1911Tuner
Moderator Emeritus
Ah! Thought it was Georgia Arms.
HELP - Are 1911s Really This Bad?
- Thread starter 40SWHero51
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ichiban
Member
So, basically what you are saying is that you rented a Mustang (just an example, let's not start that discussion) from Hertz and it was a beat up piece of crap that didn't run well. And you want to know if all Mustangs are pieces of crap that don't run well. Is that about it?
JTQ
Member
I believe it probably could have run fine as dirty as it was, but my guess is it just needed some lube. Pull the slide back to lock. Put a drop or two of lube about a half inch from the end of the barrel, turn the pistol over and put a drop or two on the expose section of the slide rails. Close the action and put a drop or two on the barrel hood. Rack the slide several times. You are ready to shoot.
The controls are basically the same from every manufacturer. You probably need to move on. You've grown up in the polymer age and that's what feels "right" to you.
Averageman
Member
I have a Colt series 70 that has never had as much as a hic-up.
Things to look for in a 1911 in my opinion are.
1) Get the full sized 1911 to start with. This was how they were designed and how they run best. You can get a Commander later.
2) Unse good magazines, Chip Mc Cormicks have never let me down.
3) Don't go cheap on ammo. You dont have to buy premium stuff, but some cheap ammo leaves a gun dirtier.
4) Clean it after every time you shoot it.
5) Lube the rails with a light coat of grease.
Things to look for in a 1911 in my opinion are.
1) Get the full sized 1911 to start with. This was how they were designed and how they run best. You can get a Commander later.
2) Unse good magazines, Chip Mc Cormicks have never let me down.
3) Don't go cheap on ammo. You dont have to buy premium stuff, but some cheap ammo leaves a gun dirtier.
4) Clean it after every time you shoot it.
5) Lube the rails with a light coat of grease.
I usually bring gun oil with me for that reason. Then again, I bring my bore snake and give mine a few passes just after shooting before I take them home to clean.
As for the OP, who knows the maintenance run on it. How many rounds have gone through it. Was it reassembled correctly (did the last shooter take it apart, exchange a part and reassemble it?). What's the condition of the springs and magazine? Most commonly the magazine in any auto will be the failure point. How did the magazine fit? Where there dents? The angle or condition of the follower?
Don't write off a 1911. They're damn great guns. Easy to shoot. Reliable if designed well.
I trust Springfield and Colt. The new Ruger SR1911 also looks promising but I couldn't find one anywhere for a normal price (price gougers). Para Ordnance seems to be easier to shoot because of wider grips helping with recoil but I prefer the single stack variety.
I only have one 1911, right now. It's very reliable and accurate. I've only shot out to 50 yards, though. I didn't try further since my gun club was busy that day.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8IwZ-PfmVk&feature=youtube_gdata_player
iPad/Tapatalk
we are not amused
Member
I never owned or fired a 1911 until a few years ago, simply because I thought they were large and clumsy looking gun. Till a few years ago when a friend let me shoot his. I became an instant convert. It is not my favorite shooting gun, but it is a very close second.
While mine is a cheap, used and abused 1911 clone, and has had a few issues concerning light loads and some extreme hollow point bullets, it shoots extremely well with FMJ, and most 230 grain loads.
I am not going to claim to be a 1911 expert, but it is obvious you had a dirty and not well maintained gun. No gun will shoot well, unless proper maintenance is performed.
Give the 1911 another try, with a decently maintained gun, I think you will pleasantly surprised.
While mine is a cheap, used and abused 1911 clone, and has had a few issues concerning light loads and some extreme hollow point bullets, it shoots extremely well with FMJ, and most 230 grain loads.
I am not going to claim to be a 1911 expert, but it is obvious you had a dirty and not well maintained gun. No gun will shoot well, unless proper maintenance is performed.
Give the 1911 another try, with a decently maintained gun, I think you will pleasantly surprised.
jackpinesavages
member
- Joined
- Mar 17, 2009
- Messages
- 809
No, they are not all that bad. I have 3 I am pleased with, 3 different brands.
They need a higher degree of cleaning/lube attention and a rental unit is not a good example to base conclusions.
They need a higher degree of cleaning/lube attention and a rental unit is not a good example to base conclusions.
Guillermo
member
HERESY ALERT
Once upon a time I was a 45 guy. BIG TIME!!!
Owned several. It was rare when my cocked and locked commander was not with me.
