I never quite understood the mystique of the 1911 until I shot one, then I immediately got it. I think that the most impressive aspect of the 1911's history is: when John Moses Browning began work on the design that would be adopted in 1911, Wilbur and Orville sold bicycles. Before it left service with the US Army, mankind had walked on the Moon and the Space Shuttle was in service.
There's more to it. You'll have to keep them lubricated, give them the right ammo, clean them regularly, replace the recoil springs proactively, periodically check the extractor and plunger tube to make sure they're on tight.
They make wadcutter specific mags?? Interesting! I’ve shot a ton of competition and I would say probably 80% of the jams I’ve seen in 1911s was them choking on semi-wadcutter bullets.
You forgot Number 4&5; buy a 1911 from a reputable manufacturer that actually cares about consistent QC if you want it to work right out of the box, and check to make sure the feed ramp on the barrel and frame is smooth/polished if you want it to feed JHP ammunition reliably. Last one is literally the most common corner cut by most budget 1911 manufacturers that tell me their target market is casual shooters buying a range gun instead of folks looking for a reliable self-defense pistol.
As silly as "pride of ownership" is, I really wish all modern technology manufacturers, from guns to cars to cell phones, understood this and took it more seriously. If I'm going to give a company a grip of my cash, I want the product to be excellent in every way. I understand with planned obsolescence being the rule of the market these days it's not "realistic", but it still matters to me.
In the firearms world unless you're buying something custom or building yourself mass makers don't care. Look at the crap Sig puts out for example. They use the consumer as a beta tester.
@@bmstylee Ian McCollum over has a video discussing this topic in detail, Sig Sauer isn't "letting consumers do the beta testing", that's just part of bringing a new mass manufacture product to the market, a firearm or otherwise. ua-cam.com/video/iE6Jk1r7aUI/v-deo.html
@@Tuton25 I will respectfully disagree with him. The 320, 365, Cross all say otherwise. All of those had design issues Sig didn't find. Once I can give a pass on. But 3 is just negligence and shotty engineering.
@@-V-_-V- I hear you on the efficiency. The problem today isn't that most guns are beautiful and ineffective. It's the opposite. Gun shop counters go for miles with extremely efficient, boring, polymer pistols that all do about the same thing very effectively and look similar. We have no shortage of that. If you want a new, handsome gun you pretty much just have the 1911.
A 1911, a mechanical watch, a zippo lighter..there’s something about the solidity and feel of metal in your hands. There’s also something to be said about proven durable time-tested designs. They generally require a bit more upkeep, but they get the job done and become well known trusted companions. I have a Glock and a 1911. I like the way polymer guns slide in and out of Kydex. I like the dependability and magazine capacity of my Glock. But I prefer the weight and feel of the 1911. There’s just something about the presence of a government model 1911. It feels like an extension of your hand and has the smoothest of actions. Aside from that, it’s an American design that served our country faithfully in far off places, and by extension is a symbol of Americas own durability and greatness.
I think the ergonomics of the 1911 deserve a bit more recognition. The thin profile and "1911 grip angle" make for a comfortable gun to handle. I have brought a lot of first time shooters to the range with my collection of different handguns and I've repeatedly seen these new shooters perform well with the 1911 over all of the other modern handguns they try. Of course this is all anecdotal and ergonomics are a very subjective thing, so it is naturally a topic that others may disagree with. I am not afraid to admit that the 1911 is large, heavy, and has poor ammo capacity compared to more modern designs. It is definitely a gun that has limited practical application nowadays, but I can't help but want a really nice one at some point in the future. It's one of my favorites.
Depends on the person. A 1911 is one of the most UN-ergonomic pistols I’ve shot (as far as main stream guns), they are just all kinds of wrong for my mitts. Were as a Glock is much more comfortable for me, not withstanding their short comings.
When I started shooting the first pistol I was able to accurately hit with was a budget Auto Ordnance 1911A1 Repro. The other pistols I had fired previously were the Glock 19 and the S&W SD9. This was about 10 years ago.
Both CZ-75s and M&Ps copied 1911's grip angle (18 degrees). Since I consider CZ-75s even more ergonomic than 1911s, the fact that it copied 1911's grip angle means that 1911 got it right!
I carried a 1911 while in the Military Police in the 70's. In that time I probably put over 7,500 round through it (thank you tax payers) and never had a misfire shooting govt ball ammo. I loved the comfort of it and purchased a Colt Govt 1911 when I became a civilian. I now own a couple of others, 9mm but always rely on my 1911 for that safety feeling. I can also say that nothing matches the accuracy of a well maintained and handled 1911. Great video Chris.
The military went to the 9mm because women and limp wristed males couldn't handle the 1911. They should have been an early indicator as to where we where headed militarily speaking.
Yes, you can't reliably shoot an M1911 without a strong grip on it or the slide will not cycle properly. It is also fairly heavy, but so is the Beretta that replaced it. The USMC trains men and woman separately, and not sure who get's pistol training. The Army ends up with anyone who enlists.
Slow Turtle they went to 9mm bc it’s essentially just as effective but for the same weight you can have more ammo. My CZ weighs less than a GI 1911 and has 21 rounds in the magazine. 21+1 of 124gr 9mm +p (how I carry it) will outdo 7+1 of .45 ball ammo (since 1911s don’t usually run well with JHPs)
I was Air Force Security Police in the 70s and our sidearm at the time was a 38. Hated it. We were jealous of the other services that had the 1911. I have a Springfield 1911 now , not very reliable as a go to self defense gun but love shooting it. Very accurate.
For me, the biggest reason for owning one, without a doubt, was the history. I couldn't care less about how it stacks up to a modern handgun. I wanted to own what is arguably the most American pistol ever made. It served in two world wars and was designed by the man responsible for laying the framework for the modern firearms market. When you said "pride of ownership" this is what I thought you were going to touch on. For me, the pride in owning a 1911 comes from my respect and reverence for its history.
@@timc46440 Historical items can be important. I am pretty confident that if my 1911 needs a part, I can pretty much find a replacement at just about any gun shop. Extractors, barrels, bits and pieces. I was at a range in Illinois, my extractor broke, not the guns problem it was my reloads. I went to the counter and told the owner what my problem was and he pulled out a box of parts and rooted around for a minute and pulled out a milsurp extractor and $3 later I was back on the firing line. I have built several 1911s from parts picked up at my local gun shop. So many forearms today just aren't built to replace components like the 1911. There is a trigger assembly, not a trigger, sear, springs and the rest of the bits like a 1911. The 1911 can be completely disassembled and maintained with no special tools, you don't have to have a toolbox to polish a trigger. I have a Glock and other polymer firearms. They are great for what they are for but they aren't the answer for everyone.
Sure I would own one for the history, and to shoot for fun from time to time. But would I prefer it over modern models? No. And I'm sure Mr. Browning would think the same.
They are just as good or better modern guns like glocks are overpriced/hyped plastic garbage many police stations have and or in the process of getting rid of glocks. Even places like the LAPD replaced them.
I bought a Remington 1911 for $500. I installed the beaver tail grip, Wilson combat sear, extended slide release, etc. all on my own. I've never worked on a gun prior to this. It's my favorite gun I own, not only is there the history, but also I put my own work into it and the trigger pull, accuracy. It feels amazing to shoot. It's the last gun I'll ever give up
Good for you Bud! Kindred spirits. I spent 3 hours on a mainspring house upgrade on my Kimber Custom II, 5 inch. Pride? I can not agree more with what you said, no eloquence needed my friend.
My first time qualifying in the ARMY was with a 1911. Never seen one before then. It was SN 00549. Had no rifling left and the stipling on the grips was gone. Rattled like it was going to blow up, but i qualed expert with it.
I remember trying to qualify on a gun just like that. Some of the rifling was gone and it had a slight bulge in the barrel. I was shooting curve balls with it
Gary: I bought an RIA/Armscor rack grade 11A1. First thing I actually did before plunking down the $ was to pick it up and shake it. It didn't rattle and after serving in the military ('64-68) I thought there was something wrong with it.
I thought that the 1911 was an old man's gun, featured in gangster movies. Then I won one in a raffle, and I loved it! Much easier to shoot accurately than my fighting Tupperware.
A second, heartfelt AMEN! I grew up - and have long been shooting (for 60+ years) - with Smith K and N Frame revolvers and top quality, five inch barrel, .45 ACP 1011A1’s. I still own, love and shoot many of these superb sidearms. And like many experienced marksmen, I find them to be highly accurate, very durable, with enduring quality. Yes, a Glock or an M&P works, and in some individuals’ hands they are as accurate as a top-tier S&W or Ruger service-size revolver or a non-striker fired full-sized autoloader. However, the large capacity of contemporary, double stack, striker fired semiautomatics brings essentially nothing to the lawful concealed carry arena that isn’t also conveyed in older - highly accurate and durable - reduced capacity designs. Please tell me how often an armed, non-LEO, confrontation requires more than five proficiently aimed and fired rounds to be successfully concluded? In fact, the answer is it’s exceedingly rare. Moreover, with handguns only CNS and center mass hits count in rapidly terminating a firefight (other than the frequent “psychological stops”) , and many civilian shooters simply are more accurate with a 1911A1, a buttery smooth DA revolver, or a traditional SA/DA autoloader (Beretta, Sig, CZ, H&K, etc.), than with a striker fired “polymer wonder.” This is truly a “golden age” for firearms - so many excellent, fine quality, accurate, reliable and durable designs are now marketed - so exercise your freedom, purchase and use whatever you prefer. BUT understand that new is not axiomatically synonymous with better.
@@roykiefer7713 Agreed. I want to hit what I'm aiming at, and a good 1911 does the job. I disagree with Chris, Kimbers can be had for 7 or 8 hundred, and mine work perfectly.
A 1911 is like a mechanical watch. It's outdated, expensive, and impractical for modern life. But what a wonderful machine it is. Edit: Outdated doesn't mean bad, it's just old tech. And impractical doesn't mean useless, it just means you have to love it enough to put up with its shortcomings. Which I do. Now go to bed, Grandpa. The scary words can't hurt you.
If we want to be brutally honest Browning made it obsolete when he started the development of the High Power. Saive finished making it obsolete when he finished Browning's idea.
@@bmstylee I mean, the only thing the Hi-Power added significantly was a double stack magazine, which can be backported to the 1911. Really, most modern handguns still use a tilting barrel, short recoil system and even the controls are very similar. The 1911 persists solely because technology hasn’t evolved all that much in the last century and the only advancements are features. Many of which can be backported, as I said.
I've been shooting 1911's since I got my first one 50 years ago. I think based on that, you've done a pretty decent analysis of why people love them or hate them. As a 1911 lover, it's mostly in my head. Back in the day when I first started with the defense handgun, as you've noted, the "rank and file" pistol was the K-frame revolver with the cops I grew up around. It was pretty much what you were going to be issued if your job came with a gun, and your only way to make it "yours" was going to be fancy grips, or a Magnum chambering like the Model 19 or a Python. Those were great guns, but if you wanted to really stand apart from the crowd you would carry an automatic. For us, that meant a 1911 marked "Colt" and not some Nancy-Boy 9mm. At least that was how we felt about it at the time. To us, anyone could drive a wheelgun. If you studied the 1911, you soon saw its advantages and what you needed to do to one to make it work as a fine combat or target sidearm. We laughed at guys who couldn't make their pistols work, or keep their 1911's lubed, or make their loads function properly. As soon as we got off duty and put away our issued six shooters, we couldn't wait to show our 1911's off. This all started to get silly in the 80's as we could choose to tote a Browning, a Beretta. a SIG, an S&W auto, and the most mysterious of all, a squeze cocking HK. Then came the Glock, the combat handgun designed to float in the bathtub. This was all pretty silly, but there was no doubt that the 1911 in .45 just threw off more attitude. Those who also competed with them still had reasons to cling to them, mostly the trigger, and we smugly told ourselves that 8 rounds was enough. To ne honest, for my life as it is now, 9 shots are probably enough, with a spare mag on my other side. Today I have fewer 1911's than I used to, and mine are made looking prettier than they used to as well. They are what used to be called Barbecue Guns. I love to brag about the groups mine would hold, as if I could still do that now at my age. Most days I'm carrying smallish Tactical Tupperware, and it is usually a 9mm. But when I put on a good 1911 in .45 of course, I can remember when it was the only game in town and I was hot shit with mine. I don't carry a 1911 that much any more but when I do it is a pleasant trip down memory lane. And I figured how to make one work 100% a long time ago, so why not enjoy it? I'll probably be buried with my two-tone Colt. Maybe in a photographer's vest and a bush hat to complete the look. Oops, pants. I'll definitely need pants.
Soon as I saw the vid had to watch! I currently carry a 2011 professionally on duty and a 1911 (TRP) off duty. I get the arguments against it, but a well tuned and reliable 1911 isn’t hard to find, just stay with the well known brands and a few good range sessions will show you if the hun needs any work. The reward is worth it in my opinion. As far as cost, that’s relative. I have coworkers balk at the price of a 1911 while driving around in a new F250 or Tesla. We prioritize our money how we want, and if you really want a top shelf 1911 you’ll make the necessary means to get one. I hope to see more 1911 videos soon!
Massad Ayoob and Bill Wilson have a great vid on the benefits of carrying a 1911 if you haven't seen it. Granted Wilson's endorsement might be a tad self serving, but Massads points are fantastic.
Best carry for me is Staccato C2. Compact 9mm 2011 (1911 Double Stack) perfection. Small enough to conceal and deadly accurate, of course the trigger is phenomenal.
I bought a used Colt 1911 back in the early 80's. It has worked well all of this time. I've had to do a few repairs. I also put 700 to a 1000 rounds a year through it. It's my normal carry gun, with a 10 round extended mag. Where I live we can open carry almost everywhere. I love it.
Wonderful. I've owned everytbing from POS AMT Hardballer to Colt to Springfield to Sig to 2 Les Baers and an Ed Brown SF. My usual carry gun is a Les Baer Commander size 1911. I live in a constitutional carry state but I have a CCW as it covers me in so e 37 states. Thr irony is that the place with gun friendly laws has much less crime, and the most anti gun places have thr most crime. Not a coincidence.
@@Samsquad7 what's it to you what I carry when? Depending on where and why is why sometimes it's a 357, sometimes a 44, or a 380, or 9mm or the 45. Why do you wear briefs instead of boxers, personal choice that's why.
@@Samsquad7 Wait, what? Glocks are lighter but larger and have crap triggers. As well, I can't think of the last time I heard of a 'kaboom' happening with a 1911. The Block? More than once, which is too often. The great thing about a 1911 is, you have a far better chance if hitting what you aim at. And since you're using 45 instead of 9, you can shoot HARDBALL and you're more effective with less rounds downrange. Refer to the Florida FBI shootout for how useless high cap 9mm can sometimes be...then refer to Sgt York for the efficient effectiveness of 7 rounds of 45.
