If you wanted a general purpose auto for plinking, kill shots on deer, home defense / carrying when needed what woud you get.

Glocks seem to be pretty widely used but I still don't like the trigger / safety setup. A 45 seems too big, and a 40 too hot, and a 9mm too small.

Of course these are more feelings without alot of experience behind them. I've always had large cal revolvers, and only went auto with 22's.

I plan to go to a indoor range and shoot a variety and pick what I like best. I'm currently looking to try a Kimber 45, H&K USP, and a Sig.

Any words of wisdom / recommendations on trying others?

Spot

I've done a little of all of your quest and quite a bit of most of it.
Big game rds. in an auto are pretty limited. The 10mm comes to mind. It is none too hot for big game. Actually, I prefer the .44 or the .41 Magnums for that.
I much prefer revolvers for hunting. They, especially Smiths can provide that all important "glass rod" trigger break.
But an auto is far more rugged and more easily concealed as a personal defense gun. My first choice there has always been a 1911 like a Kimber or a Colt in .45 ACP.
Actually, except for it's lack of big game killing power, it will do all your chores very well. Forced to choose just one, I'd go for a good 10mm like a 1006 Smith or a 1911 Kimber, or a 1911 in the .45 ACP.
The .45 ACP is a fully adequate defense rd. and a super target and plinker rd. Not the best as a big game rd. The 10mm will handle the big game role, but it's a bit much as a plinker or a target rd. in the current 1911's like the Kimbers or the older Colts. The much more user friendly Smith are no longer made. E

I�ll second the vote for the 10mm. For plinking, I�d recommend handloading and loading them light. Full power loads like the Norma 200gr JHP will get the job done on Deer out to around 100 yards. A steady diet of full power 10mm loads will wear a 1911 out, so stick to the lighter loads for most everything but hunting. 10mm is needlessly overpowered for most self defense situations which is why the FBI had it loaded down to .40 S&W levels.

Another option would be a .45 Super, which is primarily a hotrod .45ACP. It requires thicker brass which is available from Starline, and it takes a heavy recoil spring in the 24-26lb range. Simply swap recoil springs to an 18.5lb and you�re back in the .45ACP business. It�s a cool cartridge, but if you like your hands in one piece, resist the urge to load .45 Super in .45ACP cases, there�s just not enough chamber support to pull that one off.

My first choice is always a Commander-size 1911 in 45 ACP, and of the current ones off the shelf, I line S&Ws 1911PD the best. Only go with a 1911, though, if you're willing to get get the training and put in the time to operate it properly, so that it's every function is second nature. Otherwise, forget it.......

Another solid choice is a Sig 229, which is a traditional double-action semi-auto, and an extremely well-made, accurate, and safe pistol. I have one in 40 S&W, but if you want something a little smaller that packs more punch than a 9mm, you can also get the P229 in 357 Sig, which is an excellent cartridge in every way..........

AD

I don't like the 1911 pistol design for carrying or self defense. It's good for target shooting of course. It's just too complicated. Double action pistols are available and thats what to consider.

If you mean deer dispatching and not deer hunting an expanding bullet from a 9mm will be fine. I have put them away with a .22.

You have a good plan to try them at the range. Try a Para Ordinance if you must have a 1911 look gun. They are pricey but have a superb trigger system that operates like a DA.

Para Ord.

I've owned a Colt commander, Officers ACP, Remington Rand, and presently own a Kimber Tatical which has an aluminum frame.
The Kimber is my all time favorite.
Also own a Hi Power .40 and a S&W 639 9mm.
Good luck in your quest.
Virgil B.

Spot,

Q: If you wanted a general purpose auto for plinking, kill shots on deer, home defense / carrying when needed what would you get.

A: Two or three different handguns.

