Does anyone carry 1911's anymore?
- Thread starter Tactical Jackalope
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noonesshowmonkey
New member
No. There are production high capacity handguns in whatever caliber I want that exceed the ergonomics, capacity, durability, reliability, weight, etc. of the 1911. Beyond the non-hinged trigger, there really isn't anything going for the 1911 that another handgun can't do better, and for less assache and money spent.
Finally, for any carrying a handgun with the likelihood of its use, this is a moot point: policy often dictates what is carried. Past that, it's a coffee table book you wear on your hip.
I find the debate about the intended vs. designed use of the 1911 hilarious and academic. See above re: policy.
I know a guy that has a Model T that can make 35 mph, so I guess it is a great around-the-town car. Ya know, for groceries. This dead horse is hilarious.
Finally, for any carrying a handgun with the likelihood of its use, this is a moot point: policy often dictates what is carried. Past that, it's a coffee table book you wear on your hip.
I find the debate about the intended vs. designed use of the 1911 hilarious and academic. See above re: policy.
I know a guy that has a Model T that can make 35 mph, so I guess it is a great around-the-town car. Ya know, for groceries. This dead horse is hilarious.
kilimanjaro
New member
Definitely the 1911 in some form is pretty omnipresent.
I have went full circle, pretty much, and I always end up coming back to the Lightweight commander. It's my favorite carry gun, and short of a pocket .380 or something, I find it as easy to carry and easier then most other choices, unless I drop down in stopping power and effectiveness.
As far as I am concerned all development of personal side arms for self defense could have stopped with the Lightweight Commander.
As far as I am concerned all development of personal side arms for self defense could have stopped with the Lightweight Commander.
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Tactical Jackalope
New member
I carry a lightweight commander when I'm feeling like carrying a 1911. Which isn't often. The Smith and Wesson is a scandium framed, titanium firing pin, beast.
Dirty_Harry
New member
Just takes practice, not hard at all.
The 1911 isn't nearly as popular for carry as it once was, but I doubt it is because of its traditional service-sized rivals with 15+1 capacity. Most folks I know who've given up on the 1911 for carry have gone to the various compact single-stack nines and similar-sized autos like the Kel-Tec PF9 and Kahr PM9. Folks simply have a lot more trust in the 9mm with today's loads, and a 14-ounce carry gun is hard to say no to.
t4terrific
New member
Everybody carries a full size sometimes, but very few carry a full size all the time.
rt11002003
New member
I sometimes carry a Dan Wesson Guardian 9mm. When I don't carry the DW, a Kimber SOLO 9mm is with me. The SOLO is really accurate out to 10 yards.
1911's held little attraction to me until recently. My LGS owner suggested a Springfield Range Officer 9mm just after they came out. After a month wait for delivery, I bought it, had a local gunsmith do a little trigger work. It's great! I now have at least 5 1911's, two in 45 ACP.
Shot the DW, a SIG MAXX 1911 and a H&K USP 45 Tactical today. All were good shooters. Accurate and not a lot of recoil. I shot a 2 inch group at 25 yards with the DW. Not as good with the MAXX. Ran out of ammo and didn't get to shoot the H&K at 25 yards.
The DW really surprised me, it seemed like I couldn't shoot it past 7 yards until two weeks ago. All of a sudden I was shooting as good at 10 and 15 yards as at 7. "As good" is a full mag in a 5 inch circle.
1911's held little attraction to me until recently. My LGS owner suggested a Springfield Range Officer 9mm just after they came out. After a month wait for delivery, I bought it, had a local gunsmith do a little trigger work. It's great! I now have at least 5 1911's, two in 45 ACP.
Shot the DW, a SIG MAXX 1911 and a H&K USP 45 Tactical today. All were good shooters. Accurate and not a lot of recoil. I shot a 2 inch group at 25 yards with the DW. Not as good with the MAXX. Ran out of ammo and didn't get to shoot the H&K at 25 yards.
The DW really surprised me, it seemed like I couldn't shoot it past 7 yards until two weeks ago. All of a sudden I was shooting as good at 10 and 15 yards as at 7. "As good" is a full mag in a 5 inch circle.
bushrat1 said:
Of all the points you made above, capacity is about the only thing that can't be argued. I have yet to find a modern .45ACP pistol that has ergonomics that even match the 1911 (most feel like fat bricks in my hand), and as a result if it's not a .45 1911 I simply go with a 9mm. I've had no issues regarding durability or reliability of any of my carry 1911s, even after thousands of rounds of use. If your 1911 jams frequently the problem is with your gun, not the design. And as far as weight is concerned, once the shooting starts a 39oz pistol is much more controllable in rapid fire so it's no handicap. If carry weight means that much to you then a lightweight Commander is 27oz, more than a Glock but still nowhere near heavy enough to bother most people. And that leaves us with capacity, where admittedly the 1911 gets trounced versus the various wondernines and wondertens. However, there's no free lunch and if you want a slim carry pistol a single stack mag is where it's at. And with reliable 8-round mags on the market a 9-shot pistol isn't as bad as it first sounds.
Two reasons for my "no" vote.
1. A 1911 is an excellent gun, but is heavy and low capacity. With today's quality 9mm ammo, it is easy to have confidence in a lighter M&P/Glock/XD with greater capacity, or a very small light gun like a PM9. Or if desired, match the power of the .45 with a lighter higher capacity .40.
2. I'm used to PM9, M&Ps and Glocks; the shooting mechanics of a 1911 are too different.
1. A 1911 is an excellent gun, but is heavy and low capacity. With today's quality 9mm ammo, it is easy to have confidence in a lighter M&P/Glock/XD with greater capacity, or a very small light gun like a PM9. Or if desired, match the power of the .45 with a lighter higher capacity .40.
2. I'm used to PM9, M&Ps and Glocks; the shooting mechanics of a 1911 are too different.
BigMikey76
New member
I don't think the 1911 is obsolete; I just don't find them appealing. Sure, they are a part of history, and they are still relevant as a modern handgun, but I simply don't see what is so great about them. If I want a single stack with 8+1 capacity, I can get a polymer gun that weighs about a pound less. If I want a heavy all metal gun, I can get a CZ or a Beretta that has twice the capacity.
Now that I've talked a little about the objective and logical side of things, I am going to bring in my opinion, for which I am prepared to be called a heretic: I just don't like the way they look. Go ahead, get out the pitchforks and torches, run me out of town on a rail, etc. I just prefer the aesthetics of some more modern guns. In particular, I like the look of the CZ 75 or the Beretta 92 far more than a 1911.
Now that I've talked a little about the objective and logical side of things, I am going to bring in my opinion, for which I am prepared to be called a heretic: I just don't like the way they look. Go ahead, get out the pitchforks and torches, run me out of town on a rail, etc. I just prefer the aesthetics of some more modern guns. In particular, I like the look of the CZ 75 or the Beretta 92 far more than a 1911.