I currently own two 9mm handguns (sig P226 & P938) and I am getting ready to take the 45 ACP plunge and buy my first 1911. The primary use of the 1911 will be a range toy and a backup home defense weapon.
I am looking at a couple of different options for my purchase. My current budget is to stay under $2K, including extra mags, any small mods/accessories, break in ammo, etc.
Here are my options at this moment
#1. Pick up a Ruger SR1911 or a Springfield Loaded or a Sig Tac Ops for around $700-900 AND a Glock 22
OR
#2 pick up a Springfield TRP and call it a day.
I am looking for some advice or feedback on:
#1 - The 1911 purchase - given my options which way would you go?
#2 - Caliber diversity. During this ammo shortage .40 caliber has been more than plentiful in my area. Practice rounds, defensive, you name it. It’s all been available and affordable (all things considered). Does it make sense if I own a 9mm and .45 and then to add a .40 to the gun case?
Commonality has a lot going for it. Having a wide variety of calibers is great and can be lots of fun to shoot but your wallet will take most of the causalities. Since you already have 2 9mm handguns I would stay with that caliber and just add any new platforms you want(i.e 1911 to that caliber.) That way you have to only buy one caliber of ammo that is common to all handguns that you have.
I don’t agree with the logic of buying guns in multiple calibers to increase the odds of finding ammo during a shortage. It makes more sense to me to spend the money you would have spent on that gun to buy more ammo for guns you already have.
The best way to avoid the problem of being unable to find ammo during a shortage is to have enough ammo on hand to not need to find ammo in the event of a shortage.
This is my thought (exactly) as well. Don’t expect to find ANYTHING in a crisis.
I also extended that thought to reducing the diversity of the firearms I have. I used to have a variety of different handguns. I’ve swapped things around so now I have only two different magazine types that fit everything I have.
I think it is a good idea to just buy more 9mm ammo but if you truly do want a .45 - you would have more fun with a HK USP Tactical with V9 detent plate. Soft-shooting extreme accuracy, much better durability/reliability. For range and a home defense option why not. Cost is better than a mid level or high end 1911 unless buying a bunch of mags (but even here at least no playing games finding which mags work with your baby), more money left for the ammo.
It’s a solid weapon. Springfields CS is known for being top of the line. And the warranty lasts for the life of the gun, not the owner.
I would skip he G22 so you’re not adding a third caliber unless you REALLY want a .40. Between your P226 and your soon to be .45 1911, there isn’t much a G22 will offer you.
Buying multiple guns, no… Buying multiple barrels (&mags), YES! Stock up heavily with 1 caliber primarily & have barrels for other calibers that the same gun can shoot. Example, M&P40, you can buy a factory 9mm barrel or conversion barrel (plus 9mm mags) & should get stock reliability out of it (M&P 9s & 40s share same recoil spring, extractor & ejector). You can also get a .357 sig barrel (no extra mags needed .40/.357 mags are the same) and now you have 3 caliber choices out of 1 gun.
I went back by my LGS today and looked around some more. Finally held a Ruger SR1911 and while I’m sure it’s a fine weapon it didn’t hold a candle to the quality of the TRP or the Sig.
Actually held an H&K 45 and honestly I was disappointed, especially for the price.
I ruled out the .40 option, I agree with most as I would rather just buy more ammo
Pretty much now just down to a Sig 1911 or the TRP. They have a Sig Extreme for $1000 and a TRP for $1400. Is the TRP really $400 better?
If I had $2K to spend on a 1911, I’d get a Les Baer or Wilson Combat and tell everyone that I wanted magazines and ammo for my birthdays and Christmas.
In the meantime, I’d be plenty happy loading my one or two mags at the range…
If you’re worried about ammo shortages, why not take the 2k, and instead of buying another handgun, Why not buy buy either a Dillon 550or 650, some dies, stock up on primers, powder, bullets, etc now, and you won’t have to worry about ammo shortages…
I would get myself some extra mags/holster/light/whatever, spend the rest on ammo and a good reputable trainer/class, and also maybe try to get into reloading. Your stated purpose of the 1911 being a range toy leads me to recommend the SA Range Officer. The R.O. can easily be found for well under 1000 dollars. That leaves room for buying ammo and extras and maybe some mods to the gun once you realize what you do and don’t like about it. But I would just buy a thousand dollars of whatever you need and take a good class.
I will start off with a direct answer to your question. While we all have our own opinions about what WE would do with $2K, I believe you want advice on a 1911. Given the options you stated, get the Springfield TRP. It is head and shoulders above the other options you listed. Big rule when entertaining the idea of a 1911, don’t try scrimp on cost. You will end up regretting it. Buy once, cry once.
That said, your question indicates you are concerned with ammo shortages and other logistic issues. While I LOVE my 1911s, they are one big logistic issue. If it is a range gun, great. However, if it is part of your end-o’-the world arsenal, there are better choices. “Caliber diversification” is a theory on dealing with ammo shortage, but all theories have holes in them. You already have 2 pistols in the most common caliber in the world. Straying from that, I and many others have been able to find .40 easier than .45 in the past 8 months. If diversification is your goal for future ammo shortages and you like the sig 226, get one in .40 with an additional .357 sig barrel. Or less expensive yet, a glock 22 with multiple conversion barrels. Heck, a S&W 686 in .357 / .38!
I don’t see any issues with having multiple calibers in the safe. I’m a firm believer that everyone should own a 1911. But I wouldn’t bet my life on one as a primary defense weapon and mine is a trp. That being said. The trp is solid for the price tag, but don’t leave out a Dan Wesson. Great 1911’s.
Don’t get too caught up in stocking tons of ammo for every gun. You should have a “go-to” caliber that you stock plenty of ammo for. And mags, spare parts etc. Leaves you less susceptible to shortages and crisis.
I added .40 and .45 to 9mm in the last few months too. I only got the G23 because it was a deal I couldn’t pass up. But I’ve bought a couple of polymer .45’s since.
I had been toying the idea of a 45 for a while. I’ve been able to buy ammo from my local member range at near pre-panic prices but there were limits per caliber. For most of the shortage it was 2 boxes per day per caliber. It’s loosening up for 45 too.
