I started with the .45acp and find that the 1911 platform is the most pleasant platform for this caliber. When my daughters were of an age that they became interested in shooting, I picked up a Kimber 9mm 1911 and Springfield XD9. Both choices were a mistake, but at the time I was stuck in California with their list of ‘approved” handguns. The Springfield grip safety just doesn’t fits my hand and my youngest daughter fell in love with my 5” Wilson Combat CQB…go figure. So, no need to go to 9mm, unless like me, you have been attracted to a smaller, high capacity 9mm that is less expensive to shoot. If so, I think that many companies now understand how to make dependable 9mm 2011s. On the flip side, there are so many really great 9mm guns. The latest M&P wih the “Apex” triggers are superb and with manual safeties they allow me to ride my thumb on the safety. Some of the CZ offering come really close to the 1911 trigger and ergonomics, but perhaps their not quite up to the level of a top tier 1911. I think that Bill Wilson has really refined the best of the 2011 for carry in his double stack Commander and smaller designs that have dropped the grip safety, but for much less you can buy a Cajunized Beretta, various CZs and so many other options.
