Today I went into a sporting goods store a few blocks from my house to see if someone there would know where I could take the HSC test (Which you need in order to buy a handgun in CA).
As I’ve recently convinced myself that I would like a nice 1911 .45, I’ve been looking to take it.
They offered the test there, so, I took it.
Perfect score! 30/30! I’d be more proud of myself if the questions hadn’t been so…
easy.
Hmm. Lemme think about this one for a minute.
Where’s
I submit that the correct answer is not among the choices they gave you.
That could well be the truth.
Agreed.
While the 1911 pattern pistol is a fine design, I would be remiss if I did not point you in the direction of other, more modern designs offered in the .45 ACP chambering, particularly in light of the fact that the 1911 style has, owing to increasing popularity of ISPC shooting, has become rather fashionably overpriced. Even the previously reasonably priced Springfield Armory knock-offs are now, in my humble opinion, excessively valuated, and of course, Colt no longer offers the 1911 in any form, or indeed, any firearm sales to the civilian market.
I would personally encourage you to look toward the SIG-Sauer P220 (as fine a pistol in that chambering as has ever been built) or the HK USP45 or Mark 23 if you don’t mind the polymer frame construction. (I’m not a big advocate of the Glock, but the Glock 21, 30, and 36 are popular with law enforcement personnel who prefer the larger caliber.) I’m not overly fond of Ruger (though they have offered some excellent revolvers and I own .22LR caliber chamberings in both rifle and pistol form) but a lot of people like the P90 and P345 pistols for their resonable price and reliability. I’ve had some poor experiences with the Taurus firearms and do not recommend them, and am indifferent toward Smith & Wesson autoloaders.
You don’t say whether this purchase is for plinking, competition, or defensive use, but for the latter I’d prefer the double action mode rather than Condition 1, espeically if you plan to carry it anywhere. There’s nothing wrong with locked’n’cocked carry, if you know what you’re doing, but unless you carry it that way all the time and holstered, it’s a little iffy. In any case, if you do plan to carry it, even if just out on the back 40, plan on dropping a few bucks on a good holster (and belt) which keeps it secure. That tucking it in the waistband crap is fine for the movies but is neither safe nor comfortable in real life.
Anyway, enjoy. Let us know what you decide upon.
Stranger
Didn’t he already do that in the OP??
I had been looking at a Rock Island/Armscor (same company from what I can tell) 1911. I see them on auctionarms.com all the time for less than $400.
This would mainly be for shooting at the range and on private property. I’ve been thinking about getting a CCW, but I don’t know what kind of justification they want you to have in CA. I would rarely if ever actually carry, though.
I haven’t settled for certain yet. I am still slightly open to other suggestions.
Stranger: I do plan on getting a decent holster. And I don’t see a reason to carry unless its in Condition 1.
He said he was considering a “1911”. That runs the gamut from a JMB-standard 1911-pattern to a Para-Ordnance hi-cap to a highly customized Wilson. I’m curious as to what he actually selects.
Be careful with the Philippine-made 1911s. Some of the frames may be of Chinese-manufacture (i.e. Norinco), and while some batches were reputedly of high build quality and metallurgy, others were substandard. There are a lot of options with regard to customizations with the 1911, of course, but there are also a lot of slipshod gunsmiths. Personally, I prefer a gun that shoots well out of the box; hence my preference for the Sig and HK; some 1911s (particularly the Kimber pistols and the Canadian Para-Ordnance) are essentially custom-grade as delivered, but I’m less enthused about other stock 1911s. It’s not that I dislike the design or it’s age–I started shooting pistol with a Mark I Browning Hi-Power of WWII British Navy vintage–but I think for the price there are better guns available.
Unless you know someone or have law enforcement credentials, CCW in California is pretty much out of the question. (Of course, you’re not in a major metropolitan area, but still…it’s just not encouraged and not supported by state law. Ironically, one of the few citizens to be issued a CCW in San Francisco country was uber-gun control advocate Dianne Feinstein.) The 1911 is not a gun I’d personally select for casual CCW; there’s nothing inherently unsafe about Condition 1, but it does require discipline. A double-action or DAO pistol is…well, not safer, but somewhat more forgiving. All guns are always loaded, of course, and the only true safety is keeping your finger off the trigger until the sights are on the target. I’m really preferential to the Sig; it’s just an exceptionally well-built piece of hardware at quite a reasonable price (and ditto for the USP, though I’ve never owned one), but I’ll conceed that they don’t have the following or the “style” of the venerable 1911.
