Colt National Match 1945 1911A1 1956 NM

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Hello friends and neighbors // Just wondering if anyone else is shooting one of these old dart throwers.

I recently picked up a rough Colt 1911A1 with Holster and belt.
The adjustable rear sight caught my eye, then I noticed the NM over H on the frame and gave it a closer look.

A little surface rust, where the snap touched the frame, also some rust at the base from the lanyard hole grommet all from being stored in the holster.

The internals looked like they had not been messed with recently so I gave it a new home.

This old competition gun needed only a slight sight adjustment and I was consistently breaking stationary clays at 25yds. Just a little of the orange clay showed around the front sight. spot on hold at 25yds.

Then I switched to 50yards with a 6" high hold and although very loose(all me I'm sure) they were all on paper.

The last 8 rounds, out of the American Eagle 100 pack, I shot at 25yards, continuous fire, at 8, three inch targets starting top left.
The whole bull was covered by the front sight.
Number 7 was a shot too soon after number 6 but counts as a miss. Should really be an ND.

Shooting the old NM is too much fun.
In 1956 I'd have felt extremely lucky to have such a fine sidearm. In fact I do today.

Anyone else shooting an old National Match .45?
Any way to find out who used this one in the matches?

Enjoy the search, content.

 

[shootist2121]

I have a 1961 NM that will shoot 2-1/2" groups at 50 yards from a rest for me. 230 grain Federal Match. I love the gun. It is the equal of any target grade 1911 out there. Enjoy the Match

Be Safe

 

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Now I need to try it using a rest! Good idea.

Before my uncle Ron passed he talked about the accuracy of his newer NM, figured I'd give this a try.

The trigger used to have a shoe attached but no longer. Does yours?

Wondering about the rear sights in 1961.Got pics of yours?

 

[shootist2121]

Mine never had a trigger shoe. Long aluminum with set screw. Rear sight is fully adjustable micro style, stamped "US". At this time I don't have any pictures of it, but I really need to do so.

Be Safe

 

[shootist2121]

Here you go ...



Be Safe

 

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That is what mine is supposed to look like! Outstanding!

I see a 4 digit number on your slide right where the rust has eaten mine away.
Is the slide numbered to the barrel on yours? My frame and barrel each have the same NM number.

 

[shootist2121]

Yes my slide matches the barrel number. Whoever built this firearm did a great job. I love pulling it out when I get some hotdog with Wilson or high end Kimber boasting how accurate their piece and tight, and usually beat their grouping. LOL That is those guys often are shooting @ 7 yards or 10. Easy pickings even for my old eyes.

Be Safe

 

[rcmodel]

The trigger used to have a shoe attached but no longer. Does yours?

No National Match 1911 ever had a trigger shoe attached.

They would have been against the rules for use in NRA competition then, and got your gun disqualified before the shooting started..

Usually, trigger shoes are too heavy to allow the light trigger tuning necessary for a National Match gun to function with out trigger bounce causing doubling, or sear bounce destroying the finely tuned trigger pull.

Take it off, and find the closest trash can to throw it in.

rc

 

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I can believe it, one of my lefty friends shot mine and just grinned, " thought a .45 would be harder to shoot". He had four holes touching out of 7. I told him it was all the gun, lol.

He could not repeat it with his expensive 9mm.
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Done and done,,ty rc,, all that is left now are two little marks.
Trigger shoes are too wide for safe carrying anyway IMO.