1911's vs. other semi-automatics

[kragluver]

I like these responses and I like the poster/photos:)

Reasons I like the 1911 (in .45 ACP):

- Crisp single action trigger. I do not care for DAO triggers. I own two other pistols that are SA/DA and they are okay, but nothing comes close to the trigger feel on the 1911.
- Ability to safely carry in Condition 1 (which leads to my next point)...
- Safety. For a CCW, I like the combination of the thumb safety and the grip safety. Good ergonomic design IMO.
- Along the same lines - quick to get into action.
- Pointability (a lot of other guns have copied the 11 deg rake angle of the grip so the 1911 is not unique here)
- Slimness - easy to conceal even a full-frame 1911.
- Stopping power of the .45 ACP cartridge

Does the 1911 require more training that some other handguns? Sure, but if we're going to carry a gun, we should all well versed in its operation otherwise we're wasting our time. Besides, shooting is fun:)

[A-R]

My wife's Glock 19 was $629.00 NIB - only $246.00 less than my drummer's Kimber.

You paid $629 for a Glock 19? Wow, I hope it at least came with a nice set of factory nite sites.

[mbw]

marksiwel wrote-

"John Browning designed the 1911, then he figured out what he did wrong and designed the Browning Hi Power ."

Hate to burst your bubble here, but JMB did not do the complete design of the P35, he died before completing the design. I can never remember the name of the guy who was working with him at FN at the time, but that is who finished the design and completed the pistol. JMB would have never designed a trigger like what ended up in the P35. He was also adamantly opposed to the double-stack magazine that was the first commercial double-stack made. Browning thought that the magazine would prove to be unreliable for a military weapon. One of the very few times Browning was wrong on a firearm design feature.

What JMB did do was rough out the basic shape of the pistol as well as design the new locking system for the barrel, the system that is used in almost all pistols today, even 75 years later. The P35 feels better in my hand than any other pistol. He got that part very right.

The P35 is a great pistol, one of the best ever made. So is the 1911.

[mbw]

Not to try and change the topic, but Old JMB was a busy boy-

A few of the arms that he did design, not all though. The mighty "Ma Duce", the M2 is still being used today all over the world.

Firearms

• M1895 Colt-Browning machine gun
• FN Browning M1899/M1900
• Colt Model 1900
• Colt Model 1902
• Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammer (.38 ACP)
• Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless (.32 ACP)
• Colt Model 1905
• Remington Model 8 (1906), a long recoil semi-automatic rifle
• Colt Model 1908 Vest Pocket (.25 ACP)
• Colt Model 1908 Pocket Hammerless (.380 ACP)
• FN Model 1910
• U.S. Model 1911 pistol
• Winchester Model 1885 falling block single shot rifle
• Winchester Model 1886 lever-action repeating rifle
• Winchester Model 1887 lever-action repeating shotgun
• Winchester Model 1890 slide-action repeating rifle (.22)
• Winchester Model 1892 lever-action repeating rifle
• Winchester Model 1894 lever-action repeating rifle
• Winchester Model 1895 lever-action repeating rifle
• Winchester Model 1897 pump-action repeating shotgun
• Browning Auto-5 long recoil semi-automatic shotgun
• U.S. Model 1917 water-cooled machine gun
• Model 1919 air-cooled machine gun
• Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR) of 1917
• Browning M2 .50-caliber heavy machine gun of 1921
• Remington Model 8 semi-auto rifle
• Remington Model 24 semi-auto rifle (.22) Also produced by Browning Firearms and several others
• The Browning Hi-Power, the last pistol that John Browning developed
• The Browning Superposed over/under shotgun was designed by John Browning in 1922 and entered production in 1931

Cartridges
In addition, the cartridges he developed are still some of the most popular in the world. They include:
• .25 ACP
• .32 ACP
• .38 ACP
• 9mm Browning Long
• .380 ACP
• .45 ACP
• .50 BMG

[mbw]

Andy,

You are correct, that is the man.

[marksiwel]

marksiwel wrote-

"John Browning designed the 1911, then he figured out what he did wrong and designed the Browning Hi Power ."

