Home Defense 1911

[CaptainSKA]

Okay, here's the rub... I've got $683.00 no more to spend on a new Home Defense gun... and I've got my heart set on a 1911... I want something that I'll be able to pass down to my kids... I want quality. I don't need (or want) a super duper target pistol that will wipe my a$$ and give me .5" groups. I need a reliable shooter. Oh, and here's the rub, I'm a lefty, so it's gotta have an ambi safety....

What's my best bet? Springfield's Loaded models are right in my price range... is there anything else I should be looking at??

[nitro16]

Yo Cap,

I have a Springfield Micro Compact that should fit your bill. It has the ambi safety and I have no complaints about how it shoots. You can't "limp wrist" it though....with that short barrel it can tend to hang up on ejections. I use it for my primary carry gun now because it's such a small, concealable package.

[stans]

Colt or Springfield, I prefer nothing shorter than a 4 inch barrel for out of the box reliability.

[Hunter]

stans hit it on the money either Colt or Springfield. Brand new a Springfield would be closer in you price range. Both being excellent 1911s Colt being my personal favorite but Springfield being a close second.

[Jeffrey]

Depending on your housing circumstances, I would choose a Springer GI and with the money left over buy a shotgun, or, buy a shotgun and with the money left over buy a dog. Just my 02. :)

[Alaskan00]

I agree with Radar on this one . . . I prefer a shotgun for home defense. :D

If your heart is set on a 1911, the Loaded will do the job too.

[CaptainSKA]

I've got the dog(s) already, and there's seperate money set asside for a Mossberg with the shortest barrel I can get...

[Jeffrey]

I've got the dog(s) already, and there's seperate money set asside for a Mossberg with the shortest barrel I can get...

Cool! Then by all means get that Loaded Springer. :)

[OD*]

CaptainSKA

If you have a Gander Mountain in your area, you might want to check into their deal on Remington's. $299 for a 870 with 18" barrel, a +1 factory magazine extension and hi-viz, anti-jam follower.

http://www.gandermountain.com/

[CaptainSKA]

Nice, I'm actually making the rounds tonight and Gander Mtn is on the list (along with a slew of local gun shops...) As long as I can get $250.00 trade in on my .40 S&W P94 and decent buy on a Springer, I'll be buying a gun tonight it looks like.

[John]

If you have a Gander Mountain in your area, you might want to check into their deal on Remington's. $299 for a 870 with 18" barrel, a +1 factory magazine extension and hi-viz, anti-jam follower.

I second that, the Remington 870 is what I have too.

[warmrain]

Good suggestions for CaptainSKA,

I agree. If you get a 1911 for home defense then there is no reason to get anything less than 5". Additionally there are some good cheap home defense shotguns. The Rem. 870 is one, the Mossberg 500 or 590 is another. The Mossberg has an ambi (thumb) safety... (The 590 is a 20" and gets you 8 in the tube +1 chambered.) IIRC the 500/590 and the 870 are the most issued PD shotgun.

Whichever you get, Mossberg makes a lock-box that provides a way to mount either the Moss' OR the 870 on a wall (e.g. in a closet).
http://www.mossberg.com/locbox.htm

[Sandman1967]

Captain - I your price range, I would go with the Springfield!
For home defence/Reliability, I would stay with a 5 inch model. They have a more proven Reliability and shoot longer between spring changes.

...And nothing beats the Remington 870, for taking care of business.