Busted my 1911-A1 Cherry

[Coolray]

Oh Happy Day!!

My uncle just bought himself a High $$$$ Competition 1911 style hotrod. (forget the actual name) So he decided that I was worthy of his current competition 1911-A1 I have been Practicing a lot so I can compete,but I needed a better pistol,so I now have a trick .45acp and a few questions,I searched TFL for Condition one carry questions I got so much back I was stumped. Is the 1911 a safe weapon to carry in Contition one? I plan to use it as a carry weapon as well as train for competition. It is SA I have never owned a 1911 so some expert advice would help. Thanks

Cannot thank my uncle enough!!!!

 

[Danny45]

Coolray,
Congratulations!!! By the way, does your uncle know he has a long lost nephew here?????

To answer your question, (and I'm new to the 1911 style also) is yes. The experts say that you should get comfortable with it first. I've carried both a H&K USP45 and a EAA Witness in condition one before and is easy to get used to. It's the only way to carry a 1911 for defense. IMO

Congrats again!!!!


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"Charlton Heston is my President"

Danny45
NRA, NAHC, Buckmasters

 

[3 gun]

1911 style pistols are safe to be carried in Condition 1(loaded mag and chamber, hammer cocked with safety on) or C3(loaded mag with hammer down on an empty chamber) or C4(no mag, hammer down on empty chamber). Do not carry a 1911 style pistol in C2(loaded mag and chamber with hammer down). C2 is safe with a double action pistols(ex.S&W 59). Be sure the rig you carry in does not interfere with the safties in any way.

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Be careful what you ask for..You may get it.
An unloaded pistol is a paperweight.

 

[Sport45]

Cocked and locked is the only way to carry a 1911 IMHO. That said, I would think real hard about carrying a "competition gun". If the trigger has been lightened considerably for competition it might not be a good choice for a self defense weapon. I would want a trigger pull of at least 4.5 pounds for a defense pistol.

 

[George Hill]

If the trigger is under 4 pounds of pull - I'ld avoid it as a carry piece.
If the trigger isn't too light - then it should be fine in Condition One.
Test all the safeties and function check the entire action.

Congrats on the new .45!

 

[Coolray]

I believe the trigger is about 4 lbs.

BTW danny45 I am the Long Lost Nephew :
Cocked and Locked is O.K. for C1? I would have thought the C2 was the correct way to carry,but it is a moot point if the trigger is under 4 lbs I'll get the trigger pull measured and know for sure.

I Always want to be SAFE!!
Thanks for all your help TFL is a great forum


[This message has been edited by Coolray (edited October 12, 2000).]

[This message has been edited by Coolray (edited October 12, 2000).]

 

[sedwards]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>I would have thought the C2 was the correct way to carry[/quote]

"Older" (originals, Springfield Armory, others) 1911s have free-floating firing pins, ie there's nothing to stop the firing pin from striking the primer if, say, you drop the pistol on its muzzle (even if the hammer doesn't strike the firing pin).

"Newer" (Colt Series 70/80, Para Ordnance, & others) have a firing pin block (disengaged during the trigger pull) that addresses this issue.

Most (all?) modern DA/DAO pistols (Walther, SiG, *&*) have some sort of mechanism that blocks / captures the firing pin. Although these systems aren't necessarily superior to the newer-style 1911 firing pin block there's still a lot of resistance amongst the "Old Guard" to carrying C2 -- if for no other reason than the 1911 was designed to be carried C1, and it's faster during a draw (much easier to drop a safety than it is to cock a hammer).

In any case, competition pistols don't usually make very good carry guns -- things like ambidextrous safeties, extended mag & slide releases, high-profile sights, and very light triggers don't make for "good carry."


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The value of my life, my Rights, and those of my family are incalculable;
your life and your Rights, should you choose to threaten mine, are worth exactly $1.79 --
delivered 230gr at a time.

 

[LeonMichaels]

If you intend to carry this Comp model 1911, you will discover that finding a holster will not be easy. As stated before..the add-on's will make fitting an over-the-counter holster very difficult.

You may wish to contact Lou Alessi of Alessi Holsters. He can custom fit a holster to the gun. His e-mail is LFAlessi@cs.com.

Good Luck.

Leon........

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There are no dangerous weapons....only dangerous men. Robert Heinlein.

 

[HankL]

Coolray, Please do all of us including you and yours a favor. As you have said"It is SA I have never owned a 1911 so some expert advice would help. Thanks " Get very friendly with your new pistol before you try to carry it at all, much less in condition 1.
When picking up any new tool you need to learn how it works. Congratulations!

 

[Coolray]

Thanks everybody for the tips. Safety is the first concern. I always get familiar before I even think of shooting or carrying.
the pistol has a sub 4lbs trigger so I won't carry but I'll take'er to the range and try and shoot up all the .45 Acp ammo ever made, good thing I have started to handload

 

[Stephen A. Camp]

Hello. The Series 80 Colts do have the firing pin block while the Series 70 do not.
Best.