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ddt06c
07-08-09, 14:42
Here is the deal,

A friend recently asked for help in choosing a handgun for himself. My first recomendation was for him to shoot a M&P9, G17-G19, and HK P30 then buy whichever one he found comfortable/shot the best. He then talked to a couple local LEO who told him the 9mm was too weak, .45 ACP is the only caliber with "knockdown power", you know the rest. To make matters worse, they have convinced him that a Kimber series II is the best possible .45 ACP one can buy.

I told him that if he must have a .45 ACP handgun then he should look into the M&P45 and HK45, but he is dead set on getting a 1911 (with the Kimber leading the list). If I can't convince him to stay away from the lower tier 1911s, I atleast want to ensure that he gets the best possible 1911.

My problem is that I know very little about 1911s. I know many of you are extremely knowledgeable about the 1911 platform, so I am looking for help in ensuring that my friend doesnt end up with a piece of junk. His budget is $1000-$1200.

*I have nothing against 1911s or the .45ACP. I just don't have the time/money to go down that road.

Ricardus
07-08-09, 14:52
Here is the deal,

A friend recently asked for help in choosing a handgun for himself. My first recomendation was for him to shoot a M&P9, G17-G19, and HK P30 then buy whichever one he found comfortable/shot the best. He then talked to a couple local LEO who told him the 9mm was too weak, .45 ACP is the only caliber with "knockdown power", you know the rest. To make matters worse, they have convinced him that a Kimber series II is the best possible .45 ACP one can buy.

I told him that if he must have a .45 ACP handgun then he should look into the M&P45 and HK45, but he is dead set on getting a 1911 (with the Kimber leading the list). If I can't convince him to stay away from the lower tier 1911s, I atleast want to ensure that he gets the best possible 1911.

My problem is that I know very little about 1911s. I know many of you are extremely knowledgeable about the 1911 platform, so I am looking for help in ensuring that my friend doesnt end up with a piece of junk. His budget is $1000-$1200.

*I have nothing against 1911s or the .45ACP. I just don't have the time/money to go down that road.

suggest he look at Dan Wesson. Their .45 ACP VALOR is awesome. They have other models but I think that for the money he cannot beat the Valor!

MarshallDodge
07-08-09, 15:18
If he absolutely must have a Kimber then I would go with a lightly used pre-series II. You see them on gunbroker from time to time. Mine has been very good to me.

If you can get him away from the Kimber then I would recommend a lightly used Les Baer TRS (Thunder Ranch Special). I have seen them in the $1200-1400 price range.

Another one that is highly recommended but I have no personal experience with is the Springfield TRP. http://www.springfield-armory.com/armory.php?version=26

MarshallDodge
07-08-09, 15:20
suggest he look at Dan Wesson. Their .45 ACP VALOR is awesome. They have other models but I think that for the money he cannot beat the Valor!

I have heard good things about the Valor as well. My DW Bobtail has been a good gun. Very tight but reliable.

Business_Casual
07-08-09, 15:49
Experience is a harsh teacher. If he won't listen to you, maybe the best thing is for him to buy a Kimber. Is he going to carry it? If not, no worries really.

After all, it is just a pistol and can be resold fairly easily.

M_P

ToddG
07-08-09, 22:28
If he listened to your advice and ignored it in favor of some cops who think the .45 and the Kimber are king of the heap, then it sounds to me like you've got a lot more respect for him than he has for you. His money, his karma, his lesson to learn. I say wish him luck and be there when he falls.

crusader377
07-08-09, 22:44
For $1000 to $1200 your friend actually has alot of good options for 1911s. My top three recommendations are the following:

1) Dan Wesson Valor or CBOB
2) Springfield TRP or MC operator
3) Colt XSE or Series 70

Even though I like 1911s, I would not spend $1000-$1200 on a platform that I'm not 100% sure that I would like. I actually think a better option for your friend is to pick up something like a Springfield Mil-spec which is a very good pistol for around $550 to $600 or lightly used Colt or pre-series II Kimber. He could use the rest of the money either for future purchases or practice.

xray 99
07-08-09, 22:48
What Todd G said. He asked you and then ignored you. I go bonkers when someone asks you for an opinion, doesn't like what he heard, then keeps asking until he gets the opinion he wanted to hear all along.

JiMfraRED1911
07-08-09, 22:48
Grab popcorn and brace yourself for the ensuing lulz.

decodeddiesel
07-08-09, 23:14
I am currently in the process of learning the painful, literally (https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=32095), lesson on why sub-$1500 semi-custom 1911s are just not a good idea if you're going to use the pistol for anything serious.

If he is hell bent on .45ACP, try to sell your friend on an M&P45 or a HK .45. Money well spent (or saved in this case) in the long run.

JonInWA
07-09-09, 13:59
Sounds like you're stuck in pretty much a lose-lose situation...Well, we've certainly all been there at one time or another...

FWIW, my recommendations in a 1911-specific pattern pistol would be for him to consider a Colt 1991, or Series 70, or XSE; or a SIG-Sauer 1911 (the XO would be a good basic starting point, which he may be perfectly satisfied with just as it is).

I've never had one, but the Springfield pistols have a pretty decent reputation from what I've seen/heard/read, as do the Dan Wessons.

In a non-1911 gun, I'm very satisfied with my Glock G21, which I think is not only an inherently good .45, but also an excellent value for one's money. If your friend qualifies, have him look into the Glock Homeland Security program, which'll provide him the Glock at a healthy discount, and with 3 magazines.

Best, Jon

Terry
07-09-09, 16:09
If he is hell bent on the Kimber, I believe that the "SIS custom" model is at least a series 1.
Do whats right and thats all you can do.

four
07-09-09, 16:30
If he is hell bent on the Kimber, I believe that the "SIS custom" model is at least a series 1.
Do whats right and thats all you can do.

I got to play with an early edition SIS a couple years ago. With the Thumb Safety on, you could pull on the trigger and nothing would happen -- until you swept the safety off, where upon the hammer would drop to the intermediate notch. I'm not sure what was going on as it wasn't my gun and I wasn't the one that got to go back to kimber to make them fix it, but it made an impression on me....

you know, you might just let him buy what ever catches his eye and then lend some sound advice when it works out differently than he expects.

Rider79
07-09-09, 21:41
If he is hell bent on the Kimber, I believe that the "SIS custom" model is at least a series 1.

Sorry for the brief hijack, but personally, I have trouble purchasing from Kimber when they tout the fact in advertising that they have a contract with one of the most anti-gun cities/PDs in the country. But that's just me.

Business_Casual
07-09-09, 22:26
I thought California law meant it coudn't be a Series 1?

:confused:

M_P

loupav
07-10-09, 09:15
I think SIS is not legal to civilian sales in California due to not being on the roster. Not because it's a Series I.

ralph
07-10-09, 09:18
I agree with the others, If he's bent on getting a Kimber, let him, be there for him when it starts having problems, Experience is the best teacher...I've got a nice collection of handguns, including 2-1911's, Out of all of them there are 4 that I would trust as a CCW, Older Sig P-220, HK P-2000, HK USP, (both with LEM) M&P45 (mid size) The rest are either too large, or hard to replace, or not reliable enough for a CCW.