Is the 1911 Still Relevant?

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I think they are very relevant. Solid design, hard hitting round, very accurate and comfortable in most hands.

You probably won't catch me carrying one anymore, though. They're heavy no matter what you make them out of. If I am going to carry a large, full size gun, I had to say it but a polymer 9mm works better for me.

That said, being the big heavy-baby I am, I generally risk my life every day sporting nothing more than a pocket .380, so I'm probably not the best judge of pistol character.

However, do I get brownie points for at least carrying a 5 shot revolver chambered in .45 acp?
 
Gives Glock owners something to hate?

LOL! Some Glock owners may hate 1911's, but none that I know of.

But I do know a few 1911 owners who hate Glocks and most "tupperware guns".

The venerable 1911 is surely relevant, and a very popular carry piece, albeit not as popular for a duty sidearm where volume trumps any accuracy advantages that probably don't matter in a combat or duty situation.

There, I said it...Flame On, y'all!
 
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I wouldn't want to carry my 1911 all the time due to the size as compared to my 9 mm Glocks and their capacity. However, if that's what I had, I would have no problem carrying it. I love shooting it. As a 9 shot gun, it would be reasonable in most situations with an extra mag or two.

As far as safety, no safety - that's a Yawn for me. I can handle both well.

It's an older design but it's not like when someone tries to justify carrying a black powder gun.
 
No, the 1911 hasn't been top of the line since 1935 when JMB's real masterpiece, the BHP, came out. And it hasn't be relevant technology since 1986 when it was replaced in our armed forces. The progression of combat and defensive handguns has been towards lighter materials and higher capacities, and we've actually gone through several phases beyond the 1911, from steal to alloy framed DA/SA, and then to polymer striker fired pistols. While it can still kill, the 1911 today is about as relevant as the M1903 Springfield. Very few PD and no military branches currently issue the design, it has been all but completely replaced in front line service, and even die-hard fans of the design like Larry Vickers have moved on and consider the 1911 a safe queen. Labeling something obsolete is difficult when it is obviously still lethal, but in all areas of performance, there is nothing the 1911 can do that another design can't do better, cheaper, and usually with more bullets.

Nah, Bro, I think you are off base here in some of your points. 1911 sales are still very strong, and they reign strong in the shooting sports world.

And if Vickers thought 1911's were toast, he probably wouldn't be holding sell-out 1911 custom build classes and working closely with Bill Wilson on designing gear for them.

The 1911 is a true classic, and every bit as relevant and lethal on a Dallas street today as it was on a French beach in 1944. I agree that its status as a duty sidearm has been replaced by higher capacity pistols, but a person who chooses to bear the weight of a 1911 and has trained on the gun is certainly not "under-armed" by any means...
 
I find the ergonomics of the 1911 to be better than its successors in the military, the Beretta 92 or the Sig P320. None of these are very good for concealed carry, if that's what you're interested in.
 
I generally risk my life every day sporting nothing more than a pocket .380, so I'm probably not the best judge of pistol character.

However, do I get brownie points for at least carrying a 5 shot revolver chambered in .45 acp?

As I stated elsewhere I always have a lil' LCP stoked with XTP's in my right hip pocket whether I'm carrying or not.

....and anyone who carries a .45 ACP Wheelgun is definitely a man of class and distinction.
 
I don't disagree the 1911 has an excellent fire control including its manual safety and yet I have been competing in USPSA/IDPA since 2005 and got my CCW permit in 2006. It was not until 2018 before I owned a center fire pistol of any type that had a manual safety, and it is currently a competition only gun. Its going to take alot more running that double stack 1911 in competition and training before I would ever think of strapping a manual safety handgun on my belt for CCW. That may be the best manual safety going but after years of running handgun without a manual safety its going to be quite the mental project to retrain my brain to the manual safety sufficiently for the high pucker factor situation.

And I’d never be comfortable without one.
 
The answer to the question is: Yes, the 1911 is still relevant.

Any more questions?

No, then meeting adjourned.

Tune in next time on THR-Q&A when we will ask the question: Which cartridge is better-9mm.x19, 9mm. Luger, or 9mm. Parabellum?
 
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And I’d never be comfortable without one.

Totally understandable. As much as actively work to avoid any and all two way ranges; I would rather have the person with the 1911 (or whatever obsolete/antiquated weapon we are treading on) that practices with me then the person that thinks the latest and greatest weapon-tech means practice is not needed. 1911 is still pretty long in the tooth though.
 
Today's polymer guns are so vastly superior in nearly every way to the 1911 that it shouldn't even be a question.

Not sure what drives people to refuse to accept reality or facts.

The firearm served our military under combat conditions for over 70 years. I think the question was answered long ago.

LOL. Our military also used to carry M1 Garands. Why don't they still carry them? Or the 1911? Hmmm... Maybe a clue there...
 
Designed as a cavalry pistol to be carried in C3 I say it's way past it's prime. C1 was for certain and immediate engagement which isn't the case with your EDC unless you live in some parts of Chicago.

I have a bunch of 1911's because I like to shoot them, but I don't carry one. The number one reason is I don't like safeties on my EDC. I'm a DA/SA kind a guy and P series Sigs do it for me. I also carry a revolver on occasion.

The 1911 design is intriguing to me and the single action trigger is better than any pistol out there if you tune it up. I can also shoot a 1911 better than any other pistol I own so it has a lot going for it........at the range.

It's such a fine firearm it will never go out of style. The same can be said for revolvers.

As our friend Larry Vickers says, the 1911 is an enthusiasts pistol.:D
 
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Oh, and in an EOTWAWKI world, my three carry guns will be an M1 Garand and two 1911s. They got my Dad and my Uncle through WWII and they can still do the job.
 
