If you are going to get a .45ACP, might as well make it a 1911, if you are going to shoot.45ACP a lot you will buy a 1911 down the road anyhow so you might as well do it right the first time and buy a 1911.The 1911 is the Chevy Small Block of handguns- there is a vast array of aftermarket parts for them and you can modify them to do any specialized purpose that you can dream up. I'd reccomend a springfield milspec as an entry level pistol, or a Springfield Loaded or a kimber as a midlevel pistol, Ed Brown, Les Baer or Valtro if you have some big $$$$s to spend