Conflicted (sic) .45 Shopper

F

freddyfish

Inactive
help.

first time buyer of a .45. can anyone help? i'm looking for a dual purpose firearm, one for CCW and one that will satisfy my 1911 fetish. not dead-set on 1911 style, final decision resides with shootability; all things equal, i'd like to go 1911.

as of now i am looking at the para-ordnance P13-45 limited series SS or the sig P220ST. no smith and wesson autoloaders, please -- had a 4006 .40S&W, worst gun i ever owned.

please don't let me buy a dud. ;-)

any help is greatly appreciated!

thanks!
 
Welcome aboard, Freddy. You done asked a loaded question! You'll find no shortage of opinions here.

Have you considered getting an inexpensive basic 1911 and having it set up the way YOU want it? You can spend less that way than buying a Les Wilson Baer Combat Magnum Thunder Site Ranch Special Kimber. I'm not saying that model is not good, but there's something about tweaking your own...

Rock River Arms has one for not a lot of bucks, or you could go the way I did and get one of the Argentinian Sistema Colts. That's a pre-war Colt, made in Argentina on Colt machinery under Colt license. And Colt pre-war quality. I got mine out the door for $352. Tain't bad! And it's got some history to it. That means something to me.

In any case, do some searching on customer service here to get a feel for the different manufacturers.


Oh, and did I say welcome aboard?

:)
 
Let me be the second to welcome you here, freddyfish.

If you are going to use this for CCW, then I'd like to get a description of you. Height, weight, that sort of thing. On my 5'7" frame, for instance, I'd have to wear very loose clothing to hide a Para-Ordnance 13-45.

I think that a single stack 1911 is better for most people for CCW. I like a Commander sized 1911, a full-framed, shortened barrel 1911. I picked a Kimber Pro, but Springfield and Colt have fine choises also.
 
Welcome!
Here's my contribution to your post. If you're gonna use this gun for CCW, I'd get something thinner than a Para. I'd give some serious consideration to the ultras from Springfield.
 
Welcome!
Here's my contribution to your post. If you're gonna use this gun for CCW, I'd get something thinner than a Para P13. I'd give some serious consideration to the Para 6.45 LDA.
 
Welcome......

Your size will make all the difference when deciding on a 1911 type for CCW. I agree with those that say look for a budget 1911 to start out. Rock River Arms, Auto Ord, and Charles Daly types call all be had for under $400 if you look hard enough. A Springfield Mil-Spec puts you in the $600 range.

As for CCW.....a Commander or smaller (SA Compact, Colt Defender, Kimber Ultra 3") barrel may be your choice.

My best recommendation is to not rush your decision. If you have a gun store/range that has 1911s to rent, do it. Same goes for any friends who may own a 1911 style. I am a die-hard 1911 owner, and believe me, while not difficult to learn, if you've never owned one and intend to use it for CCW, then LEARN YOU MUST. Good luck.
 
I would, and did buy a SIG P220. Mine is a two tone. The SIG 220ss is a great shooter, just like the regular 220...but the thing is pretty heavy. Mine is about 28 oz, I believe the 220ss is about 39 oz. and it has an under barrel mounting rail. Some like it, some don't.
I'm 5'8" and 160 lbs. Works for me.

Good luck in your choice.

Later,
Jeff C.
 
I like 1911 .45s but I would have to recommend the SIG P220ST. Out of the box it will oushoot just about anybody. SIG also has a great reputation for a top quality product. The SIG will flat-out shoot and shoot and shoot. That's why I have one.

JQ
 
Looks like several welcomes are in order!

I should have suggested doing a search here. Not too long ago there was a good thread on carrying 1911s CCW. Good input from a lot of experienced folks.


Oh, and don't mind Kermit. Sometimes he forgets to leave the double tap at the range. ;)
 
I like

A Commander sized, single stack pistol....provides plenty of barrel length for a nice sight radius and accuracy....is just as easy to conceal as the "officer" or "defender' sized offerings from Colt, Kimber, ad nauseum....

