1911's are addictive..... (pistols, best, cheap, range) - Handguns, shotguns, rifles, etc. - City-Data Forum

TexasRedneck · 07-12-2012, 11:34 PM

So, went by a friend's range today - she's working with the local Friends of NRA committee, as well as bein' their FFL. So she goes in the back, and comes back out with two sweet special-edition .45's - one Kimber, the other a Colt polished SS w/their new "diamond plate" slide, etc.....

I'm now in the process of unloadin' some spare AR's and such to raise enough to make a serious run at both of 'em next week.....anyone got $6-8k layin' around they wanna let me play with?!??

hidigger · 07-13-2012, 12:34 AM

I would not pay that much for a 45 unless it was a collectible colt. My 1943 Colt is worth around 2500, and I paid 700 for my SS colt government. Put maybe another 125 into it for a nice Wilson BT, and a Kimber style ambi safety and a colt commander hammer. Put the short colt SS trigger on it. I hate the long triggers. Shoots like a dream. For me if it ain't a colt its a copy.

iknowftbll · 07-13-2012, 04:23 AM

I don't own anything that is worth a great huge sum of money, just a few pieces that I believe are really nice and I enjoy shooting. I don't know if I can call myself a "gun collector" because so far everything I own has a specific mission/purpose in mind. But if I were to call my shot from here, I'd say that I would be in the future. I think the difference is that gun collectors pick out pieces simply to have, not necessarily to shoot.

Am I right?

TexasRedneck · 07-13-2012, 01:33 PM

That's pretty much it - and understanding the mission of the Friends of NRA. I'm committee chair for my local group, and got to serve on the Grant Committee this year. We handed out $423,000 in direct grants to LEO organizations, youth shooting sports groups, etc.

The FNRA is a 501(c)3 organization with an overall overhead of 4-6% - a LOT higher than about any other charitable group I know of. That means the majority of funds raised are directly returned to the beneficiaries - and I like that. It also means that whatever I pay for something over its' fair market value is tax deductible - so the two .45's I bought last year for a combined total of $6500 not only meant some serious $$$ to benefit the FNRA-backed programs, but I got a pretty nice tax deduction, as well.

The other part I really like is that by charter, 50% of the net proceeds are split - half to national in support of the national educational programs, and the other half to the region that raised it (there are 3 regions in Texas). Each committee sends a representative to decide how the funds will be divvied up among the qualified grant applicants - that way, not only do we get to keep a nice chunk of that money local, WE get to decide who it goes to!

So....that's the long way around to saying why some of the stuff I'll buy, it doesn't bother me to spend the $$$ I do. Most of the guns I buy at the events are limited edition guns, but some aren't - either way, everyone wins, and I end up with some interesting firearms.

lifelongMOgal · 07-13-2012, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TexasRedneck

So, went by a friend's range today - she's working with the local Friends of NRA committee, as well as bein' their FFL. So she goes in the back, and comes back out with two sweet special-edition .45's - one Kimber, the other a Colt polished SS w/their new "diamond plate" slide, etc.....

I'm now in the process of unloadin' some spare AR's and such to raise enough to make a serious run at both of 'em next week.....anyone got $6-8k layin' around they wanna let me play with?!??

If you are playin' $6-8K for two 1911's with her I'm certain I can find two to sell you for $5k.

TexasRedneck · 07-13-2012, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lifelongMOgal

If you are playin' $6-8K for two 1911's with her I'm certain I can find two to sell you for $5k.

Limited Editions, tax deductible AND going for a good cause - that part ya ain't gonna be able to match!

ElkHunter · 07-14-2012, 12:42 AM

Yes, 1911's are addictive. I've got to say that my $450 Springfield does a fair to middlin job. Course, it's been fine tuned, a bit. It holds a good group. It's probably the best and most accurate gun I have ever owned. So a person doesn't have to spend a bundle, if they don't want to. I'll also say that I've shot a lot of .45's and this gun is an exception. Every now and then you luck out. Of course, Doc Young helped a bit when he fine tuned it.

TexasRedneck · 07-14-2012, 09:03 AM

Absolutely, ElkHunter - a couple of my daily carry guns are Armscor, RIA and High Standard, any of which I trust 100%. I also carry Sigs, Wilsons, Ed Browns, etc - some are "BBQ guns", others are simply expensive .45's that I like and trust. With the kids all grown and gone, and everything but the house paid for, I've got some pretty interesting "play money" - and if you buy 'em right, a gun will hold its' value better than about anything else you can buy. Besides - there's just something about the 1911 platform that intriques me.....

TrapperL · 07-14-2012, 09:20 AM

I can only assume that Colt must be extra special. That Kimber isn't worth crap and never will be. As a 45 effectionado you already know that Kimbers are grossly over rated. I'd tell you about the one I bought that I had them go back thru it at their "custom shop" but I'd probably get banded for the bad language. Needless to say I have a Kimber that was well over a grand that I've had to spend money on at my smitty just to get it to shoot accurate enough that you can hit yer truck at 50 yds with it. A cheap crap Rock Island does better. It still needs a trigger job as their "custom shop" target trigger is the absolute worst of all of my pistols. Loads of creep. I'd skip the Kimber garbage and run with the Colt. The Colt Gov'T Special Combat in 38 Super I have is one fine pistol. Hard to beat the folks that have been making them a hundred years.

titaniummd · 07-14-2012, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TexasRedneck

So, went by a friend's range today - she's working with the local Friends of NRA committee, as well as bein' their FFL. So she goes in the back, and comes back out with two sweet special-edition .45's - one Kimber, the other a Colt polished SS w/their new "diamond plate" slide, etc.....

I'm now in the process of unloadin' some spare AR's and such to raise enough to make a serious run at both of 'em next week.....anyone got $6-8k layin' around they wanna let me play with?!??

Most of that money in excess of the gun value is for the NRA.

Who can resist buying a 1911?

Go for it!!!!