I think you partially answered your own question with �a 45 seems too big, and a 40 too hot, and a 9mm too small.� There are a number of .357 Mag revolvers that suit your range of duties, especially factoring in .38 Special, but I don�t know of a semi-auto that does ALL the things you want very well. Compromising too far in one direction or another just leads to a handgun you aren�t very happy with for anything.

�Legal� for deer in Minnesota starts at a .357 Mag, but a 10mm is probably more realistic in terms of pistol availability. The laws in your state might be different, but the logic still holds � using anything less than .357 Mag is getting dicey. So using the 10mm as a baseline, the pistol will be expensive, lots of recoil, expensive to feed, and bulky to carry in most situations. At one end of your range you have an�okay�deer handgun and on the other a crappy plinker.

Spot...,

I've a couple of friends who had bad reliability problems with Kimbers recently (.45ACP). Sent back to company...still not fixed..that sorta thing. The Sigs I've shot have all had really heavy, long trigger pulls. Personally,I'd stick with S&W.

Cartridge wise you've limited yourself to the 10mm or maybe,.357 SIG. A buddy has a Glock in .357 Sig. You do not want in front of that round!

Your only other option may be a Desert Eagle in one of their monster rounds.

good shooting.

JOG,

If he went with a 1911 design, he would have an okay deer pistol, but if he dropped a good .22 conversion unit on that 1911, he'd have a first rate plinker.

That's the great thing about the 1911, the versatility. If you go with a lightweight design like the S&W 1911PD then it's not a half bad carry gun...I carry mine all the time in a good IWB holster and it�s quite comfortable to carry�And comforting.

There's absolutely nothing complicated about a 1911 - if you know how to use one.

A Kimber 1911 in .45 makes an excellent all around gun for what your looking for. If a 1911 is not for you, my next favorite is the Sig P220. With either, I'd limit any hunting to bow ranges.

GunGeek,

That's a great point about the .22 conversion units, but a guy would still run afoul of the law in Minnesota using a .45 ACP on deer. Can the same .22 conversion be used on both 10mm and .45 ACP 1911 frames, or are the frames different?

One problem with the 10mm is trying to download it. You can change the springs quickly on a S&W 1006, but the Glocks use the jet force of the gases to push the barrel back and unlock the breach. If you download a 10mm to .40 S&W power, you have to change the mainspring there, too, and I have seen that still not eject many of the loads.

Another problem with the .357 and .45 for hunting is that some states have specifically written the legislation to make the .45 ACP not powerful enough, and required barrels of 4.5 or 5.0 inches minimum, which eliminates some great revolvers, like the Colt Trooper MkIII with the small grips, a very conceable and accurate handgun.

A 6-inch Trooper or S&W cut down to 5 inches would be good for concealed carry and hunting.

A Glock or Springfield XD in 10mm and long slide in .357 Sig would be hunting legal in most states, too, but a bit less concealable, and they do not have the sights of a revolver.

I am a big fan of .22 conversion kits. You can get them for:
1911s
Glock
Beretta 92
Browning High Power
Sig 220 frames (.45 and .357 Sig).

Sig also makes a nice .22 in the size of one of their compact 9mms.

I would look for a super clean second-hand S&W 6-inch .357 for about $325. For about $325 to $400, find a matching K-22. Total cost, less than a top quality new autoloader.

JOG,

The frame size is the same for all calibers in the 1911 (Springfield compact .45GAP and Hi Cap�s excepted)

I'd go with a Kimber Stainless Classic w/out the external extractor in 45 ACP. Then I'd look to pick up a 22 conversion and a 460 Rowland conversion. Each will set you back about 3 bills. The Rowland is a handload only proposition but will give 41 to 44 mag performance out of a 1911 frame. My Rowland looks like it will be a good shooter but I've only shot 100 or so rounds out of it. Not even broke in yet. I picked up 500 new brass so I may get it broke in this year yet.

GunGeek,

That's good to know and definitely ups the utility of the 10mm - an expensive round for even a reloader. If I had to stick with one pistol per Spot's original post, the 10mm and .22 combo would be a front runner for me.

