My First 1911

[WrongHanded]

The 1911 design has always intrigued me. But for reasons I've found hard to pin point, they have always felt alien in my hands. So every time I've considered buying one in the past, I've always ended up with something I considered to be more "utilitarian".

After a brief period of considering a RIA 1911 in 10mm, I decided if I was going to buy a 1911 I should do it right with a .45acp from a company I trust. And probably actually shoot one before doing so. So with the 10mm option shelved (until Sig makes the 10mm all stainless P227, recently mentioned in another thread), I went out looking. And I also put 50 rounds down range on a rental gun, which I quite enjoyed.

The 1911 I ended up choosing was a far call from my usual 'function is beauty' mentality. The Sig Sauer STX is the most flamboyant gun I've ever owned.





But after a morning of handling (unloaded) and dry firing, it feels far from alien. And actually very comfortable in either hand. I'll see how it shoots at some point later today, and try to get the adjustable rear sight dialed in. There's a tiny bit of trigger creep, but I'm guessing that will clean up with shooting.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

That's a beauty!

I'm a SIG guy, but not that much of a 1911 guy. Had two years ago- they were OK, but nothing special. My favorite has been my Dad's Argentine Ballester Molina.

I too was waiting for just the right 1911 to come along. Finally found it in a 1967 Colt. It wasn't cheap, but it feels RIGHT!

Glad you found yours!

 

[Tallball]

Yeah, they are great pistols. There are very few that point as well, feel as good in the hand, and shoot as well for so many people as the 1911. I have four now and am kinda looking at another...

 

[JR24]

That is a fine looking 1911.

Hard to beat the good old 1911 for shooting, IMO.

 

[RA40]

Very nice choice! Been very pleased with the target model I have. Enjoy! The only minor gripe I have is that my computer nerd middle finger hurts where the front strap checkering ends at the trigger guard. It is a bit sharp to me and digs in after 100+ round range sessions. Used some of the smoother textured gun grip tape to ease that transition area.

 

[WrongHanded]

I put 100 rounds through it at the range. Mostly slow fire, and a good amount with my right hand (non-dominant). It ran flawlessly.

Most of my shooting was at 25 feet, where I started off-hand right handed. (Side note: This a gun I'm going to use to improve my right-handed shooting, because it's so easy to use.) I then switched to left-handed and predictably saw an approvement in accuracy. But I then realized the groupings I had to the left side of POA when shooting right-handed, were due to the sights more than my poor skill on that side.

So as usually happens when I zero sights, I underestimated how much ammo I needed. I probably shouldn't have gone through 6 mags before starting to do that. I got it closer, but it'll still need some tweaking. Once I got to sitting and resting on the bench, at 25 feet I was generally getting large (if irregular and elongated) holes from my 8 round groupings. Probably because the .45 makes big holes. Out at 25 yards (which I try to do at every range session with a handgun), my groups were less impressive, but pretty much on par with my P220. It didn't help that I was using the same target and still adjusting the sights, but there's always a next time.

I walked out of the range very happy this pistol, and guessing that much like all my other guns, it's capable of much better accuracy than I am.

 

[Good Ol' Boy]

That's a good looking 1911! Glad you're happy with it.

 

[doubleh]

That's a very nice 1911. I love 1911's. I think Browning must have used my hand when he designed it. Oh, wait, I'm not that old but they sure fit my mitt like he did.

 

[Doublehelix]

I am a huge 1911 fan as well, and also a SIG fan, but I don't own a SIG 1911. Go figure...

Beautiful gun, and it sounds like it is going to be a winner for you. Congratulations!

 

[bannockburn]

WrongHanded

Fine choice with the SIG 1911! Love the looks of it, the features it has to offer, and especially those grips! Of all the different handguns I have ever used, only three truly feel like they were made with my hand size in mind. One is the Browning Hi-Power and another is the CZ P01. The one most closest to my ideal would be the 1911, with a strong preference for Colts!

 

[SwampWolf]

I have the very similar Model TTT. It's my favorite 1911 style pistol.

 

[Iggy]

That 1911 will become like a favorite old sweater.. The one you reach for because it just seems to fit better than the rest.

 

[RA40]

Very nice that Sig and your choice has the mag well. The one part of the Sig 1911's is the lanyard loop in the main spring housing. That hard edge hurts after some rounds through the gun and there is still some flesh left behind from that one use. (Couldn't see it initially but it shows when taking a pic. Yuck, have to clean it.) After the initial session, that was replaced with an Ed Brown mag well.

