Guns, Bows, Shooting Sports, and Hunting .45 auto pistol which is best and most durable

[2Rowdy]

May not be anywhere nere the best but I bought a high-point . 45 acp last night. $175. 00. new

 

[cksh8me]

The Smith & Wesson is gotten the OK from LASD to be carried by the officers in 9mm or . 45acp. For what it's worth. Years ago LASD, LAPD, and the US Military all gave the green light to the Beretta. Now the two law enforcement groups are moving away from the Beretta and I've heard the Military is too.



JRay did you do any of the testing for the LASD?

 

[.44 mag]

I didn't read all the posts in this thread, so maybe someone else has said this already.



I bought a Les Baer Thunder Ranch last year and I can't recommend it highly enough. Yes, it was more expensive than some 1911's out there, but it is great value for the money. It has been flawless in all aspects. I have Colt's as well and have shot some of the other brands on the market. This Baer outshines them as an "out of the box" shooter. It was rather tight at first, but it functioned fine. After about 300 rounds, it loosened up nicely. I've got a few thousand through it now and have had no stoppages. I tend to like the traditional 1911 platform. If I could only keep one of my 1911s, the Thunder Ranch would be the one.

 

[Heavyweight]

springfield... . the milspec is a dream for it's price... drop in trigger job,, some wilson combat mags,, your all set... Check out prices etc,, all the milspec . 45s are good to go. I favor Kimber and Springfield.

 

[Regcabguy]

Springfield Armory is in my backyard. As is Les Baer, Rock River Arms and Armalite.

I just bought my first gun today and that's what I'll bring home in ten days. I'll attend a safety and cleaning class and of course test fire the sucker in the indoor range. I suppose I should stock up on non-id ammo too. When I'm comfortable ,the wife will be instructed in how to properly use it and when. I'm not a gun person,but it has come to this.

 

[catdsl]

i really like my taurus 1911

 

[KYOUNG]

Just bought a new Sig P220 Combat yesterday and went home and shot a box of shells through it. Very nice piece!!!

 

[J.BURCHFIELD]

I like my Sig Revolution C3. It is a copy of Colt officers and Commander combined. An idea that appeals to me. Takes an Officers magazine and grips and has the commander slide and barrel. Aluminum Alloy frame. It is a carry gun. I like revolvers too. I shoot 45 auto rim in them so I don't have to mess with the 1/2 moon clips. I use the same dies for both auto rim and 45 ACP in my reloading press. I like and shoot automatics BUT you have to replace magazine springs and slide return springs sometimes from the get go to keep them functioning properly. A stronger return spring reduces the impact of the slide and saves some wear and tear. A weak magazine spring causes improper feeding with the next to last and or the last round in the magazine. Replacing the Magazine spring is a chore until you learn the tricks but well worth the trouble. Buy a new Magazine and you only get a 9 1/2 pound spring. I use 11 pound that I get on-line and it makes all the difference. The return spring I sometimes go as much as 4 pounds heavier than factory original. Have somebody watch where your brass falls when you are shooting. If it falls 3 to 5 feet away from where you are standing that is ideal. If it flies further the return spring is weak and allowing the slide to travel to the rear too fast and it flips the empty further. Sig does a fine job of fitting and assembling and I like their products in 1911. I am an old die hard when it comes to 1911's. A Colt series 70 Gold Cup in my opinion is as good *** it gets. It is hell to find one now at a reasonable price. They were made up to 1983 if memory serves and then they started the series 80 which is good but not as good, again, in my opinion.

 

[JustinClark]

There are many reliable firearms out there. I trust my life day in and day out at work with my Kimber Custom TLE II with Chip McCormick and Wilson Combat mags. Before the Kimber I carried a Sig P229. I still wish I hadn't sold too. 1911 above all others is tried and true and Kimber took 'em to a new level for out of the box quality.



You won't find a glock in my possession.

 

[J.BURCHFIELD]

I never owned a Glock but have shot friends Glocks. I got nothing against them, just don't want one. I would put Kimber equal to Colt Gold Cup. Both have had done to them all that can be done.

 

[cksh8me]

J. burchfield I don't want you changing springs on my guns. You are scary in what you speak. Adding a recoil spring 4 pounds heavier is hard on your gun and will slow down your follow up shot.



It sounds like you are shooting your model 25 from a bench to like using the auto rim cases. Get that gun out and shoot some IDPA, ICORE or other action pistol match and you'll see how lame the auto rim cases are vs full moon clips.



Gold Cups were designed as target guns not combat guns. They routinely fell apart during a course of fire. People don't load their target load to the power factor of a IPSC load. Also the main spring in a Gold Cup is lighter than a Gvt. model. If you want to lighten the trigger pull of a Gvt. you can do that by installing a Gold Cup main spring. You can do that to a 92fs too.

