Other than self defense....

[azmark]

....what do you 1911 owners feel your gun is useful for?  For instance, would you consider it a viable "farm gun"?  Most of what I've heard is either about combat or high-dollar 1911s for bullseye competition.

[jhalcott]

 IF the gun is an accurate one, it will work as a "farm " gun no matter WHAT caliber it is. I have 2 .45 auto's and have used them for plinking and ground hogs occassionally.

[williamlayton]

High dollar guns mean one thing too one and another to someone else.
If you want to use the words "high dollar" consider that it means that it is well tuned, with good, solid, parts---reliable, trustworthy.
If you want a gun that is a "farm Gun" does that mean you don't care if it is reliable/trustworthy?
Blessings

[azmark]

High dollar guns mean one thing too one and another to someone else.
If you want to use the words "high dollar" consider that it means that it is well tuned, with good, solid, parts---reliable, trustworthy.
If you want a gun that is a "farm Gun" does that mean you don't care if it is reliable/trustworthy?
Blessings

Nope, by 'high dollar', I mean one that costs more than a basic, reliable, revolver...say, a S&W model 10 or a Ruger Blackhawk or GP 100.  Serviceable and reliable doesn't mean expensive.  I saw several RIA Tactical models on Guns America yesterday for less than $500.  They have sights you can actually see.  So, I guess I'd say more than $600, reliable out-of the box seems reasonable.  Something from Wilson Combat or a Springfield Loaded model is what I would call 'high' dollar.  To sum up, I guess the real question would be "Is a basic, no-frills 1911 in .45 ACP accurate enough and easy enough to shoot to be a viable alternative to the revolvers mentioned above for the purpose of being a general purpose firearm...targets, plinking, varmint control, etc.?"

Is that more specific

[John R.]

There are a few 1911's out there that would fit your specifications, but they will be "basic" no-frills 45's. If you get one of them, you'll figure out what needs changing. So I guess what I'm trying to say is, they will work out of the box, but would definitly be better "tuned".

[Wyo. Coyote Hunter]

  AZ, I bought a Para Ordance GI Expert. While I would use it for home and personal protection, chances are one of my Smiths will be lying there loaded with hollowpoint ammo for that use. I haven't shot this gun a bunch, but plan to carry it here in the hills for p. dogs close, jacks, coyotes if I ever saw one with only the .45 in hand. Honestly, I think it would be a fun gun to just have in the truck for pests and general shooting. Time will tell. I have usually 2 clips one with hollow pt. handloads and one with hardball. That is one nice thing, a guy could switch loads very quickly with the clips. One of my pals here in town loves .45's at his suggestion I went with Para, he has used them on all kinds of varmits. He used to work on some of the big ranches, and often had to travel by foot back to his truck. So he had it for both protection and varmits. It seemed to work very well. Of course like all of us, he has other pistols as well.

[Savage]

Very few 1911s available that come in under $600. There are several choices in the 600-1000 range. That's where you'll find your Springfield "Loaded"/Paras/Base Kimbers/Base STIs. To me, a "High Dollar" 1911 would be in the 2k-5k price range.
What are they useful for? -------For anything you might want to use it for. A 1911 will do anything a pistol needs to do, and do it well. You can pretty much spend as much as you like on one.
Savage

[victorcharlie]

Don't forget the Taurus PT1911.  It's a great pistol for the money IMO.

[Mikey]

"To sum up, I guess the real question would be "Is a basic, no-frills 1911 in .45 ACP accurate enough and easy enough to shoot to be a viable alternative to the revolvers mentioned above for the purpose of being a general purpose firearm...targets, plinking, varmint control, etc.?"

The S&W M10 and the Ruger GP100 are two of the best choices you can make for your purposes in a wheel gun.  A no frills 1911 is a excellent option but the design of the 1911 does not allow for the same 'out of the box' accuracy that you will find with either of the two revolvers mentioned, and the sights may be just as if not more basic than on the M10.  Caliber wise the 45 is a good field choice, but so is the 38/357 and there are more loads available in the later calibers to make the 38/357 the better choice. 

