I've only had two 1911s, one a S&W and one a Springfield Mil-Spec. Both were pretty good guns, but neither was particulalry reliable compared to my Hi Power, Beretta, CZ75, XD, or Glocks. They were not so bad as to be "maintenance nightmares" but they both required more frequent cleaning and were a bit of a pain to clean compared to a more modern design. Frankly I would not have trusted my life to either, but they were fun to shoot. If I were in your shoes and planning to do the activities you describe, I'd get an HK45c if .45 is what you are after. That gun is at the complete opposite end of the maintenance spectrum.
M1911s... Maintenance nightmares?
- Thread starter Panzerschwein
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BSA1
member
I'll have three 1911's two of which have had work done on them.
The most serious problem I encountered on a new out-of-the-box gun was the tube on the side of frame that holds the springs and plunger for the slide stop and thumb safety had to be restaked.
I replaced the trigger and sear on one of them and the trigger, sear and hammer on the other. They both have had basic tune-up work like polished feedway, tuned exactor and trigger pull set to 4#. I also have replaced the sights with bigger better ones such as Novaks.
One of the guns I have got a little crazy and done (and spent $$$) a lot of custom work. Truth is my other 1911 that has just had the basic tune-up, better quality trigger, sear and hammer and sights works just as well.
Oh my 3rd 1911 has never seen a gunsmith. When I am at the top of my game it will shoot 2" groups with my run of the mill reloads of 230 gr. lead bullet and W-231. It is capable of 1" groups at 25 yards although the owner isn't. The Gold Cup is my keeper.
The only problem I had with this gun was the factory magazine was junk due to the feedlips not being made right. The factory replace it free of charge.
Oh the 3rd gun is a Colt Series 70 Gold Cup. It was (and still is in my book) the Rolls Royce of production 1911's. In fairness the Gold Cup was higher priced that the standard Government Model back then.
If I was to buy a new 1911 I would have a gunsmith replace the trigger, sear and hammer with better quality parts (Wilson Combat would be a good choice), have better sights installed (lot of good choices) and do a basic tune-up. For range use I would just shoot 230 gr. FMJ or RN Cast Lead bullets. As a reloader all I shoot is cast lead bullets.
In addition buy some good quality magazines as most problems are directly to junk ones.
The most serious problem I encountered on a new out-of-the-box gun was the tube on the side of frame that holds the springs and plunger for the slide stop and thumb safety had to be restaked.
I replaced the trigger and sear on one of them and the trigger, sear and hammer on the other. They both have had basic tune-up work like polished feedway, tuned exactor and trigger pull set to 4#. I also have replaced the sights with bigger better ones such as Novaks.
One of the guns I have got a little crazy and done (and spent $$$) a lot of custom work. Truth is my other 1911 that has just had the basic tune-up, better quality trigger, sear and hammer and sights works just as well.
Oh my 3rd 1911 has never seen a gunsmith. When I am at the top of my game it will shoot 2" groups with my run of the mill reloads of 230 gr. lead bullet and W-231. It is capable of 1" groups at 25 yards although the owner isn't. The Gold Cup is my keeper.
The only problem I had with this gun was the factory magazine was junk due to the feedlips not being made right. The factory replace it free of charge.
Oh the 3rd gun is a Colt Series 70 Gold Cup. It was (and still is in my book) the Rolls Royce of production 1911's. In fairness the Gold Cup was higher priced that the standard Government Model back then.
If I was to buy a new 1911 I would have a gunsmith replace the trigger, sear and hammer with better quality parts (Wilson Combat would be a good choice), have better sights installed (lot of good choices) and do a basic tune-up. For range use I would just shoot 230 gr. FMJ or RN Cast Lead bullets. As a reloader all I shoot is cast lead bullets.
In addition buy some good quality magazines as most problems are directly to junk ones.
