Handgun Poll

[DutchTexan]

I'm in the market for a nice, full-sized .45 1911. Which of these would you want most? Why? 

 

How many years/months would you be willing to wait for one?

[Drak3]

None of those. Outrageously expensive and little to nothing to show for it. I'd sooner go for a Springfield Mil Spec or Rock Island Armory and upgrade anything I hate.

 

You hit diminishing returns hard and fast with 1911s, and some of the Gucci 1911s have a feed or ejection issue every few mags.

[ARikozuM]

I'd stick with an XD-m 9mm for CCW, but for range shooting? I'd go with whatever is least expensive. 

[DutchTexan]

Not even gonna vote though? 

8 minutes ago, Drak3 said:

None of those. Outrageously expensive and little to nothing to show for it. I'd sooner go for a Springfield Mil Spec or Rock Island Armory and upgrade anything I hate.

 

You hit diminishing returns hard and fast with 1911s, and some of the Gucci 1911s have a feed or ejection issue every few mags.

I don't think it is a good idea to buy a cheap 1911 and then spend years slowly changing everything or taking it to a gunsmith.

 

The whole point of buying a semi-custom gun is so that they are more reliable and as precise as the platform allows. I've been shooting with a friend and his 10 year old WC CQB Elite for years and it has never malfunctioned in my presence. I have heard different things about WC's though, specifically 9mm examples. The Springfield professional is the 'FBI' gun for a reason. Why is it still trusted by all kinds of elite forces today. Why do you think they are carrying a 1911 anyway?

1 minute ago, ARikozuM said:

I'd stick with an XD-m 9mm for CCW, but for range shooting? I'd go with whatever is least expensive. 

The Springfield TRP is the cheapest on the list and an outstanding gun for the money.

[DutchTexan]

Maybe I should ask which 1911 would you want to pass down to your great, great grand kids? Or which 1911 would you buy with someone else's money?

[ARikozuM]

2 minutes ago, DutchTexan said:

Maybe I should ask which 1911 would you want to pass down to your great, great grand kids? Or which 1911 would you buy with someone else's money?

Springfield makes and licenses great guns, with exceptions, so they get my vote here. 

[Drak3]

Just now, DutchTexan said:

more reliable

And odds are you get the opposite.

1 minute ago, DutchTexan said:

as precise as the platform allows.

Unless you're using it exclusively for competition, you're hurting reliability and burning money for marginal improvements you will never see off the range.

 

2 minutes ago, DutchTexan said:

specifically 9mm examples

9mm 1911s in general are not all that reliable, and only because 9mm and .45 ACP variants share nearly every dimension, which causes feed issues.

 

4 minutes ago, DutchTexan said:

Why is it still trusted by all kinds of elite forces today.

Elite forces trust Mil Spec 1911's. Not Gucci guns like what you've listed.

 

1 minute ago, DutchTexan said:

Maybe I should ask which 1911 would you want to pass down to your great, great grand kids? Or which 1911 would you buy with someone else's money?

Springfield Mil Spec. Any Rock Island Armory .45ACP.

 

6 minutes ago, DutchTexan said:

an outstanding gun for the money.

Only relative to your list. It's marginally better that a mil spec pistol, for 150% the cost.

[DutchTexan]

1 minute ago, Drak3 said:

And odds are you get the opposite.

Unless you're using it exclusively for competition, you're hurting reliability and burning money for marginal improvements you will never see off the range.

 

9mm 1911s in general are not all that reliable, and only because 9mm and .45 ACP variants share nearly every dimension, which causes feed issues.

 

Elite forces trust Mil Spec 1911's. Not Gucci guns like what you've listed.

 

Springfield Mil Spec. Any Rock Island Armory .45ACP.

 

Only relative to your list. It's marginally better that a mil spec pistol, for 150% the cost.

Did you watch one video of Honest Outlaw on YouTube and now you are against any 1911 that cost over $600?

 

Why do you think the Springfield Professional exists?  

[Drak3]

Just now, DutchTexan said:

Did you watch one video of Honest Outlaw on YouTube and now you are against any 1911 that cost over $600?

No, I've held this opinion for a long time, regardless of videos. I also refuse to watch his 1911 videos. The pistols you've listed are well into diminished returns territory. Some are pistols where the last 5% of quality requires exponentially more money. Some are brand name and nothing more. Some are match grade pistols that have issues after a hand full of magazines.

 

But none of those pistols are *that* much better.

 

1 minute ago, DutchTexan said:

Why do you think the Springfield Professional exists?

Marketing.

