A 1911 range report (Various Manufacturers) S&W wins

[mesinge2]

All models are .45 ACP and have combat Novak or Novak-style sights except the Gold Cup Trophy and Para. All are 5" barrel models. And all targets were shot at 14 yards with Hornady TAP 230 grain XTP+P. Mind you this was after quite a few magazines so my groups may have suffered from some fatigue. I really prefer the S&W E-series!

S&W E-series 1911:

VIDEO: www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBtvwKJQxaA#

Kimber Stainless TLE II (you can see the groupings of all three mags):

VIDEO: www.youtube.com/watch?v=8S6OmMd_Kzk#

Colt Gold Cup Trophy:

VIDEO: .45 ACP Colt Gold Cup Trophy - YouTube

Colt Combat Elite:

VIDEO: www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ogvEI7XPRo#ws

Para-Ord (not USA) 7.45 LDA:

VIDEO: www.youtube.com/watch?v=0iM-6jjQ-dk#

 

[M29since14]

It looks like you get along very well with the trigger on the P.O. gun - maybe better than the others.

At 14-yards offhand, that is pretty nice shooting with all of those guns. I hate to think what you spent on the ammo!

 

[DavidC77]

I have to agree, I have a Billboard 1911 and I love it.

I also carry a M&P 40 and I was going to buy a Shield when it became MA OKed, I was at at a gun store yesterday buying a M&P 15-22 and I saw a sweet S&W 1911 Pro Series with a 3" barrel, well that is now going to be my carry gun and I will not be buying the Shield and my M&P's are going to be sold.

I did just buy a M&P 45 though, so now I have a good mix of 45's.

 

[mesinge2]

Ooooh, I've been wanting an M&P 45. If you do a range report could you put a link here so I don't miss it?

 

[DavidC77]

Ooooh, I've been wanting an M&P 45. If you do a range report could you put a link here so I don't miss it?

Ok will do.

I'm going to try and get out next week.

After I make sure it is ok I will than send it to my gunsmith to fix the *** MA 10lb trigger.

I have to pick up a ambi safety for the Pro Series and some X S Big Dots for the PS's and the M&P so I can put those on.

 

[Cobra21]

I'm on my phone killin' time at the son's hs football kickoff BBQ so I'm not able to view the YouTube vid easily. Will check it out when I get to my iPad/Mac. In the meantime, which two had the best triggers in your test?

 

[mesinge2]

All the triggers are pretty good but the Gold Cup is by far the best of the single actions. It has a wide trigger similar in feel to a S&W revolver target trigger. I would rate the S&W and Kimber as about equal for a second place with the Combat Elite being the heaviest of the SA triggers but still a crisp break. The LDA can't really compare to the SA models as it is too different of a trigger IMO.

 

[porthole]

I saw a sweet S&W 1911 Pro Series with a 3" barrel

Have you had a chance to fire one of these?
I just looked at some today, comparing to the compact Kimber's.
Fit and finish look superb and i was told they are equipped with match barrels and triggers.




iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Granddad]

I have 1911s from Colt, STI, and E Brown and love the platform. Maybe about time I gave SW a spin. Thanks for the report.

 

[PA Guns & Ammo]

No Ruger SR1911? I would like to see that up there than the PO.

James

 

[mesinge2]

No Ruger SR1911? I would like to see that up there than the PO.

James

Can't find one anywhere!

 

[PA Guns & Ammo]

Can't find one anywhere!

LOL! I have one! Are they still hard to find? My local gun store had one about a month ago. Should have bought another one.

James

 

[mag318]

Great shooting and thanks for sharing the YouTube links. I've always been a Colt man and my first non Colt 1911 was a new S&W 1911 E Series like yours. I'm really impressed with the E Series, Smith & Wesson built these right, the attention to detail is top shelf.

 

[DavidC77]

Have you had a chance to fire one of these?
I just looked at some today, comparing to the compact Kimber's.
Fit and finish look superb and i was told they are equipped with match barrels and triggers.




iPhone using Tapatalk

NO I haven't yet.

I have been busy so far, and one of my ranges is closed down for Police Training.

Here's the Pro Series one that I picked up.

Product: Model SW1911

 

[RIDE-RED 350r]

I bought my S&W E-series last january. Stainless like yours but mine is the version with the accessory rail and night sights. Mine shoots high and slighly left as well.

Being that my night sights don't have an easily adjustable windage I haven't gotten around to bringing my groups in. Need to pick up a small brass punch to tap the rear sight over.

I'm pleased with mine as well. I have had some FTF with it now and then. I'm thinking the wide external extractor still needs to break in a little more as the stoppage seems due to the cartridge getting hung up as it begins to slide under the extractor claw.

I installed a WC Shock-Buff guide rod kit along with an 18# spring and haven't yet tried it since putting those parts in. Getting the itch pretty bad though. Gotta get to the range soon! Haven't been in quite a while!

 

[mesinge2]

Need to pick up a small brass punch to tap the rear sight over.

That's what I did. Took me about a minute.

I'm pleased with mine as well. I have had some FTF with it now and then. I'm thinking the wide external extractor still needs to break in a little more as the stoppage seems due to the cartridge getting hung up as it begins to slide under the extractor claw.

I installed a WC Shock-Buff guide rod kit along with an 18# spring and haven't yet tried it since putting those parts in.

Before I even fired it once I put in a 17.5lb Wolff variable power recoil spring; its the same one I use in all my Government 1911s as it has proven reliable to me for both 230gr standard pressure and 230gr +P. My E-series has actually never jammed once but I have never fired a round with the factory spring installed either.

 

[RIDE-RED 350r]

Yeah, I'm thinking the heavier 18# WC spring might just help alleviate the issue. It happens enough that I want to address it. When the FTF happens all I have to do is pull the slide back just a little bit and it goes right in.

I never did track down for sure what weight spring S&W puts in them from the factory. I assume it's the standard spring for any off the shelf 1911.

This is my first and thus far only auto. I have had many auto shooters here and elsewhere tell me not to worry about a few malfunctions for the first 500 rounds or so till the weapon gets fully broken in. To this point I only have about 250 rds through it.. I know, SAD since I have had it for about 8 months now!

 

[Fat Old Guy]

After I make sure it is ok I will than send it to my gunsmith to fix the *** MA 10lb trigger.

On a 1911 a good sear spring will usually fix an excessively heavy trigger pull. About five minutes to put it in.

 

[DavidC77]

I never did track down for sure what weight spring S&W puts in them from the factory. I assume it's the standard spring for any off the shelf 1911.

The S&W Pro Series 1911 (3" barrel) that I just bought comes with a few other springs.

They include them in a small paper bag in the box.

I thought that was a good idea, it allows you to change the gun to the ammo you chose.

 

[DavidC77]

Originally Posted by DavidC77
After I make sure it is ok I will than send it to my gunsmith to fix the *** MA 10lb trigger.
.

Originally Posted by Fat Old Guy
On a 1911 a good sear spring will usually fix an excessively heavy trigger pull. About five minutes to put it in.

Ya I could buy the Free States sear or a APEX kit, but my Gun Smith did such a sweet job on my other guns I'm going to have him do the same on this one.

In MA on the M&P's we get the 10 Lb trigger, the 1911's are OK.

It's the M&P 45 that I'm having him fix, the 1911 that I just bought has a perfect trigger, it breaks right around 4.5 Lbs.