Why I prefer the M1911A1

ezearln · 03-07-2008, 11:56 AM

Just some thoughts I'd like to toss out for general discussion and see what some of you folks think.

Why I prefer the M1911A1 over any other pistol/revolver I have ever used or owned. Let me preface this by stating I am a retired Navy Small Arms and High Risk Core (Police/Combat) Instructor.
The M1911A1 has much to commend it as perhaps the finest combat sidearm in history. As the main issue sidearm of the United States Military for over 80 years not being enough to convince the casual reader there is also the simple fact that it is without question the most common sidearm recognized by the general public. The M1911A1 is a very simple, accurate recoil operated pistol, rugged, reliable, easily field stripped and cleaned, a well thought out handgun with safety features incorporated well before their time in it's design. Often praised by those in harms way who had to use them in actual combat under all manner of weather conditions and situations. More than once has the phrase been uttered by a serviceman "You could drop it in the mud. pick it up, shake it off and keep right on fighting!" Additonally the M1911A1 is one of only two modern cartridge sidearms to ever meet with all of the U.S. Army's and War Departments criteria for an effective military sidearm established after the Philapine insurrection and the tests used to evaluate the needs of the military for a more effective sidearm than the .38 used in that time period.
Plus there is my personal experience with many sidearms used by the military and civilian police, I have never experienced but one complete failure of an M1911A1 in my life and that was due to a sear disconnect failure (in other words with a tricky trigger finger the pistol would still fire and have be useful) however I have had M10 .38Spl revolvers lock up tighter than Dick's hatband and totally unable to fire (6times), an M9 failures to feed (X2) failure to extract (X14), failure to eject spent magazine (X7) to give a few examples.

Your thoughts?

ArkansasHunter · 03-07-2008, 01:56 PM

ezearln Thank You for this excellent reminder about the 1911A1.
I would love to own one yet my need is for a very concealable compac semi-auto.
The CZ 82 I own is fine but due to my blockey build I need something that want leave an outline on my person.
Some day though I will own a 1911 because of what you said and what I already know about them.
You know theres NO dought that if you had to draw out a hand gun and if it were a 1911 the assailent would readily recconize it and may be flee.

Good to see you Earl...A,H

rondog · 03-07-2008, 02:04 PM

I have five!

jmp8927 · 03-07-2008, 03:13 PM

How good are the Rock Island Armory brand 1911 clones? I've been thinking about getting one sometime in the next several months as they're the cheapest one I've seen on Gunbroker.

ezearln · 03-07-2008, 03:15 PM

I have one I think is just peachy, ask to field strip it first and give it a thorough once over visually b4 you lay hard earned money down though.

tlarkin · 03-07-2008, 03:18 PM

My friend just purchased a Taurus 1911 clone from his boss who also had a Kimber. We fired both at the range a few weeks back. I noticed no difference and even my friends boss said there was little to no difference between the guns. They looked alike, fired alike, and felt just about the same.

However, I am not as experienced as some people on this forum.

jmp8927 · 03-07-2008, 03:19 PM

Also I've recently seen some Century Arms 1911's going on gunbroker for a little less than the Rock Island's. Are they good quality? I honestly don't care what brand it is so long as it works. I don't see any reason to pay for a stamp.

rondog · 03-07-2008, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmp8927

Also I've recently seen some Century Arms 1911's going on gunbroker for a little less than the Rock Island's. Are they good quality? I honestly don't care what brand it is so long as it works. I don't see any reason to pay for a stamp.

Rock Island's, High Standard's, and Charles Daly's are all made by Armscor in the Phillipines, and they're all very good quality, comparable to each other in quality and price. Made in the same plant. The High Standard's have the smallest marking on the slides, that means a lot to some folks.

The Rocks seem to be a little easier to find, I personally would recommend the Rock Tactical model, it has a beavertail, combat hammer, skel. trigger, ambi safety, and better sights.

I'm not sure about the Century Arms guns, you might want to do some research first. There ARE some 1911's out there that are just cheap junk. My three Rocks all work flawlessly, but the two Colts blow 'em away!

<edit> I just looked at Century International Arm's webiste, and they're offering S.A.M.'s, Shooters Arms 1911's. I would be very wary of those. Also made in the Phillipines, but by a different manufacturer. They don't have a very good rep.

