There are a lot of things to love about the 1911 that drive consumers to them and keep fans loyal.<\/p>
Accuracy<\/strong><\/h3> Most guns will out-shoot their operators, but there\u2019s something to be said about a well-manufactured 1911. Whether or not it can be classified as the most accurate production firearm is an ambitious claim, and obviously debatable. However,\u00a0there\u2019s something about the short, light trigger, the comfortable weight, and long sight radius that seems to bring the best out of its shooters.<\/p>
![\"1911-books\"](\"https:\/\/www.luckygunner.com\/lounge\/media\/1911-books.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p> The 1911 Trigger<\/strong><\/h3> If you haven\u2019t heard the phrase\u00a0\u201cNothing beats a 1911 trigger,\u201d you probably haven\u2019t been around the gun community long. Lots and lots of people love this trigger. \u00a0However, it has some new competition due to the advances in trigger technology as well as individual shooter\u00a0preferences.<\/p>
The triggers on most standard 1911s are described as \u201ccrisp,\u201d \u201clight,\u201d or \u201csweet.\u201d The break\u2014the moment the sear releases the hammer to fire the gun\u2014is often described as breaking a glass rod. It\u2019s clean, immediate, and distinct. There is very little excess movement or over-travel (the distance from the break to where the trigger can no longer move rearward), the reset can be measured in millimeters, and depending on make, model, and custom\u00a0work, the amount of pressure required to take a shot can be as little as 2-4 pounds. This may seem dangerously light to some, but to many competition shooters, it\u2019s Goldilocks.<\/p>
Safeties (if that\u2019s your thing)<\/strong><\/h3> The 1911, as designed by John Mosses Browning, has several safety features. Two of those safeties\u2014the thumb safety and the grip safety\u2014require active disengagement. In the 1930s, Colt dabbled with a third safety; a firing pin block that was activated by the grip safety. They quickly abandoned the concept but resurrected it with the trigger-activated series 80 firing pin block in \u201883. Other 1911 manufacturers use variants of one or the other, and some leave it out completely.<\/p>
Customizable \/ Aftermarket<\/strong><\/h3> The 1911 parts aftermarket has no rival in the handgun world…yet. There are very few firearms with as much customization available. Some things like grip panels and sights can be changed in your living room, and, with a little willingness to learn, an ambitious person could potentially build a 1911 from spare parts.<\/p>
![\"1911-parts\"](\"https:\/\/www.luckygunner.com\/lounge\/media\/1911-parts.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p> There are extended slide stops (or releases, depending on your preferred nomenclature), high or low profile and ambidextrous thumb safeties. Guide rods can be general issue or full length. Mainspring housings can be textured, bobbed, or decorated, or they include a magazine well. Beaver tails can be short, long, or anything in between while triggers can be skeletonized, short, long, flat or any variation in between. Hammers can be Commander, flat, or spurred. The opportunities to customize are nearly endless. And that\u2019s not even getting into the finishes.<\/p>
Wide Variety of makes \/ sizes \/ calibers \/ materials<\/strong><\/h3> The first 1911 to roll off the production line 104 years ago had a five-inch barrel and a standard magazine capacity of seven cartridges. It was chambered in .45 ACP<\/a> and made of steel. Over the years, grips and barrels have shortened to meet the demand for lighter and more compact carry guns. For the competitor or enthusiast out there, long-slide variants were also created. Frames can be found in a variety of alloys and polymers to shed weight, and 1911s can be found in calibers ranging from .22LR to the .50GI.<\/p> The Bad<\/strong><\/h2> It\u2019s not all sunshine and roses for the 1911, however. It has its downsides.<\/p>
Cost<\/strong><\/h3> Low end 1911s like Rock Island and Girsan will still set you back $300 or more. Many production model Wilson Combats start north of three grand, but your average 1911 will cost between $700 and $1,000 if you aren\u2019t looking for too many bells and whistles. This is a stark contrast compared to the price of other modern service pistols.<\/p>
Safeties (if that’s not\u00a0your thing)<\/strong><\/h3> Not everyone appreciates the existence of the external safety. Some argue that the external safety features can be missed in a critical self-defense moment, rendering a gun useless when it\u2019s most needed. 1911 aficionados largely purport this as a training issue, and there\u2019s little evidence to back up either claim, so the war will rage on.<\/p>
Capacity<\/strong><\/h3> Let\u2019s face it, for the size and weight of guns these days, a standard capacity of seven or eight cartridges in a full or midsize gun is a little yesteryear. Sure, there are double-stack 1911s that have capacities that rival their high-capacity competition, but they are not as easy to find as their single-stack sisters, cost-prohibitive, and don\u2019t necessarily have a reputation for reliability.<\/p>
