Need advise buying a semi automatic 45
 

I only have 2 firearms in my arsenal a "Seacamp" (wifes) and a 357 Magnum Colt revolver. I want to purchase a 45 or ?? This is to be used for home protection and the indoor range.

I know lots of gun guys on this forum.

Colt.

Next question?

There are two good shops, one on each end of Forbes Road in MV.

Go shoot one before buying.

For some reason, I can't hit the broad side of a barn with a .45. I can shoot pretty darn well with a 9mm.

Colt makes the "classic" .45, but Glock and others make much different .45s as well. Once again, shoot before buying. Figure out what you like.

Oh...I didn't notice you were in Calif.

Here you go:

http://www.runnerduck.com/images/toy_gun_exploded.jpg

I know there is an indoor range I go to, but i was not aware of a gun shop down there, do you know the name? I googled w no luck

The real question is: "How much do you want to spend?"

Once that is sorted out, we can narrow down to some choices.

I have two.

1. Full Size 1911A1 Springfield Mil-Spec in Stainless ($505 in store)
2. CCO - Colt Combat Officer - 3" barrel, short grip, allow frame, for carry. (~$750 on Gun Broker)

You can pickup a cheapo plain vanilla full size 1911, and then send it out to be customized and spend mega-bucks. It depends on what you want and how much you want to spend.

Other Good Choiches:

Anything Sig
Glock
Springfield XD

And then I have a Browning HP, which is 1911 like, but in 9mm.

Red Beard gave you good advice. Decide what you want to spend then that will help determine what you need to be looking at. 45 prices are all over the board. My honest opinon, you say its for home defense. DO NOT buy a cheap one, you can not risk a cheap firearm when your life might be at stake. Look at colt, springfield. Glock, Kimber....Springfield XD's are not a 1911 but I like them alot. Its On my list of next guns to buy. I would also consider night sights. well worth the money.

Do NOT buy a Hi-Point.

Shoot as many different guns as you can before you buy.

A 1911 is a nice gun, there are tons of flavors out there. I'd definitely try to shoot at least 1.

When I was going to buy a gun this past summer, I tried to shoot as many as possible. I then paid attention to the guns that felt best in my hand and that I was most accurate with and bought based on that.

Well said. The only thing a Hi Point is good for is clubbing someone on the head with it. You can not rely on them.

The reason I always grab my glock over my 1911 is becasue the 1911 is single action on the first round. I dont like to carry cocked and locked. Para does make a LDA (double action) 45 acp in a 1911 frame though

That indoor range is on Camino Capistrano, the two shop are at either end of Forbes, left or right off Crown Valley. The guys at the indoor range know these places. They are very close to the end of Forbes either way. The store on the north end has more new stuff, the store to the south seems to have more older and used guns.

I want to spend $400.00, 9mm would be fine too

Go shoot a 9mm and a .45. I think these two rounds are light years apart in how they feel, and most people tend to gravitate to one or the other.

For just $100 more ($500 total), you open yourself up to a whole bunch of quality firearms. Glocks, basic 1911s, etc.

The only guns I can think of for $400 and under in 9mm and .45 that aren't Hi Points are Rugers. Now I don't think the Rugers are bad, but I don't think they are that great either.

You can get a Charles Daly Hi-Power for about $350. They are 9mm and come with sights that I'd like to try.

Unless you find a used .45, there is no good .45 for under $400.

After doing some research I think I would like a Glock.
Around $500.00.

Any of you guys have a Glock? and what do you think?

I have two Glocks. I love them.

Once again, shoot before buying. Some people find the angle of the grip uncomfortable. There are other striker-fired pistols out there for a similar price with a different grip angle.

I like glocks, but after shooting a sig p229, I fell in love.