My first .45- choices, choices, choices?

M

mckysdad

New member
Hi all-

well, I have decided to take the plunge and to upgrade from a 9mm to a .45. I have 10 years of light practice (every couple of months) on a 9mm. I have a Beretta 92FS and a S&W 5906, and my wife has a 3913. I am now evaluating what .45 I should buy. I am hoping that you will give me some help making that choice! The use would be for personal defense or boat defense at anchor in very close quarters. My criteria are:
0. left-handed OK
1. reliability, reliability, reliability
2. Abiliy to function in a dirty and corrosive environment (I spend a lot of time on boats, where my guns are stored for 2 to 3 months at a time).
3. Hand fit
4. Easy field strip
5. precision
6. (possibly) enable my wife to shoot it as well.

After doing some research I am quite concerned about what seems to be the most popular, the 1911. I read everywhere about numerous failures to feed, or fairly long lists of incompatible ammo. I have shot many rounds in a Beretta 92 and NEVER have had a malfunction. Also, while I like my S&Ws, disassembly is not as clean and easy as the Beretta.

So, here are my questions- hope you can help me make up my mind!
1. My tentative short list would be ParaOrdnance 13.45, Beretta 8045, Les Baer 1911. What do you think of it, what would you pick (among my picks or yours) and why?
2. Is the 8045 as reliable and easy to strip as the 92FS?
3. Are the paraordnance and the Les Baer 1911 comparable to the Beretta 92 in reliability and ammo versatility?
Thanks in advance! I am tiptoing into the .45 world and I would hate to get blown up before I have had a chance to check out the landscape...

[This message has been edited by mckysdad (edited February 10, 2000).]
 
One of the reasons that any 1911 will puke on anything BUT Round Nosed FMJs is that they were designed ONLY to feed Ball Ammo !
Of course a barrels chamber can be opened up a bit & the ramp angle set to allow the oddest HP to feed correctly but my STOCK Norinco Govt. Model fed anything I cared to load in it - Go figure ! ;)
Paras have a fully supported RAMPED barrel & are one of the better feeding out of the box guns you can buy for around $600.
I'd be very dissapointed if A Baer, Wilson, Kimber or Rock River Arms, Springield DIDN'T feed MOST HPs reliably ! :(
If it's for boat defense, the Para P-13 with P-14 mags & + 2/3 base pads would be a good gun for a "gang" type scenario.
More is better ! ;)

------------------
"The Gun from Down Under !"
http://www.para1911fanclub.w3.to/
E-mail hotshot_2000@hotmail.com
Alternate E-mail
HS2000@ausi.com
 
My Wilson and Kimbers feed a variety of ammo quite well. It just won't feed junk ammo or poor handloads (chuckle). As for the Les Baer, I'll give you an opinion in a month and half. That's about how long until my pistol is ready.

mckysdad, have you considered any of the H&K's? They are very durable. I would recommend a Glock 30 but since you said your wife would be using it also, it might be too big for her hand. If you are patient, wait for the Glock 36 (mini .45)to come out. It's slim enough that a person with small hands can hold it comfortably. Plus it should be as durable as other Glocks.

------------------
Svt
NRA, GOA, VFW
Son's Place

Rangers Lead the Way
 
Oh I forgot to mention the Para LDA would be nice if & when it's available in Stainless Steel.
Your Wife might be more comfortable with a DAO 1911 & Para has also just previewed a Single Stack version of the LDA at S.H.O.T :)

------------------
"The Gun from Down Under !"
http://www.para1911fanclub.w3.to/
E-mail hotshot_2000@hotmail.com
Alternate E-mail
HS2000@ausi.com
 
Mckysdad,

For points 1,2,4, and 5, the HK USP45 is the way to go.

It's pretty big, but light for its bulk, and the recoil buffering system ought to make it manageable for the wife.

jth

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Don't give me a "smarter" gun.
Make me a smarter shooter :D
 
The tennifer finish (if you have not heard of this check it out) on the Glock is supposed to make the glock almost impervious to corrosive salt water and I've found glocks to be the highest on the reliability factor. However, they do "feel" thick so you need to handle them before purchase. Other than that the glock is the way to go for that environment IMHO.
 
