Advice on .45 pistol purchase

[Confederate]

I'm looking into getting a new .45 pistol for home security and target practice at the range. I am looking for a semi automatic, preferably in the $400-$600 range, I really can't go too much higher cause I'm still in college. Early guns I've looked at is the Ruger P90, Springfield 1911, Springfield XD 45, or even a Glock, though I don't like the safety system on it, I prefer the old manual safety on the side of the gun. Any thoughts or input would be appreciated.

[wraithhibn]

My roommate has a Springfield and its a very nice gun. I think he paid about 850 new for his.

[cj2112]

Buy a Kimber, they are an outstanding gun out of the box, and will eat almost any ammo you feed them. Do yourself a favor if you buy a 1911 style gun and buy a couple Mcormick shooting star magazines.

[ziadel]

Springfield GI 45 is a damn fine gun that is really cheap. Springfield Mil-Spec is a bit more, but has just a few more features that are well worth the money.
I carry one of these every day, and I have not ever been disappointed by this firearm in any way, I even harvested a deer with it this year, 60 yard shot, dropped 'em like a brick.





Stainless - $650

Parkerized - $600

at least those are the prices I found at a glance on gunbroker.

I dont like ruger, the guns have demonstrated tpo me that they work, but when I think of ruger, I think rimfire, not combar handgun, thats just me tho, the reality is they are fine weapons. A lot of this has to do with ruger's poilitical stance, I dont want to be reliying on a factory like ruger for standard capacity magazines, and factory magazines are what you should use. (with the exception of 1911 magazines, there is no 'factory' 1911 magazine except the ones from either world war, theres no blueprint out there with dimensions, you just have to find a brand, a good brand that works and stick with it) and being as this is to be used as a defensive tool, it must utilize standard capacity magazines.

a glock well, it's a glock....and I dont mean that in a complimentary way, theres no reason to rehash this here, some people like em, I dont, decide which one you are and start collecting propaganda to throw at your opponents whenever a glock thread pops up

the XD's are around 450, it's a good gun. Springfield has really put Glock to shame, they've essentially beat them at their own game if you ask me, they've even outdone HK with this one IMO, I'd carry one, but I'm a single action kinda guy, which is why the HK's still appeal to me.


so I say either the XD or a Mil-Spec 1911. I would start off with browning's design, it has endured this long for good reason, and the fucking thing is just so damn classy.




p.s. if it says kimber on the side and has an external extractor, be very wary, ESPECIALLY if its a used gun.

I dunno if this is really gonna matter tho as they are a little out of your price range.



post post script: also, if you get a 1911, you can get a .22 slide, and shoot shoot shoot shoot shoot shoot shoot shoot shoot, you get the idea...

depending in your familiarity with firearms you should prolly start with a rimfire anyways.

[cj2112]

I agree, stay away from the external extractors that Kimber used for a short while, they are fine if you understand how they work, but a lot of people were breaking them due to misusing them.

[Slims]

If you aren't experienced with handguns or you won't be practicing with it much, then I wouldn't recommend a 1911.

The 1911 platform is great, but it can be finicky, you are limited to 8 rounds in most instances, many guns (especially those in your price range) are finicky about feeding hollowpoints, and the manual safety is great except it has to be off when you load and unload the weapon. I have a springfield operator and I get nervous about accidentally bumping the single action trigger every time I load the weapon in my home.

Personally, I really like an external safety, but I have recently begun to really appreciate the newer weapons out there with no external safety. You give up very little by ditching the external safety (if the pistol is stored in a holster nothing can get to the trigger anyway) but you have one less thing to screw up in a panicked gunfight...a lot of people forget to put the safety off in a panic and never get a round off. This is particularly important if you are not going to be able to practice as much as you like. I was in college too, and I remember how little I could go shooting...and I was a gun nut who made it a priority.

A good quality 1911 is going to run you far more than 600 dollars. However, you can get a really nice glock, XD, or S&W M&P for less than that with all the extras.

In the end it is going to boil down to personal preference. Online advice is great to a point, but you will have to decide what is right for you.


If you want to have an external safety, consider an HK USP...You can get the external safety, a good magazine capacity, and rock solid reliablity. They are a bit pricey, but if you look around I am sure you can find one in your price range or close to it.

Next to that I would recommend any other big name-brand polymer pistol...Glock, XD, or a S&W M&P.


Hope this helps,
Greg

[Confederate]

Thanks for all the info folks, so far the XD is the front runner for me. again I appreciate the love from you guys

[ziadel]

Originally Posted by Greg700

I have a springfield operator and I get nervous about accidentally bumping the single action trigger every time I load the weapon in my home.

wait, you're nervous about loading a single action gun with a safety in your home, but your comfortable loading a single action gun with no safety?


booger hook, bang switch, you know the drill.

Originally Posted by Confederate

Thanks for all the info folks, so far the XD is the front runner for me. again I appreciate the love from you guys

4 or 5"?

