Auto Ordnance M1911 GI Pakerized

[AethelstanAegen]

Howdy gents,
I've been thinking about getting an M1911 and I was hoping to get one as close to WW2 specs as possible. I've been looking to get one for under $600 if possible and it seems that with the local transfer fee, I could get the Auto Ordnance M1911a1 GI Pakerized from Bud's Gun Shop for about $545. I've heard it's pretty true to the original GI M1911s. I've also heard that since Kahr took over, overall quality of the Auto Ordnance M1911s has improved, though the factory mag is said to only like 230gr FMJs. I'm fairly new to 1911s and I just like the original military look (and though I certainly understand the many improvements on later models, I'd like to keep it very simple). I've also looked at the Springfield GI model and the Rock Island Armory basic M1911a1 but the AO is currently winning as it seems a more close reproduction of the originals.

My question would be, who has experience with one of these? Do you like it? How is the fit/finish? Overall reliability? And would you have a recommendation for a better 7rd mag?
Many thanks in advance!

 

[RSVP2RIP]

I must admit I don't have any experience with it, I was considering one for a time. The get really good reviews both from people I know that have one and in the gun magazines. It may not feed non-ball ammo for two reasons. One, the magazine has feed lips built only for ball and not semi-wadcutters (HPs hit or miss), and two, the barrel will only have the GI feed ramp cut into to it, ie it will not be chamfered. So even if you get a different magazine, it still may not like any hollow points you try to force feed it. If you want a GI pistol, you have to feed it GI ammo. You might have luck with Powerball or the Federal expanding FMJ (not too sure about this one as it is a truncated cone). Fit and finish are on par with GI guns, so is reliability. Brass is gonna be dented pretty good because of the high ejection port with no rear relief cut so expect to have a few pieces of brass you have to throw away, but thats minor. I don't know where you can find a REALLY reliable mag like Wilson or McCormick that is parkerized and looks right on the gun if thats what you want. IMO if you want a defensive gun then there are better choices in keeping with the 1911 platform than the AO GI model (mostly because it won't feed HPs and the sights are hard to use quickly). If you want a really fun gun to shoot the heck out of then go for it.

 

[makarovnik]

My Auto Ordnance 1911A1 was a big piece of poo. My Llama was actually a better functioning .45. Try Rock River Arms.

 

[AethelstanAegen]

I thought I should add, this is not a gun for defense...really more for fun shooting. I have other pistols that I use for CCW/defense purposes.

I'm not too worried about it not taking HPs as I intend to really only use ball ammo for it as intended, I just have some old HP kicking around I'm getting rid of but I'll just use it in the XD and save the ball for the 1911.

I'll likely get a "fancier" 1911 later but I wanted something to complement my M1 Garand...haha. Are there any FMJ/ball ammo types it doesn't seem to like? Ie is finicky with lower cost ammo such as Wolf/Tula/etc?

Makarovnik, when was your AO 1911A1 made? Was it made before Kahr took over the reigns?

Thanks for the input!

 

[JTQ]

I have no first hand experience with the AO 1911, but here are a couple of thorough reviews.

I agree the AO is much more original looking than the competition, unless you want to get a Colt. The AO does have a Series 80 firing pin safety if that matters to you. Changing out the factory magazines would probably fix feeding issues.

The Six Gun Journal. He also reviews a Springfield so you can compare the reviews. He found the AO parts more true to spec than the Springfield.
http://www.thesixgunjournal.net/aoww2.html

This reviewer liked it enough to buy it.
http://ezine.m1911.org/AO1911A1.htm

makarovnik wrote,
Try Rock River Arms.

No doubt a typo, Rock River Arms no longer makes 1911's, and when they did they were priced much closer to $2,000 (and up) rather than $600.

 

[todd_g]

I had an AO back in 1989 while in the Corps, it was a good reliable shooter. In Aug. 2002 I bought another AO, the deluxe model that has rubber wrap around grips, white dot high sights. I had to send this one in twice to the factory, the front sight came off and cases would not extract, they didn't fix the case extraction issue the first time so it had to send it back again, since then it worked good, it's not a tack driver but I wouldn't hesitate to grab it in a gun battle.

 

[rocinante]

I got an AO 1911 about 3 years ago. Fit and finish is pretty good and it has functioned well. Much better looking gun than a ROCK ISLAND with the garish billboard on the slide.

Folks the pistols of today are much better than the old ones.

 

[cfullgraf]

I also got an Auto Ordinance M1911 in the early 1990s. It always worked well with 230 FMJs. Normally, I polish the feed ramps on my M1911s.

