Tactical Life Gun Magazine: Gun News and Gun Reviews
  • News
    • Police News
    • Military News
  • Guns
    • Rifles
    • Handguns
    • Shotguns
    • Special Weapons
  • Gear
    • Accessories
    • Ammo
    • Holsters
    • Knives
    • Optics & Sights
    • Suppressors
  • Lifestyle
    • Pop Culture
    • Training
  • Videos
No Result
View All Result
Tactical Life Gun Magazine: Gun News and Gun Reviews
  • News
    • Police News
    • Military News
  • Guns
    • Rifles
    • Handguns
    • Shotguns
    • Special Weapons
  • Gear
    • Accessories
    • Ammo
    • Holsters
    • Knives
    • Optics & Sights
    • Suppressors
  • Lifestyle
    • Pop Culture
    • Training
  • Videos
No Result
View All Result
Tactical Life Gun Magazine: Gun News and Gun Reviews
No Result
View All Result
 
New Year, New FREE GUN FRIDAY! Enter to WIN the Smith & Wesson and Black Hills package.

Legacy Sports’ Citadel .45ACP

Daniel T. McElrath by Daniel T. McElrath
January 4, 2015
in Accessories, Combat Handguns, Gear
0
Legacy Sports’ Citadel .45ACP
0
SHARES
77
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Overall value should always be a consideration when purchasing a firearm. While the market today offers many high-end pistols with value-added features, the smart shopper has to assess just how much value he gets from those features, and how much he is willing to pay for them.

citadel2.jpgJoining an already crowded field of M1911 semi-automatic pistols is the Citadel, manufactured in the Philippines by Armscor Precision International and imported by Legacy Sports. The Citadel is a no-nonsense, multi-purpose .45ACP handgun incorporating proven and accepted M1911 refinements while eschewing some unessential niceties found on costlier pistols.

The Citadel, like most of today’s M1911s (except a few retro mil-spec models), would have been considered “factory custom” just a few years ago. The pistol has a high-sweep beavertail grip safety with raised pad, a speed hammer and speed trigger, extended ambidextrous thumb safeties, a lowered and flared ejection port, lightly beveled magazine well flat mainspring housing, double-diamond wood grips, and snag-free sights. It is also reasonably well dehorned, with nary a sharp edge to catch clothing or gouge your hands. That is a lot of features for not a lot of money.

The Citadel also includes some not-so-common niceties like checkering on the flat mainspring housing as well as on the magazine release button and slide release lever, and front cocking serrations.

In assessing the utility of features on the Citadel, personal preference plays a huge role. Among the included features it must be said that many non-southpaws dislike ambidextrous safeties as they fear they may bump against something and deactivate the safety without realizing it. Also, while front cocking serrations look good, they may promote poor handling technique. You really shouldn’t place your hand near the muzzle, even to check the gun. The other included features of the pistol all do seem to enhance the gun’s handling and user-friendliness. We particularly liked the trigger and hammer, both of which were smoothly contoured, lightweight and handsome.

What the Citadel lacks are a few refinements currently coming into vogue, like a serrated topstrap and rear of slide to break up possible glare (though its matte parkerized finish really doesn’t reflect much, truth be told), a checkered frontstrap and tritium night sights.

Among absent features, we can really live without the serrations to the topstrap and rear of the slide. However, as most self-defense shootings occur at low light, tritium night sights are a good idea. Then again, the sights are a part that is easily swapped out and purchasing aftermarket sights allows the Citadel buyer to get exactly what he wants. 

Checkering of the frontstrap is really a toss-up. While checkering the frontstrap is generally assumed to be significantly beneficial, the matte parkerized finish of the gun and the checkering on the mainspring housing prevented the Citadel from feeling slippery in the hand. It really didn’t torque out of our grip, and our fingers didn’t resemble pin cushions after a day at the range.

The only significant quibble we had about the Citadel’s appearance was the finish, though. The parkerizing doesn’t appear to wear well, as demonstrated after just a few presentations from the holster.

How It Handles
Forgetting about the details and just handling the gun tells you much of what you really need to know. The Citadel feels good in the hand. It sits low, balances well and the recoil impulse is broadly dispersed. It’s comfortable to shoot and the controls are easy to manipulate and function as intended. 

There was a little take-up on the trigger, but not much. The trigger pull exhibited some mushiness relative to a top-end gun but quibbling over trigger pull on a defensive gun is like arguing over how many angels can tread on the head of a pin…pointless. A defensive pistol need only have a manageable trigger pull. No one in a gun fight ever remembers the quality of the trigger break. The Citadel’s trigger pull is better than expected and more than satisfactory for self-defense or even casual target shooting.

The sight picture was clean and precise with a post front and square-notch rear. The sight picture was not fast to acquire and there are better tactical set-ups out there, but the Citadel arrangement does lend itself to precision at the range. For that reason, we’d consider the Citadel for those looking for a casual target gun as well as a defensive pistol. The rear sight is adjustable in its dovetail for windage.

Disassembly of the Citadel was fast and simple. It uses a typical solid bushing and regular-length guide rod. All parts mate together nicely, meaning tolerances are tight enough for good accuracy yet allow for reliability and ease of disassembly/assembly.

Shooting Impressions
The accuracy assumptions were confirmed on the range where the sight picture helped the Citadel post very respectable figures for a tactical or general-purpose pistol.

In early testing there were three failures to go into battery, each with the last round in the magazine. The problem abated as the pistol broke in. The Citadel comes with two Italian-made 8-round magazines, cable lock, a test-fired cartridge case, manual and carrying case. 

With its wealth of proven features the Citadel represents a very good value in an M1911 pistol. It has all of the virtues of the M1911, and then some. If you’re in the market for a casual target pistol, a home defense gun or a carry gun, and especially if you’re in the market for a gun that can do all of those things, the Citadel should be on your short list.