 

[AZAndy]

The trigger creep may be due to the "Series 80" style firing pin safety-- all three of my Sig 1911s have that. They're not as crisp as a Series 70 style, but not horrible.

 

[Walkalong]

due to the "Series 80" style firing pin safety

That causes (Can cause) a bit of extra drag, but creep is another issue.

 

[nettlle]

Probably the most favorite things about 1911's are their marvelous triggers. I have had to address over travel and pre-travel with 1911 triggers but never had an issue with creep in either the 70 or 80 series.

 

[SwampWolf]

One thing I like best about the SIG STX and TTT model 1911-style pistols are their small and compact ("tactical"?), yet fully adjustable rear sights. A pretty desirable and unique configuration in my experience.

 

[WrongHanded]

That causes (Can cause) a bit of extra drag, but creep is another issue.

Terminology is an interesting thing. What would you consider to be the difference between those two? I may be using the wrong term.

I have the slack take up, then if I increase pressure slowly enough, I feel a tiny bit of movement, and then a stop. Tiny bit more pressure and the trigger breaks. Now that's if I'm looking for it. If I'm not, and add just a little bit more pressure from the take up, it goes. It's certainly less noticeable than it was a few hundred rounds and some dry firing ago. However, when I went looking for a 1911, I looked at a Dan Wesson first to get an idea of how good a trigger could be. That one was certainly superior, and did not have anything but a take up, and a clean break.

 

[WrongHanded]

One thing I like best about the SIG STX and TTT model 1911-style pistols are their small and compact ("tactical"?), yet fully adjustable rear sights. A pretty desirable and unique configuration in my experience.

After a little shooting and dry firing, I've come to the conclusion that these sights are definitely a pleasant compromise. Not as good for target work as true mat black target sights, and not as good as a set of 3 dot night sights for low light work. But they seem to perform well on both, and I quite like them.

 

[entropy]

Brownell's sells the TJ's shim that replaces the series 80 safety. Easy to install, makes the trigger much nicer.

 

[rpenmanparker]

If you think it shoots well as is, try it with a red dot optic. You will be amazed. They are especially helpful for weak side shooting especially if you can’t close the strong side eye.

 

[Spats McGee]

Congratulations! You never forget your first 1911.

 

[WrongHanded]

If you think it shoots well as is, try it with a red dot optic. You will be amazed. They are especially helpful for weak side shooting especially if you can’t close the strong side eye.

I tried a red dot on a 6" GP100. I didn't like it and took the optic back.

My second range trip, I shot 100 rounds and only 8 of them were strong side. That was to confirm zero. The rest were right handed with left hand as support. Both eyes open or right eye closed. I'm strongly left eye dominant, so I have no problem figuring out where my sights are. Especially after I bought a right hand holster, and spent a bunch of time today and yesterday practicing my draw to two handed aimed stance (unloaded gun of course). And I'm bringing the gun over towards my centerline more, to adjust for the left eye to right hand shooting. It's coming together quite well. I've also found that Jeff Cooper's thoughts on squeezing the index finger and thumb together to keep good trigger control, is helping quite a lot.

At this point I'd say this gun feels more at home in my right hand than in my (dominant) left.

 

[Spats McGee]

I was remiss. I neglected to mention that the 1911 that you chose is gorgeous!

 

[rpenmanparker]

I tried a red dot on a 6" GP100. I didn't like it and took the optic back.

My second range trip, I shot 100 rounds and only 8 of them were strong side. That was to confirm zero. The rest were right handed with left hand as support. Both eyes open or right eye closed. I'm strongly left eye dominant, so I have no problem figuring out where my sights are. Especially after I bought a right hand holster, and spent a bunch of time today and yesterday practicing my draw to two handed aimed stance (unloaded gun of course). And I'm bringing the gun over towards my centerline more, to adjust for the left eye to right hand shooting. It's coming together quite well. I've also found that Jeff Cooper's thoughts on squeezing the index finger and thumb together to keep good trigger control, is helping quite a lot.

At this point I'd say this gun feels more at home in my right hand than in my (dominant) left.

What are you trying to accomplish with the weak side shooting? I’m not Shing there is anything wrong with it. I do it for grins every now and then. But you seem to be trying for more than that. Care to share?