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).]
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).]