handgun differences

At the risk of taking it to a bit more well-defined level, "caliber" simply means it's bore diameter in inches. In this case, if you say ".45 caliber" everyone knows you are most often going to be referring to a ".45 Auto" or ".45 ACP", but calling it a .45 caliber could lead the more creative among us to consider that it's a .45 Colt, .45 Schofield, .45 AutoRim, .45 WinMag, .45-70 Govt, and god only knows how many others.

In fact, what you are referring to is more clearly defined as a chambering, though most people don't care either way. It's not a big deal like calling your magazines "clips" which bothers a LOT of people! :D

If you strive to one day own a 1911 in .45 Auto, I wouldn't make it a priority to buy the finest, best, most expensive one out there. You could get knocked clean off your chair by some of the prices. But do be prepared to spend between $700 and $1,500 to get yourself a very nice, very high quality 1911, and once you've become infinitely familiar with it, then start thinking about how to spend $2500 and up on one single "ultimate" 1911 pistol.

Also, here's a tip with TFL forums.
Do you know what would happen if you walked in to a stamp collecting convention with 2,000 people, you got on stage and said, "I don't have any stamps. I want to buy some nice, historic, collectible stamps. What do you people think?"

Imagine the answer you'd get from 2,000 stamp collectors in attendance.

That's kind of what you are asking if you come to TFL forums and say, "I like a 1911, which one should I buy?!" :p
 
I understand Sevens. I'm in Industrial Power Transmission and the same would happen with questions such as I asked if they were asked here, but I guess this is part of my learning curve. Sorry for the lack of clarity but the feedback has been awsome. Actually found out way more than I bargained for. I had one gentleman tell me that a fine quality used weapon would be a better buy than cheap new weapon. Should this be considered as I begin my search for a higher line 1911 .45 auto (I believe I worded that correctly, not sure)?
 
Price subject to change according to how many times Wife enters hospital in the next couple of months but $1000 range new. I'm not after anything unique, just something I can take out back of the house and shoot till I drop. Whatever I purchase will be well used.
 
The higher end 1911's are made by Wilson Combat, Ed Brown and Les Baer ( and a few others ) - they all have good websites - but to play in that area it'll cost you $ 2,000 - $ 3,000 for the most part.

The mid-level 1911's ( the higher end of Kimbers lineup ) will be $ 1500 - $ 1800.

Entry level 1911's, in my opinion - around $ 1,000 - Springfield, STI, Sig, etc.

One of the better guns for the money is Springfield, in my opinion - but the best all around guns I own are from Wilson Combat ( 5" barrels, Protector series, all stainless..).
 
For me personally, if I was spending something in the range of $1000, I'd be getting a Dan Wesson. Probably this Pointman MARKSMAN

If it's possible, you should try to find a place where you can shoot a few. That's the only way to find something that YOU like.
 
Thanks BigJimP and Peetzakilla for the info..........I'm heading to a range this weekend to check into joining with. That Pointman Marksman is a nice looking piece of equipment. If anyone around here is shooting Wilson Combat I'm not familiar with them. I'll find out more when I visit the range this weekend but I understand most of the members are law enforcement.
 
Hey Scat,
I'm reading this quickly (at work:o), so forgive me if this has already been covered. You mentioned that your son had given you a .45 revolver. Many (most?) .45 revolvers shoot the .45 LC or Long Colt, which is not the same cartridge as the .45 ACP. Same diameter, but different configuration. So don't think the ammunition will necessarily be interchangeable. Some revolvers do use the .45 ACP...but be careful.
 
The gift was a Judge 4410, and he gave it to me because I thought it was a neat concept. I went ahead and purchased the Lee reloader, simple version so that I can sit in my living room with family in my recliner and reload with no time constraints. I'm loading 45LC for it. When I purchase a 45-auto I'll probably stay with factory ammo only. Read a lot online about the Judge but personally, my father in law has S&W and Kimber 45 revolvers of which I shoot regularly. Our backyard range is set up for 30 yards and my Judge is more comfortable and is more accurate than anything he has. I realize this may upset some hardliners, and I've even mentioned some smithing work that may need to be done to his but I love my Judge and it performs flawlessly, with extreme accuracy at 30 yards. 225gr, Winchester JHP factory loads is what it likes best for accuracy, but little accuracy drop off with 250gr lead. No matter what the opinion of the Judge is, it has stirred the fever for more and that alone was worth the gun. I was needing something in my life and the Judge opened the door to a whole new world to me as my father-in-law and I have never been that close.
 
