What 45 do you prefer?

Kimber, Sig, HK if he doesnt like one of the 3 something is wrong

 

Dimonback, lets make sure we give her accurate information. The Ultra is a 3" barrel and one of the best concealed carry firearm you can buy if you consider the standard custom shop options you get.

http://www.kimberamerica.com/products/pistols/ultracarry/

 

1911 all that way! I have a Kimber TLE and love it. Like everyone is saying it always depends on how it fits him and what he likes. To my knowledge and experience 1911's will usually have the least amount of "fit" and comfort issues. Especially if you stay with a single stack, it just works great in a full size grip. Unless he has tiny hands dont really think a 1911 would be a problem. Like every one says nothing better then a 1911! Its like the Corvette of hand guns!

 

So... I think if my wife bought me a box of ammo and said pick a gun, that would be the best!!! I carry a Glock 21sf at work and bought a 30sf for carry, but am waiting for my Colt Defender to come in, just a whole bunch cheaper than a Kimber and almost as nice. You pretty much can't go wrong with any of the new modern .45's, Sig, Smith, Kimber, etc, but I have to agree get one you like and if you can try different ones thats the best way... Good luck !!

 

I've got a Kimber 45 and have nothing but good things to say about it. good luck!

 

Everybody loves Kimber, I've shot a few of them, and I think they are great guns, but they are a bit expensive. The fit and finishes of Kimber, (I think), top most any on the market, and you'll definitely pay for that.
An option if you're a bit cost considerate may be considering Taurus. I've got a PT1911, and it's great. You aren't going to conceal the weapon as it's full sized, but they have nice features, and, in my experiences, are very reliable. I've had about 5k rounds through mine with no problems. Taurus also has very good customer service if there are problems.

 

I too agree with Chris!
SIG P220 is the nicest shooting 45 out there! (But I'm biased!)

Yuma Taco,

 

1911. No doubt.

I have a Kimber Pro CDPII, and love it.

Won't jam, tough as bricks, accurate as hell, and if It came down to some odd situation devised by my mind by the weird forces of tacoma owners on the internet, if I didn't shoot the man, I'd have no problem beating the shit out of him with it.

If he doesn't like the feel, he can get custom grips for cheap, they can mold them around his hand, and to whatever feel he desires.

 

As I mentioned I am biased as I have several Kimbers, firearm of choice for CC is my Ultra CDP.

If I was in the market for a durable, unbreakable pistol that was easy on the wallet or purse in your case I would consider a Ruger.

http://www.ruger.com/products/p345/models.html

I have a basic table listed to help original OP get an idea of price ranges of the items we are throwing at her.

Firearm comparisons for Christmas gift
Brand.................. Caliber...... Price range (2) ...........Model Number (1)
Ruger ............................45.............. $500 - $600 .............................P-345
Kimber......................... 45.............. $800 and up..................... many to choose from
Sig Sauer...................... 45.............. $1100 and up.................. many to choose from
Glock .............................45 .............$450 and up .........................G37, G38 and G39
Springfield................... 45.............. $575 and up..................... many to choose from
Taurus ..........................45.............. $350 and up...................... many to choose from
Colt ................................45.............. $790 and up...................... many to choose from
Smith & Wesson.......... 45.............. $619 and up...................... many to choose from
Para- Ordinance ..........45.............. $850 and up ......................many to choose from
Les Baer......................... 45.............. $1690 and up............................. 1911
Wilson Combat............ 45.............. $1995 and up .............................1911

(1) Most manufacturers offer a 1911 style but many also off other styles in a .45 ACP caliber maybe some of the other posters can help with this explanation

(2) Most of the pricing info was off of the manufacturers websites with Suggested retail price listed however there were a couple of manufacturers that didn't lst price so had to use Gunsamerica.com

 

buy him a 1911 and get a pair of custom grips for it...maybe with his initials or his unit logo.
Giving anything but a full size, steel 1911 is like giving a blender.
If you need ideas where to get custom grips, pm me.
This is a gift, with meaning...don't go for a black plastic fantastic.

 

That may be your opinion, but it isn't good advice. Why give somebody a full size, steel 1911 if he/she doesn't want it, or has a different model in mind?

If a "plastic fantastic" is what he wants, and what will get the job done, then what is wrong with that? Just because it isn't an engraved $800+ gun doesn't mean it isn't a great gift.

 

try the Taurus PT1911, a great gun for the price. Excellent trigger and feds any ammo ive used including reloads.

 

dont get him a Taurus, S&W, HiPoint, unless he says so (not the most desired guns)

Kimber 1911 fancy gun
Springfield XDM beast gun (shoots like a caddy)

both safe choices but I would use your wife skills to detect what he really wants.

Or did you get him something? how did it work out.

Somehow last year for my birthday my gf got me a surprise shootgun. We were watching my college team at the bar with some friends. She takes me to the sporting goods store next door during halftime and Im thinking, what does she want here. She doesnt camp or have anything that is in this store. She walks me to the gun counter in the back and the guy hands me this rifled 12g remington with a pistol grip stock, rail, and red eye scope. Some how she figured out what I wanted by our one previous trip to a different gun store and talking with my buddies. BEST gift ever. but she defn. used some sly detective skills.

 

I kinda like mine too... but the $1200 price tag turns some people away.
The Tactical isn't quite as refined as the CDP, but I'm thinking it will be fine if I ever get back into competition.

 

my G36.

 

Lots of great suggestions here. I love my Sig and my Kimber. Just a data point though. If you were going to get it engraved, be sure to ask the guy selling it to you if it's engrave-able. And if he tells you that all guns are engrave-able then he's full of crap. The guy that engraved my Kimber for me was telling me how a mutual friend of ours was graduating airborne school and hi wife bought him a Sprinfield XD and wanted him to engrave it. Well the slide was so hard that it broke his engraver. Glocks are the same way, as I'm sure others are too. Just something you are probably going to want to ask about if you want his name or something put on it.