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Wow. This is like reading something from 30 years ago, a bunch of BS that gets perpetuated on internet forums. New 1911s are not your granddaddy's $15 WW2 surplus rattletrap. I've had literally dozens of 1911s new and used and had literally one that wouldn't run properly when cleaned, lubed, and used with a quality mag. It was a used aluminum frame 9mm Fusion CCO that should have been ordered with a ramped barrel and Fusion milled the frame and replaced the barrel under warranty.
There is no reason a quality 1911 like a Colt Rail Gun won't run reliably out of the box the same as any other quality handgun. Keep it clean and properly lubed and use quality mags that's all it should need.
I have a bunch of 1911s, mostly custom colts, they all get shot, some more than others and maintenance mostly consists of basic field stripping, cleaning, and lubricating. And, I don't usually bother with that but every 500-750 rounds. For instance, I recently bought a lightly used Les Baer Custom Carry, didn't even test fire it, just field stripped it and gave it a basic cleaning and lubed it. I've shot it in two Action Pistol matches since then and will probably shoot it in one or two more before cleaning it again.
I do not normally detail strip my 1911s unless I'm replacing parts (by choice) or if I buy a used gun that is particularly dirty and Gunscrubber isn't getting the job done.
As far as maintenance, you'll shoot thousands of rounds before that Rail Gun may need anything and it will probably just be a recoil spring change. I change out recoil springs in used guns when I get them, in my Officers every couple thousand rounds, in my Commanders and Gov't when they start showing signs of needing it. I don't do mess with anything else unless there is an issue - that means no regular tweaking of extractors or anything else. My guns, both stock and custom, are not "ornery" or "finicky", they run with whatever ammo I put in them I use Chip McCormick mags for carry and competition and they don't give me any problems.
There is no reason a quality 1911 like a Colt Rail Gun won't run reliably out of the box the same as any other quality handgun. Keep it clean and properly lubed and use quality mags that's all it should need.
I have a bunch of 1911s, mostly custom colts, they all get shot, some more than others and maintenance mostly consists of basic field stripping, cleaning, and lubricating. And, I don't usually bother with that but every 500-750 rounds. For instance, I recently bought a lightly used Les Baer Custom Carry, didn't even test fire it, just field stripped it and gave it a basic cleaning and lubed it. I've shot it in two Action Pistol matches since then and will probably shoot it in one or two more before cleaning it again.
I do not normally detail strip my 1911s unless I'm replacing parts (by choice) or if I buy a used gun that is particularly dirty and Gunscrubber isn't getting the job done.
As far as maintenance, you'll shoot thousands of rounds before that Rail Gun may need anything and it will probably just be a recoil spring change. I change out recoil springs in used guns when I get them, in my Officers every couple thousand rounds, in my Commanders and Gov't when they start showing signs of needing it. I don't do mess with anything else unless there is an issue - that means no regular tweaking of extractors or anything else. My guns, both stock and custom, are not "ornery" or "finicky", they run with whatever ammo I put in them I use Chip McCormick mags for carry and competition and they don't give me any problems.
bannockburn
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Cooldill
Over the last 40 plus years or so, owning numerous 1911s myself, as well as knowing of many more through family and friends, I can only think of one as being problematic: a friend's AMT Hardballer. This gun suffered not from the design of the 1911 but from the apparent lack of quality control, both in the parts used in the gun's construction and in the absence of any handfitting of those parts. It took nearly the complete replacement of those parts to get the gun to function properly.
Other than that one particular gun, I have yet to meet a 1911 I didn't like.
Over the last 40 plus years or so, owning numerous 1911s myself, as well as knowing of many more through family and friends, I can only think of one as being problematic: a friend's AMT Hardballer. This gun suffered not from the design of the 1911 but from the apparent lack of quality control, both in the parts used in the gun's construction and in the absence of any handfitting of those parts. It took nearly the complete replacement of those parts to get the gun to function properly.
Other than that one particular gun, I have yet to meet a 1911 I didn't like.
