1911 or XD-45?

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loud-mouth shnook

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Howdy!
Well, I'm a hard-core wheelygun man from way back but I finally got the itch for a .45 ACP bottomfeeder.

My choices have been boiled down to either J.M. Browning's brainchild or the Springfield XD-45. I have small-ish hands for a grown man (and y'know what they say: "Small hands on a man also means a small p...p...'y'know...p...pair o' gloves" :D )
Anyway, the XD sure fits my hand better than the 1911 at first perusal but I could get used to a 1911. Lots of aftermarket gingerbread for the 1911, I realize too.

I guess it gets down to this: For the same money, would you choose an XD-45, all told, or a similarly priced 1911? (BTW finish durability is of no concern. I'm pretty anal about my weapons.)

ps. sorry if this has already been touched upon and it got past me.

Thanx in advance.
 
I had a Bi tone 5" XD45. Although I never shot it, it was a very very nice pistol. It "fit" my hand much better than a Glock 21, it loaded up as smooth as butter, and carried very easy. But I ended up trading it for a slicked up 1911. In my opinion, the XD is a great choice in a 45, but I guess it's true that "you never forget your first love". I couldn't stay apart from my Govt. Model!:cool:
 
I came within an 1/8 to 1/4 of an inch of buying an XD-45. To my despair, the grip was to fat for my liking and I even have large hands. Maybe I'm just used to my XD-40 service model, the grip is smaller and just feels right to me, the XD-45 didn't have that "just right" feeling.

As for 1911's, most being single stacks, the grip should be smaller for you, they are for me. You can put "slim grips" on any 1911 and cut down the diameter.

As for buying a 1911 or an XD-45, it kind of depends on what you want to do with it. Home defense, I would buy an XD-45. Carry gun, probably a 1911 since they are thin but, it would be a Champion size at most and one I could trust. I don't trust many 1911's to always go boom. The XD's seem to alway go boom. A range gun, take your pick. A gun to look fantastic, 1911's are great at that.

One last thing. Since your a wheelgunner, a 1911 is single action, great trigger. Just like a great Blackhawk trigger or great DA trigger shot in SA mode. The XD in more like a DAO wheelgun. However, the trigger is better than off the shelf DAO triggers on a wheelgun. Don't get me wrong, technically it's not a DAO trigger, it's closer to a SA in operation. Someone else better than I can explain it operationally.
 
Get ahold of a 1911 with an arched mainspring housing and then a flat mainspring housing and then an XD 45 and see which one you like best. I've got an xd9 and a 1911. I like the way the 1911 feels better (especially since i swapped from an arched to flat msh), also you can change the grips to better fit your hands. I too am aflicted with smaller than average hands.
 
I agree with getting both! I have 6 1911's and hate Glocks, yet went and bought a XD45 and love it. I'm just as accurate with it but can shoot for alot longer than with my 4" Kimber! :)

I'd advise a SA Mil-Spec and a XD45 and call me in the morning - to go shooting! :D
 
I actually have both. I have a Wilson Professional 4" Stainless 1911 and a 4" XD-45. It is a hard choice even for a die hard 1911 guy like myself. The XD feels as good, in my hand, as the Professional. It is as accurate and as fun to shoot. The XD has functioned flawlessly in 1500 rounds but my Wilson is up to 3000 flawless rounds as well. I love the trigger on both, though they are completely different. I carry the Wilson all the time simply because I have a great IWB Carry holster for it. I have a IWB holster ordered for the XD and when it arrives I will be giving the XD its time on my hip as well.

If I had to make a choice it would have to be the Wilson 1911, simply because I can work/smith it with readily available parts. It is a proven platform and the Wilson Combat products are top tier. But you pay for what you get here. On the other hand....had the XD-45 been my first handgun purchased it would probably still be the only handgun I own....yes, it is that good!!
 
Same price, same reliability (yes I'm giving the 1911 the benefit of doubt), but the XD holds twice the amount of the same ammo as the 1911.

Seems like a simple decision.
 
I love shooting the XDs. I got to shoot the XD45 at the range a couple of months ago. It shot wonderfully.

That said, I may be a little biased. Still, the XD45 gives you the posiblity of 14 round compared to 7 or 8 in the 1911s.

One other thing, Maybe I am wrong about this and would be happy to be corrected on this one, but I don't think you will be getting a high quality 1911 for the same $535 (in Missouri) that you can get a high quality XD45.
 
I would say the xd, you already like the way it feels in your hand, the 1911 you would have to get used to, plus there is nothing like that 14rd capacity of the xd. And of course the xd is, an ll around great weapon. you wo't be dissapointed with it i promise!
 
I chose the 1911 because I can't afford a lot of .45ACP and 8rds at a time is a lot easier on the wallet than 14rds at a time. :D
 
Range-test both

Buy a box of .45 ACP and rent both pistols at an indoor range. Put 25 rounds down range through each. Buy the one you like.

For what it's worth as an example, Target Sports (in Royal Oak, MI) will allow clients to shoot both rental pistols FREE (pay for ammo only) if they know the person wants to determine which pistol to purchase. That equates to a $40.00 savings in pistol rental.

