Any one here got a 1911?

you would be quite incorrect

 

Cocked and locked is as scary to see if you have no idea how it works. Some wet their pants demanding that they KNOW it's dangerous, just LOOK AT IT!!! When in fact Condition 1 is the safe way to carry a defensive 1911. Period. Any other way is several more times dangerous when the reason for carrying a sidearm comes into play.

When it's time to draw a pistol, one thing is certain 100% of the time. Shit just got real. If you're carrying a 1911, it's not the time to be finger fucking the hammer and hoping you get it pulled all the way back so the hammer strut and sear can capture it instead of slipping off and dropping the hammer onto a live round. Most people are not stone cold operators, and when they find themselves in live fire situation they're nervous. Your ass is in a real live shoot or be shot situation. Is it time to be prepping the weapon? No, pull the weapon, acquire target, click off safety, fire.

If there was any other option you shouldn't have pulled the gun anyway. If you have time to fuck around with loading it you had time to select a better defensive strategy: distance.

That is unless you just carry a 1911 around on your hip as a fashion accessory.

 

When the crunchenickers came along a bunch of self proclaimed experts began to decry the dangers of condition one carry. Most of these experts had never fired a shot in anger but they were the new generation of gun rag writers.

These self serving folks slowly but surely convinced non shooting politicians that only a firearm with a long hard trigger pull, like revolvers, were safe.

Today even non shooting civilians have bought into this nonsense.

Those of us who know and have used the 1911 know the fallacy of such thinking.

Of course the firearms manufacturers went along as it represented a chance for large government contracts.

 

Point in fact is that if you are carrying a series 70 1911 in half decent condition, the manual safety, grip safety and trigger are all holding the sear from releasing the hammer. The series 80 has the grip safety hold both the sear and firing pin from moving forward.

That being said, if you are carrying in a situation where the firing pin with spring resistance can travel fast enough to ignite a primer, you have bigger issues than a bullet going off in your holster. Like I just drove head first into a wall at highway speeds level of issues.

Lowering the hammer manually for carry releases all those failsafes during manipulation for to provide a minor increase in security while in the holster. You are more likely to cause an ND during this than on a draw. Having an empty chamber means you now have to manipulate the weapon by hand, under stress in a way that it is designed to specifically act during cycling. Short stroke it because you slip from adrenaline making you shaky? Cool you have a empty chamber or jammed round (ask me how I know).

Carry it cocked and locked. It already has numerous redundancies whether a series 70 or 80 version. More redundancies to make sure it operates as expected than your fucking hands have.

 

Cocked and locked FTW.

 

The thumb safety and grip safety don't hold the sear, they prevent the sear from being released. The only capture of the hammer is the hammer strut/spring assembly catching the sear. Until that hammer is all the way back and captured by the sear nothing will prevent it from striking the firing pin if released (on a Series 70)

Which is why it's reckless to carry hammer down on a live chamber. Alternatively it's not reckless to carry on an empty chamber, just stupid.

Condition 1, or selective a different platform.

 

I can't believe this discussion is still going on. My advice for those too scared to carry a 1911 the way it was designed which is condition 1, "Cocked and Locked", should consider carrying a different hand gun.

 

you don't know the history of the 1911

 

If you say so

 

I know so

 

The two Colts I own, both were trade ins from the local PD.

 

You mean army ordinance corps being army ordinance corps and requiring shit because of fear of change, and having terrible SOPs for training that causes more problems than normal?

Please don't tell me you're one of those "if it's good enough for the troops it's good enough for me!" guys.

 

Just picked up my CMP 1911A1 - a true military mix master with a '45 Remington Rand Frame, Colt Replacement slide, a post-WWII barrel and a mainspring housing that dates to no later than '43. Seems tight - will shoot it tomorrow. I love this thing - it's been through the ringer.

 

I washed the Tacoma this morning and then took the M1911A1 down to the little range we have here at home. I familiarized myself with how it shoots and then shot a 7 round magazine, rapid fire at 20 yards. I shoot a pistol left handed - my natural aim point is just a bit low/right and I pushed one round. Not too bad for a 76 year old .45cal pistol and a 66 year old retired Army Colonel.

 

thank you sir for your years of service .

 

the manufacture date of the barrel should be stamped on it somewheres, will give a ballpark date range on the rebuild

 

I'm using the Poyer/Reisch book on 1911s/1911A1s for my reference and don't see any reference to dates on the barrels - none marked anywhere on mine. It does carry the marks of a Post WWII production barrel with the P proof mark, C in square and M mark along with the Federal Catalog Number stamped under the .45 AUTO on the top of the barrel.

 

Over 30 years of carrying an officers and or Commander model 1911. Admittedly I am hard core as far as demanding simplicity of the design. Considering the series 70 to 80 was a hard one for me to digest.

I still carry a colt commander lightweight. But I will tell you that I really surprised myself by being so enthusiastic about the Sigsauer Emperor Scorpion after owning and shooting one.

The external extractor turned me off right away. As I said I don’t like to change things that work. But that dude is smooth and light weight and a dream to shoot.

I will offer that you may quickly get tired of and regret getting a rail if you intend to carry. Of course depending on your application.

I will also offer the advice of shooting an officers or commander size frame while testing out a full-size. You would be surprised at their accuracy and the convenience of their size in a day-to-day carry scenario.

Good luck, Love, Peace & Taco’s