![\"SA-1911-2\"](\"https:\/\/www.luckygunner.com\/lounge\/media\/SA-1911-2.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p> Weight<\/strong><\/h3> A steel, single-stack 4-inch 1911 is almost a pound heavier than any single-stack polymer-framed gun and still a few ounces heavier than a fully-loaded Glock 19. While that doesn\u2019t seem like much on the surface, when carrying it around, those pounds can start to feel a little heavy, particularly when you consider the fact that you\u2019re carrying half the ammo of a Glock 19 for the same weight.<\/p>
Some people find comfort in the weight of steel. \u00a0Others find it to be a negative trade off.<\/p>
Too Much Of A Good Thing<\/strong><\/h3> There is such a thing as too much of a good thing, and that is certainly the case with the 1911. With around twenty manufacturers producing some variant of the 1911 (not including the small custom shops like Volkmann or Heirloom Precision), it should be no surprise to anyone that the market is saturated with options, and not all of them are good.<\/p>
The $300 GI model you picked up on the cheap will likely not shoot like a $4,000 Wilson Combat. That they can both be called 1911s, however, sets na\u00efve consumers up for a rude awakening regarding quality control and expectations.<\/p>
Those who experience poorly made 1911s tend to paint the model with the broad brush of disappointment, not taking into account the inequality of the market. Others, who get a\u00a0taste of quality-built guns but recoil at the price,\u00a0search in vain to get their fix with lesser substitutes or put off buying their dream gun altogether.<\/p>
In addition to the range of manufacturers and quality is the range of features and options. One can choose options like length of barrel or frame, the type of beaver tail and grip safety, the shape and features of a mainspring housing, the type of sights and hammer, and whether or not the frame has a rail. All these options can be overwhelming, leaving the indecisive buyer stuck and confused, possibly even\u00a0purchasing a firearm that doesn’t suit their needs.<\/p>
And that\u2019s not even going into magazine choices.<\/p>
The Ugly<\/strong><\/h2> Finally, we come to the ugly parts of the 1911. Well, most 1911s are beautiful, but from time to time, opinions and bad experiences can taint their image and leave them with a stain not easily rubbed off.<\/p>
Reputation of the 1911<\/strong><\/h3> 1911s have a reputation of being picky guns. If you talk to any true JMB-disciple who\u2019s owned multiple 1911s through the years, he\u2019s probably run across more than a few who were problem children. Out of the twenty or so 1911s I\u2019ve owned, at least four have been malfunction-heavy to the point where they were moved along rather quickly. A few more were finicky when it came to ammo or needing to be cleaned after so many rounds, and the rest ran as reliably as you would expect a firearm to run. Some shooters have had\u00a0better results than mine. Others report far worse.<\/p>
Either way, for the price, many feel the uncertainty of quality makes them an unnecessary risk.<\/p>
<\/p>
![\"1911-38-Super\"](\"https:\/\/www.luckygunner.com\/lounge\/media\/1911-38-Super.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p> This questionable quality is largely driven by the wide variety of manufacturers and the wide range of quality control and cost-cutting measures. Even well-known and reputable companies have taken short-cuts that have resulted in problematic guns and damaged reputations.<\/p>
Most gun manufacturers these days will stand behind their products enough to guarantee a working product, eventually. Some shooters wonder if it\u2019s worth the time and effort.<\/p>
Home Gunsmithing and the\u00a0Used Market<\/strong><\/h3>
<\/a><\/p> The 1911 Trigger<\/strong><\/h3> If you haven\u2019t heard the phrase\u00a0\u201cNothing beats a 1911 trigger,\u201d you probably haven\u2019t been around the gun community long. Lots and lots of people love this trigger. \u00a0However, it has some new competition due to the advances in trigger technology as well as individual shooter\u00a0preferences.<\/p>
The triggers on most standard 1911s are described as \u201ccrisp,\u201d \u201clight,\u201d or \u201csweet.\u201d The break\u2014the moment the sear releases the hammer to fire the gun\u2014is often described as breaking a glass rod. It\u2019s clean, immediate, and distinct. There is very little excess movement or over-travel (the distance from the break to where the trigger can no longer move rearward), the reset can be measured in millimeters, and depending on make, model, and custom\u00a0work, the amount of pressure required to take a shot can be as little as 2-4 pounds. This may seem dangerously light to some, but to many competition shooters, it\u2019s Goldilocks.<\/p>
Safeties (if that\u2019s your thing)<\/strong><\/h3> The 1911, as designed by John Mosses Browning, has several safety features. Two of those safeties\u2014the thumb safety and the grip safety\u2014require active disengagement. In the 1930s, Colt dabbled with a third safety; a firing pin block that was activated by the grip safety. They quickly abandoned the concept but resurrected it with the trigger-activated series 80 firing pin block in \u201883. Other 1911 manufacturers use variants of one or the other, and some leave it out completely.<\/p>
Customizable \/ Aftermarket<\/strong><\/h3> The 1911 parts aftermarket has no rival in the handgun world…yet. There are very few firearms with as much customization available. Some things like grip panels and sights can be changed in your living room, and, with a little willingness to learn, an ambitious person could potentially build a 1911 from spare parts.<\/p>