A good 1911 can by altered to fit any need that you may have.but since you seem to have the most experience, and confidence in Beretta, why not check out the COUGER SERIES they have them in .45acp!
CALVIN
" want more gun control? use both hands! "
 
I'd get a Glock for a boat gun, personally. Why? Polymer frame and Tennifer finish make for a extremely corrosive resistant gun. They are rugged, reliable, and accurate. They are not too big. They are easy to field strip.

HK USPs are great guns. They are also rugged, reliable, and accurate, and easy to field strip. Their main detracter is that the full size .45 is too big, in my opinion. It is probably too big for your wife.

A quality stainless 1911 makes for a good boat gun. The design, my favorite,has been around for a long time for a reason. Capacity is over rated- get a shotgun or rifle to "repell boarders," if you anticipate pirates. ;-)

1911s and Berettas have one thing in common- everyone loves to find problems with them. They're both great guns. So if you want a .45, don't turn from the 1911 because of what you may have heard- that would be like selling your Beretta because of "likely" slide failures...


Let us know what you decide on.

Erik
 
I think Victor is on the right track. This is supposed to be a boat gun. Corrosive environment, not touched for a long time. Did not say anything about carrying it. I would say look at a Ruger P90. Stainless upper, Aluminum alloy lower. Not very expensive. Accurate and dependable. Easy to strip and clean.

Now they are not the most pretty guns in the world. But if I was going to leave it on a boat (where it could get stolen) I am sure not going to leave a $1500 Les Baer!

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John
(formerly johnboy)
 
If you do choose to go 1911, great!!! I am doing the very same thing. I will never give up my SIG 226 though, hang on to your barretta.

If you do go 1911, make sure the manufacturer STANDS BEHIND HIS PRODUCT!!! I've heard to many sad songs sung about how good Kimbers are supposed to be, and it does seem to be the case. But there have been some poeple who have bought Kimbers, got lemons and Kimber turn their back. Absolutely crap!!!

A gun is only worth anything if the maker stands behind it. Ain't no different from cars, so pretend like your buying one. You'll do fine. By the way, a SIG 220 might be the way to go. You won't have any problems with one of those. Ruger would be my number2 choice.



------------------
"By His stripes we are healed..."

PeterGunn
 
Get a Glock it will float if you drop it in the water :) Just a little humor pretty bad huh?
I bought a S&W 4516-1 under $400
The wife likes it more than me well almost.
Seems very reliable and the -1 means its the compact version (guess it depends how much room you have on the boat :) )
p.s. forgot to mention I'm a lefty also no problems with ambidextrious safety BUT the magazine release I have been told cannot be reversed can anyone clarify this?

[This message has been edited by Hayden (edited February 10, 2000).]
 
I looked at a 8045 long and hard, but decided on a HK compact 45. I would recommend the USPc or a Sig P220. I don't know much about Glocks, but the G30 has its fans.
 
If you're looking for full size I would have to recomend the HK. Until the Glock 36 comes out ten years from now then I will recomend it. Usually prefer the Glock but in a full size package it's a 2x4 for me. I would also look at the new Ruger 97. Great value and reliability. If it was not a marine enviornment get the Sig 220.
 
Get the Glock model 21 or the HK USP, either way you can't go wrong. These two firearms can take any abuse you give them and are the most reliable.
 
Hayden
Actually the 1 in 4516-1 refers to the weapons steel frame as opposed to the 4516-2 which has an alloy frame.

Be Safe
Mike
 
mckysdad; If you want reliability forget the 1911. G-21- stone cold reliable, S&w 4506 the same, sig-sauer awesome, H&k full size 45 is a great pistol. I know the 1911 is popular, slender, sexy or whatever but it can't compete with these other pistols. Good luck j.s.
 
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