As a motorcyclist, the 1911 reminds me of the Harley-Davidson. On paper, it's got nothing on a Honda. It's for people who enjoy the aesthetic and experience of an American classic.
Yes kind of like classic muscle cars or vinyl records. There is better technology available but they just scratch an itch that digital tech and plastic firearms can’t.
@@WALTERBROADDUS I have a Honda, Triumph and a Harley. The Harley is by far the least capable machine, but it's the one I use the most, because it's just the most enjoyable.
What always impressed me about the 1911 is the fact its a design that is well over 100 years old but it's still used and works well enough to see competition pretty widely. For what it is that is actually rather impressive.
@@TigerDude333 That's not true. In slow fire marksmanship shooting, like Bullseye, the trigger pull is everything. That's why when you want maximum pistol accuracy, you use a 1911. Everyone uses them because of the trigger, but the rules just specify using a 45.
In my experience another thing the 1911 has going for it is its grip index - unlike a lot of modern polymer "wonder 9s", which are each trying to lower the bore axis as much as possible, the 1911 puts your trigger finger and the webbing of your hand in line with the barrel. This means you can hold a 1911 and point your index finger forward, and it will be pointing directly at your target (rather than downwards at a slight angle). This seems to lead to easier instinctual pointing. I say this as someone that isn't much of a 1911 fan, but I appreciate grip index and bore axis as much as the next guy. This is also why stuff like the old Walther P99 / PPQ point so naturally for so many people - they have grip indexes very similar to that of a 1911.
Did my first "gun smith class" on the 1911A1 using a GI parts kit from Auto Ordinance. It took a whole lot more custom fiitting than I expected to make it work, but after a Black Badge day and nearly 600 rounds without a malfunction I figure I passed that gun smith course. Pride of ownership - you bet!
“Pride of Ownership…” I always wanted a 1911 in 45acp, but found myself getting other guns and letting the 1911 slide down on my list. I thought I wanted to find a certified combat-used (WWII/Korea/VN) model, and I still do, but then, five months ago, I saw a used Ed Brown Executive Elite in my LGS case. The price was high, but still $800-1000 less than several Colts, Wilsons, and Nighthawks available in the nearby ‘new’ gun case. Running the slide on the Ed Brown was the finest I’ve ever felt. Run side by side with a Colt Gold Cup and a Nighthawk (both costing north of a grand more), the Ed Brown was far and away tighter and smoother (zero ‘maracas’ shake)…and the trigger on THAT gun helped me to finally, fully understand what having a “good trigger” actually means. So, I dumped a few thou I hadn’t planned to, and took it home. On its first range trip, it kept blowing out the bullseyes so easily, that I kept pushing back the targets until at 20yds, in a shadow of lighting on my lane, I began to lay hits just outside the bullseye, not because of the gun, but because of MY EYES! Going all the way back to 25, the light was better, but not my vision. I believe that, somehow, by sheer chance, I got a a really good one…from a maker who only builds VERY good ones. I was in the right place at the right time…one of the very few times I’ve been that lucky with a gun purchase. After about 300 rds of FMJs, still no problems, at all. There are three holster-wear “dots” of lost bluing, but otherwise it’s perfect. Is the 1911 better than newer designs, no. But it’s AT LEAST as cool as ANY other gun you can name, and it is incredibly accurate for an average shooter (me). I can only imagine what my gun would do in the hands of a skilled shooter! So the Ed Brown sits in my safe as my most favorite gun, the one I have to pick up and run the slide, nearly every time I open the safe, and the first one I take out to show friends. @LuckyGunnerAmmo, please do a few more videos on the 1911. The haters just don’t appreciate quality, history, or reverence for their elders. Thanks!!
@Handyman1911 . . . Thank you for the awesome story. If it were any shorter (ya know, so it'll fit on a cell phone display better), it wouldn't have been the same story. I personally have not had the pleasure of owning a 1911, yet. I'm glad you got a good one. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Cheers from Alaska. 🎄🎅🍺
"I kept pushing back the targets until at 20yds. . ." Wow, that far? Your expectations were too low based on other firearms. The usual testing distances for 1911s and their ammo are 25 and 50 yards. Then ring the gongs at 100 yards.
Chris' point about how pride of ownership motivates practice deserves more attention. The best, safest, and most effective gun your arsenal is the one you train with the most. For those of us (read: most of us) who don't tailor our entire life around the defensive use of firearms, a 1911 we dig so much that we shoot it twice a month IS a superior tool to an M&P we feel "meh" about and shoot once a year.
This is a good point. My Canik TP9sf is the first pistol I ever enjoyed shooting enough to get even half decent with it. Prior to that I only ever really practiced with Shotguns and Rifles. You have to like the gun enough to practice so you are not a danger to yourself and others.
I feel attacked by this OP. 😂 Really though, your point is one that is glossed over by many. I hate training with my Glock. But it works and I’m not more accurate than it, so I stay with it. I’m saving for a double stack 1911, until then I get to hate training.
If you want to develop that emotional attachment to an M&P, put an Apex flat/forward trigger kit in it. My M&P 2.0 was just a tool... an appliance... until the Apex went in it. Now I have pride of ownership and an emotional attachment to it. Everyone who picks it up shoots it better than any pistol on the table. ua-cam.com/video/ZiSrQtTJD0w/v-deo.html
Funny you say that. The M&P is my personal carry and I train with it often. If you need aesthetics to motivate your training then there are some major issues you need to contend with
Great discussion. One of the most well-rounded discussions of the 1911 I have seen. I have used a number of different firearms for concealed carry. I have returned to using a full size 1911 for concealed carry. The heavy weight of the large all steel pistol, and the recoil of the .45 ACP that could be described as energetic but slow rather than snappy, and the trigger that is easy on the arthritis in my trigger finger, as well as being easy to shoot accurately, make for a gun that is a pleasure in my weekly range practice. The weight is a factor for concealed carry, but I have found concealed carry solutions that work for me. So the design that I carried on duty 50 years ago is now my every day concealed carry tool. It is like coming home.
Began 1911 association/use when age 15, am 74 now. A 1911 is an old and trusted friend, one that can be relied upon to lend a helping hand if needed to be called upon. I have a couple of poly-frame pistols and enjoy them. Lighter in weight and smaller in size, they also have their place. A few revolvers are also used n' enjoyed. But ya know, there's just 'something' that can only be felt when picking up a 1911...
You talked into getting a 1911, then you talked me out of it, then you made me rethink that hold darn thing, but it was certainly entertaining! Always love the content.
I disagree with the cheaper 1911's being less quality. I have owned a RIA for about three years now with several thousand rounds through it and it is still going strong. Read the reviews they are very dependable guns. Technically the 1911 is a simple design, there isn't much to go wrong with them.
@@muznick same here. Had some feeding issues at first then after 700 rounds, when I loaded the factory ACT mag into the pistol, it shot all 8 rounds and the magazine spring through the open ejection port. I then swapped the ACT mag for Wilson combat, Kimber, and even surplus Colt GI mags and never had problems after. I can run my RIA 1911A1 dry, dripping wet with oil, or dirty after sitting uncleaned for a few weeks after my last range day and it still works flawlessly, and it eats any type of ammo I feed it, hollow points and all.
2nd that. The Rock series is the sweet spot I think. Great value, good shooters and a joy to shoot. (And was fun to see the reactions of my Filipino friends who shot 'em, loved 'em and learned they were made in the Philippines.)
Agree with this. I've had one in 9mm and it ran flawlessly. Sure, they aren't as pretty as some of my other 1911's, but probably the best value out there.
I agree. I own a $400 High Standard GI made by Armscor, a Canadian made Para Ordnance SSP that was $850 and a $1,800 Dan Wesson Specialist. ALL three have been reliable and accurate pistols.
I love my polymer wonder 9's, but I have a very special place for my 1911's. My Dan Wesson Valor evokes a certain emotion that none of my other guns do, and it also shoots lights out!
Our local PD went from revolvers to 1911’s in the 70’s. They used them to great effect until the Glock came along. They switched to those in the late 80’s. I still own one of those trade-ins. The officers had the option of still using their 1911’s and you saw quite a few for many years. Now, it’s all plastic. They’re still very, very effective. My favorite.
Just turned 40 this year. Been carrying the 1911 for almost twenty years. My V-Bob just recently was milled for a Red dot using the trijicon sight plate. For me, that helped bring my carry gun into the twenty first century. I have tried carrying other guns, carried a Glock 19 and a Sig 228 for a while. Always end up with that “heavy, limited capacity, unreliable” dinosaur in 45 acp on my hip. I have been to combat and was in the Infantry, things I have learned are that shot placement is important but physics is also. Guys didn’t get back up that often being hit with a large heavier caliber like 7.62 from a CS hit, despite what she might tell you, bigger is better. It’s why I like the 45 Acp, yeah modern ammo & HP make the 9mm similar to 45acp. At the end of the day, if I only had FMJ, I am taking the 45acp. I also am a big believer of carrying what you can comfortably get first shot hits with, regardless off gun. For me it’s a 1911. What about capacity? Well, shot placement, and reload drills. Not facing 100 pissed off jihadist in Sadar City, so I am good with 8+1. Even then, I would carry a 1911 into combat over a Glock in 9mm. Reliability, I have been to number of pistol courses, a 1911 needs to be maintained, it needs to have recoil springs and firing pin springs changed often. It’s like that 68 “ your dream muscle car.” If you don’t find pleasure in maintaining a car you won’t find pleasure in maintaining your 1911. That being said, I haven’t had a 1911 fail me yet due to the gun. Not trying to sell anyone on the 1911, it’s not for everyone. I also won’t knock you for what you choose to carry. Software is more important than hardware.
I love my 1911 CMD, but try shooting several thousands through it without cleaning it and then report back on if it's still never failed. My Glocks and Sigs can do that, but not my 1911. After 500-800 rds it starts having reliability issues.
I don't shoot more than 1 or 2 hundred rounds in a day and I always clean my weapons after shooting them. Kids these days are too busy tick tocking to clean their dang weapons smh. You're all dabbing and flossing, why don't you dab your dang gun with some hoppes number nine and then floss it clean you whippersnappers.
Either way, I agree. However a 1911 is more like a 69 charger, or a Shelby Cobra. Yes they are more work, but are so fun to drive. Personally, if it puts a smile on your face then it's worthwhile. 🍻
What a superb job on this one. To hear a well-spoken, intelligent person on subjects like this is refreshing. (Yea, I subscribed…) I’m an old (71-year-old) Vietnam-era retired Army E8, Airborne Infantryman. After the Army’s training on handguns, an Army SFC National Match Pistol Champion trained me all over again with the 1911 of course. Thereafter, I always fired Expert with any handgun I qualified with. Now, I EDC a .45 ACP, not always the 1911 model. The never-ending quest for which caliber, which handgun will, and can never be answered. I don’t think the author thinks so, either. But he made some great observations about the history of the 1911 pistol and Jeff Cooper, too. I’ve owned many 1911s - but never paid over $650 for one. After a lifetime of training with it, I can replace barrels & bushings and machine trigger tolerances, if necessary. Most folks have two big dilemmas to overcome; Training to quickly & effectively engage a target - and Mindset about using deadly force. Also, what justifies drawing your handgun and engaging a foe…
I inherited my great grandfathers colt government model 1911 A1. It was the first handgun I EVER pulled the trigger on…so obviously I was spoiled with a WW2 relic as my first gun ever and I could not ask for anything else. Because I started with this, got used to shooting it, and fell in love with it, I am a 1911 man. It’s in pristine condition. My favorite part is definitely the trigger.
I think it's a real testament to the popularity of the 1911 design that you had an entire handgun industry spring up out of the desire to customize the standard grade Colt pistol. It is the '57 Chevy of the handgun world.
The history behind the 1911 alone makes me love it. Also as he said, having a gun made entirely out of steel and wood is just really nice. I really don’t like polymer guns but that’s all there is in this day. I won’t deny modern firearms are just better but the style and build of a 1911 is just an art and engineering marvel.
Another excellent video! I carried a 1911 (Rem-Rand) for a few years as a detective and loved it. Taught quite a few new shooters how to shoot with it (they all wanted to shoot "THAT gun"). It fits more hands than most other designs. Even a very petite (well under 5' and couldn't make 100 pounds with lead boots) lady had no trouble with recoil, just the weight. When we went to issue only guns I had to only tote it off duty and sadly had to hand it in when I retired (it was the department's gun through the Army DRMO program). Soon as I retired, I bought me a commander sized RIA .45 1911 and have been slowly customizing it ever since. Heavy as a boat anchor but feels so good in the hand. FWIW, my first duty pistol was a Browning Hi-Power and my agency was one of the few here that allowed single action semi-autos (most still toted wheel-guns when I started). So single action pistols for police duty was not that remarkable. But there are some very good points. Merry Christmas to y'all and all my fellow fans.
The 1911 is a "right" design. Imagine a world where everyone had living relatives from the Civil War, 99% of rifles were bolt action, and the revolver had just "won the west." Enter a semi-auto handgun with clean angular styling that looks modern in 2021. Any honest person alive today will admit to being shocked when they learned WHY it is called the 1911. It was a masterpiece of industrial design with few peers outside of firearms, and none within. This is true and your or my opinion of it matters zero. It has affected every handgun since. It was a triumph of design, when new, in a way that takes it out of the hands of gun enthusiasts and passes it into the gallery of great designs made real by the human hand and mind. Only the 1911 is the 1911. That opportunity came once and won't come again. Respect for the 1911 isn't really optional unless one knows nothing.
1911 is already a hybrid of design calibration between browning and the us army, with 10 years of development in to what we have today, and when others could not compete they made useless safety laws to sell there products. But still in compatition the 1911 is the winner 🏆.
Firearms of all types have always been owned by civilians and the military alike until unconstitutional infringements were passed within the last 100 years in the USA. Bolt actions have been used since their inception, you obviously need to get your facts straight before making claims for all US Civilians without making sure your assumptions don’t make an ass outta yourself
Before covid I purchased my first and inexpensive 1911 (Tisas) for around $300 after seeing very positive reviews. First shot was dead center of the bullseye at 7 yards with zero malfunctions using 200 rounds of Winchester ball, something I never experienced with other pistols I own except a revolver. It is heavy but it's well balanced weight. It does require a little more cleaning and lubrication than modern pistols. For.45acp it's surprisingly thinner than most other pistols on the market, even those in .380. Ammo capacity is not a big deal to me because reloading is fast. The magazines are thinner than Glock magazines, even the small .380 Glock 42 model.
