SW1911TA E-Series arrived today...

[78Staff]

Mentioned in another thread I had ordered a SW1911TA E-Series from Bud's Police Suppy, well it arrived today

So much Gen3 traffic in this sub-forum, time for a little 1911 love haha. First 1911 I've bought in some time, the transaction with Buds PS was pretty much painless, had a little more oil than I would have expected but it cleaned up nice. I threw some Houge's I had laying around on it until I decide what I want to do for grips - the wood ones sure look pretty but I may just order up some VZ Black Desert Sand grips or something similar.

Fit and finish is tight, sucker is heavy though. I guess I've gotten used to M&P's. Trigger pull is a bit heavier than I would have expected, avg 6.3 with a Digital Lyman. Not sure if it will lighten up after I put some rounds downrange, but I hope so. Not expecting a 3lb trigger or anything but would really like to get it down around 4.5-5lbs. Heck my cheap Sig/GSG 1911-22 breaks at 5.5 after I pulled all the 80 series parts out of it.

Looking for a leather OWB, the rail of course eliminates many, but I knew that going in. Most of my leather is Galco, and they make one tor two for it, as does Desantis, Winthrop, probably a few others - just need to pick one I suppose. Chip McCormick Shooting Star magazines seem to run fine function testing, which is a plus since I have a few of those already. If I run into issues on the range I will just have to pick up some CM Power Mags.

All and all I am pretty pleased. I had looked at a few different ones, a TRP (used), Combat Elite, Ruger's SR1911, and A Wesson, but decided to stick with the Smith. FWIW, I looked at a Ruger today when picking mine up, and it seems like a great value at the $650 price point for sure - just seems like it all depends on if you get a good one or not.

Anyway, I've rambled on enough I suppose, any suggestions for leather post 'em up - hardly anyone carries leather for railed guns so it will have to order on faith . Should get some range time tomorrow, although there is a gun show in town this weekend, I'll have to swing by there as well. Always looking for some more SAW ammo boxes .

EDIT - well first surprise, decided to swap the grips back and one of the dang bushings backed out . Of course I ruined it trying to get the grips screw unscrewed. So, new bushings are on the shopping list before I go the range. Dang haven't even shot it yet @#%!#

 

[WisconsinKen]

That is one nice looking 1911!!

 

[AveragEd]

The only handgun I own with a non-adjustable rear sight is an E-Series S&W 1911Sc but I was pleasantly surprised to find it shot right on at 50 feet and 25 yards, albeit fairly flat. You have to hold the aligned night sights right across the center of the target's bull to hit there; I'm used to a 6:00 hold but I didn't buy this gun for target shooting, so that's not a concern for me. Hopefully, your gun will shoot like mine.

Ed

 

[78Staff]

Apparently 1911 grip bushings are not common stock, at least in many shops around here. Finally found some VZ ones at the 3rd LGS I went to - they are slimmer than the stock ones, but seem to work fine. I'll be adding some VZ O2's or Recons anyway most likely, so should be a non-issue. Bad part is after running errands, stopping by the gun show (which was a bust, btw - seems like they are getting smaller and smaller these days ), and time wasted chasing down the bushings - pretty much wasted my whole afternoon. So range time will have to wait until Monday.

I think it's time to put in a general spare parts order to Brownells

 

[jimdevlin]

Nice gun! For the holster you might look at Tucker Gun Leather. I have the Texas Heritage IWB for my 1911 SC. The work is good and the people are nice to deal with. I see the HF2 belt holster can be ordered for an accessory rail.

 

[78Staff]

Quick Range report, ran 200 rds of Federal American Eagle through it - no major hiccups although I did have some feed issues with the oem magazines - occasionally the first round would not strip off and load, which could have been me not seating the mag firmly enough, but also the last round in the mag would fail to load a few times as well. My 20 year old Chip McCormick mags functioned fine however - I think I mentioned earlier they are not the premium Power Mags, just the standard "Shooting Star" models. Also had the slightest bit of dust cover wear, so I may take a little off with a file.

Still concerned about the trigger, slight over 6lbs which just seems high for an E-Series. Had a bit of low/left going, which is on me, not the gun I am pretty sure. I'll run a couple hundred more rounds through it before adjusting anything.

