3" 1911 Opinions

[51Cards]

I have a Defender. (This sounds like the beginning of a meeting ... )

After several bouts of working on it, it has variously been: a) a gun safe weight; b) an excellent lightweight base for a Kimber .22 conversion; c) a renewed, fanatical, maniacal, obsessive project; and now, d) a reliably functioning .45. I can't print the vocabulary involved in all of these phases.

Needless to say, I was not one of those blessed with an out-of-the-box raygun. I am also cursed with a stubborn streak matched only by my curiosity. This became my "project gun." Without the usually-suspect THR contributors, it would likely still be popping .22s.

The thing has gone through every tantrum known to firearms. Each one was addressed.

I can say that working on a 3" 1911 appears to be like learning brain surgery while standing on your head, blind, in a sandstorm, after drinking a lot. Once you get the itty bitty teeny weeny aggravating things that accumulate into massive tolerance headaches out of the way, 5" 1911s seem a lot less mystifying.

Would I buy another 3" 1911? Hahahahahahahahahahaha!

But I love this one. Now.

 

[Lonestar49]

I must have been one of the more lucky.. lol

...

51Cards,

Perfect ray gun.. I love that..

I would just add this:

IF one is not good with working with small things with one's hands (how rude).. lol, and one Is Not patient, nor has patience, then:

DO NOT get any 1911, 3" or 4" or 5"..

They all demand these skills; learned, acquired, or born with.. IMHO


Ls

 

[Lonestar49]

I must have been one of the more lucky.. lol

...
Double post.. my bad

 

[Mad Magyar]

DO NOT get any 1911, 3" or 4" or 5"..

They all demand these skills; learned, acquired, or born with.. IMHO

I don't get it?

 

[Lonestar49]

I think ya do.. get-it.. lol

...

For the very reasons I listed, you must have one of these skills.. That's why you own 1, 2, 3, or more 1911's and love them.

As do I..


Ls

 

[51Cards]

That's why you own 1, 2, 3, or more 1911's and love them...

Nope. I hate 'em. That's why I only own three ... so far ...

They are just simple enough to easily comprehend ... and subtle enough to constantly bewilder. Very seductive.

This is the reason why XDs* were created ... to give us something to not have to do. (* Or Sigs, or Glocks ...)

On the other hand, I've learned more about all of this stuff from this one gun than all the others I've ever owned.

I hate to put it exactly this way, but here goes: Before, one reason I held onto it was because I couldn't in good conscience pass the lil bugger on to some other soul. I actually always liked it tremendously, but it was a baaaad child. Now that it's grown up, it appreciates me more. And, now that it has a useful occupation, it could be passed on to someone else in much better conscience. But not yet, not yet ...

While spooling off about this, I've always wanted to mention something, maybe it should be its own thread??? Favorite parts. I think the 1911 disconnecter is one of the most fascinating gizmos, in form and design --- along with a sear spring that does as many things (almost) as a Swiss Army knife. I look inside my Sig and it looks like a watch. I look inside a 1911 and it's a non-CNC world of human ingenuity.

I've even come to (almost) love --- well, appreciate, then --- the bell-crank and piston mentality of Series 80 & 90 "spare parts."

Of course, to stay sort-of-on-topic --- I look inside a 3" 1911 and I see a dwarf with the heart of a giant, feet too big for its shoes.

 

[Lonestar49]

My bad, I should have been more clear..

Quote: Nope. I hate 'em. That's why I only own three ... so far ...
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As will I buy, and own, a few more 1911's..

But my comment about If one doesn't possess one of these skills, or traits, then don't buy any 1911's was meant solely for the OP, and go Sig, simply because they just perform right out of the box without any need of tune-ups, adjustments, etc.

In, and for, most cases.

Just tryin to fill in any gaps.. lol


Ls

 

[51Cards]

I don't mind something that needs tuning --- as long as I understand how to tune it.

The problem is when something that doesn't "need" tuning suddenly goes BOING, and you have no experience with it.

My next project: to correct the POS that came from SA. A GI that, now that I see more clearly, has had every sloppiness possible. I can elaborate, if anyone needs the pain ...

 

[Mainsail]

Does anyone know what the (ballpark) velocity loss is when going from a 5” barrel to a 3½” is?

 

[MICHAEL T]

I have a Defender, Officer and a Detonics . I carry the Defender the most but all 3 are relieable .

 

[Lonestar49]

I think..

Quote: Does anyone know what the (ballpark) velocity loss is when going from a 5” barrel to a 3½” is?
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IIRC, around, give or take, 100ft per sec loss per inch.. with the same weight bullet, such as a 230gr FMJ.

And 51Cards, you're hysterical, you really make me laugh.. thanks!


Ls

 

[zeke]

Have chronoed several Plus p and standard loads from 5 inch and 3 inchers. Generally about 100 fps loss for the 3 inchers.

Bought the first version of the Defender when they came out. Upswept beavertail and orange plastic followers in the mags. It was 100 percent reliable with all loads tried, more so than any other 45 semi owned. Shot it enough the aluminum frame rails started wearing down, and sold it.

If buying one, would have the shrp edges on slide broke over.