The 1911 - "for experts only"

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bear71

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Can someone explain why dozens of authors and gun writers seem to think that the 1911 is a fine handgun "for experts only".

Insert magazine, rack slide, responsibly operate thumb safety, know single action trigger weights.

Does that take an expert?

Without a suitable answer, I think I'm going to go on believing that good many of these gun writers are rather elitest.

I submit that it takes more expertise to accurately shoot DA and DAO auto's than the 1911 or Hi Power.
 
Guess it depends if knowing how to clear a jammed up gun makes you an "expert".


:neener:

Its actually much closer to this:

Insert magazine, rack slide, responsibly operate thumb safety, know single action trigger weights, pull trigger, BANG, stovepipe, tap magazine, rack slide, responsibly operate thumb safety, know single action trigger weights, pull trigger, BANG, fail to feed, tap magazine, rack slide, responsibly operate thumb safety, know single action trigger weights, pull trigger, BANG, fail to feed, tap magazine, rack slide, responsibly operate thumb safety, know single action trigger weights, CLICK, drop mag, rack slide, Insert magazine, rack slide, responsibly operate thumb safety, know single action trigger weights, pull trigger, BANG, fail to feed..........
 
Last edited:
Zerodefect said:
Guess it depends if knowing how to clear a jammed up gun makes you an "expert".


:neener:

Its actually much closer to this:

Insert magazine, rack slide, responsibly operate thumb safety, know single action trigger weights, pull trigger, BANG, stovepipe, tap magazine, rack slide, responsibly operate thumb safety, know single action trigger weights, pull trigger, BANG, fail to feed, tap magazine, rack slide, responsibly operate thumb safety, know single action trigger weights, pull trigger, BANG, fail to feed, tap magazine, rack slide, responsibly operate thumb safety, know single action trigger weights, CLICK, drop mag, rack slide, Insert magazine, rack slide, responsibly operate thumb safety, know single action trigger weights, pull trigger, BANG, fail to feed..........
Click to expand...
Hmmm maybe you should not work on your own guns anymore!
 
Originally Posted by Zerodefect
Guess it depends if knowing how to clear a jammed up gun makes you an "expert".




Its actually much closer to this:

Insert magazine, rack slide, responsibly operate thumb safety, know single action trigger weights, pull trigger, BANG, stovepipe, tap magazine, rack slide, responsibly operate thumb safety, know single action trigger weights, pull trigger, BANG, fail to feed, tap magazine, rack slide, responsibly operate thumb safety, know single action trigger weights, pull trigger, BANG, fail to feed, tap magazine, rack slide, responsibly operate thumb safety, know single action trigger weights, CLICK, drop mag, rack slide, Insert magazine, rack slide, responsibly operate thumb safety, know single action trigger weights, pull trigger, BANG, fail to feed..........
Click to expand...


bsmeter.gif
 
I think it's pretty simple.

If it's ready to shoot...It's a gun that WILL discharge if you just touch the trigger while picking it up. That light trigger is what make the 1911 so good.

If it's not ready to shoot, there are a large number of "conditions" why this may be so.

Revolvers and DAOs are simply not as complicated.

I wouldn't say a 1911 requires and "expert", I would say it requires more interest in shooting and practice than a simple DAO autoloader or DA revolver. At least in terms of gun safety, not necessarily accuracy.
 
In my agency, the 1911 comes recommended. All the while, until recently if you wanted to carry a Glock you get extra training.
 
They're easy to shoot but 1911s take a lot more time to understand how the platform works than say, a glock.
And parts usually require fitting.
 
I think that's a true statement basically.

I submit that it takes more expertise to accurately shoot DA and DAO auto's than the 1911 or Hi Power.
Click to expand...

For me, the 1911 just seems to point itself. I probably shoot mine better than the other pistols or revolvers I own.

And no one would call me an expert.
 
"You shouldn't get advice from people writing fiction."

Some pretty big names claiming 1911's are for experts only. Otherwise well respected authors.
 