Here's a nice 6 round group at 10 yards, towards the end of the session after I started getting used to the gun... one pesky little flier.



However, as we all know 1911's don't hold 6 rounds, they hold 7/8, so in full disclosure, here's the 7th... figures . I think I got a little excited lol.



All in all, pretty happy. Little concerned about the oem mags, and the trigger, but otherwise had a fun day. Not sure what the advertised trigger weight is, for some reason I had 5lbs in my head, but i can't find it listed anywhere now.

Also shot my little 1911-22 & Shield, as well as a few of my buddy's guns, a Glock 42 (pretty nice little gun, to be honest) and a Springfield XD. We had a good time.

 

[78Staff]

Oh, also picked up some Chip McCormick Exotic Rosewood Diamond grips as well... there's really nothing wrong with the stock E-Series grips, but they are so pretty I though I might keep them off the gun for safekeeping .

 

[78Staff]

Nice gun! For the holster you might look at Tucker Gun Leather. I have the Texas Heritage IWB for my 1911 SC. The work is good and the people are nice to deal with. I see the HF2 belt holster can be ordered for an accessory rail.

Thanks, I will check them out. I am a bit leary of not being able to try it, so have limited myself to local stock so far. Picked up a Glaco Fletch Hi-Ride, which fits great and also still fits non-rail 1911's. I had originally wanted the Galco Concealable Belt Holster, which is a bit trimmer profile and lacks the thumb break, but the model listed as compatible (CON612B), we could barely get the handgun in, and had even more trouble getting it back out. Tried 3 different ones and it was the same for all. So I think Galco might have that one wrong lol.

CON612B - Doesn't Fit


FL212 - Fits great

 

[78Staff]

Still concerned about the trigger, slight over 6lbs which just seems high for an E-Series.

So I installed a C&S Light Pull Sear Spring I had laying around - I had bought it for my 1911-22 a while back but it didn't fit - and pull has dropped to right at 4lbs or a tad over. Feels great while function testing, will have to do a couple 2 round firing checks at the range this week to make sure all is good

 

[78Staff]

Did'n care for the CM's in actual use, so LGS let me swap so I grabbed some VZ's, figure I will see what all the fuss is about . Operator II's in Predator Green...pretty dang abrasive lol. Honestly, I think the E-Series grips really look the best, but they are a tad thick. Still, I may just go back to them anyway, going to shoot these for a few sessions first.

 

[Smoke52]

That is a real pretty 1911 you have there, and I ought to know as I have one too! Very accurate and I find the weight at the range to be perfect. I also changed out the factory stocks. They are nice looking, but I did not really like the three tone look: Stainless, black and the Rosewood color. I was looking at the Altamont site and stumbled onto the 1911 finger groove stocks.
Drop-dead gorgeous to my eye in the pics! Ordered the ones with the Oak Leaf design in Silver Black. Even nicer in person and on the firearm. Shoots even better. Check them out if you like finger grooves. I know many think they are wrong on a 1911, but these look so good and shoot so well, I just don't care!

Only issue was that Altamont neglected to cut the small relief for the ambi safety lever on the right side. A couple minutes with the Dremel and all was right with the world.

I don't have a pic, but here is the one from the catalog.

Altamont Company - 1911

Notice in the pic that there is a relief cut there, not sure why it was missed on the pair I got.

Thanks for the names of some holster makers, i am in that hunt too.

 

[jayman9207]

Man that is a really awesome looking gun!!!! I have been toying with the idea of getting one for a little while now. You are making me so jealous!

 

[78Staff]

I had originally wanted the Galco Concealable Belt Holster, which is a bit trimmer profile and lacks the thumb break, but the model listed as compatible (CON612B), we could barely get the handgun in, and had even more trouble getting it back out. Tried 3 different ones and it was the same for all. So I think Galco might have that one wrong lol.

CON612B - Doesn't Fit
FL212 - Fits great

Just to follow up on the Galco Concealable, in case the thread shows up in search for it - I went to a different store and tried another Galco Concealable - same holster model, model #, etc. and it fit's fine. So, just not sure if the first store had some overly tight ones from a particular batch, or what - but the CON642B does indeed fit the railed TA.

Now, if it only came in Havana Brown...