Had a bit of luck today, found a Ruger SR1911.

[scooter123]

Been on the call list at 2 local gunshops since December with zero luck at all. Just for jollies today I decided to stop at a local flea market that has a Gun & Knife show once a month.

Started out looking at a Remington R1 which has a very good price but IMO that tiny safety lever would have to be replaced. In addition there was about 1/16 inch of sear creep on the trigger which is more than I would expect in a 1911. Asked the salesman if they had any S&W 1911's since I was sure they didn't have the Ruger. To my total shock that salesman replied that they actually had 2 of the SR1911's at the show. You betcha I reduced that count to one right quick.

Spent part of the afternoon field stripping it, giving it a good lube, and looking it over very closely. Frame to slide fit is what I would classify as a midpoint between service grade and a hand lapped custom fit. Meaning there is some wiggle but no more that is needed to insure good function and no more. Barrel to bushing and bushing to slide fit is simply perfect, just enough running clearance and no more. The barrel also features a small and very well centered crown. All this bodes well for very good accuracy, IMO it should group at 2 inches or less at 25 yards. Trigger is good but not great. There is about 1/32 inch of sear creep so it's close to "crisp" but not as good as a S&W revolver in single action. Break is currently just a tick over 6 lbs. but I expect that will drop with use. Finish is excellent, IMO every bit as good as one of S&W's Custom Shop 1911's.

Price paid was a touch high at 799.00 but I didn't mind that. Last weekend I was looking at the E series Crimson Trace model at 1089.00. BTW, nothing against the E series, they were on my fallback list. However the base model 5 inch stainless E series lists at 919.00 so by finding the Ruger I saved 120 bucks and lost a bit of bling I really don't care about.

All in all IMO it's a very good bit of kit for a very good price. No, it's not a full on custom but what you get for your money is a very good 1911 with all the essentials you need but none of the bling that is more eye candy than anything else. You also get a fit that produces good accuracy without the headaches that a fully accurized 1911 can cause.

 

[max]

I got one a month ago or so. The first range trip did not go well, but I take the blame for it. I did not properly lube the Ruger, I thought I did, but I didn't. The second time I lubed the rails with Rig for stainless and it worked just fine. I have only fired factory ball or reloads with 230gr ball over 5.3 of 231 and they worked fine. I only have 300 rounds through it and hope for at least another 200 rounds of ball before I try lead. The gun is tight and the recoil spring is a strong one.

I don't think you will have any regrets.

 

[Fishslayer]

It's on my "must have" list. It's possible to get them in Kalifornistan but the hard part is FINDING one from a seller that will ship it to an FFL here.

 

[scooter123]

Put 200 rounds downrange with the SR1911 this morning. Ammo was mainly 230 gn. FMJ but I did run one magazine of Speer Gold Dots through it as a cursory test for function with hollow points. At some point I'll pick up some more Gold Dots and do a proper function test with my preferred carry load.

One thing I dont like is that this pistol features a serrated trigger. I wish I had taken the time to do a bit of grinding on those serrations because my finger is a bit chewed up. That particular issue has now been delt with. Frankly I just don't understand why serrated triggers today have to have serrations sharp enough to draw blood, it really can't cost that much to either cut a finer pitch or toss them in a vibratory finisher.

Also found the grip panels had shot loose when I got home to clean it up. These are mounted with hex head screws which I'm not a fan of so I'll probably put new slotted screws on it at some point. Right now I've just snugged them up as well as I dare with those tiny hex scockets and we'll see if they shoot loose again.

One distinct positive is that there were zero malfunctions of any descriptions. Sort of puts that hoohaw about needing to break in a 1911 is just BS. Fact is that if a pistol is well designed and constructed there should be no need at all for a break-in. Accuracy was also quite good when shooting offhand, at 30 feet chewing a 1 inch ragged hole was easy. However, my attempt at shooting for groups at 50 feet from a benchrest using reading glasses was a total failure, I just could not see the 3/4 inch sticker I pasted on the target as an aim point. Next time I try using a rest I'll just forget the readers because I've found I shoot better without them. What I saw today indicates that it will shoot between 3 and 4 inches for me at 25 yards but that is simply due to my aging eyesight, realistically I expect it's capable of 2 inches or less. Final positive is that I discovered it will slip right into the IWB holster for my Sig P239 and keep the grip tucked in tight, so no need to worry about a concealment holster for it. It's also Combat Sighted which as a Sig shooter is something that I prefer, those who prefer a center hold will either have to adapt or change the sights.