MIL-DOT
member
For decades, I always assumed it was common knowledge that 1911's were finicky, but finally having gotten some real experience with them in the past few years (both owned by myself, and a few freinds), I've found all but one of the one's I've fired to be 100% reliable ( a Rock Island Tactical that occasionally wouldn't go fully into battery, but I was intentionally repeatedly firing that dirty until it glitched up. I got rid of it before trying a new recoil spring.)
Before I traded it, my Colt 1991 Commander was flawless. The LNIB Springfield Mil-spec stainless I scored a deal on last year, now has 500 assorted rounds through it, including hollow points, with zero issues.
A good buddy of mine has a couple vintage Colts that he swears have never hicupped. A now-deceased shooting buddy used to drag out a rough looking Taurus, and I never once saw that thing fail to cycle.
Before I traded it, my Colt 1991 Commander was flawless. The LNIB Springfield Mil-spec stainless I scored a deal on last year, now has 500 assorted rounds through it, including hollow points, with zero issues.
A good buddy of mine has a couple vintage Colts that he swears have never hicupped. A now-deceased shooting buddy used to drag out a rough looking Taurus, and I never once saw that thing fail to cycle.
X-Rap
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I'm going to assume that many posting here who have had dozens of 1911's also own or have owned many other handguns. I'd just ask for a fair comparison in out of the box reliability between the 1911 and others handguns that are thought to be reliable.
I'll throw out a few that come to mind. K Frame S&W, HK USP, Colt Python, Ruger GP, Glock, CZ 75 to name a few. My experience with out of the box reliability puts the 1911 at the back of the pack.
Not asking for BS just honest comparison.
Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk
I'll throw out a few that come to mind. K Frame S&W, HK USP, Colt Python, Ruger GP, Glock, CZ 75 to name a few. My experience with out of the box reliability puts the 1911 at the back of the pack.
Not asking for BS just honest comparison.
Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk
rbernie
Contributing Member
My 5" Kimber 1911's and 5" Sigs have been as documented to be as reliable as my Glocks and more reliable than my CZ75s and far more reliable than my BHs. I don't shoot my K/L/J frames enough any more to make a fair comparison.
The most "maintenance" I've ever had to do on a 1911 was a spring replacement kit on a used 30-year-old Colt. I've owned more than a dozen 1911s of different manufacture and age.
There are always little tweaks that can be performed to tune, but the term "maintenance nightmare" vastly, vastly overstates the facts.
There are always little tweaks that can be performed to tune, but the term "maintenance nightmare" vastly, vastly overstates the facts.
stchman
Member
To the OP:
Get some kind of reliable 9mm as your HD handgun. Attempting to have one gun be "my do everything" gun is not the best thing IMO.
Get some kind of reliable 9mm as your HD handgun. Attempting to have one gun be "my do everything" gun is not the best thing IMO.
Zaydok Allen
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- 13,274
In 2012 I found myself asking the same things you are asking Cooldill.
Do I need a 1911? NO
Do I want a 1911? Yes
Are the stories of problem guns indicative of a coming headache? Maybe
Do I need one for self defense? No
What would I really use this gun for? Fun and open carry
When I decided to take the plunge and see what all the hubbub was about I was trying to decide what brand and make to go with. I was really considering the Colt Rail Gun. I realized that since it was going to be a gun I carried in daylight, or shot on the range during daylight hours, I didn't need a rail as I had no need to hang furniture on it. That saved me a significant amount of money, but your preferences are your own.
I ended up settling on a S&W 5" Stainless E Series. I wanted traditional lines, but with a beaver tail grip. The external extractor isn't for everyone though. They had the railed model in my LGS, but also the non railed one I brought home. It was priced at $825, and I traded a Browning Buckmark towards it.
So what did I learn? I learned that my 1911 wasn't "finicky" per say, but did have ammo preferences, but every gun does. It seems to dislike Federal Champ target ammo, and fails to feed it properly. I tried Wilson Magazines, and it helped a bit, but was still choking now and then. So I shot up the rest of that ammo, and switched to warmer stuff. Every time I shot Fed Champ it seemed pretty watered down, but I have no chrono data to back that up.
