chaim
Member
It has been about 5 or 6 years since I last revisited the assumptions and functions for when I select a carry or home defense gun.
I gave up my 1911s for carry. I am OK with striker, DAO or DA/SA, but I do not want a manual safety on my carry and home defense guns. It is one more thing that in the adrenaline dump of a life or death situation that can go wrong. I have DA/SA guns, DAO and striker guns that I use for defense.
Now, I'm half considering going back to 1911s. It will take a lot of holster training to get used to having to disengage the safety reliably again. I can't be 100% sure that I won't make a mistake if I'm attacked. But...
I shot one of my 1911s for the first time in probably, well, 5 or 6 years the other day at the range. It was all steel so it was heavy (for easier shooting), but it was my Officer sized RIA 1911 CS. Even though I've already shot many hundreds of rounds in my Glock 19 in the couple weeks I've owned it (probably 1000 or slightly more), and even though I haven't shot a 1911 in years, I easily outshot my Glock with the RIA. I didn't have any of my CZ 75s (PCR, P01, Compact, or full sized) to compare, but generally I shoot them very well, but I do throw off the first DA shot a bit before settling in with the SA shots after the first shot (the DA first shot is always on target, but a couple inches away from the rest of the group).
I just shoot a SA pistol better. Add in the 1911's grip angle which is the only one that is as natural for me as the CZ, and it is hard for me to find anything else (except maybe a revolver) that I shoot as well (other than the 1st DA shot, I do shoot my CZs about as well, but that shot does throw my group a bit).
However:
But then, very few guns shoot as accurately as a 1911 does for me. Hmm...
Note:
For now, no big decision is being made. I'm still going to sell my RIA 1911CS and replace it with a more range friendly full sized steel 1911. However, my Commander sized S&W 1911PD that I was going to sell to help fund a nicer 1911 may stick around, at least until I decide for sure about adding 1911s back or not. So, instead of looking at the nicer Dan Wesson, SA, and Kimber options for my full-sized, I'll probably look to the cheapest Kimber and SA options plus Ruger and RIA. Other than possibly adding an EMP, I already have the gun that I would use if I make this decision.
I gave up my 1911s for carry. I am OK with striker, DAO or DA/SA, but I do not want a manual safety on my carry and home defense guns. It is one more thing that in the adrenaline dump of a life or death situation that can go wrong. I have DA/SA guns, DAO and striker guns that I use for defense.
Now, I'm half considering going back to 1911s. It will take a lot of holster training to get used to having to disengage the safety reliably again. I can't be 100% sure that I won't make a mistake if I'm attacked. But...
I shot one of my 1911s for the first time in probably, well, 5 or 6 years the other day at the range. It was all steel so it was heavy (for easier shooting), but it was my Officer sized RIA 1911 CS. Even though I've already shot many hundreds of rounds in my Glock 19 in the couple weeks I've owned it (probably 1000 or slightly more), and even though I haven't shot a 1911 in years, I easily outshot my Glock with the RIA. I didn't have any of my CZ 75s (PCR, P01, Compact, or full sized) to compare, but generally I shoot them very well, but I do throw off the first DA shot a bit before settling in with the SA shots after the first shot (the DA first shot is always on target, but a couple inches away from the rest of the group).
I just shoot a SA pistol better. Add in the 1911's grip angle which is the only one that is as natural for me as the CZ, and it is hard for me to find anything else (except maybe a revolver) that I shoot as well (other than the 1st DA shot, I do shoot my CZs about as well, but that shot does throw my group a bit).
However:
- I'm not sure I want to upset my carry choices again. While it has been a while since I made the no manual safeties decision, I have changed a few of my carry guns lately. MD was effected by Bruen, and I'm weeks away from being able to carry daily (instead of a few hours a month plus a few more days a year some weekends and vacations on my UT non-resident permit). That had me replace my SIG P290 with a SIG P365, and as much as I love my CZ P01 and PCR, I got a Glock 19 which is a similar size for its lighter weight (I plan to carry both the PCR and G19, but I suspect the G19 will get a lot more use). But that was a minor change, going to a totally different manual of arms and totally different way to put it into action is something else.
- Again, the amount of time it will take for disengaging the safety to be second nature will take some effort. Even then, small motor skills suffer under adrenaline and one can forget under stress.
- More importantly, smaller 1911s tend not to be as reliable (my RIA 1911CS is a bit less reliable than I'd like for a carry gun), so I might have to go no smaller than a Commander sized 1911, or pony up some serious cash for a small dedicated 9mm 1911 design like the SA EMP series. I already have a good stable of carry guns, this is money that I don't need to be spending.
- Any 1911 tends to be more ammo sensitive than the SIGs, CZs and Glocks I currently have. I'd have to potentially spend a lot of money on several defensive loads to find one that would work. I already have my defensive loads selected and tested for my SIGs, CZs and Glocks
- If I do go this way, I won't be standardizing on 1911s. I'll likely still use my Glocks and striker action SIGs. I'm not as sure about the decocking DA/SA guns though, when I go to disengage the non-existent safety after training to do so on a 1911, the decocker may cause issues (though, if it is already decocked, as it would be, it wouldn't be a big deal). This would mean I'd be going back to what I got away from when I made the decision to drop the 1911s and other guns with manual safeties (standard CZ 75Bs) from carry and home defense duties... multiple manual of arms, multiple ways to put the gun into action, and a larger difference in the guns I am using for defense (DA, SA, and striker). I just dropped my DAO (other than revolvers) in order to lessen the styles of actions I use.
- 1911s are much more limited in capacity than I'd prefer (I didn't mention that, but I'm in the more rounds the better crowd). Though, in .45ACP or 10mm, an 8+1 capacity is acceptable IMO (heck, in 9mm it is acceptable as well, but there is a difference between acceptable and ideal). Still, I prefer 10 or more rounds when away from home (at home I usually have 2 guns in my quick access safe by my bedside, additionally I just got a new quick access safe to put my carry gun in overnight, and when I'm not going to bed, I often carry around the house, plus I have a Mini-14 that just needs a mag seated if I can get to my regular safe in time).
But then, very few guns shoot as accurately as a 1911 does for me. Hmm...
Note:
For now, no big decision is being made. I'm still going to sell my RIA 1911CS and replace it with a more range friendly full sized steel 1911. However, my Commander sized S&W 1911PD that I was going to sell to help fund a nicer 1911 may stick around, at least until I decide for sure about adding 1911s back or not. So, instead of looking at the nicer Dan Wesson, SA, and Kimber options for my full-sized, I'll probably look to the cheapest Kimber and SA options plus Ruger and RIA. Other than possibly adding an EMP, I already have the gun that I would use if I make this decision.
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