by Daryl Holland
Strasburg, OH -(Ammoland.com)- My favorite pistol has always been the 1911. It was the 1st pistol I owned and the one I bought for myself after finishing the Special Forces weapons course in 1989.
I became even more familiar with the 1911 as an OTC student for 1st SFOD-Delta. In my opinion, if you can shoot a .45 caliber 1911 accurately then you can shoot most pistols with ease.
Lasting Impression
During my Special Forces career, I had the opportunity to work with Federal Agents and Law Enforcement Agents at many levels and in most cases the more experienced agent with real “Shootout” experience would be carrying a .45 or .40 caliber pistol. These guys had the presence like that of an experienced ODA Team Sergeant, so I listened to their stories of having to shoot criminals several times with a 9mm or .38 caliber that were jacked up on amphetamines.
This left a lasting impression on me and I figured that I would carry nothing but a .45 caliber pistol for the rest of my life.
My Sidearm
While spending the summer of 2003 in Iraq, I began to modify and lighten my kit for obvious reasons and I began carrying a Glock 19 since I never had to use my pistol for anything other than using the gun light. During all of my combat missions, my M-4 never failed me. However, if I had to carry a pistol as my primary weapon then I want a .45 caliber 1911…to strut around like a Texas Ranger. I’ve been using a 1911 .45 caliber in IDPA matches and most of my pistol classes I’m using my Colt Combat Unit pistol, but I recently got my hands on a Colt Competition 1911 pistol in 9mm. Naturally, I should speed up and maybe keep up with these guys in the Minor class shooting “Powder Puff” loads because I wasn’t even close to the fastest while shooting .45 caliber/ 230 grain factory ammo. Dropping the fewest points all day at a match with my .45 caliber 1911 gets you nothing.
Hanging With Ken
While hanging with Ken Hackathorn last week he told me; “If I shoot a .45 caliber in a match, the next morning, I can hardly hold my spoon for breakfast.”
If Yoda chooses to carry a lighter weapon, you don’t question him! I’ll be shooting the 1911 in 9mm more often. If getting older wasn’t good enough, then maybe buying ammo cheaper will work. My hidden agenda for shooting the 1911 in 9mm is that it will feed my ego, so I can compete with these X-BOX era chumps!
Respectfully,
Daryl Holland
About Daryl Holland:
Daryl Holland is a retired U.S. Army Sergeant Major with over 20 years of active duty experience, 17 of those years in Special Operations. Five years with the 1st Special Forces Group (SFG) and 12 years in the 1st SFOD-Delta serving as an Assaulter, Sniper, Team Leader, and OTC Instructor. He has conducted several hundred combat missions in Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia, Philippines, and the Mexican Border. He has conducted combat missions in Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush Mountains as a Sniper and experienced Mountaineer to the streets of Baghdad as an Assault Team Leader. He has a strong instructor background started as an OTC instructor and since retiring training law abiding civilians, Law Enforcement, U.S. Military, and foreign U.S. allied Special Operations personnel from around the world.
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