Plain Jane 1911's

I

IanS

New member
This question is for all you 1911 fans out there.

How many of you would be comfortable with a bare bones unmodified uncustomized 1911 be it a Colt 1991 or Kimber, Springfield equivalent for self-defense (ie hollowpoints/combat accuracy). And how many actually do?


*Minor changes like grips, ambi-safeties, finishes, even sights, and other cosmetic changes excluded.
 
Tried my 1991 as is for about 400 rounds...built up a nice little callous on the webbing of my hand :p
Figured out that I wanted to enjoy my Colt not cuss it out everytime I shot it :rolleyes:
 
Kermit,

Are you talking about hammer bite or is it some issue with the grip safety?

And did you resist the tempatation to keep the rest of it stock?
 
I resisted modification for 400 rounds...2 weeks :) The callous was from the hammer bite and the work I ended up doing included a beavertail, thumbsafety, hammer, trigger, a new sear & sear spring and trigger job.
 
Colt Series 80 Government Model: No modifications.

Colt Series 80 Combat Commander: Reliability package, Videki trigger, trigger job.

With Wilson 7-round magazines, both guns are 100% reliable with hardball and 230 grain Hydra-Shoks.

Accuracy is good out of the box. at 7 yards, I can keep 7 rounds on or touching a 1 inch diameter, orange, stick-on target dot.
Shooting at speed, the group opens-up a bit.

I have confidence in myself with either gun.

I see no need for further modifications.

-Mk.IV
 
A PLAIN-JANE MIL-SPEC 1911 FOR COMBAT?!?

Who would ever even consider such a thing? I mean, although millions of soldiers carried them straight into Hell and survived four major wars, they must have been very ill-informed to dare enter the combat zone without having had hundreds of dollars' worth of customizing done to them first.

If it's good enough for Alvin York, it's good enough for me. With just two exceptions ALL of my 1911s are bone-stock. Just today I went and handled a SIG P229 at the gun store thinking I might need to add a SIG to my battery. Well, just the awkward bloated feel of it made me realize there's only one choice for me for a defense gun. And it doesn't need a checkered front strap!
 
dsk,

What you say is true but 1911's were designed to feed the classic hardball. I wouldn't doubt a Colt 1911's performance with them. But with certain hollowpoints I think a good throat/polished ramp job might be necessary.


*I hope to acquire a Mil-Spec looking Colt 1991 (now rollmarked the Gov't Model) soon! and I'd like to keep its classic looks.
Its so weird, those plain military parkerized ones by Colt are more appealing to me than fancy customized ones these days. There's a purist side to me after all.:D
 
We lefties really need the ambi-safety.;)

I've only been shooting a few years, but here's my two cents.

The first 1911-A1 model I bought was a Springfield Loaded fullsize. Other than having to add an ambi-safety, it is set up the way I want it. I like a straight mainspring housing. I like the beavertail with the speed bump. I like the combat sights that sit a little higher that some 1911s have. It's a little big for me to try to carry, so I bought a Kimber Compact CDP (actually my third 1911). Don't have carry leather for it yet, but I'm looking.

So, I guess for me the answer is no. If I had started shooting with a stock model in the military or such, maybe I would feel differently. As it is, I am used to the bells and whistles, and I like them.
 
I have found that even a GI gun will function 100% with JHP as long as you go with a brand with a rounded ogive. I carried and used a Remington Rand for quite a while, and it never bobbled on 230gr. Hydra-Shoks. In fact, I have never had a jam with a GI .45 that wasn't the fault of either the ammo or magazine.

Naturally, new commercial pistols will already have throated barrels so it's a moot point. I'm not arguing with having a polished feed ramp, but I am saying that folks who feel outdated with a mil-spec .45 are really kidding themselves about how much a checkered front strap or a fitted match-grade barrel improves their well-being. Sure, if you like such modifications go for it. But do it out of pleasure, not necessity.

At the moment there are several posts over on 1911forum.com where new members are asking things like, "I have just bought a new Brand X 1911, what sort of modifications should I have done to it?". They automatically assume they need to spend $$$ upgrading and customizing their new purchase, without even knowing what upgrades they need! :rolleyes:
 
First off, nobody should trust an untested ammunition/pistol combo, regardless of what that combo is made up of.

That said, I have a as yet unmodified Springfield Loaded Gov't model that functions flawlessly, while creating ragged little holes down range. I say "as yet unmodified" becasue I want to get some modifications I find attractive done. Note "want to," not "have to."

Today's 1911s are fine pistols, typically including many of yesterday's "custom" features. I highly recommend trying some out.
 
