Being new to the wholegun culture, ive been a sleeper in THR for quite a while. Been reading and reading about 1911's, but would like to know the overall basics. I know of the brands, Colt, Springfield, Kimber, Para Ord, Les Baer...it goes on. What common problems dealing with reliability and accuracy do you deal with and look at when considering a 1911 purchase? Is 7 rounds as high as it goes? what's to keep me (besides the pure look) from going for a USP tactical with a 10-12 capacity with a suppressor? Help!?!
1911 Newbie, help!!!
- Thread starter CB
- Start date
- Status
Sean Smith
Member
- Joined
- Dec 28, 2002
- Messages
- 4,925
Well the law might keep you from getting a suppressor depending on where you are at. 
I've got some ideas about the other stuff I'll post in a bit. Personally... and this may shock people that haven't been paying attention... I think HKs are pretty neat.
I've got some ideas about the other stuff I'll post in a bit. Personally... and this may shock people that haven't been paying attention... I think HKs are pretty neat.
sm
member
" goes? what's to keep me (besides the pure look) from going for a USP tactical with a 10-12 capacity with a suppressor? Help!?!""
First, welcome to THR. Second, to answer your question, how deep are your pockets?
For new to 1911 persons I recommend the Kimber Classic, if you can find a used series I...snag it. IMO this offers a lot of features for the money. Similar offering from other mfgs.
Being big on gun fit to shooter ( in any platform) I say handle and shoot as many different ones as can, say at a rental range.
What happens is many shoot a basic gun for a while, learn the nuances, shoot other guns and THEN and only THEN make any changes.
dsk has a nice series 80 for sale , great first gun. just one instance.
Couple of things, (some) people like me, would just as soon have for CCW a plain jane milspec, I do ever so slightly bob the hammer, smooth trigger to a crisp 4#, throat and polish bbl and feed ramp, use good mags and ammo--and that's it. For $500 one can get a reliable gun.
Makes more sense to me than $ 2k on a new gun because so and so said, or an article wrote it up. Then since these sources have no idea of what you want , hand size and the like...you spend more $ to get it the way you want.
More people get upset with a platform due to "moneypititis" than anything else-IMO. This is usually avoided by try before you buy.
First, welcome to THR. Second, to answer your question, how deep are your pockets?
For new to 1911 persons I recommend the Kimber Classic, if you can find a used series I...snag it. IMO this offers a lot of features for the money. Similar offering from other mfgs.
Being big on gun fit to shooter ( in any platform) I say handle and shoot as many different ones as can, say at a rental range.
What happens is many shoot a basic gun for a while, learn the nuances, shoot other guns and THEN and only THEN make any changes.
dsk has a nice series 80 for sale , great first gun. just one instance.
Couple of things, (some) people like me, would just as soon have for CCW a plain jane milspec, I do ever so slightly bob the hammer, smooth trigger to a crisp 4#, throat and polish bbl and feed ramp, use good mags and ammo--and that's it. For $500 one can get a reliable gun.
Makes more sense to me than $ 2k on a new gun because so and so said, or an article wrote it up. Then since these sources have no idea of what you want , hand size and the like...you spend more $ to get it the way you want.
More people get upset with a platform due to "moneypititis" than anything else-IMO. This is usually avoided by try before you buy.
XLMiguel
Member
Ah, yes, John Browning's mawsterpiece. Though you willfind an abuncance of knowledgeable folks and good (and some not so good) info here, you might also want to spend some time at 1911forum.com [http://www.1911forum.com/] to also expand your knowledge.
FWIW, several of the 1911 mfrs produce high cap variants (e.g. ParaOrd, Kimber, Wilson) or components (Caspian), and you can get 8-10 rnd mags that fit mil spec 1911's, not that there's anything wrong with the H-K (variety IS the spice of life). Some also make polymer-framed 19111's if you really have to have a plastic gun.
IMO. the reliability issues associated with 1911's come much more from the fact some people just can't resist 'tuning' or modifying a perfectly good gun. A lot of 'kitchen table' gunsmiths (with limited skills/knowledge) start fooling around, mess up the gun, and then it's all the gun's fault, and they get pi$$ed when they have to pay someone to make it right again. never mind that literally milllions of 1911's have gone to war or into other service and functioned just fine. Any decent brand of 1911 should run fine and deliver acceptable accuracy out of the box (allowing for a couple hundered rnds of initial 'break-in' in some cases). Don't bother with any mods until you've been shooting with it a good bit.
HTH, welcome to THR. Have fun with your research, and good luck with whatever you end up with.
FWIW, several of the 1911 mfrs produce high cap variants (e.g. ParaOrd, Kimber, Wilson) or components (Caspian), and you can get 8-10 rnd mags that fit mil spec 1911's, not that there's anything wrong with the H-K (variety IS the spice of life). Some also make polymer-framed 19111's if you really have to have a plastic gun.
IMO. the reliability issues associated with 1911's come much more from the fact some people just can't resist 'tuning' or modifying a perfectly good gun. A lot of 'kitchen table' gunsmiths (with limited skills/knowledge) start fooling around, mess up the gun, and then it's all the gun's fault, and they get pi$$ed when they have to pay someone to make it right again. never mind that literally milllions of 1911's have gone to war or into other service and functioned just fine. Any decent brand of 1911 should run fine and deliver acceptable accuracy out of the box (allowing for a couple hundered rnds of initial 'break-in' in some cases). Don't bother with any mods until you've been shooting with it a good bit.
HTH, welcome to THR. Have fun with your research, and good luck with whatever you end up with.
I agree with Mike in VA to an extent. Home tinking and bad gunsmithing have definately led to a great number of 1911 unreliablity stories. The other thing that adds to this is poor parts used by makers.