I wondering though, does that count as a pistol and a half? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I'd also go with Allen's pic, comander sized 1911 in 45acp. I grew up shooting a 1911, and it just feels right to me. Everyone's hands are different, so need to get what works in your hands.

Who's making 10 mm's outside of 40's? I remember the old delta elite had rail cracking problems.

There are some good ideas here I didn't think of.

I did some more searching and am now wondering if I shouldn't go with a smaller carry pistol, and a larger plinker / home defense version.

I'm gonna keep chewing on it, some good ideas though.
I would really like to get one (point well made that one won't fit all purposes too well).

Keep'em coming, I learn slow - but what's the first question's answer - who's making a 10mm today?

Thanks,
Spot

I've got a Kimber and a P90, both .45 ACP. The Kimber is the nicer gun, by far.... but I've killed more stuff with the P90, just because I had it with me.

Got my first turkey with the P90. A 255gr. SWC doesn't tear up much of the bird, it was delicious!

I got my second turkey with a 500 Smith. Half of it was delicious.

Ricky..,

That's just flat out funny,dude.

Sometimes the truth is.

You're killing me..............That's funny.. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Seriuosly, I would go with a 1911 stlye semi auto in the great 45 ACP chambering. I have used one of these since 1974 when I purchased my first one,can never go wrong with a 1911 in 45 cal.............................

Spot, I know you said the .45acp "seems too big," but it's really not, and the .45bore has much charm. The .45acp runs at a relatively low pressure, and the large diameter bullets stay large diameter while penetrating stuff. High speed (and high pressure, high muzzle blast) and the latest generation of wonder bullets aren't needed for the cartridge to perform. It's really a pussycat in the right gun. My wife weighs in at a buck-five, with very little shooting experience, and really likes shooting my Kimber.

I'm VERY biased in my view of the greatest auto pistol ever designed---------------the 1911. The 1911 deserves/requires some training time however, and while nuts like me think that's wonderful, I'd suggest a different design if a shooter looks at training as a "have to." There are other decent options out there too, and you really need to handle a few before writing a check. But for the chambering, it's hands-down the .45acp.

I have a Glock model 35 with night sights. It's a 40 caliber. I'm favorably impressed. It's around $500.00 I also have a model 4046 Smith and Wesson 40 caliber. I carried it on duty for around 12 years. I could never hit well with it. The main spring was too heavy. After I got the Glock, I got a reduced power spring from Wolf and it made a new gun out of it. I can't carry it on duty any more but now I don't want to trade it off. The double action pull is very similar to my model 19 Smith. If you look around you can get a used 4046 for around $200.00 to $250.00. The magazines hold 11 rounds. I think it fits and feels similar to a Colt 45 and it's stainless steel. It is a little heavy but a good holster helps distribute the weight. The Wolf spring is around $8.00 as I recall. Check out these guys. I have no affiliation with them.

Summit Gun Broker
PO Box 526
Grain Valley, MO 64029-9587

A bit more background to help you guys understand where I'm coming from....

I have owned in the past a few handguns but they never really fit what I needed so I got rid of them.

My first handgun was Redhawk 44 mag that I bought to carry while deer hunting. Thing weighted as much as the shotgun I was carrying which was somewhat impractical for a carry weapon vs. a primary one. The trigger pull was way, way too much so It wasn't a good pin gun.

I upgraded a notch and bought a S&W 629, This was in '87 and the Quality controll wasn't there. The cylinder wasn't swagged (it didn't have a ring at the front of the cylinder cartridge bores. Man you couldn't get a fired 44 out of that thing without leaving pock marks on your palm from slamming the ejector rod a half dozen times. I sent it back to smith to have that replaced and low and behold it got lost in the works. After a month or so I got a call from a master smith who apologized for the delay and asked me what I was using the longer barrelled 44 for. (it was pins and deer) He fixed her up and worked the trigger for me (WOW!) that sucker was like glass, and broke crisper than anything I've held since.

