A 1911 or a hot rod?

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wbwanzer

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I've been asking a lot of questions on here and other forums about 1911s in 9mm. I was looking in the $800 to $1050 range. The gun would only be used for target shooting and Steel Challenge. Maybe later on some IDPA or one of the other organized shooting sports. No home defense or carry. I've kind of gotten down to STI Trojan, SA Loaded or a Kimber Stainless, all in 9mm. I've never owned a 1911 before. I've only dry fired a few. It's their triggers that are fascinating me.

But now I'm starting to think that maybe a hot rodded non-1911 semi might be better. Something like a CZ Shadow. Or I guess I could have any 9mm semi-auto slicked up to have a good trigger.

I go back and forth because the 1911 really has captured my interest. But it sounds like some of them can have teething problems. And I don't want to be changing a lot of parts to make it run reliably. On the other hand, a hot rodded 9mm would probably be more reliable, but would I be satisfied with the trigger? :confused:

Any thoughts? Thanks.
 
I own many, many guns --- have shot IPSC/IDPA/Cowboy Action/3 Gun etc. for over 20 years ---- the CZ Shadow is a great gun !!!

BUT ---- check out the EAA Witness Elite Match ---- for $519 , they are a Best Buy and equal in every way to 1911 and Para-Ordnance compitition guns that I have several thousand dollers in.

You can also get replacement barrels/kits that allow you to shoot 9mm,10mm,45acp,40S&W,and 38 Super in the same gun.

Do a search here for EAA Witness Elite Match and you will see that everyone who owns one rates them very highly.

Edit --- feel free to IM me with any questions.
 
Gunfighter,

I will do the search, but in the meantime, can you tell me, is the EAA Witness Elite Match already hot rodded or are you saying that it is a good choice for hot rodding?
 
Hi WB,
The Elite Match is a single action only , all steel , adj. sight , Hi-Cap pistol that is built in tne Tanfoglio custom shop. I have a Clark PinMaster , old Wilson LE , etc. etc. --- my two Elite Matches have as good a trigger pull then any of them ,includeing my Colt Gold Cup etc.
I have small hands but learned to shoot { quite well } the Para-Ordnances in Action/Combat type matches ---- I wished I had tried a Witness years ago !!!
My Elite Match holds 15 rds. of 10mm/40 S&W and my other holds 18 rds. of 9mm/38 Super.
This photo is from the first mag I ever shot from my .40 --- 10 rds. in about 5.5 sec. timed on a Pact timer;
DSC01504.jpg

There are lots of aftermarket "stuff" for them here;
http://www.henningshootsguns.com/shop/main.html
 
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Gunfighter, I like the new rear site. The one I have has sharp a rear site that is quite annoying when wearing it strong-side. Do you know if the new rear site can be ordered and installed on an older model.
 
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Hiya Mes,
The "new" 3 dot sight on the Elite Match uses a "special" cut in the slide -- I am sure you could order a new rear sight -- BUT -- it will not be a simple replacement for your -- the old "cut"would have to be filled/welded and then the new cut made.

EDIT --- on one of my Elites , I just used a Dremel and rounded the corners off the rear sight.
 
Why not a hot rod 1911? Get a 38 super put in a 9mm barrel a 18 pound recoil spring and a 21 pound mainspring. Then enjoy, you might need a 38 super/9mm extractor too. But you won't destroy a 38 super running 9mm through it and you can always shoot 38 super through it. Just my 2 cents.
 
I think I’m going to order it and bring the weapon to a gunsmith to do it. Thanks Gunfighter.

wbwanzer, sorry to hijack the thread.

Anyways, I strongly recommend the Witness.
 
Gunfighter,

In one of your posts above, you said "I have a Clark PinMaster , old Wilson LE , etc. etc. --- my two Elite Matches have as good a trigger pull then any of them ,includeing my Colt Gold Cup etc."

Are those triggers stock, or did you have work done to them to get them that good?
 
I will second the EAA Witness enthusiasm--

and particularly for the Elite Match.

IMO, it's everything a "modern" 1911 would be. IOW, it's the CZ-75 design, and I think there are only two real negatives to the package--1) it is a Large Grip, and 2) the inherent negative angle to the barrel requires a high rear sight.

I've owned several over the years, and picked up an Elite Match-10mm about twenty months ago. That was just six months after I got a Kimber ST II-10mm.

Here is a link to a mini-review of both, and an ongoing discussion about the merits / problems of EAA products. (Personally, I consider the products to be just fine--but some do not, and for good reason.)

added on edit: wbwanzer, the CZ-75 design and the 1911 design are ergonomically similar, but two different designs. If you are really enamored of the 1911 trigger, then I would suggest you start with a 1911. And, for heaven's sake, get one 'enhanced'--something like a Springfield Armory "loaded" or a Kimber ST-11, or the ones you listed.

However, do keep in mind that a "switch-top" caliber conversion is much more easilly done on the EAA design, for several reasons. And, if you want to consider the EAA, then it is the Elite Match, with its SAO trigger that is amenable to tuning up well.

Jim H.
 
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In one of your posts above, you said "I have a Clark PinMaster , old Wilson LE , etc. etc. --- my two Elite Matches have as good a trigger pull then any of them ,includeing my Colt Gold Cup etc."

Are those triggers stock, or did you have work done to them to get them that good?
Click to expand...



Hi WB,
The triggers on both my EAA Elite Match guns are stock --- never used a trigger gauge on them { don't own one} --- best guess is 3-4 LBS. and CRISP !!!

All my Colt and Para-Ord. custom guns have had trigger work done to them by nationally known gunsmiths.
 
Gunfighter123 said:
I own many, many guns --- have shot IPSC/IDPA/Cowboy Action/3 Gun etc. for over 20 years ---- the CZ Shadow is a great gun !!!

BUT ---- check out the EAA Witness Elite Match ---- for $519 , they are a Best Buy and equal in every way to 1911 and Para-Ordnance compitition guns that I have several thousand dollers in.

You can also get replacement barrels/kits that allow you to shoot 9mm,10mm,45acp,40S&W,and 38 Super in the same gun.

Do a search here for EAA Witness Elite Match and you will see that everyone who owns one rates them very highly.

Edit --- feel free to IM me with any questions.
Click to expand...
Does Tanfoglio still make the Witness line for EAA? If so, that's top shelf quality. Most folks don't realize that they make Desert Eagles for IMI.
 
Yes --- they are still made by Tanfoglio and imported to the US by EAA ---- the Elite Match guns are put together in the Tanfoglio Custom Shop and the brl/frame fit and trigger pull is like a $2000+ custom gun.
 
OK Gunfighter,

The EAA Witness Elite Match is now on my very short list of guns for the next purchase. I just picked up an XDm a week or so ago, so I'm in a no spend zone right now. I wish I could check a Witness out. I don't think anyone near me sells them. I've never seen on in a shop.
When the time comes I'll probably have to go with Gun Broker and assume that it holds like a CZ but with a better trigger.
 
i liked my elite match a lot! super accurate great trigger not to much recoil, but i sold it cause it jammed every IPSC match i took it to, i am now using a SA Loaded in 9...simply amazing! better trigger (albiet not by much) just as accurate and a decent bit less recoil, but at $400 dollors more, it may not be worth it on a very tight budget
 
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