Bee950
New member
Brown box military issue stuff is VERY hot and a lot more powerful than commercial loads. Save that stuff for the zombies and buy some commercial ammo. The only thing hotter than brown box military is white box match.
Got a Colt 45 1911. Now what.
- Thread starter N80
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N80
Super Member
Okay, so maybe I overstated the case. Let me be a little more accurate: Cock it. Point it at the door through which the intruder is coming. Pull trigger.
And not to brag on Dad, but his real world experience was extensive. He was ATF back when most people around here and in Mississippi called him a 'revenuer'. They would spend days staking out stills, miles from nowhere, wait until dark and rush the still. Just him and his partner. Day after day, week after week. He described that aspect of his job as fun. Most of the confrontations involved fists, wrestling and a lot of running...rarely any shooting. When moonshine dried up it was mostly gun and explosive enforcement. He hated that. He consider moonshiners to at least be rational people that he often liked and respected. The illegal gun trafficers and bomb nuts where a whole other breed of crazy. It was dealing with those crazies that both of his partners were shot (one in Mississippi, one in Florida, neither killed but one injured very badly...and again, he was stationed elsewhere.) He only carried a pistol because they made him and it was a snub nosed .38. At any other time he had a shotgun in his hand.
But when I envision myself in a bad situation (which are better avoided in virtually every circumstance....i.e., wisdom is more powerful than a gun), if I am honest with myself, I can see me messing things up with a pistol, possibly hurting myself with it and in the better circumstance not even hitting what I'm shooting at. It happens ALL THE TIME, even with trained law enforcement. I see myself much more likely to be able to cock-point-pull trigger of a small shotgun when I'm in one of those pee in your pants situations. Others will see it differently and I'm not knocking pistols for self defense. You can't really tote a shotgun everywhere you can tote a pistol. And maybe each person has to know himself when choosing a weapon and maybe I just don't see myself as being competent with dealing with the intricacies of a pistol when things go south.
Anyway, I'm going to spend some time with the 1911. It is fun to shoot. And once I get used to it, it will probably be a perfectly serviceable self defense weapon to stick in the truck when I'm heading down to my cabin.
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N80
Super Member
That's good to know. I've got a couple of those boxes. I was surprised with the first trigger pull.
k0ua
Epic Contributor
One other thing, you should have done is a good beavertail grip safety fitted. A box stock grip safety sucks. If you grip low enough to not get hammer bite in the web of your hand, then the muzzle rise becomes objectionable.. You NEED a beavertail so you can get a high grip with your dominate hand and then of course support on the other side of the grip with your support hand. I can barely shoot a box stock .45.. and do not like to do so.. however a .45 equipped with a proper beavertail is a joy to shoot. Trust me, I have fired tens of thousands of rounds thru a .45acp. John Moses Browning was a heck of a designer, but the grip safety was one thing he did not get right.
1911 AUTO MEMORY GROOVE BEAVERTAIL GRIP SAFETY - Brownells
James K0UA
1911 AUTO MEMORY GROOVE BEAVERTAIL GRIP SAFETY - Brownells
James K0UA
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N80
Super Member
S&W stainless .357 magnum. I'm sure it has muzzle rise too but I don't seem to notice it as much. Not sure why, maybe its that you're having to pull the trigger so hard for the next shot. I mean, it kicks, but I just don't recall the barrel climbing so much.
Agreed. I think I will stick with grips and sights. However, this gun doesn't have a whole lot of sentimental value. It was owned by my grandfather. He never used it. Here is a pic. Pretty plain jane.
As mentioned, it will mostly get carried in my truck, but I'm used to carrying the 357 so the Colt will be fairly trim in comparison. (And again, I don't have a conceal carry permit so I don't need it for that.)
k0ua
Epic Contributor
Oh, and along with that beavertail you are going to need a commander style hammer fitted... Your pistol will be worth more when you are done and will be a much better shooter.
Kyle_in_Tex
Super Star Member
The guys who shoot national pistol competitions with 1911 type guns, generally shoot a .38 super caliber. I would love to get me one of those but money is tight right now.
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N80
Super Member
You've lost me. A beavertail for a shotgun is a type of forearm.
Not sure what a commander hammer is. How does it help? Also, is it possible to change the front sight? It looks like the stock front sight is milled into the slide. Maybe it has screws on the underside. I've never had the gun apart.
k0ua
Epic Contributor
They say a picture is worth a 1000 words.. so here are a few thousand
Notice the beavertail grip safety in place of the standard grip safety and the different hammer made to work with the beavertail grip safety. While we are at it, notice the full length guide rod. Not really necessary but it adds a bit of weight up front.. also notice the aftermarket adjustable sight's with the fiber optic insert.. again not necessary but nice. and also the extended dual safety's and the extended mag well for fast mag changes, and adds a bit of length to the overall grip, making those Wilson 8 round mags you are going to buy fit a bit better. While you are at it look at my SV framed 2011 with a Caspian slide in .40 cal.. 19 rounds +1 (now I am just showing off).. None of this is necessary, but for me to get a high grip to better control the gun the beavertail and the hammer are necessary. Notice the high grip with thumbs properly placed and the support hand fit into the other side of the grip. This is how you shoot a .45.. NOT one handed, unless you have to. Your front sight is "staked" on with a staking tool, and cannot easily be replaced.. However a good gunsmith with a mill can cut a nice 60 degree dovetail in there, and you sight choices open up. Good luck in your .45 journey.
James K0UA
Notice the beavertail grip safety in place of the standard grip safety and the different hammer made to work with the beavertail grip safety. While we are at it, notice the full length guide rod. Not really necessary but it adds a bit of weight up front.. also notice the aftermarket adjustable sight's with the fiber optic insert.. again not necessary but nice. and also the extended dual safety's and the extended mag well for fast mag changes, and adds a bit of length to the overall grip, making those Wilson 8 round mags you are going to buy fit a bit better.
While you are at it look at my SV framed 2011 with a Caspian slide in .40 cal.. 19 rounds +1 (now I am just showing off).. None of this is necessary, but for me to get a high grip to better control the gun the beavertail and the hammer are necessary. Notice the high grip with thumbs properly placed and the support hand fit into the other side of the grip. This is how you shoot a .45.. NOT one handed, unless you have to. Your front sight is "staked" on with a staking tool, and cannot easily be replaced.. However a good gunsmith with a mill can cut a nice 60 degree dovetail in there, and you sight choices open up. Good luck in your .45 journey.James K0UA
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k0ua
Epic Contributor
Oh, pay no never mind to the "sissy pistol" hard chrome finish.. some people like it and some don't.. I do. but do notice the lowered and flared ejection port. Makes it easier for the brass to get out, and increases reliability. A tuned ejector and extractor are next, and of course don't forget the new trigger and a trigger job. The gun started life as a $399.00 Springfield Armory in about 1992.. uh. I have a bit more than that in it now..
James K0UA
James K0UA
