OK its no secret I like Colts. I've never had one break or fall apart. Fits my hand like a glove.. fast mag changes.. fast on the draw.. mmmmmmm.
Sure they Jam but ALL 1911's do that when underlubricated.
so my list goes:
OLD COLTS (pre series 70) 1911's, Commanders, Pocket 32's and vest pocket pistols. Shiny shiny colt blue please.. so deep you can use it as a mirror.
Newer Colts.. I don't think I'd want a Gold Cup but the Pocket 9 was on my list as were the commander sized defender and the "magnum carry". I nearly bought a 1991a1 just to leave stock.. what kid DOES'T know an american GUN is COLT and its a 45.. (ok showing my age there) Its a JMB and the slabsides served us for 80 years.. name ONE other auto that did that.. there aren't any. And its still in use.. like them or cuss them Colt has made MORE 1911's than anyone else.. I think Colt makes the best ones.
FN-Browning Most modern guns work on a "modified browning action" well guess what.. John Browning is still king. Hi-Powers, Model 1910's, mmmmm and the factory engraved stuff is tasty. So good even the COPIES made of the 1935 hipower are stone reliable. FN makes some of the best weapons in the world.
HK Its big its chunky its got pastic parts. No I don't mean that fugly P7, I'm talking the FIRST platic gun the VP70 (DA only 4 moving parts 18 rounds wow) and the "uberpistol of 45's the P9s Yeah I know LOTS of my pals shoot USP's in 40.. doesn't fit my hand very well.. very nice though. HK doesn't really make "small guns" their model 4 was BIG.. but it could shoot 4 calibers) Expensive and big but very well made. I passed up a vp70 for $300 8 years ago and have been kicking myself ever since.
SIG (model 226 in general) EVERY TIME I pulled the trigger the brass went into the tray.. every time. That's workmanship. But they rust. Grease 'em up or make it in stainless. Expensive and so are the magazines.
Ruger- the Mark 1 and 2 Target pistol remain my favorite 22 of all time. How anyone making such a sleek and sexy 22 can produce a tank-like russian army ugly big bore auto is lost on me.. but Rugers WORK. They are cost effective, simple and TOUGH. Best mettalurgy in the market.. I bet Ruger could tool up a factory automag (ala Pasadena-AMT-HiStandard) in no time.. they have the right steel.
Russian Military Arms. Yep. OK the mak is a little BIG.. the Tokarev a little strange in the grip.. bet you a dollar they go BANG in the worst of conditions. Like 30 below in Siberia in a blizzard.. oh wait that's NORMAL conditions in Russia. Nice guns, good price.. I like the Izmash "coldwar" guns over newer commercial Baikal guns. EG maks are the best finished.. but the mak is still a russian gun.
Walther - expensive, slick, well made. Even a wartime "black widow" P-38 should be in everyone's collection. Its the reason we HAVE SA/DA discussions. The PPK.. classic. Too pricey for me to buy a new one.
Glock Tupperware that works. I like the model 17 a lot.. the miniguns and "large frame" guns are beasts. I think they jam less than other guns (except the hipower) and I like the ulititarian "no frills " out of the box gun that they are. I'll add a glock to my collection someday.. probably a model 17.
SW never saw a smith auto I liked... they shoot aparently.. but the grip feels funny and the sigma... yuck. SW sights are ALWAYS BIG.. and the 645 was the right caliber but the gun was way heavy. I don't care for slide mounted safties and decockers either.
Beretta - Italian cars are sexy.. Italian cars need Italian mechanics to keep them running. Army tests aside.. I can't see how MORE parts means a better gun. The M9 is a BIG gun.. lots of levers and well.. I just never liked it. Sure it holds a lot of bullets.. and its an accurate pistol.. just not the one for me. The longer the M9 remains in service the more people will like it.
Taurus - Cheaper version of the Bareeta.. a concept I like.. but still the ergonomics are on par with the Beretta.
