1911 vs Ruger P Series
- Thread starter JJ45
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mxsailor803
New member
The Colt. I've shot several P series Rugers and I just could not come to terms with it. As far as reliablity, I've never heard or seen anything bad from the P series either. I just can't shoot one good enough for me to own one.
railroader
New member
I have a few 1911s and I also have a Ruger P97DC. I keep the ruger loaded for home defense. The ruger always goes bang and it has no safety to forget to turn off. This important because my wife could be the one having to use the gun. It's just point and shoot plus it's very accurate.
Agree
I agree with what you guys say.
The reason I asked is that I have the 4 pistols mentioned in the first post and am thinking about entering IDPA competition for the first time but I would rather concentrate on one or the other pistols.
The 1911s were actually semi customized. I actually sent the Colt out to have a Beaver Tail GS, low safety and reliability, function work, nothing fancy.
The 1911s feel and point a lot better but I think the Rugers are more durable. I read an article where a P97 endured 5,000 full power rounds with no malfunctions.
Is there any advice you can give concerning these platforms and IDPA?...Thanks Again.
I agree with what you guys say.
The reason I asked is that I have the 4 pistols mentioned in the first post and am thinking about entering IDPA competition for the first time but I would rather concentrate on one or the other pistols.
The 1911s were actually semi customized. I actually sent the Colt out to have a Beaver Tail GS, low safety and reliability, function work, nothing fancy.
The 1911s feel and point a lot better but I think the Rugers are more durable. I read an article where a P97 endured 5,000 full power rounds with no malfunctions.
Is there any advice you can give concerning these platforms and IDPA?...Thanks Again.
g.willikers
New member
5,000 rounds without a problem.
Imagine that.
Have them report back after it gets warmed up.
Imagine that.
Have them report back after it gets warmed up.
The first shot to second shot DA to SA transition is a real thing. Next time out, draw your P90 and take the full, long DA trigger pull and then follow that up immediately with a volley of single action shots.
This can be practiced and I don't doubt that one could build skill in doing it--
But it's not at all easy to do well and it's not NEARLY as natural as a handgun where every trigger pull is the same.
This is important because this is how IDPA will require that you run the pistol. If you are fine with that 1st to 2nd shot transition, then you would be totally fine to run the P90 if that is what you choose.
This can be practiced and I don't doubt that one could build skill in doing it--
But it's not at all easy to do well and it's not NEARLY as natural as a handgun where every trigger pull is the same.
This is important because this is how IDPA will require that you run the pistol. If you are fine with that 1st to 2nd shot transition, then you would be totally fine to run the P90 if that is what you choose.
Nakanokalronin
New member
Any of them, but the P345 is a better comparison.
I just read IDPA is a consideration. In that case I'd go with a 1911 due to it's trigger. I can shoot DA/SA guns just fine after owning many of them over the years, but for competition I'd go with a 1911.
I just read IDPA is a consideration. In that case I'd go with a 1911 due to it's trigger. I can shoot DA/SA guns just fine after owning many of them over the years, but for competition I'd go with a 1911.
DA
Agreed, the DA pull needs a lot of practice but in choosing a "stake your life on" gun, no matter which, I plan on shooting it a lot. I don't want to spread the expense around. I did reload some for the ACP and this is the only time I experienced an occasional jam, usually a failure to feed. Not the pistols fault.
As far as reliability, so far the Colt's plunger tube de-staked after only about 250 rounds when I first got it. This was before I sent it out. It won't run with McCormick 8 round mags, the last round won't feed. In the Springfield, these 8 rounders work fine.
The Springfield has never failed but I haven't shot it as much as the Colt.
When shooting the P97 a couple days ago one mag would eject itself after 2 or 3 rounds fired but it was just that one mag which I took home and cleaned real well, marked it with red tape and we'll see next time.The other mags worked fine.
Ruger mags are easier to field strip and clean than 1911 mags. At least the mags I have. I had one surplus mag come completely apart while shooting. The welds failed. I don't trust mags with welded floor plates so this is another consideration. Even though it probably doesn't happen much.
Agreed, the DA pull needs a lot of practice but in choosing a "stake your life on" gun, no matter which, I plan on shooting it a lot. I don't want to spread the expense around. I did reload some for the ACP and this is the only time I experienced an occasional jam, usually a failure to feed. Not the pistols fault.
As far as reliability, so far the Colt's plunger tube de-staked after only about 250 rounds when I first got it. This was before I sent it out. It won't run with McCormick 8 round mags, the last round won't feed. In the Springfield, these 8 rounders work fine.
The Springfield has never failed but I haven't shot it as much as the Colt.
