First time Pistol buyer wanting 1911

Thanks for all the info the gun shop owner called to say he got a few new ones in and I was welcome to come shoot as many as I like to decide. So it'll prolly be whatever I fall in love with. For those of you who carry the 1911 hunting or for whatever reason I'd like your opinion of best style of holster. I'm sure I will be walking through the brush when carrying so something safe and comfortable as to not shoot myself in the leg
 
I prefer shoulder holsters for hunting. I carry either my 1911 .45 or a .44 mag revolver, both in shoulder holsters. I like them because they distribute the weight evenly, and keeps the handgun out of my way, but still easy to get at if need be.

When a carry concealled while not hunting, I typically carry on the hip, just because it is easier to conceal in this hot weather.
 
For hunting I would prefer the older GI holster with top flap to cover the grips. If not it would be stuffed in my back pocket on my belt, this allows a high carry and keeps it tucked well under your shirt or coat, so it hangs on fewer vines, and limbs.
 
Originally Posted By: Tyler BurginThanks for all the info the gun shop owner called to say he got a few new ones in and I was welcome to come shoot as many as I like to decide. So it'll prolly be whatever I fall in love with. For those of you who carry the 1911 hunting or for whatever reason I'd like your opinion of best style of holster. I'm sure I will be walking through the brush when carrying so something safe and comfortable as to not shoot myself in the leg

Tyler,

I am partial to a thigh holster from some past military
service. I have these:

DSCF0010-1.jpg


The 1911 holster is on the left. The holster on the right
is called the "Universal", and offers a closed bottom, if
one is concerned about debris in the bore. In this picture
the holster has a Glock 20(10mm Auto) with a 6" extended
barrel. These holsters, mag pouch, and belt come from a
company called Spector Gear. Their stuff is built to
go into combat conditions, and perform well. This gear will
hold up to anything any hunting situation will throw at it.
Also loading a belt with a couple pounds of pistol and ammo,
will tell a lot about the design. I wear this belt, with
one of these pistols, with 4 loaded mags(one in the pistol,
and 3 in the pouches), when crawling through the morasses
of northern Wisconsin looking for Ruffed Grouse...Worst
than most of the crap I crawled through in my military
service.
grin.gif
I carry a pistol for upland bird
hunting(small bore O/U shotgun), since the introduction of
gray wolves(If they try to kill my dog, or stalk me, wolves
will die). I also wear this gear when I ski for coyotes in
winter, and it stays where I put it, and functions well in
extreme cold.

Squeeze
 
Squeeze that's a great lookin setup dunno if I need the mag pouches but ill check them all out thanks again. Ill let you know what I end up with
 
FWIW local smith is quoting about 250 to mill/change sights, lower and bevel the ejection port and mag well with me providing the sights which ran me $60 I think, for tru-glows. Combine it all in a new purchase and you're money ahead buying at least the mil-spec that already has all but tru-glows. And many makes don't use the tenon for the front. If yours has usual kimber or novak dovetails you can swap sights yourself without staking anything.

I prefer thigh holsters for hunting, I'm short and it minimizes the amount of rifle/pistol contact. Still happens, but not as much, and it's stock/butt contact instead of around the action.
 
Originally Posted By: NdIndyOriginally Posted By: Squeeze I also wear this gear when I ski

Squeeze

You think you're James Bond don't you?
laugh.gif


Ever hunt coyotes in thigh deep snow? Covering a few miles,
even in snow shoes, hurts. And they don't understand something
on skis. Getting the heart settled for a shot is a challenge,

James uses Alpine skis, I use traditional Nordic skis.
grin.gif

Oh, James Bond is a "Metro Sexual". If he carried a Glock,
instead of that wimpy PPK, I might have more respect.
glare.gif


Squeeze
 
Yesterday I got to shoot the remington the rock island and a 3 inch barreled kimber. Surprisingly I shot the kimber the best at closer targets and it seemed to fit me very well but was out of my price range. I'm pretty well set on a full sized 1911 and want to try a 4 inch. He said he was getting a full sized kimber in on trade this weekend so I'm waiting to see it before I make a decision
 
I don't know... in the case of a 1911 handgun barrel length fixes the distance between rear and front sights and usually the longer the sight radius the easier the hits come. It also adds weight out front which reduces recoil and normally makes recovery shot to shot faster. Additionally, in the 1911 design the shorty barrels tend to not be quite as reliable as the longer barrel/slide length guns. Personally, I see no reason for a 3" 1911. You can pack a 4" gun as easily as you can a 3" gun and the 3" has enough limitations I see them as a liability. I pack a lightweight .45 ACP 4" Commander length 1911 daily and would not go below the 4" length. The 4" is dead nuts reliable and is a decent compromise. For pure accuracy, reliability, comfort, and longevity an all steel 5" gun is hard to beat. I can't see you could go wrong for a first 1911 with the stainless steel 5" Ruger 1911, made in America, nice add-on features, and street price of $650.00.
 
^ WORD!

IMO, you'd have to be crazy to overlook that Ruger for an "entry leven" 1911. From everything ive seen/read, they are a steal!
 
I'm looking for a ruger to try out too. Noone around here has it right now. Even checked bass pro. Ill have to look a little longer I'm thinkin. I do like to shop usa made
 
^ I ran into the same problem here.... Gander would get one in and before they could put it on the shelf it would be sold.

Good luck brotha! Gotta love the 1911!
 
Originally Posted By: GCI don't know... in the case of a 1911 handgun barrel length fixes the distance between rear and front sights and usually the longer the sight radius the easier the hits come. It also adds weight out front which reduces recoil and normally makes recovery shot to shot faster. Additionally, in the 1911 design the shorty barrels tend to not be quite as reliable as the longer barrel/slide length guns. Personally, I see no reason for a 3" 1911. You can pack a 4" gun as easily as you can a 3" gun and the 3" has enough limitations I see them as a liability. I pack a lightweight .45 ACP 4" Commander length 1911 daily and would not go below the 4" length. The 4" is dead nuts reliable and is a decent compromise. For pure accuracy, reliability, comfort, and longevity an all steel 5" gun is hard to beat. I can't see you could go wrong for a first 1911 with the stainless steel 5" Ruger 1911, made in America, nice add-on features, and street price of $650.00.

True, but look at application. The 1" difference in length is like saying I've got .05 more hp in my car so it's noticeably better. There's going to be a big difference between a 10" radius and a 20" but not that much in 3-4 or 4-5.

And at typical handgun ranges a basic shooter is not going to turn pro with that extra 1. [beeep], at typical handgun ranges the reat sight can be removed and still have shots on target, faster, than you would trying to align the f/r. Out past 25 it's a different story.

I'm limiting to the original ? which is just accuracy in the 2 lengths. Conceal/reliability etc beyond the scope of the answer.
 
Quote:a big difference between a 10" radius and a 20" but not that much in 3-4 or 4-5....Sorry, but I'd have to disagree with that statement...

In '79, I shot the Bianchi Cup Invitational with a full sized 1911 Colt Gold Cup and did reasonably well...In 1980, I shot the same match with a custom and accurized Colt Commander and didn't score near as well, and I had practiced a bunch before the match...At that time, the longest distance in the whole match was 35 yards for all but one stage and it was a standard 50 yard with barricades for support...

A few years ago, I bought a Colt Defender (3" barrel) and wound up selling it due to the diminished accuracy factor...An inch or two can make a heck of a difference in your shooting ability...especially where the speed of follow up shots is a key element..
 
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