[SansVarnic]

I own a Kimber Custom II, have had for 15 years now. Never had an issue with it. Never missed a shot with it.

The Kimber line of 1911's are some of the best in my opinion. I would have voted for it but you dont have kimber as an option.

 

1 hour ago, Drak3 said:

You hit diminishing returns hard and fast with 1911s,

I must ask, do you know from experience or hearsay? I've not yet run into this with mine.

[DutchTexan]

2 minutes ago, Drak3 said:

No, I've held this opinion for a long time, regardless of videos. I also refuse to watch his 1911 videos. The pistols you've listed are well into diminished returns territory. Some are pistols where the last 5% of quality requires exponentially more money. Some are brand name and nothing more. Some are match grade pistols that have issues after a hand full of magazines.

 

But none of those pistols are *that* much better.

 

Marketing.

Hey if that makes you happy then more power to you buddy.

 

'The last 5% of quality' for anything is always expensive, unfortunately. 

 

Have you owned any of them? There is a break in period that makes a big difference. I'm sure you value a clean gun just as much as I do too.

 

The choices in the poll are there for a reason. Ed Brown's, Wilson Combats and Les Baers are in as brands and not as one example of specifically custom firearm.

 

We will have to agree to disagree. I wouldn't buy a Springfield Professional, but it sure doesn't exist just for fun or marketing.  

[DutchTexan]

4 minutes ago, SansVarnic said:

I own a Kimber Custom II, have had for 15 years now. Never had an issue with it. Never missed a shot with it.

The Kimber line of 1911's are some of the best in my opinion. I would have voted for it but you dont have kimber as an option.

Glad to hear that. I just got rid of a Kimber and that's why it and a few others aren't on my list. She was a real sweetie, but I don't regret it.

[Drak3]

1 minute ago, DutchTexan said:

Have you owned any of them?

Personally, no. After putting hundreds of rounds through those that friends, family, and other guys at the range own, I couldn't justify the cost over the two 1911s I own. A Springfield Mil Spec .45ACP and a Rock Island Armory 9mm.

 

3 minutes ago, DutchTexan said:

in as brands and not as one example of specifically custom firearm

Great, except their "inexpensive" options are expensive and don't offer much justification over much less expensive 1911s (literally none if you're not looking for a match pistol).

 

5 minutes ago, DutchTexan said:

it sure doesn't exist just for fun or marketing

Yes, it does. A few marketing friendly cosmetic changes over a military specification 1911-A1, to charge a premium tax of over $2,000.

[SansVarnic]

5 minutes ago, DutchTexan said:

Glad to hear that. I just got rid of a Kimber and that's why it and a few others aren't on my list. She was a real sweetie, but I don't regret it.

To bad, which model was it?

I also have a Springfield XDm .40 and a S&W M&P 2.0 .40 both are fantastic and well balanced. 

[DutchTexan]

4 minutes ago, Drak3 said:

Personally, no. After putting hundreds of rounds through those that friends, family, and other guys at the range own, I couldn't justify the cost over the two 1911s I own. A Springfield Mil Spec .45ACP and a Rock Island Armory 9mm.

 

Great, except their "inexpensive" options are expensive and don't offer much justification over much less expensive 1911s (literally none if you're not looking for a match pistol).

 

Yes, it does. A few marketing friendly cosmetic changes over a military specification 1911-A1, to charge a premium tax of over $2,000.

I guess I'm just spoiled or addicted. 

 

 

3 minutes ago, SansVarnic said:

To bad, which model was it?

I also have a Springfield XDm .40 and a S&W M&P 2.0 .40 both are fantastic and well balanced. 

I had a Royal II that I picked up at a gun show last year. At first, I absolutely loved the bluing and the bone grips. That's why I had to buy it, but I grew out of it pretty quick. I changed the grips and the sights, then sold it around July. 

[SansVarnic]

12 minutes ago, DutchTexan said:

 

I had a Royal II that I picked up at a gun show last year. At first, I absolutely loved the bluing and the bone grips. That's why I had to buy it, but I grew out of it pretty quick. I changed the grips and the sights, then sold it around July. 

Ah, I see. Those are nice looking but not for the price. I stuck with function over looks when I chose mine.. lol.

I do know that Les Baer is a fantastic though expsensive option. They dont have the inherent feed issue found in the original design. And they are guaranteed. Not to mention made in Iowa. The owner hand makes each one and test shoots them for accuracy and function.

[Gix7Fifty]

Normally I don't like pistols chambered in "45 AARP" but MrGunsandGear has a nice Wilson Combat that his wife gave him.