 

[J.BURCHFIELD]

cksh8me. I am old or at least too old for anything but target shooting. When it comes to springs I know what works for me. A weak return spring allows the slide to slam back and that is a shock to the gun. Every gun is a little different. How far your empty brass is being thrown is a good indicator of what spring strength should be for the gun you are shooting. When my brass is landing 3 to 5 or 6 feet away then I know it is right. I think a manufacturer might put in a weaker spring to make the gun sell better. . My Mark IV Gold Cup is nothing more than a standard 1911 that has been hand fitted and a trigger job by the factory. I have seen the weaker slides on the early National Match (years ago) so I understand what you are saying. For me and the way I shoot the Auto Rim is better. I like the revolver because I don't have to bend over to pick up the brass like when I shoot my 1911's. Also I have never had a revolver jam. Once your springs are right including magazine you won't have a jam until they weaken. A loaded clip lying around for an extended period of time is a contributing factor to the spring loosing strength. A weak return spring won't always push the slide all the way forward and the gun won't fire. I was afraid my springs (rear) on my 98 12v were getting too weak to pull my trailer so I installed air bags. Can't do that on a gun---yet. REGARDS, Jim

 

[BK]

There's a whole forum dedicated to the 1911.



The M1911 Pistols Organization Home Page



The M1911 Pistols Organization Forums Site



Check it out.



Lots of reading. I spent a few nights lurking and doing a lot of reading.



I have a 1991 Colt, love it.

Many say the only one that shots correctly out of the box is a colt.

I have no idea. Haven't owned anything but the 1991.



If my memory serves me right, colt came out with a series 70 again, in some form.

I could be way off, but I thought I remember that there was such a demand for the 70 series, colt decided to bring a version back to life for it.

 

[RRB]

Lots of opinions out there as well as great advice... . lots of great weapons are also at all price ranges. It really depends on your purpose but it is my belief is the most important part of your decision should be finding something that fits YOU so you'll enjoy shooting. The more you shoot, the better you'll be & the better you'll like the weapon. Be sure to shoot at least a box out of any weapon before you buy.

If you happen to be looking for a concealed carry type weapon, at least try the Kahr... . It's small, reliable and fits ME great. Good Luck on your quest.

 

[RRB]

The Kimber really is a well engineered and extremely well Manufactured weapon. . just lots of $$$$$.

 

[evldsl]

My Nighthawks and XD-45

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[rivercat]

could be bull but,

A guy I ran into, big 1911 nut said that when colt slowed down stopped production on 1911s or whatever they did back in late 90s or so that allot of the 1911 people left colt and jumpped the fence to kimber...

At any rate being the 45 is out for billvo I too recomend tthe glock 20 if it fits the hand. Matenance free leave it in the truck or whatever. Even without a good coat of break free there are abundant documented/video attempts by "Glock Busters" to make the gun jamb by all sorts of abuse, Even seen vid of a guy dropping one out of a private plane to try and make it malfunction. not an HK by no means but unstoppable IF the blocky thing will fit your paw...

 

[rivercat]

A Colt Delta Elite is nice, too... just kinda spendy for the good ones.

What are the "GOOD" ones? there is a delta elite in my neighbor hood I might go ask/look at what should I look for? Last I asked 5 or 6 years ago he wanted $1000 is this a good deal?

 

[J.BURCHFIELD]

River cat. The 1911 is soon to be 100 years old. In all these years nobody has been able to improve on it. When they went to the series 80 it annoyed those of us that liked the series 70 just the way it is. The series 70 was not made in stainless but if you want stainless Taurus makes a stainless exactly like the series 70, called the P2. I have one and would not part with it. Maintain a 1911 properly as with any automatic and they will be trouble free. Replace weak magazine springs and slide return springs as needed. Stock magazine springs are 9&1/2 pounds, I buy 11 pound springs. Slide return springs you know when they are weak when the empty brass is being thrown further than 6 or 7 feet from where you are standing. The weaker the spring the further the empty will fly and the harder you batter your gun. Stock is 18 pounds. I have one 1911 that I have a 22 pound spring. A bit much but guns will vary. I am not a total 1911 nut. I like revolvers too. They both have their advantages. -- email address removed --

 

[.44 mag]

They are expensive, but Les Baer makes one fine 1911 pistol. I have one that they call the "Thunder Ranch" named after Clint Smith's shooting school in Oregon. It is a finely crafted weapon without a bunch of useless add-on stuff. It is a true fighting pistol that I would stake my life on. Look it up on the net and see for yourself.



I would not buy a Colt today. They used to make a fine 1911, but of late they are experiencing quite a few quality control issues. If you can find a Colt in good shape built before the late 1970's, then go for it.