1911 or Other Semiauto?

[nightmare]

I have a Ruger LC9 that I think I will be satisfied with as a daily carry gun. But, I'm considering going to a compact 1911 model instead.

Why?

There are good reasons for someone to carry a 1911 but the opinions of strangers on the internet isn't one.

[patterson]

I have a Ruger LC9 that I think I will be satisfied with as a daily carry gun. But, I'm considering going to a compact 1911 model instead.

Why?

There are good reasons for someone to carry a 1911 but the opinions of strangers on the internet isn't one.

maybe he prefers a 1911 trigger or the weight of a 1911 or .45acp

[troglodyte]

I'll preface my comments by admitting that I am not expert, gun connoisseur, or can even stand in the shadows of some of the experience that is on this forum.

You say you want a 1911. That's great. Go try one out. If it fits and feels good...or you think you can make it feel good...then get it. Learn it, practice it, grow into it. 1911s are a unique firearm, one I think everyone should experience.

I don't believe that a 1911s are harder guns to handle, shoot, or learn. There is nothing magical, or "advanced", about them. They are just like any other tool. You just figure them out (safely) and carry on. I carry both a Defender and an XDSC9mm interchangeably. I don't notice any difference in the manual of arms. Maybe I'm just extremely talented or incredibly stupid. When I pick up the Defender I know, or maybe it's muscle memory, where the thumb safety is and it clicks off without me consciously thinking about it. When I pick up the XD I know its manual of arms without thinking about it. I don't shoot as much as I need to and certainly don't have a round count anywhere close to many on this board but that doesn't detract from the fact the my hand has figured out the feel of each gun and how it works.

A short story if you will allow. Not exactly self-defense but similar in an off-hand way. I normally carry my XD to work but one day I was carrying my Defender in my 5.11 holster undershirt. As I was on the way home I ran across a couple of coyotes. Now coyotes around here have a standing shoot-on-sight order. My neighbor runs a lot of cattle with new ones about to hit the ground at any moment and coyotes are always a threat. It doesn't help that I and several neighbors have lost dogs and other barnyard livestock to coyotes. After a quick chase down a turnrow I jumped out of the truck and took aim with the Defender. Not once did I think about taking the pistol from my 5.11, nor did I think about clicking off the safety, or even that I was carrying by Defender instead of my XD. It all just flowed and happened. It's no different that using your keyboard at home and your keyboard at work. Do you have to stop and think about it every time you change locations. Of course not. Once you get used to both of them you can interchange between them without thinking about it.

I want to encourage you to try out a 1911. They are great guns...as are a host of others I wish I could own. If you want one, get it.

[Beiruty]

Here is my advice, if you like polymer pistols, got get a Beretta PX4 Compact in 9mm if it is too big get the Subcompact. If you can pay a bit more get the HKP30 in 9mm ( you get night sights standard). The P30 would shoot so fast and accurately too, it is almost too fun to shoot.

[Bitter Clinger]

You can never have too many firearms. Just buy one of each and train, train, train.

[RPBrown]

Get what you feel most comfortable shooting and what you can afford. I would rather you carry a $300.00 gun that is dependable than to go in debt to get a $1000.00+ gun. You say you have come into a bit of money, but I would urge you to look toward the future as to how you spend it. You can get 1911's in the $400-500 range that can be very dependable.

I carry 1911 style because I want to. As stated before, my truck gun is and XD 45. I have a few more polymer pistols but most are safe queens or range guns. All, however are reliable, just my preference.

[Pawpaw]

Not exactly. Series 80-type 1911s (which is far from most) have a firing-pin block, which locks the firing-pin in place until the trigger is pulled. This is designed to stop the pistol from firing if dropped, but that's about the only safety-benefit that it offers.

And Kimbers (with "II" in their name, like my Ultra CDP II) have a firing pin block that locks the firing pin until the grip safety is depressed.

[Rex B]

I have a number of 1911s. In fact, most of my pistol collection is 1911s, inlcuding the mini-variants in 9mm.380, and .32 ACP. Love 'em. But for me, a carry gun needs to be DA. I just don't shoot my 1911s enough for it to be second nature to me. The muscle memory isn't there. If my safety is at issue, I want a simple point-and-click interface.
I suggest you keep the LC9, and go buy that STI. Decide for yourself which one you are most confident carrying.
Just be aware that 1911s are like Doritos.

[flechero]

Since OP has a LC9, he's already in a single stack, officer's frame size gun.

