Springfield 1911

[SFRT - Frenchy]

Looking for a home defense gun, I like 1911s and seems the Springfield is a good all cheap "garbage gun". Best cost/reliability.

Seems like the "Mil Spec" would do the job. Don't need all the fancy stuff from the other models, I like the look of the "GI" better, but the flared/extended ejection port is a plus I think.

http://www.springfield-armory.com/armory.php?clicktype=1911

I know some of you swear by others brands, what do you think?

I'm also looking for one to go with my concealed licence to run around town, what do you use? 9? 40? 45? Brand?

[Gaidin]

this is what I carry.  Have had it for a couple years now and it has never had any problems.  I used to put about 100 rounds every couple weeks through it, but since money got tight I havent shot it at all.  Lightweight and accurate.  Put a lazer on the tac rail and still fits nicely in my sholder rig.

http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10001&storeId=10001&productId=34904&langId=-1&isFirearm=Y

[Shuffler]

What did you use to get your license?

[hammer]

Hiya Frenchy,

I'm a 1911 enthusiast, too. I have 3, including a S&W Custom. Nice guns always.

One thing I always ask people when they ask me about home defense pistols is who might shoot it. If the answer includes a wife / spouse who is not an avid shooter, I'd say the 1911 is the wrong gun. Someone not very familiar with a 1911 remembering to either a) cock the hammer or b) take it off safe while in a crisis situation is iffy. While I love my 1911s and shoot them every week, it's a revolver in the nightstand because I'm sure my wife can remember to pull the trigger and there's no slide coming back to startle her.

Regards,

Hammer

[Roundeye]

A wise choice.  You can NOT go wrong with a M1911A1.  Period.  Old Slabsides has been around nearly 100 years and has served it's country well.   Such a simple design, easy to completely disassemble and a dream to find upgrade parts for.  You can throw it in a mudhole, pull it out 2 months later, pound nails in the wall with it and WILL put rounds downrange when you pull that trigger.

Springfield makes an EXCELLENT M1911A1.  No question.  If you can get one.  Alot of places cannot get them as they are flying off of the shelves as fast as they come in (at least around here).

I just bought a matched pair of Charles Daly M1911A1s.  A fine weapon IMO.  Several hundred rounds so far without a single failure and they hold a tight group.  Both hold a 4 inch pattern at 50 ft.



And yes, get the .45ACP.  There will always be .45 ammo to be found.  It's not the biggest or the fastest caliber, but it's a large chunk of lead that has proven itself in combat time and time again.

[Maverick]

Springfield makes a decent gun at a reasonable price.

I like the old slabsides in .45 but it has a bit of a concern for me for carry. I am very familiar with it and really don't have a problem carrying it cocked and locked but that's because of the amount of practice I have with it. I used to carry an Officers Model which was fairly  easy to conceal but a bit heavy. For a concealed carry gun I prefer to have one without an exposed hammer and one that is not already cocked. That's because the hammer can wear the clothing a bit and if you are not careful the safety may be deactivated by either moving around of while concealing it. I just prefer a handgun that isn't cocked.

My preference would be for one of the compact Glocks like the 19 (9mm) or the 23 (40S&W). The same size model on .45 is also nice but I forgot it's model designator. The subcontacts like the 26 (9mm) and the 27 (.40) are easier to conceal but harder to shoot accurately. They still give a decent ammo capacity, 10 and 9 respectively but not as much as the compact models do. I carried the 19 both on and off duty for several years and had no trouble qualifying with it with a max or almost max score each time.

I don't care for the Ruger models as they don't shoot well for me. The S&W versions of a Glock seem to be pretty nice but I haven't fired one yet.

The caliber depends on you. I'd go with a 9 as a minimum. It depends on how well and how much you are going to shoot. The 9 is cheapest ammo cost so you can afford to practice more. The .40 and .45 have a bit more recoil so those will depend on your tolerance for it to determine how well you shoot them. If you can't hit with it any caliber won't do you any good. You have to put the bullet in the proper place to be able to depend on it.