In any event, you need to consider Customer Service! RIA has some of the best, so does Springfield. Charles Daly is working hard at improving theirs, I don't know about High Standard's.

tlarkin · 03-07-2008, 03:38 PM

so which ones are junk? Whenever I research anything I always find tons of people who say ______ brand is great no troubles. I have yet to really ever find a bad gun. I feel like I am on a quest now to find the bad ones.

I mean a Kimber and a Taurus are decent in price difference, but in quality difference and accuracy I could not find a difference between them. Why is the Kimber more expensive? Is it really better?

jmp8927 · 03-07-2008, 03:39 PM

lol yeah I bet the Colts costed an arm and a leg to. Unfortunately I can't afford to buy the original so I'll probably end up going for a Rock. They've been very plentiful everytime I check Gunbroker. I'm also open to a Glock 21 or 22. Two of my brother have or had a G22 and both loved them. One that had one sold his for funds and later ended up with a 1911 clone though so....lol This will probably open up a can of worms, but I think the Glocks look better. I've shot both a G22 and a 1911 clone and the G22 shoots better and is more comfortable. Never tried a G21 though....they're most expensive of the three so I doubt I'll buy one. I'm thinking I'll end up having to go with the 1911 clone rather than the G22 because of price as well. They aren't widely available for $400 before shipping it seems.

ezearln · 03-07-2008, 03:40 PM

Fit and finish have a great deal to do with that Tlarkin, not functionality. My ugly ol parkerized shoots just where and how I want it to I don't need no estinkin royal colt blueing LOL (although I do love it's look and luster) to make me a fan. Just reliability!

tlarkin · 03-07-2008, 04:04 PM

yeah, I saw a colt 1911 a few weeks ago at a show for $650 used. It looked really good, but I didn't quite have enough to buy it, and I thought that the price was really low, but the owner tried to assure me it was clean and had no issues. Claims he only fired maybe a 100 rounds out of it. It did look brand spanking new though.

I got a bad vibe, thought it maybe was stolen or something as wrong with it, or it was a fake. Anyway, I only had $450 to spend that day so i couldn't have bought it anyway.

1911usmc · 03-08-2008, 01:44 AM

I
I own a rock in the no thrills and spills version, and love it! I also own a Glock and love it! I also own a the Taurus pt 1911 and guess what, I love it....its all about what feels good in your hand, its also about what purpose the weapon will serve....the rock Island, although not a looker serves its purpose...that is it fires every time i pull the trigger, but so does the the glock and the Taurus....as well as my CZ 52 and TT 33c....If you have time to look around for the right price, go to a gun show... 9times outta 10 you can haggle with them..... same with pawn shops (even with their new guns) or just spend about thirty minutes on the internet and search for the gun you want!

jmp8927 · 03-08-2008, 07:41 AM

lol yep. I've shot the G22 and 1911 clone and out of those two the G22 felt best. However, the 1911 wasn't uncomfortable or anything. I have pretty big hands, so holding it isn't an issue. This would be for carrying purposes later on. I want a pretty big cal rather than something really small, but I still want a full size, so that rules out the smaller glocks in .40 and .45

Jay1958 · 03-30-2008, 11:51 AM

I have a Rock Island 1911 plain Jane milspec model and it has been flawless - absolutely no jams, FTEs, no problems of any kind. I've had it about a year and a half and put about 900 rounds thru it - FMJ and JHP. The Novak mags are great, too.

OldShooter · 04-02-2008, 10:06 PM

I like my Rock Island Armory 1911. It is plain but shoots just fine. My other .45 is smoother and prettier, but it's a CZ.

Doctor Larry K · 04-16-2008, 06:14 PM

You get what you pay for.

Doc

rondog · 04-16-2008, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doctor Larry K

You get what you pay for.

Doc

Always gotta be somebody come along looking down their nose saying crap like this.....

big boomer · 04-16-2008, 07:40 PM

I got a Daly and its a fine gun I also have a 1958 Colt gold cup and its a dandy. Let me start the scrapping by asking you all flat or arched? I like the flat myself.

lowercase · 04-16-2008, 11:28 PM

Does anyone here own a Springfield Armory M1911? I was out shopping for a revolver, and saw a GI model with "US" emblazoned on the grips. It looked pretty sweet to me.

If anyone has one, could you let me know how you like it? Thanks.