I started perusing this website around 2005 (and lurked for many years before joining). At the time, there were innumerable threads about the 1911 in the handguns section.....what type should someone buy, the new variants coming out, how bad does Kimber suck, etc etc etc...

I see a lot fewer 1911-related threads now.

Since 2005, we have gone through two, arguably three, "hysteria" phases where it seems that everyone and their dog bought guns because they were "gonna be banned". My theory is that new gun owners gravitated towards the more modern designs for their initial purchases.

My opinion - I enjoy shooting 1911-style handguns. I also enjoy shooting my M&P's. I'm probably more inclined to reach for the M&P for general use, but that doesn't mean the 1911 wouldn't get the job done. The 1911 is a great design, and the forerunner of many a fine pistol that has benefited from over a century of continuous improvement to be lighter, smaller, and hold more rounds.
 
I think they are fun to shoot at the range or plink with.

I wouldn't hesitate to use one as my nighstand gun.

For me personally it's a bit big for CC, and I prefer DAO for that.

I think rather than "Is it relevant?" the proper questions is "Is it obsolete?"

For military or LE use it's probably accurate to call it "obsolescent".

For private citizens it still has plenty of utility, IMHO.
 
If by relevant you mean better than nothing, sure. I do like the 1911, generally speaking and have owned a few dozen, but for carry use, not for me. I rate them just above a revolver but they're definitely not in the same tier as many of the lighter, higher capacity modern designs we see today, which also typically cost less and are more reliable. I would carry one if I had to, but I choose not to because I fail to see what the 1911 brings to the table that is worth the added weight and lower capacity.
 
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I'm a DA/SA kind a guy...

Under current conditions and risks, this is me as well except that my current preferences are an HK P30SK and revolvers. I'm not comfortable carrying a handgun with potential energy stored in the fire control system.

If situations and risks were different, I'd pick an M1911.

I enjoy shooting my M1911's more than any other semi-auto that I own.
 
I tend to carry a 1911 in 45ACP. This had been an aluminum-framed model of one sort or another, but I've pretty much settled on a full-sized steel frame pistol for everyday wear.

It was the first model of pistol I ever fired. I've gone to multiple week-long schools where I focused on shooting 1911s, and I shoot them better than anything else I own (though I'm amazed at how well an M&P Shield performs.)

Yes, they're still relevant. That doesn't mean "best" - the 1911 was designed when labor was cheap and machining was expensive, and it was designed for one round (230gr ball), and they are heavy compared to the alternatives out there, and lots of folks want a double-stack magazine for additional capacity, and steel will require more maintenance than more modern materials in a carry piece, and everyone makes a '1911' and some are of high quality and some aren't, and, and, and...

...and it's the carry gun of choice for me. Once I'm certain I don't want one in 9mm or .38 Super I'll probably get someone like Baer to build a custom one for me.

Shoot what you like. I carry a full-size 1911 with 2 spare mags and don't notice it's there most of the time, and when I walk out the back door and shoot drills from the holster I'm happy with how it performs, and with how I perform with it.

If you like a Glock, or a Sig, or a Beretta, or something else and that works for you, then cool. You'll have a cheaper gun that will have a higher magazine capacity and will function well with a wider range of ammunition.

But I'll have the satisfaction of knowing I'm carrying America's Gun. :D
 
All snark aside, we're living in an amazing time. I think we have more high-quality and affordable options than ever before. From inexpensive AR10s, to cheap, reliable, lightweight carry pistols, to affordable optics. There are quality pistols that come from the factory with laser grips and a dot optic, and at quite a reasonable price if that's your thing. Throw on an aftermarket LED light and you've got an amazing home defense gun that can probably be shot better by someone with limited training than ever before, and this might cost less than the Officer's Model ACP I purchased back in 1994 (and that was far from reliable, by the way.)

Hollowpoint ammo is available now that's shockingly good. I think you'd have to work hard to find a load in a common caliber from a major manufacturer that's not perfectly sufficient for self defense. Go to Gunsite (home of the Weaver stance and long-time promoter of the 1911) and the instructors will tell you up-front that there really aren't any bad choices in self defense ammo in the major calibers, and even the lowly 9mm is plenty good for defense if using a modern loading.

And modern manufacturing methods and materials have really changed things up - earlier today there was a deal on an M&P Compact in 9mm for $228. Two Hundred and twenty eight dollars for a solid, reliable carry pistol in 9mm. That's amazing. These may truly be the best of times.

But the 1911 has stood the test of time. They shoot really, really well. They last a really long time if you're willing to perform some periodic maintenance on them. The 1911s being made now are (in my opinion) among the best ever made if you choose well, and modern hollowpoint design that's made 9mm performance acceptable has made .45 performance even better too, but that's another discussion.
 
And modern manufacturing methods and materials have really changed things up - earlier today there was a deal on an M&P Compact in 9mm for $228. Two Hundred and twenty eight dollars for a solid, reliable carry pistol in 9mm. That's amazing. These may truly be the best of times.

But the 1911 has stood the test of time. They shoot really, really well. They last a really long time if you're willing to perform some periodic maintenance on them. The 1911s being made now are (in my opinion) among the best ever made if you choose well, and modern hollowpoint design that's made 9mm performance acceptable has made .45 performance even better too, but that's another discussion.

I'm assuming that's a M1.0 but still $228 is a steal. I thought I got a deal at under $300 for a M&P .40 M2.0 Compact 4".

I did see someone eligible for the Military Rebate get a Shield M1.0 9mm for less than $208 after rebate. But if I'm taking you correctly with Military Rebate $188 for a M&P 9C... That's insane. S&W is going to take over the whole market at these prices.
 
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