If you have/find a 1911 in 45 that shoots accurately then I believe you would have what you want.  If you feel you have to pay lots more for what you are thinking then I would go with the M10 or the GP.  JMTCW.

[docmagnum357]

I used to feel that a good revolver, in a good, heavy caliber was all i wanted from a " farm gun". I bought a "good" .45 off a freind in need, and I really don't know now.  Any handgun that will group into four inches or so at fifty yards will kill coyotes, deer, groundhogs, whatever.  As I get older, and more experienced, I don't care for mucch more than a 240 grain swc at about a thousand fps, and the 45 will bump right up on that, and usually deliver great accuracy with cast bullets, which is a problenm I have with the nine.

     I don't feel under armed with my Cz75 and some 1350 fps 115 grain handloads, either.  I think the accuracy of the handgun has more to do with my satisfaction in using it than anything.  I used a four inch model 15 Smith for a while with 200 grain swc at about 950 feet per second and was well satified with the rig until I got a four inch model 29.

     With +p loads that push a 230 hp  or tc bullet to 950 feet per second not really too hard on modern guns, accuracy generally under two inches at twenty five yards, and the ability to conceal the flat, well balanced 1911 when I go into town.....Lets just say I have sold my model 15, a model 19, and am looking to get rid of a four inch model 29.  I have not gotten rid of my 6.5" 629 classic.

[Lloyd Smale]

I carry one on me in the woods probably as much as i carrry a revolver. Loaded with 200 swc at 800 fps it will take care of most anything you need a gun for in the woods.

[Lone spur]

When it was all I could afford, I used to use a $200 Ballester Molina around the farm for feral cats.

[SHOOTALL]

can't see why not !

[henryb]

....A no frills 1911 is a excellent option but the design of the 1911 does not allow for the same 'out of the box' accuracy that you will find with either of the two revolvers mentioned, and the sights may be just as if not more basic than on the M10.  Caliber wise the 45 is a good field choice, but so is the 38/357 and there are more loads available in the later calibers to make the 38/357 the better choice.... JMTCW.

That right there is a classic statement !

AND, I own a couple 1911 style guns.  But I have more revolvers.

I for the life of me cannot remember where I read the following statement but it is also a classic.

"The only interesting guns are the accurate ones"

[Wyo. Coyote Hunter]

 ;)Henry, the quote you remember was by Col. Whelen, it was only accurate rifles are interesting, but you are right, only accurate guns are interesting.

[teddy12b]

To sum up, I guess the real question would be "Is a basic, no-frills 1911 in .45 ACP accurate enough and easy enough to shoot to be a viable alternative to the revolvers mentioned above for the purpose of being a general purpose firearm...targets, plinking, varmint control, etc.?"

Consider this, realistically hitting a varmint at 50 yards with a handgun for most people is going to be a tough shot.  If you practice, yeah a 1911 of any make is going to be good enough for a knock around farm gun.  I'm not trying to change your mind, but if I had a farm (hopefully someday) I'd use a 22magnum as my farm gun.  They are cheap guns, ammo will be cheaper someday, and it's good on little varmints out to 150 yards.  Just another option for you to consider because the farmers I talk to never get close enough to be able to pull off a handgun shot.  Out of your choices, I'd prefer a gp100 but that's because I really miss the one I used to have and it was a tack driver.

[Joshua M. Smith]

I use the 1911 for whatever needs doin'.  The only thing that changes are the loads.

Around here, I use 230gn LRN cast reloads, and most times when I go out, I'm carrying factory Hydra-Shoks, though I've headed out so fast that I've not worried about switching over to the Hydra-Shoks.

That's the beauty of the thing:  The 1911 in .45acp will take care of most of what needs taken care of, regardless of ammo.  That's not to say it's a magic round, but rather that it hits hard for a handgun but usually doesn't overpenetrate, even with ball.

There's also something cool about carrying a pistol you've built or modified yourself.

Josh <><

[LCR]

  On the farm, my grandpa had three guns- a 22Lr that we used to pop cattle in the head for butchering, a 22 magnum if the bulls skull was too thick and a 30/30 for the real nasty ones. That's 2,000 LBS of beef. What kind of killing you need done?