When I switched to warmer ammo, It started running a little better, and I put a little heavier recoil spring in the gun. 17.5 lbs I believe. It now runs about 96%. I suspect that my extractor may be a touch oversprung as well, but haven't investigated that yet.
If you buy this gun with the expectation it will run perfectly from the box, you may be disappointed initially. Like any gun, you need to try several ammo brands to find one that works in your gun. Quality magazines go a long way, so look into Wilsons, or maybe Tripp Research also. I'm sure there are some other makers that make some really good magazines.
As you know, all guns are individuals and you may buy two identical guns and one may run perfect, and the next not so much. If you buy this gun as a fun gun, and know it may take some figuring out to get it to run properly, then you should enjoy it.
Maintenance is no more difficult than on any other semiauto, but there is a little more to take down and reassembly. Nothing difficult, just a different mechanism. Just beware the frame scratch you can produce by not reinserting the slide stop correctly.
When it comes down to it, I have an HK45, a SA XDS, and my Smith 1911. If I needed a 100% functional, no hiccup gun, Id reach for my HK45 every time. If I want a gun that is a pleasure to shoot, and easy as all hell to hit with, I'd grab the 1911. I'd really like to test drive a Sig P227 also, just cuz. That's unlikely though, as funds are low right now.
I will say, that if I was in a bind, and needed to sell a gun to pay for some unforeseen expense, my 1911 is probably the first one that would go. It's not because I don't like it. It's not because of the small reliability issues. It's because it would be a really easy gun to replace since the market is flooded.
This has been my experience with my one and only 1911, so I am not agreeing or disagreeing with what anyone else has said. Good luck. I hope you enjoy your new 1911. They are a lot of fun.
Do I need a 1911? NO
Do I want a 1911? Yes
Are the stories of problem guns indicative of a coming headache? Maybe
Do I need one for self defense? No
What would I really use this gun for? Fun and open carry
When I decided to take the plunge and see what all the hubbub was about I was trying to decide what brand and make to go with. I was really considering the Colt Rail Gun. I realized that since it was going to be a gun I carried in daylight, or shot on the range during daylight hours, I didn't need a rail as I had no need to hang furniture on it. That saved me a significant amount of money, but your preferences are your own.
I ended up settling on a S&W 5" Stainless E Series. I wanted traditional lines, but with a beaver tail grip. The external extractor isn't for everyone though. They had the railed model in my LGS, but also the non railed one I brought home. It was priced at $825, and I traded a Browning Buckmark towards it.
So what did I learn? I learned that my 1911 wasn't "finicky" per say, but did have ammo preferences, but every gun does. It seems to dislike Federal Champ target ammo, and fails to feed it properly. I tried Wilson Magazines, and it helped a bit, but was still choking now and then. So I shot up the rest of that ammo, and switched to warmer stuff. Every time I shot Fed Champ it seemed pretty watered down, but I have no chrono data to back that up.
When I switched to warmer ammo, It started running a little better, and I put a little heavier recoil spring in the gun. 17.5 lbs I believe. It now runs about 96%. I suspect that my extractor may be a touch oversprung as well, but haven't investigated that yet.
If you buy this gun with the expectation it will run perfectly from the box, you may be disappointed initially. Like any gun, you need to try several ammo brands to find one that works in your gun. Quality magazines go a long way, so look into Wilsons, or maybe Tripp Research also. I'm sure there are some other makers that make some really good magazines.
As you know, all guns are individuals and you may buy two identical guns and one may run perfect, and the next not so much. If you buy this gun as a fun gun, and know it may take some figuring out to get it to run properly, then you should enjoy it.
Maintenance is no more difficult than on any other semiauto, but there is a little more to take down and reassembly. Nothing difficult, just a different mechanism. Just beware the frame scratch you can produce by not reinserting the slide stop correctly.
When it comes down to it, I have an HK45, a SA XDS, and my Smith 1911. If I needed a 100% functional, no hiccup gun, Id reach for my HK45 every time. If I want a gun that is a pleasure to shoot, and easy as all hell to hit with, I'd grab the 1911. I'd really like to test drive a Sig P227 also, just cuz. That's unlikely though, as funds are low right now.