Ive had my Tisas for almost 9 years now it has been great ,first couple years of it i sadly didnt maintain it well and had a corrosion spot inside the barrel but a 80 dollar barrel and 30 dollar spring and trigger upgrade i ordered online have made it a amazing budget pistol
I'm 37 and LOVE the 1911 and 2011 platform. It shoots great and looks great. Range toy yes, carry gun, no. There are better options for capacity and weight out there now. I have over 10 1911/2011's ranging from Springfield Armory to Cabot Guns. I love them all and will never stop buying them. I remember reading Guns & Ammo as a kid and falling in love with the looks, mechanics and overall nostalgia of the 1911 platform. I was hooked then and I'm hooked now!
Like a GTO or an old Vette - yes, there are cars with cameras and video screens, that can park themselves and run on electricity, but not one of them is as cool as the Goat or the Vette.
You can find capacity if you are willing to pay for it. Wilson Combat makes some that carry double stacks with 15+ in 9mm. The EDCx9 or the SFX9 both are 1911 platforms with 15-18 round capacity. But they are out there. I just got used to not having a manual safety in my daily carry or I’d carry one. Since I train with the idea of muscle memory that extra step of snapping of the safety was hard to get used when my other guns were striker fire. Still won’t trade my 1911 though cause it’s proven and reliable default if all hell breaks loose.
The first pistol I bought was a 1911, a Double Star match grade. I currently have three 1911's, two government and a commander. They are all more accurate than the striker fired pistols that I have.
Same here. But it's probably not that it's more accurate, it's that you are more accurate using it. The lighter single action trigger makes a difference
I was first exposed to the 1911 back in the 1970’s early in my Naval career. The in again in the latter part of my career in the late 80’s early 90’s as a MP. That’s when I mastered it and got a real good understanding of it. In so much I bought two Blue combat commanders, one in 45 ACP the other in Colt Super 38 Auto . The love affair continues to this very day
Part of the mystique for me was the time (and trips to the range) it took for me to learn to shoot it. After four years enlisted in the Coast Guard In was still hopeless. Then, in OCS, we had a Warrant Gunner who was actually an excellent instructor and I went straight to “expert”. The quotes are because “expert” on the Navy standard course was nothing like, say, an NRA expert. Get almost all the rounds somewhere on the target. . .
The first center fire pistol that I ever fired was a 1911. When I was a boy, my dad brought me to a range with a work friend and he let me fire his Colt Gold cup 1911. Holding that 1911 felt like holding a bar of gold and I made a respectable group and had that target on my wall for years. When I was a young man, I bought one the first Kimber 1911's and to this day, my adult son refers to it as "his" Kimber. Please do more videos on the 1911. They remind me of the day when a boy got to hold gold in his hands.
The first pistol i purchased was a 1911 5”. Still have it and it’s still my favorite handgun I own. I finally decided to give the polymer guns a try and bought a G19 MOS. I’ve put quite a bit of money into that pistol to get it somewhat close to shooting like my 1911s. It’s still not there but it’s OK. I think the draw to the 1911 was handled pretty well in the vid and with other’s comments. For me, it fits my hand better than any other pistol or revolver. There is no comparison…that I’ve found anyway. After 1000’s of rounds through the pipe, it’s what I know and trust. Yes, the 1911 is what I carry. I look at polymer pistols like an economy car. They’re efficient and will get you there…reliably. The 1911 is like a classic muscle car. Fun to drive, sucks gas, and is a maintenance pig. But, it’s still worth owning and driving with a smile.
I love that comparison you made... Just like the cheapo economy cars the polymers get run until they wear out or something else newer and better comes along, then it gets tossed aside for the next generic piece of plastic to take it's place. The 1911 might not be a "daily driver", but it gets cleaned and taken care of, you bring it out to show it off, and when your time on earth has passed and the polymers are all long gone the 1911 goes home in the hands of a son or grandson who'll cherish it.
I'm no 1911 fan boi but I will say I have never had a problem with any of my or my dad's rock island 1911s. We've got 3 between us I have never once had a failure. I dont have a round count but at least 1k through mine. My dad also bought a kimber a few years back and I can't go through a box of ammo without it malfunctioning. Rock Island is a great out of the box 1911 imo. You can probably find em for around 500 nowadays.
I'm north of 4k rounds through my RIA I've had for...IDK, before my oldest was born. Doesn't like steel cased but runs very solidly with 230 grain JHPs from Federal. If I'd planned on it becoming my go to for the house I'd probably have gone for a 9mm just for the capacity and easier shooting.
Got my first Army surplus 1911 at age 15 at a local hardware store in 1962 in Chicago. Carried one for 25 months in Vietnam and for twelve years thereafter working as a contractor… among other firearms. Carried one exclusively and illegally as a civilian till the early 1980’s when I went to a Sig 220. Can’t count the number of times I fought with a 1911 without a note pad. Also carried a Browning HP as back up during those days. The trick to the 1911 is to clean it about every two hundred rounds. I’ve owned as many as eleven 1911’s at a time… down to three. When your first manual of arms includes placing your thumb atop the the thumb safety as you draw then a 1911 is no problem. Haven’t regularly carried a 1911 for years. My current carry faves are Sig 226 in .357 Sig and H-K in 45 ACP. I’ll be 75 in February. My last gun fight was in a foreign country at age 60… beat a couple of guys with Berettas with a five shot S&W snubbie. It’s not the gun!
I carried on a near 20 year correspondence with Col Cooper, but my love of the 1911 started long before that. I had my first 1911 at age 12 when I acquired it from a neighbor who'd been a Lt. In WWII and he paid me with it for mowing his lawn and keeping his bird feeders full for a month. It was a Remington Rand. When I was a Special Agent with AFOSI, we were issued a special 1911 that had been modified by Air Force armorers for our organization. They were 1911A1 pistols with slides cut down to commander length, and grip frames cut down to a length that would later be copied by Colt for the Officer's model. I wish I could post a photo on this site as it's a lovely custom pistol. My experience with this gun has suggested that they are more reliable than the average shooter demands. I have a custom Gold Cup that has never jammed or malfunctioned in many 10s of thousands of rounds. I have a little Officer's size RIA that has been perfectly reliable with 230 grain hollow point ammo. The propensity of these little guns to jam has more to do with one's "Shooting Mechanics" than it does with the pistol's mechanics. The platform is proven. The shooter's skill is the unproven. Just like the little Springfield XD-S, they are tough guns to shoot in the hands of shooters who aren't as skilled as they thought they were... But with proper grip and shooting mechanics, the machine platform will perform flawlessly, though they may be somewhat ammo sensitive. I still prefer to carry my tupperware guns, but occasionally I'll get a little nostalgic and slip the 1911 into the holster.
I own a SDS carry 1911(cheap 1911). When i first bought it a few years back, it jammed almost every mag. It wasn't until i got proper magazines where things changed. I can't remember the last time I cleaned it and I've had zero failures since. Most jams in 1911's are from mag issues.
I'm right handed-and left eye-dominant. Drill sergeants in the 80's helped me open up a new world by switching the rifle to my left hand, but I never got there with handguns. The trigger of the 1911 is still the biggest draw for me - providing the only platform that allows me to generally hit the broadside of a barn or two. Great vid on one of my favorite controversies.
I’m 21 years old and my experience with 1911s is pretty sour but turned good. When my dad was 21 he bought two Kimbers, a Custom and a Raptor II back in 1999. Both don’t run to save a life and he has a RIA officer that’s very picky. He immediately said that it was the manufacturers end not his. So I stayed away from 1911s for a while until I got to shooting at matches and such and seen 1911s actually work from the cheap to the high end. Decided to do research and felt that what Ruger offers is damn good and is widely available in my area so I got a full-size SR1911 and I do enjoy it though I still prefer my Gen 3 Glock 19 or Sig P320. Mind you i shoot all my stuff stock with only enhancements to aid me in being a lefty. I feel the 1911 is really frowned upon especially in Gen Y to my generation of Gen Z due to how a lot of inexperienced shooters handled 1911s. I always asked “if it’s such a bad handgun then why did we use it for 75 years in service and why do people still like it now”. I feel a lot of newer shooters are just so use to light weight polymer 9mms that when they handle a much heavier handgun like a 1911 and don’t shoot much 45 ACP they can limp wrist it which is possibly 90% of the reliably issues there. If you ask me the 1911s hate is just shooters who are not use to the handgun
I was a wheel gun fan all my life until I joined the military (USCG) in 1987 and had to qualify with the .45, at which time I fell in love with that weapon. Imminently pointable, much less recoil than the big magnums I was accustomed to shooting, and scary accurate. I bought a Springfield .45 that year, had it Armorycoated and a match trigger installed by SA, and while I loved it it couldn’t fire a 50 rd box of hardball without at least one malfunction, which is one too many. Eventually sold it and in 2004 or so I picked up a bone stock Parkerized Springfield GI model .45 from a buddy for $400. It has seen 5000+ rds thru it with zero problems or malfunctions, and when things go bump in the night I reach past all of my other guns and grab it. I like all guns and calibers, and own many, and I say use whatever your shoot well, whether it’s a .22 pocket pistol or an .88 Magnum- that shoots through schools. 😉
Bought my M1911R1 made by Remington 5 years ago. Always accurate and easy to field strip and clean. First fired one at Ft. Polk Louisiana in 1975, it was an old army M1911a1 made my Springfield.
Mr. Chris, I really appreciate your content & the delivery. The effective transmission of info is admirable; matched only with the method and means. Merry Christmas, Feliz Navidad, Happy Hanukkah to all of the team that makes these videos possible.
People like the 1911 for the same reason everyone wants a sword rather than a spear. Sure the spear is easier to get, more practical and historically did all the killing but the sword has an allure that resonates in the hearts of men. The 1911 gives that same feeling.
I carried one in the Army in my younger days, so I was familiar with the manual of arms. I still carry one now because I've only ever seen one polymer handgun (the P365) that can hold more ammunition with a smaller grip circumference. I have small hands and have a very difficult time getting a good grip on many standard/compact polymer handguns. I've never owned a Glock because their grip circumference added in to the blade safety in the trigger means that I frequently have a difficult time actually getting enough of my index finger onto the trigger to deactivate the blade safety. The 1911 is much more forgiving. Put thin grips and a short shoe'd trigger in it, and it Just Fits.
For those who are new to guns and looking to buy a cheap and reliable 1911, the Rock Island is a good choice. Rock Island is based out of the Philippines, they are known for making guns reliable and cheap. Just don't expect a nice looking finish on their guns. They usually use parkerization, which is a dark green color and made to prevent rust. They are barebones, so they don't come with any features other than a beaver tail. I've seen them retail from $300-$400. I've put about 700 rounds through mine with no failures and with it not disagreeing very much with my ammo choices. Monarch brass ammo seems to be the most accurate for mine so far, and so happens to be one of the cheaper and more available options. Hope this helps.
Love these talks. 1911’s are from a period of time when people took care of their firearms, cleaned them often, and understood them. There are plenty of firearms this day that can out do them, but if you want a full steel well balanced pistol with the best trigger, look no further. Kinda like comparing a 67’ Chevy to a 2019 Z06. Just my two cents. Cheers all.
1911s make fantastic range gun but are terrible choices for carry just due to the size and weight combined with horrible capacity. For less weight and similar size I can carry my p09 with 21 rounds of 9mm, or for less weight & size there’s any number of very compact 9s. Just as effective due to modern ammo, but way better.
Icanhasautomaticcheeseburger those areas also punish defensive use of a firearm, so any argument that isn’t about making holes in paper is moot. But for the free parts of the country, I’ll stick to 21+1.
The size and weight ride fine with a proper holster. I’m terms of capacity, true, 15-21 rounds is better, although I can’t think of a situation where I would need to utilize up to 21 rounds in a CC engagement. Also, carry ammo has come along way and say a 124 grain 9mm XTP will get it done, but also a 200 plus grain .45 XTP will do it even better. At the end of the day, what you choose or prefer is a personal choice, and I carry a G19 due to its reliability and ruggedness, but my house gun is a 1911. Whichever you prefer, know it and train with it often and it will never let you down. Also, the ergonomics of the 1911 are simply fabulous. Cheers y’all.
I own a variety of firearms - rifles and handguns including several 1911's. I enjoy shooting the 1911 and agree ergonomics of firing this weapon is quite comfortable. Knowing the 1911 must be attended to and clean to assure reliability is simple thing. The ones I shoot have proven extremely reliable and do not fail. I keep them always clean and ready and cleaning them, to me, is part of the pleasure of having the firearm. I clean all my firearms and keep them in good condition. The 1911 with its thin profile and with a 4 inch barrel is quite easy to carry concealed. The weight of the gun is not a problem.
I think you nailed it. People complain about 1911s because they *do need* more maintenance than the modern polymer guns like a Glock for example. Personally I don't mind cleaning my guns. I always clean them after I use them anyway so...
Great video--thanks. One factor of the "pride of ownership" is that you will enjoy the routine maintenance a .45 requires. It was designed before engineers learned how to make things cheaply, and all of those sliding, interlocking pieces of steel are a rare feature in an age of throw-away plastic. Glocks are great, but I prefer my Colts. --Old guy
The 1911 has character, which is something that modern polymer pistols are lacking. While advances in technology without question make polymer guns better in so many ways, they are without a soul, and that is important to many of us.
For me, polymer firearms are bullet launchers. Mostly they do a very good job of that, and they're easily replaceable. My steel and alloy guns, on the other hand, are like precision cabinet-making or watchmaking tools that also happen to launch bullets. My heirs will someday appreciate my all-metal guns far more than they'll appreciate my Glocks.
@@DzinkyDzink A Glock is a great tool. However, it will never have the character, or the heirloom quality that a beautiful 1911 has. Great grand pappi Nicks gen 5 Glock is not going to inspire the same feeling of reverence as great grand pappi Caleb's Colt series 80 will.
With all do respect to everyone, I love my 1911's, but I don't see how polymer guns don't have character. 1911's are now viewed as classic cars, with tons of character and charm, and are a joy to shoot. Polymer guns are looked at as serious use, the same way the 1911's used to be. My CZ P10F in 45 acp has a crap load of charm, being chambered in my favorite caliber, but also having all the cool modern innovations. Its like a modern sleek chassis, with a high performance V8. Also it shoots damn good, and I bet all of you would agree.
