Why Own A 1911?

Why I choose to carry and compete with a 1911, Commander-style:

Owned, carried and practiced with revolvers and semi-automatics, made in this and other countries, made with plastic or aluminum or steel, toted about in holsters, pouches and pockets in .22 lr, .25 acp, .32 acp, .380, .38 spl, 9x19 mm calibers for almost thirty years before I ever laid a hand on a 1911 pattern pistol.

And with that first experience, I had a religion-quality epiphany of .45 acp caliber enlightenment. The way it fit my hand. The way it balanced. The way it handled recoil. The way the SA trigger felt. I felt like Smeagol holding the Ring.

Sometimes you choose the gun and sometimes, if you're very lucky, the gun chooses you.

Name another firearm still in production with 101 years of service, essentially in the same configuration it started.

Pump action shotgun?

The Model 1911 has been made since 1911 and is still essentially the same gun, in production and in service one way or another for 101 years. Name another specific model?

Slim, 5" barrel, 8+1 aint bad, and SAO accuracy. My 1911 is my least used pistol, but it would the last to go as well. That and my 870.

MrDig said:

The Model 1911 has been made since 1911 and is still essentially the same gun, in production and in service one way or another for 101 years. Name another specific model?

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You said firearm.

My first pistol was a Colt Govt. Model, it had an Argentine rollmark on top of the slide. Cost $180 at a pawn shop in 1974, I'm not gonna embarrass myself by telling what I traded it for. The 1911 is the pistol we've all seen, wanted, owned and shot. They are America wrapped up in steel and wood and it slings a big ole bullet. It's good to see the new popularity of it, now lots more folks are finding out what it really is. I carry one of mine each trip to the range with whatever else goes, always like shootin' it.

Not all "non-plastic guns" are 1911's. I'm curious too. What does a 1911 have that my W. German Sig P220 doesn't? The CZ97?

Grip safety? Single action (only) trigger?

the 1911 is a fighters gun. shoots straight and looks good. a real thumper that does the job needed to keep you in the game. looks good,feels good , shoots good. it is pure art in function and form. maybe when we invent the laser pistol; we can say the 1911 is outdated. azrn

What does a 1911 have that my W. German Sig P220 doesn't?

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Pretty much nothing - I fully respect the P220 and would not call the 1911 pattern gun better than some other available firearms. Good we can have both, or several. I also have a Taurus 24/7 in 45 acp than I have no intention of getting read of.

The appeal of the 1911 does not have to be at the expense of anything else, nor vs anything else. It stands tall in a good neighbor hood, looks right at home beside a glass of Scotch, a good cigar, a fireplace, and an old dog. That's what makes it part of what it is (classic), and as popular as what it is.

Not to mention its a proven damn good tool.

Because it's the state gun.

Because we just clicked over the 100 year anniversary.

Because Para is building commemorative pistols for my unit's recent deployment.

Because I wanted a wide-frame for open-carry.

Because I wanted a hi-cap for competition.

These are the reasons for my most recent one.

To experience the standard in trigger and accuracy by which all other pistols shall be measured...

Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Thats the main reason

There's nothing better for practicing various failure drills.

Because the 1911 is such that you can have it as a custom gun with guaranteed accuracy level you could never get in a mass produced pistol. You can buy the performance and level of quality you want, from an import copy to a Les Baer or Wilson Combat or other High End pistols that have world class performance features. The 1911 is in a class of it's own plus 100 years of refinement behind the design . Try getting this from any other design.

Fatdaddy said:

There's nothing better for practicing various failure drills.

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At a recent IDPA match we had shooters load an empty case to induce a failure. On my stage all but two failed to feed the empty...the two 1911 shooters.

EddieNFL said:

At a recent IDPA match we had shooters load an empty case to induce a failure. On my stage all but two failed to feed the empty...the two 1911 shooters.

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So they did not have to pull the slide back as far as the others. I would say that is a nice feature

At a recent IDPA match we had shooters load an empty case to induce a failure. On my stage all but two failed to feed the empty...the two 1911 shooters.

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I don't see how feeding or not feeding a empty case to be a big deal. I'm surprised other 45s would feed them, but not shocked. The feed ramps generally prefer ball nosed ammo, and for sure not a blunt end sharp case.

Now if you really wanted to throw in various feeding failures, I'd load some magazines with snap caps, something that will guarantee to feed but not go bang. AND some other blanks or empty cases with deliberately kinked cases to create a 3 point jamb or other jamb. You want the shooter to be able to react to different failure modes, not just, NO BANG.

EddieNFL said:

On my stage all but two failed to feed the empty...the two 1911 shooters.

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Greg528it said:

I'm surprised other 45s would feed them

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Unless Eddie is using fractured english, the ONLY pistols that fed the empties were the two 1911's - all the rest failed.

There are many reasons I own one and going into all that is repetitive and redundant to all the positive posts above.

1911, because it really seems to irritate some people's kids..

Hell, I'll make that my new sig line.

Because when I took off to sail to some of the more remote places, my best friend handed me his Colt .45acp and said, "you should have one of these, just like when you were in the service."

I always trusted my friend, he always gave me great advice.


[And I have a SIG P226 for back up ]

Thor was buried with his hammer, that's why.

1911, because it really seems to irritate some people's kids..

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plus 1

Unless Eddie is using fractured english, the ONLY pistols that fed the empties were the two 1911's - all the rest failed.

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You're right, I read it 2 times. swear he meant to say the 1911s fed them,

two failed to feed the empty...the two 1911 shooters.

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it was easy to miss the BUT