Giving the 1911 Another Chance?

[BerettaNut92]

For a while I thought I was going to hang up the 1911 for good. As my needs change (getting a CA CCW or getting an American citizenship in a shall-issue state) my needs are going from less HD and competition guns to HD and carry gun; I am becoming of the 'if I can't carry it, I don't have a use for it' in choosing a handgun.

My first 1911 was Kimber stainless which I hated. It shot good, but was unreliable, and since I learned to shoot on HKs and Berettas I wasn't used to guns failing or needing to be tuned out of the factory.

Second 1911 was (is) a KZ45. Good gun, high quality, as reliable as any HK, accurate, but the ergonomics suck. While the HKs and Berettas I shoot are big guns I can manipulate everything on them easily, which I can't do with the KZ45.

Should I get another all-steel 1911, one of high quality, like a Wilson CQB, or a Kimber Custom and swap out the crappy parts, and give the 1911 yet another shot?

 

[Sven]

Skunk,

You live in California, home of John Jardine and the Valtro. You at least owe it to yourself to check one out.

How about we meet halfway in Central CA and pop a few hundred rounds go downrange with my instance of the Valtro?

You buy the ammo, I'll gas up and be there!





I'm serious,

-s

 

[10-Ring]

Maybe having a poly-1911 is like trying to enjoy New Coke...just won't happen. A steel, single stack 1911 that is well tuned can be alot of fun to shoot & pleasureable to own. Plus, since you like cocked & locked carry, the 1911 is made for you.
Tough call...I'd give a quality 1911 a chance before you completely swear them off. You might not have found the right one yet.

 

[Soap]

If you can afford it, go all the way. I would go for a Baer TRS, Wilson, or a Valtro. Recently I've been wishy-washing with my choosing the 1911 as my platform. But the more I handle it the more it makes sense to my hands. The 1911 is truly a sweet weapon.

 

[Glock_PhD]

Why not just give in all the way skunk and get a glock!!

 

[Schuey2002]

Give the Wilson CQB a shot..

 

[sm]

Gun fit

Stealing from Jim Higginbotham

typing paper, fold in half, fold again.(quartered)
timer, or buddy with stopwatch
variety of guns (platforms/calibers)
5yds

At the "Go" shoot various platforms (and if same platform but in different caliber, shoot also).

Compare times and group size. This usually defines which platform, caliber, shooter can best shoot--quick accurate hits.

1911's do very well for the majority.

I have a couple of friends that are better with Revolvers. have seen these guys shoot 12 rds faster (that means a reload ) quicker than semi auto shooters--shooting a 10 rd mag!!!

Now -check yourself if want with mag changes.

"Beware the man with one gun...he has practiced and knows it well"

 

[Sven]

You will definitely want some sort of Magwell for fast reloading, having seen your videos showing the type of competition you enjoy - a little hard to slam one home without lining it up - for me, yet, anyhow.

Love that narrow frame and the feel of 38-40 ounces (+ ammo) of steel, pushing big heavy slow bullets. Throw +P ProLoad HPs in there and now you have 471 foot pounds at your fingertip.

 

[Stevie-Ray]

Give it another try. I have 3 and carry one about 3/4 of the time. Wouldn't trade away any of them. Do yourself a favor though, spend the extra for the added assurance. My Ultra CDP hasn't failed with the Hydra-shoks once. My Colt self-custom or Delta Elite have never failed to be reliable either.

 

[sm]

I believe Jim H drill is for CCW

Magwells...can see for gaming, I was thinking more of CCW myself. Skunk, I thought you were referring to CCW and HD...apologize if mis-read your question.

I use stock guns, no magwells,no doodads, gimmicks, or doohickeys . My1911 styles have crisp triggers about 4# , 'bout as tricked out as I get...good ammo and mags a must.

 

[Kahr carrier]

For a good basic 1911 try a Springfield 1911 Milspec.Its a good bang for the buck.

 

[Schuey2002]

For a while I thought I was going to hang up the 1911 for good.

Never hang up any gun in your collection for good.. Never!

Park it in the safe, your tastes will change over and over as you get older.. You may find that you've lost the "1911" bug today but, who knows what tomorrow brings..

