This is a question about 1911's, but i feel like i should give a little background on the situation so you guys can give me a more informed answer, so please bear with me.
My brother has just convinced me to sell him my Smith and Wesson 642 .38 special.
Both my wife and I carry this gun (she gets it while i am at work), and she enjoys shooting it with light .38 loads. She has found the +p 127 gr. Federal carry ammo is a bit much for her liking in the airweight, hence the prompting to sell the gun and replace it.
We own several other handguns for carry including three Glocks in .40 (model 22, 23, and 27), and we have had a Glock 19, Sig 229, Sig 239, Sig 238, and several revolvers including Ruger, Taurus, and S&W models.
While originally we had planned on buying another .38 special (like the S&W ladysmith), I thought it would be a good idea to visit a couple of local gun shops to let her feel some of the new stuff that has come out since we bought the S&W. (like the S&W Shield, Ruger LC9, Kimber Solo, etc.).
We handled nearly everything we could that i felt would make a reliable carry gun that both she and i could pick up and carry. To my (pleasant) surprise, she picked three different 1911 variations as her favorites based on "feel" in her hand. The three she picked in order of preference were; an aluminum frame 5" Springfield loaded in .45 ACP, a Kimber Pro Carry II (4" BBL, 9mm), and a Kimber Compact CDP II (4" BBL, compact grip, 9mm).
She has shot the 1911 before, and the .45 ACP is a little much for her in most of the defense loads. This, as well as my presumption that she would not like the 1911 (perhaps based on comments from other females about the size and weight of the gun) has kept me from buying 1911's as a carry gun she could also use. With the extensive searching, shooting, and "feeling" we have done, I feel confident in considering a 1911, but perhaps in a different caliber.
I think the best option for us may be something chambered in 9mm. She does not mind the carry "issues" that come from the 1911 design (cocked and locked carry, thumb safety, etc). She is an excellent shot with a handgun, and I feel she will quickly operate a 1911 with confidence, if we choose to go this route.
With that limited background of our situation, my question is this:
Of the 9mm chambered 1911 pistols available with 4" and (preferably) 5" barrels, which ones should I look at besides the two Kimber models she has already seen?
Of course, this gun is one we will both end up shooting, and i do have the latitude to pick one i like to look at, and shoot. While I feel my preferences in 1911's are flexible, I would really like a more traditional look, a barrel bushing, and standard military style guide rod setup, but I don't know of one in 9mm off the top of my head.
I am interested in any input you guys have, But I am particularly interested in the 9mm 1911 options.
My brother has just convinced me to sell him my Smith and Wesson 642 .38 special.
Both my wife and I carry this gun (she gets it while i am at work), and she enjoys shooting it with light .38 loads. She has found the +p 127 gr. Federal carry ammo is a bit much for her liking in the airweight, hence the prompting to sell the gun and replace it.
We own several other handguns for carry including three Glocks in .40 (model 22, 23, and 27), and we have had a Glock 19, Sig 229, Sig 239, Sig 238, and several revolvers including Ruger, Taurus, and S&W models.
While originally we had planned on buying another .38 special (like the S&W ladysmith), I thought it would be a good idea to visit a couple of local gun shops to let her feel some of the new stuff that has come out since we bought the S&W. (like the S&W Shield, Ruger LC9, Kimber Solo, etc.).
We handled nearly everything we could that i felt would make a reliable carry gun that both she and i could pick up and carry. To my (pleasant) surprise, she picked three different 1911 variations as her favorites based on "feel" in her hand. The three she picked in order of preference were; an aluminum frame 5" Springfield loaded in .45 ACP, a Kimber Pro Carry II (4" BBL, 9mm), and a Kimber Compact CDP II (4" BBL, compact grip, 9mm).
She has shot the 1911 before, and the .45 ACP is a little much for her in most of the defense loads. This, as well as my presumption that she would not like the 1911 (perhaps based on comments from other females about the size and weight of the gun) has kept me from buying 1911's as a carry gun she could also use. With the extensive searching, shooting, and "feeling" we have done, I feel confident in considering a 1911, but perhaps in a different caliber.
I think the best option for us may be something chambered in 9mm. She does not mind the carry "issues" that come from the 1911 design (cocked and locked carry, thumb safety, etc). She is an excellent shot with a handgun, and I feel she will quickly operate a 1911 with confidence, if we choose to go this route.
With that limited background of our situation, my question is this:
Of the 9mm chambered 1911 pistols available with 4" and (preferably) 5" barrels, which ones should I look at besides the two Kimber models she has already seen?
Of course, this gun is one we will both end up shooting, and i do have the latitude to pick one i like to look at, and shoot. While I feel my preferences in 1911's are flexible, I would really like a more traditional look, a barrel bushing, and standard military style guide rod setup, but I don't know of one in 9mm off the top of my head.
I am interested in any input you guys have, But I am particularly interested in the 9mm 1911 options.
