[RossoRacer]

"You only need to shoot once with a 45"
"TWO WORLD WARS!!!!!"
"Only handgun known to double as an anti-aircraft gun"

And unlike with so many other cliche sayings, we actually know where all these came from.

..........everybody here already knew "the whole nine yards" is a P-51 Mustang reference, right?

 

[RossoRacer]

I am an old guy, no kidding. One of the phenomenons I've noted and considered over time is the 'new is better' assumption.
I presume the assumptions here are several, to wit:

"Single action cocked and locked pistols are more dangerous than double action trigger systems".
"9x19mm rounds are more better than .45 ACP rounds".
"Any design in the 22nd Century is more better than anything adopted in 1911".

I'm not so convinced. But like I said, I'm an old guy.

And what isn't always realized is that 9x19 is every bit as old as 45 auto, maybe a couple years older.

 

[RossoRacer]

I know Shoemaker took down a Grizzly bear with a 9mm. Not sure if he got an airplane yet.

The guy Ron Spomer got to chat with about using heavy hard cast lead bullets in a 9x19 Para/Luger and taking a defense shot on a grizzly in Alaska? Great story.

Also a quick internet search showed no instance of 9x19 being used to shoot down a plane, but did bring up SEVERAL links to stories about B-24 copilot Owen Baggett and his famous shot with his trusty 1911. Also an article about the history of 9x19, which was actually kinda interesting. The very name of it is apparently Latin for "prepare for war", which sounds kinda American and German at the same time. No wonder the cartridge got so popular here, haha.

 

[RossoRacer]

Too complicated? It's easier to field-strip the slide and frame apart on a Glock than on a 1911, but I'd much rather deal with what's inside that slide on a 1911 than on a Glock.

 

[RossoRacer]

Name me one other pistol that has a confirmed shoot down of an airplane, air to air. Ww2, us bomber was shot up by a Japanese plane, crew bailed out and played dead hanging by their parachutes, plane came too close and 1 guy pulled his 1911 in 45 aco, fired about 4 rounds and the plane went down. Just watched a video of this by The Fat Electrician. I won't link to it because of some of the language.

Some say the 9x19 has shot down a plane too, but I never heard of it.

 

[RossoRacer]

A lot of folks love the 1911. I'm not one. I sure do like em though.

The Glock on the other hand I have disdain for. Their chief attraction is they're so fugly you don't care when the cops take it after you shoot the crackhead intruder. Besides you can just buy parts off the internet and 3D print another one. 😉

Not as ugly as the Hi-Point though, I'll give them that. But still from the same country as one of the world's greatest automotive designers, and, well, a small man with a small moustache and a large complex of some sort.

 

[RossoRacer]

Welp, what I kinda took from it is that the 1911 is the only pistol still in production....and after that is where I get confused. What you wrote could be understood that even since the 30's it's the only one still in production or, some designs FROM the 30's AND the 1911 are still in production. It sorta has to be one or the other.

IF what you meant is the former, that of the early pistols the 1911 is the only design still in production, that is patently false. Without much thought there is two I know of, the Walther PP series and the Mauser Hsc are still in production, both of which were introduced in the 1930's.

IF what you meant is that one has to go forward from the 1911, to the 1930's to find a pistol still in production, that might be true. I say might simply because I don't know if there is any earlier designed pistols, say from the 19-teens or 1920's, still in production. I can't think of any and that's telling on my lack of knowledge of that period of firearms history.

Now, if a fella was to get off in the weeds and include all pistols and revolvers....of necessity that must delve into the entire Italian reproduction of revolvers...which is hardly pertinent.

The 1911 does seem to be the only handgun platform dating back anywhere near that old to be mass produced to anywhere near the extent it is. The SAA is still in production by Colt, but in limited numbers. The Walther and Mauser you've mentioned are, I'm guessing, kinda niche like the new production Thompsons from Auto-Ordnance. There's decent numbers of the reproductions of old revolvers from Italy like you mentioned, but again, kinda niche. The 1911 might be called niche to some as it's not a plastic 9x19, but even if you count only the examples chambered in 45 auto and only the examples that at least kinda resemble GI-spec, it still seems to have a rather decent representation compared to all the other make/model/chambering combinations out there for carry and competition.

 

[RossoRacer]

I hate to think of all the 1911s I passed up in the Pawn Shops in AK. All because my gun collecting buddy imparted his opinion that all slide guns were finicky and unreliable for self defense. Fast forward 20 years later…. While I have a bunch of cherished revolvers (S&W is my favs) I was reacquainted with 1911s by a prior US Army armorer and got my first custom build in 38 Super. Just call me “1911 addicted” Tee Hee.

Now you need a GI-spec model in 45 automatic, so you can hear a bald eagle screeching as it lands on Captain America's shield.

 

[RossoRacer]

That’s what a college degree will get you these days.

Not even that far, really.

 

[RossoRacer]

For those that think or believe that the 1911 is overrated and or outdated because it is not shiny and new. Have never trusted their lives to this frame. Have most likely never carried it and very most likely never had to present it in an incident/event or action.
Most likely these same individuals could not tell the difference as to which end of a flathead screwdrive to use, Never changed the oil in their car (if they have one) and never put air in the tires.
(except those that have a bicycle. (credit given) Most likely sit at a computer and play a fair amount on any given day to play COD in any version. They most likely can not tell the difference in the dark is it water or blood coming from your partners wound.
So I support their position to speak and offer opinions and defend it, but I disagree with their statement. The 1911 frame (in any caliber) has a history of proved performance for well over 100+ years. It has been one of the most modified firearm. All one has to do is read and listen to others. JMB was a prolific producer of firearms, M1919, M1911, the M2 and partial to the Hi Power and so many others. It is a testiment to JMB and to the 1911 platform in its many forms still today, provide a high level of service reliability and functionality in many operational areas.

Indeed, I use a GI-spec 1911A1 for 2-gun events, and it works pretty good.

 

[RossoRacer]

45 ACP is God's caliber

To be fair, 45 is a caliber, 45 Anti-Cow Projectile(more accurately 45 automatic according to Hornady's reloading handbooks) is a cartridge. But you're not far off.

 

[RossoRacer]

I don’t know how you can ask how the best pistol ever invented could be considered over rated?

Not everybody realizes that the 1911 platform is the greatest pistol ever. Which to be fair, the SAA is right up there with it.

 

[RossoRacer]

I carry a 1911 on my side everywhere I go. With 4 extra mags in mag pouches on my side.
I have used it in combat and know what it will do.
If anybody thinks that it is not any good just ask the ones that died by one in WW1, WW2 and so on.
And for those that say "But you have too reload every 8 rounds" that to me says "We need body bags for 8 dead"

Better to hit what you're aiming at with 7+1 from a steel-framed American icon than miss every time because Austrian plastic leads to more recoil, heh?

 

[RossoRacer]

You only need 15+ rounds of 9mm because it lacks the efficiency of the .45 acp! I’ll take one of my .45 or .357 rounds over a cop / gang a banger 9mm any day ☠

45 Anti-Cow Projectile according to the Fat Electrician, haha. Also called 45 automatic by Hornady and Winchester. Hornady says the 45 Automatic Colt Pistol is the pistol itself, but I've not seen anything about that when looking closer. Got into the habit of calling it 45 auto anyway though, haha.

 

[RossoRacer]

I'm thinking a 12 lbs bowling ball wouldn't feel very good 🤔

Not nearly as bad as it would if it were going 2000fps.

 

[RossoRacer]

Actually, I don't want to get hit anywhere with any projectile...

If it's going less than 20 feet per second, it shouldn't be too bad.

 

[RossoRacer]

I watch "The Fat Electrician" on YouTube. A guilty pleasure I admit. A little funny, a lot educational some adult language. Has a good video on the 1911/.45 automatic cartridge. Like a history lesson you pay attention to.

Anti-Cow Projectile. Yeah, I've seen all his videos too, unless he's uploaded one today, in which case I have some catching up to do.

 

[RossoRacer]

Unfortunately probably 95+% of those who carry a sidearm will never KNOW how many shots they need to 'end a problem' as they will NEVER use their gun in a self defense situation but regardless the average number of shots that are used in self defense is typically 3 or less.

I have read this over the years in reports of self defense scenarios.

Perhaps unfortunate that we can't know ahead of time, but a great blessing that most of us never need to find out.

 

[RossoRacer]

I'd probably grab some Tucker '48s, a 1970 Mustang Boss 429, '68 Chevelle 396, maybe a 1970 El Camino SS and a 10th Anniversary Corvette. Also a GNX.

Maybe the Glocks are to leave in the outhouse after you melt them down? Or are they to build the outhouse from?

 

[RossoRacer]

Better to take a duffel bag full of Glocks back 80 years.

I'd sooner go back and grab some pre-ban Thompson M1A1's, some golden era muscle cars, and some Browning M2's, among other things.