marine6680
New member
The 1911 is an older design... And while I really like my modern pistols... the 1911 also has a place in my heart.
If you get the chance to try one, do so... Especially if it is a quality example. The triggers are smooth, light and easy to use without jerking or affecting aim. Know that while a bad 1911 trigger is still very good compared to a Glock and other striker pistols, there is a range in quality of 1911 triggers all the same.
A 1911 with a target trigger is almost impossible to miss with inside 10yds. Heck a 1911 with a good defense trigger is hard to miss with.
The Ruger 1911, if it can be found on sale for around the $650-700 mark, is a good way to go. They are a lot of gun for the money, and have garnered a lot of fans. The R1 Enhanced doesn't look too bad either, at a similar, but a bit higher price, last I looked.
Rock Island Armory makes good 1911s, their fit and finish isn't quite as good as say, the Ruger, but they are typically build well, work reliably, and have decent triggers. They are also cheaper than others, topping out at around $600 or a bit less, for their higher end versions.
A newer design that would be worth a look... is the Sig P series... Design is from the late 70s-80s, so it isn't "new" but it looks good and modern. It has been updated through the years.
There are several models, double stack and single stack, with 45 versions available. Very nice feeling pistol in the hand, very good trigger and very smooth shooting. I own a P226 (9mm) and it is the smoothest shooting pistol I own.
Now as far as modern polymer designs... Lets see...
I really like my M&Ps, the ergos are great. And the trigger out of the box on the new ones are not horrible. Reset is improved over the older ones, not as good as some other designs but not bad. I am not one who subscribes to the whole riding the reset thing, though I have found myself doing it subconsciously.
For about $30 you can order a replacement trigger from Apex that makes the M&P trigger feel much better. For about $70 more, you can get their trigger enhancement kit that really makes the trigger shine as one of the best. The parts are easy to swap out yourself, but if in doubt a smith could do it in under an hour.
Glocks are fine pistols, but I, like others, find the ergos a little off putting. I find them a little large, even in the smaller caliber versions. The 45 is worse... The Gen 4 version (17/19) is the only one I don't feel like I am holding a large wood block. (Just a slightly smaller one
)
I would suggest the FNS as a good option, but they make no 45... They do make a 45 in the FNX hammer fired pistol though.
Ruger makes good pistols, but I am not a fan of all the nanny safeties they have on their striker designs. The new American pistol does away with them, but I do not think there is a 45 version.
The XD line of pistols are pretty nice as well. I find them ergonomic and the triggers are decent/good.
The Walther PPQ is a very nice pistol, one of the best feeling/ergonomic pistols I have handled. The trigger is also very good. They released a 45 version not too long back.
Now a not modern design, but a fine pistol is the CZ 75... Outside of the US, it is (and copies of it) the most used pistol in competitions, heck it may be the most used competition pistol even including the US... They make a 45 version called the CZ 97. The CZ pistols are very comfortable in the hand and to shoot. The 45 version is a little on the large size though, and small handed shooters would have issues with it.
In general, I find most 45 pistols just a bit too big for my medium sized hands. Usually its a problem with trigger reach. I can shoot them fine, but how I hold them to reach the trigger makes them not lined up well with my arm. Makes recoil management less effective.
Single stack 45s like the 1911 do not have this problem for me.
45 also has a very stout pushing feel recoil, that a heavier pistol helps soak up. Though some modern polymer designs handle it well enough.
For me, 45 is not a primary caliber, so I go with something fun over strictly practical when picking out a pistol chambered in it. (but my 1911 could be used for practical matters if need be)
If you get the chance to try one, do so... Especially if it is a quality example. The triggers are smooth, light and easy to use without jerking or affecting aim. Know that while a bad 1911 trigger is still very good compared to a Glock and other striker pistols, there is a range in quality of 1911 triggers all the same.
A 1911 with a target trigger is almost impossible to miss with inside 10yds. Heck a 1911 with a good defense trigger is hard to miss with.
The Ruger 1911, if it can be found on sale for around the $650-700 mark, is a good way to go. They are a lot of gun for the money, and have garnered a lot of fans. The R1 Enhanced doesn't look too bad either, at a similar, but a bit higher price, last I looked.
Rock Island Armory makes good 1911s, their fit and finish isn't quite as good as say, the Ruger, but they are typically build well, work reliably, and have decent triggers. They are also cheaper than others, topping out at around $600 or a bit less, for their higher end versions.
A newer design that would be worth a look... is the Sig P series... Design is from the late 70s-80s, so it isn't "new" but it looks good and modern. It has been updated through the years.
There are several models, double stack and single stack, with 45 versions available. Very nice feeling pistol in the hand, very good trigger and very smooth shooting. I own a P226 (9mm) and it is the smoothest shooting pistol I own.
Now as far as modern polymer designs... Lets see...
I really like my M&Ps, the ergos are great. And the trigger out of the box on the new ones are not horrible. Reset is improved over the older ones, not as good as some other designs but not bad. I am not one who subscribes to the whole riding the reset thing, though I have found myself doing it subconsciously.
For about $30 you can order a replacement trigger from Apex that makes the M&P trigger feel much better. For about $70 more, you can get their trigger enhancement kit that really makes the trigger shine as one of the best. The parts are easy to swap out yourself, but if in doubt a smith could do it in under an hour.
Glocks are fine pistols, but I, like others, find the ergos a little off putting. I find them a little large, even in the smaller caliber versions. The 45 is worse... The Gen 4 version (17/19) is the only one I don't feel like I am holding a large wood block. (Just a slightly smaller one
)I would suggest the FNS as a good option, but they make no 45... They do make a 45 in the FNX hammer fired pistol though.
Ruger makes good pistols, but I am not a fan of all the nanny safeties they have on their striker designs. The new American pistol does away with them, but I do not think there is a 45 version.
The XD line of pistols are pretty nice as well. I find them ergonomic and the triggers are decent/good.
The Walther PPQ is a very nice pistol, one of the best feeling/ergonomic pistols I have handled. The trigger is also very good. They released a 45 version not too long back.
Now a not modern design, but a fine pistol is the CZ 75... Outside of the US, it is (and copies of it) the most used pistol in competitions, heck it may be the most used competition pistol even including the US... They make a 45 version called the CZ 97. The CZ pistols are very comfortable in the hand and to shoot. The 45 version is a little on the large size though, and small handed shooters would have issues with it.
In general, I find most 45 pistols just a bit too big for my medium sized hands. Usually its a problem with trigger reach. I can shoot them fine, but how I hold them to reach the trigger makes them not lined up well with my arm. Makes recoil management less effective.
Single stack 45s like the 1911 do not have this problem for me.
45 also has a very stout pushing feel recoil, that a heavier pistol helps soak up. Though some modern polymer designs handle it well enough.
For me, 45 is not a primary caliber, so I go with something fun over strictly practical when picking out a pistol chambered in it. (but my 1911 could be used for practical matters if need be)
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