.45 ACP Selection

[Andrew Homan]

The General will never be altered. It will end up in a Army museum more than likely. A distant family member who helped liberate Europe willed it to us. He was a two star when he retire. We even have the original reciept for it.

Tell me more about this bluing. My national match needs a new finish. Was going to Carbon Ionize it but not sure.

 

[SGaynor]

Tell me more about this bluing. My national match needs a new finish. Was going to Carbon Ionize it but not sure.

C'mon...go old school and Parkerize the sucker

It won't be shinny to give away your position in the moon light...

 

[Andrew Homan]

C'mon...go old school and Parkerize the sucker

It won't be shinny to give away your position in the moon light...

Thats why I liked the carbon. Its not shinny but really durable. I had my M-4 bolt done in it. You would not believe how much easier to clean it is now. Its the same process they use on F-1 Pistons. Its not cheap though.

 

[osiristheclown]

I've spent over $20K in the past 10 years with Brownells. Most of it was 1911 parts or magazines for various pistols I have or had. I have owned just about every 1911 clone made, now down to just Colts. I have seen all the "drop in" parts in the catalog, they do not just "drop in". Fortunately Colt is about 40 miles from me, and I have friends in the repair department and custom shop. They do anything I can't. I have several guns that were built for me by them, I also have several that were very limited runs.

Spend the money on a Colt if you really want a 1911. I have over 200 of them, there is nothing like the real thing.

 

[Andrew Homan]

I've spent over $20K in the past 10 years with Brownells. Most of it was 1911 parts or magazines for various pistols I have or had. I have owned just about every 1911 clone made, now down to just Colts. I have seen all the "drop in" parts in the catalog, they do not just "drop in". Fortunately Colt is about 40 miles from me, and I have friends in the repair department and custom shop. They do anything I can't. I have several guns that were built for me by them, I also have several that were very limited runs.

Spend the money on a Colt if you really want a 1911. I have over 200 of them, there is nothing like the real thing.

I should rephrase my spending statement. I've spent alot of the departments money in Brownells LOL. Unfortunately I don't get to take those purchases with me.:banghead:

And I agree with you drop in just doesn't drop in.

Let me get this straight you have 200 of the same gun? Why? Are you a collector? I get paid to shoot for a living (10 work days left:applause: ) and barely shoot anything I own personally. I can narrow most of my shooting to a M-4, Sig 226 and Remington bolt gun. Today for example I shot the M-4 and Sig

And If I could only possess one gun it would be my 45-70 guide gun.

 

[osiristheclown]

I still have most of the stuff I bought from them, unless it was installed on a gun I traded away or was a recoil spring or something expendable.

They aren't all the same. Only one gets carried, 70 Series Commander. They all get shot.

The only gun part that I consider drop in is ammo.

One gun? I would need 5 to get by.

Colt Commander 70 Series .45ACP
IZH35M .22LR
Remington 550 .22 S- L- LR
CZ550 6.5X55 Swede
Beretta Silver Hawk SxS 12Ga.

 

[roverMc]

Hot Caustic Bluing: Sodium Nitrate salts heated to 290 degF the rinsed then boiled in used motor oil for 30min. The finish will depend on how much you prep the metal (steel only). I've never tried this, but if you bead blast the gun you could get a finish more closely to matte than a shiny blue. If you wanted it matte, it could be blasted and painted with bake-on. I've done that to a few stainless rifles. Please not that some steels won't blue this way and a pistol being made from different parts of different steels are harder to work with. It's the same bluing process that the major manufacturers use.

 

[AU_88]

I have an old W. German Sig 220 and I love it and got it for a good price. I've also shot an HK USP 45 tac and Kimber regularly and would highly recommend any of these. I just love Sig. Im thinking of getting a Bersa 380 to play around with if anyone has an opinion of that?

 

[Andrew Homan]

Just checked out the Smith M&P compact in a .45 ACP. I liked it a lot. Didn't have time to shoot it today and the vendor couldn't leave it so I don't know how well it shoots. As cheap or cheaper than a Glock 45 ACp and I thought it felt better in my hand than the GLock or Sig.

FYI

 

[GregH]

My HK P9S in .45 ACP is definitely my favorite .45.

I'm still trying to decide if my HK P9s in 9mm will be my favorite 9mm.

 

[KngTgr]

So, what ended up happening?, What did you get?

 

[CodeCode]

Plenty of good information here – just figured id chime in and give my opinion on a few hot topics being thrown about. I am a Kimber 1911 owner, shoot .45acp regularly and consider the .45 / 1911 combination suitable for MY home defense. Id like to share feedback on a few of the things I’ve learned over the years. Feedback is encouraged and I will defend / support my assertions to those that have questions.

• 1911 Battery of Arms – the BOA of any 1911 is complicated. That being said once learned I feel that the 1911 BOA lend itself favorably to the end user. Earlier in the thread the 1911 was likened to a Ferrari. I don’t think that the analogy works but I understand the point. I would say that a 1911 is like a manual transmission car. It requires more manipulation from the user but also IMHO offers more control. Like driving, some will argue that it is better to pay more attention to what the car / gun is doing then how its doing it – especially for a beginner. Each has its school of thought behind it – make your decision according to your comfort level.
• Ammo & Magazines – a weapon, like anything else is only as good as its weakest link. More often than not the 1911 is plagued by failures to feed because of magazine follower issues. Spend the money – buy some good magazines with a tracked follower. Wilson combat, Mecgar and Mccormick are top shelf. Good ammunition is crucial! 1911’s are prone to hangup while running hollow points so polishing the feed ramp and breaking in the pistol is important should you want to run hollows. I run speer gold dots and Winchester sxt’s both are 230 grains for my HD pistol.
• Light – I don’t run a weapons mounted light on my pistol. There are many different schools of thought as to whether it is an advantage or not. I prefer to turn the lights of my living space on – but this issue is incredibly dependant on your home, its layout and your comfort level. I do have night sights (mepro) but in all honesty in the event of hostile CQ engagement the ‘point and shoot’ method seems most logical. For that reason, and because your front sight is most important, I like the XS big dot sight which is easier to locate under stress with limited or no light.
• The shotgun – IMHO the scatter gun is a very formidable weapon system. Yes it is cumbersome, yes it is limited in ammunition capacity and yes it is overhyped. Some great benefits however are the ease of use (manipulation - *especially if an autoloader), the ability to incorporate different types if ammunition and ultimately its price. Like others have mentioned I feel that the shotgun is best when paired with another weapon, however it makes a fine stand alone piece for defense. Ammo selection is abundant, check what’s available and what makes sense for the restrictions your household may dictate.
• Gun shops – if the gun shop you frequent is run by idiots don’t shop there. There are VERY knowledgeable people in the retail / training sector and it is worth your time, effort and money to seek those business owners out.