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Let's yak about 1911's
Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2025 5:23 pm
by GunnyGene
.45acp only. Not the new fangled plastic, double stacked, unrecognizably modified, striker fired, imitations. The Real Deal All Steel 7nd Hand Cannon. 1911's by any maker that adhere to JMB's design are acceptable. So is engraving (in good taste), and fancy grips.
I have 3. 2 full size and one Commander size. I shoot 185grn jhp, 230grn ball, & 255grn HCFN.
The Smoking Lamp is lit, & the Kentucky Bourbon is on the bar. Show your'n, talk about what you like or don't like about the gun, ammo, carry rig, etc.
Top Left: Tisas, Davy Crockett Commemorative. Top Right: Colt 100th Anniversary. Bottom Center: Tisas Tanker.
Open in new tab to enlarge:
Re: Let's yak about 1911's
Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2025 7:34 pm
by Mags
Mine is a Rock Island Armscor 1911A1 GI Fullsize. Watched a few WWII TV shows and movies growing up, so developed a fascination for the pistol. Would have loved to had a vintage WWII pistol, but felt good about this substitute.
- 20191219_204433.jpg (3.96 MiB) Viewed 5893 times
- 51421---GI-Standard-FS-A1.jpg (382.35 KiB) Viewed 5893 times
Re: Let's yak about 1911's
Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2025 9:17 pm
by The Happy Kaboomer
I have some.........Best is a full size Colt customized by Armand Swenson.
Re: Let's yak about 1911's
Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2025 10:24 pm
by BrokenolMarine
I have several, my best is my Match 45 built on a Springfield frame and Slide by Jerry Keefer. He has sadly passed, but was admitted to the Pistolsmith's Guild before his passing. The gun is capable of much better shooting than I...
Re: Let's yak about 1911's
Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2025 11:25 pm
by rickhem
My first was a Colt Series 80 Stainless Gold Cup. Got that when I started shooting 2700s, and at about the same time that the dot sights were taking over in Bullseye. It got me shooting matches, and I shot it about as well as I was shooting my .38 revolver, but really wasn't confident with it. I shot other guys accurized 1911s much better, and my slow fire scores with both the .22 and the revolver were much better. I called every major pistolsmith in the country and asked about getting my gun tuned up, and from talking with a few, it became clear to me that they liked working on a blued gun better than stainless. They'd gladly do mine, but if I asked what they thought would be the best base for an accurate build, they all said the series 70 blued guns, or the Springfield guns were preferred. Too many extra parts in the Series 80 guns for the trigger they were capable of doing on a Series 70. So I sold my Series 80, and bought a really nice used Series 70 Government model. Sent that to D.R. Middlebrooks at what was then called The Combat Shop, and he built me the 1911 that I still shoot today. It's well over 30 years that I've had it, and it'll still shoot cleans if I do my part. Barrel and bushing are still tight, as is the slide and the frame, and the trigger is still a crisp 3.5 pounds. He sent the gun to me two different times to shoot, making sure everything was right, before the final bluing. I'm still very happy with it.
I have a Springfield slide, barrel, and a bunch of other parts, so I think I'm going to get myself a frame and put another one together as a kind of a fun project.
Re: Let's yak about 1911's
Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2025 10:04 am
by BigAl52
Ive got one 1911 in 45. Its one of Kimbers scatter guns. My Eclipse model doesnt get shot much as I have another 45 that will out shoot it by a long shot.
Re: Let's yak about 1911's
Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2025 10:37 am
by Hatchdog
Sadly I can’t play as my 1911 is chambered in that puny 9mm.
I did have a while ago a very nice Colt Series 70 in 45 acp. Sold it to a buddy who still shoots it. (Yes, he’s smarter than I am)
Re: Let's yak about 1911's
Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2025 10:38 am
by GunnyGene
Mags wrote: ↑Fri Apr 18, 2025 7:34 pm
Mine is a Rock Island Armscor 1911A1 GI Fullsize. Watched a few WWII TV shows and movies growing up, so developed a fascination for the pistol. Would have loved to had a vintage WWII pistol, but felt good about this substitute.
20191219_204433.jpg
51421---GI-Standard-FS-A1.jpg
1911A_-_Manual.pdf
You can still get Mil-Surp 1911's from CMP, but they are expensive.
https://thecmp.org/sales-and-service/1911-information/
Re: Let's yak about 1911's
Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2025 10:41 am
by GunnyGene
rickhem wrote: ↑Fri Apr 18, 2025 11:25 pm
My first was a Colt Series 80 Stainless Gold Cup. Got that when I started shooting 2700s, and at about the same time that the dot sights were taking over in Bullseye. It got me shooting matches, and I shot it about as well as I was shooting my .38 revolver, but really wasn't confident with it. I shot other guys accurized 1911s much better, and my slow fire scores with both the .22 and the revolver were much better. I called every major pistolsmith in the country and asked about getting my gun tuned up, and from talking with a few, it became clear to me that they liked working on a blued gun better than stainless. They'd gladly do mine, but if I asked what they thought would be the best base for an accurate build, they all said the series 70 blued guns, or the Springfield guns were preferred. Too many extra parts in the Series 80 guns for the trigger they were capable of doing on a Series 70. So I sold my Series 80, and bought a really nice used Series 70 Government model. Sent that to D.R. Middlebrooks at what was then called The Combat Shop, and he built me the 1911 that I still shoot today. It's well over 30 years that I've had it, and it'll still shoot cleans if I do my part. Barrel and bushing are still tight, as is the slide and the frame, and the trigger is still a crisp 3.5 pounds. He sent the gun to me two different times to shoot, making sure everything was right, before the final bluing. I'm still very happy with it.