A few years after that I went overseas for nearly 6 years (military) and I finally sold that one when I came back because again it was too heavy to carry as a secondary weapon, the kick a bit much and lets face it - they weren't playing dirty harry movies at that time ( I was getting older).

At some point I moved to Colorado and wanted something to meet the ftlb requirement for elk hunting. This time being smarter (hahahha) I got a Taurus tracker 41 mag 4" titanium. Now this was an OK carry gun, super light. I ended up getting rid of this one because it was TOO LOUD - it's ported - My left ear is still ringing from the time I used it to close the deal on a coyote I down'd at close range. This was 3 years ago, and the louder ringing which started then - well I can hear it right now.

So where does that leave me in terms of what I like and don't like.

1) I don't like light handguns for plinking / target shooting - just don't need to beat up on yourself when your having fun. It's like dating mean women - I know some of you guys like that but I like smooth whiskey, and if I'm gonna get beat up by something it'll be a rifle.

2) Noise bothers me (lets not talk about gals here). Don't know if that can be worked into the equation but I do think about it.

3) I'd like an auto, I like revolvers for hunting mostly because I haven't found an auto back in the day I'd go for.

So here's what I'm thinking now.

Get a highly reliable 40 or 45 for target, and home protection. I want something I can shoot with alot to improve proficiency. If possible (and this is really my question) I'd like not to buy a second handgun (aside from the buckmark I already have).

I'm not sure what 40/45 fits both the highly reliable midsized or compact class that still is a comfortable target / pin shooter that I could use to carry (not too heavy) would be.

It might be better to for me to go with a larger frame one and then get a smaller carry revolver for hunting like a 32 or a 357 4".

Either way I'd like to get lazer grips for what ever I buy.

Spot

[Quote] by Spotshooter
2) Noise bothers me (lets not talk about gals here). Don't know if that can be worked into the equation but I do think about it.

It might be better to for me to go with a larger frame one and then get a smaller carry revolver for hunting like a 32 or a 357 4".[Quote]


If you don't like noise then for petes sake stay away from the 357 Mag ( they are extremely loud)................. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

Most of us have more than one rifle thats 'best' for some task. Same with pistols. Your trying to have one gun do it all.

For instance a self defense gun that might be carried might not be ideal for deer hunting. Get more than one gun.

As to the noise a buddy of mine got fitted hearing 'aids' years ago. That was a good idea and his hearing is still good. I should have done the same.

I also look for different tools for different tasks. And when you
compromise, you have to give up some part of something.
Erring on the side of bigger, .40-45 cal will give you the ability
to deal with bears if they frequent your neighborhood.
But ammo costs will soar and squirrel hunting might not
prove highly productive. For the smaller calibers the reverse
holds true.

Sounds like you have decided to go to the larger caliber
range. Personally I would choose the .45acp because of
more pistol choices and lower cost ammunition.

I prefer steel frames. They're heavier, meaning less recoil.
And I am still unconvinced that ploymer or aluminum pistols
will age as well as stainless steel. Particularly 50 years down
the road.

The 1911 design is excellent if you like single action. I have
a kimber with the internal extractor. It's a nice pistol,
although expensive.

For carry, I do a Kel-Tec p32. There is little felt recoil in it.
I live in an urban/suburban environment. Discretion is
_extremely_ important. And it is well policed so there is
likely to be law enforcement on the scene fairly quickly.
Since two legged predators are the major problem, simply
having a pistol is the most important hurdle to overcome. If
you also have to consider cougar or grizzly, your taurus is the
far better choice.

For home I do a .357 revolver. I may not take that pistol
out to shoot or clean for several weeks at a time. I don't
want my first shot to stovepipe. If there are more than
two guys at my door and their clothes don't say police,
I'm going to get something bigger before I answer the
door.

