My first pistol I ever shot was a Crossman 1911 single pump BB gun. Pull the slide back and it shot, pull the slide back and push it back in, and it really shot! But neither could stick a BB in a stale cake donut at 20 feet, let alone hit it consistantly. Second was a real USMC issue M1911A1 in Infantry Training School. I swear that 1911 was made in 1911...The barrel was so loose you could stick your finger in it and rattle it about 1/16 of an inch in every direction! I shot sharpshooter, 1 short of expert with that relic and every 4th round "stove piped" or didnt eject cleanly, hanging up in the port sticking straight up, giving me a "buy" for every rapid fire round. Im suprised I scored that high, with only 50 rounds of familiarization firing in the morning, chow and then qualifying. I fired the M9 much later when it came into service and it was like shooting a cap gun, extremely docile, comfortable grip and better sights. If anyone can go "unc" with that pea shooter, they dont deserve the Eagle, Globe and Anchor!
2 days before I got out, my roommate still owed me 100 bucks for getting him a lockout in his car, and all he could do was give me his piece. I took it sight unseen only to find out it was a prestine S&W model 29 .44 mag with a 8 3/8 barrel, lined case, 2 speedloaders, Pachmayr grips and a full box of Remingtons. Not bad for a $100 marker. I sold it to the UPS guy for 3 bills as I had no paperwork, never fired it.