03-07-2008, 11:56 AM	#1
ezearln Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Texas Hill Country Posts: 3,175	Why I prefer the M1911A1 Just some thoughts I'd like to toss out for general discussion and see what some of you folks think. Why I prefer the M1911A1 over any other pistol/revolver I have ever used or owned. Let me preface this by stating I am a retired Navy Small Arms and High Risk Core (Police/Combat) Instructor. The M1911A1 has much to commend it as perhaps the finest combat sidearm in history. As the main issue sidearm of the United States Military for over 80 years not being enough to convince the casual reader there is also the simple fact that it is without question the most common sidearm recognized by the general public. The M1911A1 is a very simple, accurate recoil operated pistol, rugged, reliable, easily field stripped and cleaned, a well thought out handgun with safety features incorporated well before their time in it's design. Often praised by those in harms way who had to use them in actual combat under all manner of weather conditions and situations. More than once has the phrase been uttered by a serviceman "You could drop it in the mud. pick it up, shake it off and keep right on fighting!" Additonally the M1911A1 is one of only two modern cartridge sidearms to ever meet with all of the U.S. Army's and War Departments criteria for an effective military sidearm established after the Philapine insurrection and the tests used to evaluate the needs of the military for a more effective sidearm than the .38 used in that time period. Plus there is my personal experience with many sidearms used by the military and civilian police, I have never experienced but one complete failure of an M1911A1 in my life and that was due to a sear disconnect failure (in other words with a tricky trigger finger the pistol would still fire and have be useful) however I have had M10 .38Spl revolvers lock up tighter than Dick's hatband and totally unable to fire (6times), an M9 failures to feed (X2) failure to extract (X14), failure to eject spent magazine (X7) to give a few examples. Your thoughts? __________________ "You can have my Freedom when I'm done with it!"

03-07-2008, 03:13 PM	#4
jmp8927 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Walterboro, SC Posts: 1,136 Images: 15	How good are the Rock Island Armory brand 1911 clones? I've been thinking about getting one sometime in the next several months as they're the cheapest one I've seen on Gunbroker. __________________ Doing the unexpected makes the unexpected the expected and thus the expected becomes the unexpected.

03-07-2008, 03:15 PM	#5
ezearln Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Texas Hill Country Posts: 3,175	I have one I think is just peachy, ask to field strip it first and give it a thorough once over visually b4 you lay hard earned money down though. __________________ "You can have my Freedom when I'm done with it!"

03-07-2008, 03:19 PM	#7
jmp8927 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Walterboro, SC Posts: 1,136 Images: 15	Also I've recently seen some Century Arms 1911's going on gunbroker for a little less than the Rock Island's. Are they good quality? I honestly don't care what brand it is so long as it works. I don't see any reason to pay for a stamp. __________________ Doing the unexpected makes the unexpected the expected and thus the expected becomes the unexpected.

03-07-2008, 03:39 PM	#10
jmp8927 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Walterboro, SC Posts: 1,136 Images: 15	lol yeah I bet the Colts costed an arm and a leg to. Unfortunately I can't afford to buy the original so I'll probably end up going for a Rock. They've been very plentiful everytime I check Gunbroker. I'm also open to a Glock 21 or 22. Two of my brother have or had a G22 and both loved them. One that had one sold his for funds and later ended up with a 1911 clone though so....lol This will probably open up a can of worms, but I think the Glocks look better. I've shot both a G22 and a 1911 clone and the G22 shoots better and is more comfortable. Never tried a G21 though....they're most expensive of the three so I doubt I'll buy one. I'm thinking I'll end up having to go with the 1911 clone rather than the G22 because of price as well. They aren't widely available for $400 before shipping it seems. __________________ Doing the unexpected makes the unexpected the expected and thus the expected becomes the unexpected.

03-07-2008, 01:56 PM	#2
ArkansasHunter Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: South Arkansas Posts: 10,675	ezearln Thank You for this excellent reminder about the 1911A1. I would love to own one yet my need is for a very concealable compac semi-auto. The CZ 82 I own is fine but due to my blockey build I need something that want leave an outline on my person. Some day though I will own a 1911 because of what you said and what I already know about them. You know theres NO dought that if you had to draw out a hand gun and if it were a 1911 the assailent would readily recconize it and may be flee. Good to see you Earl...A,H

03-07-2008, 02:04 PM	#3
rondog Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Parker, CO Posts: 1,321	I have five!

