New to fire guns. Thinking between a Colt 1911 9mm and a Colt 1911 .45. opinions? thanks
Posted by Suitable_Heart_1888@reddit | Firearms | View on Reddit | 37 comments
New to fire guns. Thinking between a Colt 1911 9mm and a Colt 1911 .45 for my first gun purchse. opinions? thanks
WillMoonKnives@reddit
Uh.. 1911's are generally a high maintenance, finicky type of pistol. Even the best ones are more prone to malfunctions than most modern striker-fired 9mm guns... I say this as a person who carries a 1911 on semi-regular basis.
Are you going to carry this? Do you just want a target/range pistol? Do you just want something for a bedside gun?
If you just want something for home defense, there's almost no situation I can think of where I wouldn't rather have a rifle or a shotgun. I've you're looking for a concealed carry piece, get a P365XL. It's not sexy but it's small enough to easily carry while being large enough to have excellent capacity and be very shootable. Stick with 9mm.
Suitable_Heart_1888@reddit (OP)
Home defense and sport. Where I live to carry a gun freely and to have permission to have a gun for home defense and sport are two separte paper works. I am looking for a Colt because of the history but what I see in internet lately is they are not done like in other times. Any extra tip?
WillMoonKnives@reddit
Colt now is a shell company that has absolutely nothing to do with the historic Colt Firearms Company, kinda like Springfield Armory has absolutely nothing to do with the actual historic Springfield.
Are you restricted by any kind of weapon ban? USA or other country? I will still stand by my assertion that in basically every single instance, I'd rather have a long gun of some kind than a pistol.
xricardobh@reddit
Where are you from?
Suitable_Heart_1888@reddit (OP)
Uruguay. Super liberal / socialist country. To get a legal gun is tedious process. Gun culture is gonne on porpusse.
adubs117@reddit
Have you shot either? Or some type of 1911?
I ask because I really liked the idea of a 1911 until I actually went and shot one. To me it wasn't a pleasant experience. Didn't really fit my hands right.
Suitable_Heart_1888@reddit (OP)
Nop, only glock 17
Holiday-Hyena-5952@reddit
No. Just no to a 1911 as a starting pistol. (Thats like a RAM 6x6 dooley, turbo diesel crew cab as a starting vehicle) Go to any gun show $10. Wander the aisles and ask permission to hold a particular pistol. You judge people by their handshake, you should do the same with a pistol. Get a good grip? Write that one down. Compare prices, new in the box vs. used. The same pistol at four tables will give you five prices. They will all negotiate when you pull out cash. At least $25 to $50 off the asking price. "Private collections" will be used firearms, but no tax and no federal paperwork. Think 9mm or a .38 Bigger bullets mean a bigger price tag. Don't start big. Learn the fundamentals, first and take classes if you local gun store offers them. Or find a buddy with guns. Theres a lot of us out here! See you at the range!
n1terps@reddit
My colleagues talked me out of a 1911 as my first gun and, frankly, they were wrong. It's perfectly reasonable to just get in the game with something you recall from memory as a thing you know exists then go from there.
Holiday-Hyena-5952@reddit
You're flat wrong. You don't start with a 1911. The OP is "new" to guns. Needs something easy to shoot and learn. Too many bad habits with the recoil and shooting in general.
BarnackIIIF@reddit
>"Thats like a RAM 6x6 dooley, turbo diesel crew cab as a starting vehicle
That would be funny to have a "Please Be Patient Student Driver" sticker on the back of your dually.
otullyo@reddit
.45 is the only answer.
Diligent-Parfait-236@reddit
.38 actually for most of its development.
Cartel engravings optional.
DashMcGee@reddit
People on Reddit tend to disagree, and I always keep an open mind. Until now. I disagree with the many comments about a 1911 being a first gun. It is a very easy gun to work with, points naturally, has an external safety, and is easy to fire. They have light, easy, reliable triggers. One downside of the trigger is that it has very little uptake, so once you squeeze the trigger, it goes off. Striker-fired guns and double-action guns require some rearward movement of the trigger before it engages. You have some time to release the trigger if you decide not to fire. That being said, you should never squeeze any trigger unless you intend to fire the weapon.
I also disagree on whether 9mm is easier to shoot. I, and many other 1911 fans, find that .45 is easier to shoot because it is slower, and the recoil is lower. I will grant that others may disagree, and that is okay, as recoil is not just physics; it feels different for different people and from different guns. The way a 1911 is balanced makes recoil easier to handle for many. We also have to differentiate rearward recoil and muzzle flip (upward recoil). One benefit of the platform is that 1911s are heavy, and the weight of the gun is one factor in reducing recoil.
