Alot of my friends keep mentioning the 1911... Would it make a good first handgun? Is it only in a 45 ACP or do they make them in a smaller chamber as well?

1911's can be 9mm, .40 or .45. Look at the Springfield XD line of guns. 1911 is just a type. Kinda like a ball point pen. There are several makers of ball point pens. Some have different features. But you can not go wrong with a XD.

I love 1911's but you should definately try to shoot one first. Find a range or friend that will let you shoot/rent different guns. That said, there is nothing wrong with one as your first. If it fits your hand, and feels comfortble to shoot, go for it. There are many different models to choose from though.

While the 1911 is a great handgun and has bee around for almost a hundred years, there are a few concerns.

 

First, they can be finiky in operation. Unfortunatly many require slight tuning to get a satisfactory operation from them. Second, a new shooter who is looking to train is going to find the cost of ammo prohibitive and frankly somewhat difficult to find unless one is willing to pay top dollar.

 

True you can always get a 22lr upper for the 1911 frame but now you are adding on another couple of hundred dollars. A great first handgun in my opinion would be a 22lr of which tons are out there new and used for small money. the ruger line of their Mark series are a great way to start. Once you decide to move up, sell it for the same money or keep it for cheap training. Their 22/45 series duplicates the 1911 grip angles if that is a concern.

 

Lastly, the 1911 can be safely carried but it isn't the handgun to buy if you aren't willing to train to a higher level. Cocked and locked takes practice and a lot of it.

My first gun is a Springfield Armory Mil Spec 1911-A1 SS. I would love more then anything to have the option of carrying it. It always goes to the range along with my third gun a XD9 SC. IMO you cannot go wrong with a 1911.

 

Got both from Bullet Hole.

The 1911 is really a classic.

 

As a new shooter, the single action trigger might be a little alarming (they are pretty light) and the safety/hammer combinations can get a little confusing.

 

The 1911 is a little trickier to take apart than other semi-auto handguns. The plug that holds the spring in place can launch pretty far (or into your face) if you're not careful when disassembling it.

 

I've heard (but can't personally confirm) that the 1911 isn't as reliable in calibers other than .45, but you'd have to check that one out. It's a persistent rumor, though.

 

As others mentioned, .45 ammo is pretty pricey right now. I'd say $20 is about average. By comparison. 9mm is closer to $15, sometimes less on sale.

 

That said, I own two 1911's and would never say a bad thing about them.

Personally I agree with Jeff Copper's assessments that it's one of the three most naturally pointing handguns ever produced. The other two being the Colt SAA and the Luger.

 

First, welcome to the sport of shooting. You have some good information here but I would ask what do you want to do with it? If you just want to shoot targets, I would get a 9mm since the ammo is cheaper than .45ACP.

 

After a while, shooting paper gets boring and you should consider competitive shooting. You should watch a USPSA or IDPA match or even the 2x4 match at the Cherry Ridge range. You should also consider Glocks, the Smith & Wesson M&P, a Springfield Armory XD or a Sig Sauer (but the Sig is expensive). One big advantage with the 1911 is all the after market parts available. If you don't like the feel of the grips, there are hundreds of different grips available.

 

Finally, the odds are, you will own more than one pistol and you can't go wrong with any of the popular models out there. Avoid off brands and cheaper models. If you have to wait to save more money, do it. You will only cry once, but you will enjoy a quality pistol for years. Hell, your grandchildrem will enjoy it and quality guns hold value over the long term.

I bought a Taurus 1911 for my first gun and love it. Next though i sm buying a Ruger p89 9mm just for something cheaper to shoot plus i like the gun a lot.

Alot of my friends keep mentioning the 1911... Would it make a good first handgun? Is it only in a 45 ACP or do they make them in a smaller chamber as well?

 

A 1911 would make an excellent first handgun. You get what you pay for like everything else in this world!

In my opinion, real 1911's are made out of steel and are chambered in .45 ACP.

Just having some fun guys......

Yes. You can get 1911 style handguns in 9mm, 10mm, 40 Short and wimpy, and some other calibers as well.