The .45 makes a comeback during the war on terrorism

World Tribune ^ | 5 April 2004 | Christopher Holton

[Atlas Sneezed]

Thank God!

A REAL gun story to start off the weekend with a BANG!

[cruiserman]

10mm is the way to go.

[Euro-American Scum]

.45 caliber bump.

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[Euro-American Scum]

At the time of the M9’s adoption, it was regarded as a more modern design and thus a suitable replacement for the tried and true .45, many examples of which were very elderly and worn out, giving it an undeserved reputation for unreliability.

Gosh, I must have three of the few 1911s that function flawlessly. Lucky me!

[Clean_Sweep]

10mm is over and done with, it ended up a 40 S&W. No one even makes the 10mm now.

[CasearianDaoist]

Force and Division Recon in the USMC never gave it up. I imagine that many officers in the regular rifle companies still carry them too. Socom have there own "special" 45 made by HK - it is not a 1911.

[COEXERJ145]

9mm is great if all you want to do is spray and pray. When you want to waste the enemy, .45 is the way to go.

While I have shot several Kimber .45's, I haven't purchased one. I do have a Colt M1991 but my preferred .45 is my H&K USP.

[Sam Cree]

I have my dad's old army issue Colt, from WWII. It shoots just fine, thank you, and I consider it a treasure, but I suppose it's less accurate than the Kimber, from what I just read.

[Zathras]

My Kimber .45 is the finest gun I own.

[Euro-American Scum]

Socom have there own "special" 45 made by HK - it is not a 1911.

Can't argue with HK, even though it would not be my first choice. But I'm a creature of habit. Give me a 1911 every time.

[45Auto]

While I have nothing against the M9 (I own a Beretta Model 96 - the .40 S and W version of the M9) the Model of 1911A1 is my favorite autoloader. It matters little to me what company actually manufactures any particular 1911; the beauty of the gun is that it chambers the .45 ACP (yes, I know the 10mm packs quite a wallop) and "big holes are almost always better." Also there are literally dozens of manufacturers of both the pistols and aftermarket parts which, for the most part, are completely interchangeable. Building a custom pistol for carry, target, or serious competition is simply a matter of how much money you are willing to spend or how much work you are willing to do on a particular gun. The latter makes the 1911A1 a great "hobbyists" gun. I've never seen a 1911 so badly screwed up that it could not be renovated, nor one that malfunctioned to the point where it could not be "tweaked".

[CatoRenasci]

My first encounter with the M1911A1 was around 1960, a national match version my father had. While it was really too much pistol for a slight 12-year old, it was a fine pistol. Accurate and reliable. I have fired many .45s in the service, and many of them were real dogs. I think the reliability issues were mostly about accuracy, not functional reliabilty, because I've seen .45s buried in mud or sand, brushed off,, cocked and a whole magazine fired off without problem. But, in my experience on active duty most soldiers never learn to shoot the .45 with any accuracy. They're afraid of the recoil, and uncomfortable with the weight.

I'd love to try a Kimber.

[45Auto]

[templar]

9mm is great if all you want to do is spray and pray.

Depends on the ammo and distance. At 100+ yards, I have little problem hitting with 9mm, but .45 fails. Even at close range, my 9mm gold dot 147 grainers at about 1000 fps seem to peerform every bit as well as standard .45 loads in gelatin and have significantly more penetration.

[45Auto]

[XHogPilot]

I am a devoted Kimber shooter exclusively

I'll keep my ParaOrdnance, thank you. .45auto X 15rnds. I've been wondering if it could handle a conversion to 400 Corbon or .45 Super.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

I believe it was Charles Askins Jr years ago in a gun mag article told how the 9mm was a great cartridge. In talking to an Englishman who used one in WWII, the Englishman said it worked well on Frenchmen.

Oh well, enough said.

[Trailerpark Badass]

10mm is over and done with, it ended up a 40 S&W. No one even makes the 10mm now.

Glock 20, 20C, 29

Tangfolio Witness 10mm, 10mm Compact

Kimber Stainless Target II 10mm

Dan Wesson Razorback 10mm, Global Hunter 10mm

S&W 610 4", 5", 6"

SVI Infinity 10mm hicap and traditional frame

STI 10mm hicap and traditional frame

T-C Contender pistol and carbine

Olympic Arms CAR-97 10mm

And I've probably missed a few others. Plus, every major ammunition maker lists multiple loads in their current catalogs. Best auto pistol cartridge ever.