Cimarron 1911-A1

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Byron

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I recently bought a Cimarron 1911-A1.It was a close copy of the original military and that is what drew me to it.I find it is accurate.The only ammo I have a problem with using Wilson magazines is the WW 100 round White box at Walmart.Mag Tech is flawless through it.I am very pleased with it. Byron
 
He had a list price of $589. He would have come off that a reasonable amount if I was buying outright. I traded a rifle on it + $75.I was plaesed with the trade. Byron
 
Buford; I have put about 300+ rounds through it: Magtech and WW USA. I am 64 but found it to be accuarte at 3" blister targets at 7 to 10 yards.If I do my part the rounds stayed in the target.A friend of mine who is SF,shot it.Needless to say, he did almost one large ragged hole at 7 and 10.Overall, I shot a bit high.The trigger is crisp. I was using Wilson 8 shot magazines and noted that on occasion the 8th round wuld not go to battery.I left the mags loaded for several days and that helped.The WW seemed eratic where the Magtech 230 grain ball was very accurate and all rounds went to battery.I ran one 8 shot magazine with Remington Golden Sabre.It chambered and fired all 8 and the accuarcy was incredible. An 8 shot magazine comes with the pistol and functioned well.I ran some reloads using 5 grains of 231 and a 230 grain cast bullet.These functioned well.It is pure GI and reminded me of the one I carried when in Nam. I have decided to stay with the Magtech and will use the Golden sabre if the need ever arises. Byron
 
I'm sold. After reading your report and the reviews online coupled with the fact they're made by Armscor and knowing their customer service first hand, I'll be getting none in the next week or two. Just torn between the high polished blue and the nickel.....maybe one of each?
 
The high polish blue is a looker for sure, I have one. They're certainly accurate enough, but as it's true to original designs, only expect to feed it FMJ. The only other thing I would say is that the bluing wore off quite quickly on my grip...I can't figure out if I had some sort of chemical residue on my hands (at the time I was working on my sister's house doing just about any home improvement job imaginable, so chemicals were a plenty). The bluing loss seems to have not gotten any worse so I must have just had caustic hands one day or something (though I haven't been able to figure out for sure what or if I just have sweaty acidic hands or soemthing). All that aside, the bluing looks great. I may see if I can send if back to Cimarron and have them reblue it or something. I use mine as my EDC and have no real complaints with it. I guess just make sure you don't get anything nasty on it...haha.

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I'm familiar with the Gunblast article (it in part influenced me to buy the pistol), but HPs definitely do not run in mine. The feed ramp would need some pretty extensive work to pull that off. It's a very traditional 1911...the originals wouldn't run HPs either...so just be advised you're far more likely to get one out of the box that will not feed HPs with any measure of reliability. All that aside, I really like mine. It's been 100% reliable with FMJs (except one obviously factory defective round that was visibly out of spec). So just go into it knowing that you're getting a plain-jane, traditional 1911...which is exactly why I bought mine and love it.

Just to make it clear, even with the minor bluing blemish (which I think is my fault) it's still my favorite pistol, my EDC (it's 100% reliable with FMJs and feels great in the hand), and I'd highly recommend it (don't pay the $800 Cabelas is asking for though....you can find them cheaper elsewhere...I bought from Philip J. Rezac LLC).
 
OP - Do you really have a 1911-A1 from Cimarron Firearms?

I ask because the ones I've seen pictures of have all been copies of the 1911. They've looked nice and it isn't often that you see a copy of the 1911, rather than the 1911-A1...the lack of relief cuts behind the trigger guard are rather striking.

I understand they are manufactured by Armscor for Cimarron Arms.
 
9mmepiphany, Bufford has it right, the gun itself is mostly a copy of a 1911, but it does have a scroll mark on it saying 1911-A1 for whatever reason.
 
I suspect it may have more to do with the fact that Armascor makes a number of other 1911s, which I think are pretty much all 1911-A1s. I suspect they just the same stamp/press to make the marking on all the frames. I'm not a 1911/1911-A1 expert but I think a few of the pieces of the Cimarron are indeed 1911-A1ish (such as the beaver-tail, which I believe is a bit longer to minimize hammer bite).
 
The high polish blue is a looker for sure, I have one. They're certainly accurate enough, but as it's true to original designs, only expect to feed it FMJ.
Click to expand...

Why? I own a Citidel (made by Armscor) and an American Classic II (made by Metro Arms, both Filipino made pistols, both shoot either jacketed hollow points of full metal jacket rounds with reliability. And over the years, I've shot many different makes of 1911's that performed in a similar fashion.

I've found these models coming into the US from over there are well made firearms, as accurate as more expensive versions of the 1911, for much less initial purchase price. What's not to like?
 
Bufford, I would be interested to know if yours feeds HPs reliably (if you do get it to, please send me a PM with the brand your using so I can try it). I can imagine it is possible there's some slightly out of spec with my pistol, in which case Cimarron will get a call. I didn't try too many brands of HPs as I generally prefer FMJ anyways (but the HPs I tested work reliable in my other .45 acp pistols) so I just wanted to let you know it could be finicky about what amoo it likes. So please do PM me if you find a winning combo and if it doesn't work in mine, I'll be sending mine back for service.

I think you'll really like the pistol Bufford. The polished blue is beautiful (you could just about shave with the reflection). I've been thinking about picking up a parkerized version time as well.
 
I shot 8 rounds of Reminton 230 grain Golden Sabre through mine.It was flawless and accurate.

I note the discussion on 1911 vs.1911 A-1. I tried to find pictures showing the difference and You Tube.I can find nothing that is specific.Can someone direct me to such.I carried one awhile in the Army in 68-69. I was 20 and just knew I liked the pistol never noting the differences. Byron
 
Byron, The 1911 looks identical to the cimarron except for the lowered ejection port. The Cimarron is a nearly identical copy of a 1918 commercial Colt. The main differences between the original design and the A-1 military redesign are an arched mainspring housing as opposed to the original being flat,a longer trigger, taller sight tangs and a larger ejection port and the biggy...the side scallops for trigger finger relief cuts. You'll see them on any modern 1911 but if you look at the cimarron you won't.
 
Buford, Thank You for the info.Mine is definitley the 1918.I am quite pleased with it. Byron
 
Well I picked mine up today. My initial impression....Stunning. Master stroke work of art. I have owned many 1911s to include semi customs and I must say without reservation that this piece rivals them all for fit and finish. The slide to frame fit is incredible. Exterior blending is perfect. The metal finishing is flawless. The bluing deep and rich. I can't wait to shoot it. I won't be able to right away but judging from the rest of the work I'm sure it'll function as well as it looks. I highly reccomend this model to anyone on the fence.
 
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