Internal or external extractor 1911.

[ChrisO]

Now I know this may seem like blasphemy to some purist but I'm considering a new 1911. Now the Sig's seem to have a lot of value for the money. I'm wondering if these external extractors can be bought from sig and how easy they are to replace? I know internal extractors have been working thus far but lets face it most modern pistols are designed with external extractors for a reason. Now whether this works as great with the 1911 platform I'm not sure but I'm trying to do some good research before I go out and buy one and see if it's worth it to stay traditional or give one of the new sig's a try.

So fellas with experience please chime in and give me your feedback.

[VegasND]

Internal is proper if you want a 'true' 1911

I have both types among my 1911s and they all work.

Even my Kimber with the external extractor (they've since abandoned and returned to internal) works without problem; there's plenty of folks out there than claim they've had problems with external extractors but I'm not one of them.

[sammy]

Sig and Smith & Wesson got the external extractor right. They might even be more reliable than the internal design but that is up for debate. Now like the poster above said Kimber had problems with their design. They lost hundreds of thousands if not millions of dollars on repairs and replacements. Some of them ran great but most did not.

Have no fear of the external extractor. If i had $1000.00 to spend on a 1911 today it would be a S&W, Sig or DW.

[Old4eyes]

I can't speak to the Sig, I do have a pair of S&W with external extractor. I have not had any problems with either of them. I'd suggest asking the same question on the 1911forum.com.

[FUBAR]

The newer S&W E Series has an improved external extractor. It's actually from the Performance Center and is one beefy extractor. The Sig has a big strong extractor as well. I got a Sig TacOps and love it.

[Cyc Wid It]

This is blasphemy.

FTFY. S&W seems to have figured it out, and I'm sure the Sigs work passably, but blasphemy + hideous = not for me.

[rogervzv]

I have spoken to a gunsmith who I really respect and trust, and he emphasized that Smith & Wesson really got the external extractor design right. You can go with S&W and their external extractor 1911s with confidence.

My Dan Wesson PM7 and my Colt Gold Cup Series 70 each has a classic internal extractor and each works flawlessly, first time, every time. So a good 1911 can work well with either. Kimber evidently blew it some years ago and gave external extractors a bad name, which is probably a shame.

[ClarenceBoddicker]

IMO, internal extractors are junk, relics of the past. FN figured that out with the Browning High Power (JMB's finial evolution of the 1911 BTW) a long time ago & switched to the much more reliable external extractor. How many modern pistols are made with internal extractors?

[Write Winger]

I've been looking into SSEing a S&W E Series for about 6mo now, heard nothing but good things now about that external extractor... think I'll have to finally pull the trigger on that one.

[GW]

Internal is proper if you want a 'true' 1911

I have both types among my 1911s and they all work.

Even my Kimber with the external extractor (they've since abandoned and returned to internal) works without problem; there's plenty of folks out there than claim they've had problems with external extractors but I'm not one of them.

Big +1 Here I have both types as well and both types work.

[redcliff]

While in general I prefer internal extractors on 1911's both types can work fine. Since I understand the simple process of adjusting internal extractor tension for a particular pistol I find the internal extractor easier to maintain.

[JRJCP]

While in general I prefer internal extractors on 1911's both types can work fine. Since I understand the simple process of adjusting internal extractor tension for a particular pistol I find the internal extractor easier to maintain.

+1 I prefer internal extractors too.

[Arkangel]

I have an S&W 1911... Mine is a blasphemy many times over to some : external extractor, 1913 rail, scandium frame and ambi safety. But it WORKS and that's all I cared about. These features ( IMHO) are just the evolution of one of the best combat platforms ever created.

Oh and it also has a full length guide rod... Another feature people disagree on. Get what you like and enjoy

[XTN]

While in general I prefer internal extractors on 1911's both types can work fine. Since I understand the simple process of adjusting internal extractor tension for a particular pistol I find the internal extractor easier to maintain.

Right on the money. It's nice to be able to adjust an internal extractor if you know how. It's really one of those things that can help keep a 1911 running tip top. With that being said, external extractors are perfectly fine and if you're the type of person that is not comfortable with doing light smith work on your 1911 then don't fear the external variants.

I have a 1911 with an external extractor and it has been absolutely flawless. Regardless of which variation you get make sure you learn how to check extractor tension.

Here's a couple of vids:
How Tl: Check Extractor Tension

Wilson Combat: Check the Extractor Tension in your 1911

[tdyoung1958]

Now I know this may seem like blasphemy to some purist but I'm considering a new 1911. Now the Sig's seem to have a lot of value for the money. I'm wondering if these external extractors can be bought from sig and how easy they are to replace? I know internal extractors have been working thus far but lets face it most modern pistols are designed with external extractors for a reason. Now whether this works as great with the 1911 platform I'm not sure but I'm trying to do some good research before I go out and buy one and see if it's worth it to stay traditional or give one of the new sig's a try.

So fellas with experience please chime in and give me your feedback.

Never had a issue with my two Sig 1911's. And yes they can be bought from Sig and other MFG's. S&W 1911's also come with external extractors. Brownell's, Numerich and Midway all carry replacements if / when you need one