A darned honest question-anyone else switch from 1911s to 3rd/2nd Gens?

[SW CQB 45]

maybe I have been lucky with all my 1911s starting with

Series 70 Colt, Colt Officers ACP, SA MC Operator, SA Loaded Nina, 2 PPC 1911s (Springer and STI), SA Range Officer, STI Trojan and DW CCO.

I cannot note any major failures. I use alot of oil and quality parts (cant leave well enough alone). I did have a failure with an aftermarket part on my MC OP. after determination by the manufacture that I may have an out of spec part, it was replaced and been running 100% since replacement of that part last year.

I even have a junky Para alloy frame 5" that runs. cosmetically looks bad because of the previous owner and wont hold grips because the previous owner stripped out the grip threads....but it runs.

all my 3rd gen smiths ran too.

Both systems require thinking to get into play, but at this time I prefer the 1911. But if I had to pack up my 1911s for primary carry....I would return to SW.

 

[pjpjr]

It is all in the mind of the person as to what is best for them. I carry a 1911 but have other type guns I could carry. For me, I have not ran across any other gun that out performs a quality 1911 in .45acp. Some have shot against me and then switched to 1911 format. Others enjoy their choice of guns and that is ok.

A surgeon and I was on the range Monday and he brought a few guns but mainly shot his 1911. To him, the recoil from the 1911 was less but then that is just an individual perception as is the choice of weapons, calibers, finish or whatever else.

I also have noticed that people will buy a new gun (toy) and it is the best thing since sliced bread. Months later, they are back to what they carried before the new toy.

I will shoot other guns but I will seldom carry any other than a 1911, cocked and locked. Which other gun can one carry cocked and locked safely?

I agree with oldman45 on this. I own and carry a Colt Series 80 GM and could't ask for a more reliable pistol. I have carried cocked and locked for 20+ years! BTW I have owned numerous Colts and Springfields and have never experienced anything less than 100% reliable right out of the box. Not sure where the bad rep comes from as many folks say they are problematic?? I just have never experienced that kind of performance and I shoot alot!

 

[Two Guns]

Yes I have gone away from carrying my 1911's. My primary carry gun is my S&W 457. It carries great and I can shoot it very well. I don't use the safety when holstered. It is hard to beat as a daily carry gun.

 

[Fishslayer]

I didn't switch; I "augmented".

^^^ This. Why does it have to be one or the other?

IMO the 1911 will always rule the range but a Ruger DA/SA .45ACP sits by the bed (along with an M66 )
My 4536 was purchased with concealed carry in mind.

The SA triggers on both are pretty nasty compared to my entry level 1911, but I didn't buy them for bullseye competitions.

 

[ikor]

Might be blasphmey, but the only 3rd gen S&W auto I like is the M1076 and even that mostly as a curio...after owning and carrying pretty much all of them I much prefer my 1911s...JMO

 

[jdh]

The condensed version of my story follows.

Young soldier accepted as a reserve at an off base department. Was most familiar with the 1911 and chose one as my duty pistol. New Chief takes command and decrees 1911s are offensive to the public because of the hammer being cocked and prohibits the carrying of them.

I trade the 1911 for a 57. Another new Chief replaces the old one and decrees no magnums will be carried in HIS department. He further rules the 57 to be specifically unauthorized because there is no 41 Special ammo. He allows 357 and 44 mag owners to carry the special version in magnum chambered guns. Sold the 57 to wife's brother...

And bought a 645. The sky was now blue, the grass green, birds were singing, and there was no further problems with any COPs after that. I did let someone talk me out of the 645 and it was replaced with a 4506. So in a round about way the answer to the question is Yes.

 

[RGore]

You are all correct, of course. It comes down to the gun, the work it has on it, and the guy holding it. But personally, I love them both. My favorite is a 645 that I "discovered" when looking to buy a 1911. Yeah, it works perfectly and looks amazing, but I think we all have to admit there is something about a sleek 1911. I plan on a couple editions of each kind.

That said, the 645 is in the nightstand right next to the bed.

 

[roughneck6]

I have heard it said that everyone should have at least one 1911! I love 1911's and went through many brands, Kimber being the absolute worst. I found one that finally worked, being a Springfield Champion Loaded. The S&W 1911 as fast second. That said, I was able to picked up a 4506-1. It was a LE run produced in 2000. I am telling you it is just as accurate as my 1911, hands down. It is no more difficult to carry concealed than my 5 inch 1911. It is heavy, but firing 230 +P ammo is nothing. I practice with my 1911, locked and cocked, and have developed good muscle memory dropping the thumb safety, but it always nags at me under stress drawing in a gunfight and forgetting too.
That said I still feel the 1911 is a great pistol. However, in the 45 platform, if you want 100% dependability, accuracy, and simplicity, stick with the 4506. No need having to buy three brands of magazines, the 4506 feeds the standard S&W 8 rounder factory magazine without fail. The 4506 does not care which type of ammuntion, brand, factory or reload, it will fire every time. I had a 4566, great pistol as well, but for me I fire better with the 5 inch barrel, and the addition of 3 ounces and less than an 3/4 inch on length does not make it any easier to conceal or carry.