A future Mrs. (Korean-sniper) Skunk may like 1911's, you never know.

 

[10-Ring]

If you're gonna get a steel 1911, might as well get the Wilson. Why go through the hassle of changing out parts & voidinga warranty. Get the Wilson you want, the way you want it & move on from there.

 

[BerettaNut92]

Between selling the USP45 and KZ45 I should have enough for the CQB. I already have 7 magazines and a holster for it.

Money's not a factor, we'll see what the Sheriff's Department has to say about my CCW.

 

[OKC .45 ACP]

If your'e going to have only one

1911, get a Baer TRS. 2nd choice Ed Brown Cobra. 3rd choice Wilson CQB.

If you want a gun that'll make you bow down on the ground and cry "I'm not worthy! I'm not worthy!" --Save up and get a Vickers or Tibbets custom. I own them both, and I'm not worthy. You've not shot a 1911 till you've shot a custom by one of the masters: Heinie, Vickers, or Tibbets.

 

[Sean Smith]

I think I have the perfect 1911 for Skunkabilly... the Dawson Precision Tactical Advantage. Same price as a CQB but more options to choose from, and from what I hear better quality than a comparably-priced Wilson or Baer.

http://www.dawsonprecision.com/custompistols/dawsonprecision/tacticaladvantage1911.aspx

Either that, or an Ed Brown Kobra if you have to buy off-the-shelf, or just don't like the cosmetics of the Dawson guns. Of course, I dunno if you can get either one in California.

But these sorta-custom guns everyone is talking about never interested me much. Being a picky bastard, I like having a pistolsmith work over a gun so it is exactly how I want it instead.

 

[Standing Wolf]

I gave the model 1911 a second chance after twenty-odd years. I made it a Kimber rather than a Colt, and haven't been disappointed.

 

[BerettaNut92]

Can't get the TA in Cali (leaving anyway maybe I should wait?)...those rollmarks look...

 

[Pendragon]

Geez.

DOWN BOY!

Everyone has their favorite 1911 and the semi custom makers are all excellent.

Skunk, you really should take Sven up on his offer - the Valtro is unbelieveably sweet and you might just never look back.

Half the 1911s recomended are not available in CA at this time.

Try the Valtro - it is the most afordable of the best and is every bit the gun the CQB is.

What ever you do, do the following:

Shoot a 1911 that ALWAYS works
Shoot a 1911 with a proper trigger
Shoot a 1911 with a checkered front and back strap
Shoot a 1911 that is very accurate

The Valtro and many other guns fit that description - settle for nothing less.

 

[harrydog]

Give a good steel 1911 a try. The CQB would be a good choice, as would a Valtro. An Ed Brown Kobra would also be nice. Stick with one of the semi-customs, or even a true custom if you don't mind the wait.
I own or have owned many pistols including a USP9, USP Tactical, P7M8, various Glocks, SIG, Kahrs, etc.
If I could only keep one, it would surely be a full size steel 1911.

 

[El Tejon]

I've had a number of 1911s. The Les Baer TRS is the one that I carry and the model of which I own multiple copies. What's more it is approved by your betters in law enforcement for the subjects of Tacticalifornia.

 

[10-Ring]

Skunk, why don't you just have one built to your specs? You'll spend a little more, but you'd have the gun YOU WANT!

 

[Tamara]

Baer, Wilson, Valtro, Ed Brown... there are a plethora of sweet 1911s on the market if you want to drop some heavy green.

I've so enjoyed my Professional that I've about decided to round up some other examples of the genre, like maybe a TRS or CQB...

 

[MoNsTeR]

If the trigger on a fine 1911 isn't enough to make you throw your USP in the river, then don't bother. Just one man's opinion, but the 1911 is all about the trigger. If you don't need or want a trigger that good, there's no point in forcing yourself to own one.

 

[tdow]

Skunk,

I think you need to forget all this new-fangled beavertailed, low mount sighted, forward cocking serrated so-called "tactical" doo dads, and get yourself some old school firepower. How 'bout a nice, blued Colt Government Model!

Just my .02.

--tdow