lets talk 1911

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I have a few questions about 1911. Firstly - is it still in service anywhere?

I understand it was one of good designs but now with all plymer frames and all - what's good about 1911? Why people still like them (me including)? On the outside - its just old design, nothing that would make it better than anything else, in fact a bit archaic. Frame is lagre and bulky. Single action too.

By the way, about it being single action - how is it carried while on duty? Round in the chamber or not. Cocked and on safe or uncocked? I only shoot it at the range and never had it holsterered other that few times practicing drills.
 
carried on duty- cocked and locked- round chamber, safety on- and still carried by some units of the us forces- the marines just got some kimbers a while back- and lord help you if you EVER express those thoughts on an american board
 
It is definitely still in service. The Marines bought a bunch more new, and have been modding exiting frames for a long time.

AFAIK, the only way to carry it is safely is round in chamber, cocked with safety on. Round in chamber with hammer down can lead to AD, nothing in chamber is just pointless. I have even seen some holsters with a flap off leather that covers the pin from the hammer. Seams like a disadvantage for the pistol as far as usability when there are so many DA systems out there, but I have never carried one.
 
I have a few questions about 1911. Firstly - is it still in service anywhere?

I understand it was one of good designs but now with all plymer frames and all - what's good about 1911? Why people still like them (me including)? On the outside - its just old design, nothing that would make it better than anything else, in fact a bit archaic. Frame is lagre and bulky. Single action too.

By the way, about it being single action - how is it carried while on duty? Round in the chamber or not. Cocked and on safe or uncocked? I only shoot it at the range and never had it holsterered other that few times practicing drills.

you mean to tell us that in 800+ posts you haven't used the search function even once, or read the 65,000 1911 posts in here?
 
I understand it was one of good designs but now with all plymer frames and all - what's good about 1911? Why people still like them (me including)? On the outside - its just old design, nothing that would make it better than anything else, in fact a bit archaic. Frame is lagre and bulky. Single action too.

The characteristics that make the 1911 so good are it's reliability and the fact that all of the controls are in the right place, atleast for a right handed shooter. Nothing is complicated about it, nor should there be anything complicated about a fighting gun. As far as bulk is concerned the size is nearly perfect. It can be carried with ease open or concealed. The weight is enough that recoil is managable, and repeat shots can be made quickly and accurately. I fail to see how modern pistol designs with their plastic parts and complicated triggers can be considered an improvement. They do nothing better than the 1911 does, and do many things not as well. The fact that the century old design has never been improved upon speaks well for it. The 1911 is truly a marvel of the machine age.
 
whats the disadvantage of a single action trigger? other than it takes more training to use a 1911 well and its heavy (which doesnt bother me, i like steel guns) i see no disadvantage
 
and if you have the 1912 or m7 flap holster there's a trick to working the slide and chamber a round IN THE HOLSTER- i don't know how it's done, but it can be done= and the only thing required for left handed operation is an ambi safety- you can learn to ignore the brass flying in your field of vision
 
whats the disadvantage of a single action trigger? other than it takes more training to use a 1911 well and its heavy (which doesnt bother me, i like steel guns) i see no disadvantage
actually, properly carried, it's the da that's at the disadvantage- that really long trigger pull and an interrupted firing pin- with the 1911, its draw( safety comes off as it comes up to engage the sights) and boom- not draw, pull trigger, 12345, then trigger breaks and then boom
 
After nearly 100 years, M1911 still has better trigger and ergonomics than any other semi-auto pistol. That's the reason why it is still popular.
 
1911 does have a good trigger, but I don't get the ergonomics thing. It's not bad, but slide release is hard to reach with out changing the grip. Also I never been a fan of the grip safety.

I have a 1911 myself; it's a great looking gun. But in some ways it's kinda outdated; takedown is PITA, some have reliability issues, it's pretty heavy etc.
 
... nothing in chamber is just pointless...

I asked because I have seen video where fella was practicing pulling pistol out from under belt (inside pants concealed carry) with two hands. Non-trigger hand was chambering the round with reverse grip, all the while lifting gun to eye level. All in one fluid motion. Seems ok and fast... if you have two hands.
 
1911 does have a good trigger, but I don't get the ergonomics thing. It's not bad, but slide release is hard to reach with out changing the grip. Also I never been a fan of the grip safety.

I have a 1911 myself; it's a great looking gun. But in some ways it's kinda outdated; takedown is PITA, some have reliability issues, it's pretty heavy etc.

grip saftey can be gotten rid of (novak makes a sweet one piece back strap)

ill have to agree on the slide release, but ive always been told you use your support hand to hit it when you put it up for your grip. i just havent practiced that enough and watched to many movies
 
certain variants have no grip safety( spanish and south americans) and its easy enough to pin it- it may also suprise you to know the 1911 was designed LEFT handed- the sabre was carried in the right, one of the last vestiges of the horse-borne cavalry- the original had no safety , and everything is operated by the trigger finger of the LEFT hand, same as the colt saa- the army insisted on a safety, so old jm, in obstinate fashion, put it on the left side so it would be inconvient for the left side and couldn't be applied accidentally- it's meant to be applied with the thumb of the right hand=the holster's a whole other story- and there's a split slide stop that turns it ambi- levers on BOTH sides but only the one on the left side engages the notch
 
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I asked because I have seen video where fella was practicing pulling pistol out from under belt (inside pants concealed carry) with two hands. Non-trigger hand was chambering the round with reverse grip, all the while lifting gun to eye level. All in one fluid motion. Seems ok and fast... if you have two hands.

Do you have a link? sounds interesting. Never encountered it, but if I had to draw rapidly, I'd want my other hand for punching.
 
Let's talk 1911...

Because they're just so damn cool.... :cool:

And they kinda 'grow' on you....

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Shoot 'em enough & you'll find the answers to your questions.... ;)

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Do you have a link? sounds interesting. Never encountered it, but if I had to draw rapidly, I'd want my other hand for punching.

can't find that link anymore. Its not very complicated and fairly natural move actually. Both hands move down to the gun. Right hand grabs handle, left hand grabs slide, sort of naturally covering slide the way your left hand arrived there. Right hand keep lifting pistol from inside the pants and left is sort of lifting slide in the same direction. Than pistol rotates into normal shooting position with left hand releasing slide. Pistol moves slightly forward and left hand assumes its supporting role. Sounds complicated but its not. Very natural actually. It is even faster if one does not rotate pistol into vertical position but sort of bang-bang as soon as slide released and pistoil remain flat horizontal, from hip (abdomen) area. try and see what I mean. Anyways, I do not want to steal my own thread ;)
 
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