Useless and Pointless 1911 "Things, Upgrades, and Features"

[dandyrandy]

Lets discuss some useless things in the 1911 pistols. Just opinions but watevs this is for entertainment purposes only.

"Slim grips!" Oh my the dreaded slim grips of slimdamnnation! I just don't care for them and find them a pointless feature. You know if you have them because the gun will have shorter grip bushings. I've had them in the past on factory made 1911s and find them annoying because I will have to change them to normal size bushings. Prepare to pull out your hair, or whats left of it, if you strip out the bushing receptacles on the frame! Mostly I don't care for them not because of how they feel but because I have more grip options with normal length bushings and they don't make a wrap around slim grip that I know of yet. Also I find the original Johnny "Mo" Brownatelli design very slim already so slimmys are almost always a "no go" for me.

Extended slide release lever. I've had these before and they don't really do anything for me. The biggest problem is the cost of the part upgrade can be very high and possibly need fitting so there just not worth it to me. Unless you got very tiny thumbs its an upgrade to take your money away.

Front slide serrations. This seems to be more of a "style and look thing" more than anything else. Besides that I don't prescribe to the need for them at all and can do press checks without front serrations all day long with no problemos if I want to do that.

Awww yes the wonderful world of the useless 1911 extended guide rod! This is one that I actually like and don't mind in my 1911 however they are TOTALLY NOT NEEDED. Though it is entertaining to listen to people on how much they are badly needed and a "must have" in the old original Johnny Mo design.

Bling bling baby! This is another one I don't mind but it is a totally useless thing besides impressing your BBQ friends or your local pimp. I've shined up 1911s before and put really nice stag bone grips on the gun that cost almost the same price as the gun itself. Why?? Because its fun and nice to look at. Like the All Powerful and Magnificent Yogurt the Wise once said... MERCHANDISING! MERCHANDISING!

All of these of course are opinions mostly about features that I don't see a real useful purpose in. However there's more "things, upgrades, and features" I don't care for but they also serve more of a better understandable purpose in a 1911 gun. One being ambi safeties. I don't need them however they can be a real world benefit especially to a left handed shooter. There's countless other things but they all have some decent rhyme or reason so I won't mention them. All in all "things, upgrades, and features" are fun and can be very beneficial if done correctly. I encourage everyone to do it as long as it doesn't mess with the safety of the gun. Thanks and feel free to comment and enjoy!

 

[Farmer17]

Jeff Cooper once said the only thing the original 1911 needed was bigger sights. If you don't like your gun's trigger you can get it tuned and if the safety doesn't fit you or your left handed you can change it. I tend to agree.

 

[ContinentalOp]

I consider very few custom modifications to be pointless or useless, because there's probably someone, somewhere, that benefits from them.

There are some that I'm not particularly fond of, and don't find particularly useful for me.

Extended slide releases. I usually use my left thumb to release it when reloading a mag from slide lock. For one-handed use, never had a problem release it with my right thumb, despite my smallish hands.

While I'm not a 1911 purist by any means, I do prefer to stay relatively close to JMB's original design. So I'm not a fan of bushingless barrels or full-length guide rods. I do like external extractors, though it's not a deal breaker. A bushingless barrel would be a deal-breaker for me, but a full-length guide rod is easily replaced. I would probably put barrels with integral feed ramps into this category, though I can see a benefit in alloy-framed pistols. I'm sure they all work fine, but it's just a little too far from the original design for me.

Never had a problem with the original style grip safety, but beavertail grip safeties help make a 1911 more comfortable in the hand. I have to admit I miss the old "ducktail" style of grip safety, combined with a round Commander hammer. Fortunately, my Series 70 Gold Cup has that combo.

Not a fan of big mag funnels that extend the length of the pistol's grip. My 1911s just have beveled mag wells, and that works fine for me. I'm not a competition shooter and don't consider the need for lightning fast mag changes important, even in a self defense pistol.

Not really interested in ambi thumb safeties. I've practiced engaging and disengaging the left-side only thumb safeties on my 1911s. I can see some benefit in an extended thumb safety, though. I've never had a problem disengaging the standard Colt thumb safety, but I can see how having a slightly larger or extended safety can be beneficial when one is under stress. And while I can easily disengage the standard Colt thumb safety, it does require a bit more effort to engage it, and that could be easier with an extended thumb safety.

Front slide serrations? Meh. I think I'd prefer a 1911 without them, but it wouldn't be a deal breaker. I can see some benefit to them.

