Cocked & Locked ~ Or Not

[Billy Shears]

Billy,

Not so,

If you go through the time period between Bill Jordan up to the amazing speed of say a Jerry Mikulek ~ the C&L 1911 will not get off the first shot. Bill Jordan is actually on record as saying that the SA is faster on the first shot then the DA revolver, even though he supported the DA design and helped to bring about the S&W model 19..... And Jerry is perhaps a freak of nature, but the proof is in the pudding and he has beaten so many of our finest 1911 shooters in the process, that it just cannot be argued all that much...

gizamo, it is so. And it most certainly can be argued all that much. If DA revolvers offered everyone a speed advantage, then shooters in IPSC and IDPA events would all be shooting DA revolvers. They're not.

Bill Jordan was a dedicated revolver man. While I'm sure he shot semiautos, there is no indication he spent anything like the amount of time shooting autos that he did revolvers. And he was, to put it mildly, one of the fastest draws ever. He could balance a quarter on the back of his hand, and draw so that it fell into his empty holster. Jerry Miculek is also, as you say, a freak of nature. He also used an S&W with an extremely light springs and tuned triggers for his speed records, not a stock revolver such as most revolver shooters carry for defense, so even someone of his level of talent needs a little help to do what he does.

Pointing to these guys and saying "A proficient revolver guy can outshoot a 1911 guy anytime of the day" is like comparing Tiger Woods with somebody who uses a different brand of clubs, and using that to assert that "a guy who uses Titleists will outgolf a guy using Pings any day of the week."

Jordan and Miculek aren't "proficient" revolver shooters; they are nigh uniquely talented shooters who were in a class by themselves. And if they had favored autos instead of revolvers, and devoted an equal amount of time to training with them, who's to say the results wouldn't be different?

I have shot both on a competitive level. My gut tells me that the average shooter under duress, will be better served by the revolver. I collect, love, and spend way to much money on SA's...But would only carry a DA revolver for personal defense. Why, because it is the most foolproof...

I agree with you, the average shooter would indeed likely be better served with a revolver. Even Jeff Cooper, the number one advocate of the 1911 stated as much, opining that the best sidearm for general police issue would be a .44 special revolver. However, he went on to add that those shooters willing to train to a higher standard of proficiency would be best served with a 1911.

And if you are only comfortable with a revolver for defense, more power to you. You're certainly well armed with a good one. I, on the other hand, personally can shoot the 1911 better than any other handgun, because I've shot enough to take advantage of its virtues, and they do give a shooter an advantage.

 

[DWARREN123]

I have Glocks so with one in the chamber it is basically C&L.

 

[1911Tuner]

And I think Jeff Cooper more than adequately demonstrated that there is no gun faster to an accurate first shot out of the holster than a cocked & locked single action auto in the hands of a highly proficient shooter.

Actually, it's been shown that...given two equally proficient pistoleers...the Colt 1873 SAA is the fastest from the leather for the first shot/hit.

Anyway...on topic. Cocked and Locked?

90% of the time, mine is in C-1.
9.9% of the time...C-3.
.1% of the time...C-2.

Yes...Once in a while I lower the hammer on a hot chamber for special carry occasions. I have my own reasons, but I did notice that when I do, the sky doesn't fall and the Mississippi doesn't reverse directions or dry up and the Earth's axis remains unchanged.

 

[Blue Brick]

I was strongly thinking about getting a RIA, but I do like I idea of C&L. I most likely would carry it with the safety off and an empty chamber. My eyes and hears are my first line of defense. I pay attention and stay away from dark places and bad people. I am mostly a revolver type guy and not having an internal firing pin block kind of makes me wary of the 1911. Currently I am carrying a DA/SA decocker with an internal firing pin block.

 

[Billy Shears]

Actually, it's been shown that...given two equally proficient pistoleers...the Colt 1873 SAA is the fastest from the leather for the first shot/hit.

I thought it was understood that we were referring pretty much solely to modern handguns considered practical for self defense.

 

[1911Tuner]

I thought it was understood that we were referring pretty much solely to modern handguns considered practical for self defense.

Well...that ain't whatcha said. You said NO gun was faster.

And I think Jeff Cooper more than adequately demonstrated that there is no gun faster to an accurate first shot out of the holster than a cocked & locked single action auto in the hands of a highly proficient shooter.

And as far as practical goes...I wouldn't wanna throw down on Thell Reed with a 1911...cocked and locked or otherwise.

 

[VegasOPM]

I have a specific set of instances that stopped me from carrying C&L. The safety of my 1911 kept cutting into my spare tire. Glocks don't have sharp edges.

 

[woodsltc]

Back to the original question --- do you carry C&L??

"When" I carry a 1911 it is cocked & locked.

Today, I'm more likely to carry a Glock or S&W M-13.

Don

 

[CypherNinja]

CZ75B, Cocked and Locked, Everyday.

If they made a P01 with a safety, I'd be all over it.

 

[easyg]

I keep one in the chamber of my Glock everyday.

 

[dasmi]

Glock 19.

 

[sdj]

Rarely. Usually it's the S&W442 or the G32, these days. ;-)