1911 - thoughts counter to mainstream marketing

[CJB]

There's been some really nice 1911 threads here, with pictures.

Am I the only village idiot left that prefers minimalist controls on the 1911, no extended anything?

[yqtszhj]

+1 on that. I guess I'm in the same village.

[Planedude]

I have one that is a replica WWII GI just the way they use-to-do (but with three dot sights) and another that has all the bells and whistles. I like/shoot them both, alot, but only carry the "fancy" model as a CCW.
Of course, that said, I bought my Kahrs so I didn't have to EDC my full size 1911 anymore to be well armed...

[Bawanna]

I'm kind of a minimalist too. I like spur hammers, hate ambi safeties. I like a beavertail since I usually try to climb up the grip. Grab high and try to get higher.

I usually don't get hammer bit with 1911's but my Hi Power will get me from time to time.

I usually crawl up a rifle stock too.

[dkmatthews]

No 1911 in my stable, yet. However, I can't see myself owning anything other than the minimalist version (except for a pair of Bawanna's panels to dress it up).

I can't stand the look of an extended beavertail and always wonder why people would add that goofy thing on the back of their 1911 instead of just reducing the hammer or holding the darn thing right in the first place.

[yqtszhj]

My only 1911 so far is a base RIA GI version (I did cheat and paint 3 very small white dots on the sights.) When I shoot 185 grain JHP SD rounds through it it is so smooth and recoil is minimal too. Nice. First shot I ever made with the gun I shot a pill bottle off at 10 yards. After that I was sold. I do have Colt .380 government model that is smooth as silk too but it's a safe queen now since I saw what's it's worth.

What I have seen with a beavertail that I like is the Sig P220 Elite Stainless on Black w/ Rosewood grips. I could just sit and look at it all day.

[O'Dell]

I guess I'm more of a modernist as I have no problem with beavertails, lightened hammers and triggers, and decent sights. Being a righty, I have no need for ambi safeties though. I have five 1911's and only the Detonics could be considered minimalist.

[AJBert]

I've got a SA Mil-Spec for as close as can be to not being an original 1911. Love it and it shoots great. Will soon be getting a Range Officer for more of a range gun to put more lead down range and put the Mil-Spec off to the side with hopefully a set of Bawanna's custom grips with a couple of special inserts just as soon.

[Popeye]

Give me a plain old John Moses Brownings full size barebones GI version of the 1911 and I'm in my glory. If I want to shoot a gun with better sights I have them to Kahr ,CZ, Glock. For 1911 fun though I'll take the GI 45. I might not blow the top button off a BG's shirt with it but I'll get him to leaking pretty bad and making fun noises.

[yqtszhj]

I guess I'm more of a modernist as I have no problem with beavertails, lightened hammers and triggers, and decent sights. Being a righty, I have no need for ambi safeties though. I have five 1911's and only the Detonics could be considered minimalist.

Nice. I love those small pistols.

[MW surveyor]

Would have got a plain Jane 45 but then would have had to do something with the sights! Can't see the front sight on the GI models.


Plus I really like stainless steel.

[TheTman]

I have a plain jane Springfield Armory, except in stainless steel and like everything about it except those little nubbin sights. All I did to it was add an aftermarket barrel link, called a group gripper which forces the barrel up into the locking lugs a little tighter, and to the same spot consitantly. A full length guide rod, and a little rubber o-ring for a buffer on the back of the guide rod. The group gripper seems to have done the job, the groups tightened up quite a bit. I was using the gun in a pistol league at the time and wanted to improve the accuracy some. They warn you not to use the group gripper on a duty gun since I guess it can break or fail, but I've never had a problem with it, I think that's mostly there for lawyers so someone can't sue in case one breaks on a duty or CC weapon. Mines not failed in the 15 years I've had it installed. It's a sweet gun, except for those GI sights, which I want to get swapped out one of these days, now that my eyes are getting older, and I can't see the sights very well anymore. They used to be just fine.