Bad experiences with the 1911

Ohrings

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My first was a Gold Cup and fry there several surplus 1911's, Since then, a Kimber, Springfield, and then too many to count in the safes. Sometimes one has to stop, get the 1911 book, watch a few Youtubies, talk to those that have shot them for years and start learning that they are simple to operate if cleaned and fed proper ammunition. Don't forget checking the magazines and the springs. Soooooo simple grasshopper
 

tomrkba

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My first was a Gold Cup and fry there several surplus 1911's, Since then, a Kimber, Springfield, and then too many to count in the safes. Sometimes one has to stop, get the 1911 book, watch a few Youtubies, talk to those that have shot them for years and start learning that they are simple to operate if cleaned and fed proper ammunition. Don't forget checking the magazines and the springs. Soooooo simple grasshopper

Riiigght...you are acting like I didn't try all that and more. For example, the gunsmith looking at that first Kimber Tactical Ultra II found a bunch of problems. Thinking back there were parts out of spec, thumb safety was incorrectly tuned, inside of slide stop was badly shaped, a burr in the chamber that the Kimber tech didn't bother looking for, incorrectly cut breech face, and worse, incorrectly cut frame such that the barrel infringed into the magazine well. Watching him evaluate the gun was worth far more than the $30 I paid for the hour. He worked on some of the problems with a file, which was nice to see.

Your advice is as bad as Kimber Custom Shop's "Use more lube" note I found in the box after the second or third trip.
 
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STI

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After a lifetime of match shooting with 1911s' and so few alibies noticed by that huge amount of shooters something seems just not right to me, mine just work and so do all my friends also, that is off the scale as to problems as described as to so many, I do not remember reading if the problem ones worked with factory ball or not just seems with so many repeats of problems something just not right here.
 
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tomrkba

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Described in message-6.

Suggest the OP check his mags and invest in training specific to the 1911 so his instructors can iron-out the perceived but unmentioned problems.

Shooting only or technician level "1911 Armorer"? Being able to install a thumb safety is a good idea. I am 1 for 3 in this area. I have yet to tune an extractor or mess with the barrel throat. I'd do an extractor since I can order a pile of them from Wilson Combat but I will never mess with any portion of the barrel.

Unfortunately, I've never been able to swing a 1911 class that included some work on the gun. It's a goal and I would take these two guns.
 
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Mike Galway

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Shooting only or technician level "1911 Armorer"? Being able to install a thumb safety is a good idea. I am 1 for 3 in this area. I have yet to tune an extractor or mess with the barrel throat. I'd do an extractor since I can order a pile of them from Wilson Combat but I will never mess with any portion of the barrel.

Unfortunately, I've never been able to swing a 1911 class that included some work on the gun. It's a goal and I would take these two guns.
I've done a few basics , total disassembly , but any real machine work is going to a smith . My motto , if it ain't broke , don't fix it . I've seen a few people that thought they knew what they were doing ruin a gun .
 

STI

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We shot a match Sat with many 1911's entered I can say the ones on our squad all worked As I said before have you got others to shoot them with ball ammo? I do not remember if I saw an answer? I have Colt, 2 Para, STI, Wilson, and a Swenson all work 100% and have, none of mine work any better than others, all will feed empty cases and semi wadcutters perfectly. You need to let some other good 1911 shooters shoot them with factory ball ammo or what I would do, STILL think something just is not right or this posting is more than meets the eyes it seems to me. I am old and shot most all my life and on a military team several years and never ever saw what has been described here to the max. For me it is hard to understand I will say per described actions your consistent. Maybe a revolver would be a better choice. My shooting partner has about 12 with many Springfield's, Dan Wesson, and R1 Remington and some inexpensive ones also, no issues at all, we shoot lots of ammo and reload, every week. Some of them are were not shot for years now rarely do we not shoot them every single week. We have even loaded flat tipped and flat based bullets and they feed fine, something is not right here for sure, I will say if you really have all this trouble a 1911 is not for you, why I mentioned a revolver earlier. All my 1911s' are 45 my friends has several calibers of 1911's and shot a 9mm in the match.
This was NOT intended b to be a negative posting reply.
 
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Mike Galway

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Yes @STI, that's why I have a S&W 625PC. Just to cover all the bases.
We all gravitate to what we like , shoot better , etc . For target shooting I prefer heavier guns , like my Wilson CQB 5 inch all steel or 625 S&W . Arthritis is starting to get best of me and heavier guns absorb shock better .
 