I have both types and carry both depending on several factors. I prefer the 1911's when attire permits. Get what's comfortable and you shoot well... and then as mentioned earlier, practice and train as often as possible.

I'd love to go to a double stack but I can't get comfortable on the grip and don't shoot them well.

[thatguyoverthere]

Well, I did it. I bought the .45 cal STI Escort 1911 that I had been considering.

It's a compact 3 inch barrel, single stack, officer frame model with aluminum frame. The aluminum frame makes it very light weight for a 1911. I stepped out back and put 100 rounds thru it a couple of days ago. I like it - a lot!

Fits good in my hand. I like the fit of it better than my LC9. Even with the pinky extender on the LC9, it still feels like too much of my hand is hanging off the bottom of it.

The STI .45 actually has quite a bit less felt recoil (to me) than my little LC9, I suppose because of the very light weight of the LC9.

So I'm very happy with my purchase. I really like the 45 round. Now I've got a really nice gun to shoot (instead of my Hi-Point!). The STI seems to be excellent quality (as it should be). Only down side is that it only came with one magazine (for what I paid, it should have come with 3 mags and a couple of cases of ammo!). So I'll have to get a few more magazines, but they're fairly inexpensive, so that's not a big deal.

Place I bought it did throw in a free cap with it. They didn't have an STI cap, so I got a Glock cap and gave it to my son. He just bought a Glock .380 a couple of weeks ago, so he was tickled with the cap (and his gun).

So it all worked out great. I'm happy I got a fantastic gun, STI is happy they got some money for their employees, the dealer is happy that he got a little piece of the deal, and my son got a free cap out of it, and he wasn't even there! It's a win-win-win!

[txbirddog]

Well, I did it. I bought the .45 cal STI Escort 1911 that I had been considering.

It's a compact 3 inch barrel, single stack, officer frame model with aluminum frame. The aluminum frame makes it very light weight for a 1911. I stepped out back and put 100 rounds thru it a couple of days ago. I like it - a lot!

Fits good in my hand. I like the fit of it better than my LC9. Even with the pinky extender on the LC9, it still feels like too much of my hand is hanging off the bottom of it.

The STI .45 actually has quite a bit less felt recoil (to me) than my little LC9, I suppose because of the very light weight of the LC9.

So I'm very happy with my purchase. I really like the 45 round. Now I've got a really nice gun to shoot (instead of my Hi-Point!). The STI seems to be excellent quality (as it should be). Only down side is that it only came with one magazine (for what I paid, it should have come with 3 mags and a couple of cases of ammo!). So I'll have to get a few more magazines, but they're fairly inexpensive, so that's not a big deal.

Place I bought it did throw in a free cap with it. They didn't have an STI cap, so I got a Glock cap and gave it to my son. He just bought a Glock .380 a couple of weeks ago, so he was tickled with the cap (and his gun).

So it all worked out great. I'm happy I got a fantastic gun, STI is happy they got some money for their employees, the dealer is happy that he got a little piece of the deal, and my son got a free cap out of it, and he wasn't even there! It's a win-win-win!

Good for you. It is always a good feeling to get a new gun and shooting it. (If I could find someone to give me preloaded magazines, life would be grand) I enjoy carrying a 1911 from time to time, but my EDC are polymers.

[schufflerbot]

I've owned and carried about 15 different handguns in the 4 years I've had my CHL. I Started off with a Walther PK380 and once I understood the sales/purchasing laws for firearms in TX, it's been a blur of weapons in and out of my hands.

I agree that you need to shoot something and find a weapon you're proficient with to carry - for me, that weapon is a 1911. I'm 6'2" and about 195 lbs so concealing even a officer sized 1911 is a bit tricky in shorts and a t-shirt but it can be done. The 1911 fits my hands perfectly and I have seen the most success at the range with a SA platform... plus they're just sexy.

I have saved a TON of money making my own IWB leather/kydex hybrid holsters, if you're going to be switching from polymer pistols to 1911s, chances are you're going to end up like me - changing guns as often as you change undies; check my tutorial on how to make those holsters and practice. Finding a good gun to carry shouldn't be determined by shooting it a few times; I feel that carrying it for a month or two really provides the most insight and lets me make a truly informed decision.

[bmwrdr]

Get a CZ, it combines look and feel of a 1911 and a standard semi automatic. They come in different versions from sub compact to long slide match grade style. The price range goes from tolerable to nearly unlimited, they have a positive reputation, accuracy out of the box is phenomenal on most models, holsters and accessories are widely available and you get a quality firearm.