1911 .45 ACP Tips and Tricks

[JTQ]

Best Tip - get Jerry Kuhnhausen's book on the 1911.

The downside to the Kuhnhausen books is they were written for gunsmiths and apprentice gunsmiths. Pair those books with today's shooter, whose experience is probably with Glock's or AR's, that are essentially Lego's, and you get thousands of threads on 1911 forums that start something like this...

"I was swapping out the xxxx on my 1911, and I noticed it didn't drop right in, and I started filing on it, and now my gun is locked up. What do I do now."

For a 1911 user, and not a gunsmith, I've found the Bill Wilson 1911 Auto Maintenance Manual a little more useful.

https://www.amazon.com/Wilson-Combat-1911-Maintenance-Manual/dp/B000H7LFMS

 

[JTQ]

Because you always get folks who can't reach the slide stop with their shooting hand, and they want to install an extended slide stop, because, well, they make them so they must be good. Don't do that, use your support hand thumb to release the slide.



Also, almost nobody can reach the mag release without repositioning the gun in their hand. Save your money, don't buy thumb scoop grips.

Edit to add: I've come to the belief that John Browning intentionally put the slide stop and mag release out of reach of your shooting hand (righty) to keep you from fouling the gun while shooting.

The things you need to reach while shooting, to make the gun fire, the trigger and the thumb safety are within your reach, while the things that can stop the gun from firing, the slide lock and mag release are beyond your reach.

 

[aaaaa]

You don’t ever do a deep cleaning of your 1911? I do at least one every year.

Well, I have only had the gun for a month, so no, I have not done a deep cleaning. I don't even know what a deep cleaning consists of.

 

[unclenunzie]

It just means getting the crud out of all the little places you can't reach with a field strip. You don't have to, but you might want to.

 

[entropy]

Well, I have only had the gun for a month, so no, I have not done a deep cleaning. I don't even know what a deep cleaning consists of.

It's best to do it occasionally, to keep from having to do it after a malfunction that takes the pistol out of action.

 

[JTQ]

There is some solid logic to detail stripping the slide every now and then, so that you can clean out the firing pin channel and the extractor channel. After a whole bunch of rounds (multiple thousands), these can get gummed up and affect function.

There is less logic to detail stripping the frame. There isn't much that will get dirty and affect function. Outside of dropping your gun in the ocean, or replacing a broken part, you can probably go a lifetime and never need to detail strip the frame of a 1911.

 

[Navy87Guy]

Edit to add: PcolaDawg mentions the 1911 was designed to be carried in Condition 1. This is not true. You can carry it anyway you want, but modern techniques will almost all teach Condition 1 carry. It is the most efficient way to use the 1911, but if it's not for you, you can choose something else. Just be aware of potential problems.

I'd go as far as to say that the 1911 was designed to be carried safely in Condition 1...whether or not it is is up to the individual user.

 

[aaaaa]

further emphasis with Doug Koenig on how to grip the pistol. Note where his right hand thumb ends up.

Here I am more concerned with where his trigger finger is. Notice how little his trigger finger extends past the trigger guard:


So I need to know how to do that because either my hand is too big for this full-sized 1911 or I am holding it wrong. Look how far my finger extends past the trigger guard. It takes some finger gymnastics to get it into the guard to fire a shot.

 

[JTQ]

Here I am more concerned with where his trigger finger is. Notice how little his trigger finger extends past the trigger guard:

So I need to know how to do that because either my hand is too big for this full-sized 1911 or I am holding it wrong. Look how far my finger extends past the trigger guard. It takes some finger gymnastics to get it into the guard to fire a shot.

I don't know why there would be concern, it's just different hand sizes. However, not all guns work equally as well for all people. If you have trouble working the controls, after learning the proper way to do it, then some other gun may be better for you.

 

[Navy87Guy]

So I need to know how to do that because either my hand is too big for this full-sized 1911 or I am holding it wrong. Look how far my finger extends past the trigger guard. It takes some finger gymnastics to get it into the guard to fire a shot.

Really? Finger gymnastics? My finger extends almost to the first joint and I have no problem at all with a 1911. I also don't find it much different than any full sized pistol..

 

[trackskippy]

I normally stage my trigger finger on the end of the slide stop with my 1911's. The trigger is just below it, and the finger movement is "down", not "rearward". Less apt to have a problem with an "over travel bang" that way.

