Advice on buying some Pistols

[Magna]

Quote from AAAintheBeltway:

Some .45s wil jam with hollow points. They were originally designed to fire only full metal jacket, ie ball, ammo. A gunsmith can remedy the problem by machining the feed ramp, ie the part the shell slides on when it transitions from the mag to the chamber. Most high end 1911's today come with a feed ramp that will handle hollow points, but I would certainly want to fire a lot of them through the gun at the range to make sure.

The problem with using ball ammo as a home defense load is our old bugaboo, overpenetration. A full metal jacket round will tend to penetrate more than a hollow point.

Good points. Original military 1911's would often jam with JHP (hollow point) ammo, but modern day 1911's generally work fine. However, you should break in your firearm with FMJ (ball) ammo as it's a lot cheaper and easier on the feed ramp. Stick with brass casings which are found on most name brands such as Federal, Winchester, Remington, etc. (ie, Russian ammo is usually steel-cased, basic Blazer ammo is aluminum-cased).

After a few hundred rounds and your pistol is broken in then start sampling some quality JHP defense ammo to make sure there are no feed issues. Shouldn't have a problem with most of the good stuff (ie, Speer Gold Dot, Winchester Ranger, Remington Golden Saber, Hornady Critical Defense, Federal HST, etc.) but it's always a good idea to run a few boxes thru just to make sure. And, as AAA mentioned, you generally don't want to use FMJ ammo for defense due to over-penetration issues along with ricocheting. Hollow points are the way to go when you get to that stage.

 

[Lucrum]

Quote from Wallet:

Standard 230 grain Ball ammo. Hollow points will tend to jam, you can have the port polished which will help with this issue is you fell the need to load HP's. I have had jamming issues using 185 grain ball with mine, Kimber (custom classic, series 1), don't really understand the reasons I just know I have to load 230 ball for optimal performance, probably has something to do with my grip.

Also, use Kimber mags.

The Colt .45 I purchased in the 80's would sometimes jam with hollow points. I'm under the impression though it's less of an issue with newer and higher quality models. Baron got a Kimber so I'd be surprised if feeding is going to be an issue for him.

I posted a link earlier on preferred defense ammo. For practice 230 FMJ is certainly adequate and normally less expensive. Although I chose a round that's has good reviews for use as a defense round AND is inexpensive enough to practice with. My thought being practicing with the same ammo I carry can't hurt.

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/AMM5153-1.html

 

[wolfpack]

Never really thought I'd ever need a gun. Now I'm thinking, it never hurts to be well protected. As long as I know how to work the safety and I don't play around at inapropriate times... should be fine right?

 

[Baron]

Thanks for the info everybody. I just bought 1000 rounds of 230 gr FMJ from luckygunner.com.

 

[BSAM]

Quote from wolfpack:

Never really thought I'd ever need a gun. Now I'm thinking, it never hurts to be well protected. As long as I know how to work the safety and I don't play around at inapropriate times... should be fine right?

Hmmm...You may not be ready yet, Wolfie. Best look into a weapons instruction class.

 

[Lucrum]

Quote from Baron:

... I just bought 1000 rounds of 230 gr FMJ...

Spoken like a true gun owner.

 

[Hombre]

Quote from wolfpack:

Never really thought I'd ever need a gun. Now I'm thinking, it never hurts to be well protected. As long as I know how to work the safety and I don't play around at inapropriate times... should be fine right?

Just buy a revolver, aim and squeeze.Very simple.
Good quality revolver costs less than $450 and the .
380 hollow point will knock down pretty much everyone.

 

[PAPA ROACH]

Which Kimber model did you wind up with Baron?

I bought this one about a year ago- http://www.kimberamerica.com/1911/compact-ii-pro-carry-ii/stainless-pro-tle-rl-ii

 

[Baron]

Sweet! I ended up with http://www.kimberamerica.com/1911/eclipse-ii/eclipse-pro-target-ii

 

[PAPA ROACH]

Good choice Baron, steel frame and slide rather than the aluminum frame with steel slide. Was warned not to sacrifice the steel frame for a lighter pistol; Ed Vandenberg, top notch 1911 smith/expert. I use mine as carry and it feels completely comfy, not too heavy or bulky, of course I am fit too, so I don't have to bury it inside a flab of fat!

My fav thing about my Kimber is the tritium nightsights.................so cool in the dark.

Enjoy it, go shoot a couple hundred rounds through it, clean it, shoot a couple hundred more and clean it again before placing it "in service" for personal protection.