[brucelee]

I was looking into getting a current Springfield Arms G.I. WWII 1911A1 pistol, and at less than $500, it seems like a steal! I’m a huge WWII buff, so this is why the pistols interests me so damn much. I love the parkerized 5” version… I’ve only shot about 20 rounds through it, but really dig it. I have a couple questions though. How is this pistol in terms of reliability? Reliability is one of THE most important things to me in terms of a pistols standard features. Why is this pistol only $489? It makes me question things…

My other option is to get another Glock 21. Why another, you ask? Because the G21 is the best damn pistol ever (to me) and I love the idea of having two of them. :-D

What are your thoughts on the SA 1911A1 WWII replica?

 

[Janq]

Bruce,

Lots of people use those as the basis for more expensive custom guns either in blanks or as depicted there.
I've never shot one myself but I understand they are supposed to be solid and reliable toward going bang.
Just don't expect much more.

Dude buy used and get more bang for your buck.
I've to date never bought a gun new.
Always used and near if not LNIB from some other sucker who has taken the depreciation hit or is in dire need of money and willing to sell at fire sale rates.

For example the same price may get you...
SW1911 PD GUNSITE 1911 FREE shipping, NO Reserve!

http://gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=82014269
Current Bid $405.00 No Reserve!

Colt 1911 Government Model 45 ACP 45ACP

http://gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=82066908
Current Bid $500.00 No Reserve!

Full detail of varying options - http://gunbroker.com/Auction/SearchResults.asp?SearchType=1&Keywords=1911

A buddy of mine from VA that I used to shoot alot with has bought three pistols including a very nice & clean but hard to find Kimber 'Target Match' via GunBroker.com very lightly used for sucka price as the seller need to sell ASAP and my buddy made him a direct buy it right now with a PayPal payment offer which the seller accepted.
That gun shoots nice as hell and he got it for IIRC $600. He like me is a relatively frugal guy and is also a fan for 1911s. When he saw this come up he pounced on it immediately for the kill knowing that it would otherwise get bid up if other folks were to notice it. That was like 4 yrs. ago now I think. It's likely worth a bit more now than $600 to fans of Kimber.
Recall I got both my SA Commander _and_ the Colt 'Defender' for $1K via a seller who also needed cash over at SigForum. Deals are allover the place...

- Janq hates to pay retail or depreciation

 

[brucelee]

Oooooh, that gov't model looks very similar to this:

On that note, any idea if you can get a rubber grip like that to cover the wood?

 

[Janq]

Yes.

In fact during the class I took at S&W Academy several weeks back there was a student who had a full size S&W 1911 Performance Center with those cool looking grips. He let me oggle it and as I recall they grips were from Hogue.
FWIW dude couldn't shoot for shit with his gun but he was up there in age and he wound up going back within an hour to the 38 revolver he had been using prior and for the rest of the class.

I personally am not much a fan of full size 1911s as in appearance they seem ungainly design and for carry man that is alot of steel to clear ones hip/holster. Commander FTW, IMHO.
But anyway yeah you can get those grip panels aftermarket.

- Janq

 

[brucelee]

Thank you!


My biggest gripe about the feel of the 1911 is how abrasive the grips are to my skin... It's not the grips that are attached to the metal, it's the actual metal part below the trigger guard.


Yeah, I'm a weirdo.


You rock Janq.

 

[global]

Thank you!


My biggest gripe about the feel of the 1911 is how abrasive the grips are to my skin... It's not the grips that are attached to the metal, it's the actual metal part below the trigger guard.


Yeah, I'm a weirdo.


You rock Janq.

bruce, i absolutely could not contain myself from summarizing your post in a 3 word sentence..."my [email protected] hurts"

hahahaha absolutely no offense intended . I find the abrasiveness of the front strap checkering a huge plus on the 1911. i have no checkering on my sa loaded and 30 lpi on my baer. i prefer the checkering for shooting over not.

 

[Janq]

On second extended thought I think it might not be Hogue but Ahrends.
Those grips are neat though and it was that they were so weird/unusual looking that I walked over to dude during a reload & target setup break to ask him about them and his gun.

As to the 'front strap' (that's what it's called) not all 1911s come with it being checkered or stipled.
My Colt has a plain front strap (bare metal) while my old SA had some stippling. My GSR has just straight horizontal lines running the length of the front strap and I've seen others with scalloping.
It varies greatly but the norm in the price range you are looking at is pretty much plain.
What some folks do apply a little skateboard tape to the front strap for increased grip and then install the grip panels over top of that.

No you're not weird, just individualistic and that the 1911 is excellent for.
Pretty much everything about them can be modified, tweaked, or swapped out to meet the unique specific 'custom' needs of a singular operator. Eveything on the whole gun that is touched by your hand including the slide can be modified in some way to be most comfortable for the shooter. This is one of the many reasons why the 1911 rocks and is so popular with the longevity it has had.

- Janq

 

[brucelee]

bruce, i absolutely could not contain myself from summarizing your post in a 3 word sentence..."my [email protected] hurts"

hahahaha absolutely no offense intended . I find the abrasiveness of the front strap checkering a huge plus on the 1911. i have no checkering on my sa loaded and 30 lpi on my baer. i prefer the checkering for shooting over not.

