Hard to beat Kimber's line-up.
My daily carry is an "Eclipse Target II":
http://www.kimberamerica.com/
I have heard some bad reports on the newest Ruger 45 auto. Trigger reset problems, most of all.
If you are set on the Ruger 45, why not consider searching for a used Ruger P-97 45 auto? They only stopped making that model about 2 years ago, and personally, I like it a lot better than the new one.
If you shop around, you should be able to find a used P-97 for around $275. That's what I would do.
Ruger is an excellent company. I have two .357 wheel guns. Friends have 9's and .40's. They love 'em. Personally, I like Sigs. I have a Sig P226 in the nightstand; and carry a Sig P232.
What I have learned (especially with Ruger) is not to buy the first of any new model they put out. Wait until you can get a serial number >10,000. Ruger will do their best to take care of problems that come up with any of their guns, but who needs the hassle.
Take a look at www.rugerforum.com if you haven't already.
For in-home use, consider a 12 gauge pump shotgun.
Shalom, if you want stopping power delivered through an accurate and reliable pistol then go with a Kimber 1911 Custom II. Believe me, you will shocked by the inherent accuracy and dependibility. I used to shoot matches with mine and it worked flawlessly.
Shalom, if you want stopping power delivered through an accurate and reliable pistol then go with a Kimber 1911 Custom II. Believe me, you will shocked by the inherent accuracy and dependibility. I used to shoot matches with mine and it worked flawlessly.
Shalom, if you want stopping power delivered through an accurate and reliable pistol then go with a Kimber 1911 Custom II. Believe me, you will shocked by the inherent accuracy and dependibility. I used to shoot matches with mine and it worked flawlessly.
Choosing a weapon to defend your house from intruders is a detailed process. Many use birdshot in a 12 gauge because it won't retain a lot of energy after going through walls and kill family members. The downside of a scatter gun is that if you have other family members in the room, they might get hit. Others prefer hand guns due to size and capacity. We keep a 9mm XD in our room with a tactical light on it because all the damned light switches in my house give an intruder the advantage. Keep in mind that a tac light lets a bad guy know where you are... and the beat goes on.
Can your family operate it? Often, females have trouble with the heavy spring in a .45 auto pistol. A .357 Magnum may be better if this is the case in your home.
Also, don't get a shotgun with a pistol grip. They are impossible to aim. You have no sights and no frame of reference where the thing is really pointing. Get an 870 HD, or a nice Mossberg 590. They're not all that expensive, and they're bult like a brick you know what.
Can't go wrong with a Glock or HK USP. Someone had commented that the handgun is to get you to a safe place where your long gun is, which I agree. My long gun is not my shotgun though-its a flat top Bushy with an Aimpoint CompM, and Surefire P6, full of 50 grain frangibles. (My house has old, heavy plaster walls)
Get a decent set of electronic ear protection and wear them. I don't know if you ever have fired a gun inside in the dark, but after that first round, you can be pretty deaf and blind.
From: Ed Chenel, A police officer in Australia
>
> Hi Yanks, I thought you all would like to see the real figures
> from Down Under. It has now been 12 months since gun owners in Australia
> were forced by a new law to surrender 640,381 personal firearms to be
> destroyed by our own government, a program costing Australia
> taxpayers more than $500 million dollars.
>
> The first year results are now in: Australia-wide, homicides
> are up 6.2 percent, Australia-wide, assaults are up 9.6 percent ;
> Australia-wide, armed robberies are up 44 percent (yes, 44 percent)!
> In the state of Victoria alone, homicides with firearms are now up
> 300 percent. (Note that while the law-abiding citizens turned them in,
> the criminals did not! and criminals still possess their guns!)
>
> While figures over the previous 25 years showed a steady decrease in
> armed robbery with firearms, this has changed drastically upward in
> the past 12 months, since the criminals now are guaranteed that
> their prey is unarmed. There has also been a dramatic increase in
> break-ins and assaults of the elderly, while the resident is at home.
>
> Australian politicians are at a loss to explain how public safety has
> decreased, after such monumental effort and expense was expended in
> "successfully ridding Australian society of guns." You won't see this on
> the American evening news or hear your governor or members of the
> State Assembly disseminating this information.
>
> The Australian experience speaks for itself. Guns in the hands of honest
> citizens save lives and property and, yes, gun-control laws affect only
> the law-abiding citizens.
>
> Take note Americans, before it's too late!
>
> FORWARD TO EVERYONE ON YOUR EMAIL LIST. [I DID ]
> DON'T BE A MEMBER OF THE SILENT MAJORITY.
> BE ONE OF THE VOCAL MINORITY WHO WON'T LET THIS HAPPEN IN THE U.S.A
1) Loaded 12 gauge Remington pump in the upstairs closet (sawed off 2"). The load in the shot gun is .00 buck.
2) Loaded Colt .45 1911-A in the night stand (my favorite because I was introduced to it in the US Army Rangers, and I'm dead solid perfect with it).
3) I have conceal/carry permit and when I do carry it's either the .45 or my beautiful Taurus .357 double action revolver 2.5 inch barrel (works like a swiss watch).
On the pistols, I have leather shoulder holsters for both my pistols. The wife, when she carries, has a S&W double action snub .38 that is a beautiful old weapon. It clicks like it was made yesterday and she can hit the eye of a fly at 50 feet.
All weapons are maintained in immaculate condition.
I also have a "hog leg" .44 Mag single action revolver in my closet, in it's holster loaded and ready. It's an Interarms replica of an old Calvary horse pistol.
I collect, so I have other weapons that are not in regular use but I take them out and fire them every once and a while.
Set aside a "collection" and go for a good shoot gun, I'd suggest a pump (the sound of a round being breached in a pump shot gun will give your average scum bag a case of the "Hershey squirts"). Keep a load of .00 buck in it just in case he has a piece himself. If you have to fire, you'll have a hellofa mess to clean up, and a few broken things, but you'll have your life.
A definition of a hellofa mess: blood, lots of it, guts, brains, tissue of unknown origin, hair, nails. Thing like that.
One more tip: clean and oil all of your firearms at least every 2 months. I do mine once a month, usually on a day that there is nothing else to do. Also, learn your firearms. Be able to take them apart and put them back together. You may never use it, except for the range, but this one tip will keep every thing in perfect running order in case you have to use it. Remember this, scumbags don't clean their guns, you have to.