Shooting a USGI 1911A1

sigp220.45

sigp220.45

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I'm working my way toward a trade for a very nice Remington Rand 1911A1. In doing some research on other forums I saw several comments to the effect that shooting a 1945 USGI 1911A1 is a bad idea: "turning an heirloom into a paperweight", etc.

I'm looking for a gun to shoot. I shoot my old Smiths, and I shoot my Garands. Is it really not advisable to shoot a good condition USGI 1911A1?

(Also, if anyone is looking for a nice US&S, I know where one is.)
 
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There is a difference in shooting and useing. If it is not in new unfired as issued condition you will not hurt it by shooting it a bit, but I would not subject it to the wear and tear of daily carry.
 
I can assure you that any M1911A1 you are likely to come across has already been fired, and fired, and fired, etc. It has also very likely been rebuilt at least once or twice in an Ordnance Depot somewhere. Remember, Colt produced their last M1911A1 for the Government in 1945, and it is unlikely you will find one that isn't already well worn.
 
I have a fairly large gun collection, but I'm not a collector, I'm a shooter so they all get shot. Collectors like to buy a gun and sit around and admire it's beauty so the better it looks the more valuable it is to them. Shooters like to experience the way a firearm feels and functions, the way it was engineered to fill the hand and operate as designed. And one big difference is, there are "collectable" guns I wouldn't give a nickle for.

So, if you are a collector, no! don't shoot it. If you are a shooter, go ahead and enjoy it.
 
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Hi Bob - that's where I've been lurking and searching. It was actually this quote that got me thinking:

"If you are gonna's shoot it there is a possibility of handing down a $500 paperweight to your offspring."

This was in reference to a perfectly serviceable gun of the vintage I'm thinking of getting. This is just one example, there were plenty of other posters espousing the same view.

I guess I was just surprised that a 65 year old 1911 in good condition would turn itself inside out from shooting plain old ball ammo. I would have never given it a thought. And since I assume every single one of these guns out there has been shot (probably a lot) it can't be a matter of turning an unfired gun into a fired one.

I figure if my Garand made in the same year can take all the .30/06 I care to shoot through it, the 1911 should be able to handle plenty of .45 ball. Am I missing something?
 
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Only issue in my mind is springs. If your going to shoot it replace sear/trigger spring and adjust it. Also FP and recoil spring. Make sure FP channel is clean, so pin won't stick out when it should retract. I had a Systema go full auto one time when 50 year old sear spring broke.
 
I have a pretty nice, 95% or so, correct 1942 Colt 1911A1. I've had it 7-8 years and haven't shot it, not because I'm afraid to shoot it, but I have a big handful of other 1911's with batter triggers, better sights, beavertails, etc that I enjoy shooting much more than a USGI gun. I just see no reason to shoot it, but would certainly not be afraid to and would shoot the hell out of it were it my only 1911.
 
I have a very nice GI Colt 1911A1 that I have been shooting for about 40 years. I carried it as a truck gun through the early 80s. I still enjoy shooting it. Matter of fact, since you reminded me, I just might drag it out of the safe this afternoon and run a little hardball through it.

Shoot that thang!!;)
 
I shoot my Ithaca 1911A1 whenever the mood hits. But like I've mentioned before, when I bought it it was a $125 gun, retail. Bout same price as my Garand come to think of it.
 
I have been fortunate to have acquired a few GI .45`s over the years. My favorite is an all correct, almost perfect Ithaca,carried by a relative during WWII. Upon his passing the .45 reverted to me, It would be a disservice to not fire it a few times during the year. Usually I take it out on the anniversary of when I received it, kind of a tribute to him I guess.
 
If it is newer than 1924 you are ok shooting it.
If it is older than 1924, The entire slide is not hardened and you risk cracking the slide.
So there you go.
The parts wont wear out,
Replace the springs so the frame does not get beaten by the slide and go shoot it.
If you are intending to run 20,000 rounds through it, You may want a newer one to wear out.
Peter
 
Remington Rand 1911A1

[Q
Sigp220.45,I have a Remington Rand1911 A1 that was made in 1945.

