Always need a new fling! Got the hots now for the sw1911. Have several SA1911-a1. Have had three Colt's 80 series, got rid of all of them. I like the external extractor and firing pin block activated by grip safety. Would like info/impressions on these SW1911 models.

Not the best pic but EVERYONE who has shot this 1911 has loved it! 100% reliable, accurate and good looking, too. Have an order out for a 4.25 1911Sc hard to get Smith. My Christmas won't be complete before it's arrival.

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I have a SW 1911 .45ACP 5" stainless, love the gun. Have had issues with feeding and expended casing ejection.

It was purchased new only a couple of months ago.

It continues to not go fully into battery, even with 230 gr. factory FMJ ammo. I've tried approx 400 rds of Winchester, Remington and CCI ball, plus about 50 or 60 JHPs. It will not cycle more than 4 -5 times before it fails to go fully into battery. Rounds aren't nose diving. Have tried both factory mags, plus 4 Wilson 47's and the results are the same.

I had a lot of competition practice opportunities over the summer and put 3,000 rounds through it. Trying to track mags, ammo types, random or consistent occurance. My experience has alway been that when a S&W 1911 had feeding issues it was usually the ammo or more likely the mags. This time it appears to be the gun and others seem to have the same situation.

It's been field stripped and cleaned and oiled several times.

It's really surprised me, as I've owned and carried S&W revolvers and pistols for competition and CCW for years.

This is a situation, with this model that seems fairly common. I have actually read about this on other boards and spoke to others with this issue.

The series people seem to have issues with are made at the Houlton, ME. factory. Mine is in the 3XXX serial number range.

I just got mine back from S&W, have not hit the range yet but have high hopes. S&W customer service was excellent, turn around was quick. They polished the feed ramp and replaced the ejector.

I really like this gun and hope this is a small problem that is now behind me. We'll see.

If it proves reliable this will be my primary competition firearm.

Ok, I am a guy that uses my S&W 1911. I love it so much that I bought another one within a month of buying the first. Now I have three but had to loan one to a friend as he waits on the one he ordered to get here.

The reason I bought mine was I shot one a friend bought. That afternoon, I ordered my own. Since then, maybe 6-8 people have shot mine and half of them now own one also.

Many here shoot occassionally. I shoot often and lots of rounds are fired each time. Many here own one but carry some other type gun. I carry mine daily, all day, every where, in all types of weather.

It shot very good right out of the box. There has been a problem with it but just a minor one. It has never failed to fire or feed properly, feels good in my hands and I carry it comfortably. It does not show scratches easily so it must not scratch easily. I have carried it in a side holster, a Small of Back holster and a shoulder holster. All worked fine and did not notice it during the day. It is thinner than those black plastic guns everyone raves about and it is way more accurate. It is not really much difference in weight than other comparable guns on the market. They are also built by an American owned company in the US with American labor, unlike others that are so highly thought of like Springfield.

I would not change a thing about my EDC 1911 but wish my others had the ambi safety like my daily carry does.

At this point in time, if I find one used in a pawnshop or individual, I buy it. The trouble is that all those that have them do not get rid of them.

I love my S&W 1911, target model SKU#108284 (Billboard style). It isn't a newer E-Series--which I believe has eliminated the Swartz safety with a titanium firing pin. Think this past year S&W has been working some kinks out of the new models, as I have read a few issues related to the first year production of the E-series. Can't go wrong with S&W Customer Service either.

I had two and they both had to go back to Smith. It was too bad because the Commander-sized one was really nice looking, but I didn't want an automatic weapon. I went back to Colt and am very happy.

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Loyalty Above All.. but Honor

Sounds like you had one go full auto? Care to expand on that?

My SW1911 TFP started to FTF after around 750 rounds, I did all the simple tricks (ammo, mags, cleaning, lube) with no improvement seen. I ordered a replacement recoil spring from Midway, the new one was 1 1/2" longer than the one in the gun, since replacing the spring I have fired 100 trouble free rounds.

My SW1911SC 5" gun has been a fine pistol, having demonstrated itself to be serviceable, reliable and accurate. (The 5" Sc had a plain stainless slide and was discontinued by the company in favor of what marketing surveys said was the faster selling black version, FWIW.)

I have 4 Colt pistols from the 70's, 80's & a XSE Government Model from the mid-2000's. Oddly enough, the ambi safety assembly (made by a vendor, I was told) had the left side lever snap off while using it during my first range session, before I'd reached 200 rounds fired. Not being a fan of ambi safeties, anyway, I installed a single side lever. The company was good about it, sending me a new lever (they were initially reluctant to do s, wanting the gun back for repair, until I explained I was a Colt armorer). Now it's just fine.

The 5" SW1911 runs right with the XSE as far as feeding an assortment of 4-5 different duty-type hollowpoints I've used over the years, and the S&W's practical accuracy is every bit as good as the XSE's. I really like the lightness of the Sc aluminum frame.

The only minor fault I could find with the S&W was that the frame had a long scratch on the top of one frame rail, running most of the length, seemingly caused by a sharp burr left on the inside of a slide rail. I dressed the rail and have been running the gun hard ever since then. I consider the frame rail scratch a cosmetic issue (at this time), and since I bought it for a hard-use range gun and occasional carry weapon, it doesn't bother me. If it ever turns out to become an actual problem someday, I'll let S&W handle it under their lifetime warranty.

I'm impressed enough with the S&W that I've been seriously thinking about ordering one of the Enhanced Models at some point. I like a couple of the refinements they've introduced in their new line, and I've been wanting to replace an early 70's lightweight Commander I foolishly traded off many years ago.

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Ret LE Firearms inst & armorer

I have an earlier 2002-ish S&W 1911 that I bought used and admitedly I only have a few hundred rounds through it since I've bought it, but it's been spot on, no feeding issues, very respectable accuracy and performance, it feels great! It had gone back to Smith for some service in it's lifespan (a warranty recall issue?) but whatever that was this thing is spot on and I'm really enjoying having a .45 and all the better it's an S&W!

Nothing wrong with the other options out there, I owned a Series 70 Gold Cup Colt for years but I wanted stainless and I think I found a heck of a bargain.

Now can anyone tell me what night sights to get or will fit on these buggers?

Thanks and Happy Holidays!