First personal exposure to a 1911

Shane333 · Mar 10, 2004

While going for a drive with the family yesterday, my wife suggested I stop by a local guns shop for fun (yeah, she's a keeper). Anyway, I chat with one of the employees about looking for a carry pistol. He suggests looking at their 1911's. I've shied away from them up to this point because they tend to be such large pistols, and I have small hands.

Well, the guy asks me to handle, dryfire, etc. several of the guns. First he showed me several Kimbers. My thoughts for each were, "great quality, great trigger, great sights, but the gun is too darn fat."

Next he shows me an simple, ugly green Springfield because he wanted to demonstrate how much more work Kimber puts into their guns. His demonstration had the opposite effect on me. As soon as I held the Springfield I noticed a difference. Maybe it's just me, but it seemed noticeably slimmer. It seemed to fit perfectly in my hand, and the balance felt better. The slide worked better for me than the Kimber pistols' did. Next thing I knew, I found myself REALLY wanting this pistol. The green didn't seem so ugly anymore.

Now I want to emphasize that I thought the Kimbers were great quality so I'm not criticizing them. The Springfield just seemed more ergonomic for my small hands.

I have some questions for those of you who are familiar with 1911's. Are the Springfield pistols really slimmer than other 1911's, or was I imagining things? Can different 1911's have a significantly different feel to them? How is the quality of the Springfields? By "quality", I mean for practical usage. I'm more concerned with everyday reliability and functionality than winning an Olympic-level competition.

Black Majik · Mar 10, 2004

I feel the same way about Kimbers being a little fatter in the butt.

To me at least, the Springfield and Colt 1911's feel noticeably slimmer, but yet I shoot better w. the Kimber.

And welcome to the world of 1911. Your life as you know it has just ended. You have seen the light

stans · Mar 10, 2004

Ditto, I'll take a Springfield over a Kimber any day of the week.

Boats · Mar 10, 2004

Ditto, I'll take a Springfield over a Kimber any day of the week.

Me too. However my next 1911 will have about a 98% chance of sporting a pony on the slide.

McNutt · Mar 10, 2004

I own a Dan Wesson 1911, but I did hold a Springfield Mil-Spec once. I knew right then that one day I would have one. I still have a few other gun purchases I need to make before then, but one day it will be mine.

Schmit · Mar 10, 2004

If you like the Kimbers (IMO better value for the $ then a Springfield) see if they have one with the Slim Line Grip Pannels. This, in itself, completely changes the feel of a 1911.

gharsh · Mar 10, 2004

I've got two Springys and they are both very reliable. I bought their Loaded model first because it had the things I wanted on a gun, all the "extras". The next one was their Mil-Spec model, not the WWII one, mine came with the black plastic grips. This one I wanted to learn how to tinker on one. Well. after a littel adjustment to the extractor on the Mil-Spec, they are both running great. I use them both for some IPSC shooting and IDPA. I was originally looking at the Glock 21 until I held the 1911. Fit my hand to a "T". Glock was way too big. Sorry to say after putting a 1911 in my hand I didn't look much further. Maybe some of the other single stack .45s would have fit as well, but I liked the 1911 style. I've never owned a Kimber, and why when these two run great. Maybe will in the future, more guns is always a plus. But for the price, I don't think I went wrong.

Now to make things interesting for you....next gun show take a look at some of the others out there, ie. Norinco, Rock Island Arms, etc. I've come to notice that a little shopping, if price is an issue, really pays off.

Good Luck.

Shane333 · Mar 10, 2004

Thanks for the responses. It's good to know that I wasn't imagining things and that different makes can have a different feel to them. Now my biggest concern is, "How do I come up with the money?" :banghead:

1911's aren't cheap, and I don't have a generous budget to work with these days.

Shane333 · Mar 10, 2004

Hey, I've another question for you 1911 gurus. Do you carry your 1911, and what is your prefered style/setup for carrying?

Sorry to ask so many questions. I've been a rifle-man, and I'm not as familiar with handguns. Come to think of it, I'm not even a veteran rifle-man. It was only a couple of years ago that I got into shooting. Better late than never, I guess.

McNutt · Mar 10, 2004

I don't have a CCW yet, but most people carry right behind their hip with the barrel pointing away from their butt. Carry it cocked and locked.

Ankeny · Mar 10, 2004

The thickness of the frame is the same, but there might be a difference in the thickness of the grip panels. Then there is the grip safety. Kimber has their own beavertail ideas but I still like them better than the military spec safety.

Springfield makes great guns, but I would never choose a mil spec Springer over a Kimber. YMMV.

Chupacabra · Mar 10, 2004

Shane, was the Kimber perhaps the Ten II High Capacity model? The grip is bigger and fatter to accomodate a few extra rounds of ammunition.

I've handled both the Springfield and Kimber, but haven't noticed a huge difference. Both felt the same and shot the same.

