly, but a compact 9mm is pretty handy, which is what I was leaning towards.  I've rented 9mm Glocks the last few times I've shot.  

New Colts look like they're a bit over the $700 mark, Springfield has their's at $600.

You know, I had mine appraised at just under $700 and it's in pretty good condition (a little pitting).  If you shopped around and went to a few gun shows, you might be able to find a used one.  I don't know...there's just something about having the real deal that seems cool to me.

I'm sure you'll have lots of advice coming your way on this question though

[Hornet33]

Taurus Intl PT1911 .45

For a suggested retail of around $700 it can't really be beat for a 1911 .45 pistol. When you consider that Taurus is also the ONLY firearm company that has a lifetime warranty on their products new or used it's a great deal.

If your worried about grip size though you might want to look at a .380 auto. Small but still packs a decent punch with good ammo (Federal Hydro Shocks work great).

Taurus Intl PT138 .380

[Mark Luper]

I bought a Colt 1991A1 Commander for $577. It is not new but very "tight". I shoots where I point it. I don't have any prior experience with the model but really like this one. It has Pachymier grips on it and is all steel. This one's finished was a little worn on the edges. The flat places are still parkarised and there isn't any rust anywhere on it.

It feeds the ammo out of the 7 round clip without any trouble and I bought a new clip made in Italy, Mac-Gain or something like that that holds 8 rounds. It has a plastic follower on it and the rounds feed off of it just fine too.

It does what I wanted it to do and I now have a genuine Colt

Mark

P.S. Forgot to mention: It's 45 ACP cal.

[AKIron]

Thinking about asking Santa for a .357. Looking at Taurus, will have to try one at the range.

[gpwurzel]

Were I in the position, I'd have a Sig or a nice Glock.........as I've used those before (so am familiar with cleaning etc) - plus they fit into my handsize quite nicely, shoot where I want them too, and have enough knock down power without too much over penetration)


Wurzel

[Captain Virgil Hilts]

For self defense, the 1911 is an expert's weapon, not exactly what a NDP (Non Dedicated Personnel) needs. It is a single action, meaning you have to confront your opponent with a weapon that is cocked AND has a short, relatively soft trigger pull. And NOT cocking it is a BAD idea. If you still want a 1911 pattern weapon, consider Springfield Armory. Otherwise, if you want a 45 that is double action, get a Sig Sauer P-220. By the way, if you can find a friendly gun shop owner you can buy at http://www.gunbroker.com or http://www.auctionarms.com and get a good deal.

Oh, and I do carry a 1911 pattern 45, it's a ParaOrdnance P-14 45. It has 13 in each magazine and I have two spares. I love it. But I spend a LOT of time with it.

[JB73]

Originally posted by Hornet33
Taurus Intl PT1911 .45

For a suggested retail of around $700 it can't really be beat for a 1911 .45 pistol. When you consider that Taurus is also the ONLY firearm company that has a lifetime warranty on their products new or used it's a great deal.
[/URL]

that looks nice

I am quite happy with my Taurus the construction seems decent.


this may sound dumb, but what is the difference between .45 and .45 ACP ??

[AquaShrimp]

There mere fact that you put the word power in quotation marks, and reason number 3 on your list show me that you're not mature enough to own a gun yet.  Perhaps a tazer or can of mace would be better.

[AKIron]

I don't have a 1911 but I have a couple of semis. Being a relative newcomer to more than casually shooting handguns I was very surprised at the difference in accuracy between semis and revolvers. Maybe it's my grip, stance, or something else I am ignorant of but I can shoot revolvers a lot more accurately than my Berettta 92fs and Glock model 21.

[eskimo2]

Get a flu shot.

[eagl]

9mm is pretty weak.  .40 cal is a much better round, and it has a fairly short casing so the handgrip for a .40 auto won't be too huge.

I have a couple of .40s, an auto and a single action 6-shooter.  They're both easy to shoot.

One big decision you'll have to make however, is what size gun you want.  As in physical size.  A small gun is easy to conceal and will be better to carry concealed if you plan on doing that, but it'll kick a LOT more.  Even a little .32 kicks badly if it's a pocket pistol.  A larger gun will be a lot easier to fire and probably more accurate, but it won't be concealable.

I actually would recommend buying two if you plan on carrying.  Get a small one and practice with it just enough to be comfortable firing it.  And buy a larger one for generic practice and for home defense, where accuracy may be more important than being able to tuck it away behind your belt.

IMHO of course.

[Slash27]

Originally posted by JB73

In the $500-$700 range what would you recommend? I'd like to get a gun that I can do things with like add dot sights, an under barrel light maybe, rubber grips maybe to make it more comfortable, I don't know what else.

Thanks, and feel free to let me know anything I am missing in my analysis of what gun to get.

I think $700 still keeps you in range of a few Kimber models, I'll double check. Also, have you checked out the Springfield XD pistol series? Very nice pistols for sure.







"power"!!

[AKIron]

Originally posted by eskimo2
Get a flu shot.

The AF made me get Flu shots every year and I got the Flu occasionally. Twelve years now since a Flu shot and not the Flu once. I suppose we should keep a few doctors around for life and death situations but do we really need all the drugs they inflict upon us regularly? How did people survive without anti-thisandthat a hundred years ago?