Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns OK, I really CAN only have one........

Had two of those over the years, most recently only about 18 monts ago. Both were in 40. Found them slightly heavy and very bulky, but that is just my view and expereince. I know that there are a LOT of them out there, and the 40 does have a goodly amount of ammo options.

I have a bit of trade bait coming my way this weekend as a part of my deals. Probably should wait on the gunshows until I have all my cards to play so as to get the best possible all arounder. Besides, this thread is FUN and makes the old "What if" stuff we all used to do come down to earth and makes us all think. A gun show up in Moses Lake area Saturday after next, probably will make that one, trade bait and cash burning a hole unless something more comes up here. Been offered a Model 19 with a lazer for $550and a Springfield Armory 45ACP with some modifications to it including black and green coatings proffesionally done, beavertail grip safety, better sights, upgraded trigger Wilson Combat Magazine and a larger (Jet STREAM) mag well. A full sized all steel gun, but a nice one at a fair price of $550 shipped to me. That one is tempting me. I have been told by many here and close friends locally that carying a full size all steel 1911 is not a big deal with the right leather. This gun might be my impetus to give such a try. Local Sherrif newly elected carries a full size 45 in a crossbreed tuckable IWB holster and recomends it highly. Hmmmmmm......

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbth...S_Springfield_Armory_1911_A1#Post5658257


OK, I got a bit confused..... This SA is not the one with the green and black coatings but it does have some nice upgrades. I am considering this firearm but am worried about a put together or modified by ____________? gun perhaps not working just right when I got it and mostly how much more this gun is going to show through clothing or 'imprint' when carried concealed due to the mag well. What do ya'll think? Is it easy to remove the mag well? Could that mag well be dremeled or otherwise shaped to a less obtrusive outside shape? A good value here? Are the Sppringfield Armory guns pretty reliable and well made with good feed ramp geometry, accuracy? OK running hollow point and truncated nose ammo?

Hoping Kevin Gibson and James Dunn as well as others will chime in on this one.

You'll want to check gunbroker, gunsamerica, armslist...

Just joined Gunbroker, all of the guns I saw were from full time dealers selling brand new in the box guns at full retail. Are other sites better at hooking up private party hobbyist buyers and sellers?

Kind of going a different direction, but if you consider the .45 ACP to be adiquite for your needs (and I certainly would) and concealed carry and light weight are priorities......you might want to look at the Taurus 745.

This is a VERY compact double action semi-auto and is exteeemly comfortable to carry and shoot in the slim single-stack magazine version. At just 21 oz. and thin profile it is almost as easy to carry as most .380 pistols.....but carries the .45 punch. It's not a target pistol but I find the first shot triugger pull on the Taurus to be much less upsetting than other double action pistols.....and after the first round it is single action.

I often carry the 6+1 shot 745 when I really need the pistol to be concealed, but my wife prefers the slightly wider 145 (10+1 shot) version even though her hands are smaller than mine. She says it just "feels" better to her. Both pistols are short, light and trim.....might be what you want for true concealed use.....but in a chambering that could work in the woods too.

Do an advanced search and select used guns only. I've gotten some screaming deals on GB.

Good tip. I will look into how to do that. Can't be hard.

Mark - if you're seriously trying to keep this as economical as possible within your requirements, I'd suggest the Taurus 1911 in steel and a good holster/belt combo. Unless you can find a better deal on a used 1911 that can be confirmed reliable by you.

If you can deal with a lack of beavertail GS, I would suggest the Springfield GI.

If you can deal with a shorter sight-radius and harsher recoil, the 3" model 60 is a good option - but more expensive than some 1911 models. I find the 60 to be fairly easy to conceal with a good holster, and very easy to shoot well.

I was just offered a slightly used Kimber Pro Carry, non laser, black and not the CT and rosewood grips and slightly wear blemished, but pretty reasonable as in about what a new all steel SA would cost me. Thunkin hard on it!

Why not a RIA 4" to fit the bill .... new prices come in under your budget ... Several folks here like'em ....

Time to quit thinking and start acting.

Another option...think they go 30 ounces.

Best price I've seen on one in a while, they are discontinued.

Jerry

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=253045245

Jerry--That's rather an unfortunate barrel length, for a CCW, don't you think?

Jerry,

That is one COOL lookin handgun! Had a 360PD for a while and even it with its 3 inch bbl was a little difficult to 'pocket' and if I need to holster a handgun then I might as well go with a little more handgun, so I sold it. Thanks for the link, for a pure trail gun that one would be top shelf.

Scott, so your vote is to snag the Kimber pro carry ll? I am leaning hard that way......

If it is a good price go for it. I doubt you will ever be sorry. If I do get your way I will bring you a sack full of my cast stuff but you will have to give me your word you won't use them to beat me next year.

People tend to suggest what works best for them, i.e. what fits their hand the best and what they feel most comfortable shooting, but everyone is different. That's why some love Glocks and others wouldn't have one in the house, some like revolvers and others autos. Incidentally, a revolver IMHO can be more versatile because you can vary the power level to a greater extent than a semi-auto, e.g. with a 357 you can shoot everything from 38 wadcutter target ammo to full power hunting loads.

What I would do, is borrow as many different pistols and revolvers from friends as you can, that fit your parameters for weight, caliber and price, and try them out to see which fits your hand the best and what you can shoot the best - hopefully they will be the same. Then buy that. And get a good holster and belt to carry it - I'm not a big guy but with a good holster I don't have a problem carrying a 2 lb gun all day. I haven't read the whole thread to see if anyone else has already suggested it, but that's my best shot at a general answer because I know what works for me, but it may not work for you.

If one were inclined to search firearms classifieds, may I suggest a gander at these:

http://www.northwestfirearms.com/forum.php

http://www.seattleguns.net/

Both are local Ore/Wa/Id forums

I used to have the NW site saved in my favorites, but somehow lost it. THANK YOU! Exactly what I needed! (Said the alky to the bartender....... )

Glad to help, haven't been on either in a while as my gun fund is a little depleted at the moment do to more pressing expenses so I have no idea what's current there but lots of pistols sell off both of those forums.

Thanks Mallard.I signed up for the Northwest Firearms. Been looking for something local.