Bought my first 1911

[karl9422]

I picked up an Ar Sales 1911 pistol today. Has a colt slide on it. dont know much about it but it was cheap and i figured i could put money onto it if needed. It is used but does not look that bad. The barrel is in good shape just needs a good cleaning. Bought it for $360. I did take it down and it was a pain to put back together is there a easier way i almost bent the spring once.

[Blackhawk556]

Congrats on your purchase, any pics of your new love? =)

[karl9422]

here is a pic. i dont like the grips to large for my small hands but thats an easy fix

[karl9422]

So i was playing around with my new gun and noticed it has a half cock on it. is this normal? i can srill pull the trigger but its hard as hell.

[MH.38_spl]

My 1911 has a half cock, but it is an essex frame with a colt slide. i can not pull the trigger when it is half cocked though. i didnt think that was possible.

[Bongos]

go shoot it, make sure its' lubed and clean the barrel, you will know if it's a good shooter in the first 20 rounds, any breakage, FTF, FTE will be experience in the first firings, Guns like these I tend to change all of the springs.. remember, you get what you pay for.

[karl9422]

I like fixing my guns i get bored with ones that work correct all the time. I spend 3 days on a bryco 380 just to get it to feed ball and hollow points and the gun would jam every round to where it had to be taken apart to get it unjammed. It now cycles with anything and is a nice shooter for the $40 it cost me. So having problems with a gun just makes it fun

[Bongos]

I like fixing my guns i get bored with ones that work correct all the time. I spend 3 days on a bryco 380 just to get it to feed ball and hollow points and the gun would jam every round to where it had to be taken apart to get it unjammed. It now cycles with anything and is a nice shooter for the $40 it cost me. So having problems with a gun just makes it fun

Just be careful, Essex frames are the best of platform for 1911, the saying goes, "it's all fun until you lose a hand or an eye" literally

[karl9422]

It does seem tight with the frame to slide fitting. i have had it tore down all but the hammer and main spring housing and ill do that next before shooting it. It was dirty from not being fired in a while. I an not find much about the gun other than it was made in california and somewhere between 1976 and 1996 when they closed down. The company was owned by lincon.

[Bongos]

1911 are not meant to be tight, this is why they are so reliable, outside of the springs (replacement), I would do a safety check with the hammer lock and grip safety. Check for cracks on the rails of the frame. If everything looks good, lube it up and give it a go. It is fun to put a 1911 together, you learn how out of the box thinking these gun designers come up with. After the 1911, I recommend looking at the luger, m1 Garand, FN FS2000, FN 5.7,, SCAR 16s and PS90..All are excellent designs and all different

[karl9422]

I have looked over the gun no cracks i can see. All the safety work with the exception of the half cock but i am not sure if it should go off. Ill take if out in the next few day to see how it does

[aklon]

You may not know it (now), but the title you chose for this thread is apt: "Bought my first 1911. When you get good with the one you have, you'll try shooting one from the higher price ranges and you'll be surprised at how well the gun can do. Once you've learned how to shoot that one, you'll try a 1911 from a custom house ... and now you're hooked. Next you'll spend years trying different reloads to get the one that's "just right" for each 1911 you have.

You'll have a lot of fun on Planet 1911; welcome and enjoy.

[den888]

Congrats!

[karl9422]

I this is just my first 1911. i can shoot great with my XD i have i am just bored with it since it always works with no problems wanted something new and seen this one for a good price. I have not shot a 1911 so i am not sure i will really like it i did go get snap caps to cycle the gun and all seems godd so far. hoping monday to take it out and shoot if to see how i like it and if it cycles good. next ill move up to a better 1911 if i like this one

[karl9422]

I finally got to take the gun out and shot one chip of fmj with no problems i still am not sure about the half cock thing but its more of a pain to set up and was not in to messing with it today. and woth the way it works the hammer would always be back since it does not have a decocker on it. Ill try some hollow pionts next but i am every happy with my purchase and how cheap it was.