Anyway, I don’t mean to rain on your parade, and if a 1911 is your game there are plenty of good options; I’d just take a gander at a few of the modern alteratives as well.
Stranger
Since when? I have 2-4 family members in CA (I think some moved) with CCW.
Not to worry, this gets my utmost in careful consideration.
Personally I favor the Ty 58 Advanced High Pressure Water Pistol
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[/ul] I think you are mistaken about that.
www.packing.org/state/ has all the info you need about concealed carry in the state of California. Restrictions and regulations in that state vary widely since implementation of CCW laws is generally left up to each county Sheriff.
I, too, would not recommend a .45ACP as a carry gun. They’re just too big and heavy to conceal effectively, particularly so in the warmer regions of the state where fewer and lighter clothing is the norm (although I suppose Monterey isn’t necessarily in those regions). Even more important tho’, generally speaking, the .45ACP isn’t a caliber I’d recommend for one’s first handgun - but that might be just me. I think a double-action revolver is a better choice for a first handgun - in .357 Mag/.38 Special (S&W 686 or Taurus 65). If you’re set on a semi-auto pistol though, I think a .22LR (such as the Browning Buckmark, or Ruger Mark II). You’re gonna wanna shoot a lot and the .45 isn’t really all that friendly to a new handgunner.
If that is a consideration, get the 1911 and a Marvel or Ciener (which I have) .22LR conversion kit. That way you are practicing with basically the same gun you’ll be carrying.
I have an Auto-Ordnance M1911 that I can set up in 5 cartridges depending on my whimsy-of-the-moment: .45 ACP, .400 Corbon, 9x19mm, .38 Super, and .22LR.
The only PIA is having to swap ejectors when switching from the .45 to 9mm slide.
See, that would be a problem right there. How the hell do you justify buying a new gun? A guy has to buy a new gun every now and then. We should think of this exercise as helping Gabe buy his first gun, a 1911. Then we help him buy a .22. Then a DA revolver. The a SA revolver. Then another semi-auto, may be in 9mm (or .40? Hmm, maybe he needs to get yet another gun).
I know that is a potential drawback, but I should also mention that I’m 6’2" and 220 lbs.
This isn’t my first handgun. I already have a Charter Arms Undercover .38SPL and a Hi-Standard .22 Target pistol.
Not to hijack, but I went to the local gun store and looked at some handguns last week. (I’m 38, and I can’t believe I’ve made it this far in life without a handgun. I’ve always been a rifle guy. But now I want a handgun.) Here were my requirements:
I should also mention that I have short fingers. I’m also a newbie when it comes to handguns, so bear with me.
I first looked at a couple Glocks. They felt fat in my hands, and my thumb couldn’t reach the puny slide release.
The owner then let me handle some Kimber 1911 45’s. They looked like quality pieces, but they felt heavy, and my thumb still couldn’t reach the slide release. I also didn’t care for the grip safety.
I then checked out a semi-auto Tarus. It was O.K., but I wasn’t wild about it.
Finally he showed me some H&Ks. They felt good in my hands. I really liked the ambidextrous mag release. My thumb didn’t have too much of a problem reaching the slide release, either. The model I was looking at also had an external safety near the rear of the gun, which was easily reached with the thumb.
I asked him to show me the smallest H&K he had in .40 S&W. He showed me something called a P2000. Now this was nice! My thumb could easily reach the slide release, and it felt good in my hands. It lacked an external safety, but I’m not sure how important that is, anyway.
I also heard that the Sig 229 is a nice gun, but the gun store didn’t have one.
Okay. And those guns suggestions look almost prophetic, eh?
Crafter_Man, your hands are like mine. Short and stubby. I’ve found the handgun that best fits my hand to be a Firestar in .40S&W. Perfect fit. Second-best fit is my Browning Hi-Power fitted with custom grips. The problem with the Firestar is that is is heavier than lead.
If you want real fun, try firing my AutoMag III. Stubby fingers just aren’t made for an auto chambered for .30Carbine! 
Crafter_Man, mebbe take a look at the Walther P99, too. Ruger P-series ain’t too bad either. And if there’s a gun shop nearby you with a range, they’ve often got a decent selection of guns you can rent to shoot there. If so, I’d recommend trying out a couple.
http://www.waltheramerica.com/p99_specs.htm