You’re probably all getting sick of my constant whining about the changeover from my Springfield .45 ACP 1911 to the Browning High Power 9mm Europellet, but it’s my website and I get to decide what gets posted here.
And I have a sneaking suspicion that more than a few of you assholes Loyal Readers are getting Schadenboners from seeing me grappling with adopting a chambering I’ve always decried as puny, inadequate etc. etc.
So one of the suggestions I got was to get a 1911-style gun in 9mm, but to get a quality piece rather than an expensive one. Okay, let’s look at one such option, the Wilson Combat EDC (such as carried by Bill Wilson his own self):
I have to admit, that’s not a bad-looking little piece, despite that frame color best described as “vintage sputum”. However, I see that this EDC costs nearly $3,500 second-hand… quickly now, Prissy, hand me mah smellin’ salts.
Errr no. For under $2,000 I could get this paragon of second-hand 9mm effectiveness instead:
…and it comes with a competition-grade trigger.
But even that’s too much for my near-empty wallet / bank account.
No, I guess I’ll just have to snuffle through the bottom of the barrel like some bad-tempered boar…
Update: It turns out that all the above is just pointless persiflage.
Shortly after writing this post, I got a call from the Son&Heir out of the blue. Apparently, he too is sick of all my whining, so he’s going to take the High Power (and all the 9mm ammo) and return my Springfield 1911 (and all the .45 ammo). If he doesn’t like shooting the BHP after a few months’ practice, he’s going to sell/trade it and buy something he prefers — probably a Springfield 1911, knowing him — and if he does, I’ve promised to give him all my 230gr ammo (don’t even ask how much that is, but he probably won’t need to buy more for the next 30-odd years).
And I’ll be loading my 1911 with 185gr. ammo: WWB cheapies for practice and for carry purposes, this lovely stuff which loads infallibly into the Springfield, and doesn’t beat me up as badly as 230gr FMJ.
And if I end up buying as much Tylenol as ammo… well, that’s all just part of getting old and I’ll just have to deal with it. Whatever.
So the universe has returned to normal, the sun has stopped rising in the west, and Kim has been restored to his comfortable place.
Some changes are just too much to bear, and this proved to be one of them.
Operative word is “Heir”. He knows he’ll likely get it back eventually.
Amen
I enjoyed reading about your decision making on what to do for a carry gun. I’m a few years behind you so I was learning from your writings.
The 9mm 1911 style pistol from Ruger has been consistently been getting good reviews. I believe Rob Leatham from Springfield Armory has been shooting a 1911 style in 9mm for years. I’ve kept 9mm on hand for the missus. Her M&P 9c is very enjoyable to shoot and one of hers that needs to make it to my side of the locker.
JQ
Will the Hi-Power be advertised here first?
I will entertain all offers starting at $850, price to include a few mags.
Email if interested.
How about getting hold of a gently used Smith & Wesson Model 39-2?
Looks like your beloved 1911 & the BHP.
I found what I think is my ideal carry pistol on GB and bought it immediately. I’d been looking for a Colt CCO, but they’ve stopped (at least for now) making them. That’s a 1911A1 in .45 ACP, with an Officer’s size frame (7 round magazines from Wilson Combat) and a Commander-length (4.25″) barrel.
Sig Sauer made the “C3″, which was the equivalent of that, with an aluminum frame and stainless barrel/slide. The only drawback was a Series 80-style trigger, but mine was excellent right out of the box. I put 700 rounds through it of every type of ammo I could find from every magazine I had bought for my Springfield Micro V10 and it ate them flawlessly with only two exceptions, both failures to feed from one out of 24 magazines tried…needless to say that magazine didn’t make it home from the range after being flattened under a boot.
I no longer tilt to one side when I’m walking and my back/hip pain has (mostly) gone away…that pistol is so light compared to my old Springer SST Micro that I sometimes have to double-check that I’m fully dressed. The other aspect is that it’s amazingly easy to shoot after the 3” Officer’s barrel/slide that recoil/report isn’t an issue despite the increasing effect of age and arthritis. Utterly reliable, lightweight, in JMB’s (PBUH) own caliber of .45, and holding 7+1 rounds…15 total with a spare mag. If you can find one, new or used, I highly recommend one, even if just as an alternate to your full-sized all-steel one.
Excuse me if I seem a bit naïve but perhaps a compromise is in order.
Is there an affordable carry piece in 10mm (other than Glock, of course) that you might consider?
It’s bigger than the 9mm Europellet yet not quite as punishing as a .45.
Sell the High Power, buy a CZ 75 PCR, and send it off to Cajun Gun Works. Best of both worlds.
I have a Rock Island in 9mm – one of the fancier ones with adjustable sight, beavertail and ambi safety. It’s a nice, competent 1911, much nicer than the price would suggest.
Well, I’m glad you’re happy! But a Wilson combat gun? I can’t for the life of me understand why you didn’t just grab a Springfield Garrison in 9 mm, about $800 street. It’s almost like you really didn’t WANT to find a 9mm solution. You did everything you could to talk yourself out of it. Anyway, you’re sticking with what you know and love and that’s not a bad thing.
I know it’s too late, but thought to remind you that there’s a Sig P210 Carry. I almost bought one, but it’s not lefty friendly.
If even 185 grain bullets get to be too painful, do check out these little puppies. Light for caliber, so high velocity, but still excellent wound cavities and performance little affected by drywall or heavy clothing. It’s good stuff: Lehigh Defense Xtreme Defense. I’ve seen some tests showing that it actually makes .380 ACP almost a decent self-defense round, which even little old ladies with arthritis can easily handle. Just saying.