Best 1911 for carry

[Randy Roberts]

What would be the best 1911 for carry? I'm looking to have one built and need a pistolsmith who can build my dream gun, thanks

[MIKE HOILES]

Randy, As far as carry 1911's go, First and foremost, Its gotta run 100% of the time. The rest is personal. If you want to spend a lot of money on a custom 1911 for carry, That's your prerogative. I've carried a Spring Govt model that DR has worked over for about 5 years now. It was also my primary IDPA gun for about 4 years. It has been to hell and back, looks like crap, shoots straight and there isn't a doubt in my mind that, When the crap hits the fan, it will run like Tiger Woods from his soon to be ex-wife:eek: So if the thought of holster wear and day to day beatings doesn't bother you, Spend the money. Oh yeah, Another reason I don't carry a high end 1911...If the crap hits the fan, I sure as hell don't want my wiz bang, JMB super duper custom winding up in some evidence locker where who knows what the hell is going to happen to it.

There's my scoop,

Mike

PS-Hope ya'll have a great 2010.

[Joe Ford]

There are plenty of good factory guns, buy what you like and wring it out. You may want to get it looked over for reliability and tuning. Officer models can be problematic, but Springfield makes an alloy 3.5 " gun that has good reviews. If I had to pick a best 1911 for carry it probably would actually be an STI 2011. in .40 either a VIP or a Commander length pre rail tactical . If you are looking at traditional single stacks any of the Alloy framed Commanders from Colt, Springfield, Kimber,Para, will either run or can be made to run. In singlesatck I would stick with 45acp or 38 super.

[D.R. Middlebrooks]

There a LOT of good M1911's out there, but right now, I prefer the Caspians for a frame up build... :cool:

But I am seeing a re-resurgence of the old Colt models coming in for customizing :eek: (and just when you thought it was safe to carry tactical tupperware ;) the Old War Horse is making a comeback!:cool:).

Not that it ever left the scene, mind you, but I think I've been to BOTH ends of the spectrum with all the decades of Hot Rodding the M1911.

FWIW: It's still my favorite gun to build and recently I've been carrying an old alloy Combat Commander that I built DECADES ago. :eek:

Just reminiscing, I guess...about a much simpler time in which I used to live... :)

[Kevin Walsh]

The 1911 is an antiquated platform with limited ammo capacity. There are much better choices for a carry pistol. :rolleyes:

[MIKE HOILES]

The 1911 is an antiquated platform with limited ammo capacity. There are much better choices for a carry pistol. :rolleyes:

100% target focus=lethal shot placement. Besides, 115 + 115 = 230:D

[D.R. Middlebrooks]

The 1911 is an antiquated platform with limited ammo capacity. There are much better choices for a carry pistol. :rolleyes:

The M1911 is the Harley-Davidson of handguns...

It just lends itself to customizing like to other handgun. You can install long triggers, short triggers, thin grips, thick grips, low, medium or high beaver tails, flat or arched mainspring housings, etc...

Lately, I've been carrying an old Colt light weight Commander I built 20 years ago. :eek:

Call me nostalgic, but "Old Slab Sides" is still very comforting to have tucked away. And I still have 25 rounds of .45 at my disposal. :cool:


http://tacticalshooting.com/photos2/DSC03571.jpg

And there is nothing better than riding a properly tuned, custom built Harley-Davidson...:cool:

http://tacticalshooting.com/photos/DSC02875.jpg

And likewise, there's nothing like carrying a Pro-Tuned Custom 1911. A true custom pistol like this is a work of art. I think they're both here to stay for a while... :cool:

[Grumpy]

I love my Middlebrooks built 1911's...ALL 5 of them! :eek:

Yeah, the 1911 may be old, out dated and antiquated, but I am too. And you don't want to mess with us old farts, we'll just shoot you! ! ;)

[J. Mathews]

I'm just not sure I feel comfortable carrying a cocked pistol around.:eek:

OK, maybe I'm not macho, I just don't like it. :(

My bad... :o

[Joe Ford]

At least a 1911 has a couple safeties, Many of the plastic guns are cocked and unlocked, you just cant see it. If the 1911 is an antiquated platform why does it keep winning matches ? and why does mine hold 23 rounds of 40 ? and the open guys hold 31 38's ?

[Jake Kenny]

At least a 1911 has a couple safeties, Many of the plastic guns are cocked and unlocked, you just cant see it.

What guns are you talking about? :confused:Striker fired guns like Glock are not that way at all. You have to squeeze the trigger to cock them. :cool:

[GutShot John]

You have to squeeze the trigger to cock them. :cool:

Incorrect. Most striker-fired guns are pre-cocked which is why you can't pull the trigger again if it goes click the first time.

The only striker-fired guns I know of that are not pre-cocked are a Taurus 24/7 and certain models of the Walther P99 and while they might have the much vaunted "double-strike" capability I wouldn't waste my money on either.

[Joe Ford]

Quite a few are also classified as Single action by the ATF and some shooting sports. Also quite a few DAO guns with no safeties other than operator headspace.

[D.R. Middlebrooks]

Quite a few are also classified as Single action by the ATF and some shooting sports. Also quite a few DAO guns with no safeties other than operator headspace.

It's semantics... :rolleyes:

The Engineers in Czechoslovakia were asked if the XD was "Single or Double Action" to which they correctly replied, "I only has one action". So, Walt Rauch called it Single Action for IDPA which I think is wrong.

Just as DOA (Double Action Only) only has one action. Damn American thinking! :D

[Jake Kenny]

I love a good 1911, I can just shoot them better, but I like the lighter guns with lots of BB's (I need all the bullets I can get the way I shoot! :o ). So, I carry a G-Lock a lot lately.:cool: It's just lighter and more compact.

[Al Perkins]

I love a good 1911, I can just shoot them better, but I like the lighter guns with lots of BB's (I need all the bullets I can get the way I shoot! :o ). So, I carry a G-Lock a lot lately.:cool: It's just lighter and more compact.

OK, I give up, what's "G-Lock" :confused:

[D.R. Middlebrooks]

I was in my buddies gun shop and some "Gang-Banger" types came in and milled around. :rolleyes: They looked in the display cases and one said;

"Hey MUTHA F*&#$!, let me see one a dose G-LOCKS!" :eek:

My friend said, "See what?" :confused:

He said, "RIGHT DARE! IT SAYS G-LOCK ON DA CASE!" :eek:

We laughed so hard we almost cried... :p

To be continued....

[E. Spears]

ROTFLMAO!!! :p That's just too funny! :D

[Al Adkins]

You must be talking about STI 2011? :confused: I heard the mags don't lock back, by design or something? How much does it weigh unloaded? With a mag? And how much fully loaded? :confused: