If you enjoy the forum please consider supporting it by signing up for a NES Membership The benefits pay for the membership many times over.
Be sure to enter the NES/MFS May Giveaway ***Canik METE SFX***
Stainless S&W 1911.
The "which is better" threads always crack me up. You get 30 people with 30 different opinions, and you're ultimately back at square one.
Springfield Armory xd-45 ?
You know I'm going to say 1911
Since you are in a free state you have more choices. Although I have three Series I Kimbers and one of them is my usual carry gun, I'm simply not a fan of the Series II Kimbers. The Swartz style safety simply isn't reliable enough, and they've gone through at least three different designs on their external extractor trying to get it to work right. Skip the Kimber.
S&W also has the Swartz style safety, so I'd skip that too, although it is probably more reliable than Kimber.
Personally, I'd suggest three choices:
1) basic Springfield Armory, and budget for a gunsmith to change sights, thumb safety, etc.
2) Springfield Armory Loaded and leave it as is until you decide what you like.
3) High dollar semi-custom like a Wilson Combat.
As for HK, skip it. I have an HK USPc in .45 (previously had one in .40, too). They are reliable and reasonably accurate, but the triggers just suck. Also a double-stack HK .45 may have a grip circumference that is too large for medium sized hands.
Don't listen to the heretic.
HK45 hands down. It's the best balanced, best designed, most reliable, full sized .45 cal you'll ever get your hands on. Shoot any ammo you want out of it, and never worry about FTF / FTE. If you really have an issue with the trigger, - which is what 1911 girly men always complain about, ( i think they have atrophy of the index finger issues) - , you can send it to HK and have them do the LEM conversion. But I highly doubt you'll ever need that.
Regarding grip circumferance, the pistol also has interchangeable backstraps. Something you'll never find on a 1911. 12+1 capacity is also a huge bonus. You also get a safety / decocker lever instead of that assinine cocked & locked design feature that keeps the hammer back on a chambered round.
HK45 also has an ambidexterous mag release under the trigger guard designed in such a way that you cannot accidentally drop your magazine while carrying, — the way you can with a 1911. Snug a 1911 too close to your hip, and when you go to draw... oops! No magazine! It just fell the fawk out somewhere.
The polymer recoil reduction buffer on the spring and guide really reduces muzzle rise, and lets you reseat on target lot better than any 1911 platform, too.
All that said, it's a big, heavy handgun. It's really not a CC piece unless you're a yetti like my brother. It's also sighted low from the factory, so if you're not familiar with HK .45's you'll find your shots dropping about an inch below where you're aiming. That's easily fixed, or adjusted for once you've spent some time at the range with it.
If you are gonna shoot pins on a regular basis get a 1911. It will allow you to modify it so that you can add things like a magwell, etc.
If you want something that works all around get a Sig P220.
The HK 45s are nice too (HK45, USP 45) but make sure you can get a good
grip on the things; they have higher bore axis and tend to flip more, especially if you have small hands.
-Mike
The "which is better" threads always crack me up. You get 30 people with 30 different opinions, and you're ultimately back at square one.
That being said, here's mine:
Probably my favorite shooter is my Sig P220. It just feels right. A VERY close second is just about any 1911.
My favorite carry, at the moment, is my Glock G30. It's also a very good shooter, and 10+1 IS "a big whoop".
R1ch,
If you’re looking for a gun to be used as a pin and target gun, I’d suggest you maximize your selected firearm for game you will shoot. To do that you’ll need to know the rules for the sport(s) you’ll be shooting and why the better shooters at these events made the choices they made.
That may give you an insight into which gun is better for what you want to do.
Respectfully,
jkelly
Different clubs can shoot pins different rules. Check out the club(s) you want to shoot at. Good luck.You're right, so I thought I'd start here by asking, maybe there are not that many pin shooters here?
Considering the HK... thanks for the notes. Why are they sighted low, is it the sight picture is different than others?
Any 1911. I have a GI colt that i dont shoot, and a SS Smith that i love.
1911 or nothing.
You dont need +p to shoot plates. I use handloads and cast bullets no problem. I use my 686 in.38 to shoot plates with wad cutter had loads. So dont waist your money on defense ammo to shoot steal.
I'm not shooting plates yet. First fun is with pins, they get heavy as the shoot goes on, so something heavy heading down range is better than something fast. Perhaps I don't need +P, but certainly do think I need a lot of inertia.