I will say, that if I was in a bind, and needed to sell a gun to pay for some unforeseen expense, my 1911 is probably the first one that would go. It's not because I don't like it. It's not because of the small reliability issues. It's because it would be a really easy gun to replace since the market is flooded.
This has been my experience with my one and only 1911, so I am not agreeing or disagreeing with what anyone else has said. Good luck. I hope you enjoy your new 1911. They are a lot of fun.
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Sure, Ive owned poly guns from most of the manufactures (HK, Sig, MP, Glock, etc) own dozens of others handguns Walther, CZ's, Beretta's, BHP's, SW & Ruger Revolvers, SAA's, pretty much a little of everything.
No none of my semi's are reliable as my revolvers.
However, all the semi's are pretty much on par with each other. Which means I will get a malfunction once in a blue moon. I dont make any excuses, if it failed to go bang, it counts.
Ive yet to come across that magical Glock that runs 10000rds without a malfunction, and Ive owned 10 of them (currently 5). My 4k Nighthawk has had a malfunction too.
The only semi-guns I own that haven't had a malfunction have low round counts.
It is funny how when 1911s come to the table, experiences seem to be at opposite ends of the spectrum. My first 1911 was my first centerfire. I put over 10k rounds through it, and I remember thinking that most people must be lying when they said their guns had NEVER had a hiccup (granted a lot of people never shoot their gun enough to hiccup). My first 1911 did as well as my second. Both typically 3-pt jams, tested with a variety of ammo both new and reloads and a variety of mags (Wilson, Chip, Metalform, factory). Frankly I assumed it was normal, and then I went shooting with my friend and his dad who is a Houston PD detective. I believe he shot a 3.5-4" Kimber of some kind, my friend had the Kimber Warrior. I only shot with them once, but both guns hiccuped a lot.
Then I started shooting other designs and those guns really never did have a hiccup. The BHP and CZ75 truly never did have a problem over thousands of rounds. The Beretta and XD were flawless but over a lesser round count. My Glock 26 and Glock 19 each had maybe 3 or 4 jams within the first 200-300rds and have been flawless since for several thousand rounds with almost no cleaning. I have had some range rental Glocks tie-up with some regularity when I was first shopping for guns.
You can call it BS, but that is my real-world experience. Like I said, it wasn't until I got away from 1911s that I really started to believe people that their guns actually ran flawlessly, and I don't plan to buy more 1911s to find a good one. Sort of a fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me situation.
Then I started shooting other designs and those guns really never did have a hiccup. The BHP and CZ75 truly never did have a problem over thousands of rounds. The Beretta and XD were flawless but over a lesser round count. My Glock 26 and Glock 19 each had maybe 3 or 4 jams within the first 200-300rds and have been flawless since for several thousand rounds with almost no cleaning. I have had some range rental Glocks tie-up with some regularity when I was first shopping for guns.
You can call it BS, but that is my real-world experience. Like I said, it wasn't until I got away from 1911s that I really started to believe people that their guns actually ran flawlessly, and I don't plan to buy more 1911s to find a good one. Sort of a fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me situation.
In addition to my 1911s I've had all kinds of other handguns, revolvers and autos, from S&W, Ruger, CZ, Colt, HK, Star, Walther, SIG, Beretta, Glock, Charter Arms, and I'm sure a couple of others. Most have been fine out of the box. The only ones with issues that I can recall are a SIG Mosquito that never ran right, and a Star that broke the extractor. I have had very positive experiences overall, I didn't like all of the guns, not all of them were as accurate as I prefer or had triggers as nice as I prefer, but they ran and functioned as advertised. Just like my 1911s.
bannockburn
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WC145
My experiences pretty much mirrors what yours has been. Two of my less favorable handgun purchases have both been revolvers: a Charter Arms Undercover and matte finished Colt Agent. There was one poorly finished Colt Officers Model but it functioned okay once I did a little work on it.. Other than that everything else has been working just fine with decent triggers and acceptable accuracy.
