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I'm looking for good reasons to own a 1911, what are they?

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  • Whistler

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    Reason #143: they come in all sizes

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    OLDVET

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    I haven't read through this whole thread, but a pistol does not remain one of Americas favorite firearms by accident. I currently own around twenty 1911s from various manufacturers. Some are better than the others, but everyone is a fine firearm. You can pay several thousand for a "custom" 1911 or you can pay $500 for one that gets the job done and leaves you money to buy other things.
    The 1911 is like a small block Chevy engine, there are a myriad of aftermarket products out there to make your 1911 anything you like.
    I think Springfield offers the best 1911s for the price. Colt and Kimber are nice, but they will run you a few more dollars to buy. My stainless Wilson Classic is by far the best 1911 I own. It should be, it cost $2,850.
    My advice is to buy the best 1911 you can afford. Later on if you decide to upgrade it, you can tweak it so it becomes your baby.
    I have been a 1911 fan since my Army days back in 1968. Like them then. Love them now.
     

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    TxStetson

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    Forgot about that. I will now return to my regularly scheduled program.
    I accomplished a one handed 1911 disassembly and reassembly today. Two actually, because when I finished the Rock Island 10 mm, I moved to the Springfield Range Officer Champion. The Rock Island is so heavy that the frame will stand up by itself while putting the slide back on. I had to get pretty creative to hold the Springfield frame upright while putting the slide on.

    Both of my bull barreled 1911’s have a small hole in the guide rod to insert a pin and hold the spring tension while disassembling. So I simply locked the slide back, and inserted a straightened out paper clip into the retention hole and wrapped the rest of the paper clip around the guide rod to hold it in place. Then I hit the slide release and let the paper clip hold the spring tension. After that, almost everything else was easily accomplished one handed.

    I say almost because I had a bone head moment. In order to lock the slide back one handed, I inserted an empty magazine, then held the rear sight against my belt and pushed the frame downward. When I tried to remove the slide, it wouldn’t go past the normal battery position. It took me a couple seconds to figure out the magazine was still in the frame and stopping the slide from moving forward. I don’t normally have a magazine inserted while disassembling, so it never registered that I needed to remove it. Reassembly was simply a matter of backtracking what I did for disassembly.

    Now I can honestly recommend a bull barreled 1911 for you if you wish to join the 1911 club. I can also say it’s even easier with a solid steel 2011.
     

    Byrd666

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    TxStetson - I Thank You for attempting that. The next time I'm at a shop that carries various 1911s, I'll see what I can't do about testing that out. A side by side with to a G.I. model and see which leaves me with the most parts, and the lowest blood pressure.
     

    rmantoo

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    One of my personal loves about the 1911 is that for a very small amount of effort (an hour if you're quick, 3-5 if you are a noob and take your time) you can have one of the best trigger pulls of ANY platform. Likewise, regardless of the initial price of the 1911, you can still have an absolutely AMAZING trigger pull.

    Rock Island Armory, Metro Arms, or Ruger...or ANY brand, if the trigger isn't superlative to begin with, for the price of a cheap Harbor Freight file and a few hours, it easily can be.

    Pretty easy to make the cheapest 1911s trigger feel and work almost as well as $6k custom jobs.
     

    Byrd666

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    IF all goes well, and according to plan, here in just a couple weeks, I should be able to ask this question of some pros. and a couple of authorities on this platform and see what they might have to say on the subject .
     

    Whistler

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    IF all goes well, and according to plan, here in just a couple weeks, I should be able to ask this question of some pros. and a couple of authorities on this platform and see what they might have to say on the subject .
    What are you saying? Are you disparaging the respected members of this comminity? I think I'm offended!

    I'm not sure I'm offended but just in case I want to be sure to pitch a fit about it and whine a little. :roflsmile:
     

    t-astragal

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    In over 100 years there are still no other 45s that can shoot with a well built 1911. And there are few centerfire guns in any caliber that will match one.
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    This Range Officer will almost hold the X ring at 50 yards. I know of plenty that will. There is no better 1911 at this price point.


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    t-astragal

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    Has there been any custom work done on that pistol, especially the trigger?

    I checkered the front strap. The trigger is set for a medium roll 4 lbs. I did have a Kart barrel and bushing fit to it last year. The 50 yards groups went from 2 1/2” stock to about 2”. So really the new barrel was more for my head than the score.


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    t-astragal

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    Thanks. That's what I was interested in. Most 'smiths outside the bullseye world don't have any idea what a roll trigger is. Who did yours or did you do it yourself?

    My buddy and I do all our 1911 work now. We use a Harrison true radius jig for the sear then cut a minimal secondary relief and I leave the hammer hooks long. For those who don’t know about a roll trigger, the idea is to have a smooth travel that is discernible....opposite of a glass rod crisp break.

    The key to good trigger control is to build pressure continuously. A roll gives some feedback that it’s working.


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    Byrd666

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    What are you saying? Are you disparaging the respected members of this comminity? I think I'm offended!

    I'm not sure I'm offended but just in case I want to be sure to pitch a fit about it and whine a little. :roflsmile:

    Disparaging members of this fine group? Are you joking? Have you seen some of these guys shoot? Most of 'em couldn't hit the ground if they had directions written in Crayon. (Guess that would include me too) :what: :evil: :clown:



    t-astragal - Thanks for mentioning that and the simple description as well. It has been quite a while since I had heard that.
     

    oldag

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    OP, a simple quick clamp fixture might be very useful. Something that supports the butt and the dust cover, than just a spring loaded clamp engaging the butt to hold it in place. With a GI set up, you should be able to rotate the bushing (perhaps using a bushing wrench) and then use fingers from the same hand to slowly let the plug out. After that, one handed disassembly with the fixture holding the frame should be pretty easy, I think.
     
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