So, somebody wanna explain the 1911 hype?

Ok, I will chime in... I have a Kimber on order (I've owned a 'rinco clone before). I've also owned a couple Glock 37's... what does this all mean?

The #1 reason for getting a 1911 - The .45 is the most fun to shoot!
The single stack grip on the 1911 is very comfortable.
As mentioned above - parts galore & I love the look.

Cons: Ammo cost :(
 
1911 was the gun used at the Camp Perry matches for many years as it was the issue pistol of the US forces. In the last 30 years IPSC was dominated by variants on the 1911 theme. IDPA rules were set by a manufacturer of 1911 parts. American Handgunner usually has a custom 1911 as it centrespread gun ####, and has for the 20 years I've been reading it.
Colonel Cooper and Massad Ayoob both talked it up in their articles in various gun magazines.
All of the above created the mystique of the 1911 as the gun that professionals use. They are also the easiest automatic pistol to shoot, assuming you have a good quality one.
 
My Two Cents

While everyone has mentioned many good reasons for it's desireability. The best reason is easy when you consider a handguns primary function, to end a unprovoked attack. There is absolutely NOTHING ELSE out there that's, easier to shoot fast, and accurately. Anyone can learn. With thin grips even those with small hands can do it.
There's a reason the top shooters in the world use them. Professional and amateur alike.
 
It's only the best damn fighting handgun around.

It's quirky like a harley, after market parts are plentiful, like a 350 SB Chevy, and at the end of all the fudging around and aftermarket parts, you have something you can truly call "To *MY* specs," just like a Harley or a 350 SB Chevy.

The only thing that I can see making a box-stock 1911 more desireable than another, is if it says North American Arms, or if it's a Genuine Colt.
 
mr00jimbo said:
So somebody help a clueless guy out; what's the hype about 1911s that makes them so wanted?
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Despite approaching the century mark they still do things that other pistols don't or can't do and no pistol is more versatile.

A stellar record as a combat pistol and with some refinements one of the best centerfire bullseye pistols in existence.

They fit and feel good. Holding a 1911 isn't like holding one of those wide-body pistols that feel like you're holding a 2x4 in your hand.

They're made of steel and feel like guns not the plastic little abberations that have more in common with my childhood capguns.

Triggers are often outstanding or can easily be made so. Many quality 1911 pistols come with trigger pulls that will make you forget the creepy, gritty, heavy pulls of the SIG, Glock, USP.

And they have style.;)
 
When you hold a 1911 in your hand there is history there. This is not the latest fade its been a round for decades. Military, LEO's, F.B.I and any profession were you are allowed to carry a side arm for protection still use some 1911s today. Buy one shoot it if you dont like it some one will lift it off your hands as fast as the F***ing paper work comes through. My first 1911 was a Norinco I know own a Springfield operator and when I get the money a Kimber or wilson.
 
When I hold a 1911 (or, more accurately, a 1911A1), I see, feel, hear, and smell, the handgun equivalent to the Harley Davidson motorcycle.

Those who like them, will never like any other design, period - No matter how much lighter, better, safer, more fuel efficient, better handling, or stronger a newer design may be.

The urge to swap parts, find the "ultimate" lube and load combination for their particular example of a historical machine is THE aura that appeals.

To each their own, but...

After both my wife and I have owned and shot a Norinco 1911A1.... I'll never touch one again!! My wife now very happily shoots an XD9, and I have returned to my faithful SigP220.

If you're going to get a 1911A1, realize that they need almost constant work and "tweaking" to keep running. If that is fun for you, then fly at 'er. Spend the extra dollars up front, and get one that's been PROFESSIONALLY worked on (a la Armco), in order to replace all of the crap that should never have been on the thing in the first place, or, buy another "quality" brand name.

Some people really, really love them.

I don't!

:)

Cheers,

Neal
 
nelly said:
When I hold a 1911 (or, more accurately, a 1911A1), I see, feel, hear, and smell, the handgun equivalent to the Harley Davidson motorcycle.
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That says it all. Whether you like them or not is a matter of individual preference. There are rice burners and BMWs for those that don't like Harleys, there are Glocks, XD's ,etc for those that don't want 1911s

I personally am just glad to live in a country where I have a choice...
 
nelly said:
When I hold a 1911 (or, more accurately, a 1911A1), I see, feel, hear, and smell, the handgun equivalent to the Harley Davidson motorcycle.
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I have to agree with this.

However, I will say that if you do buy a good 1911, you will not have to do any messing with it to keep it "in tune", unless you start modding it yourself. Treat it well, and they are extremely reliable.
 
hungrybeagle said:
I hate revolvers. They're idiot simple, but I find the ergonomics terrible and the long double action trigger a pain in the ass for my stubby fingers.
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Because you haven't own one yet. I said the same thing long before I got my first centerfire pistol but I end up buy a 686 as my first centerfire handgun. Give yourself a happier life by get one revolver in your collection:D

Trigun
 
nelly said:
If you're going to get a 1911A1, realize that they need almost constant work and "tweaking" to keep running.
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That has not been my experience. The 1911s that we run on the range tend to be real work horses. Sometime folks limp wrist them, sometimes the mags crap out, but on the whole they are as reliable as most pistols, and more durable than most too.
 
The 1911 seems to have something over a lot of other pistols.

I served in the Army and had to use Brownings and P226s. They were good pistols and they did the job nicely (but to qualify with the Brownings all you had to do was make sure there were five out of the 13 rounds on target, they were like muskets...no rifling!).

The first time I picked up a 1911 was an MEU(SOC) at Ft. Benning on an exchange. I was mesmerized by the damned thing. What I pointed at I hit, when I wanted it to fire, it fired. When I left the Army, I left my enthusiasm for bang sticks behind me for awhile. Then (almost 15 years later) I went to The Shooting Edge with a friend who had never fired pistols before, I tried out my old friend "siggy" and was happy that I punched the paper. The next time I went, I tried the Kimber .45ACP. Only the second time I have handled a pistol in 15 years and my groupings were frickin' great, in this case, the pistol was better than the operator! The M1911(A1) platform seems to lend itself to use. Whether we're talking for target shooting or for business, it just seems to feel right, at least for me.
 
For me, it is the 45acp, not the platform, that makes the 1911 a winner. I'll shoot anything in 45acp. I have owned a Colt, but have moved to the dark side with a G21.
 
Thanks for the clarifications; the accuracy thing seems to be synonamous with 1911s.
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if i had my 12-6... :p

Another question though: for accuracy they seem to be ISPC king; but would you CCW one if you could pick any pistol on the market and the 10-round limit was lifted?
 
Where was 1911 designed and where is it popular? North America (esp. USA) of course. In Europe 1911s (and .45 in general) aren’t nearly as popular.

Americans like it because it’s their gun, it’s part of their history (besides what other semiautomatics other than 1911 do they make? Rugers?). Canadians like it because they live too close and got bitten by the bug :p
 
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