Keltec - neatest pocket rocket I ever saw.. TINY.. you can use it as a whistle.
Kahrs are ugly, chunky beasts.. but others swear by them. I'm up in the air on how to feel about this one. Need more experience.
Mauser always a well made gun, even in wartime. the HSc is a dandy, the C-96 the coolest villans gun you can ever own. Yes it has lots of parts but Hey Han Solo carried one and so did the Rocketeer. For that reason alone.. the Mauser gets a nod.
Kimber - I've seen more teeth pulled over kimber woes on this thread than any other. Some guys like em.. some guys think they are a steal. I think a TARGET gun made for TARGET shooting should STAY the hell at the target range. The problem with Gold Cups and Kimbers and other high end "tighter tolerance" 1911's is they JAM in "real conditions" I'd put ANY super comped race gun in this category. But a tricked out IPSC para ordinace 40 cal has NO place in a duty holster. I think if kimber made a milspec 1911 it would be just fine. I like the look of thier stainless guns.. I'm just not sure I'd ever buy one.
Springfield They make a good gun, they have mucho experience. Its still not a colt, but the design is solid.
Personally I'd leave the high end custom 1911 builders off the list. Its STILL a 1911
I hve little experience with lorcins, Raven, Hi-points and other such american mini-guns but my advice is this: you get more bang for your buck with an eastern block gun.. like a russian Mak or a Hungarian Hi-Power.
FEG is the BEST deal on the market. My hi-power (pjk9hp) is a slick lil number that shoots all day and begs for more.. sure she hammerbites and has thee magazine safty.. buts she is motherloving accurate and she eat ANY magazine I've put in her.. from expensive after market hi-caps to Rusty "i found this in an old ammo can" originals made in spain or pakistan or some damn place. I cannot say enough good things about this pistol.
So there its is.. from sentimental favorites to tack drivers to economical shooters.. there is something for everyone. Hopee ya liked the read.
[This message has been edited by Dr.Rob (edited August 23, 2000).]
Sure they Jam but ALL 1911's do that when underlubricated.
so my list goes:
OLD COLTS (pre series 70) 1911's, Commanders, Pocket 32's and vest pocket pistols. Shiny shiny colt blue please.. so deep you can use it as a mirror.
Newer Colts.. I don't think I'd want a Gold Cup but the Pocket 9 was on my list as were the commander sized defender and the "magnum carry". I nearly bought a 1991a1 just to leave stock.. what kid DOES'T know an american GUN is COLT and its a 45.. (ok showing my age there) Its a JMB and the slabsides served us for 80 years.. name ONE other auto that did that.. there aren't any. And its still in use.. like them or cuss them Colt has made MORE 1911's than anyone else.. I think Colt makes the best ones.
FN-Browning Most modern guns work on a "modified browning action" well guess what.. John Browning is still king. Hi-Powers, Model 1910's, mmmmm and the factory engraved stuff is tasty. So good even the COPIES made of the 1935 hipower are stone reliable. FN makes some of the best weapons in the world.
HK Its big its chunky its got pastic parts. No I don't mean that fugly P7, I'm talking the FIRST platic gun the VP70 (DA only 4 moving parts 18 rounds wow) and the "uberpistol of 45's the P9s Yeah I know LOTS of my pals shoot USP's in 40.. doesn't fit my hand very well.. very nice though. HK doesn't really make "small guns" their model 4 was BIG.. but it could shoot 4 calibers) Expensive and big but very well made. I passed up a vp70 for $300 8 years ago and have been kicking myself ever since.
SIG (model 226 in general) EVERY TIME I pulled the trigger the brass went into the tray.. every time. That's workmanship. But they rust. Grease 'em up or make it in stainless. Expensive and so are the magazines.
