H
Handy
Guest
I know I'm making a terrible name for myself, but anyway.
There are two current threads about specific 1911 parts and their effect on reliability. There are many viewpoints, but I've kind of distilled them to this:
1. 1911 mags are tricky. Many posters trust ONLY the one high end aftermarket brand (Wilson), and throw out the stock mags that come with their Kimber, Colt, etc. Along with that, there are many tools and replacement followers offered to adjust the feeding of standard 1911 mags.
2. The one piece, flexing, internal extractor. Called by some "the weak link", this part usually works, but is entirely unusual in also being "tunable". Also, this part, like the mags, varies greatly in quality, and some even make the claim that there is only one aftermarket brand (C&S) that is of proper spring steel construction.
Add to that the other items that tend to be discussed when a 1911 reliability issue comes up, like breech face polish or throating.
And none of these things are issues with other very similar pistols. Consider, for instance, the .45 Sig 220 and Ruger P90. The best mag for both actually comes from the factory, but most aftermarkets work well too.
There is no way to "adjust" extraction in these guns. If these guns don't extract, it is because the extractor is dirty, or broken. Cleaning or replacement fixes the problem.
Nor have I ever heard anyone suggest that someone polish the breech face of a jamming Ruger, or throat its barrel.
I guess my question, which I pose for discussion, is how a pistol with so many variables relating to its reliability, gets a reputation for reliability. In other words, the 1911 will run well IF... and the list of IFs is kind of long.
My 'glass half empty' guess is that the typical 1911 isn't so reliable, but is so admired for its shooting/handling characteristics that a certain degree of finickyness is excused. People drive Jaguars, after all.
I do pose this mainly for the discussion; I've made my points. I'm also familiar with the 1911s performance in DOD use, but those weapons are not really available to the public anymore, so it might be best to discuss current models only. Thanks.
There are two current threads about specific 1911 parts and their effect on reliability. There are many viewpoints, but I've kind of distilled them to this:
1. 1911 mags are tricky. Many posters trust ONLY the one high end aftermarket brand (Wilson), and throw out the stock mags that come with their Kimber, Colt, etc. Along with that, there are many tools and replacement followers offered to adjust the feeding of standard 1911 mags.
2. The one piece, flexing, internal extractor. Called by some "the weak link", this part usually works, but is entirely unusual in also being "tunable". Also, this part, like the mags, varies greatly in quality, and some even make the claim that there is only one aftermarket brand (C&S) that is of proper spring steel construction.
Add to that the other items that tend to be discussed when a 1911 reliability issue comes up, like breech face polish or throating.
And none of these things are issues with other very similar pistols. Consider, for instance, the .45 Sig 220 and Ruger P90. The best mag for both actually comes from the factory, but most aftermarkets work well too.
There is no way to "adjust" extraction in these guns. If these guns don't extract, it is because the extractor is dirty, or broken. Cleaning or replacement fixes the problem.
Nor have I ever heard anyone suggest that someone polish the breech face of a jamming Ruger, or throat its barrel.
I guess my question, which I pose for discussion, is how a pistol with so many variables relating to its reliability, gets a reputation for reliability. In other words, the 1911 will run well IF... and the list of IFs is kind of long.
My 'glass half empty' guess is that the typical 1911 isn't so reliable, but is so admired for its shooting/handling characteristics that a certain degree of finickyness is excused. People drive Jaguars, after all.
I do pose this mainly for the discussion; I've made my points. I'm also familiar with the 1911s performance in DOD use, but those weapons are not really available to the public anymore, so it might be best to discuss current models only. Thanks.