M1911s... Maintenance nightmares?

M

Model12Win

Moderator
Hey guys, sorry for all the 1911 questions. I have decided that in the coming months, I will purchase a Colt Rail Gun as my first 1911. I plan to make it a regular at the shooting range, and if it proves itself, as my primary defensive handgun in the home defense (nightstand) and open carry roles (while hunting, patrolling the property) etc. So naturally I've been in "sponge mode" and have been absorbing as much information as possible on the 1911.

There is one thing that I've been running across, and that is that 1911s practically all need some level of gunsmithing to be reliable out of the box. How much truth is their to this? Also, I have heard that 1911s need to be maintained extremely closely in order to function properly. Things like extractors must be tuned just right, and the guns in general are just very particular and ornery if not worked over properly and maintained.

Basically, are all the rumors about how the 1911 is a "maintenance nightmare" true? Do they all, including Colt Rail Guns, really need to be worked over by a gunsmith before they will be reliable?

I am just trying to understand this issue, it's one of the few roadblocks that is kind of leaning me against this platform. If you guys could please let me know, I'd appreciate it.
 
I've owned a couple of 1911's (2 Colts/1 RIA) over the years. They were all three "stock out of the box." I've never had any problems with any of them that required a trip to gunsmith, or anything more than routine cleaning once in a while.

I had to replace a couple of magazines that gave me trouble.
 
As I recall, every one of my 1911s have needed work over the years or even when new, out-of-the-box.

Colt Combat Elite: minor ejector tuning to cure brass to face. This was around 1989.

Colt Commander .45: Staked-in front sight loose. The slide was sent back to Colt, round trip was ~2.5 weeks. This was this year after 3,000 rounds. I also later modified gun for personal preferences.

Guncrafter Industries: front night sight went out after ~a year. Slide sent back for replacement.

Kimber TLE II 5": Slide-stop replaced by factory due to premature slide lock-back. Before I had more knowledge about the 1911, I had a gunsmith reliability-tune gun.

Kimber Warrior: One dot of rear night sight went dim. Gritty trigger. Clocking extractor. I sold gun before I could get these things fixed.

Kimber SIS 5": Front night sight went dim. This took two trips back to Kimber as on the first replacement, Kimber put on the wrong size height. I think this all took ~2 months by the time I got it back with the correctly sized front sight.

Doublestar Railed 1911: Don't ever buy one of these. Numerous problems with much more time & money put in than necessary. Not including ammo and range time, there was ~$800 more in gunsmithing done to this gun to get right as the manufacturer refused to even look at it. The good thing is now its the 1911 with which I'm initially the most accurate.

All these don't include other parts breaking or wearing which I'm now able to service/replace myself, especially after taking a $200 armorer's course. Some of these parts replaced due to breakage or personal incompatibilities are sights, extractors, safeties, grip bushings, grip safeties, mainspring housings, grips, mag springs & followers, magazines, slide releases, and other small hardware.

On a new Rail Gun, I wouldn't worry too much about anything, just realize anything could break/need adjustment or nothing at all, with a new 1911. Colt's warranty service is fairly good. With any 1911, if shot a lot (10K+ rounds), things will wear or break. An alternate gun is a good thing to have, as sending something back to the factory could be from 1 week, to a few months before getting the gun or a part back.

Go here to read more about owning & maintaining a 1911:
http://www.10-8performance.com/1911/
 
The high priced custom jobs are made to be very tight bullseye shooters. They are the ones that need a lot of attention.

The current Colt Rail Gun is based directly on the M45A1 Colt builds for the Marines. It's a combat gun designed to hand a Marine and take to war.

The only care it needs is to feed it lots of ammunition. Keep it clean and lubed, and it will do all you ask.
 
All I know is there are two RIA's in the family and my Auto Ordnance, sub $500 1911's, all have been fine out of the box. I maintain them like any other firearm I own, clean after every range trip, or sometimes every couple of trips. Maybe years ago all 1911's were delicate finicky pistols needing special care and attention, but I think that time has past.

At any rate the answer to your thread title is a resounding no.
 
There is one thing that I've been running across, and that is that 1911s practically all need some level of gunsmithing to be reliable out of the box. How much truth is their to this?
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There's no truth at all to this if the gun is made with quality parts and the gun and parts are in spec.

Best Regards
Bob Hunter
 
My Remington 1911R1 had issues when I first got it due to the crappy factory mags. I replaced them and now it runs great! Most reliability issues can usually be traced to the mag, not the gun.

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk
 
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There is no reason a quality 1911 like a Colt Rail Gun won't run reliably out of the box the same as any other quality handgun. Keep it clean and properly lubed and use quality mags that's all it should need.

I have a bunch of 1911s, mostly custom colts, they all get shot, some more than others and maintenance mostly consists of basic field stripping, cleaning, and lubricating. And, I don't usually bother with that but every 500-750 rounds. For instance, I recently bought a lightly used Les Baer Custom Carry, didn't even test fire it, just field stripped it and gave it a basic cleaning and lubed it. I've shot it in two Action Pistol matches since then and will probably shoot it in one or two more before cleaning it again.