Ruger- the Mark 1 and 2 Target pistol remain my favorite 22 of all time. How anyone making such a sleek and sexy 22 can produce a tank-like russian army ugly big bore auto is lost on me.. but Rugers WORK. They are cost effective, simple and TOUGH. Best mettalurgy in the market.. I bet Ruger could tool up a factory automag (ala Pasadena-AMT-HiStandard) in no time.. they have the right steel.
Russian Military Arms. Yep. OK the mak is a little BIG.. the Tokarev a little strange in the grip.. bet you a dollar they go BANG in the worst of conditions. Like 30 below in Siberia in a blizzard.. oh wait that's NORMAL conditions in Russia. Nice guns, good price.. I like the Izmash "coldwar" guns over newer commercial Baikal guns. EG maks are the best finished.. but the mak is still a russian gun.
Walther - expensive, slick, well made. Even a wartime "black widow" P-38 should be in everyone's collection. Its the reason we HAVE SA/DA discussions. The PPK.. classic. Too pricey for me to buy a new one.
Glock Tupperware that works. I like the model 17 a lot.. the miniguns and "large frame" guns are beasts. I think they jam less than other guns (except the hipower) and I like the ulititarian "no frills " out of the box gun that they are. I'll add a glock to my collection someday.. probably a model 17.
SW never saw a smith auto I liked... they shoot aparently.. but the grip feels funny and the sigma... yuck. SW sights are ALWAYS BIG.. and the 645 was the right caliber but the gun was way heavy. I don't care for slide mounted safties and decockers either.
Beretta - Italian cars are sexy.. Italian cars need Italian mechanics to keep them running. Army tests aside.. I can't see how MORE parts means a better gun. The M9 is a BIG gun.. lots of levers and well.. I just never liked it. Sure it holds a lot of bullets.. and its an accurate pistol.. just not the one for me. The longer the M9 remains in service the more people will like it.
Taurus - Cheaper version of the Bareeta.. a concept I like.. but still the ergonomics are on par with the Beretta.
Keltec - neatest pocket rocket I ever saw.. TINY.. you can use it as a whistle.
Kahrs are ugly, chunky beasts.. but others swear by them. I'm up in the air on how to feel about this one. Need more experience.
Mauser always a well made gun, even in wartime. the HSc is a dandy, the C-96 the coolest villans gun you can ever own. Yes it has lots of parts but Hey Han Solo carried one and so did the Rocketeer. For that reason alone.. the Mauser gets a nod.
Kimber - I've seen more teeth pulled over kimber woes on this thread than any other. Some guys like em.. some guys think they are a steal. I think a TARGET gun made for TARGET shooting should STAY the hell at the target range. The problem with Gold Cups and Kimbers and other high end "tighter tolerance" 1911's is they JAM in "real conditions" I'd put ANY super comped race gun in this category. But a tricked out IPSC para ordinace 40 cal has NO place in a duty holster. I think if kimber made a milspec 1911 it would be just fine. I like the look of thier stainless guns.. I'm just not sure I'd ever buy one.
Springfield They make a good gun, they have mucho experience. Its still not a colt, but the design is solid.
Personally I'd leave the high end custom 1911 builders off the list. Its STILL a 1911
I hve little experience with lorcins, Raven, Hi-points and other such american mini-guns but my advice is this: you get more bang for your buck with an eastern block gun.. like a russian Mak or a Hungarian Hi-Power.
FEG is the BEST deal on the market. My hi-power (pjk9hp) is a slick lil number that shoots all day and begs for more.. sure she hammerbites and has thee magazine safty.. buts she is motherloving accurate and she eat ANY magazine I've put in her.. from expensive after market hi-caps to Rusty "i found this in an old ammo can" originals made in spain or pakistan or some damn place. I cannot say enough good things about this pistol.
So there its is.. from sentimental favorites to tack drivers to economical shooters.. there is something for everyone. Hopee ya liked the read.
[This message has been edited by Dr.Rob (edited August 23, 2000).]