A few years ago I replaced the original barrel with a Colt barrel removed from a early 1980s Colt Series 70 Government Model. I don't remember why I installed the barrel except that I had it on hand, but the accuracy improved remarkably. The Colt barrel had about 3000 rounds through it.

Note, the Colt Government Model was converted to 38/45 Clerke hence the available barrel.

 

[Smaug]

I looked at one in person when I was 1911 shopping. Same specs as you, but I was willing to go up to $700.

They had an Auto-Ord and a Kahr 1911. The level of fit and finish were not very good, but I understand this is pretty normal for parkerized. It is just kind of a dull black that looks like it would rub off pretty easily.

I wound up going with a Para GI Expert. Last I checked, those go for around $408 at Bud's, and the finish is much better. The hard case and lock are garbage though, if that means anything to you.

As you can see, I'm not all that great with it yet, but I'm sure that is the shooter and not the gun:



I paid $550 for it locally, but I figured I should try to support the local shop, since that is where I made my decision.

You might want to see how much a local shop would charge you to order one.

 

[RON in PA]

Have you looked at the Springfield GI?

 

[Smaug]

@ Ron in PA

I'm sure you were talking to the OP, but I will answer, as it compared it to the Para GI Expert that I bought. These were the two finalists, and I looked at every detail I could see for about an hour.

• Springfield had nice wood grips vs. the plastic of the Para. Advantage: Springer
• Para had the front sight dovetailed into the slide; the Springer had some other set-up that would be harder to change out. Advantage: Para
• Springer cost $80 more, but included a (cheap) holster and mag carrier. Advantage: Para
• Springer was one of the original three manufacturers of 1911s for the US government. (Colt, Remington, Springfield Armory, IIRC) Advantage: Springer
• The finish on the Para is much more uniform and seems more durable; seems to have a bit of plastic in it. It looks more glossy and doesn't seem to get dirty at all. Advantage: Para
• Para has lifetime service included. Not sure, but I don't think the Springer did
• Para had the bigger, brighter white dots in the stock sights. Advantage: Para
• Para had the straight back to the grip, which fits my smallish hands much better. Advantage: Para
• Para has a plasticky trigger that is cross-drilled to make it seem racy. Advantage: Springer

The main reasons I went with Para were the easily interchangeable front sight, nicer finish, and lifetime service is included. (I don't think I'll ever need it)

I'm sure the Springer is a fine gun though, and it seems like the brand is more well-respected in 1911s.

 

[wow6599]

Springer was one of the original three manufacturers of 1911s for the US government.

Para has lifetime service included. Not sure, but I don't think the Springer did

A couple of things......Not the same Springfield Armory; it closed in '68. Only the name is the same. Also, All Springfield's have a lifetime warranty.

In case it matters, and it does to me, Springfield uses forged steel (frame and slide) and Para uses cast.
IMO, it's not even close........SA by a mile.

 

[JTQ]

Smaug wrote,
They had an Auto-Ord and a Kahr 1911. The level of fit and finish were not very good, but I understand this is pretty normal for parkerized. It is just kind of a dull black that looks like it would rub off pretty easily.

I wound up going with a Para GI Expert. Last I checked, those go for around $408 at Bud's, and the finish is much better.

I can't specifically say for the AO parkerized finish, but parkerization is generally more durable than blueing.

One of the big hits on Para's over the years' has been the poor quality of the finish on their blue guns. It tends to wear off very quickly.

 

[AethelstanAegen]

Thanks to everyone for their input so far.

Smaug, I've been thinking of getting a Par-Ordnance, though likely at a later time when I want something a little more modern than a basic M1911.

RON in PA, I've been looking at the Springfield Armory GI as well. They're roughly neck in neck for me. I've heard that the Auto-Ordnance is a little closer to the original specs and at least in my area is certainly cheaper (around here the SA GIs go over the $600 mark). I have a SA XD 45 and have been very happy with that (the lifetime warrenty is a major plus too). I'm a little annoyed they added the internal safety lock to it though, so that's been steering me away from the SA as well. I figure it's just one more thing that can fail...the 1911 has plenty of safties already. I also haven't been able to find them in stock online anywhere...so that's a wee problem too.

It's still a toss up for me...I've heard a lot more about the SA GI 1911 so thus my search for more info on the AO before making a final call.

Thanks again to everyone's input so far. Does anyone know if the AO has trouble with any ball ammo (such as the cheaper, steel cased stuff) or does it only have issues with non ball?