Finally, a 1911

[Good Ol' Boy]

As some of you may know I've been wanting and looking for a while for a 1911 in the $600 or less range. I wasn't concerned so much with brand as a couple of specific features. They were, extended thumb safety, beavertail and actual sights.

Well today I stopped by the LGS and spotted a Girsan MC 1911 C on sale. I had seen these online and they seemed to get decent reviews. Long story short, it had the features I was looking for, came with 3 mags, extra grips and some cleaning supplies in a nice little case for $330 marked down from $500.

It feels and looks well built but who knows. I will shoot it this weekend and report back.


NOTE: I did not want a 1911 with pic rails but I think I can live with it given the bargain.

 

[nettlle]

Nice looking gun! 1911's can be addictive you know.

 

[jdc1244]

1911s are a true joy to shoot – a classic platform and cartridge.

Looking forward to the range report.

 

[Hanzo581]

Nice, still kicking myself for waiting so long to dive into a 1911 now it's one of my fave to shoot. Hope it shoots well for ya!

 

[bannockburn]

Good 'Ol Boy

Well that's certainly one nice looking 1911 you've got there! At $300 don't see were you could go wrong, even if does come with the rail. Grips look great too! The only thing I might be concerned with would be if most mainstream 1911 parts will work on the Girsan with little or no extra fitting required. Other than that awaiting your first range report.

 

[drband]

Enjoy! I've heard good things about the Turkish 1911s!

 

[lsudave]

The only thing I might be concerned with would be if most mainstream 1911 parts will work on the Girsan with little or no extra fitting required.

I've heard good things about the Turkish 1911s

I've got a Tisas, and it seems like everything can swap over from my brother's Colts. With modern CNC machinery, I think any decent company with the equipment can make a 1911. Question comes down to steel, and I'm comfortable that the Turks use good steel.

 

[bullseye308]

I have a Girsan 45 too and it shoots nicely. It groups well but about 5" low and I'm having trouble with getting replacement sights for it. The fit and finish is very nice, no rattles, and no malfunctions so far. Gave $340 for mine nib. It also has a rail but it is plastic and screws on.

 

[bannockburn]

Isudave

I have a Girsan 45 too and it shoots nicely. It groups well but about 5" low and I'm having trouble with getting replacement sights for it.

This is kind of what I'm talking about: some aftermarket parts may not work or even be available for the Girsan. I think when the Taurus 1911 first came out their sights were a proprietary design and most regular 1911 sights wouldn't fit on them.

 

[bikerdoc]

Good luck.

Heard good things.

 

[gotboostvr]

Isudave



This is kind of what I'm talking about: some aftermarket parts may not work or even be available for the Girsan. I think when the Taurus 1911 first came out their sights were a proprietary design and most regular 1911 sights wouldn't fit on them.

That's why my first 1911 was a used Norinco.

I could afford to buy and shoot it "as is" and since it's a direct Colt CLONE I've been able to pretty much replace everything but the frame and slide with Wilson Combat, Ed Brown, Caspian, Storm Lake and LPA.
I think a few factory Colt small bits and pieces as well.

That's not something easily done on even some expensive 1911's.

 

[lsudave]

That's why my first 1911 was a used Norinco.

I could afford to buy and shoot it "as is" and since it's a direct Colt CLONE I've been able to pretty much replace everything but the frame and slide with Wilson Combat, Ed Brown, Caspian, Storm Lake and LPA.
I think a few factory Colt small bits and pieces as well.

Ok, I get your point on that.

I'm thinking base USGI configuration; not for sure, but I think my Tisas has the same rear dovetail and pinned front sights as a base Colt. I've seen somebody post his "upgrading" his own Tisas, and his reports were good.

Certainly, if I could get a cheap Norinco, I'd have gone that route myself, but those are scarce now.

 

[Cannibul]

Good 'Ol Boy

Well that's certainly one nice looking 1911 you've got there! At $300 don't see were you could go wrong, even if does come with the rail. Grips look great too! The only thing I might be concerned with would be if most mainstream 1911 parts will work on the Girsan with little or no extra fitting required. Other than that awaiting your first range report.

I've got 13 1911 pistols. There are NO drop in parts. There are undersized parts, and then there are parts that work. The 1911 isn't a Glock.

 

[bannockburn]

Cannibul

The 1911 isn't a Glock.

Never said it was.

My concern was more about some aftermarket parts, like sights, maybe not fitting properly on the Girsan 1911.

I have had a dozen or more 1911s over the years, have worked on them for friends, and have assembled a couple from the frame up. Have "dropped in" any number of grip safeties, slide stops, and complete barrel assemblies. All fit perfectly, didn't require any additional fitting, and worked just as they should.

 

[Tallball]

Congratulations! I bought a Tisas (Turkish) 1911 a few years ago. I paid $400. It has been perfectly reliable and more accurate than I am. You will enjoy your new purchase!

 

[Good Ol' Boy]

Thanks for the replies guys.

Took it with me to my normal weekly session and shot it after doing my normal drills with my two 9's I use for SD. Ran a box of Browning 185 through it and will not be buying that ammo again. I have no idea why they make there .380 and .45ACP FMJ's flat nose but their 9mm round. I've had problems with their .380 stuff before and didn't look in the box of .45 to see what it was before I bought it.

Anyhow, first shot resulted in a failure to feed the second round right off the bat. Second mag another FTFeed on the 3rd shot. No problems after that. I don't know if it was the ammo or just it being a new gun. I've read where 1911's specifically can take a couple hundred rounds to "break in". I have no idea if that's true. What I do know is that I will be running only round nose in the future being that this is strictly a range gun for me.

The trigger is on the heavy side for a SA. If I had to guess I'd say 6-7lbs. However it has a pretty clean break and very little take up. Hoping that the trigger may get a "little" better with time.

Overall I'm happy. It shot quite well.


Last group of the day at 10yds....

 

[nettlle]

It shoots to the point of aim and is accurate. Those are very good things. I have read various things about break in. I have one 1911 that had 3 failures to feed in the first 500 rounds and haven't had any problems many thousands of rounds since.

It's a nice looking 1911 and for what you paid you did very well.

 

[drband]

I'm willing to bet you'll grow to love that 1911 in .45acp!

Nothing else shoots like that platform.
Bonus: You can customize it to your heart's content if you so desire!

 

[gotboostvr]

Bringing down that trigger weight a little to around 4lbs should help immensely and could probably be done fairly inexpensively just by taking it apart and cleaning up and rough spots and properly lubricating it.

Congrats on your new shooter!

 

[Rudedog]

When I turned 21 in '78 I bought myself a Colt Series 70. I still have it and it runs great! Many thousands of rounds thru it.