What Makes the 1911 So Great?

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Why the 1911?

Grip angle, trigger, ergonomics of controls, profile, can be easily customized, thumper caliber, accuracy, reliability (in original form), availability of parts, safety (don't hear of too many ND's with 'em, do you?) and because I like a mean scary gun to frighten blissninnies. If you don't like the 1911, fine. Enjoy your tactical tupperware and quite banging on those of us who know how to use a pistol with more than one control.
 
The greatness of a good 1911A1 of quality manufacture is that you get a combat pistol as reliable as any ever made with these added bonuses: 1) a trigger with only one mode that is "match quality" in terms of minimal pretravel, light pull, and fast reset compared to all of its competitors. 2) Outstandingly tight accuracy for a combat weapon, my best one can repeatedly put a mag into an area the size of fifty cent piece at 15-20 yards. 3) It's flat. Heavy compared to some, but flat and concealable. That concealability was certainly not a design criteria for a cavalry inspired auto-loading pistol, but I will take it and the "low capacity" that comes with it, since it has magazines seemingly shrink wrapped around the .45 ACP round which makes carrying reloads a breeze.
 
The 1911:

* has a nice grip and a very good trigger, which allow for high practical accuracy;

* permits the cocked-and-locked mode of carry that many serious shooters prefer, enabling the skilled shooter to put a controlled pair on target fast;

* is pretty compact for a holster gun;

* is aesthetically pleasing; and

* chambers a potent, low-pressure, big-bore cartridge that offers an excellent blend of power and shootability.

Add the model's rich history and tradition, and all this seems amply enough to explain the 1911's popularity.
 
I know of 2 faults that 1911's have. High cost for a really good one, and they are comparitively difficult to field strip. That said, I still love em as my username implies.
 
A skilled shooter can put a pair on target fast with a decent DA/SA semiauto -- just use the decocker a lot when practicing rather than shooting ego groups. With practice, one can shoot defensively with a Single Action Army or a cap & ball Remington for that matter.

But I think the 1911's straight-pull trigger makes it easier to shoot quickly and accurately, even with a service-pistol trigger pull of 5+ lb. That inspires confidence, and confidence is an important thing with a defensive handgun.
 
Difficult to field strip?

Let me clean the lunch-time cheez-puffs off my fingers and I can unload and strip in about thirty seconds. easy steps. Drop the mag, rack the slide to clear. Place trigger finger on the slide stop where it protrudes from the RIGHT HAND side of the pistol. Press finger firmly and rack the slide again. Depress spring follower and rotate bushing. Grab slide stop with two fingers and remove. It took longer to read this than it takes to do it.
 
I had a Colt Combat Commander, Satin Nickle finish with a set of standard Pachmayer grip panels. Best hand gun I ever had (didn't realize it untill I sold it due to "Revolver-itis" :mad: ). Shot very nicely and was totaly controllable with 158Gr hollowpoints at 25 yards. Looked impressive too! I'm going to get another when the work (income) picks up again.

230Gr ball? = :cuss:

Only in an emergency!
 
Go shoot a USPSA/IDPA match; there are a few shooters that make it to the top with something other than a 1911 (if class legal), the exception vs. the norm. 1911 variants can be had in 9mm, 38 super, .40 S&W, .400 Corbon, 10mm, 45acp, 45gap, 450 Rowland to name but a few. Para makes the LDA, which has an incredible trigger for a double action (too bad the reset is a mile long). You can get lightweight versions utilizing aluminum, plastic and/or titanium frames and magazine capacities from 6 to well over 20. It’s a firearm platform that was very good at its inception and very hard to top because of its evolution.
 
1911Guy

Granted, you and I can take a 1911 apart easily, but others can't. It took me an hour to teach my dad how to field strip the 1911 he bought after shooting mine, and it still takes him a long time. On the other hand, he can take my Sig apart very fast, as can any idiot.
 
