Quality 1911's, Just How Reliable Are They?

[sigbear]

I have bought and traded 9 semi-auto's in the last 6 years and now have only 4 left, the newest addition is a S&W 1911, SS, 5" barrel (same as attachment). I got rid of the other 5 mainly because of occasional FTF issues or just didn't like the gun.

This is my 1st 1911 and I only have 400 rounds through it with no issues. I tradded a Sig. p220 (Internal Extractor) and cash for it because the Sig would have at least 1 FTF every time I shot it since new, nothing major, just an annoyance.

I have read many peoples post stating their dislike for 1911's mainly because of reliability issues, so, my question is:

Just how reliable is the modern 1911 (2005+)? and are newer models more or less reliable than the older models?.

How reliable is the 1911 platform compared to Sig P220, Glock, HK, M&P etc.?

I do realize some mfg's are more reliable than others.

http://www.gunblast.com/SW1911.htm

Sigbear

 

[Vern Humphrey]

The M1911 has two flaws.

The first is that because it's so popular and all the patents have expired, everyone and his dog has manufactured them. And some manufacturers didn't have much quality control. It got to the point where people expected to have to have them "tuned" after purchase -- and they still bought them. So the shoddy manufacturers figured, what the heck? Just push them out the door. Kimber changed that by offering top quality at a good price. Modern M1911s are very good, indeed -- but there are still some shoddy manufacturers out there.

The second problem was ammunition. The 9mm was sweeping the boards as the top cop gun. Many of the problems of automatics were traceable to ammunition -- too much variance in dimensions, bullets not optimized for reliable feeding (particularly bullets designed to expand), and so on. So soon quality expanding 9mm ammo with flawless feeding began to appear. The .45 was left way behind.

But now ammo design has caught up. New .45s from reputable makers, combined with modern ammo have resulted in very reliable pistols.

 

[Babalouie]

I've had a Springfield A1 for 20 years and after a break-in of 300 rounds or so, due to very tight tolerances, I haven't had a single failure in the last 5 to 7k rounds. I shoot it in uspsa single stack and its never let me down. I have read that a break in is normal and that has been my experience with all steel frame 1911s.

As far as modern 1911s I also have a S&W 1911PD commander size that I bought 1.5 years ago has never had a failure of any kind. It seem S&W has their 1911s figured out.

 

[9mmepiphany]

Vern Humphrey is pretty spot on. here's a great article about using the 1911 from someone who really understands what it takes to make them run:
http://www.10-8consulting.com/article_page.php?articleID=13

i have a S&W 1911Sc which is the commander length Scadium framed model and have been very happy with it

i think the Sig 220 (i have an older folded slide W. German model) and the HK45 (based on the record of the USP and P2000) would be more reliable with less dedicated care...the Glock doesn't fit my hand and the M&P hasn't been out long enough for much of a track record

 

[hhb]

Reliability

I have a Colt 1911A-1 made in early 1943. Changed the recoil spring and the firing pin spring a couple of times in the last 45 years, and it's never failed to function properly. That's the definition of reliablity.

 

[Clarence]

Make no mistake about it, there are plenty of 1911's out there that due to shoddy manufacturing aren't reliable. I recently took a class where one of the students had a Kimber that jammed at least once every magazine.

I've owned around 20 different 1911's in the last 20 years or so and have mixed results. The truly high-end guns made by Baer, Brown & Wilson are typically flawless. My CCW gun is an Ed Brown Special Forces that I have fired over 7k rounds through it since I purchased it without a malfunction of any kind.

I have had mixed results with Kimber, good results from Springfield, and mixed results with Colt.

In any event I have had uniformly BAD luck with the compact guns and would never recommend anyone buy a 1911 smaller than a Commander. In my opinion the best bet is to buy a truly highend 1911 (Baer, Brown, or Wilson) and you won't be disappointed.

The 1911 platform has so much to offer that it is worth getting a truly good one...........IMO

 

[mljdeckard]

The 1911s I avoid are ones with external extractors. (Like your S&W.) Yours might work just fine, they just give me the willies.

My Kimber Custom II is the best pistol I have ever owned. I don't ever plan on changing it for anything.The rule for 1911s is the same as any other autopistol. Run 200 rounds of the ammo you will be carrying, from the MAGAZINES you will be carrying through it to verify reliability. This must be error free.

Here's the thing. IF your 1911 has a flaw, it will likely be revealed in the first 500-1000 rounds. So think of it as the training you need to be doing anyway, run it, clean it, check it. If it works, TRUST IT. Some 1911s say to shoot 500 rounds to break in, but my Kimber ran fine from the first shot.

If there IS something wrong with it, it is probably easier to fix on a 1911 than any other gun.