Sure, I would have a gunsmith polish here and there (feed ramp). Bevel the magazine well, but my guns were mostly stock. Not cobbled up.
While clearing a stovepipe I would be proclaiming the superiority of the weapon.
Hundreds upon hundreds of dollars later, I sold them all. I never got any of them to run reliably...ever.
The explanations are numerous and came from various gunsmiths (one locally famous) Bad magazine, bad ejector...the list goes on and on.
I LOVE to shoot a 1911. (with a flat mainspring housing) they point perfectly for me. And they just feel...right.
While many have 1911s that run like clocks, that was not my experience.
The only 45 I presently own is a plastic, striker fire. If the flag goes up I would be much more comfortable with it on my side than a 1911.
YMMV
(cowering in the corner, waiting for the mobs with the torches and pitchforks.)
Once upon a time I was a 45 guy. BIG TIME!!!
Owned several. It was rare when my cocked and locked commander was not with me.
Sure, I would have a gunsmith polish here and there (feed ramp). Bevel the magazine well, but my guns were mostly stock. Not cobbled up.
While clearing a stovepipe I would be proclaiming the superiority of the weapon.
Hundreds upon hundreds of dollars later, I sold them all. I never got any of them to run reliably...ever.
The explanations are numerous and came from various gunsmiths (one locally famous) Bad magazine, bad ejector...the list goes on and on.
I LOVE to shoot a 1911. (with a flat mainspring housing) they point perfectly for me. And they just feel...right.
While many have 1911s that run like clocks, that was not my experience.
The only 45 I presently own is a plastic, striker fire. If the flag goes up I would be much more comfortable with it on my side than a 1911.
YMMV
(cowering in the corner, waiting for the mobs with the torches and pitchforks.)
If you rent a gun and it performs to your liking well than their you have it. You might find its comfortable, fits your hand well, and shoots to POA. If a rental gun feels right in the hand but has failures well there is a lot to consider. Some of these rentals have never been cleaned or lubed at all. Range ammo is an unknown if not major brand. The conditions of the mags is another factor that can cause failures.
Just my .02 YMMV
Just my .02 YMMV
Not a full-size 1911
Altered design
Most malfunctions with 1911s are magazine related
Failure to go into battery could mean the recoil spring needs to be replaced
Basically a combination of a different-spec design and poor maintainance.
People who say "use the Glock or the M&P" have the wrong mindset. Just because you CAN abuse a gun doesn't mean you should or condone others doing so. A well maintained 1911 (not a hard task by any stretch of the imagination) will go bang every time.
Altered design
Most malfunctions with 1911s are magazine related
Failure to go into battery could mean the recoil spring needs to be replaced
Basically a combination of a different-spec design and poor maintainance.
People who say "use the Glock or the M&P" have the wrong mindset. Just because you CAN abuse a gun doesn't mean you should or condone others doing so. A well maintained 1911 (not a hard task by any stretch of the imagination) will go bang every time.
LeonCarr
Member
So far all of the excuses given for the 1911s for not running right have been done to Glocks and many other more modern designs and they run without malfunctions. Dirty as sin, no fancy aftermarket magazines, not enough lubrication, etc etc.
If you want to practice malfunction drills like the OP, buy a 1911 and then buy a spare 1911. That way you will have one to shoot when the other one is in the shop.
Just my .02,
LeonCarr
If you want to practice malfunction drills like the OP, buy a 1911 and then buy a spare 1911. That way you will have one to shoot when the other one is in the shop.
Just my .02,
LeonCarr
Averageman
Member
So far all of the excuses given for the 1911s for not running right have been done to Glocks and many other more modern designs and they run without malfunctions. Dirty as sin, no fancy aftermarket magazines, not enough lubrication, etc etc.
I own both 1911's and Glocks, neither runs without lubrication, both require magazines and both have after market magazines that aren't worth a crap.
If you want to practice malfunction drills like the OP, buy a 1911 and then buy a spare 1911. That way you will have one to shoot when the other one is in the shop.
I haven't had this issue as my 1911 ran well out of the box. It is a standard model Colt series 70 with little done to it past shooting it a lot and Chip McCormick magazines. Most issues with 1911's I have seen were user self induced issues, they either want to build a better 1911 with after market parts or never clean it.
I own both 1911's and Glocks, neither runs without lubrication, both require magazines and both have after market magazines that aren't worth a crap.