Don't really think match grade barrels are all that important, but it is probably the best way to get a good, consistent lock-up with them. Not really a fan of tightened frame/slide rails. I'd rather have a gun that's too loose than too tight. But I also remember something Bill Wilson said, that a 1911's fit doesn't have to be tight, it has to be right.

Cosmetic stuff. Meh. I don't like 1911s that are garish looking. I've seen some that resulted in eye vomit. I like simple finishes. Blued, stainless, hard chrome, parkerized, any of the modern black finishes. I've always had a thing for 2-tone 1911s (reference above picture).

Grips. Again, I like fairly simple grips. Double-diamond checkered wood grips are good. Got a set of cocobolo Hogues on my Series 80 Govt Model. I like the D45 grips (reference above picture). Some of the "tactical" grips I've seen, where the rear is smooth and the front is textured, are pretty cool. Thinking Ahrends and VZ.

I suppose that's about it. I used to really like custom 1911s (still do, actually), but the more I think about it, the more likely I am to get a basic GI-style 1911 if I were to buy one today, like the Colt Series 70 Govt Model they're making now (can't remember the current name). But I don't carry 1911s for self defense. If I did, I'd probably go with a Commander or CCO-style pistol with some of the more modern touches.

Just my opinion.

 

[Kanewpadle]

I understand slim grip panels. Some with small hands appreciate them.

Front cocking serrations serve no useful purpose.

But the worst is the claim that the a full length guide rods makes the gun more accurate. And two piece FLGR are even worse.

 

[6string]

Silly Bullseye Mods!

My 1911 peeve involves some of the mods people get done on their Bullseye 1911s. Don't get me wrong; I love 1911s and I love shooting Bullseye, but....
For traditional 2700 matches, the 45 stage was supposed to be about marksmanship proficiency with the (then new) service pistol.
At first, a 1911 had to be drawn from military inventory and fired with service ammo for use in the match. That is a tough way to fire the 900 aggregate!
Then, they approved better visibility sights. OK, fine!
Later, adjustable sights and 4lb trigger jobs were approved. OK, fine, that still is in pretty much keeping with a service pistol. In fact, that's close to the extent of what's allowed for CMP service pistol, if you choose to use a 1911.
But, for NRA 2700 it's all bets off! Orthopedic grips, huge Red Dot sights, 3lb triggers, extra weights, compensators, 6" long slides, powder puff wadcutter loads, etc.
It's fine if folks like these things for personal reasons, but don't pretend that for competitive purposes it's anything but twisting the rules for the sake of "buying points".
Yet, the guys using these things talk about the "challenge" of "mastering" the 45!!

The end result is that the Bullseye 1911 no longer has any bearing to the original intent of the match, (not that the 1911 is our service pistol...but, that's another story!)

Anyhow, that's my 1911 gripe...
Sure was fun getting that off my chest!

PS: it is fun to see some old timer Bullseye shooter show up at a match and clean up with his old DCM 1911!

 

[Westie1]

Let's see. Prefer the full length guide rod. Both my Colt and my custom built have tungsten full lengths. Bit more of the hassle to take apart, but I like the extra mass up front. As to ambi safety, gotta have it. Learned to shoot the 1911 high thumb- resting on the safety. For me, it gives me more control shooting weak handed.

BTW: My colt is one of the old M1991A1's from the 90's. Rattles a little, but still a good gun. And my custom is a wide body that I had built for USPSA LTD back around 95-96. Even though I had to have the mags pinned still won't give it up.

 

[ContinentalOp]

But, for NRA 2700 it's all bets off! Orthopedic grips, huge Red Dot sights, 3lb triggers, extra weights, compensators, 6" long slides, powder puff wadcutter loads, etc.

Reminds me of a mildly amusing story. Several years ago, back in the 90s, I was in a speed shooting competition. It was a semi-formal match, in that there were some basic rules, but it wasn't part of any organized competition series. There were no classes. So I was there, shooting my stock Beretta 92FS (I might've had night sights installed at the time...can't remember). I look down the line of shooters, and there are some with $2000+ compensated race guns with optical sights (this was the 90s, so they were quite big) that I would be shooting against. Needless to say, I didn't fare very well. Fortunately, I didn't come in last, so I guess there's that.

 

[bmcgilvray]

Ambidextrous safeties are a nuisance protrusion that can't be abided.

Extendo-matic slide releases need to stay away.

Full length guide rods are just so much baggage.

Front slide serrations are unsightly and unnecessary.

Speed bumps on grip safeties need to be conspicuous by their absence.

Beaver tail grip safeties so swoop-y that they'd do a '59 Cadillac tail fin proud.

