What .45?

Just purchased one of the Charles Daly Stainless Empire EFS's 1 week before Christmas. Had decided on a Kimber Eclipse, but went to a local shop that had 5 Kimbers and 2 Charles Dalys in stock. The fit and finish on the Empire was as good as the Kimbers IMHO. Have a friend with a FFL so ordered it thru him. It came in packed heavily in oil. Cleaned it up and was amazed at how well it was machined. It had 1 very small burr in between the serrations on the rear of the slide. It did look as good as the one on the web page Charles Daly website .
While waiting for it to arrive, I Loaded 1000 200 grain LSWC seated to 1.255 OAL. We fired it over 700 times in 2 days of shooting. Had 4 misfeeds total all on the very last round all with the same magazine. Its spring is noticeably weaker than the other magazine, so I will replace it shortly. Group at 25 yards was 2-1/2 inches. It handily outshot an older Colt commander (which jammed every other round). The trigger needs some work and is just to heavy for me. Every gun I own (except for Glock 22) has had custom trigger work so this is headed for same treatment next week. This is one of the newer enhanced versions with the lifetime warranty. Price tag was $450.00 and I couldn't be happier. Actually was one of my Son's Christmas presents.

One of the things I noticed with the Charles Daly on the KY Imports website is that it appears to be one of the older EFS's. The newer enhanced versions have wood grip panels and the Novak style rear sight. They also have the lifetime warranty if purchased after 9/01/01. I have heard of some problems with the non-enhanced versions, but have no personal experience with them.
 
I have owned a Ruger P-series (the P89) and I own a Charles Daly. Both were great, inexpensive guns that gun snobs turn up their noses at.

Both are very reliable, and accurate. I haven't tested it but I suspect the Ruger is more rugged.


My P89 (9mm version of the P90) took every kind of ammo I tried in it. No FTF or FTE EVER (put well over 1000 rounds through it- just a guess so I'll keep it broad but I'd say between 1000 and 3000), with cheaper ammo it wasn't as accurate sometimes but never a reliability issue. A buddy had a P90 and the .45 was more picky with an occasional FTF or FTE with some brands of ammo. Still, a very reliable and accurate gun (MUCH more accurate than my 9mm) and you could probably run over any Ruger P-series with a tank and it would still shoot.

I love my Charles Daly. It is accurate, reliable and very inexpensive. I have one of the last of the 'older' versions, now they are marketing a new 'enhanced' version and from what I've heard it is even better. It is easy to tell the difference, the new ones have several changes but the most noticable is wood grips (instead of ugly black plastic).

The Charles Daly will easily take ammo that it isn't supposed to. Like many 1911s the factory says you should only use round nose bullets (FMJ) unless you polish the feed ramp. I haven't bothered and it loves JHPs and I've tried some other shapes without too much trouble (had a couple FTF and an FTE when in the break in period). Really the only trouble I've had with it is the factory mags, one was no good when I got it the other is dying now at about 1000 rounds. No big deal, mags are cheap.

Don't worry about people telling you you'll need to add all kinds of parts for it to work. You don't NEED to, I haven't, but many people LIKE to no matter what 1911 they buy.

If you want an inexpensive 1911 but want something with a more established reputation there are options. The Kimber base model (the Custom) isn't much more expensive than the CD or Ruger (OK, it is probably 25-50% more, but that is still cheap). Springfield has an entry level model as well that is about the same price as the Kimber. Auto Ordinance is supposed to be much better now that they are owned by Kahr and the new military version (replica of the old mil issued 1911s) is supposed to be incredible and might cost LESS than a CD.

I don't think you'll go wrong with either a Ruger or a Charles Daly.
 
You know I almost forgot the best testimony I can offer for either pistol.

I am fairly new to guns so I don't currently own many and there are quite a few that I need to buy to round out my 'collection'. I have no business buying duplicate, or even near duplicate, guns yet. However, I have several P-series pistols (P90 and/or P97, P94, P95 and possibly another P89 to replace the one I stupidly sold) and several more Charles Dalys (the new 'enhanced' field grade in stainless to go with my older model in blue, a compact model and maybe one of the Empire models) on my 'must have list'. I will probably buy at least one more of each within the year.
 
I saw probably a dozen slightly used Springfields in the $400 range at the last gun show I attended.

They weren' beaters. Some looked to have had no more than a few boxes of ammo run through them.

I'd opt for one given your price range.
 
The best full size 45 out there is the Glock 21.
Next is the HK usp in 45
Followed by the Sig 220 then the various 1911's that work. The ones that don't seem to outnumber the ones that do.
PAT
 
Flimsy Glocks!

Well, at the risk of inviting the flames, I have to back-up the concept of "flimsy glocks."

Although I also own some "combat tupperware" in the form of a well-used HK USP45, one of my clients who is a homocide detective (after undercover vice) here in SoCal gave me some input on Glocks versus all-steel guns. He said that he would never carry a polymer frame gun becasue if he had the gun out and some hopped-up perp ignored it, he felt comfortable using the frame to beat on the bad-guy as an option to shooting him. He said that he did not feel comfortable doing that with the polymer frame guns as one time his partner had a frame crack when he smashed it into a door frame. (How that happened is a story in and of itself!)

Not that I think that as a "firearm" there is anything particularly flimsy about a glock, but as an improvised club I could see how someone might want an all metal frame.

Gewehrmutter :
About your .45 choice... I STRONGLY urge you to find a local range with guns to rent and try your hand at the HK USP and the Sig 220 along with the appropriate Glock. These are all fine pistols, each with their strengths, so you owe it to yourself and your pocketbook to pick the right one.

So long as the minimum level of reliability and quality are met (you decide what that is), then you should choose the pistol that FEELS the best to you and that you shoot the best. If you want to see a detailed comparison of the Sig 220 and the HK USP45 (both in full size and compact) try the following link:

Click here for comparison

I wrote that ehn I was looking for a new .45 (I had never owned one before and had only shot my Army issued 1911 before I wrote that).

Maybe it will give you a starting point for discovering YOUR perfect pistol.

JT

as usual, IMHO, YMMV, FWIW, and all that...
 
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