doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion Classic & Custom Single Barreled Sporting Rifles @ doublegunshop.com Not a rifle ? but I would appreciate feedback

Any handgunners in .45 ACP out there? A friend is debating between a Kimber or a Para-ordnance for a house gun basically- I believe one series of the Para- Ordnance clones of the 1911 and 1911-A1 Colt has a 14 round double stacked magazine well- which gives extra rounds between the reloading of a full magazine, but adds to weight factor I am thinking- reliability will all types of of ammo including reloads is also a concern. Some 1911 clones will only feed with round nose Ball ammo-- others will take the Hornady critical defense rounds without a hiccup--

I think there is only one 14-round, .45 1911 clone out there. If so, then the Para-Ordnance is the gun which my FIL has bought 3 times and yet each one has failed miserably in the reliability department. After three failures with three different copies, I hope he has learned. Opt for a Kimber - or just be pragmatic about it and buy a Rem 870 and be done with it.

My .45 ACP is Glock 21, bought almost 20 yeares ago. I use many other handguns but for general sidearm use, including house gun, it's still my favorite.

With kind regards,
Jani

The 1911 copies using a high capacity double stack magazine have a wider grip & many people (including me) don't shoot them as well as a standard capacity 1911.

Personally, I want to avoid any situation where I might need a handgun & I especially try to avoid any situation that I can't handle with 8 rounds of Speer 200 grain Gold Dot+P & a spare magazine.

FWIW I have found the S&W 1911 Commander copy & the full size Kimber 1911 copy both to be very reliable with a wide variety of ammo including 200 grain lead semi wadcutters.

Hard to beat a Glock, specially in Europe- I have a Combat Commander from the CA shop of Armand Swenson--so I am rather picky about a self-defense side arm for feeding and reliable function. I see the Citadel .45 clone with Hogue molded grips and a 3.5" barrel is getting good reviews from the Cabelas' purchasers- before I recommend such to my buddy, I'd want to run about 1000 rounds of 230 hardball Mil Spec. ammo through it- then decide for myself--

On another note, as my paternal grandparents came over from Lucky (NW mining town ) in Czechoslovakia in 1911 to America, where is Slovenia in relation to the former Czech Republic??

I got my younger son a Kimber "Stainless Custom II" when he got promoted to Sgt. while he was in the USMC. He was an Expert with the M9 but not thrilled with it and I wanted him to have a great handgun when he returned to civilian life, which he now has. He's put all kinds of .45 ACPs (including lead bullet handloads) thru the Kimber and left it stock except for adding a couple of 9 rd. mags and night sights.

You would NOT want him shooting at you, from 7 yds. to 70.... He's become VERY friendly with that Kimber.

Run With The Fox,
Slovenia is south of Austria, while Czech Republic is north of Austria. So if I drive to the north, crossing Austria, I can reach Czech border in about four hours. I was there for a couple of times, but that was quite some time ago.
With kind regards,
Jani

Tell him a retired USMC E-6 said "Semper Fi" and I 100% agree with the M9 Beretta-if I had to carry a 9mm I would prefer a browning High-Power- I carried a as issue 1911-A-1 as a TO weapon- "locked, cocked and ready to rock" never yet have fired or carried a John M. Browning designed weapon that wasn't dead money reliable--

I owned a Para Ordinance and shot it a good bit - it was completely reliable and the thick grip didn't get in the way. I have big hands, and the grips themselves are a paper thin veneer, so it all balances out. They do not have the bomb proof solid structure of a real 1911 though - there is at least one long, fragile spring in the grip that had me thinking "Murphy" when I saw it. But people swear by them.

The older I get, the more I wonder why anyone needs more than a WW2 style 1911 with a 7 round magazine. Is your home REALLY going to be invaded by a squad of VCR thieves??

Before you bud plunks down his dollars for any of them, I suggest he try each style. I have a 45's in 1911 (12), Star PD, Springfield XD and Sig 220 format. They all point naturally for me. By that I mean I can pick one up, close my eyes, bring it up and it will be pointing with the sights aligned. If I try that with any of my Glocks (10mm, 357/40 & 9mm), I find the sights are high and I have to dip my wrist down. For me, Glocks both large and small frame point high, therefore they are regulated to hunting guns. For a defensive gun, I want something that points instinctively. Just my .02 but something to consider. All of these are good guns, just some are better than others for certain people.
Thaine