Tuner ol' boy we agree on just about everything...............including the dogs we own. Except mine has a 'Border' attached to her...........
Anyway I grew up in L.E. work researching all the gun greats...........Cooper, Jordan, Keith, Smith, and a few others. Then of course have added my own experiences to the mix as well.
I'm fortunate to be a state L.E. firearms instructor and have been able to receive free training from some of the above greats. The most memorable of course is the 'Colonel'. High strung, surprised he hasn't had multiple heart attacks........anyway he & I got along real well because of our philosophy about 1911's He was surprised that someone so much younger than he had the same opinions..........okay about 99.9% of them anyway.
I've never taken your threads as anything but informative. I've responded to many a thread about trouble shooting and you always seem to come in behind me and go deeper with the subject. I guess you have a way with those things. You explain things out alot better than I, and I still don't take offense. Me............work on 1911..........get pay check. Not sure how somone could take you for anything else, but that's life.
I've been in 3 on duty shootings, taint nice but one must be prepped for it if you're going to do that line of work. My philosophy has always been "Look at the best L.E. gear you can afford........then get the better stuff, because some day your life will depend on it"
There's way too much gimmick crap out there, stuff that has no redeeming value whatsoever. Anyway..........here's my take on your ideas on 1911 'schtuff'
Grip Safeties - I do like the BT, DT, or whatever T you call them..........okay so we agree on 99.9% of stuff. To each their own. I've not had a problem obtaining the same consistant grip out of the holster. 3-5,000 repetitons will solve that. With any gun that one expects to use for defense, practice with it...........then do it some more. That gun should be an extension of your arm. Then you won't need the rear sight.
Front Strap - Yes leave mine smooth. But like you, I do like the factory Colt wrap around rubber grip with the pepple like texture. I've got a set on my SS Colt duty gun. Just enough grip without too much glue hold. I also have a SA Loaded which has the Ahrends tactical grips.........the type with the checkering angled on the bottom of the grip. I've left the front strap smooth. No problems with grip. Got back from my Firearms Instructors seminar 2 weeks ago. The weather was about 100 degrees everyday. Even with sweaty hands........no problemos.
Sights - My 3 shootings were 15yds, 10yds, & 4 feet. The first 2, I had time and used my sights. The last one (4 feet), no sights, no time......the shot went exactly where I was lookin'. At his jaw jackin' mouth,......lower teeth.......just left of center. Which means if you practice enough with a given gun, you'll do the same.
Rule of thumb........if your target is bigger than your front sight, don't bother.......you won't have time to. If your sight is bigger than your target, better get on them.
I like a good front sight for a flash picture. As soon as the front sight hits the target, the hammer is a droppin' We're talking combat shooting here, no games. Not worried 'bout 20 rounds at 10yds covering the area of a pin head. A'int got time for bullseye stuff, but make sure ya get the vitals!
I like any of the good combat sights out there on the market, I've tried most of them. I've got Wilsons on my SS Colt, and the Novaks (came with) on my SA Loaded. I've also tried Heinie and Brown, like them both. But the front sight is the most important, the rear is just there for the longer shot. All of my rear sights are blacked out, so they don't draw my eye to them.
Serrations - Huh? What? What are they good for on a combat gun? They are on my SA laoded, but then I didn't have a choice.
I'm not into bells & whistles, just things that make a good combat gun (the 1911) into a great one. As Cooper would say........"git yourself some good sights that you can pickup on, a smooth solid trigger and have it so reliable that it will feed and extract empty brass.........with or without dirt"
I like good combat sights..........yes the rear one too. A good trigger 5+lbs please.
A narrow extended thumb safety. I do alot of shooting, and those Gi's aren't big enough for me to get a constant contact. And when going thru some of the classes I go thru, comfort on the thumb helps. Same for the BT grip safety. After about 50-70 rounds of hardball with a GI GS, the web of my hand starts getting an imprint of the tail. We're not talkin' about hammer bite, just an imprint. So Tuner, if you've got one that doesn't leave an imprint let me know.......send me one......I'd like to try it. A funneled mag well. I've not tried the added mag wells, I just open up what's already there. Grips, see above........
Full length guide rod..........uh not needed, but I like my spring to ride on something.
I like a flat MS housing with the Ed Brown Snakeskin job. Its less than checkering, which if doing extended range time won't leave basket weave on your palm. It has the right amount of grip..........for me. Kinda like the factory Colt rubber wrap around grips. The sakeskin may seem to some as "flashy" or "Bells & Whislte" stuff, but its nothing different than checkering or serrations on the back strap, just a different style...........to each their own.
So there ya go. All my likes are based on .......obviously what I like, but more important to me........what has worked in actual duty use.........my own and with other L.E. folks.
Which is probably why I've got 3 1911's sitting on my bench with their owners hounding me to get them done. L.E. people want me to build theirs like mine, and who am I to turn them down.
I like to express to others why I do certain things, and I also like to hear from others what and what hasn't worked. I'm always open in listening to something new...........so come on..........light up this thread!