<\/a><\/p> There are extended slide stops (or releases, depending on your preferred nomenclature), high or low profile and ambidextrous thumb safeties. Guide rods can be general issue or full length. Mainspring housings can be textured, bobbed, or decorated, or they include a magazine well. Beaver tails can be short, long, or anything in between while triggers can be skeletonized, short, long, flat or any variation in between. Hammers can be Commander, flat, or spurred. The opportunities to customize are nearly endless. And that\u2019s not even getting into the finishes.<\/p>
Wide Variety of makes \/ sizes \/ calibers \/ materials<\/strong><\/h3> The first 1911 to roll off the production line 104 years ago had a five-inch barrel and a standard magazine capacity of seven cartridges. It was chambered in .45 ACP<\/a> and made of steel. Over the years, grips and barrels have shortened to meet the demand for lighter and more compact carry guns. For the competitor or enthusiast out there, long-slide variants were also created. Frames can be found in a variety of alloys and polymers to shed weight, and 1911s can be found in calibers ranging from .22LR to the .50GI.<\/p> The Bad<\/strong><\/h2> It\u2019s not all sunshine and roses for the 1911, however. It has its downsides.<\/p>
Cost<\/strong><\/h3> Low end 1911s like Rock Island and Girsan will still set you back $300 or more. Many production model Wilson Combats start north of three grand, but your average 1911 will cost between $700 and $1,000 if you aren\u2019t looking for too many bells and whistles. This is a stark contrast compared to the price of other modern service pistols.<\/p>
Safeties (if that’s not\u00a0your thing)<\/strong><\/h3> Not everyone appreciates the existence of the external safety. Some argue that the external safety features can be missed in a critical self-defense moment, rendering a gun useless when it\u2019s most needed. 1911 aficionados largely purport this as a training issue, and there\u2019s little evidence to back up either claim, so the war will rage on.<\/p>
Capacity<\/strong><\/h3> Let\u2019s face it, for the size and weight of guns these days, a standard capacity of seven or eight cartridges in a full or midsize gun is a little yesteryear. Sure, there are double-stack 1911s that have capacities that rival their high-capacity competition, but they are not as easy to find as their single-stack sisters, cost-prohibitive, and don\u2019t necessarily have a reputation for reliability.<\/p>
<\/a><\/p> Weight<\/strong><\/h3> A steel, single-stack 4-inch 1911 is almost a pound heavier than any single-stack polymer-framed gun and still a few ounces heavier than a fully-loaded Glock 19. While that doesn\u2019t seem like much on the surface, when carrying it around, those pounds can start to feel a little heavy, particularly when you consider the fact that you\u2019re carrying half the ammo of a Glock 19 for the same weight.<\/p>
Some people find comfort in the weight of steel. \u00a0Others find it to be a negative trade off.<\/p>
Too Much Of A Good Thing<\/strong><\/h3> There is such a thing as too much of a good thing, and that is certainly the case with the 1911. With around twenty manufacturers producing some variant of the 1911 (not including the small custom shops like Volkmann or Heirloom Precision), it should be no surprise to anyone that the market is saturated with options, and not all of them are good.<\/p>
The $300 GI model you picked up on the cheap will likely not shoot like a $4,000 Wilson Combat. That they can both be called 1911s, however, sets na\u00efve consumers up for a rude awakening regarding quality control and expectations.<\/p>
Those who experience poorly made 1911s tend to paint the model with the broad brush of disappointment, not taking into account the inequality of the market. Others, who get a\u00a0taste of quality-built guns but recoil at the price,\u00a0search in vain to get their fix with lesser substitutes or put off buying their dream gun altogether.<\/p>
In addition to the range of manufacturers and quality is the range of features and options. One can choose options like length of barrel or frame, the type of beaver tail and grip safety, the shape and features of a mainspring housing, the type of sights and hammer, and whether or not the frame has a rail. All these options can be overwhelming, leaving the indecisive buyer stuck and confused, possibly even\u00a0purchasing a firearm that doesn’t suit their needs.<\/p>
And that\u2019s not even going into magazine choices.<\/p>
The Ugly<\/strong><\/h2> Finally, we come to the ugly parts of the 1911. Well, most 1911s are beautiful, but from time to time, opinions and bad experiences can taint their image and leave them with a stain not easily rubbed off.<\/p>
Reputation of the 1911<\/strong><\/h3> 1911s have a reputation of being picky guns. If you talk to any true JMB-disciple who\u2019s owned multiple 1911s through the years, he\u2019s probably run across more than a few who were problem children. Out of the twenty or so 1911s I\u2019ve owned, at least four have been malfunction-heavy to the point where they were moved along rather quickly. A few more were finicky when it came to ammo or needing to be cleaned after so many rounds, and the rest ran as reliably as you would expect a firearm to run. Some shooters have had\u00a0better results than mine. Others report far worse.<\/p>
