1911 or 4506/p220?

[ackks]

A family member offered to give me either a p220 or 4506. Both of which have less than 100 rounds through them. Free is great and all, but I don't mind spending the money to get something better. Are the features of a 1911 a big step up from those?

[bykerhd]

I've never tried the S & W. I own a SIG 220 & 1911s. I LIKE both type pistols.

Both the 220 & 1911 have their plusses and their minuses.
The 220 is lighter and features double action & single action as well as the decocking feature which I really DO like.
The 1911s, good ones anyway, will last about forever, are a little skinnier and can be inexpensively tuned for a great trigger by one of the bazillion 1911 tuners out there.

I think the 1911 MAY have an edge in durability/long term longevity over the SIG. I'm not sure anyone but a match shooter, or maybe a range instructor, or military type might actually have cause to fire enough rounds to worry about either pistol.

I like the loaded chamber, hammer down, safe carryability of the SIG. Transitioning from double action to single action isn't easy though.
The SIG is a bit easier to tear down and clean than the 1911.

1911s have tons of safeties and can be carried cocked and locked safely.
No transitions involved. Safety DOES have to be released to fire.

Same magazine capacity.

[ackks]

Wow, thank you for all the information! That pretty much clears it up for me!

[ggiilliiee]

http://www.m9guns.com/images/paintgunlg.jpg


need i say more ???...

[gunseller]

I have owned all three but only own 1911s now. The S&W never felt right in my hand. The Sigs were OK in my hand but the center of the bore is higher above my hand than a 1911. Being higher can give more muzzle flip. That said most people will never notice it. The 1911 just feels right in my hand. I bought my first one in 1968. The 1911 I carry has over 50,000 rounds through it and still going. For a performance differance go with the one that feels right in your hand not with what anyone else says about the differance because they will all perform well.
Steve

[ackks]

Looks like I have to start the process of picking a 1911 out. Good thing there are only a few types, right ;) I guess I'll start with the SA and S&W's.

On a side note...does the 4506 take 1911 mags?

[BUFF]

No, the S&W M-4506 uses a magazine designed for the S&W Model 645 and the subsequent S&W .45 ACP models based on that gun, which include the M-4506, 4505, 4566, 745, 845 and others.

S&W has made other .45 ACP pistols, such as the new Military & Police series and the SW99, that use their own proprietary magazines.

The S&W Model 945 uses a modified M-4506/645 magazine with an additional mag release slot cut in the body for the differently placed M-945 mag release.

There are also compact variants of all these guns that use shorter versions of each models' mag sized to fit the shorter butts, but can also use the base guns' longer mags if need be, but they will extend down below the base of the compact guns' grips.

S&W's 1911 pistols use standard 1911 magazines.

The 1911 is a classic handgun, a true world standard. The Sig P-220 and S&W d.a./s.a. metal framed guns like the M-4506 are excellent handguns, and may well be as reliable or more than any individual 1911, depending on the individual pistols at hand. You won't go wrong with any of them. Being steel-framed, the 1911 and S&W M-4506 pistols are likely to be more durable than the aluminum-framed Sig but you most probably won't be able to afford enough ammunition to wear out a Sig, either.

Pick the one that fits your hand best. Three tremendous guns.

[ggiilliiee]

buff is dead on ..the sig will break long before you get enough ammo thru it .......thats why they only use them in the movies ...ehhehe .

[bouncer50]

I have a S&W 4506 and a Sig 220. Also a 1911. The 4506 and the Sig are both dependable guns. The Sig is lighter then the S&W and a good carry gun. The S&W is heavy and i feel a little less recoil when firing it. All three are good guns. It depends on your personal choice on what feels good in your hand. :smile: