1911 advice please

[anglaispierre]

I know the S&W PPK has had some bad press recently. However it is not that gun that want advice about. I always fancied the 1911, and have seen a couple of S&W models.

It is the s/s version that interests me, but it will be maybe a couple of years before I can afford to buy one new. That takes us up to 2011. I am sure there will be some cententary versions on the market.

Has anyone had any problems with the S&W version, and how does it compare with other makes in terms of price and quality. I was initially put off buy the adverse publicity, but then I thought I have not seen any similar publicity for the 1911. I just have this thing about guns with a date. I also like the Winchester 94. Two old guns. Totally different, but two things in common. Very old, tried and tested design. And JMB.

 

[Tracer_Bullet]

Strictly my opinion, but I really like the S&W 1911's. I have had three now, gave one to my wife because she liked it so much (5" stainless 108282), and I kept the other 5" stainless and the Commander sized 1911PD. They are not cheap, but I think you get what you pay for and mine have been well worth the money. The fit and finish are excellent, accuracy is good enough to make one ragged hole at 10 yards shooting unsupported, and the few problems I have had are all attributable to bad/really cheap ammo or a weak magazine spring. As long as I run halfway decent ammo and good mags in the guns, they will shoot all day long with zero problems and they have had no trouble feeding Gold Dots, Golden Sabres, Hydrashocks, or Winchester hollow-points.
They do have some MIM parts in them, so if that's an issue for you be prepared to replace the MIM or buy another brand. I did read one or two reports of slide stops breaking (MIM part), but that's easy enough to replace and I'm not too worried over a couple reports of a bad part.
Also, there seems to be a lot of fuss over the external extractor, but I have shot many thousands of rounds from S&W semi-autos with external extractors over the last 16 years and never had a problem with them, so it's a non-issue to me. YMMV

 

[mstuhr]

Howdy

Howdy,
I agree withT.B. mine is accurate and reliable.
I'd rate it up there with any other.
Good luck
Mike

 

[EMT Edu]

I purchased a lightly used 1911DK this spring, it's great to shoot and no problems thus far.

 

[Vulcan Bob]

If you have never owned a 1911 style pistol you owe it to yourself to have one. I have never even fired a S&W 1911 but I am sure it's a fine pistol.

 

[James_Joshua]

I purchased a Springfield Armory Mil-Spec earlier this year. It had to go back 3 times for repair and 2 times parts were mailed to me. Again you get what you pay for. Mine was $585, and was exactly what I wanted and could afford. SA did have great customer service, but so does S&W.

 

[anglaispierre]

Prices

I purchased a Springfield Armory Mil-Spec earlier this year. It had to go back 3 times for repair and 2 times parts were mailed to me. Again you get what you pay for. Mine was $585, and was exactly what I wanted and could afford. SA did have great customer service, but so does S&W.

I am surprise how cheap your gun was. Here in France a S&W 1911 s/s is 1260€ ($1872), the non-stainless version 925€ ($1375) whereas the CZ97 (.45 ACP) is a mere 685€ ($1018).

Wish I could find something for $585 (393€).

 

[mkk41]

With all due respect for over 100 years of excellent revolvers , and a few OK autopistols , S&W making 1911s is just , wrong.

Kinda like Ford making Corvettes.

 

[500 Magnum Nut]

4 years ago when they first came out I bought one. It shot well but was a loose pistol that finally broke. I sent it back with a note on the sloppy slide tollerances and asked them to replace the slide with the other problems. They replaced all the parts BUT the slide and frame, but really didn't fix the problem.

So I traded it away for a better made pistol, while it looked brand new...

With the S&W 1911, some parts are unique to it, like the safeties, trigger and extractor, so for me to research where part "X" can be located is a pain in the neck. This is the other reason I traded it. S&W won't sell you certain restricted parts, so If they don't fix it right, when they have it back, who can?
This gun I had had misfitting safeties from the get go also, and was sent back the first time because of this.

It's a good gun when it works.

 

[anglaispierre]

It's a good gun when it works.

That's not a very good recommendation.

 

[Sage]

Mine has been 100% reliable.

 

[mstuhr]

With the S&W 1911, some parts are unique to it, like the safeties, trigger (Quote=500Magnum Nut)

The upper gun in the picture is a D.K. 1911 in .45. It is set up for a bullseye match and has a drop in 1911 curved trigger (Wilson) and Colt safety.
I'll agree the extractor will not change out with Colt/other 1911, but most evrything else is normal.
This gun gets switched back and forth for a number of duties and gets set up with different parts for different uses
Thanks
Mike

 

[maxxpower]

I bought a 1911PD and was experiencing ejected shell cases in face every 10th round or so. Off to Springfield it went and since it's been back it's shooting great. I've been shooting revolvers the last few years and the gun that made me decide to get a 1911 was a custom Nighthawk (not a fair comparison) but so far I'm rally liking this gun.

On a side this is my 3rd new S&W product in a year that has been sent back to the factory. Their service is quick and always seems to fix the problem. I'm not sure whether to be impressed with their service or dismayed by the problem guns leaving the factory... or both.

 

[rock doc]

I have S&W 1911 model 108284, and it's been 100%. I spent a lot of time researching 1911's once I got the bug and felt the S&W 1911's were the best value. I happened to like the looks of the 108284.