1911 - Why didn't anyone tell me??

[ApacheCoTodd]

Shhhh!

You'll let the secret out and all the max-cap, synth junkies might take a closer look, start buying and drive the prices up and availability down.

While I'm Colt dizzy - kudos to you for diving into the 1911 waters with a Sig. Pile up on Mecgar mags, reloading components and have fun.

Try to control modifying it until you reach plateaus in your performance. One of the great things about 1911s is that all is already known and you can improve the pistol incrementally as (and in conjunction with) your own skill increases.

Excess early mods often lead to failed expectations and disappointment.

The fact that Sig (among others) is making brand new versions of a century old design speaks volumes to its real world validity despite the legion of shooters, writers, and politicians who have bent their forks on the gun.

 

[herkyguy]

Thanks. It will be a while before i change anything. I've shot a good amount with other guns and nothing came close to what that Sig will do. If anything, I'd probably pick up another 1911 before messing with this one just to start trying to figure out how different options play out.

 

[Tirod]

The unreliability of the design seems to cross barriers - even the 9mm shooters noticed it when they switch from round nose to some sort of open tip ammo.

Hence the suggestion that ammo as a lot do with it. In fact, in most firearms, it's usually mags, ammo, and user error. A lot of the internet posts about a firearm not functioning correctly are outed at the first disclosure of what ammo is being used.

There are, in fact, long threads with owners standing their ground that the firearm is complete junk if it can't fire - yep - complete junk. It's as if the ideal that ammunition should be nearly free and any gun should be able to shoot any ammo.

The reality is that a design is based on a specific type of ammunition, and a military design even more so. The ammo and gun as a working dynamic are held in close tolerances to ensure that they cooperate fully on the battlefield. No thought was given that someone might need to shoot some kind of import low powered fodder thru them to save a few pennies. That never happens on the battlefield, you shoot what is issued, and that ammo is tightly controlled to a specific power. Never less.

Those same firearms made and held to military contract specifications get sold, the user loads junk in it, and we get pages of threads about the makers poor decisions. Really. It's why the complaints are always held suspect until proven.

If you really want to test your automatic, do like the shotgunners - whose guns have a compensating gas valve. Load alternating rounds in it and see what doesn't work. You will likely find something that is horrible in it. And, all the others that are just fine. After that, don't keep shooting those rounds that don't work, and things are fine.

Instead of complaining the makers never considered it when the designed it. They did, many even say don't shoot anything less that X type load. It's usually right there in the manual. Too many just ignore it, tho. They bought a tactical combat pistol and then never shoot tactical combat pistol ammo because it's too pricey.

Priceless.

 

[larryh1108]

...the old Browning design is now denounced as being "unreliable." Kinda sad.

Jim, I don't agree with this statement. I see more and more people who claim their 1911 is their favorite gun than ever before. We've had a huge influx of 1911s in the last decade, or so, and you will find the usual sour grapes from those who did get a lemon.
Yes, there are lemons out there, like in every brand, but I see the 1911 following stronger than ever. I don't see the word "unreliable" used very often and JMB's design is still considered 100 years ahead of it's time.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

Wait, what? Already talking about a second one?


I think you may have dripped a little of that kool-aid on the front of your shirt there.

I think the idea of a lesser gun as a project pistol is a great idea.

 

[Cee Zee]

The 1911 is a great design. That's just true. But there are other designs that are good too. I love a good shooting 1911 but many of them are designed for top accuracy and not for reliability it seems. A tight spec gun may not be the most reliable gun in the safe but that's more of a tendency than a rule. I've seen lots of very reliable 1911's.

I fell in love with them way back when. They were really on the same level at that time IMO. There were no super shooters around that I knew about. Now there are. I still liked them for their history, their durability and their accuracy even before they became the super accurate guns they are now. Even in the old days though people often just didn't understand how to make a handgun work. Sights are different on different guns and people often expect them to all be the same. They just aren't. In the old days you had to make adjustments in your aim but once you did you got great results. I've seen this happen even less than 5 years ago though. Some friends had a Frankenstein 1911 they were shooting one day. I was supposed to show up early but got there late. They had 3 rounds of .45 left and were getting ready to go home. I shot once, adjusted for the sights being off and nailed a pop can from 40 yards on the second shot. Apparently they had tried to hit that can all day. They about dropped in their tracks after I hit it on the second try and barely missed it on the 3rd shot. Those weren't exactly experienced shooters but at least one of them should have known to use a little Kentucky windage (we were in Ky after all).

Now many 1911's do have perfect sights and everything else. But I still like shooting my Sig P220. It's simple and accurate and durable as heck. I wouldn't mind shooting a 1911 as a target pistol but my primary centerfire target gun is my Sig. I made the guys at the gun club wonder what was wrong with their guns when I nailed an 8" target from 25 yards about 90% of the time. I wasn't even using great ammo at the time. They even got the range master to try to counter me. He was using a S&W 629 and was pretty much matching my hits. Then I got out my 629. He groaned a little and put his gun up and said it was time to close the range. That Smith is more accurate but at the time I wasn't practiced enough with it but he didn't know that.

There are lots of great guns in the world. A Sig 1911 would rank right up there in my book. Great design, great company.

 

[Bobson]

Nice pistol, nice shooting. This type of thread always makes me want a 1911. Lol

 

[Big Shrek]

Now that you've got your first, start thinking about a RIA TCM22
1911 platform, with 9mm & .22TCM barrels, used out of the same mag!!

 

[JB357MAG]

If a 1911 is unreliable,.....THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH IT!!!!

Jimmy