Posted: 9/3/2010 8:28:13 AM EDT
| Why do you carry a 1911? |
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Of the several types of weapons I own,it is the one design I'm most comfortable with, one. Two it's the one gun that I am very deadly acurate defined as hiting what I aim at at all distances 2" or less six shot patern, or accurate with at the range in all uses, two handed ,one handed, weak hand, stong side draw, weak side draw. Three. comfortable to carrry all day long.
I have other weapons at my disposal for back up or substitue carry options, but 99% time I'll take my 1911 with me. In order to carry a different gun, I'd have to prove to myself-no one else- that I'm better in all these aspects with it than the 1911. So far that has not happened. |
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I don't. If I had a specimen that I could trust 100% I would, but I don't have several thousand dollars to sink into a pistol right now.
This being the case, I carry a Glock or a HK and feel very confident that it will function when needed. There are 1911s out there that will do that, but none out of the box in my price range. |
| First handgun I ever bought was a Kimber 1911 that I bought with every intention of carrying. The original motivation was because for 100 years the design has been tried and true. That coupled with my shooting ability with it, I couldn't imagine trusting my life to anything less. |
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Some more experienced shooter helped me fix some of my 1911 grip problems and I'm liking the platform again. It's Glock or 1911 for me most of the time. Kahr for tiny CCW stuff. I cut my left safety lever down on my Kimber so it would quit hitting my thumb. I'm useing a thumb over safety grip, but my hands are weird.
I carry my 1911's when I'd rather have longer range accuracy, a heavy acurate gun, a fullsize that can be concealed. It's also the perfect secondary for a tacical rifle comp or class. The 1911 with it's safety can be reholstered with alot less care than my Glock. The 1911 is the safest fighting gun in my quiver. So it's my first choice for rifle training because my mind is allready taxed enough. Worst xcase senerio: I forget to turn the safety off after drawing. I carry my Glocks when I'm going to get dirty, salty, etc; when there's a need for high capacity. But I usually carry smaller Glocks like the G23, G19, G26. The big .45's don't conceal as well as a 1911. I carry my Kahrs when I don't want to carry at all (p380), or when I don't want to dress funny. 1911+ +thin, thinest .45 out there. +accurate +reliable when you find a proper one. (my Kimber needed some TLC but is 100% now) +best trigger ever +tons of grip and backstraps to fit the gun to your hand. You can even make your own grips. +thin mags carry well 1911- -Allmost allway come with the wrong sights. Allmost allways are sloped so you cant work the slide one handed using your rear sight and holster. -Grip is thin and conceals nice, but is a hair too small for my hands. -Rust. Allmost all 1911's come with a pretty but flimsy weak finish. Rare to find a factory 1911 with ION Bond, Hardhat, or Melonite. -Come with crap magzines usually. Sometimes you can salvage them be putting Tripp followers in them. I've only had luck with Tripp and Wilson. -Rust, -external hammer -9/10 1911's have billboards on the slide. |
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I can't always carry a 1911. It depends on how I am dressed if I can. But when I can, I do. Because: 1. I am very accurate with it. 2. I am very practiced with it. 3. It will stop an aggressor most effectively (45 ACP). Your 3rd answer is substantially wrong, my friend. No handgun load will be a fight stopper unless you have good shot placement. Doesn't matter how big the round is. You .45 junkies need to update you information. There have been way too many break throughs in ammunition development in the last 40 years that make that claim go right out the window. Anyway, on to the OPs "question." I carried my 1911 because of the fact that's all I ever really shot. I loved my 1911s, until I stopped being ignorant. Now I love my polymer pistols that are half the cost and weight and do the same thing, with less maintenance. |
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[Anyway, on to the OPs "question." I carried my 1911 because of the fact that's all I ever really shot. I loved my 1911s, until I stopped being ignorant. Now I love my polymer pistols that are half the cost and weight and do the same thing, with less maintenance. I carried lots of guns except for 1911s, then I stopped being ignorant. I only clean it as I do my other guns, it is lightweight and I shoot it extremely well. It also feels the best for me. |
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It is easy to conceal, has a great trigger and when I shoot at something I hit it. They can rust but to will any other gun. I have had 2 glocks and a M&P rust in the humidity of south Texas and Florida. Just wipe it down at the end of the day and it'll be just fine.