I carried it for many years while I was a LEO. I took it to PPC matches
and was one of the first to use a semi-auto at these matches. I did very well with it.Jim Cerrilo also used a semi-auto with me,he had a 9mm.I did change the spring on it.I carried hydra-shok 230 gr as my duty ammo. For PPC matches I shot 200 gr LSWC ammo.When I retired it retired. Get your .45 and shoot the heck out of it as it will take it.

Regards,

Bob












UOTE=sigp220.45;1254914]I'm working my way toward a trade for a very nice Remington Rand 1911A1. In doing some research on other forums I saw several comments to the effect that shooting a 1945 USGI 1911A1 is a bad idea: "turning an heirloom into a paperweight", etc.

I'm looking for a gun to shoot. I shoot my old Smiths, and I shoot my Garands. Is it really not advisable to shoot a good condition USGI 1911A1?

(Also, if anyone is looking for a nice US&S, I know where one is.)[/QUOTE]
 
I have a 1914 Colt that was arsenal rebuilt with A1 features. I genuinely believe the gun was never reissued after the rebuild. Its nearly perfect.
I shoot it whenever the mood hits me. :D
 
I have a 1943 Colt that my uncle picked-up on the field in France 1944, his offer to purchase was refused, so he became the proud owner. It was "accuracized" by many post armorers then sent on it first of several trips to Jim Clark for adjustable sights, than all of the known enhancements..
It has been shot and shot and shot some more. I have no doubt that it will still be shooting when it hits its 100 birthday.
 
I have had several WWII era 1911's. I shot all of them. They are rarely fully original, as they are all old and have a lot of miles on them. If a part broke, it would likely be a minor part that can be replaced with a vintage replacement part. It won't affect value at all.

That said, if you want a 1911 primarily to SHOOT, the old ones are not the best way to go. Most were built with very sloppy tolerances which is great for reliability but not conducive to accuracy. The trigger pulls are usually not very good. The sights are small and hard to see. If you buy one that is still original and begin to shoot it a lot, the shortcomings as a shooter will soon become apparent and modifying them to make them better shooters WILL wreck their value.

Plus, as you have probably noticed, clean ex-military 1911's are getting pretty pricey. For less than that kind of money, you can buy a modern Colt, S&W or Springfield Armory that is probably going to be a far better shooter and not have to worry about breaking anything and sinking your investment.

On the other hand, if you just want a cool old artifact of WWII, Korea and Viet Nam, that you can shoot sometimes, buy an old one. Nothing wrong with that.
 
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1911

I came from a time you either shot them or put in drawer and never looked at it again this how much its worth was never thought of and they were only worth $32 new.course that was two weeks pay.I would get swc target loads I donot shoot jacket in mine.I also reload and have a light target load thats good to 75 yds.I am a great believer in reloading.
 
n4zov said:
I can assure you that any M1911A1 you are likely to come across has already been fired, and fired, and fired, etc. It has also very likely been rebuilt at least once or twice in an Ordnance Depot somewhere. Remember, Colt produced their last M1911A1 for the Government in 1945, and it is unlikely you will find one that isn't already well worn.
Click to expand...

When I was last armed with a 1911A1 in the military, (about 1986) the newest pistol was 41 yrs old. What was fairly uncommon was a pistol that had a slide & frame from the same mfg. Mine had a Ithica slide and a Remington Rand frame. (internal parts? who knows)

I wouldn't worry about putting "too much wear" on it. Like someone else said, installing a new recoil spring might be a good idea.
 
I have a 1918 Colt that I have shot with no problems. It has arsenal marks on it but my father got it in the 40's. I would not shoot it a lot.

I have a relatively new Springfield 1911A1 that I shoot at targets.
 
Much good advice on this thread concerning shooting/collecting. Pred's especially re; the pre '24 time frame.
I both shoot and collect and have a rule I follow:
If I buy an older firearm in NIB condition, I keep it that way and try hard to find a shooter of the same type to use.
If I buy a vintage firearm that has seen use, I shoot it.
Using a fine old previously fired gun will not hurt it, abuse/neglect will kill it.
Personally tho, the thought of taking a 50 or 60 year old firearm in unfired condition out and shooting it makes me cringe. It's been in a time capsule for all those years and that, to me, is the way it should stay.
Others disagree, and that is fine, that's what makes this hobby great.
Enjoy, and post pics when you get it!
RD
 
therevjay said:
When I was last armed with a 1911A1 in the military, (about 1986) the newest pistol was 41 yrs old. What was fairly uncommon was a pistol that had a slide & frame from the same mfg. Mine had a Ithica slide and a Remington Rand frame. (internal parts? who knows)
Click to expand...

