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My options are somewhat limited by price, more than anything, so it's not likely to be imported or custom-made or even customized.

At the moment, I had one of these in mind:


Colt model 01991. The site lists it as Carbon steel frame, 5" barrel, 8 1/2" overall length, spur hammer, rosewood grip, standard grip safety, single action.

Most of the reviews I've read about it are quite positive-- Colt's really improved their baseline government model handgun, to the point where many people don't even really want to customize it much because it works so well out of the box. But I'm not really set on any specific pistol, and I'd want to test fire it in order to see if it really suits me, so I'm open for suggestions.

Feel free to talk about guns in general, especially detailed recommendations.

Buy it, cost be damned. You can never have enough guns.

Colt would work out just fine for you, but it needs to be hot pink with bunny engraved bullets.

Just y'know, to fit your charming personality Mel.

I'd prefer the dull dark grey / black color, to minimize the need to refinish or polish

Melissia wrote:I'd prefer the dull dark grey / black color, to minimize the need to refinish or polish

We'll add the hot pink for the grip.

The rosewood is good enough, dork

I love Colts, own a 1911 myself..
A very dependable firearm all round.

Fine, keep your non-outfit matching gun!

Pretty nice looking gun this.

FITZZ wrote: I love Colts, own a 1911 myself..
A very dependable firearm all round.

A genuine colt 1911, a 1911 style gun from another manufacturer, or the new colt 1991 variant?

Melissia wrote:

FITZZ wrote: I love Colts, own a 1911 myself..
A very dependable firearm all round.

A genuine colt 1911, a 1911 style gun from another manufacturer, or the new colt 1991 variant?

My Fathers old service pistol from his tour in 1968.

MrDwhitey wrote:

Pretty nice looking gun this.

That is a damn sexy lookin gun.

FITZZ: Nice! That's a piece of history, there!

One thing I've wondered (as handguns are rare where I come from)- where would you store the gun, if it's for personal protection?
My brother was an advocate of always (or as much as possible) having it "on you" if you have it for that reason. I've read other arguments for storing it in a gun case.
I use guns for hunting, and wouldn't be comfortable with owning one for self protection I think (I'm a klutz) but I'm interested to know what you guys think.

Keep it under the socks. It's the American thing!

My dad has a Colt .45 of some type that he got from his dad. I don't know what kind it is but it looks old.

My dad apparently loves the Beretta M9. Really really loves the Beretta M9.

I always liked the look of Glocks but I'm not a gun nut so

Colt makes a fine weapon, I haven't read any negative reviews on em.

.45 is going to be a bit rough, though if you've fired a lot before you may be fine with it. Hell you may carry a 10mm for all I know. They do make 9mm versions, I don't want to start a "my bullet is better then your bullet" argument, but either one would do ya. Shot placement is all that really matters.

That and you can punk guys on dates when they mention their little glocks and make them feel like chumps for their plastic toys.

I know you mentioned Sigs, my boy is a Fed and his duty and off duty pistol is a Sig, a very nice pistol, didn't fit my monkey hands that well, but you are paying for the name of Sig.

I just recommend staying away from Taurus, Hi Point, and a few others. And while I despise Glocks for so many reasons, they are not a bad pistol to own. But god their ugly.

I guess I gotta ask, what do you want the pistol for? Bump in the dark nightstand? Target Practice? Do you plan on carrying it day to day, either on the body or in a purse?

Da Boss wrote:One thing I've wondered (as handguns are rare where I come from)- where would you store the gun, if it's for personal protection?

Depends on if I'm at my home or out about in the city. In the city, I'd be obeying the oddly strict concealed carry laws that Texas has for handguns (but not shotguns or rifles, go figure). In my home, I'd probably have it on a case on the top shelf well out of reach of my bratty nephews, with a loaded magazine ready in case of someone breaking into my home, but not actually inserted into the gun as a precaution against the kids.

Chowderhead wrote:

MrDwhitey wrote:

Pretty nice looking gun this.

That is a damn sexy lookin gun.

Kimber, the safe queen harleys of 1911 fan boys...

I love Kimber's, really I do, but way, way to many people drop 2 grand on one then hide it in the back of a safe and never shoot it, it makes me cry.

Sckitzo wrote:I guess I gotta ask, what do you want the pistol for? Bump in the dark nightstand? Target Practice? Do you plan on carrying it day to day, either on the body or in a purse?

Target practice with my father, and carrying it on me as personal protection.

I'd like to own a gun at some point. I need to move into my own place first and then do a bunch of research. Like seriously, all I have to go on for now is "what gun seems really cool" and that'd be a Walther PPK, IMO. Absolutely no idea what the pros and cons of a PPK are so...... like I said, research. Lots and lots of research.

