chieftain
Member
I had put the my Colts aside for a lot of years, since my service time in the 60's and 70's. I had gone back to my revolvers, and shot Bullseye/2700 with my Model 14 S&W.
Carried a S&W model 10 for a while and went to a model 66 3" barrel when they became available for carry purposes.
In the late 80's became interested in non-1911 jammamatics. Got one of them brand new Glocks at a right price, model 17. Nope the magazines couldn't keep up with the rest of the pistol. Kept looking and I joined a Dept using SIG's. Got a good deal on my own SIG 26. Liked it, but still not quite what I wanted, for myself.
Found the SIG 220. Really liked it, in my 226 I put in a Factory short trigger, of course there was no factory short trigger for the 220 in those days, so I got one of them from TJ's.
Then I learned about the Trigger bar spring problems all the single stack SIG's had problems with in those days. Both the 220 and 225 (In Europe called the P6). Of course when you ran the 225 hard it also had fundamental magazine problems too. (not for this thread)
Anyway, the double stack SIG's (226/228 and later the 229) did not have the same breakage problem with the trigger bar spring. (Later the 239 was the first SIG single stack using a full coil trigger bar spring and finally addressing the problem)
Anyway, that solved the 220 problem for me. I went to the SIG 228, and stayed with that for many years. My carry SIG 228 has over 37,500 rounds through it, stone reliable.
About 10 years ago my medical condition caused me to give up my 228. So I am back with the first semi auto handgun I ever shot, the 1911. Only have 12 of them these days. (down to 4 SIG's)
My own take is about the afore mentioned 'Ergonomics' they are good, but one of the very unique qualities of the 1911, is the ability to customize the 'fit' better than any other handgun out there to the shooter.
With my problems in my hands, it took a while to finally get where I wanted to be. I use a Short C&S smooth & rounded trigger, not quite as short as some. I use original 'Gunner' grips. I use an extended Ed Brown Mag release, and most of my 1911's wear an Ed Brown Tactical single sided safety that I fit myself. If it is a competition toy, it will usually have a Smith & Alexander MainSpringHousing/Magazine well fitted by me, and if not and it originally came with a "composite" or poorly carried out "regular" mainspring housing, I usually fit an Ed Brown copy too. (Wilson and EGW etal, are very good small parts too, I just prefer subjectively Ed Brown's stuff for most applications in MY guns.)
Now MY 1911's fit me to a "T". There are other things too.
For me I have used the 1911 multiple times in combat in Vietnam. I also used a model 10 or Victory S&W too, in Vietnam. I have found the old adage, "if it works, don't change it."
It works, and has stood the test of time. I like new Glocks too (seem to have solved at least the worst of their magazine problems), but I just can't get them fitted to ME, comfortably.
All my guns are reliable. Among my other assignments at one time in the Corps I was a Marine DI back in 1971. I take weapons maintenance very, very, very seriously. Change springs and other recommended parts on schedule. I have many of the young Bloods around me doing it too. Get a used gun of any marque, and it will get new springs before firing it. Cheap insurance. Even many new guns guns will get what I feel are better springs. I replace all my 1911 mainsprings with known 23 lb wolf springs (many factories cheat and put light springs in) And the original manufactorers recoil spring will be replaced at 1000 rounds with an 18 -181/2 lb wolf recoil spring.
Amazing how all those occasional hiccups go away when you maintain your guns properly. Regardless of brand, I change my Glock springs annually too. It's cheap insurance.
Anyway that's why I like the 1911. By the way, I like my Highpowers too, but they don't quite fit like my 1911's.
Even fitted a Colt Combat Elite for my 4'11" 100lb youngest daughter too. Very short Colt trigger, Low ride GunSite Single side safety, Stock grip safety was Okay, Ed Brown MainSpringHousing, and Navidrex (very) thin grips with appropriate thin bushings and grip screws. Fits her like a charm, "Don't mess with Daddy's little Girl."