Originally Posted by cj2112

but a lot of people were breaking them due to misusing them.

come on now, I'm willing to believe Kimber has fixed the problem, but be honest man, if it was just bone heads dropping rounds straight into the pipe, I think Kimber would have been able to fix them....

Kimber loves to blame bad ammo and limp wrists.

[Confederate]

i believe the 4" would be best for size, but I think the 5" will be better for accuracy, so I'll just have to hold the 2 and see

[ziadel]

Have you signed up for your NRA pistol safety course? (prolly required if you want a CCW) It's a good idea.

[Slims]

Ziadel: You know perfectly well that there is a big difference between a light 1911 trigger and a LEO-type triggers employed by glock, etc. I understand trigger control, and I have never discharged a weapon while loading it, but still I find myself slightly nervous when I have to load it.

[ziadel]

Originally Posted by Greg700

Ziadel: You know perfectly well that there is a big difference between a light 1911 trigger and a LEO-type triggers employed by glock, etc. I understand trigger control, and I have never discharged a weapon while loading it, but still I find myself slightly nervous when I have to load it.

I understand the difference between a sound trigger that will not fire unless it is pulled, and unsafe triggers that have been worked over by either the inexperienced, or the inept, or both, that are dangerous. I dont go any further than that, if its working properly it wont go off unless I pull the trigger.


again, if you dont pull the trigger, it wont go off.


boogerhook, bangswitch.

[Digilogic]

Plus the grip safety has to be engaged. I don't worry loading mine anymore.

I have a charles daly that i got used for $450 and it hasn't malfunctioned since I replaced the crappy stock mags. I have put about 1200 rounds through it. Just thought I would throw that out there in response to the $600+ for a good 1911.

[longbough]

Don't forget the HK USP or USP Compact .45.
The nice thing about that pistol is that it has a manual safety that doubles as a decocker when you press it downward.

I've got the USP Compact and it's a terrific pistol.

Still, I'm partial to the 1911 (I have 4 of them 2 Kimbers and 2 S&W). The 1911 has a nicer trigger and the single stack makes it a thinner pistol than any double stack .45.

For carry my commander-sized S&W 1911 PD is lightweight, slim and comfortable to wear.

[ziadel]

Originally Posted by longbough

Don't forget the HK USP or USP Compact .45.

too much moolah.
I love USP's... but fuck they're pricey.

[longbough]

Originally Posted by ziadel

too much moolah.
I love USP's... but fuck they're pricey.

I agree.
Not only are they pricey but they are (dare I say) overpriced.

After the first 300 or so rounds the flat spring in my USPc snapped for no apparent reason preventing the hammer locking back into a full-cock. (I can't call it a manufacturing defect because I can't say there was a problem from the start.) I discovered that it's not an uncommon failure in the USPc. My Uberti Cattleman is the only other pistol that ever had an unexpected part failure.

Still, the USPc is an excellent design and nice to shoot. I know of no other pistol where the manual safety doubles as a decocker. Also the pistol can be racked with the manual safety engaged. But you pay a price.

Personally, I still prefer my 1911s. But that's a matter of personal taste.

[newtx]

A ruger p45 would be a good choice. Very reliable. Handles reloads well and quite accurate for the price.

[ziadel]

I've got to pick up a full size USP....

a metal framed pistol is dangerous when its 40 below outside...

[Confederate]

Ended up going with the Sig p220

[woohog1]

Have you thought about a Colt? I know that it isnt the most "classy" .45 in the world but I have a colt defender with a 4 inch barrell on it, and I love it. It carries well, and if you get some extra mags it can be a very nice weapon.

[Confederate]

Thanks but i said I already got my Sig p220

[ziadel]

Originally Posted by Confederate

Thanks but i said I already got my Sig p220

now shoot shoot shoot shoot shoot shoot shoot shoot.

[Acetylene]

220 is a nice gun, did you get the old style with the two piece carbon steel slide or the new style with the one piece stainless?

[Confederate]

new style with the accessory rail

[longbough]

Do you mean the picatinny rail?

Personally, I don't like the term "accessory."
"Accessories" are what you get for Barbie dolls.

I just call it a "rail."

[Confederate]

yea well, my gun, i can call it what i want

[ziadel]

Originally Posted by Confederate

yea well, my gun, i can call it what i want

ya know, thats really a pet peeve of mine.


I could have taken a chipping hammer to that idiots face when he said 2" tubing has a 2 and 3/8 O.D.

[Deltona Couple]

I am purchasing the Springfield XD40 myself. I was out shopping for several different pistols, and I had a guy at a shop hand one to me. It is the 4 inch model, with rail, tac-light, holster, loader, and 2-clip mag holster, for $675. That pistol was the first one I have handled that felt PERFECT in my hand. I can't WAIT to take it to the range!

[longbough]

Originally Posted by Confederate

yea well, my gun, i can call it what i want

Well said.
I call mine, Charlene.