1911's overrated?

[theken206]

well, the fact that 90+ percent of the worlds top pistol shooters tend to use a 1911 of some sort says alot to me

the last hrt team to go through gunsite uses them, the last SEAL team to go through gunsite does as well. plenty others im sure

 

[Weedmonk]

I like 1911s and own full, mid, and small size versions in .45acp, 40S&W, and 9mm - as well as a .22lr conversion slide. My EDC, however, is either a Sig P220 or a Glock G26 depending on the situation.

 

[stolivar]

I own 3 of them

My last two have been flawless out of the box. Both RIA's .. the one that has a trouble is my old 1927 sistema.


steve

 

[Beagle-zebub]

I like it, but I'm not going to say that it doesn't have some anachronistic features. Single-stack mags are a no-no (but then, just get a 2011), the barrel-bushing system could stand to be (like on other autos, not bull-barrel 1911s/2011s), the swinging link is obsolete, and arguably those little radial locking lugs are, too. (Compare them in strength to the big lug on a USP, or the ejection-port interlock of a Glock or XD. Sure, the 1911 lugs do what they were designed for, but we rightly out to be asking for more in this day and age.) The trigger and profile ought to be kept, though the former could perhaps stand to be modified such that it does get messed up when the slide is released on an empty chamber. A ramped barrel is always a good mod. Someone like 1911Tuner or Old Fuff could probably give further suggestions, such as on the breechface or whatever--my criticisms are aimed at making the thing stand up to a steady diet of hot 10mm.

 

[Quoheleth]

My father was a Radioman/Navigator on C46 Commando cargo aircraft WWII, flying from India to China. The aircrew were issued only
1911s as part of their survival 'kit' in case of bail out.

R-

Is this when we get a "What grain of .45ACP for self-defense against a yak?" thread started?



Q

 

[hemiram]

I don't find the grip on a 1911 comfortable at all. Give me a CZ75/clone type anytime. I've owned 2 1911's, both were duds, to be nice about it, and I seriously doubt I'll ever own another, unless some awesome deal comes along, and if one does, it will get sold ASAP.

 

[Hunter0924]

Everyone is entitled to their opinion.
I form mine with my experience and discount what folks I don't know post an internet forum.
Look at it like this when the "1911" was invented the Wright brothers were still working in a bicycle shop.
Airplanes have come a long way but a better fighting handgun has not been developed.

 

[tbtrout]

It is all what you like and are comfortable shooting.

 

[Jeff F]

A mil-spec 1911 is one of the most reliable side arms one can own. I don't think its overrated one bit.

 

[rondog]

People say the same thing about Harleys...outdated and overrated, but they seem to have done well over time and held their popularity too. I love the 1911 platform, just...BECAUSE! I don't need to provide a reason. I can't speak about all the modern pistols, never held or shot any. I fell for the 1911 mystique right off, a new RIA GI model, and they were on sale too.

 

[308sc]

no its a classic design. That will not be outdated for many years to come.

 

[surjimmy]

In a word "NO" they are not overrated. Are there better guns out there? Sure(but not for me). But a fact is a fact the 1911 has been around in service for 2 World Wars, Korea, Viet Nam, The Gulf, DS, our present day Wars and God only knows how many conflicts, and it keeps going and going. What Hunter0924 said.

 

[elChupacabra!]

Hmmm my first double tap.... sorry guys

 

[AndyC]

Nah - the only people who think 1911s are over-rated are those timid souls who are too incompetent to drive them properly

Seriously, improvements and mods can be made to any pistol to make it better for that particular shooter. An old design? Of course it is - but it set the pattern for a lot of the designs in more modern firearms and can still more than hold its own almost 100 years later.

 

[Pilgrim]

Perhaps it was Massad Ayoob who commented that crooks study cops and form opinions of their ability based on the sidearm they carried.

This was in the time that most cops carried revolvers. When a crook saw a cop with a semi-auto, he decided that this cop was a cut above average. When he saw the sidearm was a Model 1911, he assumed the cop was an expert who practiced often and would efficiently take care of 'business'.

Pilgrim

 

[conan]

Sure, the 1911 lugs do what they were designed for, but we rightly out to be asking for more in this day and age.)

One of my 1911's is capable of 1" and a half groups at 50 yards. I see not how I could ask more of it.

 

[cerberus65]

I never did pay attention in history class...

And I would wager that you haven't ever shot a 1911.

There are two triggers which will ruin you for all the lesser triggers in the world: the SA trigger pull on a Smith & Wesson revolver and a 1911.

I have yet to buy a 1911. Mostly it's because I have to really work up to spending that kind of money (I'm cheap, I admit it) but there's also the price of .45 ammo. I have shot several 1911's and each time I have been amazed at how well I shoot them. I have a reloading press now. So soon I will be joining the 1911 club.

Try one. Try several. I really didn't want to like them but once I tried them it was impossible to avoid.

 

[Kman]

I have yet to find one that I couldn't get to run perfectly, hardball or hollow points, the list includes but is not limited to: colt
Kimber
Springfield
Taurus
RIA
AMT
Charles Daly
AO
RR
Such a versatile handgun, simply beautiful in design.

 

[John Wayne]

Overrated? No.

Outdated? No.

Right for everyone, in every situation? Also no.

There are many factors which go into (or at least should go into) the selection and purchase of a firearm. You shouldn't buy a 1911 because it was designed by John Browning or because "real Americans only shoot .45 ACP," you should buy one because it suits your needs.

A great firearm is a culmination of many things. There are many popular guns, for various reasons, but there is no "end all, be all" gun.

 

[marklbucla]

There are two triggers which will ruin you for all the lesser triggers in the world: the SA trigger pull on a Smith & Wesson revolver and a 1911.

I am selling off all my other handguns because nothing else comes close to the triggers on my 1911s.

there's also the price of .45 ammo.

Who says it has to be a .45? The 1911 is great in 9mm and .22LR as well.

 

[weisse52]

Nah - the only people who think 1911s are over-rated are those timid souls who are too incompetent to drive them properly

I never did pay attention in history class...
And I would wager that you haven't ever shot a 1911.

Yeah, that pretty well sums up my thought.

If you think they are overrated...do not buy one. There, that was easy, problem solved.

 

[theotherwaldo]

No one has asked what the military functions of a large-frame military pistol are in this day and age.

Until that question is asked, answered, and then compared to the characteristics of existing sidearms, this question is meaningless.

 

[TimboKhan]

I don't know about being over-rated, but they are undeniably over-hyped. It's a good pistol design, no doubt. It is not, regardless of the hype, the only or even the best pistol design there is.

I don't think you can make one single logical argument that someone armed with (for example) a Sig is one iota better or worse off than someone armed with a 1911. When that ceases to be quantifiably true, then I will back off my claim that they are over-hyped.

 

[msb45]

The irony of posts like this are twofold:

• on one hand you're able to express such opinions because of guys who used a 1911 to defend your right to say it.
• on the other hand our society has become so wimpy that carrying 39oz of steel is too much, .45 recoil is too much, and God forbid you carry in condition 1

 

[AndyC]

It is not, regardless of the hype, the only or even the best pistol design there is.

Fair enough - so which pistol is the best-designed, then, and why?