Best .45 handgun for the price(vanity)

[vetvetdoug]

Good thing about a Walker Reproduction .44 with the 80 grains of powder in each chamber is that you can buy it without the paperwork and the ATF bull. I like to buy good rifles like the Winchester 1895/1886 in various calibres and the Krag and Trapdoors. No paperwork and they are good home defense weapons.

I prefer the Para Ordinance P-14 for a carry or the Colt 1911A1 model for my .45 carry. I have a Cougar, Glock, Kimber, Springfield, and an original M-1911 from the first WW and the Para Ordinance is the best of them all.

[AzSteven]

I have the Commander version of the Colt 1991A1; its a bit smaller than the full-size Colt, and I still see it at shows under $500. For a bit more money, the Kimber Compact Custom is an excellent choice.

On the other hand, if you want the full-size version, the new Springfield 1911A1 release is REALLY nice.

[yarddog]

I have owned maybe half a dozen Argentine military .45's. Some of these were made by Colt and some by the Argentines themselves.

It has been around 10 years since I bought one but the going price at that time was about $225 for a good clean one.

These are great pistols. In my experience they tend to be more accurate than most, in fact unusually accurate period. The ones made in Argentina used Swedish steel which was actually a little denser and heavier than American ones.

[pankot]

Colt 45 auto, get surplus military issue not used and have a good gunsmith polish the breech and rework (hone) the action. Enough juice to stop a 300 pound gorilla.

[dd5339]

Check out the used or police trade in stuff in Gun List or Shotgun News. If your friendly with your local gun emporium they will probably be happy to bring something in for you for a small fee.

Look to Kimbers, Springfield's, (I've got an Ultra Compact for less than $500 that I love), SIG 220 or 245, or to be really different how about a Taurus Tracker in 45 ACP?

Our SIG 226's in 9mm are police trade-ins. The only maintenance work we have done is to replace the recoil springs. Back in the time of BEFORE KID(S) when we shot a lot, we were shooting 7500 rounds through the SIGS per month for several months. They never missed a beat unless we screwed up the recipe on our reloads.

My wife's Kimber has liked everything that we've thrown at it so far. We haven't had time to really wring it out as we now have a small child requesting our time.

My Springfield Ultra Compact has fed everything we've thrown at it. The thing I really like about it is that it's small and easy to conceal, (for when we end up in a CCW state) and that it fits my hand like a glove.

I tossed out the suggestion of the Taurus Tracker because it's a 45 and it is also a revolver. A revolver is the easiest firearm to operate, point and pull the trigger. No slides to operate and no safety to deal with.

Semper Fi

[Constitutional Patriot]

" H & K USP .45 -- for under $800........"

I second that. I have had one of these for three years (3000 rounds + through it) and it just keeps shooting better and better.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

How convenient are the clips to load a revolver with .45 ACP ? Can this be done reasonably quickly ?

[Intimidator]

What it CDNN, do they have a website?

[TheJollyRoger]

Cpu is right. Shop for a used 1911. Take it to a gunsmith and have him replace the barrel, disconnector pin and firing pin and spring. (Or find a GI who can do it in 5 minutes.) Then have him 'tighten up' the piece by doing a little slide and barrel collar work. Finally, have him polish the feed ramp. If you want fancy sights, trigger, safety lever, grips, etc...it is up to you...none of it is critical. Follow these steps and the piece will serve you well for a lifetime.

Then YOU have to practice, practice, practice. Shooting is like golf, or billiards...it is eye-hand coordination...and the body forgets. To be REALLY good you need to shoot at least 200-300 rounds a week...although two boxes (100 rounds) a month will keep you from hurting yourself.

If you are not going to practice with it FOREVER, don't buy it. Get a can of mace. If you mace yourself in the foot, it will be funny, not tragic.

Finally: Teach your kids about freedom. Teach them to shoot.

[Billthedrill]

A good, new, production Kimber Classic ought to run in the neighborhood of $600; cheaper used, obviously. For the going rates on any of these suggestions you might try the GunsAmerica website. Remember if you purchase it through those guys or somebody like them you'll have to arrange for shipment throught a Federal Firearms License holder.

You might try bulletin boards at local ranges or the local free want ad rag. Private purchase keeps your name and address out of federal databases. Of course you know they really delete those out after the time mandated by law. I know I sure believe them...NOT!

[dd5339]

Eric,

We haven't played with one of the Trackers yet. My wife has been eyeballing one of them in all the gun mags. She's decided that she wants that as her next pistol.

I'd look at buying her one but we have a small child at home and another one on the way. Our daughter gets kind of cranky if we don't feed her or change her on a regular basis. Buying baby food and diapers kind of cuts into the firearms budget!

Semper Fi

[TheJollyRoger]

I never liked speed loaders. The FBI teaches two-shells-at-a-time loading...but this technique is for experts...don't even try to get good at it. YOU DO NOT NEED TO RELOAD if you kill the ba$tard with one shot!

[lodwick]

Good advice on GunsAmerica. I've done two recent deals through them and will be getting a .50 Beowulf as soon as the dealer gets it.

Molon labe.

[tx4guns]

The Springfield TRP Pro (what you're referring to) is hardly "affordable". It's about $2k. Although I'd agree that it's the best production gun for the money, it's probably not what this guy is looking for. For a base gun, a Springfield or Colt would be his best bet for under $700. Used ones will be cheaper.

If he wants double action, a Glock or Sig would be his best bet, but I'm partial to 1911's.

My motto is "How much money do you want to spend to protect your life?" Reliability is the biggest issue here, and you get what you pay for in handguns.

[Vic3O3]

Taurus is using a Star Clip--looks easy enough to load but have not had the joy of trying one out yet..I want one in a snubby...

[CCWoody]

For the money and reliability - Ruger P97 ~ stuartcr

Yes, best bang for your buck in a non-1911 style. I used to shoot 3" groups at 25yds with mine, that is, when I owned one.

Woody.

[CCWoody]

Kimber Custom Classic! Mine eats whatever I feed it and has never given me a problem! ~ Gman

My brother bought one. It locks the slide back with rounds still in the mag all the time. I have now shot 3 Kimbers and was not satisfied with 2 of them.

Woody.