Citadel's are hit or miss. Go to 1911forum.com and you will get all the answers. Personnally I would buy a used Springfield(even thou they are made in Brazil) than anything out of the Phillipines.Rock Island Armory is another one that is either hit or miss. Maybe look at the Remmington line of 1911s atleast you know you have some kind of factory backed service.
The Guns We Own
- Thread starter ccheese
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mikewint
Captain
RA, I am with Torch on this one. I have the XDm .45 and I love it. It comes with the match barrel and I had night sights installed and picked up a green laser which allows me to put most of the 13 rounds in the heart/gut zone of the target. Personally it is much better than my old army colt. For your wife, Ruger has a very nice 9mm with factory laser sights that is small compact and very easy to aim and fire. S&W also has a somewhat smaller .380 (the Bodyguard)also with factory laser sights that is an easy concealed carry gun (gun shops here can't keep them in stock). Load hollow point and you've got a man stopper, though not like the .45.
Here in Ark at a gun show the .380 and 9mm went for about $400 each
Here in Ark at a gun show the .380 and 9mm went for about $400 each
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RabidAlien
1st Lieutenant
Thanks, guys...yeah, 1911forum was one of the sites I found via Google. The general consensus there was that the gun itself was decent, pretty darn good for the price, but to pick up some reliable after-market mags for it since the supplied mags were crap. Mike, I have nothing against my Springfield XD (9mm), its the only handgun I own right now, and it feels good to fire, but it seemed a whole lot stiffer to me. The slide spring was a lot stiffer, the slide lock almost required two hands (I'm not Lou Ferrigno by any means, but I'm also not Barney Fife)...it does have ambidextrous mag release buttons, though, which I really like since I'm cross-eye dominant, so sometimes I'll get to the end of a mag and realize I'm shooting lefty. So much easier to just reach whatever thumb is closest and pop the mag out. The Citadel, by comparison, was smooth. Everything was easy and really well oiled, and I REALLY liked the feel. I'll have to see if some of the other ranges/shops nearby have any of the Springfields.
And we've got mags loaded with hollow-point in the guns right now, so 9mm or no, they'll feel it.
And we've got mags loaded with hollow-point in the guns right now, so 9mm or no, they'll feel it.
I asked my LGS about Citadel's and they barely knew anything about them, they seem to have relatively good luck with Rock Island brand(in the same price range as Citadel's) but just FYI it took them 8 months to replace a defective slide on one. They recommended looking at a used Springfield in the 500/600 dollar range and you will be much better off which is what I mentioned. Good luck.
Just FYI the slide release can be operated in 2 ways,either by trying to depress the lever or using the "slingshot" method. Slide releases can be also called slide locks which keeps the slide open on the last round. When a new mag is inserted people sometimes try to use the slide release/lock lever which can be difficult. It is easier sometimes to just grab the slide and yank it back and it will feed a new round much easier .
RabidAlien
1st Lieutenant
Kewl, we'll keep our eyes open. I swear I'm gonna get her to a gun show one of these days! And yeah, I just do the "grab and yank" method now. That's so much easier than trying to thumb down the lock!
mikewint
Captain
RA, I wish I could give you better info on the Cit but personally know nothing about them. PM Matt. Before I bought the .45 XDm I was looking at Glocks so I PMed Matt and he gave me a great deal of help
For a 9mm carry you can go alot of ways, the S&W MP series, the Ruger SR9, or if you can get your hands on the new Walther PPQ to try(I have one on lay away) are all great guns. I personnaly do not like Glocks, not because of performance issues but my trigger finger rubs raw on the bottom of the trigger guard, The new FNs are pretty reasonable also. The thing about EMPS they are single action only which means your wife would have to carry the EMP cocked and locked which can be intimidating for some people. Best thing to do is find a range that can rent guns so you can try the fit of them. Most guns now days are very reliable and pretty accurate,just a matter of what fits the best.
RabidAlien
1st Lieutenant
Kewl, thanks again to both of y'all! The indoor range we use has a lot of guns for rent, next time we head thataway she's going to try the AR15 on for size, and we'll see if they have a Springfield EMP. Good info about the SA on that, Torch, I didn't know that.
mikewint
Captain
Mugh finger stuttered
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mikewint
Captain
RA, Torch is 100%, though there are many issues of fit, finish, and continued reliability. One other piece of advice, with the smaller .380 or 9mm guns. I load a hollow point followed by a FMJ followed by a hollow, FMJ,... If you miss on the first round and your target hides behind something you have your next round FMJ to penetrate, and if he pops up the next is hollow...
Though for home defense: shotguns. I have a 20 gauge auto w/000 buck and a .410 w/000 buckshot
Though for home defense: shotguns. I have a 20 gauge auto w/000 buck and a .410 w/000 buckshot
mikewint
Captain
RA and others, My personal choices for concealed carry. The small, .380 S&W Bodyguard with laser, 6 round mag with alternating hollow and FMJ. My personal carry the somewhat larger 9mm Ruger also with laser, 7 round mag also loaded with alternating hollow and FMJ.
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mikewint
Captain
mikewint
Captain
Now if you want to reachout and touch someone or thing at 400-600 yards. A Marlin 30-30 with 9X variable wide angle scope. I like the lever action as opposed to bolt and Marlin has the micro-groove rifeing' The rounds are 170 grain soft-nose and come in 4 types depending on when you want them to mushroom. I use the thin skin game (deer) and thick (elk, bear)
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MacArther
Staff Sergeant
Me likey the lever action!
mikewint
Captain
Same here, plus Marlin has the side eject unlike Winchester 94's top eject. The short carbine is much easier to carry and maneuver in the woods and brush. Though around here I have 10-20 deer in my backyard every morning and evening
RabidAlien
1st Lieutenant
Nice! For us cross-eye-dominant shooters, the lever action would be great! No awkward moving the rifle around the face to work the bolt! Nice!
GrauGeist
Generalfeldmarschall zur Luftschiff Abteilung
I like my Winchester 94 .30-30, but I never really use it, to be honest...for a lever gun, I prefer my .300 Savage 
mikewint
Captain
I really liked the 94 too but that top eject makes mounting a scope difficult and the off-set mount is very clumsy for me to use. With just the iron sights I'd be lucky to hit the house. The biggest game here is elk but the permits are expensive, few, and by lottery. There is one range that goes out to 700yds. At 400yds I almost always hit the target but the bullseye is pretty much by chance
RabidAlien
1st Lieutenant
Heh. At 400 yards, if someone were to give me a flesh-wound, I think I'd call it a day. I'll take my HelloKitty bandage and go home, I'm not gonna push my luck for another 375 yards, hoping you don't find that bulls-eye! I'd say hitting the target at that range is still pretty darn good.
