The young Americans in my family, children and grandchildren, believe that there are no "magic bullets," accuracy is what gets the job done, and lethal is easier with calibers starting with .4 inches.
USMC Retires the M1911's
- Thread starter AJ
- Start date
OP
AJ
US Veteran
The younger generation tend to lean towards black guns, be they rifles or pistols. It is what they see the most of on the little and big screens.
If you're giving up on your 1911s feel free to PM me so I can see about taking them off your hands.
Long gone or they'd be yours!!!!
I never said they weren't great guns. I said I don't like them.
Definitely a great career.
But 40 years from now, when a lot of us won't be around to know, they will no longer be "popular". Still around? Sure, but popular, no.
Last edited:
Always had a love/hate relationship with the platform. I own five at last count. I think I've owned a total of nine at one time or another. I like them well enough but honestly shoot other things more often. Not an easy gun to master.
Just for the record, I still like Browning Hi-Powers!
But I do prefer TDA pistols, especially S&W 3rd gens and Berettas.
And some others..........
But I do prefer TDA pistols, especially S&W 3rd gens and Berettas.
And some others..........
Echo40
Member
- Joined
- Sep 25, 2017
- Messages
- 4,064
- Reaction score
- 7,904
It has nothing to do with them being polymer and everything to do with them being striker-fire. A single action hammer fire trigger will almost always beat a striker-fire trigger.
My H&K USP45 Elite has a 4lb SA Trigger which feels excellent. It's not the best trigger ever, but far better than any other polymer framed pistol I own.
Now I'm curious what the trigger pull is like on a Tanfoglio Witness 1911 with a polymer frame.
Say what you will about whether or not the 1911 will be around in years to come, one fact can't be disputed. There are more gun companies making a 1911 model now than there ever has been in the history of the 1911. That doesn't sound like a platform that'll be on the wane any time soon.
LVSteve
Member
Go try a Grand Power K100, you might be surprised. The Q100 variant has a remarkable trigger for a striker fired gun, as does the Walther PPQ.
- Joined
- Sep 14, 2021
- Messages
- 272
- Reaction score
- 900
Doug M.
Member
Remember that sidearm is a tertiary weapon for most military personnel. As such, service pistols are not a big deal for most. The reality is that a good 1911 is a heck of a fine platform, but requires a lot of hand fitting to be really right. I had and carried as a duty pistol a Yam 10-8 1911. It was tuned for specific ammo, and was just a joy to shoot. Most of the time for most people, the nuances of a good 1911 are simply not worth the money. A good duty 1911 will be most of $3K. A typical G19 with RDS and light (which in the real world are needed for hard use) is maybe $1K. At a certain point, I could not justify the cash tied up in a quality 1911.
I would love to carry my Wilson KZ9, which I shoot real well, but my stupid state has gone with the 10 round magazine crud.
I would love to carry my Wilson KZ9, which I shoot real well, but my stupid state has gone with the 10 round magazine crud.
OP
AJ
US Veteran
90% of the work to make a M1911 a good shooter can be accomplished on your work bench at home. I should qualify that with "if you are competent" with tools and have a good brain housing group. An acceptable trigger job can be accomplished in less than 10 minutes. Throating and ramping are about the same amount of time. Tightening the slide to the frame takes a bit longer. Fitting a barrel takes a fair assortment of bushings and barrel links to do the job. Been doing this for quite a while, do all of the work for free and have never had a complaint.
DGNY
Member
I suspect that 1911s will continue to have a large, appreciative fan base. Though not likely in military use for all the reasons stated above.
However, no doubt there will be yet a long life for the 1911 and its iconic .45 ACP. I note the utility of lever actions, the continuing popularity of single action Colt six(five)-shooter clones. The 1911 will endure no less well.
However, no doubt there will be yet a long life for the 1911 and its iconic .45 ACP. I note the utility of lever actions, the continuing popularity of single action Colt six(five)-shooter clones. The 1911 will endure no less well.
Sistema1927
US Veteran
It felt good to have a 1911A1 in a chest holster. However, I was hoping to never use it due to the fact that I would be dismounted and the 105mm, .50, and 7.62 guns, along with the M3 in .45 ACP, would no longer be in service.
skwchock
US Veteran
The 1911 IS battle-proven. It is combat ready and will be ready for the next conflict. This has been proven over and over again.
- Joined
- May 12, 2011
- Messages
- 1,545
- Reaction score
- 864
The new Marine issue is the SIG M18, a carry version of the full-sized M17. It is 10 oz lighter then the 1911, and has over twice the magazine capacity. The lockup system is stronger and tighter than that of the 1911. While I like the feel and tradition of a 1911, I can shoot the M18 as accurately as a revolver in single-action.
Say what you will, but I think it'll be a l-o-n-n-g-g-g time before the Model 1911 goes the way of the dodo bird and button shoes. Sure, there are a lot of folks who prefer the new polymer pistols...and that's okay. I've always said, "If it works for you...use it!"
But for some of us old fossils, you "go home with the one that brought you to the dance." As a result, the 1911 will always retain popularity with some of us.
But for some of us old fossils, you "go home with the one that brought you to the dance." As a result, the 1911 will always retain popularity with some of us.
Last edited:
Echo40
Member
- Joined
- Sep 25, 2017
- Messages
- 4,064
- Reaction score
- 7,904
You know, it really is a wonder how the US Military managed to stick with otherwise ordinary mass-produced 1911s, including ones which were produced by non-firearms manufacturers such as Remington-Rand, Singer, and Union Switch & Signal when apparently it takes a hand-fitted, fine-tuned, artisan-crafted 1911 to serve as an adequate duty sidearm... 
Perhaps even more puzzling is how the military manages to get by with firearms with triggers which cannot even match one of the aforementioned mass-produced 1911s, let alone whatever tuned triggers folks are referring to in this thread.
Perhaps even more puzzling is how the military manages to get by with firearms with triggers which cannot even match one of the aforementioned mass-produced 1911s, let alone whatever tuned triggers folks are referring to in this thread.
The April 2023 issue of Leatherneck magazine had a great article of the current USMC pistol and the background history of the previous issue pistols.
Basically the 1911 in service was old and worn. The M9 had an aluminum frame for weight reduction and the next generation has lighter weight (polymer) and easier to replace parts.
The big take way - the officers making the decisions are younger and did not start careers with a 1911.
Basically the 1911 in service was old and worn. The M9 had an aluminum frame for weight reduction and the next generation has lighter weight (polymer) and easier to replace parts.
The big take way - the officers making the decisions are younger and did not start careers with a 1911.
1911's are going the way of revolvers.
There just won't be many available 100 years from now.
There just won't be many available 100 years from now.
Similar threads