Seems to me it's not so much "The 1911 is only for experts" as "The 1911 should only be carried by experts". As a defense gun I can understand how it demands more training. Pull out a Glock, or a DA revolver, and you don't have to worry about the relatively fine coordination required to activate the safety -- under the stress of potentially mortal combat, mind you -- and you are managing a 12-14 pound trigger pull rather than a 4-6 pound trigger pull. Those two factors, IMO, require a lot of training before they become the "second nature" that they should be in life-or-death conditions.
 
I would hardly call a 1911 an experts gun. Perhaps folks are thinking about new handgun users that find .45acp to be a high recoil round. I have owned a M1911 for about 15 years and my only complaint is that .45 ammo is so expensive.
 
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"Seems to me it's not so much "The 1911 is only for experts" as "The 1911 should only be carried by experts". As a defense gun I can understand how it demands more training. Pull out a Glock, or a DA revolver, and you don't have to worry about the relatively fine coordination required to activate the safety -- under the stress of potentially mortal combat, mind you -- and you are managing a 12-14 pound trigger pull rather than a 4-6 pound trigger pull. Those two factors, IMO, require a lot of training before they become the "second nature" that they should be in life-or-death conditions."

That's a really good post, thanks.
 
I just wish the darn things werent so big and actually fit my hands! I just might go get one of the EMPs and see if the fit is better. Yes I own a Colt safe queen.
 
1911 owners are the polar opposites of Glock fanatics, and just as pretentious. Expert my @$$
 
It's not an "expert's gun" per se, but for serious use, it does require someone willing (and able) to dedicate to the 1911 system.

This has nothing to do with the kick, accuracy or jam clearing. It has everything to do with the "cocked and locked" state of readiness and thoroughly integrating that into ones subconscious.

If you can't or won't do that, find another defensive gun.
 
Well there are two kinds of 1911 pistols.... :scrutiny:

The kind that used to be made, that were simple and trouble free.... :)

And the kind that are made now - John Browning would hardly recognize 'um. :uhoh:

Now with these, getting them to work does indeed require an expert, and a lot of ammunition to break 'um in... :banghead: :neener:

Sidenote: I started shooting (real) 1911 pistols when I was 14, and at the time I was no expert - regardless of what I thought. :D
 
The 1911 is a great platform, but, it is not a gun for someone who doesn't want to put in a great deal of time training with it, hence the "experts" label. It can be a very dangerous gun in the hands of someone who is not willing to commit the 1911 to muscle memory because when the sh-- hits the fan and they have their finger on the trigger, that's just screaming accidental discharge.

David Hackworth wrote a book called "About Face" in 1985. He was one of the most decorated soldiers in the US army during the Korea/Viet Nam era. In the mid 60's he did a study of friendly fire casualties in the Viet Nam war and among his findings were that the 1911 was more likely to cause a friendly fire casualty than an enemy casualty, due simply to the lack of training the troops had with the pistol and it's single action functioning. He strongly recommended going to a double action semi-auto for that reason alone.
 
Insert magazine, rack slide, responsibly operate thumb safety, know single action trigger weights, pull trigger, BANG, stovepipe, tap magazine, rack slide, responsibly operate thumb safety, know single action trigger weights, pull trigger, BANG, fail to feed, tap magazine, rack slide, responsibly operate thumb safety, know single action trigger weights, pull trigger, BANG, fail to feed, tap magazine, rack slide, responsibly operate thumb safety, know single action trigger weights, CLICK, drop mag, rack slide, Insert magazine, rack slide, responsibly operate thumb safety, know single action trigger weights, pull trigger, BANG, fail to feed..........
Click to expand...

kimber was not specified.

oh yeah,and how many weights does a single action trigger have ?
 
I recall a certain DEA agent of internet infamy explaining how "professional" one needs to be to handle a Glock as well.

People just like to run their mouths.
 
No, the 1911 is not for "experts".

For many many years the military took 18 year old teenagers and successfully taught them to be proficient with the 1911 in less than two weeks.

It's a very simple firearm to use.

Having said that....
Glocks are even more simple to use. :neener:
 
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