Stick with 9, or add a 45?

It really depends on what you want the gun for.
I'm a 1911 fan.I've learned them well enough to build them and I have a few.
Its a great handgun.
Its not wrong to get a1911.
However,if you have a Shield...great carry gun!
There has been a lot of discussion here about capacity.There is a school of thought about 12 rounds giving you pretty good odds.
Based on that,a S+W M+P 9C is pretty much a 12 round Shield. You'd be familiar with it,and your rig could be similar.You'd shoot the same ammo in both.

Now,for myself....I have the 1911s,both Gov and Commander...And I have the
12 round 9mm M+P 9 C.
So what do I have an itch(but no budget) for? The Shield that holds 7+1 rounds of 45 ACP and weighs 23 oz.,its slim,slightly more grip,and nice texture!

So,you get to decide your priorities and preferences!! I won't even try.

Get what you want and can afford. And then ,you'll figure on what is next!!
 
.45 acp is just as cheap to reload as a .38 spl.
Maybe cheaper if you can manage to catch all your brass.
The low operating pressure of the .45 doesn't stretch the brass as much.

Plus, being in the 700 to 900 fps range, soft swaged lead bullets work just dandy.

9mm usually needs a jacketed bullet- at least in my limited experience loading the 9x19.
I never did get a "good" 124 grain lead bullet load my BHP &/or CZ75b liked, so, I just gave up and go with plated bullets - which work ok,,,not great, but, ok. Jacketed bullets work great.
YMMV on this - as I'm sure it will.

I vote .45acp - - in whatever platform since there's a bunch of them.
 
If it were me I'd stick with another nine and spend more money on ammo and enjoying shooting.
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^^^^^This.

You can always get a .45ACP later, but having two guns in the same caliber makes sense. Also, if you want a 1911 feel in an affordable gun, check out the used Browning Hi-Powers and CZ-75s on the market. The Ruger SR9 series guns are also affordable.
 
Jacket67: said:
Should I actually be looking at something like a full or midsize double stack 9mm to keep my caliber range small, or continue looking into the 1911 platform? What about a double stack .45acp?

I definitely plan to get whichever I don't get next at some point down the road. I may opt for the 9mm next, and then save and research and get my perfect idea of a 1911. I've definitely considered it being a gift to myself once I get out of school and get into my career!.....

.......I'm going to retract my earlier proposal of a double stack 45. I'd just rather have the 1911 over any other.

The 9mm I'd be looking at is the m&p 2.0 compact. By the time I'd be getting one, the kinks (if any) should be well established and worked out. It's about half the cost of a good Colt 1911, and I'd stick to just 9mm. Then I'd treat myself to a Colt later on, and make it a special purchase all the way around.
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Sounds like you asked your question & then answered it, so whatever works for you is the right thing to do
 
I went thru the same thoughts when I got into handguns. I started out with a Officer Model 1911 single stack 45. Then purchased a single stack 9mm Kel Tech PF9 for CCW. Then went with a Sig 2022 dbl stack 40cal. Then went with a Ruger SR9 dbl stack 9mm. Then purchased a Springfield Loaded single stack 45. Then purchased a Springfield XDS single stack 45 for CCW. I say this because if your into handguns, you probable won't stop at 1 or 2. Life is full of choices.
 
Based on Your decision to look for a double-stack, sticking with 9mm makes sense. There are LOTS of good options out there from quality manufacturers. Hold as many as you can before buying and if you have the opportunity, shoot as many as you can.

One I would recommend you at least handle is the CZ-75. It has very good ergonomics, a good trigger and is hammer fired, which has a little different feel than striker-fired options.
 
Stick with 9, or add a 45?
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1911 9 mm is a hoot to shoot. Springfield makes the range officer and in 9 mm keeps you with one ammo. Great range gun and doesn't need anything out of the box except shooting it. If a double stack 1911 fancy's you Rock Island make one. many shooter at the competitions I shoot at are shooting them and they seem to run flawlessly
 
I know this is a centerfire topic, but have you thought about the amount shooting you could do with something like the S&W Victory .22?
 
Consider an hk usp 45 as well. Another fine weapon in 45 acp. 1911's never clicked with me (first pistol i ever bought was a series 80 colt) and they only match your shield in capacity.

There's also a lot of good 9mm choices as well, many service pistols will fit the bill.

Also consider adding a revolver at some point. For me more of a range/hunting type gun.
 
Sounds like you asked your question & then answered it
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That's what I like about this forum. I have a thought that I can't clear up, I post it on here to discuss with you guys, and then I have a better idea of what I want to go with! It's what I love about TFL!

As far as a double stack 9mm goes, if I got one, it'd be the m&p pretty much without a shadow of a doubt. I've shot and handled multiple double stack 9mm's and would like to stick with a similar platform to what I already have and know I like.

CZ makes a fantastic firearm, and I definitely see myself owning one at some point. But for now, it's not what I want.

I don't want a 9mm 1911 because I feel that it defeats the purpose for what I want next. Either a double stack full/mid size 9mm for better capacity, or a 1911 in .45. A 1911 in 9mm just is not what I'm looking for, though I have no doubt they are amazing shooters.

I know this is a centerfire topic, but have you thought about the amount shooting you could do with something like the S&W Victory .22?
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I actually have a Ruger mk....something back home. It predates me, and was made when Ruger was still alive. The eagle background in the handle is painted red. If I were looking just for a fun gun to go shoot, I'd consider a .22, but I'm looking for something with defensive capability.


I appreciate all of your input and helping me think through this! Because it is both cheaper, and makes more sense practically, I think I'll be sticking to 9mm for now, and add a 1911 when I have more finances to buy the gun I want, and supply the ammunition to train with it well. It's going to be a while before I make this purchase so I have plenty of time to save and move to my next school.
 
I was in a similar position, and my decision hinged on one thing: disposable income. I don't have alot of it, and when I buy a gun/caliber I prefer to stock up at least 700+ rounds as a reserve, and then buy as I shoot after that. I don't shoot as often as I'd like, so 700 rounds is a decent stash for a rainy day for me.

I ended up adding another 9mm, as I didn't have to worry about the cost of building up a reserve.

So, if you can afford to stock up on both 9mm and 45, I would go with a 45 (a 1911 as you mentioned, or if you want doublestack a CZ-97). If stocking 2 calibers might be cost prohibitive, I'd go with a 9mm, and I'd recommend a CZ-75B.

EDIT: After reading the rest of the thread, looks like you don't want a CZ-75. If you're considering an M&P Compact, CZ does have the P-07 and P-09 line of polymer handguns as well, I actually have a P-07 as my bedside gun, great gun IMO. I am admittedly a CZ junkie, but you definitely can't go wrong with an M&P either if you go that route.
 
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The completely irrational excuse of "I don't want to by a different kind of ammo" is so alien to me I can't even fathom it.
Get a real 1911 in 45 acp. Then maybe something in 10MM. Just for starters.:D
 
The M&P's are nice guns. I have four of them including a full size 9mm and at this point make sure you get the gen 2 which is the same great gun with a much better grip and trigger.

They have a new 4" model to compete with a Glock 19 you might want to look at as well.

Though for me, I carry a full size 226 so.....
 
I've been pondering an M&P Shield 45.
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There you go....
I love my 1911's - the two full sized ones (Kimbers) and the Commander (Colt), but, for sheer value,,,,,the .45acp Shield is really hard to beat.
 
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