1911 Frame

[Rob Roy]

Which frame is preferred aluminium or steel?

[Tactical Support]

Steel or Stainless Steel

[Kruzr]

Depends on the use of the gun. If the primary purpose is a carry gun, then you will be thankful for a lightweight frame. If the gun is a range or competition gun, you want a steel frame for lots of rounds.

[rst1911]

I prefer steel....just my humble opinion

[Rob Roy]

Any durability problems with either of them?

[ke6guj]

IIRC, aluminum frames will eventually fatigue crack sooner than a steel frame.

[Overkill]

You also have to be more concerned with the type of magazine follower on a lightweight, as the typical steel follower will dent the feed ramp under recoil.

For carry, aluminum. For shooting, steel.

[ojisan]

You also have to be more concerned with the type of magazine follower on a lightweight, as the typical steel follower will dent the feed ramp under recoil.
For carry, aluminum. For shooting, steel.

The magazine follower should remain in the magazine and never touch the feed ramp....if your follower leaves the magazine each time, you have some magazine problems to resolve.

Aluminum frames (without a ramped barrel) may experience feed ramp wear from the bullet nose of the loaded rounds being pushed up into the chamber by the slide.

Carry = aluminum
Shooting = Steel, Stainless Steel.

[kdm]

Which manufacturers use which material?

Part of my long list of "gonna get it" guns is a 1911, closely followed with a 460 Rowland conversion. Would much prefer a steel frame.

[ke6guj]

I'd say that just about every manufacturer makes 1911s in steel, that is the default.

Any aluminum or Stainless versions would be advertised as such.

[JTROKS]

Steel! Soaks up thousands of rounds and recoil.

[tankerman]

IIRC, aluminum frames will eventually fatigue crack sooner than a steel frame.

After how many rounds? 20,000-25,000?

[kdm]

ke6guj...D'oh! Yeah, you're right. That was kinda a silly question on my part.

[randy]

Newer alloy frames are much better than 30 years ago and will last longer. Stainless steel is better than it was 30 years ago too.

Sigs are good guns but their alloy guns shred the rails. If you are a shooter and like Sigs plan on replacing them before they wear out.

Steel or SS will out last alloy.

[Rob Roy]

Does SS becomes less visually appealing with use? Is it PITA to clean it?