1911 Full Length Dust Covers

They really appeal to me to. I like heavy guns, especially muzzle heavy ones. They balance better for me, and they really tame muzzle rise. I love the look, too. I'd love to give you sort of 1911 specific experience, but I won't get the one I ordered for another year...

If I remember right Les Baer has a patent on the full length dust cover. I don't really like the looks of them but I'm sure they help a little with recoil.

I have 3 Springfield Loaded models with the full railed frame.
TRP Operator, Loaded Operator and the Basic Operator all in 45 acp.
My wife and daughter absolutely love to shoot them, claim that the recoil is lighter due to the extra weight of the gun.

I was going to pick up one of the Les Baer monolith's but since I already have 3 1911's with full rails I don't see an advantage other than Les Baer makes excellent guns but his does not have the accessory rail cuts to hang lights and stuff off of.

Since my wife has claimed the TRP Loaded and my Daughter the Loaded Operator, my basic is out for some customizing. I think they are great for coon hunting through old abandoned houses at night, especially since you can have a light attached.
I have holsters for them that accommodate a light.

I like them for night activities like coon hunting and such in the woods and fields.

As long as the full length dust cover does not have a rail on it than I see not problem with it. However since most of these have rails I tend to stick with the standard.

How bout some pics??

Don't like them because of the difficulty in finding holsters.

Here's mine......

J.B.

Opinions please.......likes, dislikes on extended frames; full length dust covers on 1911's

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I dislike them on all handguns, along with FLGRs.

One of the appeals of a short dust cover and an internal guide rod is that, if designed properly (like a traditional 1911 or BHP), the pistol can be cycled with one hand just by pushing the front of the slide against a hard surface. Extended dust covers or FLGRs remove that capability, and require that the sights or other small protruberances be used to one-hand-cycle the weapon.

Parasite, I am making out the check; how much ?

I thought STI was the first one to come out with a full length dustcover, but that was on their double stack 2011.

The main advantage is that they're heavier, so they soak up recoil better.

The main disadvantage is that they're heavier. They're slower to draw and they're harder to stop and start when engaging multiple targets quickly.

Who's got a picture of the full cover on a 6 inch slide?




Here ya go Wditto.

http://www.fusionfirearms.com/servlet/the-543/Fusion-Pro-dsh-Series-Commander-Slab-dsh-Side%2C/Detail

the pistol can be cycled with one hand just by pushing the front of the slide against a hard surface. Extended dust covers or FLGRs remove that capability

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the barrel goes back a bit [1/4" or so] and than pivots down and stops moving.
rbernie-- i am unable to cycle the slide as you describe without regard of the guide rod length.

can you please elaborate?

as to a full dust cover, i have shoot them and did not notice a significant difference as to recoil.

Love them personally for aesthetic reasons. Have never fired a 1911 with a full dust cover so can't comment on recoil. Do currently own a Sig P220 Match SAO which has a bit longer slide and barrel than a standard P220 and owned for quite some time a Glock G35 which also has a longer than standard slide and barrel. Preferred both those weapons to their standard length counterparts, especially when it comes to accuracy.

My current obsession would have to be with the Guncrafter Industries Model 2

http://www.m1911.org/ezine/gi2.htm

rbernie-- i am unable to cycle the slide as you describe without regard of the guide rod length.

can you please elaborate?

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Sure.

Stand in front of a table or counter or doorframe or any other hard surface. Kitchen counters work best for learnin', so we'll start with that. Hold your traditional 1911 (no extended dust cover or FLGR) in either hand with the barrel parallel to the countertop. Place the flat front of the slide - that section just below the muzzle of the barrel, where the guide rod plug sits - against the side of the countertop with the barrel just peeking out over the top of the counter and push forward. You want to push the frame forward under the slide, with the slide solidly jammed up against the hard surface, until the frame's dust cover hits the hard surface that's pinning the front of the slide. The dimensions of things are calculated such that you can completely run the slide to the rear in this fashion, both clearing the chamber and getting the breechface behind the top round in the magazine so that it can pick up a fresh round on its way into battery.

This takes a bunch of words to describe, but it's insanely simply to do. I can do it using the heel of my sneakers, or just about any edged surface that I can find. I often do press checks using the base of my index finger on my weak hand as the 'edge' and slightly pushing the slide back with the off hand and pushing forward a wee bit with the strong hand.

If there's a guide rod sticking out of this flat front of the slide - you can't do it. If the dust cover is too long - it won't work. To the best of my knowledge, only the stock 5" 1911 and BHP have this capability. (The CZ75 comes close, but the dust cover is a wee bit too long and the slide won't go far enough rearward to pick up a new round..)

This method of running a pistol with one hand is a whole lot easier than trying to hook a rear sight or someothersuchthing...

Cover

I own a Baer Monolith Heavy (my favorite 1911). I like the full length dust cover. However, I believe there is more going on with this pistol. Seems to me Baer lightened the rear end and moved weight forward. The pistol handles extremely well and has the most comfortable recoil "pulse" I've felt. With a full magazine the feel of this pistol is superior also. There's more to Les Baers Patent than the "dust cover", I think. If it was just the dust cover I don't think he could patent it. As there are earlier full length dust covers. All this is just my opinion based on owning one and shooting it. I've had many 1911's, including full house customs. Still do. But the Monolith has become my favorite pistol to shoot. I literally have to make myself take another pistol to the range. It's that good.

Full Length Dust Cover

The opinion of a 1911/1911A1 purist; Full length dust covers are nice, but if a pistol has a full length dust cover it obviously isn't a 1911 or a 1911A1. It is something else.

thats one awesome 1911!

This is an old thread someone bounced up...

Here is the holy grail of Springfield Operators

The Custom Shop Full Rail Operator.... It was an 11 month wait. Mine is in 9mm, actually.





And here, you can see the hand checkering on the front strap... (I like Payhmeyer grips)

double post mods please remove this post

Their uglier than than Supreme Court want to be