OT for the firearm collectors.

[crsutton]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

It seems your firearm may have had the barrel swapped out.

Here is a picture of my Webley, and I shoot it with ammo I make myself including the casting of the 200 grain lead bullet. Made in 1944 or 1945.

Yep, it is not the proper barrel. I get mixed opinions about if it makes sense to find a correct one or leave it as it is. Nice Webley BTW.

[robinsa]

Im just going to start with saying that I am no expert.


I love the 1911. It is my absolute favorite gun to shoot because of how it handles, the weight of the gun and the "smooth" punch of the .45. I also think the USP .45 is a nice gun if you like the .45 caliber.

Going back to the age old debate of 9mm vs .45 I would say that I would go with a 9mm for self defense because it carries enough punch but gives you the ability to carry more rounds. If you get a 1911 for self defense I would suggest you get some sort of high capacity magazine since the original 7 rounds can go very quick in a "hot" setting. Personally I would recommend getting the 9mm SIG P226 as it is a really well balanced gun (at least for me shooting with the left) and it doesn't really feel snappy at all.

As for rounds go, I don't think the standard hard ball that someone suggested is a good option. Better just get some hollow-point or something that will do good damage but not penetrate brick walls etc.

Again, I'm FAR from being an expert on the subject but it is a summary of what my experiences have taught me so far.

(Given the age of people on this forum I'm sure the .45 will have overwhelming support..)

[robinsa]

OH, and I forgot to say that I would avoid the glock if you like guns and want something that handels well and has a good feel to it. The glock is a piece of plastic that will do the job, but nothing more imo.

[Lowpe]

Given the different barrel, I wouldn't feel bad about putting some rounds down thru the gun. Granted, I wouldn't carry it every day or anything like that. But soft pouched to the range, shoot a few, clean gently and forget about it. Might make a nice framed wall display gun.

Sights on these guys are really tough.

Now, if you can find some old steel cased 230 grain hardball you would be good to go....corrosive (primers) ammo I believe so watch out for that, but very, very nifty. The ammo probably did in the first barrel btw.

[m10bob]

ORIGINAL: Symon

At the risk of going OT on an OT topic, I understand your take on a Taurus, but it really wasn't that much of a POS. Tarrus got the baretta factory and money from S&W and got a huge contract from Brazil in mid 1970s to make PT-92 and Pt-96 pistols. These guys are all over South America.

Mine is a Brazilian PT-92 AF, S/N TLB 378250. Fired often enough that barrel was replaced once. Walnut grips are still good. I can't do the Pensacola pistol course as designed, I'm too old and slow to make the time marker. But if they cut me some slack, I can shoot "good" on the walking targets. I have shot 'expert' on NRA targets with that gun, both 25 and 50 yds. This ain't your grama's Taurus.

Ciao JWE

Like I said John...The Taurus is my "life-saving, better be good first time, every time" concealed carry of choice..

BTW....As good as the M1911a1 was....my dad's sidearm in WW2 was a Browning "Gran Puissance" 9mm 13 shot..

[crsutton]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Given the different barrel, I wouldn't feel bad about putting some rounds down thru the gun. Granted, I wouldn't carry it every day or anything like that. But soft pouched to the range, shoot a few, clean gently and forget about it. Might make a nice framed wall display gun.

Sights on these guys are really tough.

Now, if you can find some old steel cased 230 grain hardball you would be good to go....corrosive (primers) ammo I believe so watch out for that, but very, very nifty. The ammo probably did in the first barrel btw.

Well, even with the odd barrel the gun is very rare and in excellent condition for a Navy model. It is still worth a hell of a lot of money. However, if I shoot it and break a part (unlikely but..) then I just kill the value of the gun. So, I don't think I will shoot it. After not owning a firearm for a decade, my self education about the m1911 has very much made me interested in getting a shooter. This one will most likely go up for auction some time in the future. You can pick up a good condition m1911a for shooting for about $1-1,500.

[Lowpe]

You could get a milspec 1911 for a lot less, and they make them in different flavors, mine for example is milspec for everything but the sights, I forgot what it is technically called. Mine was made by Springfield, I am sure there are tons out there by other manufacturers too.

The gang that ran with Dillinger did a lot of work on 1911s that we take for granted today, smoothing, sights, trigger, feed ramp, beavertail, extended slide stops, etching. I am sure they weren't the first to fiddle with the guns, from day one shooters probably wrapped the grips with string/twine/tape to deactivate the grip safety for example.

So much great history in 1911s