Then there is the late Pat Rogers who moved to the M&P http://www.swatvault.com/weapons-training-and-tactics/putting-down-the-man-gun/
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My primary reason for leaving the 1911 will most likely be because I think the 1911 is a gunsmith gun while the more modern guns are armorer guns.
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On the other hand, even if you have no mechanical skills yourself, you can find just about anybody at the local gun store who can install new sights on a Glock in a few minutes, and nearly every part can be swapped out without using a file or stone, and they just snap into place.
Great post! Totally agree with these points. And I’m one of those guys who is comfortable stripping a Glock to pieces, and “bolting on parts”, but scared to try and tweak or fit parts on it with any type of file, stone, etc.
Nothing. Heck, generally speaking, I don't think you have to do anything to improve most current production 1911's.What does one have to do to improve new Colt Rail Gun?
A great many 1911 parts drop in if you buy quality 1911s and parts. Yep, some parts need fitting for best function.
What does one have to do to improve new Colt Rail Gun? Granted it costs about twice as much as a Glock but one is getting all stainless gun not something made half of molded plastic. From my perspective switching parts on Glock to make it more user friendly or in some way better is just unnesessary wast of money.
My primary reason for leaving the 1911 will most likely be because I think the 1911 is a gunsmith gun while the more modern guns are armorer guns.
When I began shooting the 1911 in the late 1980's, there was somebody at nearly every gun shop, even in small towns, who could skillfully work on 1911's, though even then, those guys were getting a old.
My two Springfield Armory 1911's needed gunsmith attention right out of the box. The plunger tube on one of them was loose and had to be restaked. The other one had feeding issues.
I have a extended thumb safety on one of them. I decided a quite awhile back that I don't like it and want to reinstall the original thumb safety. The problem is the original thumb safety is very rough and difficult to operate and needs to be fitted. I have not had it fitted yet because I have not found a local "gunsmith" that I believe has the necessary knowledge to do the job correctly. Most "gunsmiths" in my area are into modular guns such as the AR and modern semi-autos. I don't even think about letting them touch my revolvers.
My two Springfield Armory 1911's needed gunsmith attention right out of the box. The plunger tube on one of them was loose and had to be restaked. The other one had feeding issues.
I have a extended thumb safety on one of them. I decided a quite awhile back that I don't like it and want to reinstall the original thumb safety. The problem is the original thumb safety is very rough and difficult to operate and needs to be fitted. I have not had it fitted yet because I have not found a local "gunsmith" that I believe has the necessary knowledge to do the job correctly.
I am demanding when it comes to having my guns worked on. One of the local talent could install the safety but I want a crisp, smooth off and on operation, not a mushy one. Most "gunsmiths" in my area are into modular guns such as the AR and modern semi-autos. I don't even think about letting them touch my revolvers.
Then there is the late Pat Rogers who moved to the M&P http://www.swatvault.com/weapons-training-and-tactics/putting-down-the-man-gun/
I'm still a 1911 guy, but I do see myself moving away from the 1911 in the not too distant future, not because it isn't relevant, or is heavy, is best when pared with the relatively expensive and heavy recoiling .45 Auto, or low capacity, or has a safety. My primary reason for leaving the 1911 will most likely be because I think the 1911 is a gunsmith gun while the more modern guns are armorer guns.
When I began shooting the 1911 in the late 1980's, there was somebody at nearly every gun shop, even in small towns, who could skillfully work on 1911's, though even then, those guys were getting a old. Today, most folks working in a gun shop don't know how to work a thumb safety, or realize you probably can't release the slide of a 1911 with an empty mag inserted. Sure, there are some spectacular gunsmiths working 1911's these days, and some are probably the best ever, but many, if not most, have wait times measured in months, if not years.
On the other hand, even if you have no mechanical skills yourself, you can find just about anybody at the local gun store who can install new sights on a Glock in a few minutes, and nearly every part can be swapped out without using a file or stone, and they just snap into place.
Went into one of the local gun shops yesterday (pretty quiet on Monday Morning) and one of the clerks I know was sitting behind the counter with a few files, a box full of small parts, a raw frame and slide, happily rough fitting a 1911. Age? About 30. I don't know how many he has built but It's about the Fourth time I've caught him building a 1911. I know 2 Older Smiths + 1 in his mid 30's that you trust not to butcher a 1911.
I don't think the 1911 is going to die anytime soon. After all the Colt SAA is still around. But I know a lot of guys that used to carry the 1911 that now carry a Glock or M&P.
Like I said I'm going to at least bring out of retirement and shoot it a bit. Remains to be seen if I'm going to carry it.
Gotta say, I still chuckle about that anecdote about the instructor event where 48 out of the 50 instructors were packing Glocks or M&Ps, and only two (dinosaurs) had 1911s. There's been a huge cultural shift over the past 15 or so years in the handgun community, but I'll still give more respect to the dedicated 1911 guys over the millennial plastic pistol guys.
As far as Pat Rogers (whom I always respected), he was honest about his physical issues and the reason he went to 9mm; yes, he acknowledged that on today's streets, more bullets on tap was preferable, but his conversion as an instructor was mostly a nod to his tendonitis and arthritis problems (and unfortunately, I'm intimately familiar with those issues).
So true, and just because some one is 19 and looks a little green doesn't mean they don't know what they are doing.Just because someone is long in the tooth and toting a 1911 doesn't mean he knows how to use it
With very hard use (high volume rental), the part on a Glock that seems most prone to breaking, according to a lot of info provided by the owner is Battlefield Las Vegas, is the front section of the slide. That’s a metal part. And based on his observations, it’s not just Glocks. Their Sig 226’s, Beretta 92’s, and 1911’s are all prone to wearing out and eventually breaking from high round counts and semi-abusive handling by customers and crew. The one thing that is most impressive is the Glocks will continue to function with completely broken frames (but their point of aim shifts significantly).
He might be the owner/employee (?). However, isn't very knowledgeable on the guns. i.e didn't know what the Beretta locking block was called, nor do 1911's have trigger springs.
Its actually the rear of the slides frame rail where the Gen4's are prone to breaking (20-30k). I knew there was a reason I preferred my gen3's...
Makes sense as I once dropped a Glock slide and ruined it.
One of the youtube gun people ( no clue which one) did a reliability interview with the same place with a young gunsmith. He stated the most common issue was the safety snapping and the sear/disconnect Now RIA's and Springers are full of MIM so take that however you wish.
Quick math.. The cheapest magtech ammo using WikiArms is 0.16 a pop. (Its what they use, I am sure they get it quite a bit cheaper.)
So your in $16,000 - $25,000 before your frame is broken on the steel guns. Is it that big of a deal? Go buy another.
Kinda like a member on another board shooting the heck out of 2 G5 Glock 19's.. Both broke the same part in the trigger housing at 10k rounds ish.. Its a ten dollar part fix it and move on..
They are machines. If you havent had a malfunction, you simply have not shot enough.
Not always, but most of the time it does.You can identify any way you wish these days. Want to be a Millennial? No problem, be a Millennial.
So true, and just because some one is 19 and looks a little green doesn't mean they don't know what they are doing.
Why is it that people feel the need to question the ability of the 1911 to function in a defensive role. The firearm served our military under combat conditions for over 70 years. I think the question was answered long ago.