Anyone here ever shot a MEU(SOC)?

[wcnones]

From what I know of the MEU(SOC)s in service, many of them run very old frames that have been heavily customized and fine-tuned over their service lives. Recon guys "bond" with their MEU(SOC)s and the armorers ensure that the weapon tuned, as much as humanly possible, to the Marine to whom it is issued.

Wondering if anyone here has shot a genuine MEU(SOC), whether it be while on duty or through some other means. If so, what kind of feedback can you offer? They are apparantly quite amazing pistols, but would like to hear exactly what it is that makes them shine.

[sd1023x]

From what I know of the MEU(SOC)s in service, many of them run very old frames that have been heavily customized and fine-tuned over their service lives. Recon guys "bond" with their MEU(SOC)s and the armorers ensure that the weapon tuned, as much as humanly possible, to the Marine to whom it is issued.

Wondering if anyone here has shot a genuine MEU(SOC), whether it be while on duty or through some other means. If so, what kind of feedback can you offer? They are apparantly quite amazing pistols, but would like to hear exactly what it is that makes them shine.

I think the closest new production civilian equivalent is the Kimber Warrior and from my understanding, kimber provides the new 1911's for force recon. Its not a match gun, but rather tries for combination of reliability and accuracy, probably not the sweetest super tuned 1911, but for a combat pistol, very nice.

[rorschach]

Iron Brigade Armory as well as Unertl make MEUSOC knockoffs as well.

[xLusi0n]

I thought they were the Springfield MC Operators ?

[Glin1216]

From what I know of the MEU(SOC)s in service, many of them run very old frames that have been heavily customized and fine-tuned over their service lives. Recon guys "bond" with their MEU(SOC)s and the armorers ensure that the weapon tuned, as much as humanly possible, to the Marine to whom it is issued.

Wondering if anyone here has shot a genuine MEU(SOC), whether it be while on duty or through some other means. If so, what kind of feedback can you offer? They are apparantly quite amazing pistols, but would like to hear exactly what it is that makes them shine.

Marine Corps 2111 Small Arms Repair/Techs attend MOS School in Aberdeen Proving Grounds, MD. During the roughly 3 month school, Marines spend ~3/4 days "looking" at the 1911s built up by the 2112 at Quantico. I say "looking" because that was all we did. A run-of-the-mill 2111's echelon ends right after field stripping. You heard that right... the most we can do is field strip the 1911, and put it back together.
I can tell you that they were definitley nice 1911s... Slide to frame fit was nice and tight and they were. A lot of the fit between parts was solid but they did not "dehorn" many of the edges and did not do some of the things you see on high-end 1911s (Vickers, Nighthawk, etc.) like blending of grip safety into grip.
The most incredible part is the list of components in the back of the technical manual. A few of the components in the 1911 are fabricated by the 2112s themselves but there is a huge list of "manufacturers." I would almost be willing to say there were more manufactuers on the list than parts in a 1911
Didn't get a chance to fire one though..

[wilshire1412]

I thought they were the Springfield MC Operators ?

Not exactly, The name SA Inc gave to their pistol is based on the factual MEUSOC 1911 but not quite the same thing. The USMC RTE shop, now called PWS, had the orders to produce an enhanced 1911A1 that would be used by those units that require a CQB handgun. This was during the last half of the 1980's, there were plenty of old and worn 1911A1 pistols in the inventory to work with and they essentially took everything off the pistol and saved the frame for the rebuild. Most received new slides that were procured from Springfield Armory Inc, as well as an extensive list of parts from a large number of supliers. The King's extended ambi safety was used as it was the only such safety that was available with extended levers and did not require the right grip panel to hold everything together. I worked for King's about 10 years ago and I know that this was discussed even then, they would still get a PO for parts from Quantico from time to time. Pachmayr grips were used as they were a simple and effective solution to provide a reasonable grip without the need to do any metalwork on the frame. The early pistols that were made over had sights that were essentially King's hardball sights, nothing real fancy but they were larger and easier to pick up vs. the WWII gov't sights. Later the sights on the pistols were changed over to Novak's.

[Sam]

check out berryhillguns, they also make an available replca.