My experiences pretty much mirrors what yours has been. Two of my less favorable handgun purchases have both been revolvers: a Charter Arms Undercover and matte finished Colt Agent. There was one poorly finished Colt Officers Model but it functioned okay once I did a little work on it.. Other than that everything else has been working just fine with decent triggers and acceptable accuracy.
ljnowell
Member
That's like saying "ask any mechanic who makes a good car."
We will tell you no one does. Smiths, like mechanics, see the problem children. People don't take their functioning guns to a smith for no reason.
I've had almost a dozen 1911s. Not a single one had reliability issues. The only one that has broken was a Taurus.
ljnowell
Member
More BS.
I'm willing to bet that more 200 grain bullets are fired from 1911s than anything else. The majority of those are SWC too.
rodinal220
Member
"Basically, are all the rumors about how the 1911 is a "maintenance nightmare" true?"
Total BS!!!
Total BS!!!
Climb14er
Member
My two carry pistols... Glock 19 and DW 1911 .45ACP CCO... both totally reliable.
G19 easier to field strip but the 1911 is not that difficult at all.
I carry the 1911 more because it's slimmer, has a better trigger and carries more comfortably. The 1911 is also my bedside pistol with a spare mag.
There are great books describing field and major stripping of the 1911, one of them is THE M1911 COMPLETE OWNER'S GUIDE BY WALT KULECK.
1911'S... buy quality and shoot the heck out of them.
G19 easier to field strip but the 1911 is not that difficult at all.
I carry the 1911 more because it's slimmer, has a better trigger and carries more comfortably. The 1911 is also my bedside pistol with a spare mag.
There are great books describing field and major stripping of the 1911, one of them is THE M1911 COMPLETE OWNER'S GUIDE BY WALT KULECK.
1911'S... buy quality and shoot the heck out of them.
I consider the 1911 a fun range toy. I've owned Colts, S&W's, two Kimbers & a Wilson CQB. The Wilson is the only one that was reliable - at $3,000.00, it should be. There are twice as many parts in a 1911, compared to a modern polymer-framed pistol, and also much more metal-to-metal friction. Today's use of cheaper MIM parts to keep manufacturing costs down has made the reasonably-priced 1911's less reliable & they wear faster. The 1911 design was as good as it could be for when it was designed in 1905.
FL-NC
Member
There's no shortage of myths about the 1911. The fact is, they range from cheap junk I wouldn't give $20 for to guns costing easilly $3,000 plus, so there's way too much variation in quality to make such generalized statements. Some people need various "tweaks" for optimum performance with specific rounds for various competition requirements. As long as you use good magazines like those made by Wilson or Mccormick shooting stars (I'm not sure what mags come with the rail gun) and stick to decent ammo with a fairly round nose, that gun should be just fine. Remember it was selected for service by MARSOC, the significance being that they thoroughly test their equipment prior to adoption (especially after the Kimber debacle). That gun may be a bit "tight" at first but after some good ball rounds being run through it (the ammunition a 1911 was designed to fire) I expect you will have a great pistol. The only "maintanance" it should require is cleaning after use- something everyone should do after using a good firearm- especially one as expensive as a Colt rail gun.
Old Dog
Member
So much internet misinformation and personal bias in this thread it's mind-boggling.
Yeah, if you're the type of guy who can't keep his gas-powered weed-whacker operating, has never in his life changed the oil in any car he's ever owned, never done his own taxes, can't figure out how to put together that pre-fab bookcase from IKEA or learned to use a compass, perhaps the 1911 will be a maintenance nightmare for you. Probably never owned a Harley, either ...
For the rest of us, though, not so much.
Think I'll go buy a Powerball ticket now, as I'm the luckiest man in the world, since having owned more than 30 production 1911s, I've never had one that was a "maintenance nightmare."