Hate to burst your bubble here, but JMB did not do the complete design of the P35, he died before completing the design. I can never remember the name of the guy who was working with him at FN at the time, but that is who finished the design and completed the pistol. JMB would have never designed a trigger like what ended up in the P35. He was also adamantly opposed to the double-stack magazine that was the first commercial double-stack made. Browning thought that the magazine would prove to be unreliable for a military weapon. One of the very few times Browning was wrong on a firearm design feature.

What JMB did do was rough out the basic shape of the pistol as well as design the new locking system for the barrel, the system that is used in almost all pistols today, even 75 years later. The P35 feels better in my hand than any other pistol. He got that part very right.

The P35 is a great pistol, one of the best ever made. So is the 1911.

Its just easier to say "John Browning" than to say John Browning and then later Dieudonné Saive finished it off (also Dieudonné Saive desinged the FL Fal)
Are you saying we not give credit to Browning for doing 90% of the work? Of course you arent. I just like giving the 1911 guys a twist now and then

As for the trigger, thats due to (French?) wanting extra saftey features on the gun. The trigger improves greatly once you remove the Magazine disconnect.

[dadoo]

There are many technical reasons for loving the 1911. Many have mentioned they just "feel right", well they do and the reason for that is the design. the angle between the handle and the line of the barrel, where the web of your hand lays, and more, all go into making the gun feel comfortable. There's a great technical comparison betwen Glocks and 1911's on another site that I am trying to locate. Here's one resource:

http://www.m1911.org/notebook.pdf

I carry a compact 1911 from Rock Island that is solid, accurate, and dependable that cost under 400.00. Prices have risen since I bought this, but they are still a great bargain

[Mike from Texas]

My wife's Glock 19 was $629.00 NIB - only $246.00 less than my drummer's Kimber.

You paid $629 for a Glock 19? Wow, I hope it at least came with a nice set of factory nite sites.

Even that would be high! I bought a brand new Glock 17 with night sights and 3 mags for $520 lock, stock & barrel.

[The Annoyed Man]

My wife's Glock 19 was $629.00 NIB - only $246.00 less than my drummer's Kimber.

You paid $629 for a Glock 19? Wow, I hope it at least came with a nice set of factory nite sites.

Even that would be high! I bought a brand new Glock 17 with night sights and 3 mags for $520 lock, stock & barrel.

My wife's came with 3 mags also. When did you buy yours?

[marksiwel]

Thats the fun thing about gun buying, no matter what you paid, you got ripped off

[TLE2]

I own and shoot both a small Glock and a big Kimber 1911.

The Kimber is a tack driver, solid, easy to point, good sight picture, excellent on recoil and puts a "man-size" bullet down range, and I trust it.

The Glock is light, compact, easy to point, it shoots low and left (with me) and it's not much good (for me) unless the targets within 7 yards. It's currently my carry gun, because the big Kimber is too heavy and long for me to daily carry (I know, step up, sissy.)

The compact 1911 is thinner than a comparable Glock, so it's a bit less of a bulge on the side.

I am looking forward to purchasing a 4" Kimber as soon as I sell my Browning 20g.

[The Annoyed Man]

Thats the fun thing about gun buying, no matter what you paid, you got ripped off

Pretty much

With only a couple of exceptions, pretty much every gun I ever bought, someone else got the same thing for cheaper next door. Oh Well...

The exceptions: a Remington 700 VSF in .308 of mine for which I paid $350 less than MSRP, and an AR15 I built myself for considerably less than it would have cost to buy it already assembled.

OTH, I have a really nice 5" Model 29 Classic I bought in 1995 or 96 for $452.00. It's worth considerably more today than I paid for it back then. The prices of S&W .44 magnums is unbelievably hight these days.

[LostInAustin]

Thats the fun thing about gun buying, no matter what you paid, you got ripped off

Buy them like you buy stocks and hold on to them. Sure felt like a lot of money to spend when I bought my Commander for $180 and then, OMG!, $225 for a Govt Model!!

And now......

[A-R]

Thats the fun thing about gun buying, no matter what you paid, you got ripped off

Buy them like you buy stocks and hold on to them. Sure felt like a lot of money to spend when I bought my Commander for $180 and then, OMG!, $225 for a Govt Model!!

And now......

I'll give you $500 for either of them right now. Come on, double your money, what a deal!