When I was Armorer of a Headquarters battery we had 5, consecutive serial numbered, Remington 1911A1's. We had 11 1911A1's all together so I was able to swap parts around to get all the correct parts back on the Remingtons. I tried and tried to come up with a legal way to own those pistols. I even offered to do a Report of Survey, and pay the government what they said each one was worth on the property books. Heck, they were switching over to the M9 anyway and as this was the Clinton era those Remingtons probably got melted down.

Yes, I would have gladly paid the $55 each the Federal Government said they were worth. ;D ;D
 
Shoot it! I had a 1911 (all original and U.S. Property marked) built in 1915 that a friend of my Dad (and a friend of mine) carried (and used) in France during WWI, as a member of the Wis NG between the World Wars, and again through WWII when he was reactivated. Ken gave the gun to me some time in the late '70s or early '80s, along with his issue holster from WWI, and I shot it a reasonable amount, never any problems. As earlier mentioned, the pre-1924 slides were a bit prone to developing cracks, though mine never did. Sadly, that gun (along with a lot of others) was stolen and never recovered. I recently purchased a 1911 built in 1914 (serial number initially shows early 1913, but it was one of the first runs of 1911s built by the government at Springfield Armory, about 3,000 pieces, as I recall), all original frame and internal parts and original barrel, but with a well-fitted commercial slide (appears to be early 1950's construction). It shoots well, and I have no hesitation in shooting it, though I shoot my modern 1911s more. One recommendation, use ball ammo only, if it is original, the feed ramp and certain other features do not render use of hollow point, or even many semi-wadcutters, reliable. I would also recommend using only standard pressure loads. Enjoy your new gun and speculating on its history!
 
I have a 1918 Colt 1911. It was refurbished in 1943 at Rock Island Arsenal and have been used in two world wars and who knows how many other trips around the world. It is in very good shape and loves 230gr Ball ammo. I don't shoot it as much as I use to now that I have a Springfield Armory National Match. I still have no fear of harming it by shooting it since it was given to me when I was 18. I am a firm believe that old guns should be enjoyed best by shooing them. That is why they where made.
 
The new Auto-Ordnance Army WW 2 copy 1911a1 is a very close clone to the original 1911. It's an awesome 1911 and affordable.
 
Holy thread resurrection!

I feel obligated to update this now that it has risen from the dead.

I did indeed acquire a WWII 1911A1 - an Ithaca, but actually the dreaded
"mixmaster" since the serial number indicates the frame is a Remington Rand.



Somewhere in its life it got itself reparkerized, further establishing its utter worthlessness in the eyes of the cognoscenti.



Given its absolute lack of redeeming virtues, I have been shooting it as much as possible to bring on its "paperweight" status. So far no luck, but I plan to keep trying!
 
SHOOT IT. that's what they were made for. I have one RR that was sold thru the DCM in 1961 that doesn't look like it has been fired since it left the factory. it is in the box with all the shipping documents. I have never fired that one, but all my other A1s and my one 1911 get shot. my 1911 will be 100 when my grand son graduates high school and shooting it will be one of his presents. lee
 
A few years ago I bought my first 1911. I wanted a USGI but didn't buy one because I wanted to shoot it.....a lot.

A USGI slide is not 100% heat treated like the new ones.

Your money, your call.
 
I had a DCM RR that I refinished back in the 60s and put decent sights on, used it for IPSC. Along about 1978 the frame cracked at the slide stop pin. I actually got Colt to replace it with a Gold Cup frame and put the original RR serial number on it. Most of the time since it has worn a 1970s Colt .22 conversion kit, so it's a dead ringer for a .22 Gold Cup. About the only original parts in the gun now are the grip screws. I think.

However my 1943 parkerized DCM RR is stock, and gets fired about once a year with hardball on its "anniversary".

My stock 1913 one gets fired a few rounds every time I watch "The Wild Bunch".

The young whippersnapper of the bunch is a SA Milspec in stainless. Good shooter,too.
 
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