 

[yeti]

Started out with a Browning Hi-Power over 20+ years ago and loved it's grip angle, accuracy, quality, function & reliability. It plain works.
It was then natural to me to feel comfortable with 1911's. I still feel comfortable with them. I shoot a full-size 1911 pretty well and can customize whatever I want, too. As someone mentioned, the 1911 trigger is good...and a competent gunsmith can make it awesome. I still shoot my best scores with 1911's. The 1911 is far and away my favorite platform!
The 2nd/3rd gen. S&W pistols function very reliably, shoot well, have good ergonomics, are built like tanks, and are pretty accurate. I have a several and truly enjoy shooting them. The triggers on mine range from so-so to good. My concern about acquiring more... is parts availability. It will become a problem in the next 5 years or so.

 

[Hot Toddy]

My only problem with the 2-3rd S&W gen series is when some of us ( like myself) stopped believing the horror stories about these guns, the prices went through the roof. I remember buying my first 645 for $375 (about 5 years ago) and thinking I paid too much. I really like the 1911's and especially Hipowers, however for pure comforting feeling, My 1066 is hard to beat. Like the guy I bought it off of said, " If you run out of ammo, just beat them to death with it!".
Take care and God Bless!!

 

[ColColt]

My first auto was a 1911-Series 70 Mk IV bought in 1973. Unfortunately, I didn't have it long enough to find how reliable or not it was as it got stolen after only about 150 rounds. I had later a satin nickel Combat Commander that did well with hard ball but iffy with any thing else. This was the days before good throat jobs were done.

Some years later Mas Ayoob had an article in one of he gun rags and was extolling the virtues of the 4506 and convinced me to buy one. That was in 1990 late. I still have it and to date it has never failed in any way. I've sold/traded many over the years but never that one and never will. I've fired every known bullet shape in it and there's never been a problem-everything from 200 gr SWC's of the H&G #68 to the ol' Flying Ashtray and GDHP's-none have failed to feed and no FTRTB issues.

I never had such a reliable pistol before and though some may equal, none will exceed that. Admittedly, the 1911 has a place kin my heart as it feels the best in my hand and I shoot it about as good as it gets for me. I just don't trust them for defense purposes. Too picky about magazines and spring strength or the lack, and ammo finicky and extractor tension picky. I still have three and all but one still cause feeding issued even though attempts have been made to rectify that- three different kinds of magazines such as Tripp's, Wilson, and CM mags with GI and Hybrid lips. My XSE Commander doesn't seem to like any of them. I either get a three point jam or a FTRTB problem. It's gong to be up for sale/trade soon. Maybe someone else can figure out the problem as I'm exhausted trying.

Getting 1911s to run has been a whole industry for most of my life. They can be cranky. I have two (both Colts) that will run with just about any ammunition and most magazines. Others will only run 100% with certain ammo or magazines.

There you go. Such is the story with the 1911...a tinkerers dream and a shooter's nightmare. IMHO, S&W's 3rd Gen pistols are the epitome of reliability and HK only, in my experience, have come close to their equal.

 

[TANKER]

I like 1911's and I like working on them. Nothing feels better in my hand, or has better ergonomics. I have never owned a 1911 I felt comfortable carrying. All of the ones I've owned have had feeding problems of one kind or another. The only 1911 I own currently I might even consider carrying is a RIA GI spec in 38 Super. So far it has fed and fired everything I've tried in it, two factory loads and handloads using cast, jacketed,and copper plated bullets. Looking for a really serious carry gun a while ago, I bought a used PC 45 RECON. This has been the best carry gun I've ever owned. Absolutely reliable and more accurate than I can hold shooting off sandbags. For some reason it seems to recoil less than a full size steel 1911. The factory spring pack has handled everything from 190 swc target loads to 230 gr HP +P carry loads. Which is a good thing since factory springs are the only ones available. Same with magazines, they work flawlessly and are the only ones made for it. Someday something will break or wear out and I will have to retire it. Hopefully by then I will have found a 1911 I would trust to replace it. Supposed to be a lifetime guarantee on the PC guns, however my inquiries about purchasing some spare parts, such as an unported barrel have been met with " sorry, we don't make those anymore".

 

[redsfan2]

I carried a Colt .45 in Viet Nam. When I rotated stateside I was a weapons instructor at TBS Quantico .... on .45's and M-60 machine guns. I've always liked 1911s but I guess from working with them I always looked at them more like tools. When I went shopping for a personal handgun .. I looked to Smith because of using .38 service revolvers at the prison I worked at after getting out of the Marines.
After 3 .357's and a .38 I now have one 1911 . a Kimber Ultra in 3" and a CS45. The Kimber is more refined than the CS45 ... but the CS45 still appeals to me on several levels ... not the least of which is its accuracy and overall handling and carrying qualities. I know things change .. but I really don't see either of them going anywhere except to my son and or daughter.