Looking to buy my 1st handgun...

That is a fine weapon and nobody should tell you otherwise. The question is, is that the style of handgun you want. I would strongly recommend going to a range and renting different handguns to see what kind is most enjoyable to shoot to you.

Also, it depends on what you want to do with it. If this is going to be a plinking/practice/orientation handgun (which it should being your first), you should probably get a caliber that isn't so expensive. Go to walmart and look at the price of 45,40,&9. Just a thought.

Oh yeah, i almost forgot... Dont get a judge.

I think that a 1911 is not a beginner's gun. single action autos are for people who will dedicate the time to learning how to carry & operate them safely.

Excellent choice with the Kimber - that gun will be an heirloom that outlasts you. But, I agree its not a beginners gun.

1911 is the best handgun made if I had to pick one. You made a good choice. You will love it.

You will eventually buy a 1911 if you get into shooting. But mine is more of a target gun and more accurate than any other gun I own. It was the first handgun I ever owned...brand new cost me 195.00(OK, so I'm old) If you are looking for a protection piece then the single action auto may not be your best bet. A very easy gun to shoot and field strip. If you are going to do much shooting you will also learn to reload to reduce the ammo cost. If you are getting this for target reasons....it's a great place to start and end. If for self defence then you need to shop around and learn the advantages of a double action auto or dependability of a revolver.

I can't recommend Kimber for 1911 anymore... Get a S&W E series or for a few bucks more get a Les Baer.

Kimber is hardly a custom shop anymore and has very poor quality control

Google kimber 1911s and you'll have a plethora of reading and 90% will be bad.

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I think that a 1911 is not a beginner's gun. single action autos are for people who will dedicate the time to learning how to carry & operate them safely.

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This doesn't make any sense. For decades it was about all there was for semi-autos. Not only does it have a safety, it will not fire by simply pulling the trigger unless cocked. It may be the best tool to actually learn gun safety, safely.

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This doesn't make any sense. For decades it was about all there was for semi-autos.

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True (if you ignore similar weapons like the Browning Hi-Power).

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Not only does it have a safety, it will not fire by simply pulling the trigger unless cocked. I

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Which is both good and bad. One of the reasons the 1911 was not considered as a duty pistol for police for all those years, is because of the lack of a double action feature.

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It may be the best tool to actually learn gun safety, safely.

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That's highly subjective.

IMHO, any semi-auto requires a higher level of familiarity than a double action revolver. If you're going to buy a gun for defense/carry and not send a good deal of time at the range with it.. practicing clearing FTE/FTF, etc, then you should probably stick with a double action revolver.

A 1911 is just as easy to learn to use and use well as any other semi-auto. Carrying a weapon in the "Condition One" state of chambered/cocked/locked is not something I would want to swap in and out of though. If you are going to carry that way... you should always carry that way. Don't switch between different styles of carrying depending on your mood or weapon choice.

I find it strange when someone is buying a pistol that so many people automatically assume it's a carry gun or that it being the perfect gun for a self defense situation is the top (or only) priority.