Yeah, if you're the type of guy who can't keep his gas-powered weed-whacker operating, has never in his life changed the oil in any car he's ever owned, never done his own taxes, can't figure out how to put together that pre-fab bookcase from IKEA or learned to use a compass, perhaps the 1911 will be a maintenance nightmare for you. Probably never owned a Harley, either ...
For the rest of us, though, not so much.
Think I'll go buy a Powerball ticket now, as I'm the luckiest man in the world, since having owned more than 30 production 1911s, I've never had one that was a "maintenance nightmare."
RA40
Member
The other part is will you like the way it is set-up. For instance some gawd awful heavy trigger, grips, sights, etc. Small expenses yet more to potentially add to the gun.
I have two 1911's. The Springfield GI from mid 90's took a new extractor. Replaced the short trigger and put in a light weight sear spring. That spring brought the factory 7# down to about 3.5#'s along with some clean up of the rough mating parts. I bought this initially as a project gun but financial changes altered that direction so I shoot it as is. Shoots fine but leaves much to be desired.
The Sig 1911 has been great out of box. Far smoother operation and tighter fit.
The plastic 9mm has the HD role.
I have two 1911's. The Springfield GI from mid 90's took a new extractor. Replaced the short trigger and put in a light weight sear spring. That spring brought the factory 7# down to about 3.5#'s along with some clean up of the rough mating parts. I bought this initially as a project gun but financial changes altered that direction so I shoot it as is. Shoots fine but leaves much to be desired.
The Sig 1911 has been great out of box. Far smoother operation and tighter fit.
The plastic 9mm has the HD role.
Yeah, most guns out there work just fine. Now, that doesn't mean I haven't had my guns worked on, I like custom stuff and I've had both revolvers and 1911s built into full customs, but that has always been by choice, not necessity.
From its inception in 1911 to about 1980, Colt was the only maker of this pistol's platform. For the most part they're were few complaints about reliability, especially when using standard (hardball) ammunition.
But it wasn't long before the market became filled with other makers who paid little attention to the original blueprints when it came to dimensions, tolerances and material specifications. In particular they tightened the pistol up to the point where they more resembled target rather then service pistols, and they substituted untested materials and manufacturing technologies.
So in some cases (but not all) the changes resulted in questionable reliability.
Those that have had experience with the pistol going back to the end of World War Two generally agree that with some notable exceptions, those made by Colt didn't have the level of jams associated with other makers. This was partly because to a wide measure they were still made as they had been in the past. Those that have followed THR since the beginning may have noticed that the many complaints about misbehaving 1911's seldom involved military model USGI pistols. One may also notice that the number of "my pistol is a jam-o-matic" threads have also slowed.
While it may be more costly, complaint's concerning Colt's current pistols seem to be few and far apart. Maybe they're is a message there.
But it wasn't long before the market became filled with other makers who paid little attention to the original blueprints when it came to dimensions, tolerances and material specifications. In particular they tightened the pistol up to the point where they more resembled target rather then service pistols, and they substituted untested materials and manufacturing technologies.
So in some cases (but not all) the changes resulted in questionable reliability.
Those that have had experience with the pistol going back to the end of World War Two generally agree that with some notable exceptions, those made by Colt didn't have the level of jams associated with other makers. This was partly because to a wide measure they were still made as they had been in the past. Those that have followed THR since the beginning may have noticed that the many complaints about misbehaving 1911's seldom involved military model USGI pistols. One may also notice that the number of "my pistol is a jam-o-matic" threads have also slowed.
While it may be more costly, complaint's concerning Colt's current pistols seem to be few and far apart. Maybe they're is a message there.
Llama Bob
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- 2,258
In my experience, specifically with current manufacture Colts in .45, there's no truth whatsoever to it assuming you use the factory mags (made by Checkmate on my guns).
They have been the most reliable autos I've dealt with. I've fixed lots of things on non-colt 1911s (most frequently weak plunger springs of all things
) but I've never needed to fix anything on a modern colt to get it to run. I have however dehorned a couple to keep them from turning my right hand to hamburger. Since the rail gun has a beavertail, that won't be an issue.
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