If your going to insist on a handgun I would also recommend the .45
Thompson makes a 45 as well:
Posted on 01/06/2003 10:27:26 AM PST by 2oakes
I am trying to choose a handgun for a variety of purposes - target, practical pistol and also for home defense.
I used to shoot a bit when I was in the UK until they took our guns away, but since moving to the US and gaining citizenship, I wish to take up shooting again.
I have been pointed to the Sig Sauer P226 which fits my hands just fine (the Glock 21 is just too big) but would like to seek the opinions of other Freepers before buying.
Thank you
David
I almost mentioned this, but I bought mine so long ago that I was afraid they might have stopped making it . . .
They work pretty well (though I find that mine is not as accurate as the .45 rounds through my particular pistol). Another alternative is to reload and back the rounds down for target practice (but not so much that they don't cycle the action!)
(Y'know, I just realized for a first-time pistol purchaser this is a bit much too fast . . . .22 conversion kits and now I'm recommending you start reloading. Gee! I sometimes forget that we got into this hobby a little bit at a time!)
I also concur on the "try before you buy" and "get some training" recommendations by wardaddy & others here . . .
Its worth a look around if you're interested in the sport.
Or an extra level of danger if you find yourself in a life-or-death situation, with adrenaline pumping through your veins, your mind tunnelled down on the threat, your fine motor control shot to hell, and you thereby forget that you have to click the safety off. I gather there've been some cops who were killed in shootouts found to have a full magazine and a round in the chamber, but the safety on.
If the perp takes your gun away, odds are you either drew it too late, waited too long to shoot, or weren't mentally prepared and serious about shooting in the first place and telegraphed that to the perp. That is, unless you're a cop who's forced to carry openly out where they can grab it.
As for "loser perps" - it's a mistake to underestimate them. They don't have anything to do all day in prison except work out and practice disarming techniques on each other.
Good advice
That's why in the quick access safe I don't leave it on, but in the holster I've trained (hundreds of hours) to drop the safety just after I pull the pistol clear of the holster.
Consider this a free plug for Front Sight Firearms Training Institute. They can take a newbie and turn them into an excellent handler in 4 days.
LOL, don't let the secret out! Anybody that shoots a 1911 under enough circumstances, long enough, realizes that you gotta PAY to make them run.
When you do, they are the finest pistols on earth, but don't expect to join the club for less than about $1500, or a pair of Glocks.
Atleast nobodys replied with something like: "Any pistol you want as long as you handload Starline brass with CCI large pistol primers, over 4.6 grains of Unique and a Keith Bullet! :-D
Cops wouldn't need level III holsters if they weren't all switching to Glocks that don't have a thumb safety. It's not natural to grab a pistol with your thumb in the postition necessarry to drop the thumb safety which is why cops have been saved by having one after a perp takes the weapon. You have to train yourself to drop the thumb safety. Your correct about the adrenaline screwing with your motor skills but if you train for it you will be fine.
What recoil? With all that weight, old slabsides doesn't recoil much. With a lighter gun, like my Witness polymer compact, .45 ACP could be a problem, but mine is ported and has less perceived recoil than my 1911. I put 5 boxes through it the first time I took it to the range, and I could have gone more if I'd had time and/or been willing to buy more at the high range prices.
BTW, one need not be an American citizen to own and shoot firearms, only a legal resident. That may have changed a bit of late. I think maybe the changes affect visitors as opposed to resident aliens, but I'm not sure.
I agree with you that when a 1911 is tuned up for competition it becomes less reliable (especially if you tighten the barrel bushing until it screams). But I have dragged my old Army issue 1911 out deer hunting and camping for years, it has gotten wet and dirty but has never failed to fire or feed. And my competition 1911 absolutely can shoot better than I can hold!
And if you can worry about shot placement when confronted with a 240 pound crackhead intent on doing you harm, you are a better man than I am! The one time push came to shove, I was happy to find myself able to line up on center-of-mass without shaking uncontrollably (that's where training really comes in. I didn't start shaking until later.) But Mr. Malefactor did not hang around to let me try it on the dog, he was beating feet as soon as he saw the business end (and it must have looked big enough to swallow his head from that vantage point). :-D But I was really glad I didn't have to shoot him, having to shoot men even in wartime still bugs my dad after 50 years.)
If your going to insist on a handgun I would also recommend the .45
Thompson makes a 45 as well:
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