Full size 1911 which one?

[BonoVox]

Originally Posted by CCWInstructor

The Alloy frame is great for CCW work. If you will never carry it, you can go steel. The new alloy are much better than the alumium frames in the 70's 80's.

CDP is the way to go. Second choice Raptor.

Raptor has nice CDI factor too!!

[BonoVox]

Match that with a pair of snake skin boots and you are off and running!

Actually I am not making fun. I like the Raptor a lot too.

Heck I want one of all the Kimbers if you can't tell!!

[napaCCW]

The one I saw had different grips and looked better. What I relly liked was the cut detail on the top of the slide.

[Glock32]

Originally Posted by DVSmith

For a moderate priced firearm try the Springfield. You can get a loaded full size parkarized for under 800 I would guess.

I love mine, need to be cleaned real bad right now, but love it.

+1 on the Springfield, although I think it can be had a bit cheaper than the $800. Shop around.
I would also look at the basic full size Kimber. Pricing should be in the same ball park.

Are you open for a used .45? The are good deals to be had if you are patient and know what to look for.

[napaCCW]

I am open to used but I am not confindent that I know whats worth what. And I am lacking on the patience but am working on it.

[Mad Geek]

All I ever see here is Kimber this, and Kimber that, and maybe I just don't understand, but prodman, have you ever shot an XD 5" Tactical in .45 ACP? Info

Until I started buying XDs I'd owned a S&W 659 DA Semi-Auto in 9mm and a 1911 Colt Government .45 ACP. I couldn't hit that "..broad side..." with the S&W but did fair with the Colt. Maybe I just wasn't applying myself with the Colt. It was an "emotional attachment" that I bought the Colt to begin with and now it just sits in my safe. It was what I carried during my last Infantry assignment at Arlington National Cemetery in the late 70's so I "had to have one".

Once I got back into shooting for enjoyment, I bought an XD 5" Tactical. One of the sweetest shooters I've ever had my hands on. It has the intuitive grip and POA of a 1911 so it shoots where you point. I don't know how the standard features of an XD compare to a Kimber, but from what I've seen just by looking at Kimbers on-line info, you could load up an XD for what a standard Kimber brings. Granted, you'd end up with a highly modified XD as opposed to a stock Kimber, but I've done very little to my XDs and really like the way they shoot.

If you have the opportunity before you buy a Kimber, a marvelous machine from all reports, get your hands on a stock XD Tactical .45 and see if it does what you are looking for in a full size 1911.

You mentioned cost is an issue (like it isn't for the rest of us). Well here is an opportunity to look at a gun that may fill your need/desire for a little less money, or maybe a whole lot less.

That being said, I have on my flame retardant suit and I'm standing by for incoming. Give it all you've got men!

[CCWInstructor]

Chuck,

1)
Depress the safety grip half way in and then lower the slide, you need to do it just right. The slide peels the top portion of the grip safety off inside the slide and locks up then gun.

2)
Put your XD in a box and ship back to springfield. They will drill out the takedown lever, replace the grip safety and send back to you in 4 weeks.

3)
Ignore the above and buy a kimber!!!



I also don't personally like a gun that I MUST depress the grip safety to lock the slide to the rear. YMMV

With warmest (flame thrower on) regards,

Greg

[Mad Geek]

Greg, I almost would have bet money you'd be the first to respond. So once Springfield "fixes" what it sounds like I have to go out of my way to screw up, is it still likely to happen again under these same circumstances or does this repair fix the problem?

I'm so glad we have you as a resource.

And is this common to ALL models in the XD line?

[CCWInstructor]

Originally Posted by Mad Geek

Greg, I almost would have bet money you'd be the first to respond. So once Springfield "fixes" what it sounds like I have to go out of my way to screw up, is it still likely to happen again under these same circumstances or does this repair fix the problem?

I'm so glad we have you as a resource.

No fix, same problem. Design flaw. Irv Stone at Bar Sto sells a grips safety with a memory grove. It doesn't fix the problem, just makes it harder to do.

A member of this forum did lock his up cleaning it. I didn't know you could do that till he did it.

[Mad Geek]

SWEET!

Why is it you never hear about.. Where was someone like Greg when I decided I liked XDs so well? I guess I'll just count my lucky stars that I've not yet had a problem with any of my three.

Prodman, I'm sure you know to listen to someone like Greg as opposed to some Old Fart like Geek.

Back to keeping the fire going, in the stove.

[akulahawk]

Greg's not saying XD's are bad... they have a design flaw that can be somewhat compensated for. If you do it JUUUUUST right, you can lock it up so badly that you won't be able to fix it and your XD becomes a paperweight until Springfield fixes it.

I found XD's to be actually pretty nice to shoot... but I prefer other firearms.

[CCWInstructor]

Originally Posted by Mad Geek

SWEET!

I guess I'll just count my lucky stars that I've not yet had a problem with any of my three.

Just ALWAYS have firm grip on the gun whenever the slide is going to move. You should be fine.

[Mad Geek]

Originally Posted by akulahawk

Greg's not saying XD's are bad... they have a design flaw that can be somewhat compensated for. If you do it JUUUUUST right, you can lock it up so badly that you won't be able to fix it and your XD becomes a paperweight until Springfield fixes it.

I found XD's to be actually pretty nice to shoot... but I prefer other firearms.

I absolutely didn't interpret his comment in any way to say that they're bad. I wasn't aware that they have this particular design flaw and was surprised to hear about it, but not from Greg. I just wish I "knew a guy..." back when I got back into shooting after being away for so long. Then I'd probably have two Kimbers instead of three XDs, and I REALLY like the XDs.

Originally Posted by CCWInstructor

Just ALWAYS have firm grip on the gun whenever the slide is going to move. You should be fine.

Looking back that's what I seem to do instinctively so I'll hopefully never have to deal with that failure.

[SVTNate]

Les Baer TRS or Springfield Professional. Less money? Springfield Mil-Spec or GI sent to Ted Yost, Springfield Custom, John Harrison, etc. for work. Less money than that? Colt, keep it stock until you can afford to send it off for sights/thumb safety/beavertail/barstock steel sear/etc. Those would be the options I would consider if I were in your position. You can save a few hundred bucks and get a Les Baer Premier II instead of the TRS, which isn't as well suited for CCW having a target rear sight, but it's also the absolute best bargain in the 1911 world IMO. $1400 or so for a no-MIM, totally handmade, tight, reliable, dead-nuts accurate 1911 with no firing pin safety... you can't go wrong.

[Python2]

Originally Posted by 1buba

Go with the Kimber CDP fullsize (don't remember the model right now). DON'T forget the Ultra episode!!! LOL

Hah! my next acquisition will be the full size CDPII. When that happen, I will have a full set of CDP's from double stack full size to the ultra