On loud. There was a thread a while ago about firing pistols
in one's home. IIRC, JJ Hack pointed out that firing a
.357 mag or 44 mag in a small enclosed space can seriously
damage your hearing. This is even noticable at the indoors
range I use. The .357 mag out of a short barrel is quite
noticeable, even with hearing protection. Interestingly, the
super redhawk had a higher perceived noise than the 12
gauge shotgun next to it.

Chuck

You sound like a one handgun kinda guy. If you don't reload go for a .45 ACP or 9mm in a 1911 platform. Find the one that balances best for you, has the sights you like and just "feels" right.

I have a 1969 Colt 1911 Government Model that started out as a .38 Super. A 9mm barrel was also added and in addition 9x23 Winchester and 9mm Largo will also feed and fire from the BarSto .38 Super barrel. A SARCO ROTO 4M 7" .38 Super barrel also will run all three rounds at about 150-200 fps faster than the 5" barrel depending on the load. Then there is the matching .22 Conversion Unit that also has melted in BoMar sights and with a switch of the ejector there is a matching .45 ACP slide...it will also shoot .45 Super.

So with one 1911 TransformerToy one can have a gun that will travel anywhere. And if I really need to be serious about hunting deer I can pull the gripframe off and stick it into either the .38 Super or the .45 ACP MechTech Carbine Conversions..they are good for a 100 yard shot...

Bob

I have both a Delta Elite and a Glock 20. The rail cracking you refer to was solved early on. If you look at a 45 cal Colt 1911 and a Delta 1911, the Delta has had the rail milled out right over the takedown notch which was where the crack appeared. It was never more than a cosmetic deal that got a lot of panties in a wad so they just took out the spot. I've shot a coupla few thousand full power loads through mine and it is holding up nicely. I like 10mm but for the purposes stated by our compadre here, a 40 cal will fit his requirements nicely.

A couple of points. Any handgun gets pretty loud if it burns much powder and develops much pressure. My current .357 is a small framed, 3 inch M60 S&W. It doesn't make nearly as much noise as most .357's because I load it with only 6.5 grs. of Unique over 158 gr. swagged bullets. In other words like a warm .38 Special. All .357's fire .38 Special ammo.
9mm's and 40's don't tend to be as accurate as a good .45 ACP. 10mm's also tend to be pretty accurate. We are talking about say 2.5-3 inch groups vs. 1.5 inch groups for the .45's and the 10mm.
I've had no trouble shooting my 10 with reduced power ammo. Less noise and recoil. Federal's Hydra Shok 10mm ammo, for instance, is loaded to 40 S&W levels. It works fine. E

ROFLMAO.....

I hit mine high, across the back, and hardly lost any meat at all.

Don't want to contemplate what it would have looked like with a .500 Smith on a body shot....

There's been a bit of mention about Delta Elite 10mm 1911's. Wasn't there some bad years for that pistol. It was a high dollar, custom shop, type gun wasn't it? Or was it mostly scroll marks and hype?

Spotshooter, take a look at the Ruger 345, nothing fancy, fills the hand well, and shoots like a way more expensive hand gun that what it is. sure these guys will all try and sell ya expensive autos. For the most part every one of them are worth the coin you spend on them except AMT or Detonics. Stay away from them they have in my expirence both had feeding problems that never could be resolved. The Ruger is inexpensive and it works. I bought one for under $350 from a dealer new. Recoil is not bad and as usual the 45 is not as hard on the ears as a 357 or 44. money well spent for a packing gun.

Bullwnkl.

Anything 1911 .45 ACP for all 'round, excepting big bears.
357's too underpowered for the noise produced.
32 H&R Mag - Had a 95 gr. JHP splatter on the skull of an antelope. Hard cast would be better, and a good low noise small game getter.
A lot has been said for the longer, more powerful, more expensive, version of the 40. If you don't want the 45, go with the 40 in 1911 (does anyone make one?).
A Browning HP in 40 could be a good 2nd choice, and may fill the entire bill better than the 45. Factory springs require an adolescent male gorilla with a vise-like grip to operate the slide. I don't care for the mag disconnect or puny slide lock and safety, but all else sort of works.