I have over 45 firearms and not one 1911. It is a pistol that intrigues me greatly. Especially now that you can get them on a soft shooting 9mm. Would love to see you review mid range priced 1911 pistols. I love your reviews because you are very straight forward and honest.
i'd recommend looking at the Springfield 1911's. cheaper, little less frilly, but never had an issue with one and shoots like a dream, only paid 799 for my loaded model. and it bucks a little, but it's the only pistol i've owned that i had no fear of limp wristing and causing a malfunction, and compared to a 45. cal glock, is extremely soft recoiling (prolly weight, it is a little on the heavy side) have nothing against 9mm guns, two of my three handguns are 9mm. personally hate glocks for the ergonomics, liked the caniks, love the H&K's, for reference. still prefer solid metal guns over the polymer ones though.
I love my Colt 1911. It's the pistol that I've got the most experience with and I'm great with it. That being said, I usually carry a 2.0 in 9mm. It points just like my 1911 and has great capacity. I've been known to carry it IWB and my 1911 in a shoulder rig at the same time.
45acp is my favorite handgun round, nothing compares to the solid thump you feel when you pull the trigger and send that big lump of lead downrange. 🙂 I sometimes carry an ex-PD issue S&W 4566. Very similar to a Colt Commander in appearance but it's SA/DA with a de-cocker safety and an 8+1 capacity. Heavier than a poly pistol but considering that it's chambered in 45acp it's a soft shooter and utterly reliable.
Picked up my Taurus 1911 in a pawn store for $150. I cleaned it very well, and a very good gun refinisher refinished the entire weapon in a nice matte black. To date I have around 5500 rounds through it without a failure. The only modification I've ever made was to put a nice set of wood grips on.
Love the well researched presentation of history along with embedded videos and photos. Subscribed. I carried a 1911 .45 in Desert Storm as an Army MP though they had been almost completely phased out at that point. Shook and rattled like it was going to fall apart. No idea how old it was.
I've liked 1911s since the 70's show "The Manhunter", with Ken Howard. The main character carried dual .45s and my 12 year old self thought that was awesome. As an adult I tended to the more practical, but finally got a Sig 1911 when Turner's had them for a sale price I couldn't resist. I liked it until I got it out to the range, then I fell in love with it. Yeah, 1911s are cool. I totally get that you may not want to do more 1911 stuff Chris, but I think Manny would love to. Maybe see if there's something in the old vault?
For me the 1911 was my first gun. In the late fifties I learned gun safety and gun handling form a NRA class held at the local high school, using bolt action .22s. I did not regularly carry a gun until I joined the Navy. When on watch I had a, as we called it a 45, on my hip, a colt 1911. Today this is what I know. I have a nostalgia for this gun, and it is my EDC. It may be heavy, it may be bulky, if I draw it from my holster you had best lay down. At 20 yards I can put my shots inside the 10 ring all day.
As an old boomer, (is that redundant?) I avoided Glocks until last year. I like metal in my gun frames, but eventually I came to the conclusion that for my end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it pistol, I wanted something with the best reputation possible for simplicity, parts availability, reliability (etc) and so now I have a G41. I have grown to like it and shoot it pretty well but it doesn't appeal to the industrial-design nerd in me like a stainless 1911.....I am haunted by John Browning. And that's ok with me.
The reason I love my 1911 so much is because of its unmatched ergonomics. To be fair, I do have smaller hands, but it just fits my hands like a glove and that trigger pull is unlike any other gun I've shot. They're really works of art and I have yet to be let down by a 1911.
It really depends on the 1911 from my experience, some od them you have to really deathgrip the grip safety to just shoot it. Some of them are great, some are just duds, but I think that could be said about any platform.
I love that "pride of ownership" is an argument that made it into the same video as the logical analysis of opportunity costs. I do view my CCWs as tools primarily. Whatever pride I have invested in them is directly tethered to the level of competence I've gained with them. My 1911, however, remains in the collection primarily for the sake of pride of ownership. What feeling of pride I have invested in my Government 1911 is imbued by its symbolic and cultural gravitas.
The reviewer completely overlooked several important reasons why people love the 1911 besides the trigger. The grip size and angle are unique due to the single stack magazine. Everyone's hands are different size and shape, so for many people the 1911 offers a grip that no other gun can match. The other is the external safeties. Some people don't want an external safety at all. But many people do want a gun that will not easily go off in their pants. The 1911 is nearly perfect in both making a very safe gun and being ergonomic to activate.
Although I like modern style pistols, I still find the 1911 to be extremely "pointable." I feel like I acquire targets quickly with one and the grip angle is basically perfect for me. If the SHTF, I would take a Glock 17 any day, but I have always shot 1911 pistols with good accuracy even on the first magazine.
Curious about the intimated failure rate of the 1911. My SA 1911 (mil spec) has digested everything I've put in it. Shoots smooth, and is very accurate. Never had a hiccup. Is my experience unusual? Sincere question.
It has a higher failure rate than pistols designed in this century… but when that number is 300-600 rounds between failures, it doesn’t necessarily mean all that much. Clean and lube after shooting and it will be fine for quite a while. Depending on lubricant choice and environment, you might want to lube it once a month regardless.
A lot of it comes from poor or inconsistent QC from manufacturers. Most common issue I’ve seen is many budget priced 1911’s fail to reliably feed hollow points due to an unpolished/rough feed ramp on the barrel or frame. That doesn’t matter much for a range gun but if intended to be used as a self defense tool with hollow points, that doesn’t inspire much confidence right out of the box when you get failures to feed/double feeds the minute you swap from FMJ to JHP.
Love the 1911. It's the only handgun I practice and train with that has a manual safety so I spend additional time with it now and again just drawing it and disengaging the safety. The only thing I dislike about the 1911 is you spend a lot of time loading it. I get used to my double stack 15 to 20 round magazines. When you train with the single stack 1911, the mag reloads come quickly. But as mentioned, they point really well and have great triggers. An old WWII 1911 was the first handgun I ever shot! I have 1911s in both 9mm and 45, but there's something special about the 1911 in 45 acp.
I just got my first 1911, a Springfield Ronin EMP 4, and it's fantastic. I put 500 rounds through it and only had 1 malfunction and it was in the first 200 rounds. Going from carrying a Glock 19 to a 1911 is a bit of a learning curve. I also carry a Smith Model 66 so I can adapt easily.
I was an MP at Quantico from '84 to '88 and we carried the older Colt government 1911 my entire time. It was the first handgun I had fired. I love it to this day. if I had to pick only one gun to keep (out of my collection) it would be a 1911. I have a 1917 Colt government and a new Ruger SR1911. Love them both.
I had the pleasure of holding a Wilson Combat 1911 in my hand and everything about it exuded quality. For being an all metal frame, it really didn't feel much heavier than my G19 or PX4 Storm. The one thing I immediately noticed was that it didn't need grip tape; it felt comfortable just the way it came from the factory. The guy who owned it said it cost him $2K. If I'm going to spend that kind of money on a firearm, it will be for a Benelli semiautomatic shotgun.
I find this cost and reliability argument of the 1911 confusing and in my experience unfounded. I have a Ruger 1911 in 45 as a commander model and I've had zero problems with it. Even feeds spent brass with no bullet. And I've done absolutely nothing for it to do that. And it wasn't nearly as expensive as these other flashy 1911s. I've been doing drills and taking classes with it with zero issues. Saying all of that. I also would like to get a striker fire pistol as well since I only have a Beretta 92 and a Ruger GP100 when it comes to pistols. I don't count my AR pistol.
@Lurch7861 I've heard from veterans I know say they've had their fair share of M9s that were falling apart. One of which absolutely hates them because of his experience with them after every M9 he was issued was complete junk. From that in my opinion the M9 definitely isn't the holy grail compared to a 1911. Like I said I own both a SR1911 and a Beretta 92FS so I'm not ragging on either of them since I've had zero issues with either of mine. I'm ragging on how the military maintains their sidearms in that example. So you're going to hear mixed info depending on how long they recycled old pistols.
I'm a Vietnam vet...our sidearm was a 1911...and when I purchased my 1911-A1 a few years ago, I did it with pride...! And the best of the best is...take several manufacturers 1911's...field strip them...mix all the parts...and all of those parts work in every 1911...!!!
1911 the first pistol i ever shot. i love them and everytime i shoot one it gives me that nostalgic feeling. picking it up the weight is nice it feels more dense than a brick and for me at 6'1 275 pound male it fits my hands great. i think a lot of people have to be in the same boat as me with how many of these pistols are out there lmao.
I have a Rock Island Armory 1911 GI FS that I literally fell in love with. I have not one single complaint regarding it`s functionability, reliability and just pure enjoyment while shooting. Plus it is very accurate for a handgun that I paid under $500.00 for
This gun was a game changer. Who could hate such an incredible game changer gun. It’s such a revolutionary gun that it looks virtually unchanged from 1911.
I’ve got one and from the range time I’ve had with it, I like them. The weight of it just feels right, and it’s such an easy shooter despite 45acp being a chunky round.
1911s, especially the more modern renditions with beavertails, extended/ambi thumb safeties, bumped grip safeties, good sights, and checkering, are simply tops when it comes to ergonomics. They are just so much easier to shoot well than a blocky polymer striker gat. I don't get mine out very often anymore, but every time I take one to the range, I wonder why I don't do it more often. I wish more modern pistols took their ergonomic cues from the 1911. When I fiddle with the current crop of polymer striker pistols with manual safeties, they're all positioned too far back, or have too small of a nub/lever, or both.
@@HalfCrazy520 As a left handed shooter an ambidextrous safety is a requirement if I ever want a 1911 to be “practical” to shoot. If it doesn’t come with an ambi-safety, and preferably a memory bump on the grip safety (because apparently it’s blasphemy to suggest producing a 1911 without a grip safety), it’s a range toy to me, and not a practical handgun to carry or use for self defense for my purposes.
![The Best Handguns for New Shooters [2020 Update]](/img/n.gif)
I never quite understood the mystique of the 1911 until I shot one, then I immediately got it.
I think that the most impressive aspect of the 1911's history is: when John Moses Browning began work on the design that would be adopted in 1911, Wilbur and Orville sold bicycles. Before it left service with the US Army, mankind had walked on the Moon and the Space Shuttle was in service.
Even more impressive is that it's still popular today with the same basic design even after over a century and it still keeps up just fine.
Agreed except we never landed on the mood
@@henryc7548 Glenn Miller did:
ua-cam.com/video/_CI-0E_jses/v-deo.html
@@henryc7548 Agreed, we never landed on the mood.
@@henryc7548 mood landed on us
How to get a reliable 1911.
1. Don't buy cheap magazines
2. Buy Chip McCormick,Wilson Combat, Mec-Gar magazines. (Preferably wadcutter feedlips or hybrid feedlips)
3. DON'T BUY CHEAP MAGAZINES
Done.
Mags make all the difference!
There's more to it.
You'll have to keep them lubricated, give them the right ammo, clean them regularly, replace the recoil springs proactively, periodically check the extractor and plunger tube to make sure they're on tight.
They make wadcutter specific mags?? Interesting! I’ve shot a ton of competition and I would say probably 80% of the jams I’ve seen in 1911s was them choking on semi-wadcutter bullets.
You forgot Number 4&5; buy a 1911 from a reputable manufacturer that actually cares about consistent QC if you want it to work right out of the box, and check to make sure the feed ramp on the barrel and frame is smooth/polished if you want it to feed JHP ammunition reliably. Last one is literally the most common corner cut by most budget 1911 manufacturers that tell me their target market is casual shooters buying a range gun instead of folks looking for a reliable self-defense pistol.
Also, a firearms company that has the word "Combat" in its name is something to look out for. Just sayin'.
As silly as "pride of ownership" is, I really wish all modern technology manufacturers, from guns to cars to cell phones, understood this and took it more seriously. If I'm going to give a company a grip of my cash, I want the product to be excellent in every way. I understand with planned obsolescence being the rule of the market these days it's not "realistic", but it still matters to me.
In the firearms world unless you're buying something custom or building yourself mass makers don't care. Look at the crap Sig puts out for example. They use the consumer as a beta tester.
@@bmstylee Ian McCollum over has a video discussing this topic in detail, Sig Sauer isn't "letting consumers do the beta testing", that's just part of bringing a new mass manufacture product to the market, a firearm or otherwise.
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@@Tuton25 I will respectfully disagree with him. The 320, 365, Cross all say otherwise. All of those had design issues Sig didn't find. Once I can give a pass on. But 3 is just negligence and shotty engineering.
I would prefer a gun that's cheaper and just as effective in most circumstances. Not every gun should be made with looks in mind.
@@-V-_-V- I hear you on the efficiency. The problem today isn't that most guns are beautiful and ineffective. It's the opposite. Gun shop counters go for miles with extremely efficient, boring, polymer pistols that all do about the same thing very effectively and look similar. We have no shortage of that. If you want a new, handsome gun you pretty much just have the 1911.
A 1911, a mechanical watch, a zippo lighter..there’s something about the solidity and feel of metal in your hands. There’s also something to be said about proven durable time-tested designs. They generally require a bit more upkeep, but they get the job done and become well known trusted companions. I have a Glock and a 1911. I like the way polymer guns slide in and out of Kydex. I like the dependability and magazine capacity of my Glock. But I prefer the weight and feel of the 1911. There’s just something about the presence of a government model 1911. It feels like an extension of your hand and has the smoothest of actions. Aside from that, it’s an American design that served our country faithfully in far off places, and by extension is a symbol of Americas own durability and greatness.
Honestly a beautiful response.
Awesome way to say it! Cheers steve!
Nailed it!
I have a Springfield Armory A1 Mil Spec 1911 .45 and a Ruger SR1911 .45 and I absolutely love both of them. Total perfection
A maglite with incancescent bulb...
1911's are so aesthetically pleasing that even with their flaws I can't help but love them. They're just too cool
They are beautiful guns. They also have the perfect trigger
@@adamshaw8214 Indeed, and I also find the safety ergonomically located and engaged/disengaged. It is, for me, the most intuitive safety ever.
The triggers are what made me fall in love
Indeed, way cool!
I think the ergonomics of the 1911 deserve a bit more recognition. The thin profile and "1911 grip angle" make for a comfortable gun to handle. I have brought a lot of first time shooters to the range with my collection of different handguns and I've repeatedly seen these new shooters perform well with the 1911 over all of the other modern handguns they try. Of course this is all anecdotal and ergonomics are a very subjective thing, so it is naturally a topic that others may disagree with.
I am not afraid to admit that the 1911 is large, heavy, and has poor ammo capacity compared to more modern designs. It is definitely a gun that has limited practical application nowadays, but I can't help but want a really nice one at some point in the future. It's one of my favorites.
Depends on the person. A 1911 is one of the most UN-ergonomic pistols I’ve shot (as far as main stream guns), they are just all kinds of wrong for my mitts. Were as a Glock is much more comfortable for me, not withstanding their short comings.
