Need advice: 1911 SA v SP2022 DA/SA v S&W Shield

I'm a single action kinda fella. 1911 all the way.

I prefer striker fired. I had a Ruger 9mm, and that long first trigger pull turned me off to the DA/SA guns. Follow up was great as it was a short pull and much easier to shoot that way. I want every trigger pull to feel the same, especially on a carry/home defense gun. Shoot it enough until it is muscle memory.

That's all personal preference, but it came after shooting a .38 revolver with an insane trigger pull unless you cocked it first, the Ruger, and a handful of other handguns. I settled on the XD and the Ruger LCP.

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shooting a .38 revolver with an insane trigger pull unless you cocked it first

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I grew up shooting a double action .38 revolver. It is a bitch to shoot as an 11 year old.

I don't think I'd mind the initial long trigger pull. I like the though of the first pull DA but the rest SA.

I really want to be able to shoot each before I buy. Is that a possibility?

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bought my son a Sig P2022 9MM for Christmas 2015 -- its a really good gun to get into shooting again (or for beginners

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I'm leaning this way more than anything.

I'll probably end up getting a very nice 1911 in a couple years but a used Sig 2022 9mm seems like too good of a deal to pass up as a first pistol

Glock 19, sig 229, hk vp9, smith and Wesson M&P, sig p320.

Sig 229 if you must absolutely have DA/SA. But no reason to go small like the shield if you want it to be a good truck gun/ range gun. If one day you donactualy get your carry license then go buy something small.

All of these guns are a some of the most well regarded self defense pistols. 15 rounds of 9mm is something fierce.

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I'll probably end up getting a very nice 1911 in a couple years

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And many guys end up with 1911s they love (like a member of their family) - which is probably never going to happen with a "modern" pistol of any design (Glocks, Sigs, M&P, Walther, Ruger, etc.)

But, for a first pistol, let me help assuage some of your decisional anxiety - 1911s:

1. Require quite a bit more time to get used to the fire control system - the whole host of terms you have to learn about carry condition - the set of things you have to think about doing until they become automatic. Folks have defended themselves in homes, streets, stores, vehicles and on battlefields for 100 years - so I'm not denigrating the platform, but it is obsolete for defense purposes as we commonly use the term obsolete (obsolete does not equal ineffective).

2. Field stripping and cleaning are absolute bitches. I can probably do all 3 of my classic Sigs in the time it would take to do 1 1911 (maybe it gets faster?)

3. 1911s take a lot more time to adjust, tweak, shoot, get used to, adjust, tweak until you're comfortable with them. Now, there are nearly infinite options (almost as many as for AR-15s and Ruger 10/22s for custom everything) for triggers, grips, sights, barrels, ports, just literally everything on the weapon to make it exactly how you would prefer it (although it probably takes months to years to get there, especially for a first timer). Those options don't exist for Glocks, Sigs, M&P, and so forth.

4. The newer "range ready" 1911s are both better for a first timer and helping drive the cost down - so, if you do go with one of those offerings (the Ruger and a number of the Sig models, in particular, get good reviews, among others) you should be a lot better off than a novice walking into a gun store and picking a Colt Commander out of the case 30 years ago would have been.

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Why do you think there are more manufacturers for 1911s now than at any time in the past.

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Like I said - folks love them like members of their family.

Obsolete - single stack (yet full sized), if true to original Browning design has a frame safety AND a grip safety - because the needs of the time required that. Either or both of those can delay/prevent a shot in extremis. Totally unnecessary today.

But, once you get them "just" right - you can shoot the eyes off a gnat at 50 paces.

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I'm personally not a huge fan of the sp2022 but prefer the p320 and any striker fired pistol over a long DAO pull.

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I agree with you on striker vs DAO - but the SP2022 is available in SA/DA which I believe the OP prefers - unless I'm reading that correctly.


I never tried to dissuade him from a 1911 - I just don't recommend it as a first gun, or a truck gun or even a nightstand gun (although once you get enough experience with it, it can be a fine sidearm or nightstand gun - still not sure about a first gun or truck gun, though.)

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I just don't recommend it as a first gun, or a truck gun or even a nightstand gun (although once you get enough experience with it, it can be a fine sidearm or nightstand gun - still not sure about a first gun or truck gun, though.

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I get what you're saying. I am a much better shot at the range with my 1911 than I am with my XDM9 ...but right now I feel more comfortable having my XDM as my primary truck gun when I'm travelling. But when I'm out in the woods/back-roads and have a gun holstered on my belt, it is my 1911. Eventually I think the 1911 will be my all-time everywhere gun. But for now, it is what it is.

I think it might have to do with my fear of my kids picking up the 1911 and un-holstering it with it cocked and ready to go. The likely hood of that happening is virtually non-existent because all my younger kids have learned proper gun safety. First rule is to never touch the gun unless I place it in their hands. They know this rule well -- but, kids are kids.

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to carry on me

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Ok, do you have a CCW permit? Do you want to carry on a regular basis? Do you want something that will fit inside the waistband for summer carry? How big are you? The 1911 SA needs to be carried cocked and locked. Would you be comfortable with that? Its a heavy pistol too. If you really want a carry/car/range pistol i would suggest the Glock 19 unless its too wide to fit in your waistband. In that case look at the Glock 43 or Walther PPS M2. You really need to decide how often you are going to carry on your person first because that should probably eliminate the 1911's.

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The 1911 SA needs to be carried cocked and locked. Would you be comfortable with that?

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Not trying to be arguementative but a glock (if carried with one in the chamber) could be argued to be less safe.