The 1911A1 in .45ACP is never a bad choice.

It is the classic defensive handgun, and for good reason. And, there is nothing complicated about them at all... if you take the time to actually use it. Consider that the U.S. military trained folks who had never seen a handgun before to be experts with this handgun in a matter of weeks, on top of all the other training that they got. How complicated could it really be?

As for hunting with a .45ACP, just load CorBon DPXs or handload in the Barnes X bullets, and you're good for anything except the BIG bears out to 50 to 75 yards (if you can hit to that range).

So I've decided long term I'm going for two (at least) to cover the need here.

Knowing I'll get a 45 for the plinker / target / defene gun I'm into the question of a light weight not to powerful, not too loud handgun or revolver for hunting / carry.

That brings it to one of the following chamberings (In my mind) 380, 9mm, 32, or possibly 357/38.

So I've decided long term I'm going for two (at least) to cover the need here.

Knowing I'll get a 45 for the plinker / target / defene gun I'm into the question of a light weight not to powerful, not too loud handgun or revolver for hunting / carry.

That brings it to one of the following chamberings (In my mind) 380, 9mm, 32, or possibly 357/38. I'm going to have to search for a 4 to 6 inch auto verision that is light weight and fits the bill. I want to be able to hit squirrels (they love eating my tree stands) from 20 paces (I'm squirrel averse now).

I haven't looked at autos in so long it's gonna take a while before I rule them out and look for an slimmer light auto. I would however really like a midsize auto that is accurate, and light.

BTW - what's with the mag craze in handguns these days. I think a HG that is easy to place a shot with is twice as good as one your holding hard so it doesn't fly when squeezed off.

Spot

That confuses me a little, Spot. I would think that the catagories should be "plinker/target/hunter" and "defense/carry". By "light weight not to powerful, not too loud", do you mean something still bigger than a 1911? That would make sense to me, but I don't get the "hunting/carry", unless you mean just for carrying to hunt with. Let's go with that...

Since you now already have a most versatile pistol (1911) - have you given any thought to a Contender for hunting?

On your question's first variation, I was going to say there are three "traditional" auto cartridges that fill the bill. 45 ACP, 10mm, and 38 Super. The 45 and 38 need to be +P if you are hunting deer-sized game with them. They will always be marginal.

The 1911 platform needs to be one with beefed-up springs for the 10mm.

For the second variation of your question, I guess count me as confused too. It seems to rule out deer as a potential target. I'd say just get a .22 if you hadn't added the concealed carry aspect. An Officer's size handgun in your choice of caliber would seem to be a good choice. OR you could go with the Kahr.

A good two gun combo would be a ruger 22/45 for quiet light recoil inexspensive practice and small game hunting, teamed up with a 1911 in 45 acp. You'll have the same grips and controls for both guns.

I can relate to not caring for the noise of guns, which is why I use double hearing protection every time I shoot. As far as recoil, lightweight guns kick alot, so I've found I'd rather pack a slightly heavier gun I can shoot well, vs a featherweight I can't.

FYI

Just got a new copy of Outdoor Life today. They recommend the Glock 20 ,in 10mm, as a survival auto. Seems it has a 15rd capacity.

So they say. Your thumb won't think so after the 13th round. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

My Glock 20 recoil ain't bad at all. A plus is that Glock will sell you a 6" barrel that just drops in and mine cranks up the 10mm cartridge right smartly. As for the fella who asked about the Delta Elites, 6of us bought them at the same time and none had any problems. The only glitch I ever saw on mine was the disconnecter notch in the slide peened a little bit abut never effected safety or operation. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Glock 20, 10mm. Great all round pistol.
However, I'd not get rid of my Kimber 1911 either.

