ATI 1911 .45 FX Military

[jeffrefrig]

One small question about my ATI pistol: I have 8 in the mag and one chambered. With the hammer cocked all the way back, it's ready to fire, unless, of course, if the thumb safety is in the safe mode. But I can pull the hammer back at half-cocked position and it is also safe; similar to my Marlin or Winchester rifles' safe modes. I've tried and I can't pull the trigger. It seems pretty safe just like that. There is nothing in the tiny book that comes with the pistol explaining this. My question, in layman's terms, "What's up with that?" Thanks in advance! Jeff Taylor, Pgh, PA
P.S. This gun shoots pretty darned nice for a bargain-priced 1911. Is there something I can be expecting on the negative side in the near (1 to 2 years) future?

 

[Ray1970]

I'll throw in my opinion on the "half cock" and why I don't use it. In my mind, it's more of a passive safety to catch the hammer should it fall accidentally. The reason I wouldn't carry with the hammer in this position is because there is only one way to get it there and that is to manually lower the hammer. Maybe I'm just a worry wart but too many things can wrong trying to manually lower the hammer with a live round chambered. Once a round is chambered the hammer is back and it just makes sense to throw the manual safety on and call it good. Besides, if I wanted to cock the hammer before firing I'd just carry a single action revolver.

 

[jake1945]

I also have an ATI 45. Until I got a S&W M&P 45, I carried almost every day. I used "condition 1". That is, full loaded magazine plus one in the chamber, full cock and thumb safety on. Never had a problem with that. The ATI is a solid good 45 and after market 1911 parts will interchange. It is seriously accurate too. Just a heavy pistol which is why I switched to the S&W.

 

[Old Corp]

The 'half-cock' position on a 1911 was never intended as a safety, other than to catch it in an inadvertent slip.

 

[JayFramer]

The 'half-cock' position on a 1911 was never intended as a safety, other than to catch it in an inadvertent slip.

Not necessarily. In fact JMB designed it AS the safety before the U.S. cavalry requested a thumb safety, if my memory serves me uh tawl.

 

[jeffrefrig]

Thanks, guys. Just wonder why they don't talk about it in the paperwork. I will carry with the safety on and forget about the half-cock unless maybe at the range. I was surprised how accurate it is, but yeah, it's heavy as a brick! I have the Uberti .45 and it's pretty heavy, too. Helps with the recoil I suppose. Both very accurate for me not being anywhere near a pro shooter! Again, thanks for the safety help...the most important subject about the gun. Those things leave big holes!