1911 relaibility......
Hey as my name implies I'am a huge .45 fan
Anyway I'll give credit to the statements that some have had 1911's that wouldn't run for sh*t. These are the exception not the rule. I have 4 1911 type guns.
A 1918 made Colt.
A Spingfield Armory "Loaded".
A Colt 1991-A1
A Stainless Colt 1991-A1
I have shot many,many more.
The only problem with any of my guns?
My 1918 made Colt was failing to extract. It turns out the extractor was worn just enough to lose it's grip on the case.I bought a Wilson extractor dropped it in and problem solved.All my other guns run flawlessly. I always take a gun apart before I buy it. To make sure nothings been messed up.If the shop won't let me strip it or strip it for me I won't buy there. This is important with 1911's more than any other gun I've found. People seem to tinker with the 1911 more than say a Sig or a Glock etc...
Also once I get it home I detail strip and clean it well,then lube it. Then I throw the cheap(usually) mags in the garbage and use Colt factory or Wilson 7 round mags.
Then I shoot 200 rounds of FMJ or BALL ammo through the gun.
Any and all feed related problems disappear 99.9% of the time.
If not I shoot some more or simply polish the ramp while I'am watching TV or sitting here reading on TFL.
This solves the other 0.9% of feed problems with the 1911.
I had a friend who bought a 1911 SA "LOADED" just like mine fired 100 rounds of ball through it with the factory mags.
Ouhhh shudder
Then deemed it a POS and THREW it on the ground. I picked it up made sure it was unloaded and stripped it. I told him to go have lunch and bring me back some too. The firing line is not a place to get ill tempered. So while he was gone I cleaned his gun,something he had not done very well if at all. I lubed it I threw his mag in the range bag and shoved a Wilson 7 round in it. Me and my brother in 30 minutes fires about 250rounds through it.The feed problem was gone. When he came back he thought I was the best thing since canned beer.
When the 1911 doesn't work it's because of 3 things...
A- Crappy mags
B- Someone who knew what they were doing "fixed" it up.
C- The person is trying to fit rounds that would choke the mighty Mississippi through a chamber made for BALL ammo while using CRAPPY NAGS. SEE A>
My brother is a huge Glock man ha has 4 of them. I have a few too. Now you here people say the Glock runs "out of the box" and it does but here is something to ponder..
Glocks are quite loose.You can see light through the slide where it meets the frame. I can't even see light through the frame of my 1918-1911 and it is looser than vegas showgirl.This is the nature of the Glock design.
I'am not bashing Glock I have a Glock 19 I love.
Also only one company makes Glock and thats Glock.
Only one company makes the mags that come with your factory Glock,Glock.
If Glocks were built by 5 or 6 companies and the patent expired,would they be as reliable as they are?
If the same 5 or 6 companies has 10 other companies building various small parts and mags for them to put in those guns would they still be 100$ reliable?
Would you here of many lemons? Oh yes you would.
This is what happened to the 1911 in the past 60 or 70 years or so. Something to think about.
If you have any other questions fell fre to E Mail me at
john945@hotmail.com
Sorry for the rant,45automan