If weight is a problem, look around and find yourself a lightweight Colt Commander...they'll run you a little more but the weight reduction will be worth the $$$.

Then chose your poison....new barrel, new bushings, sights, etc...and then put a set of custom thin grips on her and you're good to go.

Or, just by a Wilson, Brown, Baer or one of the new Colts or Kimbers....like a kid in a candy store....:D

Have fun;)
 
I carry either my old Glock 27 or my Kimber Ultra CDP and must admit that I love the feel of the Kimber. Even though the frame is quite light and the gun is small I let many of our CCW students shoot it "Try a 1911..." and they usually are more accurate than with their own firearm (this might be becaue the trigger as a single-action is so much lighter than their firearm that they get surprised by the shot and don't have time to do the typical pre-ignition push).

The magazine capacity of the single-stack 1991 .45 is dismal compared to the amount of rounds that can fit into a high-capacity 9mm. There are some great double-stack 1911s that are not too bulky, if price is not the primary object then the STI VIP is an awesome choice [I'll probably get one soon as well] and this can be used for IPSC and IDPA as well.
 
If you want to carry it, the stainless SIG P220 doesn't make as much sense as the alloy frame pistol, since like the full-size M1911A1 clones it is pretty heavy.

The SIG P220 is light, extremely accurate, reliable, reasonably priced, and is available new or used. Many people find that it fits and points well, and the standard sights are quite good. If I sound like a fan - I am, avery carrying a USGI .45 in the service and owning a Colt Gold Cup Series 70 for 20 years.
 
Kimber, Kimber, Kimber!

Kimber ultra cdp, just reading those words makes me want one,
compact, light, and all the gadgets you could want from the factory for less than a thousand bucks, go check one out, they also make the cdp in larger models.
 
CZ 97B

Best value out there! (And a real nail driver too!)

checkout:

www.czforum.com


(Also like my Ruger KP-90 -- but the CZ 97B holds 10 + 1 rounds, my Ruger only 7 + 1)

Let us know what you get?

Gunner
 
Thank you all for the advice and salutations....

Sounds like I'm living in more of an ideal world than a practical one. I will revisit the single-stack Kimber-like 1911's before I buy. (Off to the gun store today!)

Forgive me as I am a little naive when it comes to CCW. I've never carried concealed before. As a part-time deputy for five years, I only carried in a side rig, but never carried off-duty (part-time were not covered by insurance to do so, yadda, yadda, yadda)...

Don't tell anyone in this forum, but I also own a S&W 686, 4-inch .357 (excellent, excellent firearm, by the way), which weighs in around 41 oz, about the same as the P220ST! I tucked it in my belt and thought my pants would fall down. I guess I just figured a good holster would make the firearm disappear. Thanks for the inside advice, there is no way I would want to carry the 686 all the time.

Whatever I do I want it to be ready to go off the shelf. I do not want to do any significant modifications to a CCW firearm because of liability concerns.

I will probably pick as light as possible for my CCW, but I still have those "big frame" saucers in my eyes.

Thanks again!!
 
The more you train, the more you will want the big one. JMB got the size right.

Buy a good belt and holster and you will not have carrying problems.

Nothing wrong with Kimber. I was impressed with the one I used extensively last year.

Get night sights. Get a truckload of magazines. Metalforms or Les Baers, IME. Once you find the weapon you like, buy 3 more just like it.

Shoot straight.
 
I can't believe I'm agreeing with KSFreeman again

KSFreeman got it right. Get a full-size 1911; it's thin and it'll conceal better than a Sig P245 which is blocky (I know I OWN ONE). Save your pennies and just get the Les Baer Thunder Ranch Special. I've owned a ton of 1911s and for the money, you cannot beat the Thunder Ranch Special. It was designed by Clint Smith. Speaking of Thunder Ranch, save yer pennies and sign up for a class there once you get yer fancy pistol. You need world class training if you want to carry. Get good training PLEASE!

Bob
 
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