I've been carrying a Full-Size Springfield 1911-A1 Mil-Spec .45 in Stainless Steel for about a year and a half now. My first hand gun purchase as an adult.
Shopped/researched for about 2 years.
For everyday open-carry, work, vehicle, the store, everywhere permitted (almost anywhere in Las Vegas, NV except schools/Govt. property)
Got it at the Las Vegas Gun Show Brand New for $500. Great people, great service. I got really lucky with this particular Springer Mil-Spec, it was fit together VERY well. With exception to the kinda "loose" factory Barrel Bushing(cool with me cuz I dont want em!), all pieces/all tolerances were perfect.
I immediatly got a BEAUTIFUL extra-thick matching Bushing and Plug from EGW that fit PERRRRRRFECT! The dang thing is soo accurate omg!
Broke in first 500 rounds on my birthday, one FTF in my 8 round polished SS Mecgar mag with the removable base-plate...3rd to last round in mag. Kept shootin that mag for 100 more rounds. That was the 5th mag i ran when it happened, only mishap ever. I think it was just a stubborn HP getting a bad angle on a fresh Feedramp. I love that mag tho!
I'm happy. I'd love to say I'm a great shot, but when my friends pick up my Springer, they become a great shot too!
For me, .45 is expensive to shoot, so I guess I just have to spend all my money! Shoot what you carry is what I've been told...
I put Crimson Trace Laser Grips on(Front-Activated) because this will come in handy real quick if a 150lb. anvil falls on one's arm in a shoot-out. If you can still move your hand around some how, but your arm is kept out at the most akward angle, you can put the red dot on the BG's forehead, and still be sure of your shot. LMFAO.
I also got a S&A Beaver Tail Grip Safety & new Hammer, Sear, Disconector, Springs, Springfield Flat Checkered MSH, Ed Brown Pins, aww man it's awsome. A very Precise machine as it turned out.
If (I) were in your position, and I am really, I would be comparing with a maginifying glass the pros and cons between a XD-40 or XD-9 sub-compact and the new compact 1911's. If you can afford .40, go XD-40.
If you get anything chambered in 9mm, get it compact so you can use it for CC or backup as well as cheap shootin. XD just got new Crimson trace laser grips for Christmas 07!! Now you gotta get one dude!! My friend has a sub-compact XD-9 and got the pierce grip-extender, it got me sold on XD.
Yep, thats my next gun right there. I thought everybody knew Glocks suck? JK!
All I know is that it's .45 if you want to stop these Las Vegas Crackheads!!!
Let's not forget that rapper Tupac Shakur was shot on the LV STRIP and it's unsolved, rapper 50 Cent was shot 9 times, and is still rapping about it. You might think about the new 1911's chambered in .50!!!
Now that Taser has those "feminine" desinged civilian Tasers that shoot 15 feet, I'm likely to be unwittingly tased from behind by a criminal hiding behind a car that stole their mom's taser, so he can paralyze me and "jack" my 1911 .50!! You cant just go out like a chump ya know, these Las Vegas gangbangers can make you perform sex acts if you let them get you.
It all comes down to Situational Awarness. (and a reliable pistol)
Get the XD-9 sub-compact. Try her out at the range tomorrow, you'll see. They're like a step up in the food-chain from a Glock.
Roughly sketch the base-outline of a Glock-side view next to a 1911 side view and show it to a young boy. Ask him which one looks cooler and see what happens!