Great honkin' "stick-y up-py" sights.

Bobbed 1911s are mutilated 1911s.

Undercut grip frames - two live here with them, but could do without the feature.

Same two have those oval Commander styled hammers which are an offense to the eye.

No wrap-around grips need apply.

Grips of any material other than checkered or double-diamond stocks should be banished. Well, they are here.

Mag wells - unsightly and not required.

Giant billboard roll marks on the slide proclaiming anything.

External extractors should not be seen.


That doesn't leave much.

 

[dandyrandy]

My 1911 peeve involves some of the mods people get done on their Bullseye 1911s. Don't get me wrong; I love 1911s and I love shooting Bullseye, but....
For traditional 2700 matches, the 45 stage was supposed to be about marksmanship proficiency with the (then new) service pistol.
At first, a 1911 had to be drawn from military inventory and fired with service ammo for use in the match. That is a tough way to fire the 900 aggregate!
Then, they approved better visibility sights. OK, fine!
Later, adjustable sights and 4lb trigger jobs were approved. OK, fine, that still is in pretty much keeping with a service pistol. In fact, that's close to the extent of what's allowed for CMP service pistol, if you choose to use a 1911.
But, for NRA 2700 it's all bets off! Orthopedic grips, huge Red Dot sights, 3lb triggers, extra weights, compensators, 6" long slides, powder puff wadcutter loads, etc.
It's fine if folks like these things for personal reasons, but don't pretend that for competitive purposes it's anything but twisting the rules for the sake of "buying points".
Yet, the guys using these things talk about the "challenge" of "mastering" the 45!!

The end result is that the Bullseye 1911 no longer has any bearing to the original intent of the match, (not that the 1911 is our service pistol...but, that's another story!)

Anyhow, that's my 1911 gripe...
Sure was fun getting that off my chest!

Thats crazy! I feel your pain... Yogurt the Wise loves the 1911 market! My first 1911 I bought was a cheap nickel plated GI style Rock Island Armory 1911 with the terrible GI blade sights. This was before everyone really knew that they were good. I had a small crowd around me and for fun I carried the gun in a holster John Wayne style and did a quick draw about 10 yards away on a tiny little target. I shot a perfect bullseye! I just laughed re-holstered and mosied on away while everyone clapped. Mostly the perfect luck but the gun and my skill had some part to play.

 

[gregintenn]

I find an accessory rail to be an abomination.
I’ve yet to find a need for a cheese grater underneath my pistol.

 

[Arm]

I never saw the need to put "mud flaps" on a 1911, I'll keep mine like it was intended.

 

[bmcgilvray]

I find an accessory rail to be an abomination.
I’ve yet to find a need for a cheese grater underneath my pistol.

Oh yeah. Gnarly accessory rails are nasty.

 

[mikerjf]

I've never been bit, so for me the beavertail/ducktail just makes it hard to decock. Rather have the original Commander type.

And I like the short trigger just fine. Don't need holes or stop screws.

And I'm fine with the little sights too.

Really, I pretty much like it as is. Maybe a bobtail would be cool.

 

[old tanker]

...it is fun to see some old timer Bullseye shooter show up at a match and clean up with his old DCM 1911!

Made me think of an old country song..."Close enough to perfect for me"

 

[Echo40]

One of the most nonsensical "upgrades" I've ever heard of folks doing to their 1911s is the removal of the "billboard" on the slide.

Not only are the slide markings I'm used to seeing on 1911s rather small, simple, and innocuous, but they exist for the purpose of identification. It would be one thing if folks wanted to remove the slide legend from say a Llama 1911 or some other el cheapo 1911, but in most cases folks are doing this to quality brand 1911s.
Frankly, in the modern era of CNC Machining in which everyone can make a decent looking 1911, and it isn't exactly difficult to polish up and refinish a cheap 1911 to look as nice as an otherwise expensive 1911, you'd think that folks would wish to keep the markings on the slide which identify their 1911 as a Premium Brand, but no, they'd rather strip it off so that it looks no different than some other guy's Ruger SR1911 or Taurus PT1911 that he polished up, refinished, and fitted with some nice aftermarket parts.

In addition, I'll never understand folks who downgrade their 1911s to an A1 configuration. It's like, 1911s tend to be cheaper in the A1 configuration, so why not just buy a 1911A1 to begin with rather than spending more for a 1911 with lots of semi-custom features, only to spend more money on aftermarket replacement parts to make it more like the A1?