When shooting the P97 a couple days ago one mag would eject itself after 2 or 3 rounds fired but it was just that one mag which I took home and cleaned real well, marked it with red tape and we'll see next time.The other mags worked fine.
Ruger mags are easier to field strip and clean than 1911 mags. At least the mags I have. I had one surplus mag come completely apart while shooting. The welds failed. I don't trust mags with welded floor plates so this is another consideration. Even though it probably doesn't happen much.
lee n. field
New member
Welllll. They still make 1911s.
Ease of field stripping, the Rugers have the edge.
The 1911 had to pass a similar test for acceptance into military service, 6,000 rounds I believe.
The problem the 1911 faces today is there are dozens of companies making them, all to varying degrees of quality. I've often said that if you had 20 companies making Glock clones, some better than others, we'd all be talking about how unreliable Glocks are.
You're singing my song!
I can only opine on what I have experience with which is the Ruger P89
and the Ruger P90.
Both of these are my go to guns for home defense.
(Assuming breaking out my AK-47 is not required.)
These all metal, no polymer, Rugers are built like tanks!
Easy to maintain.
There is no doubt in my mind that if I ever am forced to use one of them,
they will operate flawlessly and effectively.
Next question?
I can only opine on what I have experience with which is the Ruger P89
and the Ruger P90.
Both of these are my go to guns for home defense.
(Assuming breaking out my AK-47 is not required.)
These all metal, no polymer, Rugers are built like tanks!
Easy to maintain.
There is no doubt in my mind that if I ever am forced to use one of them,
they will operate flawlessly and effectively.
Next question?
I have no doubt that you will put a lot of practice in to it-- we are all enthusiasts here. But just to be clear about the point I am trying to make:
it's not so much mastering the long, heavy double action trigger pull
it's that transition from the first shot to the second/subsequent shots
Fast double-tapping (and making quality hits) is already tough enough a skill to master, but throw in the DA to SA transition and it's far more difficult.
A little side annoyance is that it's also not easy to dry-fire practice this at home. I mean you can -- but not in a natural, flowing fashion.
This post of mine is NOT hate mail toward DA/SA pistols (I have MANY and I love 'em!) but I use them for enjoyable range pistols and I rarely use the DA at all.
I had a P97DC and still have a P90. Both are reliable with every type of HP or FMJ ammo you shove in them.
I have slight preference for the P90 because there are more grip options. With the P97, you are limited to some type of grip sleeve if you don't like the plastic stocks.
The biggest downside to the Ruger's is parts availability as the P series has been discontinued.
So far, this hasn't been a problem for me, but you never know.
I'm not sure if the factory even services them anymore.
Obviously, the 1911 has the clear advantage in that department.
I have slight preference for the P90 because there are more grip options. With the P97, you are limited to some type of grip sleeve if you don't like the plastic stocks.
The biggest downside to the Ruger's is parts availability as the P series has been discontinued.
So far, this hasn't been a problem for me, but you never know.
I'm not sure if the factory even services them anymore.
Obviously, the 1911 has the clear advantage in that department.
DAVID NANCARROW
New member
For IDPA, if the 1911 points better, that is a big advantage for you and would be the one I would choose because of it.
A quality 1911 is just as tough as a P90 or 97, plus you have the advantage of parts availability that you will never have with any P series pistol.
The name of the game in IDPA is time and accuracy-not bulls eye accuracy but keeping your shots on the targets.
For me, the short 1911 trigger and the fast reset would be a distinct advantage over a swinging trigger like the P series Ruger.
A quality 1911 is just as tough as a P90 or 97, plus you have the advantage of parts availability that you will never have with any P series pistol.
The name of the game in IDPA is time and accuracy-not bulls eye accuracy but keeping your shots on the targets.
For me, the short 1911 trigger and the fast reset would be a distinct advantage over a swinging trigger like the P series Ruger.
DA/SA
All great advice. The one point some may not think about is that there will always be parts, grips, mags, smiths, etc. for the 1911.
Jeff Cooper, in one of his later "commentaries" said that with a DA pistol one might be better off squeezing through the first shot as fast as possible in the direction of the threat then aquiring a sight picture for more precise SA shots.
If you know about Cooper this sounds counter since he was a died in the wool SA, 1911 advocate.
All great advice. The one point some may not think about is that there will always be parts, grips, mags, smiths, etc. for the 1911.
Jeff Cooper, in one of his later "commentaries" said that with a DA pistol one might be better off squeezing through the first shot as fast as possible in the direction of the threat then aquiring a sight picture for more precise SA shots.
If you know about Cooper this sounds counter since he was a died in the wool SA, 1911 advocate.