What kind of <bleep> critters you talkin about??
There's some 1911 fans around here going to take much offense at that statement. :twak:
Personally, as a general rule I'm against selling guns for financial reasons.
So, working from that bias, and assuming the "war at home" implies there's a Mrs. to keep happy, I'd suggest carry the .357 you have, and leave the 1911 with said Mrs to handle any softer/squishier "critters" that venture too close to the house.
I know, it goes against the general urge to buy a new gun.
That's my $.02 worth.
The critters include mountain lions, bears and lesser species (including the two-legged kind). I'm not worried about the latter. It's the former two that makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up. I've been followed by two mountain lions before while dragging my kill back to the truck. As other members have stated in other posts, that is NOT a comforting feeling. I know the 1911 will dispatch a kitty (and the lessers), whether in Colorado or NM. I don't plan to hunt with a pistol. I do, however, intend to make it home relatively unscathed if I do have a close encounter.
I'm not looking to do this for financial reasons. I agree that is a permanent solution to a short-term problem. Been there, done that and regretted it. I just can't afford to get a 6" revolver in any caliber without first selling something in the rack.
The SKS shoots pretty well - torso hits to 150 yards. She'll probably hit the same in the 200 - 250 yard range, but I've never tested her beyond 150. I'm very familiar with the .357 platform. I carried the 586 on duty for almost 8 years and won several matches with it. I do, however, feel more comfortable with the 1911. For those who remember, I go through this conundrum every year around this time. I'm always looking to improve the utility of what I've got.