Hahhaha, none taken. It's not the fact that the abrasivness hurts or anything, it just sort of distracts me enough to not be as accurate as I should be. I dunno what it is... Just a distraction that can be taken care of... It sort of feels like an imperfection or something...

 

[jamz]

For a few hundred bucks more, if you look around, you can find an actual WWII or pre-WWII production 1911 that has been there and done that. Won't be a new gun needless to say, and won't have a warrantee, but hell, if it could talk.......

 

[Janq]

Bruce,

Check this out...

Springfield 1911A1 PI9134LP 9mm SS AS, AMBI CA ok

Just in ........ Here on auction / sale is this New In Box, "Springfield 1911A1 in 9mm. This Loaded Pistol has Ambidextrous safety, Adjustable trigger, Extended Beavertail, Combat hammer, and Adjustable Sights.
http://gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=82003490

This is the exact same unit I have on order as a replacement.

Additionally as per 1911Forum.org people are with nothing more than a swap to a drop in quality .38 Super chambered barrel and a matching barrel bushing are shooting that and 9x23mm as well. The extractor though oriented toward 9MM does not need to be changed as the case sizes are same to very similar resulting in zero loss in functionality. Go to the 'Colt' area and you'll find lots of threads toward folk doing this back and forth between 9MM and 38 Super and 9x23MM.
There is even a guy that has an SA .45 that he then bought a 9MM barrel & bushing as well as a .38 Super barrel & bushing and he milled out a second slot into his slide to support a 9MM ejector. He then unpinned the stock ejector and lets it sti loose in the frame captured by the slide (as such works fine) and swapping it along with barrels as need be to swap calibers.
Key though is that the frame and slide should be steel and the barrel ramped as opposed to the frame. Oh, and you have to buy specific magazines of course.

Lots of cool stuff can be done with a 1911.

- Janq

 

[brucelee]

I can't see the link due to work's firewall How much is that 9mm?


I really like that thing... Glad you're getting it! w00t for Springfield!


PS: When are you finally going to get a rifle, Janq?

 

[Janq]

Current Bid $800.00 Reserve Not Met
Started at $0.01
Buy now for $875.00

Started 10/2/2007 3:47:17 PM ET (This is a 7 day auction)
Ends On or After 10/9/2007 3:47:17 PM ET

I am still working on the rifle as well as shotgun item.
Definitely it will be done soon and before inauguration day (!).

- Janq

 

[brucelee]

^^

Damn, $800... don't they retail for around $1200? Wish I had $800 to blow right now... That's my fav 1911... If I could get one, that would be it (since I can't get hi-cap models in CA).


In regards to a rifle... Dude, if they are legal in your nazi state, get an FAL! Reliability of an AK-47, accuracy of an AR-15, and devastation of .308! Battle proven and parts are abundant as hell. Probably one of the best overall rifles in the world, and even Adler will agree with me on that. They aren't that expensive either, and FNH rockz0rs! (Or you can get an FN variant which are just as good)

You looking for an autoloading rifle, right? You can't really beat a FAL. If you got one, I'd be soooo proud of you. "tear".

 

[Adler]

Biggest problem with the 1911 WW2 variants is that they tend to not like JHP ammo reliably. Some pistols will and some wont. Other than that, they are more reliable than a target 1911 as the tolerances are looser. A good ammo for them is Powerball

 

[techwrtr2]

I realize that not everbody likes them and that I'm no expert and all... but I've really enjoyed my Taurus. It's been a damn sweet pistol since I bought it and there are zero regrets on my part. Kind of wish I'd known the one with Crimson Trace grips would only go for $100 more than the model I bought but...

 

[Janq]

I hear the Taurus 1911 is good to go.
I've yet to see one IRL though.

Personally I've got no problem with Taurus and the folks I know who own them (all being revolvers) feel the same way.

- Janq

 

[Adler]

Yeah alot of people with XDs at the range made fun of me for my Taurus PT92, until I out shot them all. They told me that "I always buy American". I then told them to read up on their gun, and they would realize its a Croatian gun, and that SA rarely makes anything for itself.


Brazil has a long tradition of fine gun making. FN trusted them, so I trust them. Same with Argentina

 

[brucelee]

Yeah alot of people with XDs at the range made fun of me for my Taurus PT92, until I out shot them all. They told me that "I always buy American". I then told them to read up on their gun, and they would realize its a Croatian gun, and that SA rarely makes anything for itself.


Brazil has a long tradition of fine gun making. FN trusted them, so I trust them. Same with Argentina

LOL! The XD even says "Croatia" on the friggin' slide!

 

[techwrtr2]

After my experience with my PT1911, I wouldn't hesitate to buy another Taurus pistol. When your only main complaint about a pistol is about reduced grip selection due to ambi-safety, what can you say?

Next time my brother comes up, I need to fire his G26 along side my 1911 to see if the difference in grip angle bothers me. I was shooting it and a borrowed G27 last week and had no issues, but I didn't have any shells for my 1911 to compare them with.

 

[Janq]

Huh?

Ambi-safety compliant 1911 grips are all over the place though and very easy to find.
The PT1911 used to be a big time deal but IIRC they raised the price by $150 or so last spring.

- Janq