I’ve been trying to determine what gun I’ll be buying for 2025.
My rule is that I buy at least one gun a year, as I get an annual bonus that’s rather significant, amount-wise.
I’ll walk it back the past 10 years to share my track record of gun purchases.
Last year, I bought the Tisas Carry DS9.
For 2023, I bought the Bul Armory SAS II Ultralight and the Alpha Foxtrot S15.
In 2022, I bought the Tisas Duty BR45.
For 2021, I bought a Rock Island Armory Rock Ultra HC 10mm in 5″ variety. I also bought a Canik TP9 Elite SC that was outside of the annual bonus purchase (it was a good price at a local gun store).
I’m not even sure what I bought for 2020 – as the COVID-19 pandemic was occurring at the time, I may not have bought a gun that year.
For 2019, I bought two PSA AK pistols: The AK-V with Magpul furniture and the AK-P with red wood furniture.
For 2018, I bought my first AK – a AK-63DS from Classic Firearms. I also ended up buying an Arsenal SAM-7UF (I had extra cash unrelated to my annual bonus). I bought a Springfield Armory XD45 Mod.2, as well — it was cheap and I didn’t want to pass on the deal – this as also outside of my annual bonus purchase.
In 2017, I bought a Beretta PX4 Storm 9mm Compact. Prior to 2018, I wasn’t getting an annual bonus, so I had to be mindful of what I was buying and there were no multiple guns being bought in the course of a year.
For 2016, I bought several guns: A Ruger AR-556 Davidson’s Collector’s Edition, and a Bersa Thunder Plus. At this time I was employed with Verizon and was receiving a large annual bonus. I also bought a Tristar T-100 (found it at a cheap price and I didn’t want to pass on the deal – this was outside of the annual bonus purchase).
In 2015, I’d just started buying guns – my firearms journey was just beginning. As the wife and I had planned to move to CA, I was trying to buy as many guns as I could that weren’t on the CA DOJ Approved Handgun Roster (I bought a shitload of guns). I ended up getting my concealed hangun permit and due to the ease of getting that license, I decided that I wasn’t going to CA.
Note that, to some of you, it may appear that I’m posting what I own and I’m aware that it might not sit well with folks. Keep in mind that no one knows if I sold or gifted away any of those guns…I’m just listing what I purchased, not what I currently own.
Now, what am I planning for the 2025 annual bonus purchase? I want to buy two handguns. One of them has to be a 5″ 1911/2011 9mm, as I don’t have a 5″ 1911-format gun in 9mm.
Nothing is concrete yet, but one of them will be a mid-tier 2011. I’m eyeing the Springfield Amory Prodigy DS 5″. I’m not yet sure if it’ll be coyote or black. Current street prices are around $1200. As well, there are comp models too, although the comp model is black-only and there are no comp models that come with the Hex optic.
The other gun may be the Fusion Firearms XP Pro, maybe in chrome. Those are around $1000.
Initially, I was considering the BUL Armory 5″ EDC, but after my issues with the UL grip safety, I don’t think I’m ever going to buy another BUL Armory. I also had several single stacked 9mm 1911s as consideration on the list: Sig 1911X 5″; Springfield Armory Emissary 5″; GP Arms Patriot; S&W 9mm 1911 (I forget which but there are only two 5″ 9mm 1911s they offer).
The Prodigy DS 5″ covers my requirement for a 5″ 9mm 1911-format gun. I was initially leaning toward the Alpha Foxtrot Romulus in 5″, but two things about that gun stopped me from considering it: AF doesn’t offer a lifetime warranty – it’s a one-year warranty; also, the Romulus is cut for RMSc, which I don’t want. I want optics options. and there are more than a few folks that are having issues getting an RMR optic onto a Romulus…I think the best option is to have the slide recut and it’s ridiculous to have to do that. The FF XP Pro comes with an RMR plate (they also have a lifetime warranty) and is cheaper than the Romulus. The Prodigy DS comes with with none but you can purchase a variety of them for $129 and they have an RMR adapter plate (as well, there are Prodigy packages that come with the Hex Dragonfly optic – those packages can be found for around $1200, street price).
The Prodigy DS will probably stay stock (unmodified). I’m aware that it has MIM internals…that doesn’t bother me. I may use it for training courses. It will not be carried (it’s too big).
The XP Pro might be modded. All XP Pro internals are bar stock (ie, no MIM in that gun). I might carry it (it’s a bit shorter than Commander-sized 1911s). It’ll be my toy.
As well, one or both of them will be using optics. I plan to put an RMR optic on the Prodigy DS, which means I’ll have to buy their RMR adapter. I also don’t have an RMR-footprinted optic, so I’ll have to buy one. I will be buying the Viridian RFX45 (currently at $319 MSRP – note that this is a closed emitter optic). I’m seeing several places online that are selling it with an RMR plate for $233, which is great because most places are marking up this optic – the common pricing is $399! The RFX45 will be for the Prodigy since it’s a big optic that might not conceal carry well. For the XP Pro, I’ll probably just use a Cyelee RMSc optic, especially if I might carry it.
Now, there’s one thing that might blow up all these plans: I really want the Kimber 2K11 base model 9mm, but I don’t want to spend $2000 on an as-of-yet unproven gun. Now, the gun is priced well for what it is; note that folks have been complaining, stating the price is too high, but keep in mind that the gun has a crapload of options: DLC slide and frame, crowned barrel, metal grip (!!), 3 mags, fluted barrel, unique slide cuts, great fitment and finish…I can go on and on, and that’s just for the base model (the other higher priced models come with more goodies than the base model). As well, the gun can be had in 45ACP! I believe the gun is priced accurately, MSRP-wise, but, again, the gun hasn’t been on the market long, so I think I should wait a bit, unless the street price drops significantly, and if it does, buying it is a no-brainer.
Battlehawk Armory has a placeholder for the 2K11 – for $1514!! I’d sure as hell buy the 2K11 for that price (and probably buy one of the other two aforementioned 2011s). My bonus will be issued to me in the March/April timeframe, so we’ll see if the pricing drops to $1500 around that time. Right now, lowest pricing for the 2K11 on gun.deals is $1723, which is over $200 lower than MSRP (MSRP is $1995)…not bad, but not enough for me. If the price hasn’t dropped significantly by March/April, I won’t be buying a 2K11…we’ll see how things play out.
For now, the plan is to buy the Prodigy DS 5″ and buy the AOS RMR plate adapter, along with the Viridian RFX45 RMR optic and also buy the XP Pro in Chrome. Hell, I can always get the Kimber 2k11 next year.