[Guest]

I have the airsoft one if that counts. 

[DutchTexan]

On 12/30/2018 at 7:18 PM, ARikozuM said:

I'd stick with an XD-m 9mm for CCW, but for range shooting? I'd go with whatever is least expensive. 

On 12/30/2018 at 8:31 PM, SansVarnic said:

To bad, which model was it?

I also have a Springfield XDm .40 and a S&W M&P 2.0 .40 both are fantastic and well balanced. 

I didn't realize how popular those guns were. My dad caries a Springfield XDs in .45 ACP

[JZStudios]

I'm just going to skip all that and say the FN .45. It's a double stack so it holds more ammo, it's lighter weight, ambidextrous features, and the only safety feature it lacks is the beaver tail. It has the regular safety and half cock, and still maintains DA/SA. They're also more reliable than most 1911s.

 

It's a hard pistol to beat in .45. Or even in 9mm for that matter. It's basically just an improved and modernized version of a 1911.

[Drak3]

4 hours ago, JZStudios said:

It's a double stack so it holds more ammo

Rock Island Armory, STI, Remington, and a few other manufacturers make double stack 1911s.

4 hours ago, JZStudios said:

ambidextrous features

You can get those on 1911s.

 

4 hours ago, JZStudios said:

They're also more reliable than most 1911s.

Not really. They're more reliable than dirt cheap and competition 1911s, but those are far from most 1911s.

 

[Real_PhillBert]

A Dan Wesson Valor SS in 9mm is on my short list for the next addition to my collection, for that reason, I voted Dan Wesson although there are more than a few good options in that list. 

[JZStudios]

6 hours ago, Drak3 said:

Rock Island Armory, STI, Remington, and a few other manufacturers make double stack 1911s.

You can get those on 1911s.

 

Not really. They're more reliable than dirt cheap and competition 1911s, but those are far from most 1911s.

 

Okay, most 1911s aren't double stack. The originals are single and only hold 7 rounds. Most also aren't ambidextrous, and most aren't as reliable as the FN.

Why buy a 1911 if you're going to get a "modified" version? The FN is a nicer pistol for a decent price.

 

The FNX .45 is $830

https://fnamerica.com/products/pistols/fnx-45/

It has quality Novak sights, a good trigger, Ambi safety, mag release, decocking lever, and slide lock, laser/light mount, loaded chamber indicator, and a poly frame so it's significantly lighter weight than steel, which is handy when your carrying 15+1 rounds of .45. Of which it ships with 3 mags.

33.2oz

 

The Remington is $1300

https://www.remington.com/handguns/model-1911-r1/1911-r1-limited-double-stack

Whoops, that's a 9mm. Oh well. I doubt the .45 would cost any less.

https://www.remington.com/handguns/model-1911-r1-enhanced/1911-r1-enhanced-double-stack

Guess I was wrong, it's $1000

It also houses 15+1, but theres no ambi anything and very little other information. Ships with 2 mags.

41oz

 

Rock Island is $910

https://armscor.com/firearms/tac-series/tac-ultra-fs-hc-45-acp/

Only houses 13. Appears to have some decent low light Novak sights, not ambi, has a rail, has front and rear slide serrations. No mention of how many mags it ships with.

48oz

 

STI is either $2000 or $2500

https://stiguns.com/product-lineup/tactical/

It also doesn't look double stack and their website sucks. Has nice sights though. only ambi safety levers. Comes with a short mag and a long mag, quantity unknown. Weight unknown.

Honestly can't find much about it. Other sites have double stack STIs available for well over $2000.

 

 

 

All things considered, the FNX has more features, weighs less, costs less, and at least matches the best in capacity, as well as being reliable as hell and a good shooter.

[Drak3]

44 minutes ago, JZStudios said:

single and only hold 7 rounds

7 or 8, plus one. Ignoring 13rd sticks and drums.

 

But the option for double stacked 1911s is still on the table.

 

46 minutes ago, JZStudios said:

Most also aren't ambidextrous

And? Most people are right handed. What few that aren't, are accomodated for.

 

56 minutes ago, JZStudios said:

Why buy a 1911 if you're going to get a "modified" version?

User preference.

57 minutes ago, JZStudios said:

weighs less

Not exactly a plus.

[JZStudios]

20 minutes ago, Drak3 said:

7 or 8, plus one. Ignoring 13rd sticks and drums.

 

But the option for double stacked 1911s is still on the table.

 

And? Most people are right handed. What few that aren't, are accomodated for.

 

User preference.

Not exactly a plus.

K.

Way to combat my facts with