THE COOP

I took my HCP class last Saturday (100% on written, 98% on range, 1 damn stray) went to drivers license place Monday early afternoon and got fingerprinted later that night, like you the wait game!!! COOP

Hey thanx nolo, I'm not gonna do to much to the compact after the sites, but the full size will get some treats, I think Moped is right that on my full size will have good wood grips to look a bit more traditional!!

Let me know how your build goes and what you do and we can compare results, I like my RIA so much I'm buying a big btother for it this weekend, a full size RIA 1911. I check prices and guns the other day at G&L and they have a full size double stack mag .45's in stock which I never seen before (NEWBEE) and priced at $469!!! But the 1 I'm getting this weekend is used. COOP

They were just some $40 basic white dot sites at G&L, sorry dont know what brand!!

I been looking for a used P220 or P229 the last couple of days and this kind of concerns me as buying a SIG!!! IMO

I have the same gun and really like it, I did put some Hogue ruberized grips on it and dropped it off last weekend to a gunsmith to have some 3 dot sites put on it due to my eye sight going south. I've put about 300 rounds of FMJ's through it with no problems at all but havent tried any hollow points!!! COOP

I been thinking about a little 380 also and I really like the little Ruger but I think they cost more? They did a comparison on all the little 380's in this months American Handgunner, you might want to pick the mag up and take a look!!! COOP

I own the RIA 1911 commander size and I love it, 300 rounds though it and no problems at all, I put Hogue grips on it for a little better fit to my hand. the only thing I dont like is the sites, I'm getting older and my eyes sight is going so I dropped it off last weekend to have some 3 dot sites put on it so I could see them a little better. My advise is buy the RIA!!! COOP

In case you have'nt seen my updated thread!!! So I sold the Ruger early Sat. morning and ready 2 buy my new gun, I had seen a XD.40 used in the boro shop for $450 but was advised to call Guns and Leather which I did and they had a new XD for less than the used and in stock so I headed to Greenbrier. I asked for and met Daniel a TGO member and told him what I was interested in, even though I liked the M&P better price came into play and the XD was around $100 cheaper so I purchased the gun. I used my free range pass, bought 100 rounds and headed down stairs to try out my new XD, I couldnt put more that 10 rounds in the magazine due to the spring being so strong but no problem it would weaken over time so I start shooting and everything good untill after 30 rounds when it started to FTL? I would drop the mag, make sure the chamber was clear insert the mag, cock it, shoot 1 time and jam again, after 3 times in a roll I went upstairs and asked for some help with my 30 minute old gun, one of the sales reps came down and tested it and same problem, changed mags and jammed again? He then feild strips the gun, check's everything and puts it back together when I notice a black piece of steel still sitting on the table, the slide lock broke off and was sitting there!!! WTH!!! We go see the gunsmith and he says it needs to be replaced and sent back to Springfield and he would write a letter for the gun. So the sales rep says he'll get me another new one to replace it but none in stock. Now to be honest I'm having 2nd thoughts about the XD and ask to see the M&P, If I was to pay the difference it was going to be a real $$$$ tight week untill I get paid, anyways Daniel comes out to talk to me, we work a couple things out and I buy a M&P at a great discount. Back down stairs shoot 70 round without a glitch and head to the house. WOW!!! A couple of things I need to say, the XD issue I'm sure is rare but it broke after 30 rounds but maybe things happen for a reason and the only real reason I bought the XD was the added safety switch and $ savings, however the M&P they sold me has the thumb safety switch like my 1911. So I got the gun I wanted in the 1st place (M&P) and was shooting quite well for a newbee, at 15 yards I had about a 5" scatter with a couple bulls eyes!!!! NICE Last thing to say, Guns and Leather!!!! These people are awsome!! The prices are excellent, customer service is outstanding and when there was a problem they made it right!!! Thanks Daniel, YOU RULE!!!! COOP

So I sold the Ruger early Sat. morning and ready 2 buy my new gun, I had seen a XD.40 used in the boro shop for $450 but was advised to call Guns and Leather which I did and they had a new XD for less than the used and in stock so I headed to Greenbrier. I asked for and met Daniel a TGO member and told him what I was interested in, even though I liked the M&P better price came into play and the XD was around $100 cheaper so I purchased the gun. I used my free range pass, bought 100 rounds and headed down stairs to try out my new XD, I couldnt put more that 10 rounds in the magazine due to the spring being so strong but no problem it would weaken over time so I start shooting and everything good untill after 30 rounds when it started to FTL? I would drop the mag, make sure the chamber was clear insert the mag, cock it, shoot 1 time and jam again, after 3 times in a roll I went upstairs and asked for some help with my 30 minute old gun, one of the sales reps came down and tested it and same problem, changed mags and jammed again? He then feild strips the gun, check's everything and puts it back together when I notice a black piece of steel still sitting on the table, the slide lock broke off and was sitting there!!! WTH!!! We go see the gunsmith and he says it needs to be replaced and sent back to Springfield and he would write a letter for the gun. So the sales rep says he'll get me another new one to replace it but none in stock. Now to be honest I'm having 2nd thoughts about the XD and ask to see the M&P, If I was to pay the difference it was going to be a real $$$$ tight week untill I get paid, anyways Daniel comes out to talk to me, we work a couple things out and I buy a M&P at a great discount. Back down stairs shoot 70 round without a glitch and head to the house. WOW!!! A couple of things I need to say, the XD issue I'm sure is rare but it broke after 30 rounds but maybe things happen for a reason and the only real reason I bought the XD was the added safety switch and $ savings, however the M&P they sold me has the thumb safety switch like my 1911. So I got the gun I wanted in the 1st place (M&P) and was shooting quite well for a newbee, at 15 yards I had about a 5" scatter with a couple bulls eyes!!!! NICE Last thing to say, Guns and Leather!!!! These people are awsome!! The prices are excellent, customer service is outstanding and when there was a problem they made it right!!! Thanks Daniel, YOU RULE!!!! COOP

