Who stocks Auto-Ordnance M1911A1 government models? (REVIEW ADDED)

Claven2

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Looking for the best deal on these at present. P&D Ent seems to be a dealer and want about $625, a fair bit more than, say, a SAN.

Is anyone else carrying these who will sell over the phone or net?
 
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Hmm... nobody knows of other sources, huh? Del Selins listed one but it's the (IMHO) ugly anniversary edition with 100 years of the 1911 engraved on the slide - which they want an extra $100 for - yuck :(
 
The Sam is nice, but not authentic. Wrong grips, dovetailed front sight of the wrong shape, etc. The a-o is an exact copy - or as close as you can get now.
 
This is a picture of my "Military Clones" :
1860 Army .44 Cal. cap and ball. Maker unknown
1873 SAA .45 Colt. Maker Uberti.
1911 .45 ACP. Maker Regent (Turkish)
Here is a link to a Review: http://www.gunblast.com/Regent-1911.htm

ThreeColtMilitaryguns001_zpsaccb358c-1_zpsdad1f31d.jpg
 
If you are really going for authentic clone, the Nork is the closest. Forged vs cast and mim on anything else you will be looking at under $1k
A/O looks to be series 80 as well which would be incorrect.
 
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I'm not aware of the ao being series 80?

The ao has a forged and milled slide but cast frame - I can live with that, if I can find a second one to price compare, that is. They are sub-$400 guns in the us, so $625 in Canada seems worth shopping around over.

I have culled all norinco guns from my holdings for philosophical reasons - I don't see that changing.
 
I think so too. I really wanna try one.

Just googled and evidently all 1911s sold in the us now have to have the series 80 system or the ultralight Springfield firing pin system with an uber-heavy spring in order to pass stringent California drop-tests.

Likely only guns not sold I'm the us market (ie norinco) can still make a traditional GI 1911 firing pin gun.
 
Just googled and evidently all 1911s sold in the us now have to have the series 80 system or the ultralight Springfield firing pin system with an uber-heavy spring in order to pass stringent California drop-tests.

What are you talking about? :) There are plenty of series 70 1911 around; never heard of that restriction in the US... Maybe it's the case for California APPROVED models, but not the entire US.
 
When was the last the you saw a new series 70 for sale? Likely the gins you are referring to are the models with the new 38 super diameter titanium lightweight pins and a different pin spring.

Colt has not made a series 70 in many years AFAIK

I'm going to order one from p&d. Will report back when I get it.
 
STI only make series 70 and most come with stainless firing pins.....made and sold in the states. Some states require the firing pin block though.
Ruger is a series 70 as well.
Colt still makes them too.
http://www.americanrifleman.org/m-articlepage.aspx?id=3168&cid=1
Majority of import guns like SAM Armscor and Metro are all sold as series 70 in the states.
 
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Interesting except that the modern colt s70 uses the Springfield pin system, its not the same as the older 70. Do they have the collet bushings still?

Not sure about the other models, but unless you know what to look for the new Springfield pin down sign is easily mistaken for pre-series 80. Not sure if the NW pins and springs interchange with GI style any longer.
 
ok, since I realize a bunch of guys probably have no idea what I'm talking about, there are a lot of internet threads covering the switch to titanium firing pins and overpower firing pin springs to pass the California drop tests - Cali is a big market for 1911 producers so there is a lot of effort put into selling guns there legally.

Have a look here:

http://forums.1911forum.com/showthread.php?t=262031

And here's the "new series 70" titanium pin available as a Colt OEM part (Colt part #: SP57984):

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/118264/colt-firing-pin-1911-45-acp-series-70-80-titanium

And more discussion here:

http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=352222

To summarize:

Most (if not all) 1911's sold in the USA today have only one version, not a california version and a version for everyone else. Colt makes both "new series 70" and Series 80 guns today. One has a plunger that physically blocks the pin except when the trigger is pulled, the other uses a very lightweight firing pin and a heavier spring to prevent hte pin developing enough inertia to fire the gun if dropped.

Both systems seem to be reliable, but the new series 70 has a better reputation for trigger pull and is closer to a GI 1911 design.

I have not been able to determine if the new series 70 guns have a collet bushing like the pre-series 80 S70 guns did. I'm sure someone here will confirm.

I know Springfield Armory Inc. uses the titanium pin system - a few sources I found claim they invented it. Colt definitely does too - all current mfgr guns ship with the titanium pins, even the series 80 for parts commonality reasons. I *believe* the STI guns also use this Ti pin system.

At the end of the day though, I think this auto-ordnance pistol will function and look close enough to my WW2 1911A1s to fill the role - provided the gun meets expectations. When it arrives, I'll write up a review with pics to compare to the real deal WW2 1911A1.
 
In the single stacks, STI use SS firing pins.....race guns might use TI.
It really doesn't matter though....firing pin and spring can be swapped out from TI, its all still 70s series which is what you want in a 1911. TI pins can lead to light primer strikes, but 80's series safety makes for a :bigHug::bigHug::bigHug::bigHug: trigger :)
STI stopped all sales to Cali in 2007 BTW....probably due to their dumb ass laws.
 
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While I would pefer if the AO came without a series 80 pin block, I will reserve judgement until it's in-hand. Worst case, I can order the hammer spacer from Brownells and remove that feature in like 30 seconds of effort.

That being said, most 1911 smiths I respect and most internet wisdom is that the series 80 block's impact on trigger pull is largely myth and that with a little stoning and tuning, they slick up like any other 1911 will given the proper attention.
 
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