I do not normally detail strip my 1911s unless I'm replacing parts (by choice) or if I buy a used gun that is particularly dirty and Gunscrubber isn't getting the job done.

As far as maintenance, you'll shoot thousands of rounds before that Rail Gun may need anything and it will probably just be a recoil spring change. I change out recoil springs in used guns when I get them, in my Officers every couple thousand rounds, in my Commanders and Gov't when they start showing signs of needing it. I don't do mess with anything else unless there is an issue - that means no regular tweaking of extractors or anything else. My guns, both stock and custom, are not "ornery" or "finicky", they run with whatever ammo I put in them I use Chip McCormick mags for carry and competition and they don't give me any problems.
 
Hey guys, sorry for all the 1911 questions. I have decided that in the coming months, I will purchase a Colt Rail Gun as my first 1911. I plan to make it a regular at the shooting range, and if it proves itself, as my primary defensive handgun in the home defense (nightstand) and open carry roles (while hunting, patrolling the property) etc. So naturally I've been in "sponge mode" and have been absorbing as much information as possible on the 1911.

There is one thing that I've been running across, and that is that 1911s practically all need some level of gunsmithing to be reliable out of the box. How much truth is their to this? Also, I have heard that 1911s need to be maintained extremely closely in order to function properly. Things like extractors must be tuned just right, and the guns in general are just very particular and ornery if not worked over properly and maintained.

Basically, are all the rumors about how the 1911 is a "maintenance nightmare" true? Do they all, including Colt Rail Guns, really need to be worked over by a gunsmith before they will be reliable?

I am just trying to understand this issue, it's one of the few roadblocks that is kind of leaning me against this platform. If you guys could please let me know, I'd appreciate it.
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It all depends on your use. If you are talking about hard duty use where you shoot often in varying sometimes harsh conditions the 1911 requires a more attention IMHO. It does not necessary mean that you will have to send a gun to a smith to get it right but you will need to know how to maintain a 1911 which is a bit different than say a Glock.

As L-2 said if you are looking to put 10,000 rounds down the pipe in a year or even 2 years you will most likely have a part or two wear out or break. Knowing enough about the platform will go a long way. Knowing how to "fit" or "tune" an extractor, replace a mainspring, maybe a sear etc... may come in handy. Being able to bench, inspect and test a 1911 would be IMHO a minimum requirement in order to carry one that your life depends on.

With a Colt Rail gun there is a good chance the gun will run 100% right out of the box. You have to remember that the commerical Colt Rail gun is not the same as the CQB/M45.

The model O1070CQB is the Custom Shop version with tuned trigger and oversized fitted barrel, green Pelican case, Otis cleaning kit, test target, and two Wilson 7-round magazines. It will run you $2000+ These come in a green box if you can find one.

The other most common model seen is the O1070M45 that is more akin to the production gun the Marines use. It does not get the extra attention from the custom shop. It comes in a standard blue box. It will run you about $1500

The standard rail gun is about $1100. This gun runs on the same mass production line that the O1070M45 does.

If I were going to run a 1911 hard and use it for duty I would have it worked on by a known smith. If I was going to shoot less than 3,000 rounds out of it a year and carry it occasionally and use it has a house gun I would learn how to keep a stock gun running and change and repair things as needed. YMMV
 
Naw, old reputations die hard.
Never had any problems with any 1911, ever.
That's why it's the only pistol I own.
Just buy from a major manufacturer if you're worried.
They all stand behind their goods very well.
The only ones I've seen that acted up were either oddball brands or especially the ones folks messed with.
Everyone thinks they're a gunsmith. :o
Blame the gun rags and all those ads selling 1911 stuff.
If you want a 1911, enjoy your choice and rest easy.
 
Magazines Magazines Magazines!!! That and extractors. 90% of all my problems were magazine related. What I've discovered is the more you load and unload your magazines the quicker they wear. Also my Colt doesn't like Wilson Combat mags, I have no idea why but it doesn't. So when I carry my Colt I do so with McCormick PowerMags which stay loaded 24/7. My Wilsons are now my range mags. I highly recommend anyone carrying a 1911 have two sets of mags, one set dedicated to range use and the other set for carry. I also recommend clearing your 1911 as seldom as possible to avoid loading and unloading your mags constantly.
 
I’ve had three 1911s and currently still have two of them. My first was a Colt lightweight Commander that ran fine right out of the box and never needed any work. I regrettably traded it in on another gun, but have always regretted it. My second 1911 is a Springfield Armor GI style gun which again has run fine, but I generally limit it to FMJ since it is more of an “original” design gun. My most recent purchase is a new Colt which has run flawlessly and handles any ammo I feed it. Other than the aforementioned 1911s I also have a P220, so I had ended up with a lot of different ammo in FMJ, standard hollow point and some +P stuff. The gun handles all of it without problem.