03-07-2008, 03:18 PM	#6
tlarkin Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 1,547	My friend just purchased a Taurus 1911 clone from his boss who also had a Kimber. We fired both at the range a few weeks back. I noticed no difference and even my friends boss said there was little to no difference between the guns. They looked alike, fired alike, and felt just about the same. However, I am not as experienced as some people on this forum.

03-07-2008, 03:38 PM	#9
tlarkin Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 1,547	so which ones are junk? Whenever I research anything I always find tons of people who say ______ brand is great no troubles. I have yet to really ever find a bad gun. I feel like I am on a quest now to find the bad ones. I mean a Kimber and a Taurus are decent in price difference, but in quality difference and accuracy I could not find a difference between them. Why is the Kimber more expensive? Is it really better?

03-07-2008, 03:40 PM	#11
ezearln Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Texas Hill Country Posts: 3,175	Fit and finish have a great deal to do with that Tlarkin, not functionality. My ugly ol parkerized shoots just where and how I want it to I don't need no estinkin royal colt blueing LOL (although I do love it's look and luster) to make me a fan. Just reliability! __________________ "You can have my Freedom when I'm done with it!"

03-07-2008, 04:04 PM	#12
tlarkin Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 1,547	yeah, I saw a colt 1911 a few weeks ago at a show for $650 used. It looked really good, but I didn't quite have enough to buy it, and I thought that the price was really low, but the owner tried to assure me it was clean and had no issues. Claims he only fired maybe a 100 rounds out of it. It did look brand spanking new though. I got a bad vibe, thought it maybe was stolen or something as wrong with it, or it was a fake. Anyway, I only had $450 to spend that day so i couldn't have bought it anyway.

03-08-2008, 01:44 AM	#13
1911usmc Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: SA TX Posts: 2	I I own a rock in the no thrills and spills version, and love it! I also own a Glock and love it! I also own a the Taurus pt 1911 and guess what, I love it....its all about what feels good in your hand, its also about what purpose the weapon will serve....the rock Island, although not a looker serves its purpose...that is it fires every time i pull the trigger, but so does the the glock and the Taurus....as well as my CZ 52 and TT 33c....If you have time to look around for the right price, go to a gun show... 9times outta 10 you can haggle with them..... same with pawn shops (even with their new guns) or just spend about thirty minutes on the internet and search for the gun you want! Last edited by 1911usmc; 03-08-2008 at 01:52 AM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost

03-08-2008, 07:41 AM	#14
jmp8927 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Walterboro, SC Posts: 1,136 Images: 15	lol yep. I've shot the G22 and 1911 clone and out of those two the G22 felt best. However, the 1911 wasn't uncomfortable or anything. I have pretty big hands, so holding it isn't an issue. This would be for carrying purposes later on. I want a pretty big cal rather than something really small, but I still want a full size, so that rules out the smaller glocks in .40 and .45 __________________ Doing the unexpected makes the unexpected the expected and thus the expected becomes the unexpected.

03-30-2008, 11:51 AM	#15
Jay1958 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: North Carolina Posts: 161	I have a Rock Island 1911 plain Jane milspec model and it has been flawless - absolutely no jams, FTEs, no problems of any kind. I've had it about a year and a half and put about 900 rounds thru it - FMJ and JHP. The Novak mags are great, too. __________________ http://www.yourweapons.com/

04-02-2008, 10:06 PM	#16
OldShooter Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Maine Posts: 19	RIA 1911 I like my Rock Island Armory 1911. It is plain but shoots just fine. My other .45 is smoother and prettier, but it's a CZ.

04-16-2008, 06:14 PM	#17
Doctor Larry K Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Palm Springs, Calif. Posts: 425	You get what you pay for. Doc

04-16-2008, 07:40 PM	#19
big boomer Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Minn. Posts: 934	I got a Daly and its a fine gun I also have a 1958 Colt gold cup and its a dandy. Let me start the scrapping by asking you all flat or arched? I like the flat myself.

04-16-2008, 11:28 PM	#20
lowercase Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Pacific Northwest Posts: 196	Does anyone here own a Springfield Armory M1911? I was out shopping for a revolver, and saw a GI model with "US" emblazoned on the grips. It looked pretty sweet to me. If anyone has one, could you let me know how you like it? Thanks.