I couldn't agree more. I love how a thin, single stack grip feels in the hand and the 1911 style just feels perfect for me.
When I started shooting the first pistol I was able to accurately hit with was a budget Auto Ordnance 1911A1 Repro. The other pistols I had fired previously were the Glock 19 and the S&W SD9. This was about 10 years ago.
Both CZ-75s and M&Ps copied 1911's grip angle (18 degrees). Since I consider CZ-75s even more ergonomic than 1911s, the fact that it copied 1911's grip angle means that 1911 got it right!
@@r64g I've got a CZ SP-01 along with a 1911, so I definitely agree that the CZ is a comfortable gun too.
I carried a 1911 while in the Military Police in the 70's. In that time I probably put over 7,500 round through it (thank you tax payers) and never had a misfire shooting govt ball ammo. I loved the comfort of it and purchased a Colt Govt 1911 when I became a civilian. I now own a couple of others, 9mm but always rely on my 1911 for that safety feeling. I can also say that nothing matches the accuracy of a well maintained and handled 1911. Great video Chris.
The military went to the 9mm because women and limp wristed males couldn't handle the 1911. They should have been an early indicator as to where we where headed militarily speaking.
Yes, you can't reliably shoot an M1911 without a strong grip on it or the slide will not cycle properly. It is also fairly heavy, but so is the Beretta that replaced it. The USMC trains men and woman separately, and not sure who get's pistol training. The Army ends up with anyone who enlists.
@@loboheeler you dont know what you dont know.
Slow Turtle they went to 9mm bc it’s essentially just as effective but for the same weight you can have more ammo. My CZ weighs less than a GI 1911 and has 21 rounds in the magazine. 21+1 of 124gr 9mm +p (how I carry it) will outdo 7+1 of .45 ball ammo (since 1911s don’t usually run well with JHPs)
I was Air Force Security Police in the 70s and our sidearm at the time was a 38. Hated it. We were jealous of the other services that had the 1911. I have a Springfield 1911 now , not very reliable as a go to self defense gun but love shooting it. Very accurate.
For me, the biggest reason for owning one, without a doubt, was the history. I couldn't care less about how it stacks up to a modern handgun. I wanted to own what is arguably the most American pistol ever made. It served in two world wars and was designed by the man responsible for laying the framework for the modern firearms market. When you said "pride of ownership" this is what I thought you were going to touch on. For me, the pride in owning a 1911 comes from my respect and reverence for its history.
Right on, I just got my first firearm and as an American I couldn’t think of a better gun to be my first
Do you also drive a Ford Model T? "That's not practical" neither is your 1911... "BuT mUh HiStOrY"
@@timc46440 Historical items can be important. I am pretty confident that if my 1911 needs a part, I can pretty much find a replacement at just about any gun shop. Extractors, barrels, bits and pieces. I was at a range in Illinois, my extractor broke, not the guns problem it was my reloads. I went to the counter and told the owner what my problem was and he pulled out a box of parts and rooted around for a minute and pulled out a milsurp extractor and $3 later I was back on the firing line. I have built several 1911s from parts picked up at my local gun shop. So many forearms today just aren't built to replace components like the 1911. There is a trigger assembly, not a trigger, sear, springs and the rest of the bits like a 1911. The 1911 can be completely disassembled and maintained with no special tools, you don't have to have a toolbox to polish a trigger. I have a Glock and other polymer firearms. They are great for what they are for but they aren't the answer for everyone.
Sure I would own one for the history, and to shoot for fun from time to time. But would I prefer it over modern models? No. And I'm sure Mr. Browning would think the same.
They are just as good or better modern guns like glocks are overpriced/hyped plastic garbage many police stations have and or in the process of getting rid of glocks. Even places like the LAPD replaced them.
Hickok45 once said ”It’s all about grip, sights and trigger”. That’s exactly why I love the 1911.
I bought a Remington 1911 for $500. I installed the beaver tail grip, Wilson combat sear, extended slide release, etc. all on my own. I've never worked on a gun prior to this. It's my favorite gun I own, not only is there the history, but also I put my own work into it and the trigger pull, accuracy. It feels amazing to shoot. It's the last gun I'll ever give up
Good for you Bud! Kindred spirits. I spent 3 hours on a mainspring house upgrade on my Kimber Custom II, 5 inch. Pride? I can not agree more with what you said, no eloquence needed my friend.
My first time qualifying in the ARMY was with a 1911. Never seen one before then. It was SN 00549. Had no rifling left and the stipling on the grips was gone. Rattled like it was going to blow up, but i qualed expert with it.
I remember trying to qualify on a gun just like that. Some of the rifling was gone and it had a slight bulge in the barrel. I was shooting curve balls with it
Damn you're old.
Sounds like the Remington Rand 1911 I carried while in the CG…sounded like a rock in a 55gallon barrel but I shot Ex with it every time.
@@jimwest1967 That bulge means at some point in its lifetime, someone shot a squib and then fired a round after it.
Gary: I bought an RIA/Armscor rack grade 11A1. First thing I actually did before plunking down the $ was to pick it up and shake it. It didn't rattle and after serving in the military ('64-68) I thought there was something wrong with it.
I thought that the 1911 was an old man's gun, featured in gangster movies. Then I won one in a raffle, and I loved it! Much easier to shoot accurately than my fighting Tupperware.
Amen. I've only owned one "real" handgun, and that was a nickel-plated Colt Trooper. Like you mention, it was shockingly accurate and easy-shooting.
Fighting Tupperware I love it!
A second, heartfelt AMEN!
I grew up - and have long been shooting (for 60+ years) - with Smith K and N Frame revolvers and top quality, five inch barrel, .45 ACP 1011A1’s. I still own, love and shoot many of these superb sidearms. And like many experienced marksmen, I find them to be highly accurate, very durable, with enduring quality. Yes, a Glock or an M&P works, and in some individuals’ hands they are as accurate as a top-tier S&W or Ruger service-size revolver or a non-striker fired full-sized autoloader.
However, the large capacity of contemporary, double stack, striker fired semiautomatics brings essentially nothing to the lawful concealed carry arena that isn’t also conveyed in older - highly accurate and durable - reduced capacity designs. Please tell me how often an armed, non-LEO, confrontation requires more than five proficiently aimed and fired rounds to be successfully concluded? In fact, the answer is it’s exceedingly rare. Moreover, with handguns only CNS and center mass hits count in rapidly terminating a firefight (other than the frequent “psychological stops”) , and many civilian shooters simply are more accurate with a 1911A1, a buttery smooth DA revolver, or a traditional SA/DA autoloader (Beretta, Sig, CZ, H&K, etc.), than with a striker fired “polymer wonder.”
This is truly a “golden age” for firearms - so many excellent, fine quality, accurate, reliable and durable designs are now marketed - so exercise your freedom, purchase and use whatever you prefer. BUT understand that new is not axiomatically synonymous with better.
@@roykiefer7713 Agreed. I want to hit what I'm aiming at, and a good 1911 does the job. I disagree with Chris, Kimbers can be had for 7 or 8 hundred, and mine work perfectly.
2WW 2WW 2WW (joking aside, I love pistols, but the 1911 will always be top 5)
A 1911 is like a mechanical watch. It's outdated, expensive, and impractical for modern life. But what a wonderful machine it is.
Edit: Outdated doesn't mean bad, it's just old tech. And impractical doesn't mean useless, it just means you have to love it enough to put up with its shortcomings. Which I do. Now go to bed, Grandpa. The scary words can't hurt you.
Excellent comment.
If we want to be brutally honest Browning made it obsolete when he started the development of the High Power. Saive finished making it obsolete when he finished Browning's idea.
My BB GUN could run CIRCLES around any 1911! Especially cuz the people who own 1911s cant shoot for shit
True except for my Staccato 2011. Love it!!!
@@bmstylee I mean, the only thing the Hi-Power added significantly was a double stack magazine, which can be backported to the 1911.
Really, most modern handguns still use a tilting barrel, short recoil system and even the controls are very similar. The 1911 persists solely because technology hasn’t evolved all that much in the last century and the only advancements are features.
Many of which can be backported, as I said.
I'm always extremely impressed with how fair you are to stakeholders. It's rare to find an unbiased opinion these days. Keep up the great work!!
Except his 357 sig video where he trashed it and refused to acknowledge the facts.
I've been shooting 1911's since I got my first one 50 years ago. I think based on that, you've done a pretty decent analysis of why people love them or hate them. As a 1911 lover, it's mostly in my head.
Back in the day when I first started with the defense handgun, as you've noted, the "rank and file" pistol was the K-frame revolver with the cops I grew up around. It was pretty much what you were going to be issued if your job came with a gun, and your only way to make it "yours" was going to be fancy grips, or a Magnum chambering like the Model 19 or a Python. Those were great guns, but if you wanted to really stand apart from the crowd you would carry an automatic. For us, that meant a 1911 marked "Colt" and not some Nancy-Boy 9mm. At least that was how we felt about it at the time. To us, anyone could drive a wheelgun.
If you studied the 1911, you soon saw its advantages and what you needed to do to one to make it work as a fine combat or target sidearm. We laughed at guys who couldn't make their pistols work, or keep their 1911's lubed, or make their loads function properly. As soon as we got off duty and put away our issued six shooters, we couldn't wait to show our 1911's off. This all started to get silly in the 80's as we could choose to tote a Browning, a Beretta. a SIG, an S&W auto, and the most mysterious of all, a squeze cocking HK. Then came the Glock, the combat handgun designed to float in the bathtub. This was all pretty silly, but there was no doubt that the 1911 in .45 just threw off more attitude. Those who also competed with them still had reasons to cling to them, mostly the trigger, and we smugly told ourselves that 8 rounds was enough. To ne honest, for my life as it is now, 9 shots are probably enough, with a spare mag on my other side.
Today I have fewer 1911's than I used to, and mine are made looking prettier than they used to as well. They are what used to be called Barbecue Guns. I love to brag about the groups mine would hold, as if I could still do that now at my age. Most days I'm carrying smallish Tactical Tupperware, and it is usually a 9mm. But when I put on a good 1911 in .45 of course, I can remember when it was the only game in town and I was hot shit with mine. I don't carry a 1911 that much any more but when I do it is a pleasant trip down memory lane. And I figured how to make one work 100% a long time ago, so why not enjoy it? I'll probably be buried with my two-tone Colt. Maybe in a photographer's vest and a bush hat to complete the look. Oops, pants. I'll definitely need pants.
dont forget the aviators
Always check you re still wearing the pants before leaving the house
Soon as I saw the vid had to watch! I currently carry a 2011 professionally on duty and a 1911 (TRP) off duty. I get the arguments against it, but a well tuned and reliable 1911 isn’t hard to find, just stay with the well known brands and a few good range sessions will show you if the hun needs any work. The reward is worth it in my opinion. As far as cost, that’s relative. I have coworkers balk at the price of a 1911 while driving around in a new F250 or Tesla. We prioritize our money how we want, and if you really want a top shelf 1911 you’ll make the necessary means to get one. I hope to see more 1911 videos soon!
Massad Ayoob and Bill Wilson have a great vid on the benefits of carrying a 1911 if you haven't seen it. Granted Wilson's endorsement might be a tad self serving, but Massads points are fantastic.
m.ua-cam.com/video/GPC0mmKlBrE/v-deo.html
Me too.. I want more 1911 and 2011 Vidz
Any Dan Wesson is leagues better than literally every striker fired handgun ever made.
Hense the 3 to 5 thousand pricetag
Best carry for me is Staccato C2. Compact 9mm 2011 (1911 Double Stack) perfection. Small enough to conceal and deadly accurate, of course the trigger is phenomenal.
I bought a used Colt 1911 back in the early 80's. It has worked well all of this time. I've had to do a few repairs. I also put 700 to a 1000 rounds a year through it. It's my normal carry gun, with a 10 round extended mag. Where I live we can open carry almost everywhere. I love it.
Wonderful. I've owned everytbing from POS AMT Hardballer to Colt to Springfield to Sig to 2 Les Baers and an Ed Brown SF. My usual carry gun is a Les Baer Commander size 1911. I live in a constitutional carry state but I have a CCW as it covers me in so e 37 states. Thr irony is that the place with gun friendly laws has much less crime, and the most anti gun places have thr most crime. Not a coincidence.
@@Samsquad7 why is it any of your business?
@@Samsquad7 what's it to you what I carry when? Depending on where and why is why sometimes it's a 357, sometimes a 44, or a 380, or 9mm or the 45. Why do you wear briefs instead of boxers, personal choice that's why.
@Raw Because we want to. Don't need to eat pie for breakfast but it doesn't hurt you if I do.
@@Samsquad7 Wait, what?
Glocks are lighter but larger and have crap triggers. As well, I can't think of the last time I heard of a 'kaboom' happening with a 1911. The Block? More than once, which is too often.
The great thing about a 1911 is, you have a far better chance if hitting what you aim at. And since you're using 45 instead of 9, you can shoot HARDBALL and you're more effective with less rounds downrange. Refer to the Florida FBI shootout for how useless high cap 9mm can sometimes be...then refer to Sgt York for the efficient effectiveness of 7 rounds of 45.
As a motorcyclist, the 1911 reminds me of the Harley-Davidson. On paper, it's got nothing on a Honda. It's for people who enjoy the aesthetic and experience of an American classic.
Good comparison, I'd agree with that one
Yes kind of like classic muscle cars or vinyl records. There is better technology available but they just scratch an itch that digital tech and plastic firearms can’t.
Actually that's a very good comparison. Good and bad I've never like Harleys or 1911's much.
@@WALTERBROADDUS I have a Honda, Triumph and a Harley. The Harley is by far the least capable machine, but it's the one I use the most, because it's just the most enjoyable.
I was going to make the same comparison. I would only add that in similar fashion as a Harley they are customizable.
What always impressed me about the 1911 is the fact its a design that is well over 100 years old but it's still used and works well enough to see competition pretty widely. For what it is that is actually rather impressive.
1911's see competition because the rules favor or require them.
@@TigerDude333 nope
@@StuninRub no one runs a 7 shot mag unless the rules say things like "max 5 shots per mag"
@@TigerDude333 ??? 7 shot mag? You have a learning disability?
@@TigerDude333 That's not true. In slow fire marksmanship shooting, like Bullseye, the trigger pull is everything. That's why when you want maximum pistol accuracy, you use a 1911. Everyone uses them because of the trigger, but the rules just specify using a 45.
In my experience another thing the 1911 has going for it is its grip index - unlike a lot of modern polymer "wonder 9s", which are each trying to lower the bore axis as much as possible, the 1911 puts your trigger finger and the webbing of your hand in line with the barrel. This means you can hold a 1911 and point your index finger forward, and it will be pointing directly at your target (rather than downwards at a slight angle). This seems to lead to easier instinctual pointing.
