Need help with a new gun choice

[space_cowboy]

hello everyone, my problem is that I am in the market for a NEW gun for my son. He is 18, an avid hunter/fisherman, and a pilot. I have narrowed it down between two guns to purchase. Its between a colt 1911A1 .45 5" barrel blued and a smith and wesson model 29 .44 mag 4" barrel blued. The gun is going to be mainly for plinking away and for self defense in the woods(snakes and so) as well as home defense.

I understand that a colt 1911 has about a 3" grouping less than 30yds but that doesn't really matter because he will be closer than 30yds with anything he does anyway.
I prefer to buy the 4" barrel for the model 29 because I gave him a colt python with a 6" barrel.

There might be better guns to buy like maybe better manufactuers of the 1911 but since I was an expert marksman for the U.S. Navy with the Colt I would like to buy a Colt. AND I prefer the Smith and Wesson 29 over the Ruger Redhawk only over the factor that he cannot stand stainless steel or nickel plated guns.

Thank you for your time,
Cowboy

[rwb1500]

Well you certianly can't go wrong with either. The 1911 is a classic, I think everyone should have one. The S&W? Not my cup of tea, but different strokes. Plus last I checked .44 ammo isn't exactly cheap... Well, than again, neither is .45. This is why I shoot .22 all the time...

Either way I'm sure he'd be happy. I'd certainly be happy with either.

[svltrack]

If he is doing plinking then it should be a mix of comfort to the gun, accurracy, recoil and operation.

For me the 1911 fits the order best. Have him try both and a few others for that matter if you can. The answer I think is all about how it works for him.

[ronpaulrevolution]

Can't go wrong.

But for plinking, you might want to pick up another smaller cal gun like a 9mm to save on costs.

[marks]

Consider a CZ-75. It was my first handgun, and I can't think of a pistol that would have been a better first time gun. Consider price, workmanship, accuracy, track record for reliability, and the CZ should at least be somewhere on your short-list.

[rovert97]

for what your saying it would be used for, a .357 revolver sounds to fill the needs. in the woods you can load it with snake shot if needed, .38 for range time, and .357 for an SHTF situations.

[IronButt]

1. Since he's a hunter, a Model 29 would be a good close-in deer gun.
2. Since he already has a Python, maybe a 1911 would be in order.

I'm sure he'd be proud to own either, so you just can't go wrong.

[cptdco]

The .45 ACP is a good choice for your stated intentions, but I agree with the poster who suggested that the .357 magnum would be a better choice then a .44. I'm a S&W fan so my opinion is biased but take a look at the 686 / 586series of .357s. you may find they're everything you need and nothing you don't.

[Curr]

I think everyone should own a 1911, so that gets my vote. I also agree that a .357 would be a better choice than a .44.

[mongo]

Two verry good handguns. You can not use the auto for hunting and it has a hard time firing shot type ammo, as for snakes. Hunting and fishing are a lot more fun and relaxing than looking out for bad guys.