Thanks for the info. Makes sense.

I've had 2 19's, a 17, a 22 and a 30 over the years, but never kept them more than a few months, because I couldn't get used to the trigger. I don't ever remember any of KB's or failures to function, but I just didn't spend enough time to get used to them.

I plan on getting a Sig 239 DA/SA when one becomes available.

(Not to hijack away from 1911 rail guns...)

After all the talk of HKs on this forum, it's nice see that a few QPs use SIGs, let alone appreciate them. :cool:

I will always treasure the 1911 as it's the first model ever I could shoot hole-in-hole. It's also still the most hand/grip friendly IMHOO. If you look at the handle cross section, then your hand cross section from under with fingers flexed, it's an elliptical shape. Not a tapered rectangle (ahem....glocks)

Having said that, once I solidified muscle memory/neuro pathway with a G17, I never looked back. Besides, once D Sevigny beat $2000+ 1911 custom with his $600 G34 on national and international matches, the switch was obvious. Also, glock mod costs a few bucks here and there vs. 1911's few hundreds here and there. I experimented with the G17 striker spring and hard primers ie. reducing the coil to the point where it can still ignite hard primers. Now, it has "almost" a 1911 or HK SA pull to it.No prob with 100 yds torso shot.

Had it not for the match M9 I'm saving for, I too was planning to get the Sig 239. Dead solid reliable. I was teaching a 14 yo lady with poor forearm strength and that G17 never survived one shot without FTE, FT full battery, etc. Switched her to Sig239 and not a single failure. With renewed confidence in the tool, she was able to focus more on fundamentals and got all head shots at 10 yards. For a first timer, I called her intro session a success.

Ditto on the CAG switch to glock. At least the three of them I ran into at separate time and place verified it. The maintenance cost of 1911 vs glock was a stark contrast.

oops...sorry for the hijack.....threads on 1911 tend to get hijacked a lot here :D

Please PM me with modifications you used to get a (almost) 1911 trigger pull.

Me too!

Kimber Parts Place Holder
 

An excellent read for 1911 duty use is www.10-8performance.com as a well thought out information resource. Go to the tab "Articles" and you'll see numerous articles covering selection, magazines, manufacturing, etc. This is updated regularly and is all real world information.

I own a Kimber Custom TLE II and as was said to me when I took their excellent 1911 user course, THE GLOCK APPRECIATION CLASS. They offer a course other than the Armorers Course, which showed me all the potential problems of the 1911.

Plain and simple, the 1911 has become a hobby gun. If you own one, you need to own a second so you have one available when the other one gets sent off for repairs. Also, units that carry the 1911 have full-time Armorers to maintain them. Do you?

Magazines are all Chip McCormick for me. Some types of Wilson mags have shown to be no good; the version with the slot down the middle flexes and goes out of shape.

I like my 1911, but I carry a SIG 220 for work. That being said, going global would have a Glock on my side, as they are everywhere and parts follow.

Of note with my Kimber, I have an external extractor, though it is a Seriess II pistol. I was told Kimber went back to an internal extractor. During our class, I was able to take the pistol down to every pin and spring. It took five hands to hold all the parts for the unique Kimber extractor assembly to line up all the pins and springs. Not something you want to attempt in the middle of some foreign land or even a living room.

As much as I like the 1911, and the SIG, the HK45C is what will replace the others. SIG has had some QC issues over the years, but I have never had a failure with either 220 or 226 I own. The Kimber 1911 is a tack driver, but I did have a couple of failures to lock back. Replacement of a part fixed that, but it sticks in my mind and has been said here... We do as many 1911 drills to work around the failure as we do to operate it.

Buy an HK and never compromise. :D

FlagDayNCO

IMHO, saying all 1911s are ill produced and breakage prone is like saying all Harley's Spew oil and cant stay on the road. What was true 20 years ago is not necessarily true today. There are plenty of well built, high quality 1911s on the market today at varying price points.

For reference, I carry a Glock 22 for duty carry and a 27 for off duty (only because my agency requires it). I am my agencies National Armorer and I fix broken Glocks almost daily. They are not bulletproof and they require maintenance/repairs just like any other weapon. They are not the holy grail of pistols that Glocks marketing machine would have you believe. Don't get me wrong, they are a reliable, serviceable option but they are not the end all, be all. The same can be said of pretty much any other major brand, IMO.

My recommendation to the OP is that you'll get your money's worth and a reliable weapon from the major companies' mass produced 1911s such as Springfield or Kimber. If you have the funds go with a reputable custom builder and have one built to your specs (such as Wilson or Ed Brown).


The main thing is to become as proficient as possible with whatever weapon you settle on.

When I get big, I'm gonna get a Sig just like Ziva's. :D

Thanks to everybody for the input--I actually do appreciate it.

I have put a Colt Rail gun on order. I decided to stick with the 1911, primarily because it just fits my small hands so well, and I shoot it well.

Another factor is that all my holsters, mags, mag pouches etc. are for 1911s. With all the $$ I'm laying out for this volunteer Sheriff's Reserve, all I can say is I've got this pain in the pocketbook. (in fact, I learned just yesterday that the dept. doesn't even provide us Reserve Deputies with portable radios--so I get to add that to the growing list of stuff to buy)---its a good thing my wife is a patient and understanding woman. :D

If I may make a suggestion: When you get the gun, detail disassemble it and soak all the metal parts (everything but the grips) in mineral oil overnight. Scrub the parts with a toothbrush, wipe them down and then clean it as you normally would, but leave a fairly heavy film of CLP or whatever you use on the parts and reassemble it. Then fire as many rounds as you can afford (at least a couple hundred, if you can get it) of your duty ammo through the weapon. After that, detail disassemble it again, clean and lube normally.

Dusty: Thanks for the recommendation--I'll give it a shot (pun intended), once it comes in--its on backorder and the dealer said he had no idea when he might get one in.......

Well, that'll give you time to stock up on ammo...wait. ;)

Congrats. I think you'll be happy. Here's a pic of my custom Colt Officers. One of my favorites.

I have a basic GI 1911A1 from Springfield Armory. Nothing fancy, just a "vanilla" handgun. About two years ago while qualifying for Title 18 carry, it malfunctioned three times. I still passed but was concerned a little because I was using Winchester SXT at the time. My Instructor (a ret. QP) and I had a problem with trying to figure out what was going wrong. So I sent it back to SA along with the magazine I was using and advised them that this was my carry gun and explained the malfunctions. I even advised them the ammo used.

Got it back within 2 weeks with a new barrel and fitted barrel bushing. Since then it hasn't malfunctioned once.

With that kind of unexpected service, I'm going to stay with them. It is a great Winter handgun for Title 18 carry but not so much in the summer. Going to go with something this summer that is smaller and that I can hide while running/walking.

Kind of tired carrying the .45 in Blackhawks version of this www.activeprogear.com/jogger_holster.html and being asked all the time, "Where's the Puppy?":rolleyes: