9mm shooter buying first .45...

Z

ZeroTX

New member
Hi guys,

Next week I'm going to pick up my first .45 ACP pistol. I've been shooting 9mm for many years and many guns. I've shot other people's .45's, but never really pondered buying one until a good deal came along on a Ruger SR1911. I did have a 9mm full size 1911 on my "to buy" list, but this one is a good deal and happens to be a .45 ACP.

Any advice for a 9mm shooter adding .45 into the mix? This also opens the door to add other .45 caliber guns to my collection, since I'll now be buying .45ACP ammo. I'm considering for concealed carry the M&P Shield .45. My wife has the 9mm and it's a great little concealed carry gun. It would pack quite a punch in .45 I imagine.

Thanks all,

Z
 
Why the step up in caliber? Sure, a .45ACP has more energy, but less capacity than the 9mm. It's not the pistol, it's the AMMO that makes a difference. Hornady Critical Duty would do any pistol a great service. I'd suggest looking for a .45ACP in a 1911...though not for CC. My favorite is the Desert Eagle 1911. For carry, I use a 9mm for the size and stack with an extra magazine to boot.
 
Yeah, a 1911 make the most sense in .45 since that's its original design and intent. I would not conceal carry a 1911-style gun. Too heavy and fiddly compared to polymer striker guns. The Shield 9mm is awesome and I prefer it over the Glock 43. I was just thinking since I'll be a two caliber semi-auto household (well, I keep a few .38 Spl for my 642 and some .22 for my wife's plinking gun) that I might consider other .45 pistols. I do love the 9mm capacity, though. My home defense gun is a Glock 17 loaded with 18 rounds of good stuff.
 
Advice? Don't give up on a 1911 .45 ACP just because of the recoil. It is a time-honored, extremely successful design that has probably benefitted from many technological improvements in manufacturing. Ruger is a very reliable brand (I have more Ruger firearms than any other brand.) I am probably going to buy a stainless SR1911 to replace a Colt that I gave back to a long time friend who sold it to me well below market value. A 1911 is obviously not a concealed carry handgun, but in my opinion (and the opinion of many semi-auto guys) it is a necessary part of one's "inventory."
 
Much appreciated! I wanted a full size all steel 1911 for that reason (recoil). This will be my second Ruger (after my wife's Mark III 22/45 Lite), but I have good memories of a P89 my dad had back in the 90's. It inspired me to buy a handgun, although I went with what I thought was better: a Beretta 92FS. I think the Ruger would be a reliable gun all day long, though. I'll probably be adding some other Rugers.
 
My thoughts on a 1911. A collection is not complete without a full size 1911 in .45acp, they are nice to look at, they make you feel more accurate than you actually might be..:D, the recoil in a full size 1911 isn't intimidating and actually rather pleasant. If you found a good deal on a Ruger and it has your interest I say get it, I would be very surprised if it dissapointed you.
 
Yeah, don't worry about the recoil. It's no big deal. I would much rather shoot a full-sized 1911 than a 9mm pocket pistol. Those little critters can hurt my mitts. I could shoot my 1911 until my arms get tired and it wouldn't hurt my hands one bit. Congratulations on joining the 45acp crowd! :)
 
My SR1911 is stellar. The sights are perfect at 25 yards, and it makes me look like I'm a good shot. I bought it used, I have no idea how many rounds have been fired through it, but I have over 2,000 rounds through it, and it has never failed. Not even once.

For a concealed carry 45, take a look at the Kahr CM45. Its one of the smallest 45s out there. Pay attention to what Kahr says about break-in, and use the slide lock lever to chamber a round from an open slide, and you will be very happy. My CM45 is my EDC and it also has been excellent, is approaching 1,000 rounds, and has had one failure to chamber a round, somewhere around round #50. Perfect since that
 
Why the step up in caliber? Sure, a .45ACP has more energy, but less capacity than the 9mm.
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Because.....HELLO FUN!!!;)

Buddy has a SR1911 and loves it. I have enjoyed shooting his very much. Seems like a pretty solid higher entry level 1911.
 
The SR1911 is a very fine 1911. I've never found the recoil on any 1911 in .45 to be a problem. I try to limit the number of calibers in my collection but there are far too many guns out there that I want! So far I've been able to limit it to 9mm, 45 and 5.7 though.

As far as concealed carry, I've never understood why people say not to buy a full size 1911 for CC. With a good gun belt and holster they're easily carried concealed IMHO. I don't carry one every day, but I did for a long time and still do fairly regularly without any problems at all.
 
1911 have been carried for many years . By Military, LEO's and Citizens . I prefer IWB holsters and a good gun belt . I have carried the 5" 4 1/4 " 3 1/2 "and 3" Their all doable . A Defender is a compact lite weight . easy to carry and conceal.

Oh they weight to much or to big. Is in your mind :rolleyes:
 
I've probably spent an equal amount of time shooting .45 ACPs and 9 mm in a variety of guns including the 1911 where the .45 ACP is really at home in my opinion.

But from a practical point of view in this day and age, the .45 offers in terms of paper punching, gaming and self defense nothing that the 9 mm also does.

I've noted that Bill Wilson, a maker of some of the finest .45s in the world of 1911s, now admits he carries either a cut down 1911 in 9 mm or a Beretta
compact in 9 mm.

I know of the OP's itch for the .45 and if it's not a matter of any kind of economic strain, go for one, especially in the economical and yet very fine
SR 1911. Who knows, maybe this itch will become a raging rash for a more refined .45 1911. But I'm not very sure of that.
 
RockDTMC
I've never found the recoil on any 1911 in .45 to be a problem.
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As the occasional beneficiary of my friend's gun library, I'd have to agree.

That said, no one has puked on the ppq .45 yet either.

Good luck with the upgrade.
 
Thank you for the quick response. Of course the .45 ACP does offer more energy. That fact may not be important to many folks. I like both the .45 ACP and the 9mm (and my .380 LCP). ;)
 
The Ruger 1911 full size is an excellent weapon and should serve you well as a first 45. Just take your time and before you know it you will be drilling the center out of your target with 45 size holes. Congrats on finding a good deal.
 
3 SR1911's here and zero complaints! Colt, SIG, and RIA on my other 1911's and no complaints there either! Amazing timeless design!
 
5" 1911 preferably series 70 IMHO by Springfield, Colt, Ruger and others. If money isn't an issue then Wilson, Ed Brown, Cabot and others, again JMHO. A solid holster and belt are essential to daily carry and concealment.
 
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