Need help in picking a 45 acp 3"

[DHart]

I plan on shooting & reloading for the 45 when the weather gets colder. Shooting indoors at the Mitchell field range. I'll check with Midway & Midsouth for the powder. Thanks again.
Chris

Chris... AA#5 is a great powder for reloading .45auto. It is my favorite for making 230 gr. Xtreme plated warmish target loads - with 7.8 gr. This gives a nice healthy punch, but remains comfortably below max.

When ordering online, be aware of the hazardous materials fee (typically about $30 per order, in addition to shipping fees). But if you order a good number of pounds of powder and primers, from a source with good pricing, you spread that $30 across a good size order and it's not a painful fee to pay. But if your order is really small... it's a pretty steep fee to pay for just a pound or two of powder. Remember, too, that one pound of powder will make about 1000 rounds of ammo @ 7 gr per round.

 

[chaim]

Nice choice on the Colt. Before I got there on the thread, I was about to make my suggestion...If I was to buy a 3" 1911 right now it would be one of three: a Springfield, a Dan Wesson, or my likely 1st choice, a Colt. I hope you enjoy and carry your new gun for a long time.

 

[Reloadron]

Chris:

Thanks Ron
I plan on shooting & reloading for the 45 when the weather gets colder. Shooting indoors at the Mitchell field range. I'll check with Midway & Midsouth for the powder. Thanks again.
Chris

I heard there was a range up there now. Funny, as when I was a kid my dad took me to air shows at Mitchell Field. I remember when the base closed and we would ride our bikes on the runways. One year while back I recall visiting a gun shop on Hempstead Turnpike along the old Mitchell Field. Nice shop as I recall.

Ron

 

[cw308]

DHart
Never tried AA#5 will add to my list. I know about the Has Mat charge. Till the next time .Be Well, Chris

Chaim
I hope to enjoy shooting it for a long time. Thank You. I also like Colt. The firearm is in transit to the FFL. Feel like a kid at Christmas. Thanks again Chris

Reloadron
That's the gun store I was looking at the Colt ( Coliseum Gun Traders ) Safe Shooting ,
Your old neighbor . Chris

Your a great group of guy's Thanks again Chris

 

[dakota1911]

My vote would go to a Colt Defender also. I have had a bunch of little pistols that shoot .45 over the years starting with a Detonics in 1984. The Defender is the best one I have found so far. Below my 84 Detonics, a 2000 Compact (think Officers) and my 2002 Defender at the bottom.



These days I carry a Talo/Colt Clapp Commander by the way. Although the addiction to small 1911s continues and this year I found an old Detonics that was made in the 79 to 80 time period for a little over $500 and bought it.

 

[DHart]

There is a certain appeal to a 3" 1911, which I bought into several times over the years (Detonics being my first of these as well, Dakota. Waaay back in the late 70's).

Of all the 3" 1911s, my vote would go to the Defender, also. Though I feel that a 4" Compact 1911 is a much better choice than a 3", and every bit as easy to carry.

 

[Brian48]

I've been happy with my sw1911.

 

[Rinspeed]

Kimbers have had QC issues regardless of size. One of Kimber's 3" models, however, did use the same or similar trough sight as Colt's N.A. Forget which it was.

Most that have been around 1911s for any length of time will tell you mini 1911s are a crap shoot no matter who makes them. Just because Kimber sells more than all the rest combined means nothing, it's all a matter of numbers.

 

[DHart]

Most that have been around 1911s for any length of time will tell you mini 1911s are a crap shoot no matter who makes them. Just because Kimber sells more than all the rest combined means nothing, it's all a matter of numbers.

Quite true. The smaller the 1911 gets, the more troublesome it can be to get them to run flawlessly. 3" 1911s bring a unique set of challenges with them. And Kimber has probably sold more of them than all the other brands combined.

3" 1911s are alluring, yet not uncommonly vexing beasts.