My suggestion for a new first 1911 is a New Roll Marked Colt Government.
Colts new guns are very nice and good looking too.
My suggestion for a new first 1911 is a New Roll Marked Colt Government.
Colts new guns are very nice and good looking too.
themic
Member
I started with a Colt Parkerized Combat Commander model. After shooting the heck out of it for years, I finally decided to get myself some new grips, new springs, and a full length guide rod. Mostly the guide rod was just for fun. Tinkering with the gun is part of the fun, as long as you're careful and aware of the risks of messing up any one of the parts.
doctorhumbert
Member
I myself have once said (I was like 18) in my youth:
"1911s are old and obsolite...."
Blasphemy!
You must try to forgive me, for only gun I've ever shot was shotguns and my father's Gluck 17.
1911s are far from obsolete, and will remain as a favorite to many for years to come.
I am now older and little wiser I now own and owned several 1911 style autos from Not so fancy Colt 1991A1, Kimber, to High end Les Baer Thunder Ranch Special.
Why do I like 1911s?
1. Best trigger among all autos
2. With so many parts available you can actually build personalized, one of kind pistol of your own.
3. .45ACP
4. slim and excellent ergonomics.
5. John Moses Browning
For your money I recommend:
Colt Series 70 1911, or Springfield Loaded Stainless
As reliable as they are, I didn't like Kimbers. don't ask....
I carry and shoot 230gr FMJ, so reliability hasn't been a much of issue for me.
"1911s are old and obsolite...."
Blasphemy!
You must try to forgive me, for only gun I've ever shot was shotguns and my father's Gluck 17.
1911s are far from obsolete, and will remain as a favorite to many for years to come.
I am now older and little wiser I now own and owned several 1911 style autos from Not so fancy Colt 1991A1, Kimber, to High end Les Baer Thunder Ranch Special.
Why do I like 1911s?
1. Best trigger among all autos
2. With so many parts available you can actually build personalized, one of kind pistol of your own.
3. .45ACP
4. slim and excellent ergonomics.
5. John Moses Browning
For your money I recommend:
Colt Series 70 1911, or Springfield Loaded Stainless
As reliable as they are, I didn't like Kimbers. don't ask....
I carry and shoot 230gr FMJ, so reliability hasn't been a much of issue for me.
Doc
Member
ah guns, new guns
I concur: Kimber is a great place to start
Les Baer one of many high end places to end of
want to tinker?? find a trashed govt model (suplus if you will)
think of gun ownership as a journey, not a choice,
I think about my NEXT gun, not the perfect gun or the only gun or a starter gun...
I concur: Kimber is a great place to start
Les Baer one of many high end places to end of
want to tinker?? find a trashed govt model (suplus if you will)
think of gun ownership as a journey, not a choice,
I think about my NEXT gun, not the perfect gun or the only gun or a starter gun...
My opinion is below. I will clue you to the fact that I have only owned one 1911 (shot a few). You can use that information to determine how may grains of salt to take with my opinion.
Reliability Issues:
Many problems are caused by poor quality magazines. As others have noted, some problems are caused by tinkering. Also, some guns just don't like some ammunition (bullet shape, tolerances, materials, ...).
Accuracy:
I personally scratch my head on this one. Don't know what makes a gun accurate besides quality, consistant manufacturing.
Magazine capacity:
There are (quality) 8 round magazines that fit flush in a standard Government frame. I have also seen larger capacity magazines that extend below the frame. 10 round seems pretty available.
Why (not) go with USP?:
The grip would feel different and the trigger would feel different. There is a different manual of arms. The gun would feel and handle different than a 1911 (better or worse is a personal opinion).
Supressor:
Regulated by the Federal Government via the National Firearms Act (NFA) of 1934 (a tax law ). The minimum requirement would be paying a transfer fee which ammounts to a registration. Also regulated or forbidden by some state statutes. Better check into the suppressor before buying one from a man on the street corner.
Reliability Issues:
Many problems are caused by poor quality magazines. As others have noted, some problems are caused by tinkering. Also, some guns just don't like some ammunition (bullet shape, tolerances, materials, ...).
Accuracy:
I personally scratch my head on this one. Don't know what makes a gun accurate besides quality, consistant manufacturing.
Magazine capacity:
There are (quality) 8 round magazines that fit flush in a standard Government frame. I have also seen larger capacity magazines that extend below the frame. 10 round seems pretty available.
Why (not) go with USP?:
The grip would feel different and the trigger would feel different. There is a different manual of arms. The gun would feel and handle different than a 1911 (better or worse is a personal opinion).
Supressor:
Regulated by the Federal Government via the National Firearms Act (NFA) of 1934 (a tax law
). The minimum requirement would be paying a transfer fee which ammounts to a registration. Also regulated or forbidden by some state statutes. Better check into the suppressor before buying one from a man on the street corner.First of all welcome to The High Road! Now lets get down to business.
One of my first handguns was a Kimber Custom and I love that gun. I have put somewhere in the neighborhood of 2000 rounds through mine and the only problems I have had were because of cheap magazines or crappy reloads. It also happens to be my carry gun. I don't know if you are looking for a carry gun or not, but I would definitely suggest you at least try a 1911.
No one gun is right for every person, but the 1911 is loved by MANY. That might be something to think about.
One of my first handguns was a Kimber Custom and I love that gun. I have put somewhere in the neighborhood of 2000 rounds through mine and the only problems I have had were because of cheap magazines or crappy reloads. It also happens to be my carry gun. I don't know if you are looking for a carry gun or not, but I would definitely suggest you at least try a 1911.
No one gun is right for every person, but the 1911 is loved by MANY. That might be something to think about.
- Status