When I carry my Kimber, it's in an "In Waste Band" holster. It's easy cuz the 1911 is so slim! The only part that really protrudes is the grip, and even then not by much. Weight is offset by a good solid belt.

Shane333 · Mar 10, 2004

Chupacabra,

I don't know exactly what type of Kimbers they were. One of them was a competition model and had a slightly flared magazine well at the base of the grip. The salesman explained that it was meant to facilitate quick magazine changes.

It's possible the grip panels on the Kimbers were just thicker in general.

orangeninja · Mar 10, 2004

I will buy 1 and only 1 1911. It will be a Springfield Mil Spec stainless. I saw one at the gun show and loved it. The only 1911 I've ever just loved. Except for the Colt Defender, but it's not the REAL DEAL 1911.

"I feel the same way about Kimbers being a little fatter in the butt."

To the above quote: I had a girlfriend who kinda resembled that Kimber.

Swamprabbit · Mar 10, 2004

The thickness of the grip panels may account for the different feel. I found that my old walnut panels were thinner than the plastic ones that came on my last mill-spec. By the way, I have 2 mill-specs and they are great!

As for carry, I normally use a Galco paddle holster since it makes it easy to take the gun off and on. It also conceals well under longer jackets. For other occasions, I use an IWB holster. The 1911s are so slim that concealed carry is fairly easy.

Cocked & Locked is the preferred mode of carry. If you get one, commit yourself to get good training on using one and invest in plenty of ammo and range time to get familiar with it. Actually, this advice is true for any gun.

As for costs, the SA Mill-specs are really a good deal. I got my last one for $419 and have heard of others being bought for even less. They aren't as fancy as the Kimbers but you can go ahead and buy the mill-spec then, as you wish, you can have your own modifications made.

tetchaje1 · Mar 10, 2004

Uh-Oh, now you're headed down the slippery slope... :uhoh:

My 1911 collection has blossomed to 3 pistols and I am constantly on the prowl for ways to procure more of them...

...I'm not addicted...I swear...I'm not! :uhoh:

Shane333 · Mar 10, 2004

Oh sure tetchaje1.

"I'm not addicted."

That's what I keep telling my wife about my firearms purchases in general. I finally had to admit to her and myself that I am a "gun collector" and that I will probably never be satisfied with what I have.

Hmm...lets see. There's the 1911, the lever action .357, the Hawkens muzzleloader, the side by side double barrell shotgun, the two single action .357 revolvers, the M1A, the .22 for teaching my little boy to shoot in a few years,...so many guns, such a limited budget.

Chip Dixon · Mar 10, 2004

Alduro, while i'm not one to want to limit myself to only one 1911, a stainless milspec SA is a good choice if i had to be stuck with one -- i love mine. Those factory black plastic grips had to go, though. Ultra-thin cocobolo grips make this gun fit my hand and feel just right.

Chip Dixon · Mar 10, 2004

Hm, i thought i got the other picture in there.. here it is:

Andrew Wyatt · Mar 10, 2004

why the arched MSH and the thin grips? aren't those parts at cross purposes?

orangeninja · Mar 10, 2004

Chip....OHHHHHHH YEEEAAAAHHHHHH!

Thats exactly what I want. I was thinking of putting some Faux Ivory Scrimshaws on my newfound Beretta 92....you think that would be gaudy? But then what do I care? I think it would be cool. One day, when I have the time and money to invest in learning the 1911 and all its wonderful quirks, I will get 2 and get busy. Both will be milspec. Kind of a blue jeans and T shirt "lets get it on" look.

Right now I will stick to the Sigs since I was paid to learn them well and during a fight, style counts for very little. The inner tactician within me is always battling the inner gun collector. Anyone else have this problem?

Treylis · Mar 10, 2004

I own a Springfield 1911 with ultra-slim grips, and I carry it. I've been extremely pleased with the pistol, too.

Currently, I carry cocked and locked with an OWB paddle holster at about 2 o'clock that has a spare mag pouch built-in, and then a double mag pouch at 9 o'clock. I use Winchester Ranger Talons (RA45T) as my carry ammo.

boogalou · Mar 11, 2004

The inner tactician within me is always battling the inner gun collector. Anyone else have this problem?

Yeah Aduro, I have the same problem. Only with me its CZ's versus 1911's. Hey, but you should know that, I got a CZ40B from you!

By the way, thanks again, the CZ is great!

spacemanspiff · Mar 11, 2004

hey now! my kimber may have a wicked bodonkadunk, but thats cause she easiest to handle with that junk in da trunk!

she tried to slim down with alumagrips but experienced much more muzzle rise due to the grips being slippery in my paws. so now shes back to her full figured beauty.

:neener:

orangeninja · Mar 11, 2004

boogalu....don't remind me. I sure do miss that gun.

It was my favorite for the longest time.

Now I know, don't sell guns that used to be your fav....only the ones that don't live up to your expectations.

I've got to know, does it ever jam on you?

First personal exposure to a 1911

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