Joined
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2,110 Posts
Hello.
As I begin this, I "know" what I want to say, but am not sure if it'll come out right! I do NOT want it to sound like I'm bashing other type handguns. That is neither the point nor the intent.
I've read and heard others opine that the day of the 1911 and P35 are over and that while they "were good guns in their day," they are now "obsolete." While it was never stated directly, I THINK that these folks are really trying to say that they think the single-action autopistol is out of date. Mostly, I hear this from the younger guys. It strikes me that they think holding more rounds than the HP's normal 14 in 9mm or the 1911's (.45ACP)
8 (or 9) and having either a double-action for the first shot or some other kind of action makes the gun better and they go on about how "there's no safety to fumble" on some when compared to our favorites.
To me, single-action "cocked and locked" carry is perfectly safe and I've NEVER seen one go off all by itself. I've personally been in several "deadly force scenarios" where the pistol (either a Browning or a 1911) came out and was about to be fired when my opponent immediately ceased doing that for which he was about to be shot. (In one case, three of them.) I am sure that I'm NOT the most seasoned "gun fighter" around, yet I had no problems!
On several occassions, I have watched some of these fellows shooting at the police range where I worked. When trying for accuracy or if allowed during qualification courses, they uniformly cocked the pistol for its "obsolete" single-action qualities that we get from shot number one! One notable exception was a fellow sergeant who liked the Glock 17. Over the years, that guy practiced. He not only had the desire to be a really "poison" shooter, but the will to do the work required!
In the back of my mind, I keep noting that the purpose of the handgun is to launch a specific projectile to a given target. To me, nothing has come along in the semiauto to better the single-action automatic in that regard.
While I kind of think that the guy has a puffed up opinion of himself, Massad Ayoob, once remarked, "We tend to stay with what we started with." Perhaps that's part of it? I started with single-action semis because that was what was there unless one wanted an S&W M39 or a P38 Walther.
Anyway, what is your opinion of these two premier single-action pistols as being obsolete? I know that I do not and will continue to use, trust, and depend upon my Hi Powers and ".45 automatics" until something truly "better" comes along. I strongly suspect that where learned men go into harm's way and have a choice, either of these two are likely to be there.
Best.
As I begin this, I "know" what I want to say, but am not sure if it'll come out right! I do NOT want it to sound like I'm bashing other type handguns. That is neither the point nor the intent.
I've read and heard others opine that the day of the 1911 and P35 are over and that while they "were good guns in their day," they are now "obsolete." While it was never stated directly, I THINK that these folks are really trying to say that they think the single-action autopistol is out of date. Mostly, I hear this from the younger guys. It strikes me that they think holding more rounds than the HP's normal 14 in 9mm or the 1911's (.45ACP)
8 (or 9) and having either a double-action for the first shot or some other kind of action makes the gun better and they go on about how "there's no safety to fumble" on some when compared to our favorites.
To me, single-action "cocked and locked" carry is perfectly safe and I've NEVER seen one go off all by itself. I've personally been in several "deadly force scenarios" where the pistol (either a Browning or a 1911) came out and was about to be fired when my opponent immediately ceased doing that for which he was about to be shot. (In one case, three of them.) I am sure that I'm NOT the most seasoned "gun fighter" around, yet I had no problems!
On several occassions, I have watched some of these fellows shooting at the police range where I worked. When trying for accuracy or if allowed during qualification courses, they uniformly cocked the pistol for its "obsolete" single-action qualities that we get from shot number one! One notable exception was a fellow sergeant who liked the Glock 17. Over the years, that guy practiced. He not only had the desire to be a really "poison" shooter, but the will to do the work required!
In the back of my mind, I keep noting that the purpose of the handgun is to launch a specific projectile to a given target. To me, nothing has come along in the semiauto to better the single-action automatic in that regard.
While I kind of think that the guy has a puffed up opinion of himself, Massad Ayoob, once remarked, "We tend to stay with what we started with." Perhaps that's part of it? I started with single-action semis because that was what was there unless one wanted an S&W M39 or a P38 Walther.
Anyway, what is your opinion of these two premier single-action pistols as being obsolete? I know that I do not and will continue to use, trust, and depend upon my Hi Powers and ".45 automatics" until something truly "better" comes along. I strongly suspect that where learned men go into harm's way and have a choice, either of these two are likely to be there.
Best.