What Makes the 1911 So Popular?

[Gomphe]

Hi Everyone,

Please forgive my gun ignorance on this topic, but I am interested in your thoughts about the popularity of 1911s. Most all of my CCW friends who carry a 1911 say that they love their gun and cites the following reasons:

- Stopping power being it is a .45 ACP
- It's easily concealable due to the thin design
- Fits comfortably in most any hands.

However, despite its obvious advantages and being the pragmatist that I am, I don't really understand why it is so popular because of the following:

- Expensive ammo. Buying target rounds for practice can cost you a small fortune, especially if you shoot a lot. At the height of the ammo shortage several months ago, .45 rounds were selling for over $23 a box.

- Single stack magazine. I've read that most people (depending on where they are shot) do not die from a single gunshot wound. It usually take 2 or more rounds just to incapacitate a person. That means a person using a 1911 cannot be in a sustained fight for very long against multiple targets or threats.

-Not a common caliber. By this, I am referring to the ability of the gun owner to use other types of ammo out in the field. 9mm tends to be a popular caliber that seems to be the caliber of choice for many LEOs, mainly because the ammo can be easily obtainable in a pinch when out in the field.

That said, I can fully understand the romance that people have for this gun and the history associated with its service/reliability. However, any firearm type can obtain the same prestige in history and reliability if it is well maintained. So, again, what makes the 1911 so popular? Thanks all.

-Gomphe

[Springfield45]

It all comes down to personal choice. And it is an american classic. Other advantages are that you cannot beat the accuracy and light trigger of a well tuned 1911. It is all steal and that appeals to people that do not want plastic or aluminum in their guns. And it is a very impressive looking from the business end.

[NytWolf]

They drank the Kool-Aid. I can understand the love for the 1911. The history behind it, the style, etc, etc.

I only succumbed to buying my 1911 because it was the only thing else that came in 10mm and I didn't want a Glock. I now have a Glock also, and prefer the Glock. I'm not giving up my 10mm 1911 either though.

[510GUY]

Their pretty accurate and range in the $350 to $2000 range

[maxx424]

They work!

[Artema]

It is an old design, and beautiful. That's the big reason I wanted it. Iconic, heavy, gorgeous. Once I got it I found it shot as well or better than the Glock of the same caliber (10mm). It is as upgradeable as the Glock as well. Parts are mostly interchangeable, so you can have a Franken-1911 like myself. And 1911 is available in many calibers, including 9mm, and even can get a 22 LR slide for your 45 Auto if that floats your boat due to cost.

[postal]

Triggers are excellent.

Grip angle is natural for a lot of people. They point really well for some of us.

All metal. I dont like barbie dolls.

Ammo isnt expensive at all. I reload. Shooting IDPA and going through 200-250 rounds a month is no big thing.

Your 9mm and 380 ammo cost a lot more than what I pay.

9mm is only popular because the military switched to it.

....And, they switched to it because some of the girly men couldnt hande shooting a 45....

I admit- it takes a while to learn to shoot one well.

[SOAR79]

I agree! Trigger, slim design, and grip angle are a big plus

[Ladyrr]

It is the difference between a VW and a Ferrari. IMO, I am sitting here debating on what else can I sell before my 1911, but it looks like the 1911 is going to go up for sale. I will be very sad when this leaves my hands. They are a true master piece.

[m16]

They're accurate and it's hard to beat a Series 70 trigger.

My Les Baer will shoot very small groups if I'm having a good day.

[sealocan]

I think it's one of those things you have to try out for a while, before you may understand it.

when I hold one in my hands it points naturally, feels like a perfect fit, and like Thor's hammer- historical/powerful.

that said I don't think it would be my choice for carry in most situations.
which puts it into "the if I had extra money, I would buy gun." category and let's face it if we were rich I think we would all own one.

[redcliff]

Because a 1911 performs the essential functions of a semi-auto pistol as well as any and better than most.

It's customizable enough that you can obtain a proper grip (many shooters don't even know what that is) and proper trigger reach.

It's trigger pull is relatively light but short, crisp and with a short reset. If the function of a trigger is to discharge the firearm with the least amount of user induced shooting error the 1911 trigger fulfills that need. To have this trigger the 1911 relies on a manual safety, just like the rifles and shotguns you probably shoot. While many favor the "safe action" type triggers I'm left to wonder why we don't see them in long guns.

It's chambered in a serious caliber for a handgun with a proven track record. While we can argue about handgun caliber effectiveness and what "studies" prove or disprove I can point you to someone that has been in five gunfights with a 1911 shooting 230gr FMJ and ended them all with center mass one shot stops with the perps dead at the scene. All handgun rounds can fail to stop but the .45acp has to be considered one of the best. By the way, .45acp is one of the most common handgun calibers and can usually be found anywhere 9mm is available.

Magazine capacity: I could show statistics that say the average self defense fight has a total of less than 3 rounds fired between the combatants but that won't stop the "what if" crowd. Suffice to say everything in handguns is a trade-off; you want a slimmer and more concealable grip? You use a single stack magazine in the design. Yes you may be at a disadvantage against multiple offenders, but if you're solo against multiple offenders you're starting out at a serious disadvantage in the first place no matter what you're carrying unless you assume you're in the movies and that the bad guys can't shoot as well as you.