I got it!! Carry both!!!

ought6

Spot:

Handguns are tools for me. I just don't have the passion for them that I do for rifles. BUT! I do own a few. A field gun for me has to be light enough and compact enough that I'll carry it rather than leave it behind. I do some day long fishing hikes in some rough country and usually am the only two legged critter around. Recently, I have been seeing bears (more than a couple) on some of my all day fishing hikes, and we have a scary population of rattlesnakes, although I've seen more bears than snakes this year.

I have owned most every category of handgun you can think of in the past 30 years but have thankfully never used a handgun for defense (except to shoot snakes). I am currently carrying a Glock 23 much of the time. It functions perfectly with CCI snake shot and is surprisingly easy to shoot at defensive ranges. I like it so much that I'm considering getting a 20 as well. I am aware that a 40 S&W is a pizz poor bear stopper and that has been on my mind recently. The 10mm with possibly the Double Tap hard cast or a full load HP (Cor-Bon) or some such would be a better choice and IMO the best of the autos.

Realistically, a revolver makes more sense, and I am also considering a Taurus Tracker 44 magnum (I'd only shoot stout 44 spls in it). But the Glock has appeal and currently has my interest b/c the 40 is so easy to shoot.

JimF

I liked the Glock 20 until I learned I cannot safely reload for it. I've shot lots of reloads but do not want to risk an accident so I will have to decide if I will keep it to shoot only factory or move it out and pick up a delta elite or Smith or something (Witness?) . Missed a great deal on Gunbroker on a Delta Elite! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Another option might be an aftermarket barrel for the 20. Most all of them are fully supported chambers.

JimF

By this do you mean it cycles the action and functions as an auto?? I�ve never seen CCI snake shot even move a slide, let alone function. When I carry an auto, I hand cycle snake shot loads, which is inconvenient, but much more convenient than being bit by a snake. In anything smaller than .45ACP, I have found you need at least two shots to kill something even as small as Copperheads, because CCI uses #9 shot, when they should be using #12 for all shot cartridges.

Yes to both.................pleasant surprise to me too.

(Although).....I only shot two b/c I had bummed four to try out and wanted to save a couple. Since then, I have bought a couple of boxes and will re-confirm. Will re-post if different results.

Pretty good pattern @ 10 feet too. Better than my 686

Update........just shot 6 rds alternating shot/fmj in each of my two mags....worked perfectly.

JimF

That's an excellent suggestion, Jim. Thank you!

Can you, or anyone, recommend a such a barrel manufacturer that would allow reloads?

Try this site........and watch your credit card balance....... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

Lone Wolf Distributors

I'm sure there are others.

JimF

Spotshooter,

If you mean to hunt deer legally, check you local gun laws. I believe Indiana has a cartridge length minimum which the .45ACP does not meet.

Between most 1911s and H&K the H&K wins hands down on many levels. My Elite has a boxcar of ammo through it with never a failure. And it makes me hit the where I intend to. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

Actually after a series of 1911 style semiautos, I sold mine and moved up to an H&K. Para Ordnance was by far my works experience but I had serious issues with Ed Brown and Kimber too.

No doubt these problems were mine but I have NEVER had a malfunction with my H&Ks and Glocks.

If you shot a 10 mm well, it might just be the ticket. The gun might be a bit large for easy concealed carry though.

RickyD,
Mike McNett at DoubleTap sells aftermarket barrels that have fully supported chambers. He also is the main information guru on reloading for the 10mm on glocktalk.
http://glocktalk.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=179348
He will even install it for you if you send him your gun. Good guy to deal with.

http://www.doubletapammo.com/php/catalog/index.php
ought6

I'll second JimF's experiences with the CCI shotshells. They work just fine in the 1911A1s I've tried them in.

Those are good links. Thanks!