The Ruger magazines I've retired. The feed lips on these magazines aren't very well polished and this made them difficult to load. The shop I was shooting at carries the Wilson Combat 47D so I picked up 4 of them for a start.

All in all I'm quite impressed. Ruger has produced a very well finished, accurate, and reliable 1911 from the start. It's also a superbly balanced package. You get the basic features that make it user friendly in the excellent sights and larger safety lever. However, it's not loaded down with "bling" that really don't add any functionality. Basically, what you get for your money is a very good HANDGUN, not some attempt at a work of Art that sometimes fires bullets.

 

[AR_Black]

It's on my "must have" list. It's possible to get them in Kalifornistan but the hard part is FINDING one from a seller that will ship it to an FFL here.

Fishslayer - I ship to California & feel your pain. I'm having a hard time getting these too, long backorders
John

 

[Fishslayer]

The Ruger magazines I've retired. The feed lips on these magazines aren't very well polished and this made them difficult to load. The shop I was shooting at carries the Wilson Combat 47D so I picked up 4 of them for a start.

I bought a couple of those. They gave me problems with SWC & JHP in my RIA. Switched out the springs with 7 rounders & no more problems. While the WC are the smoothest of my mags I've found that the Checkmate 7 rounders with dimpled follower and extra power spring w/hybrid lips feed the bluntskull ammo really well.

Fishslayer - I ship to California & feel your pain. I'm having a hard time getting these too, long backorders
John

I'm in no big hurry. I've resigned myself to the facts that

1. I'm gonna have to wait.
2. I'm gonna be spending way more than MSRP after shipping & all the fees, etc. involved in the legal foo fooforaw.

But I'm the sort who likes showing up with something not everybody else at the range has. And I am definitely a fanboi for Ruger bottom feeders.

 

[Rule3]

Thanks for the range report, Everything written about the gun seems positive. Now if I can only see one.

Oh and just remember if it does not shoot well it's NOT the gun

http://smith-wessonforum.com/lounge/249366-its-not-gun-its-you.html

 

[Joe in SC]

Bought my SR1911 about 2 months ago. I was on a waiting list for about 30 days and got the call. $629.99 plus 6% tax. Not a bad price, I don't think considering I've seen them advertised as high as 899.

I have about 600 rounds through mine now. A combination of hardball, lead 200grn SWC and jhp's. Zero malfunctions and I have used the factory mags, Wilson's, C. McCormick Powermag and Shooting Stars.

My only complaint is the trigger and I hate to complain about it. It is pretty good, I'm just used to real good triggers on my 1911's. If it doesen't change some by round 1000, I'll do something about it.

I did change out the wood grips to some VZ grips. I went to slim grips as I do on all my 1911's. I also went with some of VZ's cool grip screws. I like the sights on the Ruger. They have just the right amount of light on the sides of the front blade.

I would say the Ruger SR1911 is a best buy at the 672 OTD bucks that I paid for it. At 799.00 plus tax I would have to pass. I would buy the STI Spartan instead. As a matter of a fact the Spartan in 9 mm will be my next purchase. Love those 1911's !!!

 

[scooter123]

I'm well aware that I overpaid a bit. However, in my area the 1911's have been disappearing from the display cases for the past 6 months. The simple truth is that the shops close to me don't have one single 1911 for under 1200 bucks. Given what is available I truthfully feel I got a bargain. In addition I also got exactly what is my personal preference in a 1911, that being a rather basic service grade pistol with an extended safety, improved sights, and a stainless steel frame.

 

[Glockman9mm]

Congrats! There pretty scarce around here. My lgs said he's got at least 10 guys on a list for one and he has no clue when he's getting more in.