I say this as someone that isn't much of a 1911 fan, but I appreciate grip index and bore axis as much as the next guy. This is also why stuff like the old Walther P99 / PPQ point so naturally for so many people - they have grip indexes very similar to that of a 1911.
Did my first "gun smith class" on the 1911A1 using a GI parts kit from Auto Ordinance. It took a whole lot more custom fiitting than I expected to make it work, but after a Black Badge day and nearly 600 rounds without a malfunction I figure I passed that gun smith course. Pride of ownership - you bet!
“Pride of Ownership…”
I always wanted a 1911 in 45acp, but found myself getting other guns and letting the 1911 slide down on my list. I thought I wanted to find a certified combat-used (WWII/Korea/VN) model, and I still do, but then, five months ago, I saw a used Ed Brown Executive Elite in my LGS case. The price was high, but still $800-1000 less than several Colts, Wilsons, and Nighthawks available in the nearby ‘new’ gun case. Running the slide on the Ed Brown was the finest I’ve ever felt. Run side by side with a Colt Gold Cup and a Nighthawk (both costing north of a grand more), the Ed Brown was far and away tighter and smoother (zero ‘maracas’ shake)…and the trigger on THAT gun helped me to finally, fully understand what having a “good trigger” actually means.
So, I dumped a few thou I hadn’t planned to, and took it home. On its first range trip, it kept blowing out the bullseyes so easily, that I kept pushing back the targets until at 20yds, in a shadow of lighting on my lane, I began to lay hits just outside the bullseye, not because of the gun, but because of MY EYES! Going all the way back to 25, the light was better, but not my vision.
I believe that, somehow, by sheer chance, I got a a really good one…from a maker who only builds VERY good ones. I was in the right place at the right time…one of the very few times I’ve been that lucky with a gun purchase. After about 300 rds of FMJs, still no problems, at all. There are three holster-wear “dots” of lost bluing, but otherwise it’s perfect.
Is the 1911 better than newer designs, no. But it’s AT LEAST as cool as ANY other gun you can name, and it is incredibly accurate for an average shooter (me). I can only imagine what my gun would do in the hands of a skilled shooter!
So the Ed Brown sits in my safe as my most favorite gun, the one I have to pick up and run the slide, nearly every time I open the safe, and the first one I take out to show friends.
@LuckyGunnerAmmo, please do a few more videos on the 1911. The haters just don’t appreciate quality, history, or reverence for their elders.
Thanks!!
Here is hint, if you type a long comment,its better if you break up it. It really is hard to read, especially on a cell phone.
@Handyman1911 . . . Thank you for the awesome story. If it were any shorter (ya know, so it'll fit on a cell phone display better), it wouldn't have been the same story. I personally have not had the pleasure of owning a 1911, yet. I'm glad you got a good one. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Cheers from Alaska. 🎄🎅🍺
Hint is stories this long are almost always made up for Internet approval to fit in with the other comments
@@RANDOMNATION907 Didn't say not to give the whole story. But you know, separate paragraphs.
"I kept pushing back the targets until at 20yds. . ." Wow, that far? Your expectations were too low based on other firearms. The usual testing distances for 1911s and their ammo are 25 and 50 yards. Then ring the gongs at 100 yards.
Chris' point about how pride of ownership motivates practice deserves more attention. The best, safest, and most effective gun your arsenal is the one you train with the most. For those of us (read: most of us) who don't tailor our entire life around the defensive use of firearms, a 1911 we dig so much that we shoot it twice a month IS a superior tool to an M&P we feel "meh" about and shoot once a year.
This is a good point. My Canik TP9sf is the first pistol I ever enjoyed shooting enough to get even half decent with it. Prior to that I only ever really practiced with Shotguns and Rifles.
You have to like the gun enough to practice so you are not a danger to yourself and others.
I feel attacked by this OP. 😂 Really though, your point is one that is glossed over by many. I hate training with my Glock. But it works and I’m not more accurate than it, so I stay with it. I’m saving for a double stack 1911, until then I get to hate training.
If you want to develop that emotional attachment to an M&P, put an Apex flat/forward trigger kit in it. My M&P 2.0 was just a tool... an appliance... until the Apex went in it. Now I have pride of ownership and an emotional attachment to it. Everyone who picks it up shoots it better than any pistol on the table.
ua-cam.com/video/ZiSrQtTJD0w/v-deo.html
Funny you say that. The M&P is my personal carry and I train with it often. If you need aesthetics to motivate your training then there are some major issues you need to contend with
@@HalfCrazy520 Can confirm. Apex barrel too, much nice.
Great discussion. One of the most well-rounded discussions of the 1911 I have seen. I have used a number of different firearms for concealed carry. I have returned to using a full size 1911 for concealed carry. The heavy weight of the large all steel pistol, and the recoil of the .45 ACP that could be described as energetic but slow rather than snappy, and the trigger that is easy on the arthritis in my trigger finger, as well as being easy to shoot accurately, make for a gun that is a pleasure in my weekly range practice. The weight is a factor for concealed carry, but I have found concealed carry solutions that work for me. So the design that I carried on duty 50 years ago is now my every day concealed carry tool. It is like coming home.
Began 1911 association/use when age 15, am 74 now. A 1911 is an old and trusted friend, one that can be relied upon to lend a helping hand if needed to be called upon. I have a couple of poly-frame pistols and enjoy them. Lighter in weight and smaller in size, they also have their place. A few revolvers are also used n' enjoyed. But ya know, there's just 'something' that can only be felt when picking up a 1911...
I once saw a space war documentary in which something was said that brought the 1911 to mind.
" An elegant weapon for a more civilized age."
I know what you mean in terms of the design aesthetic but I'm not sure we can really call WW1 a more civilised age!😀
@@harryspeakup8452 Of course we can call it a more civilised age. Have you seen the moustaches British officers were sporting?
👍👍👍👊
👍👍👍👍👊
Yeah there was that movie about those star wars... what was that called...
You talked into getting a 1911, then you talked me out of it, then you made me rethink that hold darn thing, but it was certainly entertaining! Always love the content.
I disagree with the cheaper 1911's being less quality. I have owned a RIA for about three years now with several thousand rounds through it and it is still going strong. Read the reviews they are very dependable guns. Technically the 1911 is a simple design, there isn't much to go wrong with them.
I have a $400 RIA 1911 and the only issue was the magazine it came with did not seat and caused jamming. Trashed the stock mag and it's been great.
@@muznick same here. Had some feeding issues at first then after 700 rounds, when I loaded the factory ACT mag into the pistol, it shot all 8 rounds and the magazine spring through the open ejection port. I then swapped the ACT mag for Wilson combat, Kimber, and even surplus Colt GI mags and never had problems after.
I can run my RIA 1911A1 dry, dripping wet with oil, or dirty after sitting uncleaned for a few weeks after my last range day and it still works flawlessly, and it eats any type of ammo I feed it, hollow points and all.
2nd that. The Rock series is the sweet spot I think. Great value, good shooters and a joy to shoot. (And was fun to see the reactions of my Filipino friends who shot 'em, loved 'em and learned they were made in the Philippines.)
Agree with this. I've had one in 9mm and it ran flawlessly. Sure, they aren't as pretty as some of my other 1911's, but probably the best value out there.
I agree. I own a $400 High Standard GI made by Armscor, a Canadian made Para Ordnance SSP that was $850 and a $1,800 Dan Wesson Specialist. ALL three have been reliable and accurate pistols.
I love my polymer wonder 9's, but I have a very special place for my 1911's. My Dan Wesson Valor evokes a certain emotion that none of my other guns do, and it also shoots lights out!
Our local PD went from revolvers to 1911’s in the 70’s. They used them to great effect until the Glock came along. They switched to those in the late 80’s. I still own one of those trade-ins. The officers had the option of still using their 1911’s and you saw quite a few for many years. Now, it’s all plastic. They’re still very, very effective. My favorite.
Where was this?
@@adamshaw8214 Hey Adam, this was in the Central Valley here in California. About five years ago the also went from 40S&W to 9mm.
@@maxmccain8950I haven't heard of any PDs actually using 1911s that's cool.
Just turned 40 this year. Been carrying the 1911 for almost twenty years. My V-Bob just recently was milled for a Red dot using the trijicon sight plate. For me, that helped bring my carry gun into the twenty first century. I have tried carrying other guns, carried a Glock 19 and a Sig 228 for a while. Always end up with that “heavy, limited capacity, unreliable” dinosaur in 45 acp on my hip. I have been to combat and was in the Infantry, things I have learned are that shot placement is important but physics is also. Guys didn’t get back up that often being hit with a large heavier caliber like 7.62 from a CS hit, despite what she might tell you, bigger is better. It’s why I like the 45 Acp, yeah modern ammo & HP make the 9mm similar to 45acp. At the end of the day, if I only had FMJ, I am taking the 45acp. I also am a big believer of carrying what you can comfortably get first shot hits with, regardless off gun. For me it’s a 1911. What about capacity? Well, shot placement, and reload drills. Not facing 100 pissed off jihadist in Sadar City, so I am good with 8+1. Even then, I would carry a 1911 into combat over a Glock in 9mm. Reliability, I have been to number of pistol courses, a 1911 needs to be maintained, it needs to have recoil springs and firing pin springs changed often. It’s like that 68 “ your dream muscle car.” If you don’t find pleasure in maintaining a car you won’t find pleasure in maintaining your 1911. That being said, I haven’t had a 1911 fail me yet due to the gun. Not trying to sell anyone on the 1911, it’s not for everyone. I also won’t knock you for what you choose to carry. Software is more important than hardware.
My RIA 9mm 1911 has never failed. I did buy 3 Wilson Combat mags for it.
Used for my LTC. Scored 100 💯
I love my 1911 CMD, but try shooting several thousands through it without cleaning it and then report back on if it's still never failed. My Glocks and Sigs can do that, but not my 1911. After 500-800 rds it starts having reliability issues.
@@Prepare2Survive Good point.
I never run that many without a good cleaning. Just a bad habit of mine !
I've bought 3 Rock Island 1911's, they work as well as pistols twice or three times as much.
@@MarkAndrewEdwards Amen !
I don't shoot more than 1 or 2 hundred rounds in a day and I always clean my weapons after shooting them. Kids these days are too busy tick tocking to clean their dang weapons smh. You're all dabbing and flossing, why don't you dab your dang gun with some hoppes number nine and then floss it clean you whippersnappers.
A 1911 is like driving a vintage manual transmission car. They are more work but oh so classy and timeless. There's nothing like popping the clutch.
No a single action revolver is more like a manual transmission. ;)
@@iloveNgany no that’s a geo metro
Either way, I agree. However a 1911 is more like a 69 charger, or a Shelby Cobra. Yes they are more work, but are so fun to drive. Personally, if it puts a smile on your face then it's worthwhile. 🍻
@@iloveNgany Single action is a manual box, with straight cut gears, with dog clutches. A 1911 is like a manual with syncros.
What a superb job on this one. To hear a well-spoken, intelligent person on subjects like this is refreshing. (Yea, I subscribed…)
I’m an old (71-year-old) Vietnam-era retired Army E8, Airborne Infantryman. After the Army’s training on handguns, an Army SFC National Match Pistol Champion trained me all over again with the 1911 of course. Thereafter, I always fired Expert with any handgun I qualified with. Now, I EDC a .45 ACP, not always the 1911 model.
The never-ending quest for which caliber, which handgun will, and can never be answered. I don’t think the author thinks so, either. But he made some great observations about the history of the 1911 pistol and Jeff Cooper, too. I’ve owned many 1911s - but never paid over $650 for one. After a lifetime of training with it, I can replace barrels & bushings and machine trigger tolerances, if necessary.
Most folks have two big dilemmas to overcome; Training to quickly & effectively engage a target - and Mindset about using deadly force. Also, what justifies drawing your handgun and engaging a foe…
I inherited my great grandfathers colt government model 1911 A1. It was the first handgun I EVER pulled the trigger on…so obviously I was spoiled with a WW2 relic as my first gun ever and I could not ask for anything else. Because I started with this, got used to shooting it, and fell in love with it, I am a 1911 man. It’s in pristine condition. My favorite part is definitely the trigger.
One of my favorite guns to shoot is a 1911 in 10mm. No, it wasn't cheap, but its almost like driving a 65 GTO instead of a Camry. It's the experience
Planning on getting the Rock Island Tac Ultra in 10mm
@@Bartlebeee I've put hundreds of rounds through a 10mm, single stack, 5inch, Rock Island. Great pistol for the money.
Check out that Springfield range officer Elite it only comes in 10mm
Thats where my interest in the 1911 platform is, if a 9mm wont due I'll skip the 45 and get that spicy 10mm
@@TheRealZJE313 I haven't got my hands on the Springfield. The Dan Wesson Bruin is my favorite right now
I think it's a real testament to the popularity of the 1911 design that you had an entire handgun industry spring up out of the desire to customize the standard grade Colt pistol. It is the '57 Chevy of the handgun world.
Then Glock is the Honda Civic!
🤣🤣🤣🤣🥺
I like modern handguns, but the 1911 is definitely my favorite. I’d love to see a few more videos about it.
The history behind the 1911 alone makes me love it. Also as he said, having a gun made entirely out of steel and wood is just really nice. I really don’t like polymer guns but that’s all there is in this day. I won’t deny modern firearms are just better but the style and build of a 1911 is just an art and engineering marvel.
The great John Moses Browning made such a beautiful design with the 1911 that you can find it in a variety different calibers, and that's impressive.
Another excellent video!
I carried a 1911 (Rem-Rand) for a few years as a detective and loved it. Taught quite a few new shooters how to shoot with it (they all wanted to shoot "THAT gun"). It fits more hands than most other designs. Even a very petite (well under 5' and couldn't make 100 pounds with lead boots) lady had no trouble with recoil, just the weight. When we went to issue only guns I had to only tote it off duty and sadly had to hand it in when I retired (it was the department's gun through the Army DRMO program). Soon as I retired, I bought me a commander sized RIA .45 1911 and have been slowly customizing it ever since. Heavy as a boat anchor but feels so good in the hand.
FWIW, my first duty pistol was a Browning Hi-Power and my agency was one of the few here that allowed single action semi-autos (most still toted wheel-guns when I started). So single action pistols for police duty was not that remarkable. But there are some very good points.
Merry Christmas to y'all and all my fellow fans.