Yes. I have owned 1911 style autos for most of my life. The only real modifications I ever made to one is a Bar Sto Barrel in a Springfield Armory. At present I own three. Two Colts and that Springfield. One of the Colts is a bone stock Officers Model that I carry as my CCW gun. I have also done some Coyote hunting with it. The other Colt is a Government model that is bone stock that I used for about a year in IPSC limited class. I have fired many 10s of thousands of rounds out of it. I not only wouldn't hesitate to use my Colt 1911s in any senario you might come up with, they would be my first choice if given a choice. I remember hearing, when I was a kid, Fishing lures arn't designed to catch fish, they are designed to catch fisherman. In other words, most of the fishing lures are designed to make money for whoever is selling them and not some kind of miracle for catching fish. I look at gun accessories the same way. A lot of this stuff is just a gimmick. The rest may prove to be of some value to some shooters but everyone wants it because they saw it on a magazine at the grocery store. I have owned a pistol since I was nine years old. I read gun magazines before that. I bought my first handgun for myself on my 21st birthday. Since then I have bought litterally hundreds of pistols. I have participated in several different shooting sports, I have hung out at indoor ranges and at gun clubs. I have owned or shot pretty much everything out there. Hands down, no contest, I would take my Colt Government Model bone stock overy anything.
 
I have a stock 1991A1 with just under 1000 rounds through it. It has never baubled once. I like it better than my Kimber Pro Carry because I trust it better. Cheers, Cryoman

PS. There is just something nice about a stock Colt 1911.
 
Golly, and here I have a house gun that is a 1941 Colt Model 1911A1 just as it was issued! Horror! I really should go and have it chopped and channelled and maybe chrome plated with gold highlights. And pearl grips and a curlyque grip safety and big sights that will tear the heck out of anything they catch on, and a bunch of magazines that don't work but look pretty.

I apologize, folks, for being so far behind the times.

(Oh, by the way, the Colt works. Every time. All the time.)

Jim
 
Yes I love 1911's. Yes I love Colts. Plain jane and her ugly sisters still get the nod as is. She may not be pretty but she gets you where you need to go and shes reliable.

Dad brought home a refinished 1911 made in 1918 or 19.. WOW.

A new 'milspec-ish' 1991a1, very neat pistol, though I prefer the series 70 for simplicity of putting it back together.
 
I have only 2 1911's out of the pile of 'em that are not totally stock. Both have the original style beaver tail GS, that is flat and broad not curled up like a duck's tail feathers. The last time I was able to do a lot of shooting, I found that I did most of it with two stock as a stove Norinco's. No hammer bite but one needs a sharp edge removed from the factory GS.

I don't really think that many people get hammer bite but get a beating from the thin GS during recoil. Those with fleashy hands might roll part of the hand over the end of the GS and get hit by the hammer - once.
 
Veterans Day

Since it's Veteran's Day I'll tell a war story,ref: unmodified 1911 A1. There was a shortage of pistols in Korea in 1952 and I was told by pals to bring my own. Got a commercial model at Sears & Roebuck for $62.50 and took it over (I still have it and shot it today). On April 6,1953 in the midst of a nasty firefight I found that my brand new M-2 carbine wouldn't operate--but my 1911 sure did and during the party I fired 4 magazines I had pre loaded, plus the round that was in the chamber when it started.
That makes 29 rounds of ACP ball if I can still count.:) ;)
If I ever get in another firefight, I'll still be using that same old STOCK Colt 1911 A1. It saved me then and it's still good enough for me.
 
Ian, yes I would. Problem is though, I like to tinker and the 1911, unlike most pistols, is a tinkerer's dream. As long as I could function test the pistol I wouldn't mind at all carrying a bone stock 1911 for self defense. For long shooting sessions the beavertail is just so much more comfortable, oops there I go again.
 
Yeah I just went out for a late night bite to eat and boy did I feel uncomfortable with that boat anchor! Rem-Rand and the only thing its got is a tirgger job and Wilson sights. I use Wilson mags and the thing will not choke! And yes its got the 1945 still parkerized feed ramp. It even eats Cor-bon flying ashcans. Terribly uncomfortable indeed.
 
I had a 1912-manufacture 1911 that I shot for some ten years--box stock--until I got into IPSC shooting in 1981. Then, MMC sights, some polishing on the feed ramp, bevelled mag well, Colt beavertail grip safety...

Kinda like my car engines, I guess; I'll always do a bit of "messin' with" most of the guns I get hold of.

What the heck, I guess it's just a character flaw; I cain't he'p it, Darlin'.

:), Art
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top