Either way, for the price, many feel the uncertainty of quality makes them an unnecessary risk.<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/a><\/p> This questionable quality is largely driven by the wide variety of manufacturers and the wide range of quality control and cost-cutting measures. Even well-known and reputable companies have taken short-cuts that have resulted in problematic guns and damaged reputations.<\/p>
Most gun manufacturers these days will stand behind their products enough to guarantee a working product, eventually. Some shooters wonder if it\u2019s worth the time and effort.<\/p>
Home Gunsmithing and the\u00a0Used Market<\/strong><\/h3>
The 1911, as designed by John Mosses Browning, has several safety features. Two of those safeties\u2014the thumb safety and the grip safety\u2014require active disengagement. In the 1930s, Colt dabbled with a third safety; a firing pin block that was activated by the grip safety. They quickly abandoned the concept but resurrected it with the trigger-activated series 80 firing pin block in \u201883. Other 1911 manufacturers use variants of one or the other, and some leave it out completely.<\/p>
Customizable \/ Aftermarket<\/strong><\/h3> The 1911 parts aftermarket has no rival in the handgun world…yet. There are very few firearms with as much customization available. Some things like grip panels and sights can be changed in your living room, and, with a little willingness to learn, an ambitious person could potentially build a 1911 from spare parts.<\/p>
<\/a><\/p> There are extended slide stops (or releases, depending on your preferred nomenclature), high or low profile and ambidextrous thumb safeties. Guide rods can be general issue or full length. Mainspring housings can be textured, bobbed, or decorated, or they include a magazine well. Beaver tails can be short, long, or anything in between while triggers can be skeletonized, short, long, flat or any variation in between. Hammers can be Commander, flat, or spurred. The opportunities to customize are nearly endless. And that\u2019s not even getting into the finishes.<\/p>
Wide Variety of makes \/ sizes \/ calibers \/ materials<\/strong><\/h3> The first 1911 to roll off the production line 104 years ago had a five-inch barrel and a standard magazine capacity of seven cartridges. It was chambered in .45 ACP<\/a> and made of steel. Over the years, grips and barrels have shortened to meet the demand for lighter and more compact carry guns. For the competitor or enthusiast out there, long-slide variants were also created. Frames can be found in a variety of alloys and polymers to shed weight, and 1911s can be found in calibers ranging from .22LR to the .50GI.<\/p> The Bad<\/strong><\/h2> It\u2019s not all sunshine and roses for the 1911, however. It has its downsides.<\/p>
Cost<\/strong><\/h3> Low end 1911s like Rock Island and Girsan will still set you back $300 or more. Many production model Wilson Combats start north of three grand, but your average 1911 will cost between $700 and $1,000 if you aren\u2019t looking for too many bells and whistles. This is a stark contrast compared to the price of other modern service pistols.<\/p>
Safeties (if that’s not\u00a0your thing)<\/strong><\/h3> Not everyone appreciates the existence of the external safety. Some argue that the external safety features can be missed in a critical self-defense moment, rendering a gun useless when it\u2019s most needed. 1911 aficionados largely purport this as a training issue, and there\u2019s little evidence to back up either claim, so the war will rage on.<\/p>
Capacity<\/strong><\/h3> Let\u2019s face it, for the size and weight of guns these days, a standard capacity of seven or eight cartridges in a full or midsize gun is a little yesteryear. Sure, there are double-stack 1911s that have capacities that rival their high-capacity competition, but they are not as easy to find as their single-stack sisters, cost-prohibitive, and don\u2019t necessarily have a reputation for reliability.<\/p>
<\/a><\/p> Weight<\/strong><\/h3> A steel, single-stack 4-inch 1911 is almost a pound heavier than any single-stack polymer-framed gun and still a few ounces heavier than a fully-loaded Glock 19. While that doesn\u2019t seem like much on the surface, when carrying it around, those pounds can start to feel a little heavy, particularly when you consider the fact that you\u2019re carrying half the ammo of a Glock 19 for the same weight.<\/p>
Some people find comfort in the weight of steel. \u00a0Others find it to be a negative trade off.<\/p>
Too Much Of A Good Thing<\/strong><\/h3> There is such a thing as too much of a good thing, and that is certainly the case with the 1911. With around twenty manufacturers producing some variant of the 1911 (not including the small custom shops like Volkmann or Heirloom Precision), it should be no surprise to anyone that the market is saturated with options, and not all of them are good.<\/p>
The $300 GI model you picked up on the cheap will likely not shoot like a $4,000 Wilson Combat. That they can both be called 1911s, however, sets na\u00efve consumers up for a rude awakening regarding quality control and expectations.<\/p>
Those who experience poorly made 1911s tend to paint the model with the broad brush of disappointment, not taking into account the inequality of the market. Others, who get a\u00a0taste of quality-built guns but recoil at the price,\u00a0search in vain to get their fix with lesser substitutes or put off buying their dream gun altogether.<\/p>
