Is this S&W 45ACP a Good Pistol?

[Loosedhorse]

I own that exact gun, and let three shooters (a friend, his son, and a friend of a different friend) try it out yesterday. Everyone liked it.

I've owned it for years, since they first came out. I like it, too.

 

[OregonJohnny]

I own an early (circa 2005) S&W 1911 Stainless, 5", plain-jane. I love it.

Though not my first handgun, it was the first handgun I ever bought myself. Not knowing much about extractors, and what makes a 1911 "traditional", I didn't notice or care about the external extractor. I remember liking the way it "broke-up" the looks of the slide compared to other 1911s.

With 1,500 rounds of factory ammo through it over the years, and not a single malfunction, it's been very reliable (I know, that's only 250 rounds/year, but I have way too many guns, and not enough time to shoot them all).

I have put smooth grey slim-line Alumagrips on it, and have even started CC'ing it lately.

I believe I paid $749 out-the-door back in '05, which is money well spent on an American-made 1911 of this quality and reliability.

I think the S&W line of 1911s often get overlooked by people, for no good reason. I'd buy another one in a heartbeat if I ever needed to.

 

[1SOW]

Skylerbone:

By all hands-on accounts I've read the newer pistols are even better than their predecessors AND start at a lower street price than the one at Bass Pro.

A 5" stainless with Bomar sights "at a lower price"???? How much '
lower' for the equivalent E-model pistol?

 

[yhtomit]

JDGray: "The only complaint I had with my S&W 1911, was the step it created in the case heads of my brass for reloading."

Could you explain that, or (hoping) perhaps show a close-up picture of how it affected the brass? In my long-range "considering a 1911" planning, the S&W ones sound good, but I would be discouraged if they were in some way unfriendly to reloading.

timothy

 

[Skylerbone]

A 5" SS with fixed Novak sights for about $10 less. It will have FCS and feature the "fish scale" pattern rather than the traditional angular serrations, similar to those worn by the M&P line. S&W's website has been updated to show detailed pics. Also new is the serrated slide top to minimize glare on the sight plain. Just a few more added touches to an otherwise already excellent 1911.

I believe the "step" in the brass being referred to is where the extractor is grabbing the casing. The E Series uses a wider extractor that grabs more surface area which may alleviate the problem.

 

[REAPER4206969]

There is a step machined out of the breech face that leaves a line in the head stamp.

I have a conspiracy theory that S&W does it on purpose to easily track cases. It's too perfect to be an accident.

 

[Z-Michigan]

There is a step machined out of the breech face that leaves a line in the head stamp

Interesting. Can someone take a photo and post it?

 

[REAPER4206969]

Right above the ejector. It leaves a perfect line on the head stamp after firing 100% of the time. Any .45ACP cases with a line on the edge of the case head = fired from a SW1911.