first time 1911 owner

[joe817]

When I was firing I found myself very uncomfortable and inaccurate with this firearm.

One thing I've failed to notice in the other's comments, is how you are shooting the gun. If your concern is inaccuracy, then I'd suggest working primarily on:
1. Grip - make sure you are holding that hand cannon properly, with a good tight grip.
2. Stance - there are several methods of standing that effect accuracy.
3. Trigger Pull - are you squeezing correctly, and not jerking the trigger back. That's a problem I have to constantly work at.
4. Breathing - Are you breathing while you squeeze the trigger? Try holding your breath.

Now if it is uncomfortable for you......in what way is it uncomfortable? The recoil? Grips just don't feel right? Is it to big to fit in your hand, or is it to small if you are a big person?

I'd also suggest running 50 rounds through it with the target at 15 yards, and commenting on where the bullets strike the target. Are they generally in the same place on the target? Or are they all over the place?

Perhaps with those questions answered, our knowledgeable forum members can offer some other suggestions.

Just my $.02 worth.

[drstevens85]

thanks for all the advice. i think i will try new grips for it. the reason for me practicing at 25 yards is i have always been under the impression that you over shoot at practice what you are willing to shoot in practical application. as for Beretta i am not a fan and Glock didn't seem to be a big hit with me.

[AEA]

Excellent choice! Another future JMB Fanatic!

[joe817]

Excellent choice! Another future JMB Fanatic!

Oh don't say that AEA.....say aficionado, enthusiast, supporter, proponent, lover of his inventions, crazy over them.

Hmmmm.....on second thought, i think I've just defined "fanatic". (Never mind)

[drstevens85]

from the feed back i have received i may have been expecting more out of my self then was necessary. the shoots were groups none completely off the paper at 25 yards. i am a big person 6'4'' and 220 lbs so it dose feel a little lose in the hands, a friend of mine suggested hogue grips. i shoot .45 colt and .357 mag revolvers and accurately, they are also single action so more time and care are put into each shoot. recoil is not a problem. seeing as how i have decided to keep my 1911 i have another question for the 1911 gurus out there. my 1911 has a full length guide rod and i had noticed that while firing it would become lose. lock tight perhaps send it to Springfield?

[AEA]

My suggestion is to take out the FLGR and replace it with a Standard GI Guide Rod and Plug (for the bushing end).

Four reasons for this:
1. Two piece guide rods get loose (you know this).
2. FLGR's have no effect on accuracy or performance (you may not know this).
3. FLGR's require a tool to take down and re-assemble the pistol (you know this).
4. Standard GR's and plugs require no tool to take down and re-assemble the pistol and is the way the gun was designed by JMB (you know this now).

[gemini]

My suggestion is to take out the FLGR and replace it with a Standard GI Guide Rod and Plug (for the bushing end).

Four reasons for this:
1. Two piece guide rods get loose (you know this).
2. FLGR's have no effect on accuracy or performance (you may not know this).
3. FLGR's require a tool to take down and re-assemble the pistol (you know this).
4. Standard GR's and plugs require no tool to take down and re-assemble the pistol and is the way the gun was designed by JMB (you know this now).

This debate has been ongoing among 1911 guys for as long as I can remember: FLGR vs Plug & GI GR. I have guns with both types and they function fine. However, I tend to agree with AEA..... if you have ANY problem with the FLGR then make the change. Just curious, what exactly got loose? The fit of the bushing to GR or? Where were you going to put Loc-Tite? Thanks.

[drstevens85]

the guide rod is in 2 pieces that screw together. that's where it was coming lose and where i was thinking may need loc-tite.

[TLE2]

I'll trade you for a Glock 26.

[drstevens85]

like i said before not a Glock fan. thanks for the offer though

[AEA]

You could use blue locktight but you still would need your tool to re-assemble the pistol.......

You could take it down without the tool but you would have to have it to put it back together.

Best to just get rid of it altogether.

[dubya]

[quote="Liberty"]I never could understand the mystique of the 1911.
Owning a 1911 doesn't make you a better person.
quote]

Makes me wonder if you drive a Prius!?


There are 1911's and there are "other" handguns.

[LostInAustin]

Makes me wonder if you drive a Prius!?


There are 1911's and there are "other" handguns.

[Liberty]

Ouch. You're so mean. Geez. Learn the weapon and the mystique will become clear, Grasshopper. They come in various weights, lengths and almost endless configurations. The end with the big hole in it points AWAY from the user. Complicated? or probably the safest pistol design ever created in a semi-auto? Single action with mutiple safetys. They sell quickly because they're nice weapons. If you have an affinity for US military guns, no pistol has the history or service record to match the 1911. Not a knock on Berettas, but I believe they were introduced into our military in the mid '80's..... 9mm.... NATO reasoning or whatever....
many of our current deployed troops are carrying 1911's. Why? Obvious.

Most are still carying the Berettas, I agree that 9mm wouldn't be my choice of weapon, but the military doesn't have the same choices in ammo that we civilians have.
BTW I have trained and fired the 1911. It wasn't a pleasant experience. I don't particularly care for them.. Different strokes for different folks.

I agree with "Don't believe all you read in forums:" Do believe the following................

Owning a 1911 does in fact make you a better person. (ask anyone that owns one)
JMB was God-like to those in the firearm community, not God. He created 80 firearm designs and held 128 individual patents,
he sold designs to Winchester, Stevens, Remington and Colt. You'll think "perfect" when you pull a 4lb trigger with a nice crisp break on a single action 1911.
There are many choices of carry and protection in hand guns. I admit to carrying a 642 or .380 on occassion..... but whenever possible (90% of the time) I carry one of several 1911's. Why? because I like the .45acp caliber, I train with the 1911, I trust the 1911, my 1911's are very accurate and they are IMHO the safest pistol design ever conceived.
Price usually does have a direct relationship with quality. Buy the higest quality firearm you can afford. Your life may depend on it.

SO many expensive guns seem to be malfunctioning right out of the box. I have found lots of guns that I shoot better than an expensive 1911, I own a Ruger P95 stainless that I bought for for about $300. For me it is more reliable and better shooting than the 1911s I have shot. I have fired mine thousands of times, never not once not a single time has it ever failed to fire failed to feed, failed to eject or even failed to lock back. For me it is the highest quality gun I can imagine,,,, Its not pretty but it performs to my expectations every time. I can trust my gun over any fancy barbeque gun. Then again from reports here I would trust a properly broken in and qualified Springfield or Taurus 1911 before I would trust Army issue Colt or Kimber.

My point is what works for the original poster might not be the same as what works for someone else. In I wouldn't be too quick to recommend my preferred carry as a carry weapon for most people. (its a bit big) but it suits me just fine. The original poster was expressing dissatisfaction with his 1911, My thought was that he try a different or better design. Out of the hundreds (thousands? ) of available choices , there is going to be a different gun for everyone. for some it very well may be a 1911, but we can't expect others to to so infatuated with them. Believe it or not there are actually gun people that like Glocks!!!!