1911 and new user?

[el Godfather]

Dear THR:
I recently gave one of my pistols, a 1911a1 Springfield as gift to a close associate. He is completely new to the 1911. He has been carrying a beretta 92 before. I gave him a small tutorial on disassembly and reassembly, as well as on safety features. However, I noticed that he was struggling in all departments. I know in time he will be fine, but my question is whether 1911 is somewhat more difficult for the new user compared to some other pistols like sig, glock, etc.

When answering this please consider maintenance as well as shooting and carrying a 1911 with live ammo in chamber.

Thanks

 

[19-3Ben]

I believe it is. More safeties to think about, and with the light SA trigger, it's easier to have a ND if you don't know what you're doing. Not to say that it's the gun's fault. It's the duty of the person carrying/holding it to operate it safely.

It would definitely not be my choice of a gift to give to someone who was not familiar with the platform.

 

[B!ngo]

I'll offer a differing view. The 1911 is a more complicated design to service with the front spring release and the potential idiot scratch.
But that said it would seem that the recipient is an experienced gun owner and carries a gun that has a safety and can be carried cocked and locked. So it would seem that he is experienced enough to train and operate the gun.
The only issue it seems is whether he is competent enough to service the gun and for this, like anyone else, there is a first time with a 1911 for each owner. Unless he is really lacking in mechanical aptitude, it seems like a great, generous and appropriate gift to me.
B

 

[wow6599]

Chances that he (you?) gives it an idiot scratch the first time reassembling it?

100%

Cocked and locked isn't for everyone. That's all on him, and what his comfort level is.

 

[9mmepiphany]

From a maintenance level the 1911 is much harder to field strip than a SIG or Beretta...that is one of the primary attractions of newer designs.

Lock back slide > rotate takedown lever > release slide > remove recoil spring and barrel is just easier than...

Removing the bushing and recoil spring plug > aligning the slide stop > pulling it out of the frame > before removing the barrel and recoil spring through the front. Lining up the link for reassembly takes a bit of practice too.

On the other hand, detailed disassembly of the 1911 is much easier than either of the above. The only modern gun that comes close to the 1911 is the Glock

 

[peacemaker45]

It's different from what he's used to, yes. They means he may fumble around a bit at first, but it's not like the 1911 is rocket science. If he's got a brain at all, he'll catch on.

 

[2wheels]

Learning to field strip the 1911 takes a few tries for most people, but as Mat said... It's not rocket science.

As for shooting and carrying it, the 1911 has its own unique manual of arms that needs to be learned but I don't believe it's really any more difficult than anything else.

 

[9mmepiphany]

but it's not like the 1911 is rocket science.

I'd agree with this.

Anything that can be taught to a room full of LEO is half an hour can't be too complicated...it was one of the requirements to carry a semi-automatic pistol on my former department

 

[Maverick6652]

YouTube and 1911 newbies

There are several YouTube videos on disassembly and maintenence of the 1911.... Some are good

 

[BYJO4]

There is no reason why he cannot adapt to the 1911. You stated he is experienced with semi autos and carries one at this time. While this is a different platform, it shouldn't take much on his part to properly handle it.

 

[gym]

Some people are not mechanical. It's that simple. I have met some who didn't shoot their gun so they wouldn't have to clean it.

 

[Daytona TTA]

I have been a member for a couple years now. Mostly I search, read and learn and don't post but in this case I will. I'm ex-LEO and the 1911 was a carry option for us as well. I also carried the Beretta Vertec 96 in Inox which I still own both and I must say these two handguns are my favorites.

The 1911 platform has been in my family since WWII and we have several variations of size, caliber and make. If the first weapon a person ever has is a 1911,,,he will be a master at most everything else. If the 1911 is one acquired after other models as in this case,,a whole new love affair with handguns will evolve.