Bottom line is the 1911 is the platform I am most comfortable with. Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile |
I carried a 1911 for years.  My clone of the 1987 GSP. Quoted: I can't always carry a 1911. It depends on how I am dressed if I can. But when I can, I do. Because: 1. I am very accurate with it. 2. I am very practiced with it. 3. It will stop an aggressor most effectively (45 ACP). Quoted: I carried one for many years. Colt Combat Elite Slim trim long sights Big bullet match grade accurate easy to conceal whats not to like Quoted: I DID 'cause it kicks ass. I now carry other things 'cause they too kick ass. |
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[Anyway, on to the OPs "question." I carried my 1911 because of the fact that's all I ever really shot. I loved my 1911s, until I stopped being ignorant. Now I love my polymer pistols that are half the cost and weight and do the same thing, with less maintenance. I carried lots of guns except for 1911s, then I stopped being ignorant. I only clean it as I do my other guns, it is lightweight and I shoot it extremely well. It also feels the best for me. The 1911 is a fine platform with many merits (I carried a Kimber Custom for years), but a 38 ounce unloaded pistol isn't a lightweight contender. |
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[Anyway, on to the OPs "question." I carried my 1911 because of the fact that's all I ever really shot. I loved my 1911s, until I stopped being ignorant. Now I love my polymer pistols that are half the cost and weight and do the same thing, with less maintenance. I carried lots of guns except for 1911s, then I stopped being ignorant. I only clean it as I do my other guns, it is lightweight and I shoot it extremely well. It also feels the best for me. The 1911 is a fine platform with many merits (I carried a Kimber Custom for years), but a 38 ounce unloaded pistol isn't a lightweight contender. I guess that depends on your perspective. My 31 ounce CPD is pretty danged light. ;) |
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[Anyway, on to the OPs "question." I carried my 1911 because of the fact that's all I ever really shot. I loved my 1911s, until I stopped being ignorant. Now I love my polymer pistols that are half the cost and weight and do the same thing, with less maintenance. I carried lots of guns except for 1911s, then I stopped being ignorant. I only clean it as I do my other guns, it is lightweight and I shoot it extremely well. It also feels the best for me. The 1911 is a fine platform with many merits (I carried a Kimber Custom for years), but a 38 ounce unloaded pistol isn't a lightweight contender. I guess that depends on your perspective. My 31 ounce CPD is pretty danged light. ;) Thats what my g19 w/tlr-1, 17 round g17 mag (w/ 17 147gr win ranger t's) and NTAC holster weighs.... 
You honestly cannot call a 1911 a light weight weapon. I do love how accurate they are though! |
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[Anyway, on to the OPs "question." I carried my 1911 because of the fact that's all I ever really shot. I loved my 1911s, until I stopped being ignorant. Now I love my polymer pistols that are half the cost and weight and do the same thing, with less maintenance. I carried lots of guns except for 1911s, then I stopped being ignorant. I only clean it as I do my other guns, it is lightweight and I shoot it extremely well. It also feels the best for me. The 1911 is a fine platform with many merits (I carried a Kimber Custom for years), but a 38 ounce unloaded pistol isn't a lightweight contender. I guess that depends on your perspective. My 31 ounce CPD is pretty danged light. ;) Here are a couple of pictures of Big Iron that I CCW'd for quite a while. Its still my carry piece when out camping or hiking.... Kimber Custom (not a Custom II) and an old Blade Tech IWB rig. 
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I can't always carry a 1911. It depends on how I am dressed if I can. But when I can, I do. Because: 1. I am very accurate with it. 2. I am very practiced with it. 3. It will stop an aggressor most effectively (45 ACP). 