The 1911 is a "right" design. Imagine a world where everyone had living relatives from the Civil War, 99% of rifles were bolt action, and the revolver had just "won the west." Enter a semi-auto handgun with clean angular styling that looks modern in 2021. Any honest person alive today will admit to being shocked when they learned WHY it is called the 1911. It was a masterpiece of industrial design with few peers outside of firearms, and none within. This is true and your or my opinion of it matters zero. It has affected every handgun since. It was a triumph of design, when new, in a way that takes it out of the hands of gun enthusiasts and passes it into the gallery of great designs made real by the human hand and mind. Only the 1911 is the 1911. That opportunity came once and won't come again. Respect for the 1911 isn't really optional unless one knows nothing.
1911 is already a hybrid of design calibration between browning and the us army, with 10 years of development in to what we have today, and when others could not compete they made useless safety laws to sell there products. But still in compatition the 1911 is the winner 🏆.
Bolt action was mostly a military weapon at the time. Not really a civilian owned firearm, same as the 1911
Military did the M1911A1 change Browning wasn’t alive
Firearms of all types have always been owned by civilians and the military alike until unconstitutional infringements were passed within the last 100 years in the USA. Bolt actions have been used since their inception, you obviously need to get your facts straight before making claims for all US Civilians without making sure your assumptions don’t make an ass outta yourself
Before covid I purchased my first and inexpensive 1911 (Tisas) for around $300 after seeing very positive reviews. First shot was dead center of the bullseye at 7 yards with zero malfunctions using 200 rounds of Winchester ball, something I never experienced with other pistols I own except a revolver. It is heavy but it's well balanced weight. It does require a little more cleaning and lubrication than modern pistols. For.45acp it's surprisingly thinner than most other pistols on the market, even those in .380. Ammo capacity is not a big deal to me because reloading is fast. The magazines are thinner than Glock magazines, even the small .380 Glock 42 model.
Ive had my Tisas for almost 9 years now it has been great ,first couple years of it i sadly didnt maintain it well and had a corrosion spot inside the barrel but a 80 dollar barrel and 30 dollar spring and trigger upgrade i ordered online have made it a amazing budget pistol
Your 1911 review is excellent! I really enjoyed how you covered the emotional part of owning a 1911.
I'm 37 and LOVE the 1911 and 2011 platform. It shoots great and looks great. Range toy yes, carry gun, no. There are better options for capacity and weight out there now. I have over 10 1911/2011's ranging from Springfield Armory to Cabot Guns. I love them all and will never stop buying them. I remember reading Guns & Ammo as a kid and falling in love with the looks, mechanics and overall nostalgia of the 1911 platform. I was hooked then and I'm hooked now!
I always thought my SA 1911-A1 did just fine as an EDC. Mostly because that is the one I shot the best.
Like a GTO or an old Vette - yes, there are cars with cameras and video screens, that can park themselves and run on electricity, but not one of them is as cool as the Goat or the Vette.
Now, I can respect comments like this. Giving an opinion without disrespecting other people's opinions.
@@poppys3728 1
You can find capacity if you are willing to pay for it. Wilson Combat makes some that carry double stacks with 15+ in 9mm. The EDCx9 or the SFX9 both are 1911 platforms with 15-18 round capacity. But they are out there. I just got used to not having a manual safety in my daily carry or I’d carry one. Since I train with the idea of muscle memory that extra step of snapping of the safety was hard to get used when my other guns were striker fire. Still won’t trade my 1911 though cause it’s proven and reliable default if all hell breaks loose.
1911/2011 seem to still dominate the competition game and many manufacturers continue to make them and sales are high, so they must a great option.
No one but collectors would buy them if they did not run...my Ruger sr1911 Officer 9mm has been flawless for 2k rounds so far.
The first pistol I bought was a 1911, a Double Star match grade. I currently have three 1911's, two government and a commander. They are all more accurate than the striker fired pistols that I have.
Same here. But it's probably not that it's more accurate, it's that you are more accurate using it. The lighter single action trigger makes a difference
Those striker fired pistols are probably more accurate than you are, actually. You just shoot the 1911 better because it's easier to.
I have a Remington 1911 R1S in 45acp and I love it. Never had any issues with it and it shoots great!
I was first exposed to the 1911 back in the 1970’s early in my Naval career. The in again in the latter part of my career in the late 80’s early 90’s as a MP. That’s when I mastered it and got a real good understanding of it. In so much I bought two Blue combat commanders, one in 45 ACP the other in Colt Super 38 Auto . The love affair continues to this very day
Part of the mystique for me was the time (and trips to the range) it took for me to learn to shoot it. After four years enlisted in the Coast Guard In was still hopeless. Then, in OCS, we had a Warrant Gunner who was actually an excellent instructor and I went straight to “expert”.
The quotes are because “expert” on the Navy standard course was nothing like, say, an NRA expert. Get almost all the rounds somewhere on the target. . .
The first center fire pistol that I ever fired was a 1911. When I was a boy, my dad brought me to a range with a work friend and he let me fire his Colt Gold cup 1911. Holding that 1911 felt like holding a bar of gold and I made a respectable group and had that target on my wall for years. When I was a young man, I bought one the first Kimber 1911's and to this day, my adult son refers to it as "his" Kimber. Please do more videos on the 1911. They remind me of the day when a boy got to hold gold in his hands.
The first pistol i purchased was a 1911 5”. Still have it and it’s still my favorite handgun I own. I finally decided to give the polymer guns a try and bought a G19 MOS. I’ve put quite a bit of money into that pistol to get it somewhat close to shooting like my 1911s. It’s still not there but it’s OK.
I think the draw to the 1911 was handled pretty well in the vid and with other’s comments. For me, it fits my hand better than any other pistol or revolver. There is no comparison…that I’ve found anyway. After 1000’s of rounds through the pipe, it’s what I know and trust. Yes, the 1911 is what I carry.
I look at polymer pistols like an economy car. They’re efficient and will get you there…reliably. The 1911 is like a classic muscle car. Fun to drive, sucks gas, and is a maintenance pig. But, it’s still worth owning and driving with a smile.
That last paragraph is just a thing of beauty ! Dead on
I love that comparison you made... Just like the cheapo economy cars the polymers get run until they wear out or something else newer and better comes along, then it gets tossed aside for the next generic piece of plastic to take it's place.
The 1911 might not be a "daily driver", but it gets cleaned and taken care of, you bring it out to show it off, and when your time on earth has passed and the polymers are all long gone the 1911 goes home in the hands of a son or grandson who'll cherish it.
Could not have said it better myself! I am looking around for one right now.
I'm no 1911 fan boi but I will say I have never had a problem with any of my or my dad's rock island 1911s. We've got 3 between us I have never once had a failure. I dont have a round count but at least 1k through mine. My dad also bought a kimber a few years back and I can't go through a box of ammo without it malfunctioning. Rock Island is a great out of the box 1911 imo. You can probably find em for around 500 nowadays.
Use good quality magazines and check if the Kimber still malfunctions.
I'm north of 4k rounds through my RIA I've had for...IDK, before my oldest was born. Doesn't like steel cased but runs very solidly with 230 grain JHPs from Federal. If I'd planned on it becoming my go to for the house I'd probably have gone for a 9mm just for the capacity and easier shooting.
Got my first Army surplus 1911 at age 15 at a local hardware store in 1962 in Chicago.
Carried one for 25 months in Vietnam and for twelve years thereafter working as a contractor… among other firearms.
Carried one exclusively and illegally as a civilian till the early 1980’s when I went to a Sig 220.
Can’t count the number of times I fought with a 1911 without a note pad. Also carried a Browning HP as back up during those days.
The trick to the 1911 is to clean it about every two hundred rounds.
I’ve owned as many as eleven 1911’s at a time… down to three.
When your first manual of arms includes placing your thumb atop the the thumb safety as you draw then a 1911 is no problem.
Haven’t regularly carried a 1911 for years.
My current carry faves are Sig 226 in .357 Sig and H-K in 45 ACP.
I’ll be 75 in February. My last gun fight was in a foreign country at age 60… beat a couple of guys with Berettas with a five shot S&W snubbie. It’s not the gun!
Tell me more about the gun fight when you were 70.
I carried on a near 20 year correspondence with Col Cooper, but my love of the 1911 started long before that. I had my first 1911 at age 12 when I acquired it from a neighbor who'd been a Lt. In WWII and he paid me with it for mowing his lawn and keeping his bird feeders full for a month. It was a Remington Rand. When I was a Special Agent with AFOSI, we were issued a special 1911 that had been modified by Air Force armorers for our organization. They were 1911A1 pistols with slides cut down to commander length, and grip frames cut down to a length that would later be copied by Colt for the Officer's model. I wish I could post a photo on this site as it's a lovely custom pistol. My experience with this gun has suggested that they are more reliable than the average shooter demands. I have a custom Gold Cup that has never jammed or malfunctioned in many 10s of thousands of rounds. I have a little Officer's size RIA that has been perfectly reliable with 230 grain hollow point ammo. The propensity of these little guns to jam has more to do with one's "Shooting Mechanics" than it does with the pistol's mechanics. The platform is proven. The shooter's skill is the unproven. Just like the little Springfield XD-S, they are tough guns to shoot in the hands of shooters who aren't as skilled as they thought they were... But with proper grip and shooting mechanics, the machine platform will perform flawlessly, though they may be somewhat ammo sensitive. I still prefer to carry my tupperware guns, but occasionally I'll get a little nostalgic and slip the 1911 into the holster.
I own a SDS carry 1911(cheap 1911). When i first bought it a few years back, it jammed almost every mag. It wasn't until i got proper magazines where things changed. I can't remember the last time I cleaned it and I've had zero failures since. Most jams in 1911's are from mag issues.
I'm right handed-and left eye-dominant. Drill sergeants in the 80's helped me open up a new world by switching the rifle to my left hand, but I never got there with handguns. The trigger of the 1911 is still the biggest draw for me - providing the only platform that allows me to generally hit the broadside of a barn or two. Great vid on one of my favorite controversies.
The trigger is my favorite part of the 1911. Make it so easy to shoot accurately.
Just hold it right hand and aim with your left eye
I’m 21 years old and my experience with 1911s is pretty sour but turned good. When my dad was 21 he bought two Kimbers, a Custom and a Raptor II back in 1999. Both don’t run to save a life and he has a RIA officer that’s very picky. He immediately said that it was the manufacturers end not his. So I stayed away from 1911s for a while until I got to shooting at matches and such and seen 1911s actually work from the cheap to the high end. Decided to do research and felt that what Ruger offers is damn good and is widely available in my area so I got a full-size SR1911 and I do enjoy it though I still prefer my Gen 3 Glock 19 or Sig P320. Mind you i shoot all my stuff stock with only enhancements to aid me in being a lefty. I feel the 1911 is really frowned upon especially in Gen Y to my generation of Gen Z due to how a lot of inexperienced shooters handled 1911s. I always asked “if it’s such a bad handgun then why did we use it for 75 years in service and why do people still like it now”. I feel a lot of newer shooters are just so use to light weight polymer 9mms that when they handle a much heavier handgun like a 1911 and don’t shoot much 45 ACP they can limp wrist it which is possibly 90% of the reliably issues there. If you ask me the 1911s hate is just shooters who are not use to the handgun
That's not true, every Zoomer wants a Staccato right now, they just can't afford it.
@@StuninRubjust depends. I think they’re cool but doesn’t mean I want one
Ironically enough, a 1911 was the first semi-auto handgun I owned that functioned reliably.
I was a wheel gun fan all my life until I joined the military (USCG) in 1987 and had to qualify with the .45, at which time I fell in love with that weapon. Imminently pointable, much less recoil than the big magnums I was accustomed to shooting, and scary accurate. I bought a Springfield .45 that year, had it Armorycoated and a match trigger installed by SA, and while I loved it it couldn’t fire a 50 rd box of hardball without at least one malfunction, which is one too many. Eventually sold it and in 2004 or so I picked up a bone stock Parkerized Springfield GI model .45 from a buddy for $400. It has seen 5000+ rds thru it with zero problems or malfunctions, and when things go bump in the night I reach past all of my other guns and grab it. I like all guns and calibers, and own many, and I say use whatever your shoot well, whether it’s a .22 pocket pistol or an .88 Magnum- that shoots through schools. 😉
Bought my M1911R1 made by Remington 5 years ago. Always accurate and easy to field strip and clean. First fired one at Ft. Polk Louisiana in 1975, it was an old army M1911a1 made my Springfield.
You missed the biggest reason that 1911's are so loved. Many of us carried them in combat.
Since when in this century?
@@WALTERBROADDUS Youth is wasted on the young.
@@WALTERBROADDUS I carried a 1911 as recently as Grenada.
@@WALTERBROADDUS Every day for a year in Vietnam. 1970 - 1971. I still have a few.
Welcome home, Roger.
Mr. Chris, I really appreciate your content & the delivery. The effective transmission of info is admirable; matched only with the method and means. Merry Christmas, Feliz Navidad, Happy Hanukkah to all of the team that makes these videos possible.
Happy Holidays
People like the 1911 for the same reason everyone wants a sword rather than a spear. Sure the spear is easier to get, more practical and historically did all the killing but the sword has an allure that resonates in the hearts of men. The 1911 gives that same feeling.
I carried one in the Army in my younger days, so I was familiar with the manual of arms. I still carry one now because I've only ever seen one polymer handgun (the P365) that can hold more ammunition with a smaller grip circumference. I have small hands and have a very difficult time getting a good grip on many standard/compact polymer handguns. I've never owned a Glock because their grip circumference added in to the blade safety in the trigger means that I frequently have a difficult time actually getting enough of my index finger onto the trigger to deactivate the blade safety.
The 1911 is much more forgiving. Put thin grips and a short shoe'd trigger in it, and it Just Fits.
For those who are new to guns and looking to buy a cheap and reliable 1911, the Rock Island is a good choice. Rock Island is based out of the Philippines, they are known for making guns reliable and cheap. Just don't expect a nice looking finish on their guns. They usually use parkerization, which is a dark green color and made to prevent rust. They are barebones, so they don't come with any features other than a beaver tail. I've seen them retail from $300-$400. I've put about 700 rounds through mine with no failures and with it not disagreeing very much with my ammo choices. Monarch brass ammo seems to be the most accurate for mine so far, and so happens to be one of the cheaper and more available options.
Hope this helps.
Indeed. I have one that's 10mm
Completely agree.
Agreed. I own a citadel. Same company. Best big boy I've ever owned.
Love these talks. 1911’s are from a period of time when people took care of their firearms, cleaned them often, and understood them. There are plenty of firearms this day that can out do them, but if you want a full steel well balanced pistol with the best trigger, look no further. Kinda like comparing a 67’ Chevy to a 2019 Z06. Just my two cents. Cheers all.
more like comparing a 67 chevy to a 2021 honda civic.