1911 require more maintenance and user knowledge of their function than many of the more modern designs. They're not for everyone but that's ok. Just don't make the mistake of thinking they're not suitable for their intended role.

[David13]

The original is still the greatest.
It's a classic.
Also, so many became familiar with it thru' military service.
There is a beauty to the simplicity of it.
It has had a long time to get, and stay popular.
There is no real great substitute for it.
It is the most logical and simple solution to the question, how to get the projectile down range.
Glock has been no slouch in the market place and a trendy attraction for some time. But in a sense, Glock is just a plastic imitation of the 1911.
There are only so many ways to solve the issue. And the 1911 has stood the test of time.
Long live the 1911.
dc

[Supertac916]

1911's are awesome and 2nd to none, when it comes to balance, beauty, accuracy, ergonomics, low felt recoil, and the best triggers available on any handgun.

No gun is perfect for everyone and some of the downfalls are:

- Field stripping: They have more parts, than your Sigs, Glocks, HK's, etc. Could I take a nice 1911 and throw it in the sand, along with a Glock and field strip it and clean it in the same amount of time? Probably not.

- Reliability: Great guns if you keep them clean. After 300 rounds without cleaning the tight tolerances on many of the custom guns cause malfunctions.

- Weight: I prefer the steel guns over the newer aluminum or titanium frame models. Fully loaded and wearing a full size 1911 gets heavy over time.

- Magazine capacity: The lower capacity magazines do add additional time in scenario's, if you're engaging multiple targets compared to a gun with 13-17 rounds. However, you carry extra mags and become proficient with your gun. Plus, the last thing you want in a self defense shooting is to be throwing rounds all over the place.

I've carried a Kimber Gold Combat for years, but I also carry a Glock and an HK. There's something about 1911's that other guns don't have.

[CrippledPidgeon]

- Stopping power being it is a .45 ACP
- It's easily concealable due to the thin design
- Fits comfortably in most any hands.

Stopping power is a useless measure for anything larger than .380. The human body isn't terribly resistant to bullets, and the only thing that really trumps the bullet's ability to punch holes in flesh is the target's mental resistance to going down. Unless he's killed instantly, a truly determined target will remain a threat despite catastrophic blood loss.

It's relatively concealable. It's definitely easier to conceal a single-stack pistol than a double-stack. But as someone who's carried both a 1911 and a Glock 17 IWB at different points in my life, with the right cover garment, you can make up a lot of that difference.

With most metal-framed guns, it's easier to add material to the grip with different grip panels than it is to take material away. Because of the single-stack design, the 1911 starts with a narrow grip, and you can use thin or thick (or build your own) grip panels to get the best fit for your hand.

However, despite its obvious advantages and being the pragmatist that I am, I don't really understand why it is so popular because of the following:

- Expensive ammo. Buying target rounds for practice can cost you a small fortune, especially if you shoot a lot. At the height of the ammo shortage several months ago, .45 rounds were selling for over $23 a box.

They make 1911-pattern pistols in many calibers. Heck, a 9mm will nearly get you to the CA round limit without having the mag stick out too much.

- Single stack magazine. I've read that most people (depending on where they are shot) do not die from a single gunshot wound. It usually take 2 or more rounds just to incapacitate a person. That means a person using a 1911 cannot be in a sustained fight for very long against multiple targets or threats.

I once took a class with Louis Awerbuck, in which he clearly stated that while he loves the 1911 design, for everyday carry in AZ, he would pick a Glock because of capacity. Assuming you live in CA and didn't have access to standard capacity magazines before the ban, a 1911 in .45 will only be two rounds below the limit, and in 9mm, only one round.

-Not a common caliber. By this, I am referring to the ability of the gun owner to use other types of ammo out in the field. 9mm tends to be a popular caliber that seems to be the caliber of choice for many LEOs, mainly because the ammo can be easily obtainable in a pinch when out in the field.

In my experience, 9mm is the most popular LEO cartridge, followed closely by .40. But that being said, you can get 1911s in either, so if you want a 1911 in a different cartridge, you can probably either find one, or have one made/modified.

That said, I can fully understand the romance that people have for this gun and the history associated with its service/reliability. However, any firearm type can obtain the same prestige in history and reliability if it is well maintained.

This I'll have to disagree with. The 1911 came about at a time when the only other truly successful automatic service pistol available was the Luger P08.

For Americans, the M1911 has come to symbolize the quintessential American handgun. The only other handgun that really rivals it in American minds is the Colt 1873 Single Action Army (you could probably also argue the S&W K-frame, but I have to admit that it didn't immediately come to mind).

And then consider the fact that most modern handguns use some variation of Browning's tilting barrel to lock the breech. It's arguable that the M1911 (and Browning's development process through it and until the Hi Power) has had more influence on automatic handgun development than any other pistol in history. The most easily recognizable thing that the P08 contributed was the 9x19mm cartridge.

Arguably, the 1911 of our generation will be the Glock 17, which popularized the polymer frame and its use of simple machining steps and stamped steel parts to cut costs for handgun production.