I've noticed very few shooting ranges carry 1911's for rental, compared to glocks, HK's, etc. Can semi-custom 1911's (Baer's, Wilson's, Valtro, etc) tolerate a lack of cleaning (accuracy, FTF's, etc.) compared to the these other pistols? Is a lack of gun hygiene going to affect a tight semi-custom (not a loose, old GI gun) 1911 compared to the other designs?
Semi-custom 1911 and a lack of gun hygiene
- Thread starter Tman
- Start date
CastleBravo
New member
Well, I don't know how representative it is but I've got a customized 1911 that runs very well when filthy. I mean lots of solid black gunk from shooting lots of cast lead through it without any problems.
Own Les Baers; no problem with function even after thousands of rounds. Despite the gun shop wisdom, a rattletrap 1911 is not "more reliable" than a well-made one.
Seems to me that a rental range would be in business to make money (I know this strange--gun business wanting to make money). To make money you need to eliminate overhead or so my accountant tells me. Thus, if you owned the range, why shell out 2.2K for a Les Baer when you can buy a Glock or Ruger for $400.00?
Seems to me that a rental range would be in business to make money (I know this strange--gun business wanting to make money). To make money you need to eliminate overhead or so my accountant tells me. Thus, if you owned the range, why shell out 2.2K for a Les Baer when you can buy a Glock or Ruger for $400.00?
Gun ranges usually want to rent what is also readily available off the retail shelf. Many customers who are undecided on a purchase make their decisions by trying out a rental firearm (I have). My two local ranges have a stock Kimber Custom, Springfield Loaded, Colt M1991A1 Gov't, M1991A1 Compact, and Para LDA.45 between them. The Kimber and Colt Gov't have each fired nearly 100,000 rounds, and the finishes are almost completely worn off. Yet the rental clerks say they are the most reliable and durable weapons in the entire glass case. I might add that I regularly notice at least one of the various SIGs is out for repair whenever I look inside the case!
Peter M. Eick
New member
My Baer's get routinely shot around 500 to 800 rnds in one day session. They seem to work just fine in a dirty state. Especially when I am shooting the 45 with bullseye!
Once they are broken in, a failure to feed and fire in a Baer seems to be a rare feat.
Once they are broken in, a failure to feed and fire in a Baer seems to be a rare feat.
Skunkability
Inactive
Well next time you go to the range and use their 1911's clean and lube them up and your day will be better and time passes by and the cycling is like music to your ears.
Hello all.
As I sit here typing, my Kimber Stainless Gold Match is about five feet away, waiting in it's pouch for me to clean it. It won't be happy with me!
I usually go 1000 to 1500 rounds between cleaning my 1911's. They get feed a pretty consistant diet of 200gr LSWC, with Clays providing the motivation. Ocassionally, they get some of the LSWC over Bullseye. By the time I get around to cleaning them, they will be showing a little difficulty in ejecting the light loads I sometimes use (4.0gr Clays). Every now and then, I try to baby them and give them some JSWC, but not often.
The range I shoot at has two 1911's. They rent them out on a daily basis, and were complaining the other day that they had just cleaned them three months ago! They needed it again, already!
They noted the 1911's were like tanks, rarely any problems and little cleaning. Glocks have a similar history with them. The Beretta's are pretty good, but need repair more often. Suprisingly, the revolvers seem to need maintenance as much or more than the Berettas!
Casey
As I sit here typing, my Kimber Stainless Gold Match is about five feet away, waiting in it's pouch for me to clean it. It won't be happy with me!
I usually go 1000 to 1500 rounds between cleaning my 1911's. They get feed a pretty consistant diet of 200gr LSWC, with Clays providing the motivation. Ocassionally, they get some of the LSWC over Bullseye. By the time I get around to cleaning them, they will be showing a little difficulty in ejecting the light loads I sometimes use (4.0gr Clays). Every now and then, I try to baby them and give them some JSWC, but not often.
The range I shoot at has two 1911's. They rent them out on a daily basis, and were complaining the other day that they had just cleaned them three months ago! They needed it again, already!
They noted the 1911's were like tanks, rarely any problems and little cleaning. Glocks have a similar history with them. The Beretta's are pretty good, but need repair more often. Suprisingly, the revolvers seem to need maintenance as much or more than the Berettas!
Casey