SAM 1911 Evaluation and Range Report

Ganderite

Ganderite

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
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Location
Farm south of North Bay
I own quite a few 1911s, from several different makers, including Rock Island, Colt, AMT and Norinco.

This is my first SAM, a Commander model (38 ounces). It has a DLASk trigger and the cleanest break of any of my 1911s. That is a big boost to the shooting performance.

It is very well finished (parkerized, I think). Barrel to bushing is tight and there is no wiggle in slide to frame. Construction quality is similar to my Colt.

I took it to the range and fired 4 different loads from it. DRG lead bullets, 200 SWC and 220FP, loaded with TiteGroup 4.3gr (mild) and 5.0 gr (snappy). Most of my 1911s shine with at least one load. This one seemed to shoot all 4 loads quite well. I shoot two handed, unrested from 20 yards.

Conclusion: A very good pistol, and great value for the $.

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Nice guns for the $$.... I got a ss 9mm commander, a gov .40, and a ss thunderbolt in .45. All shoot very well.
The finish on the 4140 guns is just a basic blast and blue....parkerized would be nice :)
 
Gander, I've been looking for a commander to bobtail and check front strap and lpi on top of the slide between the sights. I value your opinion, should I be looking for a Sam over a Norinco? (the Norinco would take some extra profiling around the trigger guard in order to holster) How's the steel compared to the Norinco?
 
Sleeper said:
I say bs on the publication's 25 yrds. Half the time you see a good group these days it says 15 or even 7 yrds in very small print.

Nice shooting Ganderite
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I second this motion Sleeper!!!
I subscribe to almost EVERY MAGAZINE on guns and only about half of the time is the distance shot 25 yards. Normally only if they are super high end guns like a Les Baer or Night Hawk, or are being shot while using a ransom rest for repeatability.
Normal distances are , like stated above, 7 , 10, and 15 yards.
20 yard groups standing are HARD. Nice shooting !!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm going to be picking up a SAM shortly, may I ask exactly which model you picked up? I want that same one.
 
plinker 777 said:
Gander, I've been looking for a commander to bobtail and check front strap and lpi on top of the slide between the sights. I value your opinion, should I be looking for a Sam over a Norinco? (the Norinco would take some extra profiling around the trigger guard in order to holster) How's the steel compared to the Norinco?
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That is the kind of question that should be asked of a gunsmith.

But, since you asked me, based on my limited experience with SAM (I only have the one) I would bob a SAM, rather than a Norc. I have quite a few Norcs (including a few Commanders) , and some have been worked on a bit, like cutting dovetails for the front sight. The gunsmith has to be very careful because the Norc is made out of tool steel. Very tough stuff to work with.

For that reason, I think a SAM would be a better candidate. Besides, when you are done, you will have a tighter, smoother gun.
 
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sgt.rock said:
I second this motion Sleeper!!!
I subscribe to almost EVERY MAGAZINE on guns and only about half of the time is the distance shot 25 yards. Normally only if they are super high end guns like a Les Baer or Night Hawk, or are being shot while using a ransom rest for repeatability.
Normal distances are , like stated above, 7 , 10, and 15 yards.
20 yard groups standing are HARD. Nice shooting !!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm going to be picking up a SAM shortly, may I ask exactly which model you picked up? I want that same one.
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If I was interested in finding the capability of each gun, I would shoot them in the club's Ransom Rest (which would still be at 20 yards). However, when I shoot, I usually shoot at least 4 different guns and typically shoot 3 or 4 different loads in each. I would go nuts taking so long run the tests sing the Ransom Rest.

So I shoot standing, with two hands. This gives me more shooting practice, which i need. I have to force myself to pull the trigger, not slap it, and I need to force myself to hold a focus on the front sight.

I am a good enough shot that my results will reliably tell me that gun A shoots better than gun B, or that Load 1 is better than the other 3. And most importantly, it tells me which gun/load works best in MY hands, not Mr. Ransom's. Things like the clean break of the trigger, or the look of the sights, or the comfort of the grips matter to the shooter - but not to the Ransom Rest.

Every once in awhile I will compile my shooting results in a given caliber and see what I see. Certain loads seem to work very well in lots of guns. And some guns will only group with one specific load. The compilation looks like this:
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I can do the same result with my para p13-45 limited commander(pre 1990 models ) size at 25 yards ,but for $$$ sam wins , if you try the new norinco 1911a1x series you would be more supprise, this gun come with optical sight , do a little tune up on the main springs and sears/hammer (no need to replace, total need an hour to lighten it) .ITS a perfect poor-man night hawk. this time norinco wins ($334 +tax +free shipment. in$$$$).The best value is the chrome one.
 
I bought my SAM on EE. I have no idea what model it is. Finish is a flat blue/black with fixed sights.

I have 5 Norc Commanders. They shoot as well as the SAM, but are more crude.

My full sized Norc 1911s shoot better than the Commanders, probably because my old eyes like the longer sight radius.

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sgt.rock said:
Hey Ganderite,
what exact model is yours? I am looking around as we speak, and your's looks like a good place to start. Wolverine?
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Commander Enhanced.
The SAM's are nice for the price but they are not allways perfect.
It helps if the importer is good at making things right when things are wrong.... :)
 
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