Greatest pistol ever.

Interesting that John Browning also designed the #1 longest serving weapon in the US military, the M2. Owning both a WW2 and current 1911 I would have to say that most of the difficulty in shooting a WW2 1911 is due to the pitiful combat sights. Difficult to pick up even when one concentrates on them. Also, like an AK47, they are built a bit "loose" so they keep working no matter how dirty they get.
If you have ever watched 'Band of Brothers' you will notice that one of the few historical errors is that the 1911 props they use have "3 point" sights. Not invented yet I believe.
 
I will say, I always scoffed at those who had 1911 pistols. A year ago when I retired and my employer gave me a watch for 45 years of service, I asked "How about a retirement gun?" I felt I should have a 45 auto for 45 years of service, so I bought my own 1911. I wish I'd had one many years ago.... I love that pistol.
Dale
 
I've seen this on some documentary, more than once, the same story. I forget the details, but it was either a sniper or someone who got detached from his unit, then ran smack into 6 NVA, had to make a quick decision, I believe he had his rifle, but knew he had to draw both his .38 service revolver and M1911 to kill the enemy at close quarters, both violence of action and firepower overwhelmed the enemy, he survived, and it seems his choice to draw both sidearms was the right one. Its beyond comprehension for most being in that situation.
 
I read the other day that the US military is looking for a replacement for the 9mm Beretta due to complaints from Iraq and Afganistan over the 9mm's lack of stoping power (just like the complaints almost 120 years ago about the .38's lack of stopping power)...the more things change, the more they remain the same.

I never did quite undestand why the military gave up the .45 in the first place.
 
The M1911 was and is a good hand gun for close range shooting as in 25 yards or less. They over that you might get lucky to hit the side of a barn. I have shoot many of them and all tend to be poor much past that due to the floating barrel. Every one I shoot when I was in the navy I was lucky to hit a 12 inch circle at 25 yards. Now my 44mag I can hit a 6 inch circle at 60 yards with no problem
 
I have a 1911 Springfield Trophy Match, Stainless, and it can out shoot me, 2" groups at 20 yards.

Best gun ever.
 
Compatibility with NATO countries who all use the 9mm. was the main reason. The supposed "justification" was that the smaller diameter/higher velocity bullet penetrated body armor better than the slower fatter 45 slug.

I believe these were to two primary arguments put forth at the time. My BIL was an MP and he said the Beretta's were quite accurate compared to the poor old clapped out .45's. However from what he told me, almost everybody disliked the 9mm's when their life was on the line.
 
I disagree that the 1911 is inaccurate, I shot for two years with the MONG team and used my 1911-A1 as both my center fire and 45 cal in 2700 MRA conventional pistol matches. My 45 had been accurized but any 1911 can shoot well with proper coaching and practice. Start with sight alignment and trigger control. Then work to improve hold and stance. The quality of the gun and the kind of ammo is if lesser importance than the other factors. I was never a tournament winner but it was not the fault of the gun. The 1911 can be tamed but it is unforgiving of poor handling. Do not blame the gun. I had coaching from some of the top 10 shooters in the nation. Read up on Jeff Cooper, Gil Hebard. or Charles Atkins.
 
The 1911 is quite sensitive to the grip tension of the shooting hand and the location of the pistol in the shooting hand. It is a matter of trial and error along with enough ammunition to find out just how and how hard to hold on but the correct grip and tension will show themselves on the target. Then it is a matter of training to be able to come back and always hold with the proper grip and tension. Ammunition variables and the pistols mechanical fit have an influence on accuracy but the pistol must be held properly before these other things can be evaluated.
 
Please don't judge the 45 auto by guns you shot while training in the service. Most if not all the training guns have seen many, many years of service and many thousands of rounds put through them and are fairly well shot out. I remember my training gun in boot camp and it was so loose that I was surprised that the slide did not fly off while being fired. The purpose of that training was not marksmanship but weapon familiarization.
 
The 1911 is a good gun and a lot of companies making reproductions of it. I still Like my S&W 645.
 
Not trying to be a smart aleck, but it was Charles Askins. I have a few of his books and wish I'd had the forsight at the time to buy everything he had printed. A most entertaining writer who was not the least bit bashful about making fun of his own mis-adventures. I do have most of his articles he wrote for the NRA mags, though. Cooper was a darn good writer also.
 
I qualified "Expert" at least once with the .45 in the Marine Corps when it was my TO weapon.

Interestingly enough, although a two handed stance was allowed and used by most everyone, I found I was more accurate with a single handed stance. It had something to do with how my shoulder muscles rippled while firing two handed.

It drove the coaches on the firing line nuts, but you can't argue with results.
 
The 1911 is the small block Chevy of the gun world. There are so many replacement and custom parts available it will make your head spin!
I'm a big fan of the 1911.
 
Nothing finer than a 70 series Gold Cup National Match. I bought my first from the USN while shooting on a pistol team in 72. Acquired too many more since.They are getting pretty spendy now.
But for feel, accuracy, looks, trigger, the Colt Python .357 I bought in 66 to take to war is the BEST revolver ever made. (Can you believe $125
from gun store in Pacific Beach CA?)
 
Over the years I have shoot probably at least 10 of them and none ever did real well. All would hit maybe a 306 inch circle at 25 yards if you where lucky. I will stick with my tack driver 44mag that hit a 1 inch circle at 25 yards and it would do better if I had a steady rest
 
A decent 1911 with decent sight shooting ammo it likes by someone who takes the time to learn about follow through, grip consistency and all the other stuff that goes with shooting one will often chew the center out of a bull at 25 yards. But the run of the mill ex-GI "loose as a goose" 1911 with GI sights shot by someone who hasn't played with one isn't going to do as well. Most 1911's take some tuning, thats true.

The 1911 is a great pistol for sure. I own 2 versions. Myself, I prefer Browning later pistol which he considered and Improvement- the Hi Power. But I want one in 45ACP. Probably someone makes one, but I couldn't afford it these days.

My favorite 45ACP is Smith 1917 revolver!
 

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