Old Colt 1911 for duty use???HELP!!!

1

1911guy

Inactive
Hi I'am a new user on the firing line forums.Though i have been reading things here for a long time.Anyway my question is this.I have a Colt 1911 pistol made around 1918 or 1919.It is in about 70% condition and seems to function fine if i use newer mags with it.The original mags are pretty much useless.When i use 230gr. FMJ or 230 LRN i get 100% reliable feeding from it.Now my problem is i don't have any money right now for a newer gun,as i like 1911 types and they are quite expensive.Another problem is all the talk of hollow points.I realize that they reduce overpenitration and increase stopping power etc...However i have recovered LRN slugs from dirt and they deform and get pretty large.As if .45 cal. wasn't big enough right?I have tried all major hollow points,none feed as reliable as the other ammo i metioned.I may have to stake my life on this gun and don't really know what to do here.A new gun just is not in my budget right now.Any help would be of great help.Also the 1911 is a reliable design as a whole is it not?What are really the odds of mechanical falure at the worst time?I also carry a sig 230 for backup.Just in case.
 
I was introduced to 1911s by an old (late) friend, Al Morgan. He had an old WWI pistol his uncle carried. I had that pistol on and off until Al passed away and his family asked for it back. I have yet to find one that was as reliable as that old piece of iron.

I thank Al, where ever he is, for getting me started on a life long love of 1911s.

To you r post; You might want to have the pistol looked at by a good smith to see how the springs and sear are doing. He could alos polish the feed ramp and barrel throat to see if you can run some types of hollow points. (the capped HP round under developement we discussed a month ago might be just the ticket for picky eaters like the old 1911).

[This message has been edited by Libertarian (edited March 06, 2000).]
 
The 1911 is a great gun no doubt about it and if its all you have, I would use it. I have two 1911s and aColt lend lease 1911A-1 and I would not hesitate to carry any of them and depend on them if neccssary. I would update the springs and magazines with new Wolf springs and Wilson mags. The new guns are nice and do feed hollow point ammo better but yours could be ramped and throated and it would be more reliable with modern bullets. For decades there was nothing but hardball and the guns worked just fine. I would use it and feel secure in doing so. Anybody that tells you that you are better off by not using it and for you to go unarmed is an idiot, don't listen to them. Even today theres not much better than a 1911 at any price. This is assuming that the gun is in good mechanical condition and has a decent barrel...7th

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SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL POLICE, KEEP THEM INDEPENDENT.
 
If you have a gunsmith at your local gun shop let them check it out. I have the 45 my dad used in WW2, just about the best pistol I ever shot. :)
 
Could the gun could be worth some money? If it is a collector's item, maybe you could get some money out of it.
 
Made in 1918 and 70% blue? Hmmm...I'll go out and buy you a new Springfield and trade you straight across. What do you say?
 
Mine was made in about 1914-1915. While I do not carry it, I would not hesitate to if I were so inclined. I have never had any malfunctions from it. It is still 100% original (even the mags). I only put factory FMJ through it.

Getting it checked out is obviously a good idea. ANY gun could fail at the worst time, but I don't think yours would be more prone to failing than newer 1911's. In fact, the older ones are usually so loose and tolerant, that they probably are actually LESS prone to fail than a new one. Just read all the posts about problems with new 1911's of every brand.
 
Look at it this way A 45 is a 9mm that has ALREADY expanded when it hits the target. reliabilty is the FIRST thing you want in a carry gun second is accuracy.. ie putting your rounds on target last is bullet design, etc.

A LOT of discussion occurs here at TFL about "wonderbullets". The ONLY truth is that NO wonderbullet is worth buying IF it jams your gun, or you CAN'T get accuracy out of it.

By all means, check the springs and USE that old slabsides. Fill it with LEAD if it feeds it well. The rest is about the SHOOTER.. not the ammo.

Good luck,

Dr.Rob

PS One Of MY belt guns is a Colt 1917 new Service Army revolver. I would not hesitate to use this revolver.
 
I agree that a gun that age in good condition may be worth enough to buy a newer gun. Trouble is that the newer one may not be as reliable.

I am ashamed of you, Dr. Rob. How dare you imply that shooting hard ball is better than using the latest and greatest bullet design. Don't you know that having the gun work and actually hitting something is not as important as being able to brag about using the latest hollow point whatever?

Jim
 
There's no ineffectual 45 loads I know of. 45 hardball beats Superbullet from a mid caliber as to effectiveness.

Load up your mags with GI type loads and know where they hit. Practice assidously...
 
if this gun has senimental value I would be VERY careful about letting a gunsmith do anything but replace springs and clean it . I have had 2 guns seriously damaged by "local" gunsmiths doing action jobs and rebarreling. Think twice about things that cannot be replaced bacause of age and memories.
Shoot ball ammo and aim carefully.
 
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