Much better than usual 1911 thread. Sorry if I wondered some. Tend to do that a lot these days.
Good luck
Fred
Carried a S&W model 10 for a while and went to a model 66 3" barrel when they became available for carry purposes.
In the late 80's became interested in non-1911 jammamatics. Got one of them brand new Glocks at a right price, model 17. Nope the magazines couldn't keep up with the rest of the pistol. Kept looking and I joined a Dept using SIG's. Got a good deal on my own SIG 26. Liked it, but still not quite what I wanted, for myself.
Found the SIG 220. Really liked it, in my 226 I put in a Factory short trigger, of course there was no factory short trigger for the 220 in those days, so I got one of them from TJ's.
Then I learned about the Trigger bar spring problems all the single stack SIG's had problems with in those days. Both the 220 and 225 (In Europe called the P6). Of course when you ran the 225 hard it also had fundamental magazine problems too. (not for this thread)
Anyway, the double stack SIG's (226/228 and later the 229) did not have the same breakage problem with the trigger bar spring. (Later the 239 was the first SIG single stack using a full coil trigger bar spring and finally addressing the problem)
Anyway, that solved the 220 problem for me. I went to the SIG 228, and stayed with that for many years. My carry SIG 228 has over 37,500 rounds through it, stone reliable.
About 10 years ago my medical condition caused me to give up my 228. So I am back with the first semi auto handgun I ever shot, the 1911. Only have 12 of them these days. (down to 4 SIG's)
My own take is about the afore mentioned 'Ergonomics' they are good, but one of the very unique qualities of the 1911, is the ability to customize the 'fit' better than any other handgun out there to the shooter.
With my problems in my hands, it took a while to finally get where I wanted to be. I use a Short C&S smooth & rounded trigger, not quite as short as some. I use original 'Gunner' grips. I use an extended Ed Brown Mag release, and most of my 1911's wear an Ed Brown Tactical single sided safety that I fit myself. If it is a competition toy, it will usually have a Smith & Alexander MainSpringHousing/Magazine well fitted by me, and if not and it originally came with a "composite" or poorly carried out "regular" mainspring housing, I usually fit an Ed Brown copy too. (Wilson and EGW etal, are very good small parts too, I just prefer subjectively Ed Brown's stuff for most applications in MY guns.)
Now MY 1911's fit me to a "T". There are other things too.
For me I have used the 1911 multiple times in combat in Vietnam. I also used a model 10 or Victory S&W too, in Vietnam. I have found the old adage, "if it works, don't change it."
It works, and has stood the test of time. I like new Glocks too (seem to have solved at least the worst of their magazine problems), but I just can't get them fitted to ME, comfortably.
All my guns are reliable. Among my other assignments at one time in the Corps I was a Marine DI back in 1971. I take weapons maintenance very, very, very seriously. Change springs and other recommended parts on schedule. I have many of the young Bloods around me doing it too. Get a used gun of any marque, and it will get new springs before firing it. Cheap insurance. Even many new guns guns will get what I feel are better springs. I replace all my 1911 mainsprings with known 23 lb wolf springs (many factories cheat and put light springs in) And the original manufactorers recoil spring will be replaced at 1000 rounds with an 18 -181/2 lb wolf recoil spring.
Amazing how all those occasional hiccups go away when you maintain your guns properly. Regardless of brand, I change my Glock springs annually too. It's cheap insurance.
Anyway that's why I like the 1911. By the way, I like my Highpowers too, but they don't quite fit like my 1911's.
Even fitted a Colt Combat Elite for my 4'11" 100lb youngest daughter too. Very short Colt trigger, Low ride GunSite Single side safety, Stock grip safety was Okay, Ed Brown MainSpringHousing, and Navidrex (very) thin grips with appropriate thin bushings and grip screws. Fits her like a charm, "Don't mess with Daddy's little Girl."
Much better than usual 1911 thread. Sorry if I wondered some. Tend to do that a lot these days.
Good luck
Fred