"I know of 2 faults that 1911's have. High cost for a really good one, and they are comparitively difficult to field strip. That said, I still love em as my username implies."

Compared to a SIG or a SA XD, the 1911 is major gunsmith work to field strip. Compared to taking apart a S&W revolver, the 1911 is indeed easy to field strip. I can teach anyone over the age of 6 years old to field strip a SIG and have it back together in less time than it will 95% of 1911 owners to field strip their pet 1911. Field stripping is not one of the 1911 stong points by any means.

There is nothing magical about the 1911 except it's simplicity. That is the only reason that 101 different companies make them and every Bubba thinks he is a 1911 pistol smith.

Cocked and lock is lame.

The 1911 grip angle is slightly better than holding two pieces of 2x4 nailed at a right angle.

The looks are a matter of taste. I don't see anything appealing about the 1911. Square blocky lines and flat slabs of steel, big deal. Look at a Beretta 92fs or a Walther PPK if you to see what style is all about.
 
Field-Strip

Quote:

Compared to a SIG or a SA XD, the 1911 is major gunsmith work to field strip.
********************

Say...WHAT??

How about 45 seconds to...detail...strip the frame and slide and about a minute-thirty to get it all back together.
 
It's one hell of a fighting pistol. Tens of thousands of dead Moros, Hatien Cacao, Mexican banditos, Sandanistas, Germans, Japanese, North Koreans, North Vietnamese, and so on can't be wrong.:D
 
Yea, the 1911 has to be one of the easiest guns on the planet to detail strip. However, I am a bit faster at the usual "field" strip with a few modern guns.

The reason I like the 1911 are the following:

Comfortable in the hand
Straight pull trigger
Availability of parts
Can easily be tuned to shoot tight groups
Doesn't sit too high in the hand
 
1911 vs a double action and stripping.

I've had some double action pistols in the past (just got a used "witness .40 S&W recently), and there is no way ANY double action pistol is as easy or easier to detail strip than a 1911. Field stripping can be called a tie. Deatil stripping, making peices parts out of everything, is easier with a 1911 because of the linkages and leverage points that are required with all double action pistols.

Saying differently proves you've never tried it.
 
It's great because JMB wanted it to be great. If he wanted it to suck, he would have designed it that way.

.223 fails to stop. 45 ball drops them all.
 
"I like it better than cocked and unlocked, which is what a Glock is (and every DA revolver ever made)."

I almost forgot how slow the DA revolvers are to get into action and how unsafe DAO is.:rolleyes:

DAO is the fastest, safest, simplist trigger system man has yet invented. It can be very accurate as well if you practice.
 
I admit, I have never used an M1911 for real. The only times I had to shoot for keeps I was carrying my M357 Colt.

But today I carry an M1911 (my current carry gun is a Kimber Classic I). I think the M1911 is a better fighting pistol than the old revolver, and haven't found an automatic that I like as well.
 
Excellent ergonomics.
Excellent grip angle copied by others including HK USP.
Easy to field strip.
Easy to detail strip without tools.
Relatively flat and concealable.
Reliable.
Easy to clean, maintain, lube.
 
Frankly, I don't know.

Of the many 1911s I've owned, none were reliable. Colts, Kimbers, Springfields, yadayadyada.

If you want to spend your hard earned (hundreds or thousands of) dollars to make them work, that's your choice.

Me, I'll go with more modern designs that work ("work" = do all the things it's supposed to do) when you pull the trigger.
 
A good 1911 is a fine thing.

BUT, my go to pistols that are in my bedside lock box and office lock box are a Glock and a Sig. Why? I have more confidence that they will work for me if dire circumstances arise. That said, I respect those who favor the 1911 as their go to pistol.
 
re:

Quote:

>If you want to spend your hard earned (hundreds or thousands of) dollars to make them work, that's your choice.<
******************************

Huh? Jack...You're about an hour away. Next time ya run into a 1911 that won't work, bring it to me and I'll fix it in about 30 minutes.
 
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