In addition to the range of manufacturers and quality is the range of features and options. One can choose options like length of barrel or frame, the type of beaver tail and grip safety, the shape and features of a mainspring housing, the type of sights and hammer, and whether or not the frame has a rail. All these options can be overwhelming, leaving the indecisive buyer stuck and confused, possibly even\u00a0purchasing a firearm that doesn’t suit their needs.<\/p>
And that\u2019s not even going into magazine choices.<\/p>
The Ugly<\/strong><\/h2> Finally, we come to the ugly parts of the 1911. Well, most 1911s are beautiful, but from time to time, opinions and bad experiences can taint their image and leave them with a stain not easily rubbed off.<\/p>
Reputation of the 1911<\/strong><\/h3> 1911s have a reputation of being picky guns. If you talk to any true JMB-disciple who\u2019s owned multiple 1911s through the years, he\u2019s probably run across more than a few who were problem children. Out of the twenty or so 1911s I\u2019ve owned, at least four have been malfunction-heavy to the point where they were moved along rather quickly. A few more were finicky when it came to ammo or needing to be cleaned after so many rounds, and the rest ran as reliably as you would expect a firearm to run. Some shooters have had\u00a0better results than mine. Others report far worse.<\/p>
Either way, for the price, many feel the uncertainty of quality makes them an unnecessary risk.<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/a><\/p> This questionable quality is largely driven by the wide variety of manufacturers and the wide range of quality control and cost-cutting measures. Even well-known and reputable companies have taken short-cuts that have resulted in problematic guns and damaged reputations.<\/p>
Most gun manufacturers these days will stand behind their products enough to guarantee a working product, eventually. Some shooters wonder if it\u2019s worth the time and effort.<\/p>
Home Gunsmithing and the\u00a0Used Market<\/strong><\/h3>
<\/a><\/p> There are extended slide stops (or releases, depending on your preferred nomenclature), high or low profile and ambidextrous thumb safeties. Guide rods can be general issue or full length. Mainspring housings can be textured, bobbed, or decorated, or they include a magazine well. Beaver tails can be short, long, or anything in between while triggers can be skeletonized, short, long, flat or any variation in between. Hammers can be Commander, flat, or spurred. The opportunities to customize are nearly endless. And that\u2019s not even getting into the finishes.<\/p>
Wide Variety of makes \/ sizes \/ calibers \/ materials<\/strong><\/h3> The first 1911 to roll off the production line 104 years ago had a five-inch barrel and a standard magazine capacity of seven cartridges. It was chambered in .45 ACP<\/a> and made of steel. Over the years, grips and barrels have shortened to meet the demand for lighter and more compact carry guns. For the competitor or enthusiast out there, long-slide variants were also created. Frames can be found in a variety of alloys and polymers to shed weight, and 1911s can be found in calibers ranging from .22LR to the .50GI.<\/p> The Bad<\/strong><\/h2> It\u2019s not all sunshine and roses for the 1911, however. It has its downsides.<\/p>
Cost<\/strong><\/h3> Low end 1911s like Rock Island and Girsan will still set you back $300 or more. Many production model Wilson Combats start north of three grand, but your average 1911 will cost between $700 and $1,000 if you aren\u2019t looking for too many bells and whistles. This is a stark contrast compared to the price of other modern service pistols.<\/p>
Safeties (if that’s not\u00a0your thing)<\/strong><\/h3> Not everyone appreciates the existence of the external safety. Some argue that the external safety features can be missed in a critical self-defense moment, rendering a gun useless when it\u2019s most needed. 1911 aficionados largely purport this as a training issue, and there\u2019s little evidence to back up either claim, so the war will rage on.<\/p>
Capacity<\/strong><\/h3> Let\u2019s face it, for the size and weight of guns these days, a standard capacity of seven or eight cartridges in a full or midsize gun is a little yesteryear. Sure, there are double-stack 1911s that have capacities that rival their high-capacity competition, but they are not as easy to find as their single-stack sisters, cost-prohibitive, and don\u2019t necessarily have a reputation for reliability.<\/p>
<\/a><\/p> Weight<\/strong><\/h3> A steel, single-stack 4-inch 1911 is almost a pound heavier than any single-stack polymer-framed gun and still a few ounces heavier than a fully-loaded Glock 19. While that doesn\u2019t seem like much on the surface, when carrying it around, those pounds can start to feel a little heavy, particularly when you consider the fact that you\u2019re carrying half the ammo of a Glock 19 for the same weight.<\/p>
Some people find comfort in the weight of steel. \u00a0Others find it to be a negative trade off.<\/p>
Too Much Of A Good Thing<\/strong><\/h3> There is such a thing as too much of a good thing, and that is certainly the case with the 1911. With around twenty manufacturers producing some variant of the 1911 (not including the small custom shops like Volkmann or Heirloom Precision), it should be no surprise to anyone that the market is saturated with options, and not all of them are good.<\/p>