 

[entropy]

Here I am more concerned with where his trigger finger is. Notice how little his trigger finger extends past the trigger guard:
View attachment 1115351

So I need to know how to do that because either my hand is too big for this full-sized 1911 or I am holding it wrong. Look how far my finger extends past the trigger guard. It takes some finger gymnastics to get it into the guard to fire a shot.
View attachment 1115352

His finger is curved outward, yours is not.

 

[doubleh]

My recommendation:

Completely disassemble and reassemble a 1911 a couple times.

You will gain insight and knowledge retained by way too few of us. Once accomplished, tuning is super easy, and an untuned 1911 is as sinful as a Glock. Any Glock. Seriously.

That would be a complete waste of time for me as I forget things too easily now. I learned with a Ruger MK III 22/45 to have the owner's manual handy if I take it apart and I either have the manual or means to check the internet just in case anytime I do a teardown on anything.

 

[aaaaa]

It's best to do it occasionally, to keep from having to do it after a malfunction that takes the pistol out of action.

Yep, so for a carry gun, definitely a necessary task.

 

[aaaaa]

I would love to fully disassemble a 1911 if I had a spare gun to do it to and a lot of free time. I have neither.

 

[RA40]

After a bit clean the channel for the extractor and firing pin. The Blazer that I ran mine with I would clean them out after about 5-700 rounds.

 

[9mmepiphany]

So I need to know how to do that because either my hand is too big for this full-sized 1911 or I am holding it wrong.

I gave a quick glance at the pictures you've posted and noticed the first difference is that his pistol has an arched MSH while yours is flat

It takes some finger gymnastics to get it into the guard to fire a shot.

If the change of MSH doesn't address your problem, try curving your trigger finger outward a bit more. I also use the tip of the Slide Stop as an index points when I take my finger off the trigger

 

[guyfromohio]

My tip of the day….load new mags and put them away for a few days before shooting them. Any new 1911 “break-in” issues I’ve ever had have been solved by loading up the mags and letting them sit.

 

[aaaaa]

I gave a quick glance at the pictures you've posted and noticed the first difference is that his pistol has an arched MSH while yours is flat


If the change of MSH doesn't address your problem, try curving your trigger finger outward a bit more. I also use the tip of the Slide Stop as an index points when I take my finger off the trigger

Good tip, Finger on the back of the slide release pin. That works.

Probably hidden by my hand but I think mine has the curved housing. It's a 1911-A1 Series 70. Here is an image of the Field model Charles Daly 1911 that I have. A new larger grip safety/beaver tail might help too.

 

[CapnMac]

I also use the tip of the Slide Stop as an index points when I take my finger off the trigger

^^This can be be repeated^^
Best part is that it's tactile, and something you can do in the dark.

 

[9mmepiphany]

A new larger grip safety/beaver tail might help too.

Not by much, but a Long Trigger might be more comfortable

 

[DR505]

For dry firing: Once you press the trigger and the hammer goes forward, keep the trigger pressed to the rear. With your off-hand thumb manually pull the hammer all the way back and then reset the trigger. Now release the hammer...ready for the next trigger press. Makes it easier than racking the slide or thumb cocking with the trigger already forward.

 

[aaaaa]

For dry firing: Once you press the trigger and the hammer goes forward, keep the trigger pressed to the rear. With your off-hand thumb manually pull the hammer all the way back and then reset the trigger. Now release the hammer...ready for the next trigger press. Makes it easier than racking the slide or thumb cocking with the trigger already forward.

Just tried it. It is easier to cock with the trigger still depressed.

 

[Skylerbone]

Imagine my dismay. I’ve also seen women and children of the sub-100 lb variety successfully navigate the controls on a 1911. Seen as in taught. If millions of GIs did it then I think we all stand a good chance.




My suggestion would be to learn which parts are under spring pressure and will attempt to break orbit before attempting a field strip, which I feel is a necessary skill of ownership. I’d also recommend finding a set of stocks that allow enough purchase to comfortably control recoil without unnecessarily chewing on your hand or holster.

 

[aaaaa]

Imagine my dismay. I’ve also seen women and children of the sub-100 lb variety successfully navigate the controls on a 1911. Seen as in taught. If millions of GIs did it then I think we all stand a good chance.

My suggestion would be to learn which parts are under spring pressure and will attempt to break orbit before attempting a field strip, which I feel is a necessary skill of ownership. I’d also recommend finding a set of stocks that allow enough purchase to comfortably control recoil without unnecessarily chewing on your hand or holster.

Safety glasses for those flying parts too. Now that you have displayed the proper way to hold a 1911 my trigger finger situation has worsened.