My fondness for .45 notwithstanding, there are pros and cons. 9mm rounds are much smaller than .45s, which means you can usually store more in the magazine. Sometimes having more ammo is better. I do not feel the need for more than 7-8 rounds. I also mentioned above that for many people, a 1911 points naturally. I find that when I pick it up, point it towards a target, and then look through the sights to line them up with the target, they are already aligned.
The ideal way to go about choosing is to go to a gun range (if they are available) and borrow a few to try out. If you cannot find a place that lets you try different guns, at least go to a large store and ask to handle a few of the more popular options, as well as a 1911. See what feels good in your hand. I have small hands, and a 1911 has a narrow enough grip that I can control it easily. A Glock 17/19 is too big for me. You need to find a good fit that suits you as an individual.
Good luck, and enjoy the sport!
Suitable_Heart_1888@reddit (OP)
Thanks for taking time to a deep answer
DashMcGee@reddit
You are most welcome.
toastedvacuum@reddit
are If you're going to get a colt 1911 it has to be in .45. BUT you should not get a 1911 as your first handgun imo. There are better EDC weapons and there are better home defense weapons. 1911s are cool novelty pieces but there are better guns at this point
coldafsteel@reddit
Nothing about a 1911 or 2011 as a first gun is a good idea.
Severe-Cow-8646@reddit
Its probably been as many or more people's first gun than a S&W Model 10 or Colt D frame. While I would agree that there are a few better choices, mostly various flavors of .22, a fella could do far worse than a 1911.
Jupitor13@reddit
I refuse to join a caliber war. It is like asking what is the best gun oil, it doesn't matter what you use, you're wrong.
I have always wanted a 1911, but in 38 Super. Just for the cool factor. Nothing new there, it was introduced in 1929.
But have a look, there is a third option.
sanmanc@reddit
I absolutely will not talk you out of a 1911. But I will suggest you find a range that rents what you're looking for and try them out. See what you like better. 1911 are great firearms and there is a reason they have been around so long and are still viable firearms. A 9mm 1911 will have less felt recoil than a .45. 9mm will sorry cost less to shoot at the range.
wildjabali@reddit
Get a more common 9mm pistol for your first gun.
People recommend these for a reason: g19/17, any of the M&Ps, CZ p10/p09/p01
Suitable_Heart_1888@reddit (OP)
ok
GordianBalloonKnot@reddit
Truly, this, OP.
I went with a Canik, which isn't necessarily relevant in itself. Some of the points I considered when shopping for it was how everybody said it had good trigger feel for a gun in that price range and that it could carry 15 rounds without a magazine that made it look goofy and conceal terribly.
Sure, the gun looks cool. But what's cool about a gun that's your least favorite to shoot of your collection or, worse, that you rarely shoot? I spent 380 bucks on a gun that I learned how to assemble, clean, and wasn't reloading every 10 seconds. And, god forbid the unthinkable happens... unless you're carrying extra mags, going shot for shot with almost any other weapon will leave you with any empty firearm against someone who might still have 5 rounds left over and is very mad at you.
PM_yourbestpantyshot@reddit
1911s have so many problems with their feed ramps and other operational downsides. Look into improved 1911 designs like what CZ offers. Ex CZ85 CZSP01
Suitable_Heart_1888@reddit (OP)
OK thanks!
johnhd@reddit
WillMoonKnives@reddit
Lulz
Erock242@reddit
I can't speak to the CZ p10c, I've never fired one, but I just bought my first 9mm 1911 and I don't want to shoot my Glock 34 anymore. I have a 22lr conversion kit for it and my 1911 feels like shooting a striker fired 22lr. Just one shooters opinion
ZeroPointSpecter@reddit
Not to sound like an elitist, but it's a bad idea for your "first" gun to be a 1911/2011.
1911s are awesome guns, but they’re generally better appreciated once you already have some fundamentals down. Starting with something simple, reliable, and easy to learn on will make the whole experience way smoother.
Also, never call them "fire guns".
Suitable_Heart_1888@reddit (OP)
Ok thanks. English is not my first lenguage as you can see.
ZeroPointSpecter@reddit
Cool. If you want a good "first" gun. I'd look at a Glock 19, Walther PDP, Springfield Echelon, or an M&P9 M2.0.
Any of those would make for an excellent beginner firearm to build your fundamentals. Then go get yourself a 1911.
Dragonnuttz@reddit
ManOf1000Usernames@reddit
You cant buy a pistol in the US at a gun shop* until you are 21. Get an airsoft gun first.
*From an FFL federally. State laws vary.
Suitable_Heart_1888@reddit (OP)
I do not live in US and in my country I am doing the paper work and the course with licenced instructor. Believe me in my super liberal leftie country to get a lega arm an oddysey. AS you can tell english is not my first lenguage. I also own a Glock airsoft replica.
Crashing_Machines@reddit
9mm will be softer on recoil and a lot cheaper to get ammo for practicing.
High_Af_Osrs@reddit