BillBro68

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This is the weirdest thing I've ever heard. Only 1911's? Every 1911? Every gun that looks like a 1911? Old, new, doesnt matter they're all just jamomatic pieces of junk despite the fact that everyone else's experiences are markedly different and it's the gun not the gunner. Hey, like others have said though, theyve had a few bad ones through the years but either solved the issues themselves, had someone else fix them or sold the guns, then, the OP ended up buying all of them.

The 1911 platform has a service record of over 100 years, through war, through competition, military and civilian use and has probably more fans than any other platform and if I had started buying as many as the OP and NONE of them worked I would have to do some serious introspection. I would feel more than likely that I'm the source of the problem, not the gun. It's TRUE that some guns do in fact require training and technique to operate. The striker fired Tupperware wonders of today I think do not fall into this category. They're made for the intelligence level of today's society. Going downhill?

I am far less learned concerning the 1911 than most here I'm sure, I've not had nor do I have as many as most here but it has always been and always will be one of my favorites. I'm also probably in a different socioeconomic strata than most here and believe me, I've had some budget 1911's and have never had a string of misfortunes like the OPs and really think I would have just moved on after 1 or 2, there have always been alternatives out there, a revolver maybe.

I am in no way doubting the OPs experiences, just the causes. I do applaud his persistence. Also, inflection is something that cant be conveyed via written/typed word so please do not read sarcasm into my post, I assure you, there is none.
 
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Mike A1

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This is the weirdest thing I've ever heard.
That is perhaps where it should have ended.
Thank you JMB for designing the perfect pistol for me, and that is all that really matters not the exception to the rule.

Just my .02 on the weirdest thing I've ever heard. :confused:

M1911andM1911A1.jpg
 

tomrkba

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This is the weirdest thing I've ever heard. Only 1911's? Every 1911?

No, not all. Both EMPs were fixed, though SACS wouldn't center up the firing pin strikes on the first one by either replacing the slide or refitting the barrel (not sure what the solution was). The second EMP was a bit scary in that the ejector glue let go and there was a live round in the chamber (in addition to other problems solved by SACS doing a fluff-n-buff and a bit of tuning). Hammering that slide was exciting. SACS pinned it in, thankfully. The trigger is still bad but I didn't want to pay them so much for a trigger job on a gun that needed repair.

The Colt O1918 (WW I Repro) was awesome, as was my Colt XSE. I, of course, traded them off for some new wonder Tupperware guns.

My Springfield Loaded M9109 was great for about 1,100 rounds. It probably just needed a new extractor, but I was too new then.

My first was a Springfield Ultra Compact in 45 ACP. I didn't send it to SACS (didn't know about it ... it was my second gun). I had a local gunsmith but he couldn't get it running in four trips.

My Nighthawk T4 Recon has been great so far. It carries well, looks great, and the sight picture is amazing with the Trijicon HD XR night sights.

My DW Valor Commander 9mm has also been excellent. I only added a WC Bulletproof ambi safety. I really like it.
 
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Mike A1

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My first was a Springfield Ultra Compact in 45 ACP. I didn't send it to SACS (didn't know about it ... it was my second gun). I had a local gunsmith but he couldn't get it running in four trips.

The only trouble I have had with a 1911 was the tiny Colt 1911 Officers model 1st run.
Twice back to Colt 3 times to the Gunsmith, & still no joy. Traded it for parts on a super great Commander.

I believe it was the extractor as the LW version had no FTF nor FTE like the STD weight.
What do you believe happened to your tiny 1911?
 

STI

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Just going by many years shooting 1911's and many friends doing the same back in the 70's ai did see 1 Colt that just would not feed anything but ball ammo which ai did fine so summing it up ---what described here I could not ever remember hearing nor seeing happen in over 50 years shooting many of them civilian and military both and on Army Gold team I went through many 1911s', just never saw anyone have that much issues with them, not discounting you did just relating my experiences is all. I have 6 and would trust any of them totally here.
 

spacelordmaster

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There must be something wrong internally with the gun sir. Have you taken it to a Gunsmith to have it checked? Have you sent it back to the manufacturer? I have an SDS Imports 1911 A1 Tanker that shoots like it's nobody's business. It eats everything I feed it. No issues. Yes, Impressive for a $400.00 1911, considering the Dan Wesson I had jammed constantly and that gun was $1100.00. The 1911 requires a lot of lubrication, and no I am not talking tons of oil, but a little more than you would use on a Glock or any other Polymer wonder. Have it checked. Maybe there are parts inside that need replacement?

Oh and one more thing, are you having these issues with Hollow point ammo, ball ammo or both?

1911s were not designed to eat hollow points so if you are having issues with that kind of ammo then there is your answer. Ball ammo is what they prefer as that's what they were designed for.
 
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