[NIB]

The Marine MEU(SOC) M1911

Primary function: Modified .45 caliber pistol
Builder: Specially trained armorers at the Rifle Team Equipment (RTE) Shop, MCB Quantico, Virginia
Length: 8.625 inches (21.91 centimeters)
Length of barrel: 5.03 inches (12.78 centimeters)
Weight:
Magazine empty: 2.5 pounds (1.14 kilograms)
Magazine loaded: 3.0 pounds (1.36 kilograms)
Bore diameter: .45 caliber
Maximum effective range: 164 feet (50 meters) for specially-trained user
Muzzle velocity: 830 feet/252 meters/second
Magazine capacity: 7 rounds
Unit Replacement Cost: $600

Features: This weapon is a modified M1911A1 .45 caliber pistol sometimes referred to as "near match" or "combat accuratized." The MEU(SOC) Pistol is the designated "backup weapon" of Marines armed with the 9mm MP5-N Close Quarters Battle weapon. The M1911A1 was chosen for this role (and its modifications generated) because of its inherent reliability and lethality, and because the MEU(SOC) modifications make the M1911A1 design more "user friendly."

The unique characteristics of the MEU(SOC) pistol are: commercial/competition grade ambidextrous safety, precision barrel, precise trigger, and rubber coated grips, rounded hammer spur, high profile combat sights, and an extra-wide grip safety for increased comfort and controllability (which aids in a quick follow-up second shot). The issue magazines are replaced with stainless steel competition-grade magazines with rounded plastic follower and extended floor plate.

Description of Modifications: "The MEU(SOC) pistol starts out as a stripped government contract M1911A1 frame, as manufactured up until 1945 or so. The frame is inspected, and the feed ramp polished and throated. The entire weapon is dehorned. All internal parts are replaced with current commercial items. King's Gun Works supplies the beaver-tail grip safety and an ambidextrous thumb safety. This last piece is often thought of as a superfluous device, added on as a derigueur item on hordes of IPSC pistols. Here it has some usefulness. The pistol must fit any operator in the platoon, whether he is right or "wrong" hand dominant. Future rebuild pistols will have a "memory bump" on the grip safety. Currently, many operators are unable to depress the grip safety when having their thumb (properly) on top of the thumb safety. Some, understanding that your priority safety rests between your ears, have taped this useless grip "safety" closed. This is now forbidden, and will continue to present problems until the rebuild pistols are brought on line. Videcki aluminum Match triggers are installed, and tuned to a pull of between 4-5 pounds. Colt Commander hammers replace the standard spur hammer.

Slides are commercial contract. Initially, one vendor supplied all of the slides, but after the initial purchase problems developed. Caspian and Springfield Inc. currently supply all of the slides. The new rebuilds will have forward slide serrations to enhance chambered round verification (the oh so important press check).

Barrels are provided by Bar-Sto. The barrel bushings are form King's Gun Works. The front sight is also form King's Gun Works and is staked on. While many have shunned this method of front sight installation, preferring instead to dovetail it in, the Marine Corps has apparently got this procedure down right. I cannot ever recall seeing a front sight come off of the pistol.

The high profile rear sight is custom made at the RTE shop. This is an excellent unit, providing a good sight picture. It is secured to the slide by a hex head screw. The ejection port is lowered and scalloped to improve ejection. A fiber recoil buffer is installed. This controversial device is both cursed and praised. There is no doubt that the buffer absorbs some of the battering, but they do deteriorate, and debris can insinuate itself into the nether regions of the pistol. This does no appear to be a problem in the Marine Corps, as weapons maintenance takes on almost religious proportions.

Flat mainspring housings are used, and as these are working guns, a lanyard loop is added. The lanyard themselves are made by the operators. A commercial telephone cord, the snap hook from an issue lanyard, and cable ties work out nicely. Pachmayer rubber grip panels finish out the package. Once used on a lot of 1911's, these are now considered to be somewhat Jurassic by some operators. There is no checkering on the MEU(SOC) pistol. This may be contrary to the exhortations of legions of pistolsmiths, writers, and wannabe commandos who insist that without such checkering the pistol will just slide and jump around in one's hand when they are wet, bloody, etc." -- Patrick A. Rogers, Tactical Shooter Magazine, June 1999

Inventory: 500

Background: The weapon modifications were designed in 1986 to meet the requirements of the MEU(SOC). Each pistol is hand-built by specially trained armorers at the Rifle Team Equipment (RTE) shop, Quantico, Virginia.

http://www.sightm1911.com/lib/history/meusoc.htm