Of Four, Two Were 1911s
After over a month of absence, I now finally have a moment to report on a somewhat startling self-realization. While in the midst of my own somewhat messy divorce situation at present and as I was leaving the large home that I lived in, I had the opportunity to grab some clothing and, of my many firearms, just four of them. The long guns and a bit of ammunition were an easy and expected choice. A folding stock AK-47 in a "sneaky bag" from One Source Tactical, since I'd recently taken the Advanced Kalashnikov Gunfighting class from none other than Gabe Suarez himself. I feel very confident with the AK, and with 5 magazines total, can take care of a problem out here in the woods where I now live. A 200 yard shot out here would be almost impossible given the timber and underbrush, and the AK is easy to have close at hand.
Next I reached for my newest firearm, a Mossberg 930 riot gun. This thing just plain works. One can pour buckshot at a problem, so I wanted it for around the little house here - thinking to use it in case of coyotes or other critters that were foaming at the mouth and wandering about in the daytime. It is not as heavy as it looks but it is somewhat large and of course, 12 gauge ammunition is heavy.
Then I surprised myself. I took my Glock 19 and appendix carry holster and threw them and the two spare magazines into my (well, soon to be her) gun safe. Instead of that pistol, I grabbed a Jackass shoulder holster rig from Galco with a Combat Commander and then my spare Colt Government model 1911 with a big handful of Wilson Combat magazines all loaded with Cor-Bon DPX ammunition. Once I had my little Jeep moving forever away from that house where I had lived the last five years of my life, I realized what I had done. The Glock I used in several Suarez International classes, the appendix carry holster I have had on me for the past three plus years, those were now gone (forever). Why had I reached in that safe and latched onto a pair of 1911s when I have not even carried the big steel guns in years?
I discussed this with "Winchester67" (on the Warrior Talk forum). He said he had also gone back to a 1911 some months ago but really didn't know why. Tradition, he speculated. Or our age - both in the late 40s - and the 1911 just kind of calls to us old guys. As I have been working around this house, cleaning and fixing it up (it had been vacant for several years), I notice that I can pack a 1911 under one arm, a couple spare mags under the other arm, and none of it gets in the way while I am working, lifting or hauling. No, it's not fast to draw from, but I'm not in a potentially dangerous area either. With the driveway here which pretty much takes a four wheel drive to navigate, it's unlikely I'll be surprised. I have quit drinking completely, so I'm not around taverns with any other stupid drunks looking for fights. I'm just out here in the quiet woods.
Why leave the Glock and take the 1911? I think because in my mind, despite what I read and study and discuss, the big 1911 in 45 ACP just works. The old cartridge just hits stuff and hits it hard. I can shoot a 1911 with its crisp trigger much, much better than I can a Glock, so instead of firing a burst of rounds at a threat, I can touch off a couple and then see whether I need to do more work or move on to the next potential problem. This is really a revelation to me, who had been convinced that Glocks were just the way to go and anything else was an antique. Can modern 9mm ammunition really do what modern 45 ACP ammunition can do? Hopefully, I will never have to find out, but I no longer have the means to compare the two anyway. The ex gets both her Glock 19 and my Glock 19 since they are consecutively serial numbered and she does very well shooting a G19. Regardless of how our life turned out together, I would always want her to have the means for proper self-defense. With two Glocks, she has that means at her disposal. I think I will just stay with the old 1911s. There is something comforting about a big heavy piece of flat steel that throws 45 caliber bullets. I am at peace with my choice and hope that if the situation arises where I have to test my choice, God will be here to show me that I made the right choice.
May God be with all of you, too.
Next I reached for my newest firearm, a Mossberg 930 riot gun. This thing just plain works. One can pour buckshot at a problem, so I wanted it for around the little house here - thinking to use it in case of coyotes or other critters that were foaming at the mouth and wandering about in the daytime. It is not as heavy as it looks but it is somewhat large and of course, 12 gauge ammunition is heavy.
Then I surprised myself. I took my Glock 19 and appendix carry holster and threw them and the two spare magazines into my (well, soon to be her) gun safe. Instead of that pistol, I grabbed a Jackass shoulder holster rig from Galco with a Combat Commander and then my spare Colt Government model 1911 with a big handful of Wilson Combat magazines all loaded with Cor-Bon DPX ammunition. Once I had my little Jeep moving forever away from that house where I had lived the last five years of my life, I realized what I had done. The Glock I used in several Suarez International classes, the appendix carry holster I have had on me for the past three plus years, those were now gone (forever). Why had I reached in that safe and latched onto a pair of 1911s when I have not even carried the big steel guns in years?
I discussed this with "Winchester67" (on the Warrior Talk forum). He said he had also gone back to a 1911 some months ago but really didn't know why. Tradition, he speculated. Or our age - both in the late 40s - and the 1911 just kind of calls to us old guys. As I have been working around this house, cleaning and fixing it up (it had been vacant for several years), I notice that I can pack a 1911 under one arm, a couple spare mags under the other arm, and none of it gets in the way while I am working, lifting or hauling. No, it's not fast to draw from, but I'm not in a potentially dangerous area either. With the driveway here which pretty much takes a four wheel drive to navigate, it's unlikely I'll be surprised. I have quit drinking completely, so I'm not around taverns with any other stupid drunks looking for fights. I'm just out here in the quiet woods.
Why leave the Glock and take the 1911? I think because in my mind, despite what I read and study and discuss, the big 1911 in 45 ACP just works. The old cartridge just hits stuff and hits it hard. I can shoot a 1911 with its crisp trigger much, much better than I can a Glock, so instead of firing a burst of rounds at a threat, I can touch off a couple and then see whether I need to do more work or move on to the next potential problem. This is really a revelation to me, who had been convinced that Glocks were just the way to go and anything else was an antique. Can modern 9mm ammunition really do what modern 45 ACP ammunition can do? Hopefully, I will never have to find out, but I no longer have the means to compare the two anyway. The ex gets both her Glock 19 and my Glock 19 since they are consecutively serial numbered and she does very well shooting a G19. Regardless of how our life turned out together, I would always want her to have the means for proper self-defense. With two Glocks, she has that means at her disposal. I think I will just stay with the old 1911s. There is something comforting about a big heavy piece of flat steel that throws 45 caliber bullets. I am at peace with my choice and hope that if the situation arises where I have to test my choice, God will be here to show me that I made the right choice.
May God be with all of you, too.
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