The $300 GI model you picked up on the cheap will likely not shoot like a $4,000 Wilson Combat. That they can both be called 1911s, however, sets na\u00efve consumers up for a rude awakening regarding quality control and expectations.<\/p>
Those who experience poorly made 1911s tend to paint the model with the broad brush of disappointment, not taking into account the inequality of the market. Others, who get a\u00a0taste of quality-built guns but recoil at the price,\u00a0search in vain to get their fix with lesser substitutes or put off buying their dream gun altogether.<\/p>
In addition to the range of manufacturers and quality is the range of features and options. One can choose options like length of barrel or frame, the type of beaver tail and grip safety, the shape and features of a mainspring housing, the type of sights and hammer, and whether or not the frame has a rail. All these options can be overwhelming, leaving the indecisive buyer stuck and confused, possibly even\u00a0purchasing a firearm that doesn’t suit their needs.<\/p>
And that\u2019s not even going into magazine choices.<\/p>
The Ugly<\/strong><\/h2> Finally, we come to the ugly parts of the 1911. Well, most 1911s are beautiful, but from time to time, opinions and bad experiences can taint their image and leave them with a stain not easily rubbed off.<\/p>
Reputation of the 1911<\/strong><\/h3> 1911s have a reputation of being picky guns. If you talk to any true JMB-disciple who\u2019s owned multiple 1911s through the years, he\u2019s probably run across more than a few who were problem children. Out of the twenty or so 1911s I\u2019ve owned, at least four have been malfunction-heavy to the point where they were moved along rather quickly. A few more were finicky when it came to ammo or needing to be cleaned after so many rounds, and the rest ran as reliably as you would expect a firearm to run. Some shooters have had\u00a0better results than mine. Others report far worse.<\/p>
Either way, for the price, many feel the uncertainty of quality makes them an unnecessary risk.<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/a><\/p> This questionable quality is largely driven by the wide variety of manufacturers and the wide range of quality control and cost-cutting measures. Even well-known and reputable companies have taken short-cuts that have resulted in problematic guns and damaged reputations.<\/p>
Most gun manufacturers these days will stand behind their products enough to guarantee a working product, eventually. Some shooters wonder if it\u2019s worth the time and effort.<\/p>
Home Gunsmithing and the\u00a0Used Market<\/strong><\/h3>
The Bad<\/strong><\/h2> It\u2019s not all sunshine and roses for the 1911, however. It has its downsides.<\/p>
Cost<\/strong><\/h3> Low end 1911s like Rock Island and Girsan will still set you back $300 or more. Many production model Wilson Combats start north of three grand, but your average 1911 will cost between $700 and $1,000 if you aren\u2019t looking for too many bells and whistles. This is a stark contrast compared to the price of other modern service pistols.<\/p>
Safeties (if that’s not\u00a0your thing)<\/strong><\/h3> Not everyone appreciates the existence of the external safety. Some argue that the external safety features can be missed in a critical self-defense moment, rendering a gun useless when it\u2019s most needed. 1911 aficionados largely purport this as a training issue, and there\u2019s little evidence to back up either claim, so the war will rage on.<\/p>
Capacity<\/strong><\/h3> Let\u2019s face it, for the size and weight of guns these days, a standard capacity of seven or eight cartridges in a full or midsize gun is a little yesteryear. Sure, there are double-stack 1911s that have capacities that rival their high-capacity competition, but they are not as easy to find as their single-stack sisters, cost-prohibitive, and don\u2019t necessarily have a reputation for reliability.<\/p>
<\/a><\/p> Weight<\/strong><\/h3> A steel, single-stack 4-inch 1911 is almost a pound heavier than any single-stack polymer-framed gun and still a few ounces heavier than a fully-loaded Glock 19. While that doesn\u2019t seem like much on the surface, when carrying it around, those pounds can start to feel a little heavy, particularly when you consider the fact that you\u2019re carrying half the ammo of a Glock 19 for the same weight.<\/p>
Some people find comfort in the weight of steel. \u00a0Others find it to be a negative trade off.<\/p>
Too Much Of A Good Thing<\/strong><\/h3> There is such a thing as too much of a good thing, and that is certainly the case with the 1911. With around twenty manufacturers producing some variant of the 1911 (not including the small custom shops like Volkmann or Heirloom Precision), it should be no surprise to anyone that the market is saturated with options, and not all of them are good.<\/p>
The $300 GI model you picked up on the cheap will likely not shoot like a $4,000 Wilson Combat. That they can both be called 1911s, however, sets na\u00efve consumers up for a rude awakening regarding quality control and expectations.<\/p>
Those who experience poorly made 1911s tend to paint the model with the broad brush of disappointment, not taking into account the inequality of the market. Others, who get a\u00a0taste of quality-built guns but recoil at the price,\u00a0search in vain to get their fix with lesser substitutes or put off buying their dream gun altogether.<\/p>