Thanx everyone on your views and expierance with these guns, now I'm even more confused!!!! LOL Buyer for my Ruger will be coming over in the afternoon to pick it up and then I'm going back to the gun store and hold both (AGAIN) look them over really good and probably buy the XD!!! Funny thing when I was there earlier and I brought both my guns to spend some time on the range I was shooting the Ruger much better today and started to have 2nd thoughts about selling it, I hate it when that happens!!!!! COOP

Well that helps a lot!!!! LOL LOL.... COOP

So as my quest continues for a .40 call full size I found and held a used XD 40 today and the price was right, then I held a used S&W M&P and did it feel/fit me nice and it was only $50 more, I've got an offer on my P345 for what I wanted out of it just would like some advice from other members on which is a better and more accurate gun? As always thanks for the help!!!! COOP

My 1911 compact, then I held a M&P today and that might be my next gun... COOP

Well I think I'll put my Ruger up for trade or sale on the other site and go with the XD .40 full size, I've only shot a 38 special and both my .45's, maybe because I'm a new hand gun shooter I was more accurate with the compact 1911 maybe because of the steel frame compare to the Ruger which kicked a lot harder I think due to the poly frame? But I'm a newbee so what do I know? Thanks for all the help and opinions, I'm not a fan of 9's and my work partner was a state trooper and wont let me buy one, the ex state trooper's opinion is to only shoot 1 time and be done!!! COOP

Or this one, Smith and Wesson model SW40V 40 cal?

Any one want to comment also on these 2 other choices? I'm leaning toward the XD though and thanks for the comments. Smith and Wesson Desert Eagle 40 cal?

I guess I should add I'll be trading my Ruger + cash for a xd, still wondering will the XD .40 be a better range gun than a Ruger P345? COOP

So heres my thinking, I have 2 - .45's, RIA 1911 compact and a Ruger P345, if you have read my threads I love the RIA and it will be my carry gun, so I'm thinking of trading my ruger for a XD .40 caliber, I want a better range gun without loosing to much umph!!!! Just in case I want to carry it, I dont want to go into the Glock vs XD debate because I read enough of those threads!!! Since I'm still a newbee am I thinking correct about the full size XD being a good range gun for the price? Any other comments or sugestions would be appreciated!!! COOP

Thanks all for the info, Wilson it will be and sorry for the clips/magazine thing (NEWBEE) I'm going to post another new ? in a new thread!!!! COOP

Voted!!!!

Thought I'd post a couple pics and ask a question being a newbee, these pics are with my new grips, has kinda of a stealth look to it and I like it!!!! I need to upgrade to better sights so where can I get them? Can I mount them myself or do I need a gunsmith to do it for me? Again thanks for all the info from everyone!!!! COOP

It is the officers model but not the 4" barrel, Thanks for the info all!!! COOP

I also bought a New RIA compact 1911 last week and have a newbee question, My gun was new and never shot so over the weekend I took it to a freinds backyard range and was pleasently surprised how well it shot and I was more accurate than my Ruger P345 and to be honest I'm loving this gun more than my Ruger, so I went to the gun and knife show in Nashville on Sunday and bought a set of Houge ruberized grips with finger grooves and it feels even better now but I couldnt find any clips for it so here's my newbee question, I was told by some dealers any .45acp clip would work and then others said only a clip from the manufacturer would work. Anybody know what clips I should buy and where can I get them? Thanks!!! COOP

Thanx all, safety is my priority first off, learning my gun/guns (SUNTZU, I ALREADY GOT THE ITCH FOR MORE GUNS) and there operations, cleaning and so on, next will be how to safely, properly and accurately shoot my gun's is next, I heard there is a gun show this weekend at the fairgrounds and never been to one so while my son has a 3 hour hockey practice at centenial I think I'll go check it out and maybe trade or upgrade my 38 special, the first time I shot it in the front yard last week my ears rang for 10 mins!!! (NEWBEE) now I have eye and ear protection!!!! That gun is really loud and heavy and just to big to carry. 56fordguy, thanks for the info on ammo, I had no idea there was a gun store there, I been paying a fortune for ammo like $30 a box of fifty and got lucky at walmart sunday on 1 box of 100 for the same price but will try the gun shop for 45acp this weekend!!! Thanks again ALL!!!! COOP