How reliable is the 1911 platform?

I've had a couple of 1911's. Both Colts. One a full size GM, the other (current) a Commander. Both worked.

That doesn't mean they NEVER malfunctioned, but it means they both worked well enough that I can say I never had a "problem" with them. The GM I shot a lof of handloads in. Those handloads were put up using a little Lee Loader, with a plastic mallet. I'm sure there was one that was "off" once in a while.

The Commander has malfunctioned several times. Always the same thing. The last round in the magazie would jam. I've actually forgotten just what it would do now, but it was tracked down to one particular magazine. The others have never bobbled. The "bad" magazine has been relegated to "range use only."

I think everyone who has experience with 1911's learns early that the magazine is a critical part of the system. There are lots of manufacturers of 1911 magazines, and not all work well with all 1911's. You need to find a gun/mag combination that works well.

Other platforms function fine with MIM parts and cost under $900. In a sense, you are saying that the 1911 is not a reliable platform.

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Well at least you didn't put any words in my mouth.

By following your logic, I suppose I should expect the 1911 design to work with plastic trigger parts just because a Glock was designed that way from the start?

It makes zero difference what any other platform that utilizes MIM components does or does not do. Many of them were designed from the start with MIM components and plastic parts as part of the package. The 1911 was not. In actuality, MIM is less the issue in 1911s than in making the part to proper dimensions, and using some degree of care in assembly and quality inspection. This is where the "short cut" manufacturers fall down on the job.

Guns are no different than any other product. When you start deviating from the correct materials and processes that were specified in the original design, that's when problems start.

After reading your last comment I can't help but get the feeling that in starting this thread you were less interested in seeking information than you were in throwing some bait overboard to see if the sharks begin circling.

My SA GI does okay. It's been fed a lot of reloads so I don't know how much of its indigestion was my fault. It's been nowhere near as reliable as my Glocks, but they've always had fresh factory ammo.

More reliable than my Glocks.

I have never had a 1911 fail me and it not be my fault. I've owned 16 of them in a 13 year period. I love the platform. It's the best one for me and thats all that counts.

Father Knows Best, just FYI. Everyone of the 1911's I've owned have been Springfield Armory, S&W, or Kimber. And as a Range officer I've seen more 1911's have FTF, FTE, FRTB, and so on than any other guns. It really gets old when your experience is different than someone elses and they attempt to cast dispersions on your statements. Apparently don't have the good sense to realize even thouh they may have had good luck with their purchases others have not. Just go over to the 1911 forum and do a search on FTF, FTE, FTRTB, and so on. Especially check out the Kimber forum. They have a whole thread on common Kimber problems. Of course I'm sure all these people are just making these things up to destroy the 1911's sterling reputation. Yeah, right.