1911 Reliability: Myths vs Facts

[Lead Waster]

The problem with 1911s is that there are so many different magazine makers, you have to rule out a bad magazine before diagnosing the gun. It could be that all your mags won't work with your gun.

[Lead Waster]

"Glock reliability" I believe has to do with the fact that one company makes all the parts (or specs and builds with all the parts), and they make (or spec'out and qa) the magazines. 1911's are a mishmash. I'm sure when only Colt, Singer, Remington Rand were making them in the WWII era, they were way more reliable ... and probably less bullseye-accurate, but GIs need reliable above 1.5" grouping ability.

[CK_32]

"In the WWII era, they were way more reliable ... and probably less bullseye-accurate, but GIs need reliable above 1.5" grouping ability.

That's about it right there.

You cant have accuracy tight and mid reliable it just doesnt work mechanically. People just can't admit or understand to raise their tight fit for accuracy they ruin the reliability when another element it thrown in.

How I explain it to many people is think of a small rock.

A car tire roles right over it being bigger (Car tire being loose tolerances)

A skateboard wheel locks up because smaller (Tight tolerances)

It's the same principle. It's basic mechanics. Also small imperfections in design (burrs or misalignment) are no issue with looser fitting parts being they have room to pass those gaps. Guns with tight metal to metal full contact with no gap will snag or creat friction screwing up function.

But guys can't admit their tight as a ticks a** 1911 built for accuracy can't rule the world. You can't have everything by optimizing for one thing you give up another.

[lehn20]

I still think the SA PRO is the best out of the box 1911 on the marked.
Followed by Cylinder and Slides Trident model for a full custom.

[missiontrails]

That's about it right there.

You can have accuracy tight and mid reliable it just dont work mechanically. People just can't admit or understand to raise their tight fit for accuracy they ruin the reliability when another element it thrown in.

How I explain it to many people is think of a small rock.

A car tire roles right over it being bigger (Car tire being loose tolerances)

A skateboard wheel locks up smaller (Tight tolerances)

It's the same principle. It's basic mechanics. Also small imperfections in design (burrs or misalignment) are no issue with looser fitting parts being they have room to pass those gaps. Guns with tight metal to metal full contsct with no gap will snag or creat friction screwing up function.

But guys can't admit their tight as a ti**s *** 1911 built for accuracy can't rule the world. You can't have everything by optimizing for one thing you give up another you can't have it all.

Well said, now I can save my breath. However, if you're going towards the "looser" end for reliability, there are many better options out there.

[CK_32]

I'm surprised you even got what I was trying to say auto spell jacked that up so bad lol

[Bug Splat]

To me 1911's are race cars.
I take them out to the track IE compete with them.
When they work there is nothing better or faster.
If one breaks it goes to the gunsmith.
If you really shoot your guns you will wear parts out and break parts this will happen with any gun.
But I do not use them as daily drivers.
Glock = honda or daily driver.
Yes I have top end 1911's. STI/SVI and Jardines.

Agree 100%. I like 1911's but they are not daily drivers like you put it. Run 10,000 rounds through a 1911 and I highly doubt it will still be running. They are great when clean a lubed, but burn off that lube and replace it with black gunk and after 500-1000 rounds its a jam-o-matic. The parts inside are dainty and fragile so 10,000 rounds is a lifetime for a 1911. For a Glock, M&P, Sig, that is just a warm up.

1911's are beautiful pistols but I'd never take one to battle and don't give me that "it was good enough for WW2" crap. Had our grandfathers had the choice of a 1911 or a glock you can bet we would not be talking about 1911's today.

[ap3572001]

The ONLY 1911 I ever owned that never had a mulfunction with ANY ammo ( I only shoot quality ball and top of the line JHP's) is my Colt Combat Commander form Colt's Custom Shop and my Bob Chow pre series 70 Colt .

All others ( and I onwed about 25-30) had issues.

In reliability department 1911 is no match for a Beretta 92 or a Glock 9mm, but it is still my favorite gun to shoot .

[five.five-six]

I would rather throw my 1911 than shoot a glock.

[CK_32]

The ONLY 1911 I ever owned that never had a mulfunction with ANY ammo ( I only shoot quality ball and top of the line JHP's) is my Colt Combat Commander form Colt's Custom Shop and my Bob Chow pre series 70 Colt .

All others ( and I onwed about 25-30) had issues.

In reliability department 1911 is no match for a Beretta 92 or a Glock 9mm, but it is still my favorite gun to shoot .

I dont doubt it being ever Colt I've ever shot or handled wobbled or rattled like a MF when I checked barrel and lug fit and slide to frame fit.

[Ronin2]

The tighter the fit, the better the potential for accuracy. The more accurate, the less potential for reliability.

That's just how it is. Manufacturers like Wilson seek to find a balance.


-Freq

As long as you are getting a surprise break when you press the trigger, the only thing that matters for accuracy is the barrel lockup into the slide.....

Way too many uber expensive, pretty and unreliably TIGHT 1911's out there bought by guys looking for bragging rights at the range. Usually their shooting ability rarely approaches the accuracy of box stock entry level 1911's.

Love watching these "dudes" at the range. MONEY is no substitute for professional training, skill set/muscle memory and play ole trigger time...IMHO.

[missiontrails]

As long as you are getting a surprise break when you press the trigger, the only thing that matters for accuracy is the barrel lockup into the slide.....

Way too many uber expensive, pretty and unreliably TIGHT 1911's out there bought by guys looking for bragging rights at the range. Usually their shooting ability rarely approaches the accuracy of box stock entry level 1911's.

Love watching these "dudes" at the range. MONEY is no substitute for professional training, skill set/muscle memory and play ole trigger time...IMHO.

Yep, and the $$$ that you need to spend to get the extra 1" accuracy from the bench is just not equitable.... and anyway you look at it, it's just more makeup on the dinosaur. For the prices paid for some of these overworked pieces of metal you can have a HK 45 + G21 + FNX 45.... and maybe have a little change left over.

[stormvet]

Agree 100%. I like 1911's but they are not daily drivers like you put it. Run 10,000 rounds through a 1911 and I highly doubt it will still be running. They are great when clean a lubed, but burn off that lube and replace it with black gunk and after 500-1000 rounds its a jam-o-matic. The parts inside are dainty and fragile so 10,000 rounds is a lifetime for a 1911. For a Glock, M&P, Sig, that is just a warm up.

1911's are beautiful pistols but I'd never take one to battle and don't give me that "it was good enough for WW2" crap. Had our grandfathers had the choice of a 1911 or a glock you can bet we would not be talking about 1911's today.

Lots of FUD here, but I'm sure you know all this from the many 1911s you have owned that crapped out at 10,000 rounds or less.
Look everyone knows that Glock, M&P, etc are likely to be more reliable with less cleaning. But to make a generalized across the board statement like you did is a rookie move. There are a crap load of 1911s with a lot more then 10,000 rounds fired still working great.

[INFAMOUS762X39]

Why is Glock and 1911 even in the same sentence/paragraph? I hate it when people compare the two, makes me angry.

Different Platforms, Different Tools.

[stormvet]

I don't see it that way. They are the same tool as far as I'm concerned. I daily drive and train with both.