I'm looking for opinions on the S&W 1911's. Thoughts?

I have the PC 1911 bobtail. I know some do not like the orange grips but to me they are just fine.

If you have not held one with the bobtail vs the standard give it a try. It really feels good. I have several 1911s and this is my favorite.

Russ

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US Veteran 1970-1974

Good value. I've had 4 and got rid of all of them. 3 inch wouldn't feed hollow points, but fun to shoot and very accurate. 5 inch no longer in production was ok save for the very loose trigger. 5 inch E series came with a loose msh and an oblong hole for the mesh pin. Trigger was still loose but not as bad as they used to be. Nice fire control. Lastly, 4.25 inch all black E series. Finish was very soft, shot extremely accurately. Trigger still a little too loose for me. Also, there have been some reports of the plunger tube sheering off. I'm in the people's republic of Ma where we have limited options. Would love to be able to consider a Springer or DW as they're generally considered better guns.

I have had multiple S&W 1911s. They have all been great guns (except the latest production 5"). My DC is the 1911SC all black roundtail. This is rock solid reliable.
I would recommend you look at them.

All the S&W 1911's are pretty good. I am hunting the elusive S&W Billboard 1911, but my well balk at today's prices if I find one.

4 or 5 years ago my son traded into a early 1911sc, without the billboard and square butt. Been a great pistol. Last year it started ejecting straight back and found the ejector had chipped. Called S&W and 2 weeks later got it back with new ejector. Great pistol again.

I have the 5" PC 1911 with the ported slide. I think it's every bit as good as my Colt Gold Cup Trophy.

What do you guys think of the pre E-series SW1911? I've got the model 108282...when they changed from billboards to smaller logo. Love mine and thinking of getting a PC version.
Thanks!

I still have 2 Billboards, had a 1st gen PC, 3 current gen 1911SC roundbutts (still have one), a couple of other pre-e-series shooters and a new gen 5" PC. Loved each and every one of them (except the current gen 5" PC which was probably a Wednesday before Thanksgiving day gun). All of them were solid, reliable accurate 1911s (except the new PC).

Have two. A full size right after the billboards and a 4.25" Sc. Both have been rock solid for me. Feed everything I've loaded for them and both will put up a ragged hole if I'm having a good day.

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Look great.
lhump, what year was your full size made? I have the same model (108282?) and I believe it was made on 12/2014.
Thanks

The ones I have owned or been around have been very good for accuracy and function. One gun I recall had a really atrocious trigger and it was one of the higher priced models, while the one with the best trigger I have ever seen on a box-stock 1911 was a plain-Jane. Usual for 1911s.

I wouldn't be afraid of an S&W if they have a model that suits you. Good luck!

The 1980s-era Colt 1991A1 is a great 1911, and you can find them used in very good condition for about $550.00 or so. Just make sure that the barrel locking lugs (on top of the barrel) are not too worn. Measure the depth of the locking lugs with a caliper. But if the gun is in excellent condition, the lugs shouldn't be too worn. Forged steel, and well-made. Can't go wrong.

Here is one:
https://4.bp.blogspot.com/__KONc6M3j...1991a1+006.JPG

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I bought a billboard 1911 when they first came out but just after the recall. It's a dream to shoot.

Actually, I wouldn't be surprised if it was better than your Colt. Not saying that because I'm a fan boy, but from personal experience. Every Colt I've had was bought with the knowledge that it would need work to get maximum performance. That's not a dig, just how things were. I've not bought a new Colt in the past 15+ years, so I can't speak to current quality, but I have bought a couple of S&W 1911's and took one out to the range a couple months ago. I was impressed. The bushing they use gives it Model 52 type of lock up and repeatability, though in all fairness, I suspect the new bushing will end up out lasting the type used in the 52. Here's mine:

The one I've fired:

IMGP0200WEB.jpg

The one still in the box:

IMGP0215WEB.jpg

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So many S&W's, so few funds!!

I was thinking about buying a 1911 a couple of years ago, so I went to the local range and rented, and shot every different one they had.
Between the Sig Saur, Remington, and Smith & Wesson E- Series there was no question that the Smith fit my hand the best....and shot the best!
I loved it!

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Stay protected my friends.

A friend of mine bought S&W's version of the standard M 1911. He didn't even know how to field strip it for proper cleaning. I took him to my workbench and taught him how to totally disassemble the handgun down to the last removable piece, but also how to reassemble the whole package. I then had him take it apart again and I did a 'light' trigger job. Overall, I was very impressed with what I saw inside and outside the S&W M 1911. The internal parts were well made of quality steel.

