Stick to a single stack 1911. PO's have had quality control issues and I would not buy one. The single stacks always felt right to me while the double stacks like someone already mentioned feel weird.

Thanks for the input.

The laser thing is simply to help me learn to shoot the gun. It would be enlightening to see what the barrel is doing all the time, and not just when the trigger has been pulled. Like....what happens WHILE I am pulling the trigger. I intend to become proficient, and I just think the laser attachment would be a good tool for that.

Sure, double-stack handles are wider but they seem to feel fine to me. I'm Superman, remember? And the recoil thing is also not a problem. Again, the Superman thing. (wink). But if there is any reliability question, then that's a deal-breaker. I love cars and the most attractive characteristic to me is obedience. I want the car to do what I ask. Start. Go. Turn. Stop. Every time. In a handgun, I expect the same reliability I get from The Sun.

I'm not sure I need a longer barrel. I'm not so sure the additional accuracy is meaningful and I want this machine to be lighter as opposed to heavier.

Again, thanks for the input.

One thing that needs to be considered..you have to carry it somewhere some how...The taurus fits in my back pocket...with a sweater on you never get a hint.
The other spot is a big pocket inside my jean jacket

Supe, go shoot a few, especially to compare the grip and barrel length. I found that I greatly prefer a full-size 1911, as the extra barrel length seems to make the recoil more controllable. Any decent shooting range will have guns for rent, the one I go to has multiple 1911 variants.

I've got another question. Is there such a thing as a Model 1911 double-action? I know it's an 'auto load' pistol, but is a manual hammer-cock always necessary for the first shot?

I find that I never actually cock the hammer on my 1911. I store it cocked as that is how the safety is designed to operate. After emptying a magazine the slide locks open, when you load a full magazine and rack the slide the gun is cocked and ready to fire.

I've posted this pic in another thead, and have owned this Combat Commander for 28 years. Even though the barrel is 1" shorter (4.25) it's steel (unlike the lightweight Commanders), so the recoil is trivial compared to my magnums. I'd forget about the laser stuff...a bit of practice, and it's point & shoot for defensive purposes. It's compact enough to carry (if one so chooses)...I wouldn't trade mine for anything:http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1226601378.jpg

ps: Matt is spot on regarding "cocked w/ the safety on"...can't be fired by dropping, etc. either.
pps: One other thing...when a magazine is empty, one button releases it (the slide is locked open), pop another in, and release the slide...it becomes "second nature" and is fast (and I'm left handed, so it's even faster for a righty).

Lasers are for mall ninjas and serve no real purpose. The money you were going to use for it should be spend on training and ammo.

No, there is no such thing as a double action 1911 and being an auto loader has nothing to do with it.

There are such things as double action .45 autos. Seecamp made the first successful commercial conversions on 1911s for this over 30 years ago. There are several .45 autos that can be had in DA, some in DAO. Seek and ye shall find.

mistake.

jt

laser sights are a different type of shooting as one is watching the red dot instead of the sights. Much, much easier, of course I'm a luddite and prefer sa, iron sights and shoot one-handed, even if I own da pisols and play with laser sights too. Totally agree about training and ammo.

I have a double stack Para Nite-tac in Coyote Brown. Its full size, and it doesn't kick at all when the mags full. Its also heavy as hell. The only way I would ever want to carry it would be in a tactical leg holster.

It has been very reliable. I also own a Kimber Ultra CDP II, that kicks a lot more due to its lightweight frame and short barrel.

I agree with what has been said, go shoot a few. Dropping over a $1000 for something you might not like (some people just don't like how the thick double stack grip feels) is a lot of cash. I also own a SW M&P .40 and a Glock .40. The latter being a gun I carried for work for a while.

1911's are like older 911's, you can tweak and change them to your characteristics, and the gobble up cash as well.

Good luck.

Bill

they do make an extended magazine for the 1911.. holds 10 rounds....

if after 10 rounds you are still "no-joy" ... I don't think an extra 4 rounds would help...

only takes one .45ACP to bring a bad guy down...

Indeed! I remember reading some 30+ years ago that the .45 ACP has approx. 95% of the dropping/stopping power of my .44 magnum, and have never understood someone opting for a 9mm (despite the extra magazine capacity) unless you're just punching holes in paper. Maybe I should have asked "which oil is better" :), but it's always been a no-brainer in my own mind.

Thinking one round of .45 is going to take someone down is foolish considering shot placement and some of the drugs that the bad guys are on now a days

Well if a 45 will not slow them dwn the noise should at least make them deaf. Sneak around behind him and push them over....Give me a break will not stop a human ??
Maybe a bear, they have a 45 second blood preasure reserve some how I am tould.
Ventilated throught the lungs/ head/ aorta, sort of takes the reflex out of most anything..even all jacked up on their drug of choice...they can lay there and and twich slowly slower.
You ever see the after math of a 45 ?

.45 and .40 are good for stopping people. High on drugs can ad variables, so can hits from small cal. guns, surges in adrenaline. .45's drop blood pressure faster than say a 9mm. The larger rounds can also cause hydrostatic shock.

OK here is a quote from a cop friend of mine this AM ( my nephew )

"I've heard stories of people surviving all kinds of rounds until their body literally only fail due to actual hydraulic failure (blood loss) so the best thing to do to assist that is to use a round with a lot of energy transference and expansion like a Federal Hydro shock round. But truth be told you can survive anything if you have the will to survive and fight."

He knows nothing of this conversation or this board

Springfield XD has 4 of the 5 qualities you're looking for: rail, short barrel (4in), double stack magazine, .45ACP. It's also been getting excellent reviews: Springfield XD was awarded "handgun of the Year" (2007) from both American Rifleman magazine and the The Shooting Industry Academy of Excellence.