1911s make fantastic range gun but are terrible choices for carry just due to the size and weight combined with horrible capacity. For less weight and similar size I can carry my p09 with 21 rounds of 9mm, or for less weight & size there’s any number of very compact 9s. Just as effective due to modern ammo, but way better.
@@calebnation6155 Well, a third of the country's population has magazine limits, so the 21-round capacity argument doesn't hold water for them.
Icanhasautomaticcheeseburger those areas also punish defensive use of a firearm, so any argument that isn’t about making holes in paper is moot. But for the free parts of the country, I’ll stick to 21+1.
The size and weight ride fine with a proper holster. I’m terms of capacity, true, 15-21 rounds is better, although I can’t think of a situation where I would need to utilize up to 21 rounds in a CC engagement. Also, carry ammo has come along way and say a 124 grain 9mm XTP will get it done, but also a 200 plus grain .45 XTP will do it even better. At the end of the day, what you choose or prefer is a personal choice, and I carry a G19 due to its reliability and ruggedness, but my house gun is a 1911. Whichever you prefer, know it and train with it often and it will never let you down. Also, the ergonomics of the 1911 are simply fabulous. Cheers y’all.
I own a variety of firearms - rifles and handguns including several 1911's. I enjoy shooting the 1911 and agree ergonomics of firing this weapon is quite comfortable. Knowing the 1911 must be attended to and clean to assure reliability is simple thing. The ones I shoot have proven extremely reliable and do not fail. I keep them always clean and ready and cleaning them, to me, is part of the pleasure of having the firearm. I clean all my firearms and keep them in good condition.
The 1911 with its thin profile and with a 4 inch barrel is quite easy to carry concealed. The weight of the gun is not a problem.
I think you nailed it. People complain about 1911s because they *do need* more maintenance than the modern polymer guns like a Glock for example. Personally I don't mind cleaning my guns. I always clean them after I use them anyway so...
Great video--thanks. One factor of the "pride of ownership" is that you will enjoy the routine maintenance a .45 requires. It was designed before engineers learned how to make things cheaply, and all of those sliding, interlocking pieces of steel are a rare feature in an age of throw-away plastic. Glocks are great, but I prefer my Colts. --Old guy
Thank you for this video. I like my 1911 and my revolvers for the same reason: they’re beautiful, functional works of art.
The 1911 has character, which is something that modern polymer pistols are lacking. While advances in technology without question make polymer guns better in so many ways, they are without a soul, and that is important to many of us.
For me, polymer firearms are bullet launchers. Mostly they do a very good job of that, and they're easily replaceable. My steel and alloy guns, on the other hand, are like precision cabinet-making or watchmaking tools that also happen to launch bullets. My heirs will someday appreciate my all-metal guns far more than they'll appreciate my Glocks.
A Glock has as much soul as much time you're willing to spend on a range with it.
Like a Hellcat Redeye versus a Tesla blob: the blob is faster but a child could drive it fast and it has no soul.
@@DzinkyDzink A Glock is a great tool. However, it will never have the character, or the heirloom quality that a beautiful 1911 has. Great grand pappi Nicks gen 5 Glock is not going to inspire the same feeling of reverence as great grand pappi Caleb's Colt series 80 will.
With all do respect to everyone, I love my 1911's, but I don't see how polymer guns don't have character. 1911's are now viewed as classic cars, with tons of character and charm, and are a joy to shoot. Polymer guns are looked at as serious use, the same way the 1911's used to be. My CZ P10F in 45 acp has a crap load of charm, being chambered in my favorite caliber, but also having all the cool modern innovations. Its like a modern sleek chassis, with a high performance V8. Also it shoots damn good, and I bet all of you would agree.
I have over 45 firearms and not one 1911. It is a pistol that intrigues me greatly. Especially now that you can get them on a soft shooting 9mm. Would love to see you review mid range priced 1911 pistols. I love your reviews because you are very straight forward and honest.
i'd recommend looking at the Springfield 1911's. cheaper, little less frilly, but never had an issue with one and shoots like a dream, only paid 799 for my loaded model. and it bucks a little, but it's the only pistol i've owned that i had no fear of limp wristing and causing a malfunction, and compared to a 45. cal glock, is extremely soft recoiling (prolly weight, it is a little on the heavy side) have nothing against 9mm guns, two of my three handguns are 9mm. personally hate glocks for the ergonomics, liked the caniks, love the H&K's, for reference. still prefer solid metal guns over the polymer ones though.
I love my Colt 1911. It's the pistol that I've got the most experience with and I'm great with it.
That being said, I usually carry a 2.0 in 9mm. It points just like my 1911 and has great capacity. I've been known to carry it IWB and my 1911 in a shoulder rig at the same time.
45acp is my favorite handgun round, nothing compares to the solid thump you feel when you pull the trigger and send that big lump of lead downrange. 🙂
I sometimes carry an ex-PD issue S&W 4566. Very similar to a Colt Commander in appearance but it's SA/DA with a de-cocker safety and an 8+1 capacity. Heavier than a poly pistol but considering that it's chambered in 45acp it's a soft shooter and utterly reliable.
Picked up my Taurus 1911 in a pawn store for $150. I cleaned it very well, and a very good gun refinisher refinished the entire weapon in a nice matte black. To date I have around 5500 rounds through it without a failure. The only modification I've ever made was to put a nice set of wood grips on.
Love the well researched presentation of history along with embedded videos and photos. Subscribed. I carried a 1911 .45 in Desert Storm as an Army MP though they had been almost completely phased out at that point. Shook and rattled like it was going to fall apart. No idea how old it was.
I've liked 1911s since the 70's show "The Manhunter", with Ken Howard. The main character carried dual .45s and my 12 year old self thought that was awesome. As an adult I tended to the more practical, but finally got a Sig 1911 when Turner's had them for a sale price I couldn't resist. I liked it until I got it out to the range, then I fell in love with it. Yeah, 1911s are cool.
I totally get that you may not want to do more 1911 stuff Chris, but I think Manny would love to. Maybe see if there's something in the old vault?
For me the 1911 was my first gun. In the late fifties I learned gun safety and gun handling form a NRA class held at the local high school, using bolt action .22s. I did not regularly carry a gun until I joined the Navy. When on watch I had a, as we called it a 45, on my hip, a colt 1911. Today this is what I know. I have a nostalgia for this gun, and it is my EDC. It may be heavy, it may be bulky, if I draw it from my holster you had best lay down. At 20 yards I can put my shots inside the 10 ring all day.
As an old boomer, (is that redundant?) I avoided Glocks until last year. I like metal in my gun frames, but eventually I came to the conclusion that for my end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it pistol, I wanted something with the best reputation possible for simplicity, parts availability, reliability (etc) and so now I have a G41. I have grown to like it and shoot it pretty well but it doesn't appeal to the industrial-design nerd in me like a stainless 1911.....I am haunted by John Browning. And that's ok with me.
I love learning about the history and mechanics of firearms. Great information.
Great video. I love my 1911s, but I would never carry one unless I had very few options.
The reason I love my 1911 so much is because of its unmatched ergonomics. To be fair, I do have smaller hands, but it just fits my hands like a glove and that trigger pull is unlike any other gun I've shot. They're really works of art and I have yet to be let down by a 1911.
It really depends on the 1911 from my experience, some od them you have to really deathgrip the grip safety to just shoot it. Some of them are great, some are just duds, but I think that could be said about any platform.
Agreed, sir. Ergonomics of 1911 is wonderful. I own both Colt and Kimber. Same evaluation.
@@rwinga01All depends on the user, of course. I have large hands and cannot stand the short trigger reach of a 1911.
I love that "pride of ownership" is an argument that made it into the same video as the logical analysis of opportunity costs. I do view my CCWs as tools primarily. Whatever pride I have invested in them is directly tethered to the level of competence I've gained with them. My 1911, however, remains in the collection primarily for the sake of pride of ownership. What feeling of pride I have invested in my Government 1911 is imbued by its symbolic and cultural gravitas.
The reviewer completely overlooked several important reasons why people love the 1911 besides the trigger. The grip size and angle are unique due to the single stack magazine. Everyone's hands are different size and shape, so for many people the 1911 offers a grip that no other gun can match. The other is the external safeties. Some people don't want an external safety at all. But many people do want a gun that will not easily go off in their pants. The 1911 is nearly perfect in both making a very safe gun and being ergonomic to activate.
Although I like modern style pistols, I still find the 1911 to be extremely "pointable." I feel like I acquire targets quickly with one and the grip angle is basically perfect for me. If the SHTF, I would take a Glock 17 any day, but I have always shot 1911 pistols with good accuracy even on the first magazine.
Curious about the intimated failure rate of the 1911. My SA 1911 (mil spec) has digested everything I've put in it. Shoots smooth, and is very accurate. Never had a hiccup. Is my experience unusual? Sincere question.
My RIA 1911 just runs and runs. Very smooth and accurate.
It has a higher failure rate than pistols designed in this century… but when that number is 300-600 rounds between failures, it doesn’t necessarily mean all that much. Clean and lube after shooting and it will be fine for quite a while. Depending on lubricant choice and environment, you might want to lube it once a month regardless.
A lot of it comes from poor or inconsistent QC from manufacturers.
Most common issue I’ve seen is many budget priced 1911’s fail to reliably feed hollow points due to an unpolished/rough feed ramp on the barrel or frame. That doesn’t matter much for a range gun but if intended to be used as a self defense tool with hollow points, that doesn’t inspire much confidence right out of the box when you get failures to feed/double feeds the minute you swap from FMJ to JHP.
In my experience, 1911s fail most often from bad ammo and crappy magazines. Those were the only times I've had issues with my Smith and Wesson 1911.
@@redaethel4619 what? Did you just copy and paste that info from somewhere?
Love the 1911. It's the only handgun I practice and train with that has a manual safety so I spend additional time with it now and again just drawing it and disengaging the safety. The only thing I dislike about the 1911 is you spend a lot of time loading it. I get used to my double stack 15 to 20 round magazines. When you train with the single stack 1911, the mag reloads come quickly. But as mentioned, they point really well and have great triggers. An old WWII 1911 was the first handgun I ever shot! I have 1911s in both 9mm and 45, but there's something special about the 1911 in 45 acp.
I just got my first 1911, a Springfield Ronin EMP 4, and it's fantastic. I put 500 rounds through it and only had 1 malfunction and it was in the first 200 rounds. Going from carrying a Glock 19 to a 1911 is a bit of a learning curve. I also carry a Smith Model 66 so I can adapt easily.
I was an MP at Quantico from '84 to '88 and we carried the older Colt government 1911 my entire time. It was the first handgun I had fired. I love it to this day. if I had to pick only one gun to keep (out of my collection) it would be a 1911. I have a 1917 Colt government and a new Ruger SR1911. Love them both.
I had the pleasure of holding a Wilson Combat 1911 in my hand and everything about it exuded quality. For being an all metal frame, it really didn't feel much heavier than my G19 or PX4 Storm. The one thing I immediately noticed was that it didn't need grip tape; it felt comfortable just the way it came from the factory. The guy who owned it said it cost him $2K. If I'm going to spend that kind of money on a firearm, it will be for a Benelli semiautomatic shotgun.
I just bought one for under $400. Junk? Do a UA-cam search for TISAS 1911 and judge for yourself.
1911 forever and always lol I'm that guy 🤣
If there was only 1 of my 9 guns that I could keep, it will always be my 1911!
And what is wrong with embracing who you are?
I find this cost and reliability argument of the 1911 confusing and in my experience unfounded.
I have a Ruger 1911 in 45 as a commander model and I've had zero problems with it. Even feeds spent brass with no bullet. And I've done absolutely nothing for it to do that. And it wasn't nearly as expensive as these other flashy 1911s. I've been doing drills and taking classes with it with zero issues.
Saying all of that. I also would like to get a striker fire pistol as well since I only have a Beretta 92 and a Ruger GP100 when it comes to pistols. I don't count my AR pistol.
@Lurch7861 I've heard from veterans I know say they've had their fair share of M9s that were falling apart. One of which absolutely hates them because of his experience with them after every M9 he was issued was complete junk. From that in my opinion the M9 definitely isn't the holy grail compared to a 1911. Like I said I own both a SR1911 and a Beretta 92FS so I'm not ragging on either of them since I've had zero issues with either of mine. I'm ragging on how the military maintains their sidearms in that example. So you're going to hear mixed info depending on how long they recycled old pistols.
I'm a Vietnam vet...our sidearm was a 1911...and when I purchased my 1911-A1 a few years ago, I did it with pride...! And the best of the best is...take several manufacturers 1911's...field strip them...mix all the parts...and all of those parts work in every 1911...!!!
1911 the first pistol i ever shot. i love them and everytime i shoot one it gives me that nostalgic feeling. picking it up the weight is nice it feels more dense than a brick and for me at 6'1 275 pound male it fits my hands great. i think a lot of people have to be in the same boat as me with how many of these pistols are out there lmao.
I have a Rock Island Armory 1911 GI FS that I literally fell in love with. I have not one single complaint regarding it`s functionability, reliability and just pure enjoyment while shooting. Plus it is very accurate for a handgun that I paid under $500.00 for
I have had the exact same experience with mine as well they just run
Marry it
@@gumpycognac4505 wise ass comments are not necessary
Same
I fell in love with how it felt on my hands
This gun was a game changer. Who could hate such an incredible game changer gun. It’s such a revolutionary gun that it looks virtually unchanged from 1911.
I’ve got one and from the range time I’ve had with it, I like them. The weight of it just feels right, and it’s such an easy shooter despite 45acp being a chunky round.
Love my 1911 45 Springfield and my Staccato C2 9mm. Fell in love with both of them as soon as I put them in my hand
Probably my favorite firearm of all is the Springfield Professional. So $$$ and hard to find though. But man theyre beautiful perfection!
1911s, especially the more modern renditions with beavertails, extended/ambi thumb safeties, bumped grip safeties, good sights, and checkering, are simply tops when it comes to ergonomics. They are just so much easier to shoot well than a blocky polymer striker gat. I don't get mine out very often anymore, but every time I take one to the range, I wonder why I don't do it more often.
I wish more modern pistols took their ergonomic cues from the 1911. When I fiddle with the current crop of polymer striker pistols with manual safeties, they're all positioned too far back, or have too small of a nub/lever, or both.
I hate ambi safeties on a 1911.
@@HalfCrazy520 As a left handed shooter an ambidextrous safety is a requirement if I ever want a 1911 to be “practical” to shoot.
If it doesn’t come with an ambi-safety, and preferably a memory bump on the grip safety (because apparently it’s blasphemy to suggest producing a 1911 without a grip safety), it’s a range toy to me, and not a practical handgun to carry or use for self defense for my purposes.