Remind me again how? I hate these flame wars and generally don't like fanning the flames. Let's just say if I shoot you in the head with my 45 because I can shoot it very accurately and consistently, I think that is going to stop an aggressor most effectively. I am not commenting on other calibers. I am sure they will do a good job also. But since I can do this with a 45, I choose not to use a caliber I cannot do that with as reliably. Enough said. Now let's play nice. |
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Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: I can't always carry a 1911. It depends on how I am dressed if I can. But when I can, I do. Because: 1. I am very accurate with it. 2. I am very practiced with it. 3. It will stop an aggressor most effectively (45 ACP). Remind me again how? I hate these flame wars and generally don't like fanning the flames. Let's just say if I shoot you in the head with my 45 because I can shoot it very accurately and consistently, I think that is going to stop an aggressor most effectively. I am not commenting on other calibers. I am sure they will do a good job also. But since I can do this with a 45, I choose not to use a caliber I cannot do that with as reliably. Enough said. Now let's play nice. You say play nice but you put an unfounded comment in your original post. Handgun calibers as a whole are not horribly affective and then pointing out a CNS hit from 45 will finish the job but won't comment on others. Cool.  |
| I dont really know? I guess its all in what your most comfortable carrying. I carry a full size XD .45ACP and a full size FN-45 at the same time at all times, and both guns are just about the same size as a 1911 only wider. It's the whole practice how you play adage. If you shoot nothing but 1911's then you would want to carry that rather than carry some gun that your unfamiliar with. Muscle memory is key under high stress engagements. you do NOT want to be fumbling around with a gun that is foreign to you in the heat of the moment. Like everything else I wont criticize someone for carrying any certain gun, or gun setup. |
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I can't always carry a 1911. It depends on how I am dressed if I can. But when I can, I do. Because: 1. I am very accurate with it. 2. I am very practiced with it. 3. It will stop an aggressor most effectively (45 ACP). Your 3rd answer is substantially wrong, . You .45 junkies need to update you information. WOW junkies Most 45acp shooters HERE know about FBI specs / GEL Testing/ I dont think I need to up date a thing on ammo selection 
Ive done pretty good now after 25 yrs of CCW No matter what handgun or M4 you have you need to shoot until threat is down Its a wonder Wild Bill's 36cal cap & ball revolver ever killed 
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I can't always carry a 1911. It depends on how I am dressed if I can. But when I can, I do. Because: 1. I am very accurate with it. 2. I am very practiced with it. 3. It will stop an aggressor most effectively (45 ACP).
Remind me again how? center mass several shots until threat is down |
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[Anyway, on to the OPs "question." I carried my 1911 because of the fact that's all I ever really shot. I loved my 1911s, until I stopped being ignorant. Now I love my polymer pistols that are half the cost and weight and do the same thing, with less maintenance. I carried lots of guns except for 1911s, then I stopped being ignorant. I only clean it as I do my other guns, it is lightweight and I shoot it extremely well. It also feels the best for me. The 1911 is a fine platform with many merits (I carried a Kimber Custom for years), but a 38 ounce unloaded pistol isn't a lightweight contender. I hate LW handguns anyways 
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- Great ergonomics
- Great trigger - Reliability under all conditions (requires some knowledge and verification) - Accurate - A bullet that makes a ragged .75 inch ragged hole is better than one that makes a .6 inch ragged hole It is heavy. It does hold fewer rounds. |
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I was active duty Armor/Cav for 21 years. That means 21 years of experience with it#. I can still safe, dissemble, reassemble and run a function check while blindfolded. I was awarded the Pistol Excellence in Competition badge with it, so shot placement is not a problem. If you can hit what you are aiming at with a 9mm or a .45, which would you depend on to end a fight? Besides it has over 100 years of testing to iron out any bugs.
#Towards the end, they tried to move me to a 9mm. I tried it but did not see any advantage and by then I was senior enough to keep using a M1911. |