Why on earth would you do that? Why hide it and not take it out for some practice at least?

Melissia wrote:FITZZ: Nice! That's a piece of history, there!

I inherited it when I turned 21, my Mother had been holding it after she and my Father divorced and she gave it to me.
I've had to have some work done to it, but it still fires like a champ...

Though for the most part my primary firearm ( as I tend to baby the Colt), is the Taurus PT92..

..

It's chambered for 9mm, but it's a damn fine pistol.

Da Boss wrote:One thing I've wondered (as handguns are rare where I come from)- where would you store the gun, if it's for personal protection?
My brother was an advocate of always (or as much as possible) having it "on you" if you have it for that reason. I've read other arguments for storing it in a gun case.
I use guns for hunting, and wouldn't be comfortable with owning one for self protection I think (I'm a klutz) but I'm interested to know what you guys think.

In the US, it's State dependent, some States require they stay locked up, some don't.

My expensive and historic pieces (I have a few rifles and such from WW2) stay in the safe, the shotgun stays by the bed and the pistol on the kitchen counter. I have no kids, and the only guests that come over know firearms and not to touch my guns without asking.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

RatBot wrote:I'd like to own a gun at some point. I need to move into my own place first and then do a bunch of research. Like seriously, all I have to go on for now is "what gun seems really cool" and that'd be a Walther PPK, IMO. Absolutely no idea what the pros and cons of a PPK are so...... like I said, research. Lots and lots of research.

For the love of god no, my Mom has one, I hate that pistol. You know that webbing in between your thumb and index finger? That area of skin right above it? Do you like it being there? If so, don't get a PPK.

Their what I consider a purse gun, great for CC but painful to shoot.




Automatically Appended Next Post:

MrDwhitey wrote:Why on earth would you do that? Why hide it and not take it out for some practice at least?

Because they cost 2k dollars are people are afraid of scratching them up

It drives me insane, I just want to adopt that poor pistol from them

Melissia wrote:

Sckitzo wrote:I guess I gotta ask, what do you want the pistol for? Bump in the dark nightstand? Target Practice? Do you plan on carrying it day to day, either on the body or in a purse?

Target practice with my father, and carrying it on me as personal protection.

1911's ain't to bad to carry, I suggest a cross breed holster if decide to on body carry (though most of my girl friends hate carrying inside the waste band, you women and your hips)

If you have a pretty fat budget, that Colt will be great, if you sell your car, buy a Kimber .45's are a bit pricey though, your dad doesn't happen to reload or anything does he?

My buddy Randall carries, and when he first started doing that he had a colt .45. He loved shooting it an all that, but he said it was just to cumbersome to carry all the time. It was even some model designed for carry I guess. He swapped it out for a lightweight 9mm and he loves to carry that one so much more. So you might want to reconsider if your planning on carrying the gun

KingCracker wrote:My buddy Randall carries, and when he first started doing that he had a colt .45. He loved shooting it an all that, but he said it was just to cumbersome to carry all the time. It was even some model designed for carry I guess. He swapped it out for a lightweight 9mm and he loves to carry that one so much more. So you might want to reconsider if your planning on carrying the gun

I carry a Beretta 90-Two in .40 http://www.beretta90two.com/ and it gets uncomfortable, it's a full sized pistol like the 1911. I started using a pocket pistol in warmed weather, but I still carry the Beretta.

He brings up a good point, a few companies do make carry variants, and I know Kimber actually makes ladies models.

No, my budget is limited. I'd probably be buying a Colt Government Model 01991, as I mentioned above. It's about 800 USD, which I consider a bit steep myself (color me poor), but it's gotten a lot of good reviews, and it's a common style with easy to replace parts and easy to find ammunition.

Colt has a shorter version, or more accurately, two of them, the O4091U and O4691 model colts .45s. The barrels are 3/4ths an inch shorter, lending to a total length of 7 3/4". Of those two, the second one is most likely, as again, I prefer the blued steel.

Well just keep in mind the comfort of it all, unless your going to open carry, then Im sure it wont matter to much
But he is also a burly guy, so maybe its a gut thing that makes it uncomfy *shrugs*

For the love of god no, my Mom has one, I hate that pistol. You know that webbing in between your thumb and index finger? That area of skin right above it? Do you like it being there? If so, don't get a PPK.

Their what I consider a purse gun, great for CC but painful to shoot.

Hm. Well, like I said. Lots of research to do.

Considering how much many handguns cost, it's almost always a good idea to research. Research it like you were buying yourself a new TV or even a new car. Your research could save your life one day.