Wow.......I spooked everybody with that Judge comment!!! How about this, wasn't one of the specs for the military issue 1911, .45, was that it had to be able to be completely field disassembled to be cleaned, repaired and reassembled? That would be right up my alley. As sort of a mech. engineer, I like fixing, or improving things myself.
 
Scat a couple of thoughts:
but $1000 range new. I'm not after anything unique, just something I can take out back of the house and shoot till I drop. Whatever I purchase will be well used.
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You might want to consider a Colt 1911. They are the company that began manufacturing the original 1911 and continue manufacturing 1911s to this day; that would be close to 100 years, they are the standard.

I went ahead and purchased the Lee reloader, simple version so that I can sit in my living room with family in my recliner and reload with no time constraints.
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As a reloader I would recommend that you reload when alone. Carrying on a conversation and reloading do not go hand in hand in my opinion. When reloading it is very important to have your attention on the task at hand; only if you want to keep those hands intact, along with your gun. YMMV
 
Thanks peetzakilla, didn't know that option existed. I'll compare it to the models recommended by everyone else...............And AZAK, my wife is way ahead of you. She has already designated a room with no distractions. I've found that even with the one step at a time hand squeeze unit that I have, it still is easy to forget where you are at!!! Thanks for reminding me, I'll heed both yours and her advise. Timing is a little funny, I was talking to Father in Law just a while ago and they are on their way home from Jersey to here in South Alabam and he can't wait to show me his new anaconda!!! I told him that I had been gathering info on a 1911 .45 auto and told me the same as AZAK, check out the Colt!
 
Concerning the absolute work of art pic that *Gun 4 Fun* posted.

Remember, I'm ignorant! So take it easy on me. That 25-2 looks like a revolver. What makes it an ACP?
 
scat

That 25-2 looks like a revolver. What makes it an ACP?
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ACP stands for Automatic Colt Pistol. As in the original Colt 1911. (Makes sense to me when it is on a Colt Pistol, sounds kind of funny when describing a Ruger semi-auto in .45.)

The ammunition for these guns is normally marked .45 auto. This is describing the cartridge that goes in a particular gun. Sometimes people interchange the terms as in my Colt is a .45 auto, or even ammunition manufacturers with .45 ACP.

There are other handguns with the ACP after the caliber: .25 ACP, etc... again, normally the guns are designated with the ACP and the cartridges with the auto; however, again sometimes folks interchange the terminology.

Most of my reloading manuals just stick with the "auto" concerning ammo; however, Nosler does use both "Auto/ACP" to describe the .45 auto cartridge.

So yes a Smith & Wesson revolver can be chambered in .45 auto; or some might say .45 ACP, even if it is not an "Automatic Colt Pistol".

About as much sense as I can make out of it for you.
 
Never mind. I found information that cleared up any questions. It also made me realize that it was a rare opportunity to view a photo of a 25-2!
 
You are welcome! Of course there is more to the story, like that Colt, originally back in the day, named the cartridges for their models chambered in .25, the .25 ACP while in Europe they were called the .25 auto. Can be confusing, but the "basic story" is above.
 
This thread brings up a question that I have. If a 1911 is chambered for something other than .45 such as .380 or 10mm is it truly a 1911? :)
 
If, other the the caliber it is chambered in, it follows the design specs and dimensions of a 1911, I'd say it is a 1911. Even Colt has offered the 1911 in other choices then .45, such as .38 super.

I actually think this is pretty much my idea too. To quote from that link:

To me, a 1911 is more than an Army blueprint. It is a weapons platform. It is a locked breech single action cocked and locked pistol that has a linked barrel, and uncanny handling characteristics and accuracy.
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JMB only chmabered his original in .45acp because the army had said they wanted nothing smaller. The tests that they conducted in 1904 did not even include the .45acp, because Browning had not invented it yet. They had tested .45 Colt, .38acp, .455 Webley, 9x19mm, and said that their new pistol should preferably be a semi-automatic and of not less then .45 caliber. Had they said otherwise, the 1911 may well have still come about, but the "classic" cartridge for it might very well have been something other then .45acp.
 
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