 

[Chino74]

Only mods I did are extended thumb safety (EGW) on 2 of mine and flat checkered MSH & short triggers, that would be a series 80 Gov. & S.A. Mil-spec defender. My third is a rock stock series 70 (new model Colt). I am trying to resist putting a flat MSH on the series 70. I shoot the S.A. more than my Colts only because the S.A. is my work horse.

I have a box of grips LOL, IMO nice thin Dble Diamonds can't be beat, so they all wear various versions of same.

My new series 70 Colt has the higher profile sights but the front & back sight are blacked out, no white dot no nothing. Makes getting a good sight picture challenging. I might have my Smith put a gold bead insert on the front. That would be nice.

I don't mind a Commander hammer & rat tail grip safety on a full size GV., working on that for my old beater Ithica but first, my Thumb safety plunger tube is coming loose..more work.

So generally I prefer stock with very mild mods, no beaver tails or memory bumps, no rail cuts for Red Dots or lights, no ambi safeties & I'm left handed. The S.A. does have a magwell bevel.

 

[dandyrandy]

Oh yeah. Gnarly accessory rails are nasty.

Yes I used to really like the old school Taurus PT 92 and in some ways prefer it over the Beretta 92 because it didnt have the slide mounted safety. I liked it until they started putting this big rail on the bottom of the gun and now the thing looks like a goofy bony dinosaur abomination.

 

[Grayfox]

I've never been a fan of extended thumb safeties or slide releases. They just get in my way.
Hate a FLGR. Useless IMHO.
Some of my guns have beaver tails. I even added them to a couple many years ago. But a standard grip safety works just fine for me. I leave 'em alone now.
I do prefer a long trigger. It just fits my hand better. I will add one if the gun needs it.

My pet peeve is that everybody now sells their guns with a flat main spring housing. The original was changed to arched in the A1 for a valid reason. It pisses me off that just about every 1911 I've bought in at least the last 10 years, I've had to change the MSH to arched so it'll fit my hand properly.

 

[dandyrandy]

One of the most nonsensical "upgrades" I've ever heard of folks doing to their 1911s is the removal of the "billboard" on the slide.

Not only are the slide markings I'm used to seeing on 1911s rather small, simple, and innocuous, but they exist for the purpose of identification. It would be one thing if folks wanted to remove the slide legend from say a Llama 1911 or some other el cheapo 1911, but in most cases folks are doing this to quality brand 1911s.
Frankly, in the modern era of CNC Machining in which everyone can make a decent looking 1911, and it isn't exactly difficult to polish up and refinish a cheap 1911 to look as nice as an otherwise expensive 1911, you'd think that folks would wish to keep the markings on the slide which identify their 1911 as a Premium Brand, but no, they'd rather strip it off so that it looks no different than some other guy's Ruger SR1911 or Taurus PT1911 that he polished up, refinished, and fitted with some nice aftermarket parts.

In addition, I'll never understand folks who downgrade their 1911s to an A1 configuration. It's like, 1911s tend to be cheaper in the A1 configuration, so why not just buy a 1911A1 to begin with rather than spending more for a 1911 with lots of semi-custom features, only to spend more money on aftermarket replacement parts to make it more like the A1?

I dont get that either. Dan Wesson started doing minimal markings and started a trend now Rock Island does that to all there 1911s. The gun looks unfinished if you ask me. Looks kinda odd like it was made by a private owner. However the minimal markings dont bother me as much as the HUGE markings do. My Desert Eagle looks better with the minimal tasteful markings it has unlike when they first came out they broadcasted the name big across the whole slide. I think for the most part it was a good trend to follow. Its difficult for 1911 gun companies to keep up with all these trends. I think they need to follow Colt and just keep things classic. You cant ever go wrong with proven classic!

 

[JohnRippert]

Jeff Cooper once said the only thing the original 1911 needed was bigger sights. If you don't like your guns trigger you can get it tuned and if the safety doesn't fit you or your left handed you can change it. I tend to agree.

I picked up a RIA GI "clone" about 15 years ago. I liked it a lot. It was and has been perfectly reliable with the ball ammo I have put through it. The only things I did not like were the tiny sights and the way the hammer would bite me. I installed a Ed Brown perfection sear which helped a crisp but heavy trigger become a nice crisp 4.5lb trigger. I installed a fitted barrel bushing which tightened up the groups a bit. I trimmed the hammer by 3/16 of a inch and rounded it. I also decided that new sights were in order. I had Heinie install some plain black Slant Pro sights and added my favorite fluorescent yellow paint to the front sight. A set of Hogue palm swell rubber grips finished it off. Nothing extravagant, just things to fix a couple flaws and improve the trigger and accuracy.