I think that S&Ws version is one of the best of all the clones that I have ever examined.

I also had a "108282" Smith & Wesson 1911, pre-E Series. It was stainless, non-Billboard and it did have the swartz safety/grip safety actuated firing pin lock.

This pistol was a total sweetheart and I regret that I did not keep it. My good buddy bought it new hmmm... around 2009 I think? He paid $949 before tax. This pistol was simply not "average" in build quality or ability.

I had it for a short time and I ended up selling it to another good friend. This became his first ever handgun and I have warned him that it's a pitfall to start with some -this- nice... have tried to clearly express the idea that most pistols he may go pick up in a gun store are going to feel like (and will be) lesser guns in most every way.

If it were just about this pistol then yeah, I do regret not keeping it. But when all said & done, I know I cannot keep every handgun that passes through my hands. I feel awfully good about my buddy's FIRST gun. You only get to do that once.

I have found the E-Series to be a decent gun and a solid buy if you shop well and get a good price, but that 108282 was simply a far better pistol than the E-Series. Just a fine pistol and as a full "production" 1911 goes, awfully tough to beat.

I have one of the first 500 made, 108282 with the big billlboard. There was a safety recall on them, even though I had never had a problem with it S&W said send it in. Long story short, they sent it back with the small letter slide and it took around 600 rounds to get it to cycle properly. Now it shoots like a dream. All's well that ends well. Buy one, you'll like it I bet.

My only experience was with an Officer's-sized lightweight S&W model whose ejector worked loose within a couple hubdred rounds. Traded it on a Dan Wesson ECO which is more expensive but a far superior firearm.

I've liked them allot from day one. My experience is with an early billboard, a latter billboard, a E series, a couple of PD's and a couple of Pro series. All were full sized with the exception of one early PD Commander. All were put together very well, had excellent fit and finish and shot better than I could (Most did have the annoying loose trigger but that is an easy tweak to fix). I never had a mechanical failure of any kind in any of them. I still keep an early Billboard, a fS PD and a 9mm Pro series on my "do not trade" list.
Personally, when I get the itch for a new 1911 these days, I look at S&W and Sig (which I like equally well) pretty much exclusively.

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Dave

I used to own three Kimber 1911s and liked them until I had to use their customer service four times to in the end not have the condition corrected. I sold every one of them after buying my first S&W 1911 and have purchased two more.

I have two .45 ACPs, the 5" PC gun with the slotted slide and the 4.25" E-Series two-tone bobtail plus a 1989-vintage PC DK gun in .38 Super.





All three are excellent shooters, demonstrate good fit and finish and on the one occasion that I thought I needed their service department, the experience was top-notch. When was the last time the gunsmith working on your gun called you himself to go over the perceived condition?

I think they represent great buys.

Ed

I have 4 1911's. I really like my S&W. I like the "BLUE" finish and it shoots quite well. Would rather shoot it than my Sig. Picked it up a little over a year ago. Bob

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S&W makes great 1911 clones. I'd get a PC 1911 if they offered it without the slide cuts.

Ooops, they do. Hmmm

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Sure you did

I have a 5" E series and love it. Posted a thread about it here:
New 1911

I do prefer it to my Sig Nightmare.

All I did was replace the FLGR with a standard version to ease disassembly.

Get one- you won't be disappointed

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Guns + Dogs= Bliss

I have a Doug Koenig full size almost two years now. Never had but one gripe with it, and that was the extended ambi-safety which I don't need nor like on a 1911.
Something about my 1911 grip; the one I have been using since 1960, kept kicking the thumb safety on between shots ?? Never quite figured out what I was doing to cause it, but decided to go with a standard G I type anyway.

Called S&W to buy one, and when I said I had a small self-induced problem with my DK they connected me to the "hands-on" shop guys straight away.
The guy I spoke with asked if I knew how to fit a T S.
With my assurance that I did, he said he had a single side on his bench he had just pulled from a customers new gun that wanted exactly what I did not, an ambi.

He asked for my address, and when I said here's my card number, he said: "I don't know how to do all that;...let me know if it doesn't solve your problem".
I got it in the mail 3 days later. Installed it that night.
So, A-plus for my S&W 1911 experience.

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wanna do right-- not right now

Mine is 108295 and made 7333. I took delivery in December of '07 so within a month of it's production. Came with the OD CT grips which are fine but I like the wood better for the way I use it. I'll put the CT's back on when the zombies come. I do occasionally carry the Sc so it wears CT's full time.

It's been an outstanding gun and never failed in any way.