I have been shooting for almost 50 years now and an NRA instructor for the last 15 (with some military shooting training earlier in my career). I used to think exactly what you wrote, and still cant disagree with that, but the older I get, the more the realize what I didn't know.
I have in recent years been getting more into the defensive training side of shooting. Earlier in the thread declared I once swore by the 1911. I came to the point of convincing myself to go to less complex when I started training to go from hands down, under garment holster to two chest shots at 25 yards in less than 1.5 seconds. I could do it with my 1911 but the guy next to me with the XD could do it faster (and just as accurately). The further revelation was training for malfunctions and reloads. Again, simpler gun meant simpler procedures for type I, II, III malfunctions and tactical reloads and getting 'back in the fight' faster. It was a revelation that took about 45 years for me to convince myself that what I thought worked best for me wasn't really best for me. I still love my 1911, I have just come to realize for defensive carry there is better.
Of course the other thing I have come to appreciate is that the pistols main purpose is to allow me to get safely back to my rifle, which is always going to be better in a gun fight :)
All good points. Like anything that is an evolving skill we probably never get to that just right point. I don’t expect I will. I am happy to see a slow but ongoing improvement in myself.
In as much as my wife is concerned, her first exposure to firing guns was a couple of years ago after the age of 60. She has had nasty fractures in both forearms and her ability to rack a slide is limited, recoil becomes an issue for any significant time shooting. With considerable practice and technique she has mastered racking the Kahr, which she could not do initially. This was a major milestone. The Sig came later and is obviously easier for her. I believe she could clear a malfunction in less time with it because it is physically easier for her to manipulate.
OTOH, were concealment not a factor, she is competent and comfortable with the 9mm Kahr. So when I am gone she has that as well as the Sig.
I’m sure we have a ways to go, but I am thrilled that at her age she took to the whole aspect of handguns, training and getting her CCDW. I bought her a range membership nearby and she tries to go 1-2 days a week. And the male range masters are quite helpful to women shooters of her age. Beauty of a local gun shop in a small town.
A stone cold evaluation of the 1911 is very difficult. Quite apart from its impressive history, I think the 1911 is the most ergonomically perfect pistol thus far created.