I have a Springfield slide, barrel, and a bunch of other parts, so I think I'm going to get myself a frame and put another one together as a kind of a fun project.
Not surprised about the Series 70. All 3 of mine are, and they are better than series 80 out of the box. I'd enjoy following your project. Keep us posted.
Re: Let's yak about 1911's
Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2025 10:43 am
by GunnyGene
Hatchdog wrote: ↑Sat Apr 19, 2025 10:37 am
Sadly I can’t play as my 1911 is chambered in that puny 9mm.
I did have a while ago a very nice Colt Series 70 in 45 acp. Sold it to a buddy who still shoots it. (Yes, he’s smarter than I am)
You should save up for another in .45. Some good ones out there for reasonable prices. No excuses.
Re: Let's yak about 1911's
Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2025 10:45 am
by GunnyGene
BigAl52 wrote: ↑Sat Apr 19, 2025 10:04 am
Ive got one 1911 in 45. Its one of Kimbers scatter guns. My Eclipse model doesnt get shot much as I have another 45 that will out shoot it by a long shot.
I've read a number of complaints about the Kimbers, mostly being picky about ammo.
Re: Let's yak about 1911's
Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2025 10:46 am
by GunnyGene
The Happy Kaboomer wrote: ↑Fri Apr 18, 2025 9:17 pm
I have some.........Best is a full size Colt customized by Armand Swenson.
Can you show a pic and expand on what he did?
Re: Let's yak about 1911's
Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2025 10:55 am
by GunnyGene
BrokenolMarine wrote: ↑Fri Apr 18, 2025 10:24 pm
The gun is capable of much better shooting than I...
That seems to be a common problem that gets worse with age. I sure don't shoot as well as I did 50 years ago no matter how much I practice.
Re: Let's yak about 1911's
Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2025 11:32 am
by cooperhawk
I think I might have mentioned before that I had a Colt Gold Cup National Match at one time but my hands are too small to hold it properly, so I sold it. I do like 9mms though so a few years back I purchased a A Springfield Armory Model 1911 in 9mm. It's stainless and fits my hand much better, and is much cheaper to shoot. And more funl.
Re: Let's yak about 1911's
Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2025 12:09 pm
by Mags
Thank you for that site. Price is part of the reason I went Armscor.
Re: Let's yak about 1911's
Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2025 12:36 pm
by BigAl52
There isnt anything wrong with Armscor. They build a good gun for the money. I had a 1911 of theirs in 10mm and it would out shoot the Kimber I own
Re: Let's yak about 1911's
Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2025 12:45 pm
by North Country Gal
I've owned some great 1911s in 45 auto, including Dan Wessons, Springfield's and Kimbers (never had a single issue with the Kimbers, by the way). I never minded the recoil on the 45 autos, but once in awhile I get arthritis in my hands and when I do, racking the slide on a 45 auto is a real challenge, so I now shoot 9mms. Much easier to rack the 9mms. Still have a Springfield Range Officer in 9mm and, yeah, one of those evil double stack 1911 hybrids in 9mm which is my dedicated carry gun, though it's also a great range gun.
Re: Let's yak about 1911's
Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2025 3:41 pm
by BrokenolMarine
I mentioned the Springfield Match Gun. Here is a peek, with the custom grip panels and the Tanto I made to match.
- 04 maple 1.jpg (686 KiB) Viewed 5861 times
Then there is the Kimber Tactical Ultra II, a gift from Miss Tina, after a surgery many years ago. She meant it as an off duty carry piece, but my ON duty gun at the time was a Glock Model 22 (full size) 40 caliber... so I carried a Glock 27 40 cal off duty. I carried the Kimber for dressy things, if we were going out and I was in a suit or sport coat kinda thing. It's a shooter.
- Kimber Tactical Ultra II (2).JPG (221.42 KiB) Viewed 5861 times
I picked up this Taurus last year from an acqaintance who isn't a shooter and was actually afraid of the recoil. I turned him on to 4" K frame Smith Revolvers and he used the money from the sale of the 1911 to buy a used K frame. I had good sights put on to replace those Taurus factory sights and now It's a decent truck gun.
- Taurus 1911 NKR01139.jpg (219.57 KiB) Viewed 5861 times
He wanted to trade me for the Model 64 I let him try, but I buy guns, I don't usually sell them.
Re: Let's yak about 1911's
Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2025 6:21 pm
by Mags
BrokenolMarine wrote: ↑Sat Apr 19, 2025 3:41 pm
I mentioned the Springfield Match Gun. Here is a peek, with the custom grip panels and the Tanto I made to match.
04 maple 1.jpg
...
...and there we see the pink and orange Henry Forum towels from a few years ago.
Re: Let's yak about 1911's
Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2025 8:31 pm
by BigAl52
Nice Knife to BOM