M1911A1 handgun good or bad?

It's alright but far from the best that is for sure.

.38 Magnums don't exist. You might be thinking of a .357 Magnum. Shooting ranges will rent guns to you to try out, that way yo can get a feel for the different sizes and power. Before you head down to the local shoot em up, take a handgun safety course so you know what you are doing and don't blow the head off the guy next to you. Sporting goods stores will have information on these classes. When you do go to buy a gun, get a used one for a reputable gunsmith or sporting goods store, i.e. Gander Mountain, Bass Pro Shop or the nearest chapter of the NRA. Spend your money on good ammo. The best gun is the one in the hand of the guy, or gal, who spends hours practicing. Many people buy a gun, shoot it three or four times, then lock it up in a safe. I go shooting about three times a week and carry my gun with me at all times. Even around the house. It is never more than three feet from me. Read the book "Armed Response" by David Kenik. It has some really amazing info, like that there is no law stating that the Police MUST protect you at all times.

Good.

The US ARMY used it for decades and wishes it did not have to give it up. However, as a civilian concealed carry gun, it has some issues.

First, if you do not carry it with a round in the chamber, it will take both hands to get it into action as you will have to rack the slide.

Second, if you carry it with a round in the chamber what do you do with the hammer? If you carry it hammer down, then you will have to c.o.c.k. the hammer before you can shoot it. It is not the easiest gun to c.o.c.k. with one hand. If you carry it ****** and locked, the fact you have the hammer ****** might make you nervous. Some people still have the insane fear that the gun will "go off" by accident. (It won't the manual safety should be on and for the hammer to fall you have to grab the gun, disengaging the grip safety and pull the trigger. ) However, the ****** hammer can get caught easily on clothing when you carry it concealed. I would not recommend it as a concealed carry gun.

I like the Springfield Armory XD COMPACT in 45 ACP. With the short magazine it is great for concealed carry yet has more than enough ammo in the first magazine. With the long magazine it is SERVICE model size with a few more bullets. It has a grip safety and a trigger safety and is double action. Wonderful gun and very accurate. I think of it as an updated version of the 1911, fixing all the issues that make the 1911 a poor concealed carry choice.

It really depends on the shooter whether it is good or bad.

It is a proven design, although "dated"- according to some.

If it wasn't so damn good, then why is it so dated? If it was a piece of crap design then it wouldnt have lasted as long as it has.

As you will read, everyone has their opinion, some love the 1911, some hate it. But you cannot argue that it is probably one of THE most produced designs in the world, and is one of the most recognized designs. There is a recent trend of military and law enforcement moving back to the .45ACP and the 1911 based pistol for reliability and knockdown power.

USMC, SOCOM, LAPD SWAT and many others have already switched to 1911's.

The 9mm is not cutting it in the real world.

Is the 1911 the best handgun?

For me, yes!

(I own a Glock, also have shot a few Springer 1911's, they are nice but I still like my Kimber better.) It may not be the best for someone else but the only one who can determine what's best for them, is themselevs.

The M1911A1 design is an improvement over the original 1911 model. This from the FAS Military Analysis Network:

The M1911A1 was widely respected for its reliability and lethality. However, its single action/****** and locked design required the user to be very familiar and well-trained to allow carrying the pistol in the "ready-to-fire" mode. Consequently, M1911A1s were often prescribed to be carried without a round in the chamber. Even with this restriction on the user, numerous unintentional discharges were documented yearly.

The fact is that the 1911 (and its near clones) is a good but dated design. It is single-action-on-the-first shot which, as stated above, can be problematic. Also, the grip safety is probably unnecessary. It was eliminated by John Browning on his improvement over the 1911, the Browning Hi-Power 1935 model.

For uniform carry I prefer the Glock and have in fact carried as my primary duty weapon a Glock Model 20 .10mm which is more powerful than the old .45 acp.

Good luck.

H

The best modern handgun is a M1911A1 design.

So says Delta Force, Marines MEUSOC, Force Recon, FBI HRT, LAPD SWAT, the whole competitive shooting market in the USA...

You just can't beat a short trigger and a big bullet from a solid pistol with a wonderful grip.

The 1911 series is my favorite series of centerfire handguns. The CZ-75 comes in second. Both are 39oz and use steel frames/slides. The 1911 and SAA .45 Colt dominate the world of .45 caliber. Colt may be barely alive, but we can thank them for three of the finest centerfire handguns (SAA/1911/Python).

1911's are great guns for all the reasons mentioned here. But there's one thing about the gun that has given me pause over the years. I've heard of classes at Gunsite or Thunder Ranch where the 1911's experienced a significant number of malfunctions.

For this reason, I would only trust a Mil-Spec 1911 (1911 or 1911A1). Accurized guns may be too tight, and jams may become more frequent. For self defense, I would rather shoot 3" groupings at 25 yards in a reliable gun, than shoot 1" groupings at 25 yards with an unreliable gun.

Best handgun? It may be the Sig P210. That's my uneducated guess.

It's a fine firearm with a great reputation. Close to the 357 Magnum and 45 Long Colt in stopping a fight, but many find it's more than they can handle. Not as bulky for all-day carry as a revolver, though a bit more heft than some want to carry. The ideal choice is always a compromise, but it's one of the better compromises of history and keeps on being one of the more popular.

Of all of the numerous handguns that i have owned over a span of almost 50 years, Have always had at least 1 Colt model 1911A1. in my collection. It is a really fun gun to shoot(although not the most accurate) and surplus ammo is fairly cheap.It is also a great home defense weapon. If you don"t hit an intruder, I can guarantee that you will scare the hell out of him and send him packing. Try one and enjoy.

great handgun! you can't beat a .45acp for knock down power. If you purchase a 1911 style .45 stick with colt, springfield armory,kimber, etc. There's really no best handgun. Buy what you like and can afford. Go to a gun range and shoot different handguns.