In addition to the range of manufacturers and quality is the range of features and options. One can choose options like length of barrel or frame, the type of beaver tail and grip safety, the shape and features of a mainspring housing, the type of sights and hammer, and whether or not the frame has a rail. All these options can be overwhelming, leaving the indecisive buyer stuck and confused, possibly even\u00a0purchasing a firearm that doesn’t suit their needs.<\/p>
And that\u2019s not even going into magazine choices.<\/p>
The Ugly<\/strong><\/h2> Finally, we come to the ugly parts of the 1911. Well, most 1911s are beautiful, but from time to time, opinions and bad experiences can taint their image and leave them with a stain not easily rubbed off.<\/p>
Reputation of the 1911<\/strong><\/h3> 1911s have a reputation of being picky guns. If you talk to any true JMB-disciple who\u2019s owned multiple 1911s through the years, he\u2019s probably run across more than a few who were problem children. Out of the twenty or so 1911s I\u2019ve owned, at least four have been malfunction-heavy to the point where they were moved along rather quickly. A few more were finicky when it came to ammo or needing to be cleaned after so many rounds, and the rest ran as reliably as you would expect a firearm to run. Some shooters have had\u00a0better results than mine. Others report far worse.<\/p>
Either way, for the price, many feel the uncertainty of quality makes them an unnecessary risk.<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/a><\/p> This questionable quality is largely driven by the wide variety of manufacturers and the wide range of quality control and cost-cutting measures. Even well-known and reputable companies have taken short-cuts that have resulted in problematic guns and damaged reputations.<\/p>
Most gun manufacturers these days will stand behind their products enough to guarantee a working product, eventually. Some shooters wonder if it\u2019s worth the time and effort.<\/p>
Home Gunsmithing and the\u00a0Used Market<\/strong><\/h3>
Low end 1911s like Rock Island and Girsan will still set you back $300 or more. Many production model Wilson Combats start north of three grand, but your average 1911 will cost between $700 and $1,000 if you aren\u2019t looking for too many bells and whistles. This is a stark contrast compared to the price of other modern service pistols.<\/p>
Safeties (if that’s not\u00a0your thing)<\/strong><\/h3> Not everyone appreciates the existence of the external safety. Some argue that the external safety features can be missed in a critical self-defense moment, rendering a gun useless when it\u2019s most needed. 1911 aficionados largely purport this as a training issue, and there\u2019s little evidence to back up either claim, so the war will rage on.<\/p>
Capacity<\/strong><\/h3> Let\u2019s face it, for the size and weight of guns these days, a standard capacity of seven or eight cartridges in a full or midsize gun is a little yesteryear. Sure, there are double-stack 1911s that have capacities that rival their high-capacity competition, but they are not as easy to find as their single-stack sisters, cost-prohibitive, and don\u2019t necessarily have a reputation for reliability.<\/p>
<\/a><\/p> Weight<\/strong><\/h3> A steel, single-stack 4-inch 1911 is almost a pound heavier than any single-stack polymer-framed gun and still a few ounces heavier than a fully-loaded Glock 19. While that doesn\u2019t seem like much on the surface, when carrying it around, those pounds can start to feel a little heavy, particularly when you consider the fact that you\u2019re carrying half the ammo of a Glock 19 for the same weight.<\/p>
Some people find comfort in the weight of steel. \u00a0Others find it to be a negative trade off.<\/p>
Too Much Of A Good Thing<\/strong><\/h3> There is such a thing as too much of a good thing, and that is certainly the case with the 1911. With around twenty manufacturers producing some variant of the 1911 (not including the small custom shops like Volkmann or Heirloom Precision), it should be no surprise to anyone that the market is saturated with options, and not all of them are good.<\/p>
The $300 GI model you picked up on the cheap will likely not shoot like a $4,000 Wilson Combat. That they can both be called 1911s, however, sets na\u00efve consumers up for a rude awakening regarding quality control and expectations.<\/p>
Those who experience poorly made 1911s tend to paint the model with the broad brush of disappointment, not taking into account the inequality of the market. Others, who get a\u00a0taste of quality-built guns but recoil at the price,\u00a0search in vain to get their fix with lesser substitutes or put off buying their dream gun altogether.<\/p>
In addition to the range of manufacturers and quality is the range of features and options. One can choose options like length of barrel or frame, the type of beaver tail and grip safety, the shape and features of a mainspring housing, the type of sights and hammer, and whether or not the frame has a rail. All these options can be overwhelming, leaving the indecisive buyer stuck and confused, possibly even\u00a0purchasing a firearm that doesn’t suit their needs.<\/p>
And that\u2019s not even going into magazine choices.<\/p>