Most modern 1911s have lowered and flared ejection ports which in theory make the gun function a little more reliably. Also, most guns now have upgraded barrels, triggers, hammers, beavertails and not to mention various unseen internal improvements straight from the factory. I guess my point is that a modern slightly higher end 1911 ($800 -$1200) probably comes from the factory with a number of upgrades over a GI style gun. So, in most instances they’ll run just fine, but like any other mechanical object there can occasionally be issues.
 
@model12 win--I do not know who is advising you or where you read such absurdity about the 1911. why do you think the military and many police used it for so many years as their standard sidearm? it is easy to maintain and fix(albeit with some youtube help these days).

sure at first, it is daunting to field strip ,clean and reassemble. Once you get the hang of it-- there is no isse. A detailed field strip takes mor e time and effort. gunsmithing is usually best left to a pro(IMHO)

btw tucker1371 has it right as well. always look at the magazine as the first cause of issues. I use wilson combats --period
I have agreat Rail gun--one of my favorites. you can use it as you wish--have no fear of issues
 
There is one thing that I've been running across, and that is that 1911s practically all need some level of gunsmithing to be reliable out of the box. How much truth is their to this? Also, I have heard that 1911s need to be maintained extremely closely in order to function properly. Things like extractors must be tuned just right, and the guns in general are just very particular and ornery if not worked over properly and maintained.

Basically, are all the rumors about how the 1911 is a "maintenance nightmare" true? Do they all, including Colt Rail Guns, really need to be worked over by a gunsmith before they will be reliable?
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One gets that impression.

I have experience with 2.

My brother's late 90s vintage Springfield Loaded has had no problems whatsoever.

My Rock Island GI. I replaced the slide stop, have had no other issues. Bangs away quite reliably.

It's not a modern design. You can tell by examining it. It comes from that early period in autopistol design where they were just figuring out what worked and what didn't.

Don't Bubba your gun, you'll probably be fine.
 
I have three - a 1943 Remington Rand, a 1946 Sistema Colt, and a new Colt Gold Cup - and never had any issue with any.

The only time I hear of 1911 problems is forum members repeating what they 'heard'. And the only issue of substance that I heard is cheapo magazines.
 
After years of doing complete strip and cleans, I discovered it wasn't very necessary on many auto loader pistols and especially 1911s.
The slide needs more of that than the more complicated frame.
Mostly due to the small channels for the firing pin and internal extractor.
1911s have enough of a closed design to prevent the frame innards from getting very dirty.
At the same time, they have enough of an open design to be able to spray clean and lube the innards without disassembly.
For the particularly persnickety among us, first soaking the entire frame in a container of mineral spirits followed with vigorous brushing should satisfy.
Even after hard use and lots of rounds downrange, taking the frame all apart has proved to be usually unnecessary.
Not including dropping one in a mud hole, of course.
Anyhow, that's been my approach for many years.
When, out of guilt, I have done a complete disassembly, it's been shown to be quite unnecessary.
Things were plenty clean enough without the worry of having to find a small part or two that fell on the floor.
It seems workbenches never seem large enough. :)
 
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btw tucker1371 has it right as well. always look at the magazine as the first cause of issues. I use wilson combats --period
I have agreat Rail gun--one of my favorites. you can use it as you wish--have no fear of issues
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Thanks boatdoc, I have a Rail Gun as well, two tone. Ran great for 500 rounds and started having failures to return to battery. At first I suspected the crappy shooting star mags I was using but when I switched to Wilsons and kept having issues I was stumped. Replaced my extractor with a Wilson bulletproof extractor and the FTRTBs became less frequent, replaced the Wilsons with Powermags and they went away entirely.

Whole experience made me realize that the 1911 is NOT a beginner's defensive pistol. You have to shoot it A LOT to figure out your 1911's "personality" and you HAVE to have the knowledge and tools to troubleshoot it.

That's not to say the 1911 isn't a great defensive pistol. You just have to be prepared to break it in and get it past its initial "teething" phase.
 
Never had one that needed that.
I was gonna say " so far" but what I now have will probably go the distance.
No reason to try to improve on near perfection.
 
Tisas (Turkish) - functioned perfectly right out of the box
Colt - same
Star (Spanish) - same
RIA - piece of junk, recently sent back to them for the third time, has never worked properly

The three non-defective ones have needed nothing other than normal cleaning and lubing - just the same as any of my other pistols.
 
To everyone who says their 1911 has never malfunctioned:

What 1911?
How many rounds? FMJ or JHP?
What magazines?
What parts have been changed (including mags) over the life of the pistol?
Be honest.

I do not believe you can go 1000 rounds through a production line 1911 like a Colt, SA, or Kimber without replacing at least a magazine. Magazines are part of the firearm, if they malfunction the firearm has malfunctioned. 1911 mags seem especially prone to failures caused by weak mag spring and the springs in all of the 1911 mags I've tried seem to get to that point after about 500 rounds.
 
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