For more information, contact: Legacy Sports International, 4750 Longley Lane, Suite 208, Dept. CH, Reno, NV 89502; 775-828-0555; www.legacysports.com.

Didn't find what you were looking for?

CLICK HERE FOR COMMENTS

RELATED POSTS

Some of the top guns and gear released at SHOT Show 2023.

30 of the Best Guns & Gear Launched at SHOT Show 2023

7 Tactical Boots from SHOT Show 2023.

The Latest Tactical Boots from SHOT Show 2023

Tactical Flashlights

10 Things to Remember When Buying a Tactical Flashlight

Remington Ammunition Issues Recall Notice on 12-Gauge Premier Accutip Ammo.

Remington Ammunition Issues a 12-Gauge Premier AccuTip Ammo Recall

Load More

TACTICAL-LIFE NIGHT SHOOTER SEASON 2

Discussion about this post

FEATURED POST

Important Safety Recall Notice Issued for CZ-USA 600 Bolt-Action Rifles.

CZ-USA Issues Important Safety Recall Notice for All 600 Bolt-Action Rifles

After learning of a potential safety issue with CZ 600 bolt-action rifles, CZ-USA has issued a safety recall notice. As...

Read more

TRENDING

U.S. Secret Service adopts Glock G47

FIRST LOOK: Glock Just Very Quietly Unveiled the New Glock 47 Pistol

...

5 new pistols launched at NASGW.

5 New Pistols Launching for 2023

...

Police Sidearms, police duty pistols, Handguns, America's Largest Police Departments 2018

Police Sidearms: The Handguns of America’s 10 Largest Departments

...

The new Smith & Wesson M&P 5.7 pistol packs 22+1.

Smith & Wesson M&P 5.7 Packs 22+1 Rounds of Firepower!

...

PICK A CATEGORY

TACTICS & TRAINING SPOTLIGHT

Tactical Reload Semi-Auto Pistol Step 8

5 Strategies For Effectively Completing a Tactical Reload

If you’re reading this publication, you’re most likely familiar with the “speed reload,” sometimes called the “combat reload” or “emergency...

TACTICS & TRAINING SHOWCASE

Fact vs. Fiction 5 Myths Gunfight Survival lead

5 Common Myths on How to Survive a Gunfight

Standing Your Ground Castle Doctrine lead

Understanding Stand Your Ground Laws and Castle Doctrine

long distance shooting tips

Long-Distance Shooting: 5 Must-Know Tips For Spotters & Shooters

IMPACT Experience Events.

IMPACT Experience Events Redefine Your Long-Range Shooting Limits

Enhance your shooting precision skills in a course with Modern Day Sniper.

Sniper Skills: Taking Your Shooting Precision to the Next Level

Once you find a carry gun that works for you, get another for a spare. These “hammerless” S&W J-frame lightweights are M340 M&P with Hogue Bantam grips, top, and a M442 Airweight with Crimson Trace Lasergrips, below.

10 Commandments of Concealed Carry

self-defense myths can be dangerous

Self-Defense Myths that Could Get you Killed

Mossberg 590 Shockwave review for home defense myths

4 Home Defense Myths You Need to Stop Repeating

The Dicken Drill is named for Eli Dicken who saved many lives in the Greenwood Mall

The Elisjsha Dicken Drill

AMMO SPOTLIGHT

Remington Ammunition Issues Recall Notice on 12-Gauge Premier Accutip Ammo.

Remington Ammunition Issues a 12-Gauge Premier AccuTip Ammo Recall

Remington Ammunition has recently discovered an issue related to its 12-Gauge Premier Accutip ammo and issued a recall notice. This...

site logo
Tactical Life Gun Magazine: Gun news, gun reviews and gun magazines for gun enthusiasts, military and law enforcement

Tactical

  • tactical-life.com

Magazines

  • Tactical Life
  • The Complete Book of Reloading
  • Guns of the Old West

Facebook

  • Tactical-Life Facebook
  • Guns of the Old West Facebook

Twitter

  • Tactical-Life Twitter

Self Defense

  • PersonalDefenseWorld.com

Magazines

  • Personal Defense World
  • Combat Handguns

Facebook

  • Personal Defense World Facebook
  • Combat Handguns

Twitter

  • Personal Defense World Twitter

Shooting Lifestyle

  • BallisticMag.com

Magazines

  • BallisticMag.com

Facebook

  • Ballistic Magazine Facebook

Twitter

  • Ballistic Magazine Twitter

Alpha Lifestyle

  • SkillsetMag.com

Magazines

  • Skillset

Facebook

  • Skillset Magazine Facebook

Twitter

  • Skillset Magazine Twitter

Instagram

  • Skillset Magazine Instagram
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • California Privacy Notice
  • Cookie Policy
© Athlon Outdoors, All Rights Reserved.
You use of this website constitutes and manifests your acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy, Cookie Policy, and awareness of the California Privacy Rights. Pursuant to U.S. Copyright law, as well as other applicable federal and state laws, the content on this website may not be reproduced, distributed, displayed, transmitted, cached, or otherwise used, without the prior, express, and written permission of Athlon Outdoors.

Manage your GDPR consents by clicking here. Manage your CCPA consents by clicking here.
No Result
View All Result
  • Guns
    • Rifles
    • Handguns
    • Shotguns
  • Knives
  • Gear
    • Holsters
    • Optics & Sights
    • Accessories
    • Ammo
    • Suppressors
  • News
    • Police News
    • Military News
  • Videos
  • Contact Us

© 2023 JNews - Premium WordPress news & magazine theme by Jegtheme.