If you want to practice malfunction drills like the OP, buy a 1911 and then buy a spare 1911. That way you will have one to shoot when the other one is in the shop.
I haven't had this issue as my 1911 ran well out of the box. It is a standard model Colt series 70 with little done to it past shooting it a lot and Chip McCormick magazines. Most issues with 1911's I have seen were user self induced issues, they either want to build a better 1911 with after market parts or never clean it.
MAG-63
Member
I wouldn't make any firm judgements about ANY pistol based upon experiences gained from rentals + range ammo.
Posted by Hondo60.
Lets take what I said in context. A good well tuned/made 1911 may be AS reliable as a Glock/M&P/XD/SIG/etc.....NORMALLY is. It isn't more reliable. In my experience, to get a well tuned/made 1911 you are normally going to spend a lot more for that reliability than you would for one of the other pistols.
There are so many 1911 manufacturers and quality varies wildly. If you buy a Glock/M&P/Sig/etc.........you pretty much know what you are getting. Are all $500 1911s as reliable as a Glock? Nope. Are all $500 Glocks about as reliable as the next? Yup.
Lets take what I said in context. A good well tuned/made 1911 may be AS reliable as a Glock/M&P/XD/SIG/etc.....NORMALLY is. It isn't more reliable. In my experience, to get a well tuned/made 1911 you are normally going to spend a lot more for that reliability than you would for one of the other pistols.
There are so many 1911 manufacturers and quality varies wildly. If you buy a Glock/M&P/Sig/etc.........you pretty much know what you are getting. Are all $500 1911s as reliable as a Glock? Nope. Are all $500 Glocks about as reliable as the next? Yup.
Zach S
Member
I always though of Atlanta Arms as a -p load. With an MP5, I could dump a full mag and keep all of the rounds in the center diamond of redfield sight-in target at 25 rounds.
Its a rental gun, so did you tell the owner or employee?
Typical 1911? Not in my experience. I bought a used Kimber for $500, threw in a fresh recoil spring, and decided to lube it and shoot it till it jammed. When I opened my sixth case of ammo, I decided to give up. Had to bead blast it to get it clean...
Its a rental gun, so did you tell the owner or employee?
Typical 1911? Not in my experience. I bought a used Kimber for $500, threw in a fresh recoil spring, and decided to lube it and shoot it till it jammed. When I opened my sixth case of ammo, I decided to give up. Had to bead blast it to get it clean...
Hangingrock
Member
I was at the range yesterday With a Colt XSE series Government Model and a Springfield (Loaded Series) 1911-A1. The Colt occasionally chokes on 200gr-SWC while the Springfield is reliable.
I’ve changed to a slightly different configuration of the 200gr-SWC which apparently works smoothly in both.
Either way I’ve never encountered feeding issues with the S&W 4506 probably the best 3rd generation pistol that S&W produced.
If there was only one manufacture of the 1911 series pistol and one magazine producer we’d be the better for it.
I’ve changed to a slightly different configuration of the 200gr-SWC which apparently works smoothly in both.
Either way I’ve never encountered feeding issues with the S&W 4506 probably the best 3rd generation pistol that S&W produced.
If there was only one manufacture of the 1911 series pistol and one magazine producer we’d be the better for it.
armarsh
Member
The 1911 is antiquated junk that the military scraped in 1947 and finally stopped using when they ran out of spare parts they had accumulated to keep the clunkers running another 40 years. Thank GOD for the M9 Beretta, a real small arms carry weapon!
Range guns should not be used to measure the reliability or accuracy of any model. The purpose of a range gun is for you to operate it, make sure the grip works for you and the controls work for you. That is about the extent of what you can learn from a range gun.
Wrong. I suppose you prefer something made by Obama Motors that is less reliable and with less horsepower.
Wrong. I suppose you prefer something made by Obama Motors that is less reliable and with less horsepower.
Dr_B
member
Sounds like a bad experience with a dirty, abused range rental. I've never fired a 1911 that had any troubles other than the usual pickiness with non-ball ammo.
allaroundhunter
Member
.....I'm hoping this is sarcasm considering both SWCs and JHPs are non-ball rounds.....
Fishslayer
Member
Hard to tell. The ignorance and troll strong in this thread are.
I learned to stay away from all 1911 format guns and I sleep much better at night knowing my Glock 36 is under my pillow in case something goes bump! My wife is happy about no more oil stains on her pillow cases too!........LOL- Status
