First Handgun GP100 .357 vs. Kimber Stainless II .45ACP

drvrage

drvrage

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Hi Folks,

I've owned longarms for a couple of years now and have never really liked handguns or wanted one. Yet yesterday I found myself in Dallas, TX for work (Normally i'm in the GTA) and I had some time to kill after work. I thought to myself "Self, what can you do for entertainment that is very "Texas" that I can't do at home. Thinking about the liberal gun laws in TX, I though I'd go to a range (no appt needed) and try a handgun for the first time. I was amazed at how easy it was. Just gave them my drivers license, read the range rules, signed a waiver picked a rental gun off the rack and took my position at lane 2. WOW! I'm hooked. I really enjoyed the 9mm Glock. The other folks at the range were getting a kick at the giggles and laughs I kept letting out as I gleefully shot better than them. (First time too) Then I tried the GP 100 with both .38 and .357 and loved it even more. The 9mm seemed to weak to maintain my interest for long. Then I tried the .45 acp SIG and it was love at first flight. I then started thinking that I would love to own one of these so when I have some time and money to kill I can pop over to a range and enjoy a fine passtime.

I just signed up for my restricted. As I'm getting married in August, I realize that whatever guns I get, it is now or never. Once I'm married the wife will never let me have anything ever again. (She is very anti gun, but for purely emotional reasons.) Now cost is a problem seeing that I have to cough up more money than I have for the wedding, I find myself in a pinch as to what I should get. I'm torn between the GP100 in .357 and the kimber TLE stainless in .45. I really enjoyed both calibres. I really enjoyed both guns.

Now if I had to get only one (may be the case) wich would give more shooting pleasure over time. I know I want both (and more), but I can onl afford one before the wedding and after the wedding I'm screwed for gun buys. Any oppinions would be appreciated.

Now I know many people will immediately reply with what I want the gun for. Silly question. The gun is for pleasure shooting at the range. There is no such thing as self defense ;) and you sure as hell can't hunt with them. So wich do I choose? :dancingbanana:

Thanks in advance.

Edit to my first post. I just assumed because I've read good thing about the Ruger GP100 and that I tried it and liked it that it would be the one to get. I realized that I never gave any attention to other revolvers. Maybe the S&W 686?
 
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Which one?

You have made two great choices, a .357 revolver and a 1911 semi-auto 45 cal. Owning both would not be selfish on your part, but if I had to have one gun, I'd go with the .357. The price would be cheaper to buy, as well as being cheaper to feed, firing 38 Spl that is. Also a .357 revolver is versatile, accurate and reliable, a must have in my opinion. Eventually you can sneak in that 45.
 
I told my wife that if she was Antigun I would have never married her...

But for your case, get the 1911. Consider a 9mm as it is cheaper to shoot. Or if you like .45, get a .22 topend and you're set.
 
If I had to make a choice, I would go with the .357. That gives you the option to shoot .38, which is even cheaper to reload than 9mm and very versatile, as well as the power of a magnum load when you want it.

Plus, you won't have to go digging through snowbanks & mud puddles to fund your brass.

Course, I like the Python over the GP100, but who's counting?
 
I play with most of the handgun calibres and I'd recommend the Ruger .357. Reasonably priced, built like a tank, can handle a variety of loads, also a very "safe" shooter if you want to convert your wife or any other newbies.
 
I was the same like you. I ended up getting the .357 GP100 first and the .45 1911 a couple months later. I'm exceptionally happy with both and feel like I have the guns I REALLY wanted if for some reason I couldn't buy another gun again. My favorite buy a slim margin is the GP100, ###y in stainless. Seriously, just get both :)
 
My wife is also a little "anti" and I manage to buy LOTS of guns. WTF is with this she won't "let" me stuff. :eek::runaway:
So are you saying that, for the rest of your life, your wife needs to approve everything you buy? Sorry but it must be done:

:jerkit: :jerkit: :jerkit: :jerkit: :jerkit: :jerkit: :jerkit: :jerkit: :jerkit: :jerkit:

Longterm you will never be happy with just one or two handguns so man the fu#k up and tell your wife to be that you love guns and you will buy guns, and lots of em, from now until the day you die.
 
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Bronco Boy: WTF? Thanks for not answering my question and giving me attitude as well. I'm surprised you're married at all.
 
Well, after reading pretty much nothing but good reviews for the GP100 I decided to get one as my first. It is still being processed so I'll let you know if I'm pleased with my choice when I get it!
 
My first handgun was a 686. I've seen some on the EE for 650 or less. If you go the .45 ACP 1911 route, you could always look for a .22lr conversion for it down the road. It would be ideal to get both but if you can't you'd 'win' either way. Your money, your choice....:cool:
 
Wow, that's tough. Both good choices (I prefer Smith revolvers but there are very few 'bad' revolvers) I think that from the perspective of an occaisional shooter, the revolver is a better choice. Most of the arguments are well laid out here (38 is cheap/357 is fun) You can reload 38 wadcutter loads (3.2 gr 231 on a 148 wadcutter) obscenely cheaply and on cheap reloading equipment. Right up there with the 22 for cost, I shot 30,000 of those in one year. It might also be easier to convert an anti with a revolver - I had a girlfriend who didn't like guns at all until I got her shooting my 686 with full power 357 loads. She loved the recoil, she hated my CZ though because she didn't like the slide coming back at her.
 
drvrage said:
Bronco Boy: WTF? Thanks for not answering my question and giving me attitude as well. I'm surprised you're married at all.
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Dude.....I promise that in time you will see that I gave you advice a lot more valuable than I could have answering your original question. My words were intended to make you think not offend or be disrespectful. I am sometimes that guy that says what everyone else is thinking.

As far as you being surprised I'm married, I will remain married to my current wife for the rest of my life because even though she disagrees with me on a regular basis she does not try and control me or dictate to me what I can or can not buy with my discretionary income. It's called mutual respect.

I would go with the Kimber.
 
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Shoot some more!

You tried a couple guns and loved 'em!

Try as many more as you can before you "pull the trigger".

Find our local IPSC or PPC club and I am sure the guys will let you test drive a couple.

Secondly I would look for a 9MM or 40 Cal cause shooting is much cheaper. Have you looked at the price of the 45 shells! Also I wouldn't cheap out, you get what you pay for and quality is easy to resell if your wife eventually demands it.

STI Edge in 40 would be my choice but any of the poly's would be just as easy to trade down the road.

Alen
 
my first was a 45 1911a1- there's places for both- after about 30 years of "hunting" brass on both open and indoor ranges, not knowing for sure which brass is yours, you'll see the advantages of a REVOLVER- i just went the 44 route as i reload and already had all the stuff, so i can load light if i want to-
 
I would recommend the revolver over the Kimber myself, althought I would probably lean towards the S&W. I have a Beretta 92 and a S&W 28-2; the 92 is fun, but the 28 is more accurate and comes in very handy for policing brass at this time of year.

I have another ecommendation for you, if your fiance is the same as mine, buy two of the cheapest pieces of s**t that look like the guns you want and upgrade later ;). My fiance is indifferent about firearms; she realizes I have had guns a whole lot longer than her and not to tempt fate. She told me that I could probably walk through the door at any time with a new gun and just tell her I took it to the gunsmith. I would not do that to her since she keeps me economically responsible (bad impulse buyer), but it is an option if you feel cornered.
 
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