[Kevin Gibson]

I recall 7 or 8 years ago when I was doing some writing for FMG that American Handgunner did a little poll that I thought was interesting. They polled all of the popular writers for their publications to see what they all carried for a concealed weapon as a primary and a backup. I wanna say all but one chose a 1911 as a primary, and I don’t recall anyone choosing something other than a J frame S&W as a BUG.

These days I hear most shooting schools recommend against the 1911, so I wonder if AH did a poll of reputable gun-riters, what it would look like today.

 

[Snake45]

I wonder if AH did a poll of reputable gun-riters, what it would look like today.

I imagine the majority would be Glocks or Glock-ish guns of one sort or another.

And I'll bet the "Wondernine," the darling of the '80s, would be completely MIA. :-?

 

[SpecialEd]

>>>>>>>

And I'll bet the "Wondernine," the darling of the '80s, would be completely MIA. :-?

I imagine there would be a few SIGs and maybe even some "compact" Berettas.

 

[Snake45]

I imagine there would be a few SIGs and maybe even some "compact" Berettas.

You might be right. The SIG hangs on. The Beretta, not quite so much in my experience. But you'd prolly be hard pressed to find a Smith 39/59 series, or a CZ-75, or anything else of that once-favored class.

 

[SpecialEd]

I'd take a CZ-75 any day. Always wanted to have one in my arsenal, especially one of the newer compact models. But that's just me and I'm not a writer or reputable.

 

[William R. Moore]

I don't recall the survey being primary and backup, but then I'm a geezer. Lotta J frames, but then even El Jefe carried a 60 when in a suit.

I also recall an article some years (decades?) back where there was an after match meal with most of the major competitors of the time at the table. When asked what they were carrying, the reply was one guy (the writer) with a 1911, one or two 36/60s and the rest ..........nothing.

 

[IrishCop]

These days I hear most shooting schools recommend against the 1911, so I wonder if AH did a poll of reputable gun-riters, what it would look like today.

So why are most shooting schools recommending against the 1911?

I do think that it takes more training and commitment to be safe and effective with the ol' warhorse, but for the life of me, I can't think of another semi-auto pistol that "fits" more peoples hands than it does.

It is my primary on and off duty weapon, though I readily admit to carrying several different revolvers off and on, depending.

Hell, I'll admit it... I'm a regular gun slut.

 

[William R. Moore]

The last time I answered that question I got threatened with boiling feathers and plucked tar. Frankly, most regular folks don't buy the 1911 except as a period piece/pride of posession thing.

Mas has commented in print that while it may be a good, even great, gunfighting tool, it's a lousy crisis intervention device. Being polite, there have been a whole lot of advances in materials, the understanding of how the human body works and making tools fit the way we work. Picture a lot of the folks you know who shoot. Now, imagine them behind you in a high intensity armed situation with a 1911 and a light trigger. If that doesn't give you pause, I don't know what will.

Put in the words of another instructor: "Would you rather have a 1955 Chevy or a new 'Vette for a daily driver?"

 

[IrishCop]

I see your point, and I have no tar boiling or feathers gathered.

But there have been LOTS of documented ND's with "safe action" type pistols over the years, and a lot of them by "trained" personnel.

Oh well.

But not to drift this thread too much (sorry Kevin), I would bet that most of the gunriters today probably carry a J frame or similar, or one of the scaled down 9 mm or .40 cal semi's that have come out in the last few years.

 

[Diamondback]

Well, I'm no writer, and I'm one of those Bitter 1911 Clingers... but I do so because the 1911 just happens to fit my hand just right--Glocks don't point right for me (even the latest more customizable ones), and I find firing a Beretta 92 a painfully bad fit. (And I prefer mine to have a 5-6# trigger.)

It's not a formal rule, but in general wouldn't everybody agree that one of the most important things is to know your own biomechanics and make sure you carry something that fits?

 

[William R. Moore]

I most certainly did not mention the safe action marque and for damn good reason. They lead the world in ND/UD events. However, what ever else they may lack (and that list is looong) they share a short, comparatively (especially if someone has screwed with the factory parts) light trigger with the 1911. I'll also grant that many folks who buy them lack both initial and sustainment training-and this includes LE.

I expect you're right on carry pieces, Irish.

Diamondback, you're assuming entirely too much from the 'rush to get a gun to make us safe' crowd. If you read the repititious posts on various boards asking basic questions it'd make you sick.

I belatedly recall that a distinct lack of reliability is another issue with recent 1911s. Not having recent direct experience, I'm not sure if this is operator error, lack of technique or bad parts or what. All of the above? Many recent models have the fit of finely tuned target guns (it sells and helps justify the prices), which may not be all that good a thing in the real world.

I don't recall the name of the long ago gent who opined that the printing press had caused many who were formerly believed to be wise to put thought to paper and thereby destroy their reputation. Good thing he didn't live to see the rise of the internet.

Apologies to Kevin on thread drift. I will admit that if you briefed me on the exact tactical problem, I just might choose a 1911 for that specific problem given the thousands of rounds I've put through them. Since self defense is a come-as-you-are affair, I'll take something else, thank you very much.

 

[stand watie]

William R Moore,

As I write for a couple of WV semi-weeklies and a south TX "outdoors bi-weekly", I guess that I'm (technically at least) a "gun-writer" and my "little brother-of-the-heart", C. E. Harris, writes for several major gun publications so what we carry is:
1. Ed carries a S&W Model 25 or a S&W 1917 revolver unless he's "dressed up" & is wearing my little Cobra, OTB.
(YEP, "little brother" Ed is large enough to CCW a Model 1917 S&W, as to quote Rick: "Ed is LITTLER than a BUICK or a Grizzly Bear, after all.")
2. I have within reach 24/365 my beloved Sig-Sauer P6/P225, which is compact/flat/reasonably light for a SA.
(I carry it in an OLD, heavy-duty, Tex Shoemaker OTB holster, btw.)

yours, sw

 

[t-star]

I may be funny, but I've always been of the notion that your back-up gun should be a duplicate of your carry rig, maybe just not as fancy- that being said , my current is a tokarev, mostly b/c it doesn't "print" on a sportcoat- damned thing is only about 1-1.5 inches wide- and it hits like a brick- 30 cal mauser, for those of u that don't know- trouble is it's got a traktor pull for a trigger
and when the cops come calling- looks like Russian mafia