If you are not going to practice much I'd recommend a revolver. Something like a 60 series S&W in either .38 or .357 will work. You can always shoot .38's in the magnum for practice or carry. I like the 66 as it's small enough to carry well and still has enough mass to shoot comfortably. The airweights and ultra light pistols will carry comfortably but are harder and less comfortable to shoot accurately. If you don't practice enough to hit the target you are better off not carrying at all so make sure you can shoot well whatever you want to carry.

[SFRT - Frenchy]

Shuffler, for the licence was a 357 for the revolver, and some 9mm for the semi. In the military I had a Berreta 9mm since I was an officer.

Hammer, good point about the girls. I did a try out with my 14 year old daughter, we went to shoot the little 22 Ruger, some 9mm, a glock 45 and the Springfield 1911. She did very well with the 45, she wasn't untimidated by the recoil at all, and liked the skiny grip of it as well as how the gun sits due to the beaver tail. Even if heavier, she liked the equilibrium due to the 5" barrel. I love this gun for the same reason, always felt great despite the size. My wife hasn't tried it yet, but she's a massage therapist and a work out freack, I'm not worried. We are planing on going to the range at least once a month, I'm pretty confident they'll remember the cocking part. As money permit I think you have a good point, might end up with some type of revolver under the pilow.

Maverick, good stuff there, I'll keep that in mind. I'm very comfortable shooting any size semi, never really practice with revolvers such 38s 357s 44s. I don't like light guns either. Anyway, as a concealed for a night out safety, I really doubt I'll engage myself in some kind of long range movie shoot out. I really hope that 'll be able to walk my way out of any bad spot as I always did, if I have to pull my gun out chances are that it's the last ressort and "Mister scary" will be right in front of me, where you can't miss. I'm not a police officer that might have to go for trouble and doing so might expect more from their firearm, I just need to "go away".

[Shuffler]

I asked because if you tested with a wheel gun then you can't carry a semi. If you tested with a semi you can carry either.

I agree with the 9mm being minimal. I have a XD45 for myself and a XD40 for the wife. I like the feel of the XD over the Glock. More point n shoot as opposed to the Glock feels off angle. To each his own. In any case safety is the most important.

[RATTFINK]

A Sringfield 1911 is good and all, but the sound of a shotgun reloading does the trick

[iTunes]

A G17 here, I like the no safety catch feature and also no hammer, Never had a Jam and it's a good all round weapon built for one purpose only.

[Shuffler]

A Sringfield 1911 is good and all, but the sound of a shotgun reloading does the trick

Don't be fooled..... you rack your shotgun and the perp will know right where your at. I carry a mossberg (18 1/2" barrel and pistol grip) in my pickup but I'd never think along the lines of someone being scared off by the racking sound.

[Roundeye]

Don't be fooled..... you rack your shotgun and the perp will know right where your at. I carry a mossberg (18 1/2" barrel and pistol grip) in my pickup but I'd never think along the lines of someone being scared off by the racking sound.

Roger that.  Let them be scared by the bright flash, loud boom, the feeling of a Mack truck to the chest and everything fading to black.

Rules to live by:

NEVER try to intimidate someone with a gun.

Using a gun is a last resort...when there is no other choice.  When you pull it, USE IT.

Showing a gun to someone, chambering a round or racking in a shell only puts the perp on guard.  It should be a total surprise.

It should go from "this will be an easy robbery/rape/murder" to "OH F... 

[Gaidin]

I asked because if you tested with a wheel gun then you can't carry a semi. If you tested with a semi you can carry either.

I agree with the 9mm being minimal. I have a XD45 for myself and a XD40 for the wife. I like the feel of the XD over the Glock. More point n shoot as opposed to the Glock feels off angle. To each his own. In any case safety is the most important.

You guys have to test for a carry and conceal permit?

[Shuffler]

Yup.. first a short class then actual shooting on the range. They do not want to permit someone that can't handle the weapon to some extent. The test is not that hard. When my Mother-in-law took her class, she scored higher than anyone else in there on the range. The test shows you are able to load your pistol and shoot at different distances. You can fail at the range portion if your not up on your test weapon of choice.

[Gaidin]

Wonder if your states would recognize my permit, even though we don't do a test?  I had to go through all the background check stuff, but no fireing at the range or other test.