1911, once trained, is among the safest handguns a person can have. Every weapon is dangerous, but only as dangerous as the person using it. His present experience and knowledge will over come his or your uncertainty and this will be one the best gifts anyone can have. NO gun collection is complete without a 1911 and nobody should be denied of having the experience of owning one. This may be his first,,,but it won't be his last.

 

[Okiegunner]

Well said...

 

[Fremmer]

It gets easier after the 3rd or 4th time, it gets to be a pretty simple process.

 

[Fiv3r]

It really does take a little while to wrap your muscle memory around a single action 1911 if you've mostly dealt with da and decockers. I've grown to love and favor the old warhorse over more modern designs, but i can see where that light crisp single action trigger can raise hairs for those used to heavy pulls.

I recently purchased a loaded model springer and i certainly have to be VERY aware of the lightly tuned trigger. That said, 5lb or < 3lb, finger off the trigger and the safety clicked up and all should be fine.

 

[hentown]

I'd just recommend that the OP take a couple of Paxils and let his friend enjoy that 1911. As complex as a 1911 seems to be to some, it sure ain't rocket science.


If the average "Doughboy" could be taught to use and maintain a 1911, chances are just about anybody can shoot and enjoy a 1911.

Of course Glocks, etc., are easier to use. I like my 1911s, but they generally sleep in the safe while I'm at the range with my Glocks.

 

[el Godfather]

^ relax

I am not trying to harass him. It just a query that doesn't even concern him directly as he is not a member here nor any discussion here affects him in any manner.

 

[1911 guy]

Agree with the others. He'll adapt just fine, given the time and a nudge in the right direction.

The problem that causes the "fumbling around" is modern pistol designs. Rather than engineers thinking about "better", they concentrate on "easier". Thus we have a whole generation of handgun shooters that have zero experience with anything but lowest common denominator handguns. They have experience only with handguns designed for the shooter with an I.Q. exceeded by shoe size.

On the flip side, give an interested shooter a more "archaic" (requires learning something other than point and click) and they will learn quickly and then transpose those new skills to the more familiar handguns, resulting in an overall higher level of proficiency.

 

[Fiv3r]

I've never been able to wrap my head around people thinking the safety on the 1911 is hard to get used to.

I cut my teeth on a glock then got into sa pistols. I now sweep off an imaginary safety on my glock. Either way, when i draw I'm ready to fire.

 

[Foto Joe]

I now sweep off an imaginary safety on my glock.

Yup


Although for those of us who carry 1911's and actually know how the inards works it isn't an issue but for those that don't, the thought of carrying a cocked gun aimed at their leg gives them them palpitations. I've got a good friend that just can't wrap his head around the fact that 1911's are designed to be carried in that way.

For the record...anyone who thinks that the safety on a 1911 is complicated to use probably shouldn't reproduce.

 

[9mmepiphany]

I actually have a different problem with the safeties on a 1911.

While I grew up with a 1911 and can sweep the thumb safety off (I can even sweep slide mounted ones consistently), the grip safety will sometimes give me fits.

It wasn't an issue when I was a newer shooter and didn't know to keep my thumb on the thumb safety, but as my technique incorporated attaining a higher grip on the backstrap, deactivating the grip safety started to become an issue.

I found that if you grasp as high as you can on the backstrap, you will often push the beavertail upward, which will in turn lever the grip safety outward and engage it. Now I understand why many of the faster shooters of days gone by used to pin their grip safeties down.

SAFETY NOTE: DO NOT DISABLE ANY SAFETY DEVICE ON YOUR PISTOLS

This is the reason I'm looking at adding a Grayguns Hardtail modification to my next 1911 build

 

[Baba Louie]

Lets see... Beretta 92 v 1911... (don't even do the 9mm v. .45 thing)

Safety switch is all wrong and could throw him off for a time or two. Slide v. frame, up v. down.

Seriously, that's about it (and why I prefer my Taurus PT92/99 to my Beretta 92 truth be told). But that too can be overcome with practice practice and more practice should the owner decide to enjoy the newer old format.