I have a Colt 1911, a Springfield 1911, a Colt 1911A1, Rem Rand and Ithaca. I have shot them all and wouldn't hesitate to shoot them again. I don't think I'd want to put 1000 rounds of +P through them,but a moderate amount of hardball or cast bullet handlaods will do no damage.
Shooting a USGI 1911A1
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BLACKHAWKNJ
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I would get new springs, perhaps an extra barrel or two.
My first .45 auto was a Remington Rand that I bought from a guy who
had gotten it through the DCM. This was about 1967 and he had two
.45s so he said he would sell me one of them for what he had in it,
$22.50. Needless to say I didn't hesitate. I shot a few hundred
hardball rounds and a couple hundred cast bullet RN handloads through
it before foolishly trading it in on a satin nickel Colt Combat
Commander .45 in 1974. The Commander taught me a lesson about
accuracy, or lack of, compared to the Government model. I sold it and
bought a Series 70 Government model which I still have. I have always
regretted trading off the Remington Rand. Back then most of the .45s
floating around were ex GIs and people shot them regularly. I don't
see any reason you can't shoot your gun but they aren't going for
$22.50 these days so I wouldn't try to wear it out if it were mine.
had gotten it through the DCM. This was about 1967 and he had two
.45s so he said he would sell me one of them for what he had in it,
$22.50. Needless to say I didn't hesitate. I shot a few hundred
hardball rounds and a couple hundred cast bullet RN handloads through
it before foolishly trading it in on a satin nickel Colt Combat
Commander .45 in 1974. The Commander taught me a lesson about
accuracy, or lack of, compared to the Government model. I sold it and
bought a Series 70 Government model which I still have. I have always
regretted trading off the Remington Rand. Back then most of the .45s
floating around were ex GIs and people shot them regularly. I don't
see any reason you can't shoot your gun but they aren't going for
$22.50 these days so I wouldn't try to wear it out if it were mine.
reddogge
Member
Since this thread originated in 2010 I'm assuming the gun was bought and shot so that's that.
Information I've picked up on the 1911 forum indicates the weak point is the slide cracking due to the heat treating processes used thoughout their history.
They give a general lifetime of slides of approx. 1,000 shots for WW1, 10,000 shots for WW2, 100,000 shots for modern.
Once a slide is cracked it is toast so if the gun is an historical piece it's best not to shoot it. If you must replace your recoil spring and don't do a lot of shooting with it. You are rolling the dice.
Information I've picked up on the 1911 forum indicates the weak point is the slide cracking due to the heat treating processes used thoughout their history.
They give a general lifetime of slides of approx. 1,000 shots for WW1, 10,000 shots for WW2, 100,000 shots for modern.
Once a slide is cracked it is toast so if the gun is an historical piece it's best not to shoot it. If you must replace your recoil spring and don't do a lot of shooting with it. You are rolling the dice.
da gimp
Member
still have a couple of 1911A1's...... A C-series Colt (precedes the series 70's) & an old USGI US&S that for some strange reason was sent to RIA for a park job....... it's all US&S and is in near mint from "rebuild"& is so proofed on the frame below & behind the serial number (if that's the word I want to use) a knowledgeable friend said it was all US&S as far as he could tell......... We shoot & carry the C-series...... the US&S remains in the safe.
I wouldn't hesitate to shoot one. The only potential issue is the slides are only spot heat treated around the slide stop notch, they aren't entirely heat treated. They may also be heat treated around the muzzle end where the bushing goes, I don't remember.
Keep the standard 16.5# recoil spring and all should be good. With standard pressure ammo, 16.5# is the correct spring weight and anything heavier is unnecessary and batters the slide when it returns.
As others have mentioned, they have all been shot a lot already and probably have been through multiple rebuilds.
Keep the standard 16.5# recoil spring and all should be good. With standard pressure ammo, 16.5# is the correct spring weight and anything heavier is unnecessary and batters the slide when it returns.
As others have mentioned, they have all been shot a lot already and probably have been through multiple rebuilds.
I bought one with a filed off property mark as the price was right and collector value nil for the frame. The frame is 1917 and the slide is 1918. Using the tiny sights gives the experience of what the guys used "back in the day". New main, recoil, and firing pin springs were added. If the slide cracks it is a small loss to the world. The enjoyment of shooting it remains.
I bought this old Ithaca M1911A1 just before I entered the Army in 1961. While in the Army, I had a master gunsmith accurize it and re-blue it. I shot it in competition and carried it occasionally on active duty. In the National Guard I shot it and carried it. The Patridge front sight flew off unexpectedly during a string of fire (try getting a sight picture without a front sight!), so I replaced it with a ramp style that was both staked and silver-soldered in place. I have certainly put thousands of rounds through this particular pistol, and who knows how many rounds had been fired through it in the course of two wars before I got it. I've replaced some springs and kept it well lubed, but that's about it. It will still shoot rings around any other .45 I own. With prudent maintenance, replacement of springs and proper lubrication, these guns will last a long time.
I have shot this one a lot, because it was a dog that has been resurrected, but my other GI guns in good shape have become collector's items and have been retired from shooting to maintain their great condition for future generations. I'm certain that they also would take a lot of shooting without serious problems, but I choose not to do that.
John
I have shot this one a lot, because it was a dog that has been resurrected, but my other GI guns in good shape have become collector's items and have been retired from shooting to maintain their great condition for future generations. I'm certain that they also would take a lot of shooting without serious problems, but I choose not to do that.
John
BLACKHAWKNJ
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I would buy a spare slide or two. A modern one will fit nicely and function properly.
My match pistol is serial numbered C 33. I bought it in the 1960s from a police lieutenant who had accurized it, installed Micro sights and fired it in competition for almost 20 years. He had shortened the recoil spring for wadcutter loads; I never heard about the slides cracking so I put in a GI 45 recoil spring and in the two years I was on an Army pistol tem, I must have put 10,000 rounds of hardball down it. I still shoot it occasionally, with wadcutter loads.
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