dogboye
Gold Member
- Joined
- Nov 23, 1999
- Messages
- 7,143
I love 1911's. They're beautiful pistols. Get a good engraved 1911 with some fancy grips, and you have a BBQ pistol that is unrivaled. Beautiful. And I wouldn't trust it as more than a paperweight.
I'm with you. As a 1911 owner, and a fairly active shooter watching various brands in IDPA as an RSO, my Colt 1911 is a safe queen. I know I can get one good shot out of it, but after that first shot, I don't trust it. I used to trust it implicitly, and carry it concealed. But not anymore. I've seen too many failures, and have experienced failure in mine, to trust it. It ran great for a couple thousand rounds, would feed anything, never hiccupped. And then it failed. With ball. Several times. Something went wrong. I've read that eventually any 1911 is going to experience problems with its extractor, and it will take a very experienced pistolsmith to fit a new one such that it will work correctly. I have personally witnessed failure in a 1911 Colt that had JUST RETURNED from a trip to Wilson Combat. It still failed after its second trip, albeit not as much. It could get through a couple magazines before it burped up all over itself.
That pistol, and perhaps the SIG 1911, are the only two 1911's that I would even consider buying now. They MAY work better, longer, since they use a completely different extractor setup. I've read one 1911 smith (supposedly well known and respected) say the S&W 1911 is the only one he would consider buying in the absence of his ability to continually tinker with the extractor system to keep the gun running correctly. He likes the S&W 1911, but makes his living fixing or customizing everyone's 1911 with the original extractor system.
If I were graduating and wanted to treat myself to a sidearm that could be customized, is traditional, and looks great, I personally would go for the original .45. This, or this. If you want to go old school, go OLD SCHOOL.
All that being said, the 1911 is a nice pistol. I got years out of mine with no problems, but it's benched now. Maybe someday I'll send it off to get it worked on a little to see if it can be corrected. But it will never be customized and made into a BBQ gun, unless it gets fixed and runs correctly. For me, first and foremost it has to run.
Probably not what you wanted to hear, and I'm definitely in the minority here. I will also admit that I think I've only seen one Ed Brown pistol in IDPA. I honestly do not recall it having problems. I don't think I recall ANY other 1911 in IDPA, though, that didn't have a problem at some point during the match. Problems usually being failure to extract, although I've seen others that were quite entertaining. The most common 1911's that I've seen having problems, though, are Colts and Kimbers. Kimbers are VERY popular, though, so I don't necessarily think it is a problem with Kimber as it is with the 1911, and just most of the 1911's I see are Kimbers.
Let the flames begin. If you want a 1911, more power to you. I had my itch for one, and I scratched it. And I don't plan on getting rid of my 1911. But it is pretty much just for looks now.
My idea of a $2,000 1911 is a used Glock and a trio of Battle Mistress'........
Don't get me wrong, they are nice guns (to look at) but what do they really buy you over a $400 Glock, M&P, etc?
Seriously, you can buy a tier one military grade rifle for less than $2,000.......
I'm with you. As a 1911 owner, and a fairly active shooter watching various brands in IDPA as an RSO, my Colt 1911 is a safe queen. I know I can get one good shot out of it, but after that first shot, I don't trust it. I used to trust it implicitly, and carry it concealed. But not anymore. I've seen too many failures, and have experienced failure in mine, to trust it. It ran great for a couple thousand rounds, would feed anything, never hiccupped. And then it failed. With ball. Several times. Something went wrong. I've read that eventually any 1911 is going to experience problems with its extractor, and it will take a very experienced pistolsmith to fit a new one such that it will work correctly. I have personally witnessed failure in a 1911 Colt that had JUST RETURNED from a trip to Wilson Combat. It still failed after its second trip, albeit not as much. It could get through a couple magazines before it burped up all over itself.
Ok....didn't want to get involved since I'm not a 1911 owner.
But.... The S&W 1911sc E series is THE looker, my taste mind you. I know that it had its problems, when it was first introduced. I hope that S&W got it all worked out. Darn it!!! I lust after this one....
... Held one at a local shop last summer. Girlfriend was waiting in the car for me. The gun was the most comfortable that I've ever held. 1500$ Canadian. My GF notice a strange look on my face, as I entered my car . She asked me what the matter was. I told her and she answered " why didn't you buy it?"...... Is she sweet or what ?
2 reasons why I didn't get it... a) price at that moment.... B) most importantly was the bed press that it was getting at the time.
That pistol, and perhaps the SIG 1911, are the only two 1911's that I would even consider buying now. They MAY work better, longer, since they use a completely different extractor setup. I've read one 1911 smith (supposedly well known and respected) say the S&W 1911 is the only one he would consider buying in the absence of his ability to continually tinker with the extractor system to keep the gun running correctly. He likes the S&W 1911, but makes his living fixing or customizing everyone's 1911 with the original extractor system.
If I were graduating and wanted to treat myself to a sidearm that could be customized, is traditional, and looks great, I personally would go for the original .45. This, or this. If you want to go old school, go OLD SCHOOL.
All that being said, the 1911 is a nice pistol. I got years out of mine with no problems, but it's benched now. Maybe someday I'll send it off to get it worked on a little to see if it can be corrected. But it will never be customized and made into a BBQ gun, unless it gets fixed and runs correctly. For me, first and foremost it has to run.
Probably not what you wanted to hear, and I'm definitely in the minority here. I will also admit that I think I've only seen one Ed Brown pistol in IDPA. I honestly do not recall it having problems. I don't think I recall ANY other 1911 in IDPA, though, that didn't have a problem at some point during the match. Problems usually being failure to extract, although I've seen others that were quite entertaining. The most common 1911's that I've seen having problems, though, are Colts and Kimbers. Kimbers are VERY popular, though, so I don't necessarily think it is a problem with Kimber as it is with the 1911, and just most of the 1911's I see are Kimbers.
Let the flames begin. If you want a 1911, more power to you. I had my itch for one, and I scratched it. And I don't plan on getting rid of my 1911. But it is pretty much just for looks now.
