Are these guns strictly sold at retail, or can you get them at any type of discount? What other 1911 .45 handgun is worth looking into? Springfield Armory? Others?

Can't stop thinking about a Pro Carry II . . .

 

The M1911 Pistols Organization Forums Site Scroll down to the manufacturers section, they're all there.

What's the intended use?

First gun?

Budget?

Nothing against Kimber but I would buy a few others before Kimber, especially this Dan Wesson CBOB.

 

It would be my first handgun that I would own. Oregon law stipulates that one under the age of 21 can posses but not buy. Once I turn 21 (6-7 months) I'll look into a CWP, etc.

I've heard a lot of guys talk about the quality of Kimber, but it's not a company I'm set on. Actually, I have some concerns about a .45 being my first handgun. I have shooting experience of course, but I'm just wondering if it's the best caliber.

Use will be split between recreational shooting and home protection, and some carry when I turn 21 (car primarily). Not to sound cavalier, but in recent weeks the high number of thefts and home break ins in my area (including female friends) has me taking home security a little more serious. My room is already an arsenal, but have a mobile source of security would be nice.

I'm open to everyone's suggestions . . .

Edit: I'm not set on spending ~$1,000 for a handgun, definitely open to less expensive alternatives. I just absolutely love the fit, finish, and feel of a 1911.

 

The great thing about .45 caliber in a full-size steel 1911 is that it eats up recoil. I went through a box of range ammo with a Kimber Custom II my first time at the range, the only issue was a slight hiccup on the first round...the recoil didn't bother me at all.

 

You would advise against the carry sizes?

 

You can carry a full-size 1911. Carry whatever size you can shoot straight and have full confidence in.

Check your local shops/ranges and rent a few then make a decision.

 

My next .45 will be a Kimber Desert Warrior:

 

Chris, point me in the direction of some other solid 1911 .45's . . .

 

Kimber isn't a bad choice at all! But it is pricey, and of all the Kimbers I've ever owned, every single one of them needed babying after purchase to function correctly. Without fail, they all had feed problems. The issues were easily solved, but IMHO they should have happened at all.

That said, everyone and their brother is making a 1911 now, so you have plenty to choose from. Do not fall trap to the fanboi tendency to buy on name, so that you can say that you own a Wilson, Kimber, etc... Many of the higher end 1911's are match guns, that are high maintenance. They are not daily use/carry guns. Showpieces, they are, but don't get sucked in to the snobbery.

I've said this before, and I'll say it from the roof tops... The best performing, out of the box 1911 that I've owned, and I've owned a lot of em; is the Taurus PT1911. I put over 2k rounds through the thing before I cleaned it. It is still tight, it is accurate, it is made of good components. It has been thoroughly abused beyond what anyone here will do to their firearms, and it is the one that I keep near my bed at night, or in the car.

I've got a personal connection to Gaston Glock, have access to Glocks like mad, and my PT is right up there with any of those in reliability. I find myself carrying the PT far more than the Glocks. Don't pass it up.

If you fall into the fanboi trap, I will mock your masculinity and ability to think individually, like a disease...

 

I wouldn't expect anything less from you Brian!

My intention is not to have a handgun that I can brag about or that is high maintenance. To be honest, I'm pretty discrete about my gun ownership, and there are only a few friends that share the interest with me. What I do want is a high quality, accurate, and reliable gun. I figured the Kimber, Springfield, Wilson, etc. would also satisfy my desire to have a gun that just feels great in your hand. To be completely honest I would like something that looks nice, but at the end of the day that's far from the top of the priorities.

I'll check out the Taurus, and frankly, I've heard gun things about their stuff.