I have the XD .45-ACP, several 1911s and can state without hesitation, they are both excellent. One fact will determine the should-buy: comfort in hand.

Doc2005
 
Dunno if this has already been said: Get both!:D

The 1911 is thinner, but I have small hands, and can still wrap around an XD with both (single-handing a pistol is not something I do).

All in all, it's a matter of whether you want SA or DA.
 
I chose the 1911 because I can't afford a lot of .45ACP and 8rds at a time is a lot easier on the wallet than 14rds at a time.
Click to expand...

You mean easier on the brain;) Your going to go through a box or two whether you do it in chunks of 8 or chunks of 14...

One other thing, Maybe I am wrong about this and would be happy to be corrected on this one, but I don't think you will be getting a high quality 1911 for the same $535 (in Missouri) that you can get a high quality XD45.
Click to expand...

That depends on whether you consider Taurus high quality or not. Their new 1911 is looking pretty good in price considering what you get. I really expect it to start ticking off the other manufacturers that charge you $1000 or more for what Taurus is charging $500-$600 for.
 
The more things change, the more they stay the same

"You better cut the pizza in four pieces because I'm not hungry enough to eat six." ~ Yogi Berra.

"I chose the 1911 because I can't afford a lot of .45ACP and 8rds at a time is a lot easier on the wallet than 14rds at a time." ~RNB65.
 
I have some of each. I think that if I could keep just one, I'd keep my XD45 Tactical. None of them has ever let me down. I just like the 45 Tac the best for a all around pistol. It is kinda hard to hide for CC though.
 
XD is hard to beat

Traditionalists will scream 1911 all the way. But if you clear your mind and be honest about your choice, it will be hard to beat the XD in comfort and price. I have the Tactical version and find the grip so comfortable that its like an extension of my body. I shot it great first time right out of the box. Consistant 2" groups at 50 ft. Even my best friend, who is a 1911 nut, had to admit that it was easy to shoot accurately. It has features from alot of different guns all rolled up into one very nice package. Hard to beat the new 45 XD.:D
 
My dad owns an XD45 and I've shot it pretty well. Yesterday we went to the range and borrowed a SA TRP and a Sig P220. Not only did I get better groupings with the XD, but it was just smoother and more comfortable than the others. The 1911 was comfortable, but I shot low and the groups were wide after the first mag. Just my oppinion...
 
I own a 1911 that I have spent $1500 customizing. I also own an XD-9.

If you want a classic gun that you can tweak and spend money and time improving, 1911 cannot be beat. Functional, accurate, slim, cool. And can be made reliable.

However, it is heavy, and it only holds 8+1 rounds. If I were going for self-defense where reliability, ease of use, and capacity were critical, I'd go XD-45. I love my XD-9.
 
I was reluctent to buy a 1911 last year when I decided I needed a .45, but after fondling and shooting the Glock 21 (I love Glocks, but damn, this was big for even my monstrous hands), the XD (9mm only, no access to the .45 yet, although I have the same problem with it; too top heavy, it wants to roll in my hands towards the end of the magazine). I did not shoot the HK or SIG, but ended up with a S&W 1911.
I may end up with a plastic fantastic .45 of some sort, but I'll never regret that 1911...
 
"If you want a classic gun that you can tweak and spend money and time improving, 1911 cannot be beat. Functional, accurate, slim, cool. And can be made reliable."

Can be made reliable? 1911s from a quality manufacturer are as reliable as anything else out of the box. I've shot them all, Glocks, Sigs, Brownings, Colt, Les Baer, etc. They are all reliable, unless you have the bad luck to get a lemon, which all companies let slip by from time to time.
 
I'm a huge lover of the 1911 and suggest you enter that world too!

That said, the practicality, reliability, and CAPACITY of the XD-45 gives it a huge nod as a nightstand gun and, if you can carry it well, as a carry gun. If you can get comfortable with it in your hand, it's relatively inexpensive, easily replaced, reliable, accurate, and having 14 rounds on tap is a great thing!!!

A while back I bought a Beretta PX-4 in 9mm which has a capacity of 18 rounds and is very comfortable in the hand and really easy shooting. Last night I fired it some (don't often shoot it) and as I passed round 11, 12, 13, then 14, 15, 16, then 17, finally 18 rounds YIKES, I was amazed at what it feels like to have so much capacity combined with stone reliability. 18 freakin rounds of hot 9mm on tap was really nice to experience. Yes, capacity is a good thing.
 
If I could only own 1 .45 acp it would be a 1911 as I love the platform (Especially my Kimbers) . . .but that's being said bearing in mind that there's no CCW law in Illinois. If there was a CCW law in Illinois and the same was true then I'd probably only own my XD45 as I really like it for it's weight and capacity. It's not that I couldn't CCW a 1911 as I'm a big guy, it's just that I'd feel more comfortable with my 4 inch service model XD than my 5 inch Kimber.

Just my .02

Regards,
Dave
 
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