[Slater]

I've heard a lot of negative opinions on this particular brand of 1911 with regards to manufacturing quality and reliability. Never actually handled one myself, or even seen one for sale in a gun store. Anyone here ever own/shoot one of these?

[mtnbkr]

A friend of mine has one. I can't speak to the accuracy, but it was good enough for plinking cans when I shot it. She did have an ejection problem with it, but that was fixed by a trip to the gunsmith. Since I didn't (and still don't) know much about 1911's, I don't recall the exact repair (I think he lowered the ejection port), but it worked and the gun has been reliable since. If the price was right, I'd buy one.

Chris

[Tamara]

I had one some years back. Not real reliable with anything but ball, and the fitting was abysmal (I've seen better Norincos.) Rumor has it that things have improved dramatically since Kahr took over, but I haven't spent any time with one of the newer ones.

[El Tejon]

Gun camp rumor, but from what I've seen factory AOs (does not include the AOs that served as platforms for the GSP that were worked over by Robbie and Ted) have improved markedly since Kahr got involved.

In fact, one time, at gun camp, the instructor could not believe that an AO was performing without malfs. He asked the student if he could shoot it.

First time for everything.:eek:

[Detritus]

I've been asking the same question at different times and at different places for the past two years...

i have never gotten a consistent answer, and the replies tended to run along a few baisc lines..
in fact THIS thread is one of the few on the subject that hasn't made a negative comment on the Ownership of Kahr (and by extention AO) within the first three or four posts! (ie someone saying "buying from them is supporting the moonies!" :rolleyes: )

now to weed down the responses i;ve gotten that did NOT resort to "off topic" reasoning for not getting an AO..

the overal concensus seems to be that the longer Kahr has been at the helm the better the guns became, up to the point where many think they are now about even with SA. and like SA you;ll find folk that love and folk that still hate the post-kahr AO they tried.

i have two shops that i trust that have carried AO, At one the onwer says he's had less trouble out of the AOs per unit than guns from SA or other budget 1911s, but cna no longer stock them b/c they just don't "move" and he can't keep stock that doesn't sell (small shop).
the other is ambivilent about them, seems they had a falling out with Kahr not long after the quality of the AO guns was coming up and they never had more than one or two of the "post-kahr" Auto-ord 1911s in.


as for me one day i might try my luck, but my first 1911A1 is going to be a Springfield i'm just not ready to take the plunge on AO yet.

[Sean Smith]

Junk then and junk now. Avoid.

[HankL]

I can't comment on the newer ones but I bought one 3rd hand around 1981. The thing is a loose as a goose, slide slop side to side and up and down, barrel loose up and down when locked up. It's plain horrible! I don't have a round count because of the previous owners and the fact that I never really kept up with this one but it has been well used. I can confirm over 12,000 rds. It will only group 6 1/2" at 25 yds., but remember that I'm no great pistol shot, and it will feed surplus ball or 200 gr. SWC homeloads all day long if you lube and clean a bit every 200 rds. or so.
Reliability, the pistol was stock when I got it except for sights and grips. I have replaced the extractor once just because I wanted to and various springs several times. The finish is awful, after 25 years of being used and abused the pistol is showing quite a bit of holster wear.
I know I got lucky because in my early days of reloading I fed the pistol a diet of Speer 260 gr. JHP with way too much Bulls Eye behind it. :what:
Would I go buy one today? NO. Am I happy with the one I have? YES!

[AUTIGER04]

But KAHR owns them now.:uhoh:

[45auto]

I saw one at a gunshop and it didn't look bad on the outside, pretty well finished for an inexpensive mil-spec.

The problem I see in selling them is it was only $50 cheaper than a Springfield mil-spec, which is a proven gun with a forged slide and frame backed by a good company.

Prices vary of course, but it would have to be much lower to even consider and it still might be a tough decision given their reputation.