 

[Coltdriver]

I have had a few 1911's. The only reason they became unreliable at all was I shot them a lot.

If you get a few slide return springs so you can replace them when you wear em out and keep your magazine springs healthy you will be fine with a quality piece like you have purchased.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

A quality (i.e., built to the proper specs) 1911 should be as reliable as any pistol. The problem is finding one. Even some rather expensive ones are not.

 

[cooks 7]

I have owned 2 Kimbers, one Desert Warrior that I still have, I've never had a problem with it, I had a couple ftf with one Wilson combat mag that needed a spring, but not one problem with the gun itself, I also had a Team Match II, (with the dreaded external ejector). I had zero problems with this gun either but ended up trading it to a friend, I just like the look of the Desert Warrior and didn't feel as bad beating it up as the nicer looking Team Match. I haven't had any other experiences with 1911's other than shooting a friends ancient Colt Gold Cup.
I think the 1911 platform is awesome, reliably simple, if constructed well, controls feel natural, my only complaint is I can't reach the slide drop without shifting my grip, but my fingers are pretty short.
I think too many people get race quality 1911's that don't know how to maintain them and have problems. I don't hold my 1911's to any better standard than my other pistols, same cleaning routines, same range behaviors and don't expect any less of them. I haven't been let down yet.

 

[schmeky]

sigbear,

A year or two ago there was a reliability shoot out between Glocks and 1911's. The shooter had to fire 1,000 rounds in a relatively short period of time, but there could be absolutely no malfunctions of any type whatsoever.

There were 2 pistols among the numerous entries that made it through: a single 1911 and a single Glock.

The 1911 has endured for nearly a century not because of it's out of the box stellar accuracy, no. But because a Mil-spec 1911 would work, reliably.

 

[smoothdraw]

I have 2 kimbers bought new that needed to loosen up and really properly lubricated for it not to fail (but they are reliable now). I have a COLT series 70 repro that has been so reliable from the get go. If you want a 1911 and your main goal is reliability.. send it to the master 1911 smiths. Select from http://www.louderthanwords.us/ (Ted Yost, CT Brian, John Harrison etc) and ask them to do reliability package on your 1911. reliability package is not expensive and can be done quickly by your 1911 master smiths.

If you want a reliable weapon from the box without breaking the bank I suggest a COLT. I love my Kimbers but my kimbers shoots more than 500 rounds, and the throat been polished before they became reliable because they are so tight new.

Others are into very tight gun but i guess the steadiness of my hand shooting makes me a better shooter and a little looser slide to frame fit like my colt makes the gun more reliable.

 

[HisSoldier]

I also had a Team Match II, (with the dreaded external ejector)

I think you meant external extractor. I also have a TM II and it's a great gun. Mine has the standard internal extractor and functions very well and is superbly accurate.

I'll never buy another Kimber though since I found out they use so many MIM parts. Those who believe MIM is as good as cast or forged or machined from barstock may disagree, but for $1300 a 1911 should not have MIM parts IMHO.

Dan Wesson makes a much better gun for the same or less money IMO, I have two of them. No MIM in Dan Wessons.

But if reliability is the main concern and your not willing or able to learn the ins and outs of 1911 tuning nor willing to spend a bit of money getting it tuned you may not be happy with a 1911, they say that's the venue of barf glocks.

My DW CBOB has been extremely reliable out of the box though. My new DW Marksman needs a bit of fine tuning to be omnivorous though, it likes my reloads but not all factory ammo.

Some folks say you shouldn't toss out any new pistol until you have 500 rounds through it, they tend to wear in.
I agree with those who say it shouldn't be that way, and I bet in 1942 a new 1911 issued to troops could be expected to work 99% right off. But guns made now are probably much tighter than those were, and probably much more accurate. When my gunsmith looked over my new Marksman his remark was "They are making 1911's better than ever now days".

 

[snakyjake]

I've been reading tons of posts on all the forums about the issues. It seems that all the high production 1911's all have the possibility of something wrong. "mljdeckard" gave the best advice about buying something you like, and breaking it in.

Also, I believe any firearm has the potential to fail, and nothing is 100% reliable. Therefore malfunction drills should be routinely practiced.

Other important considerations are warranty and customer service.

Jake

 

[rellascout]

I have owned over 10 1911s in the past 5 years.

Sig GSR
Norinco
Les Baer
Colt X5
S&W
Springfield
Dan Wesson

I have had to send 1 of them back to the factory for repair. Every other one runs like a champ. The one I did have to send back only had a minor issue. Nothing that I could not have fixed myself but since it was under warranty I sent it in.

I think people blame 1911s get a bad rap. Lots of people bugger their own guns and then blame the design.