The Ugly<\/strong><\/h2> Finally, we come to the ugly parts of the 1911. Well, most 1911s are beautiful, but from time to time, opinions and bad experiences can taint their image and leave them with a stain not easily rubbed off.<\/p>
Reputation of the 1911<\/strong><\/h3> 1911s have a reputation of being picky guns. If you talk to any true JMB-disciple who\u2019s owned multiple 1911s through the years, he\u2019s probably run across more than a few who were problem children. Out of the twenty or so 1911s I\u2019ve owned, at least four have been malfunction-heavy to the point where they were moved along rather quickly. A few more were finicky when it came to ammo or needing to be cleaned after so many rounds, and the rest ran as reliably as you would expect a firearm to run. Some shooters have had\u00a0better results than mine. Others report far worse.<\/p>
Either way, for the price, many feel the uncertainty of quality makes them an unnecessary risk.<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/a><\/p> This questionable quality is largely driven by the wide variety of manufacturers and the wide range of quality control and cost-cutting measures. Even well-known and reputable companies have taken short-cuts that have resulted in problematic guns and damaged reputations.<\/p>
Most gun manufacturers these days will stand behind their products enough to guarantee a working product, eventually. Some shooters wonder if it\u2019s worth the time and effort.<\/p>
Home Gunsmithing and the\u00a0Used Market<\/strong><\/h3>
Let\u2019s face it, for the size and weight of guns these days, a standard capacity of seven or eight cartridges in a full or midsize gun is a little yesteryear. Sure, there are double-stack 1911s that have capacities that rival their high-capacity competition, but they are not as easy to find as their single-stack sisters, cost-prohibitive, and don\u2019t necessarily have a reputation for reliability.<\/p>
A steel, single-stack 4-inch 1911 is almost a pound heavier than any single-stack polymer-framed gun and still a few ounces heavier than a fully-loaded Glock 19. While that doesn\u2019t seem like much on the surface, when carrying it around, those pounds can start to feel a little heavy, particularly when you consider the fact that you\u2019re carrying half the ammo of a Glock 19 for the same weight.<\/p> Some people find comfort in the weight of steel. \u00a0Others find it to be a negative trade off.<\/p> There is such a thing as too much of a good thing, and that is certainly the case with the 1911. With around twenty manufacturers producing some variant of the 1911 (not including the small custom shops like Volkmann or Heirloom Precision), it should be no surprise to anyone that the market is saturated with options, and not all of them are good.<\/p> The $300 GI model you picked up on the cheap will likely not shoot like a $4,000 Wilson Combat. That they can both be called 1911s, however, sets na\u00efve consumers up for a rude awakening regarding quality control and expectations.<\/p> Those who experience poorly made 1911s tend to paint the model with the broad brush of disappointment, not taking into account the inequality of the market. Others, who get a\u00a0taste of quality-built guns but recoil at the price,\u00a0search in vain to get their fix with lesser substitutes or put off buying their dream gun altogether.<\/p> In addition to the range of manufacturers and quality is the range of features and options. One can choose options like length of barrel or frame, the type of beaver tail and grip safety, the shape and features of a mainspring housing, the type of sights and hammer, and whether or not the frame has a rail. All these options can be overwhelming, leaving the indecisive buyer stuck and confused, possibly even\u00a0purchasing a firearm that doesn’t suit their needs.<\/p> And that\u2019s not even going into magazine choices.<\/p> Finally, we come to the ugly parts of the 1911. Well, most 1911s are beautiful, but from time to time, opinions and bad experiences can taint their image and leave them with a stain not easily rubbed off.<\/p> 1911s have a reputation of being picky guns. If you talk to any true JMB-disciple who\u2019s owned multiple 1911s through the years, he\u2019s probably run across more than a few who were problem children. Out of the twenty or so 1911s I\u2019ve owned, at least four have been malfunction-heavy to the point where they were moved along rather quickly. A few more were finicky when it came to ammo or needing to be cleaned after so many rounds, and the rest ran as reliably as you would expect a firearm to run. Some shooters have had\u00a0better results than mine. Others report far worse.<\/p> Either way, for the price, many feel the uncertainty of quality makes them an unnecessary risk.<\/p> <\/p> This questionable quality is largely driven by the wide variety of manufacturers and the wide range of quality control and cost-cutting measures. Even well-known and reputable companies have taken short-cuts that have resulted in problematic guns and damaged reputations.<\/p> Most gun manufacturers these days will stand behind their products enough to guarantee a working product, eventually. Some shooters wonder if it\u2019s worth the time and effort.<\/p> <\/a><\/p> Weight<\/strong><\/h3>
Too Much Of A Good Thing<\/strong><\/h3>
The Ugly<\/strong><\/h2>
Reputation of the 1911<\/strong><\/h3>
<\/a><\/p> Home Gunsmithing and the\u00a0Used Market<\/strong><\/h3>