Henry Rifle Forums

We've been unusually hot and muggy in our normally nice weather north woods, plus we had thunderstorms rolling though all day. Figured it would be a good time to do a field strip on some of the 1911s, just in case. Honestly, though, I'm always amazed at just how clean our 1911s run, even with lots of shooting. Not much to clean after the basic field strip. Could have gone another 500 rounds, no problem on any of them. Definitely a cleaner running design than our semi-auto 22s and way, way cleaner running than any revolver. What I usually do with a 1911 after each use is just run a soft 1911 bore brush through the barrel and wipe down the breech face area and call it good.

By comparison, I'm, equally amazed at just how dirty revolvers run. Have even had to clean some individual revolvers during a range session to keep them running, properly. For all their supposed better reliability, revolvers are more prone to getting dirt and sand in the action and causing problems, not to mention that accumulated grit and powder residue can also cause functioning problems. I thoroughly clean my revolvers after every use for that reason.

Anyway, my 1911s after a long range session look as fresh as when I had just cleaned them.


On the other hand, my revolvers do get a bit dirty after a shoot in the cylinder breech area. Not that I mind, really, and I still prefer revolvers, but they do need more of a cleaning. Just the nature of the beast.


Hope to get out, yet, this week if I can get those thunderstorms to old off a it.

I'm always amazed at just how clean our 1911s run, even with lots of shooting.

Same here - and I was in a discussion about just this on another forum recently.
My guess is 1911s typically have larger parts and are not as 'sophisticated' as say some newer semi-autos and just don't build up 'crud' as much.
Just my thought anyway!

Amazing some of these older designs, all done w/o computers or auto cad. I love shooting ammo designed 100 years ago through a 75 year old gun at the range. Amazing really....................

We used to shoot upwards of 300 rounds in PPC matches and knew that fouling could cost you a match. We had special brush rigs, that held six chamber brushes for quick passes in the cylinders to insure the rounds would speedload okay, and a single brush to run down the barrel. Also a toothbrush type brush to run behind the extractor star, and inside the frame around the forcing cone and in the area of the lockup and where the firing pin protrudes. You could knock all that out in just a couple minutes after changing positions on the range... (yard lines) We wouldn't "clean" the guns until after ALL the matches, no solvents or anything, but would knock off the grime.

As for 1911s, I rarely break down my match 1911. The gunsmith who built it told me NOT to take it down unless it started to fail. It is so tightly fitted you have to knock it apart with a nylon hammer and bushing wrench. It's WAY more accurate than I'll ever be. Not like the 45s I shot in the Corps.

BrokenolMarine wrote: ↑

Mon Jul 15, 2019 11:09 pm

As for 1911s, I rarely break down my match 1911. The gunsmith who built it told me NOT to take it down unless it started to fail. It is so tightly fitted you have to knock it apart with a nylon hammer and bushing wrench. It's WAY more accurate than I'll ever be. Not like the 45s I shot in the Corps.

When I entered the Army in 79 the 1911 although not my assigned weapon it was the pistol currently being used by the military. My first experience with the 1911 in the military was when they volunteered me to be on the units pistol team. That gun not only would shake it also rattled and rolled. LOL

I do like my 1911s to have a nice tight fit n the frame to slide, but, honestly, I'd be hard pressed to prove that it makes them more accurate. My humble old SA Mi-spec with some slop in slide to frame fit is an awesome shooter. It's an older vintage SA and it's survived several purges of our 1911 collection. Best gun for the money I've ever bought. Will never sell it. You can spend a LOT of money on a 1911, but you don't HAVE to spend a lot of money to get a good one.

North Country Gal wrote: ↑

Tue Jul 16, 2019 10:26 am

I do like my 1911s to have a nice tight fit n the frame to slide, but, honestly, I'd be hard pressed to prove that it makes them more accurate. My humble old SA Mi-spec with some slop in slide to frame fit is an awesome shooter. It's an older vintage SA and it's survived several purges of our 1911 collection. Best gun for the money I've ever bought. Will never sell it. You can spend a LOT of money on a 1911, but you don't HAVE to spend a lot of money to get a good one.

There's probably never been a truer statement as I hear a lot of good things for example of RIA. They may not be the least costly but they certainly don't cost that much.

I would say I did spend a bit more than the average for mine but it had nothing to do to whether they would work or not. I just thoroughly enjoy the craftmanship and things you get with a higher end firearm.

I do like my 1911s to have a nice tight fit n the frame to slide, but, honestly, I'd be hard pressed to prove that it makes them more accurate.

Frame/slide fit is NOT necessarily an element to accuracy in the 1911.
Barrel fit up is probably the most important part of a 1911s accuracy. Proper hood and bushing fit are paramount with the 'feet' properly cut and fit as well.
Ramped barrels don't hurt either.

disclaimer ===> I've owned both 45 and 9mm 1911's made by Colt .... both were reliable .... both were capable of firing better groups than I am .... I kept the 45 for a relatively short time and the 9mm for over a year .... bottom line, I didn't like either one of them .... contrasted with the grip of a Luger which I find to be extremely comfortable to hold and fire, their grips didn't feel comfortable in my hand .... for me it boils down to a matter of personal experience .... I do have an interest in learning about then .... I really enjoyed reading the info proved in the link below from Browning .... the proven design of the 1911 is without question outstanding and its history is nothing short of remarkable


https://www.browning.com/news/articles/ ... istol.html

The frame to slide fit is good on my gun, but the key to good 1911 accuracy, the way I have always understood it, is consistent lockup between the barrel and the frame, tight fit of the barrel in the bushing, and the bushing in the slide. With these key points, the barrel points at the same place every time YOU aim at the same place. If either end of the barrel is free to move after the slide locks up... Accuracy will be affected.

At least that is the way it was explained to me all those years ago.

Me, too. My Mil-spec checks out on all of those.

I have experienced old, sloppy 1911s that shot incredibly well.
I have also shot relatively new ' well known' 1911's that had mediocre (to poor) accuracy.
The best to date 1911 I have shot however was a new S & W 'E' series a friend of mine bought a couple years ago.
Literally one of the best 1911s I have EVER seen for fit, finish, operation and ACCURACY!
There was no doubt a time when the 'last name' custom 1911s were the best, and may still be in some regard but the cost of them are prohibitive for the average shooter.

North Country Gal wrote: ↑

Tue Jul 16, 2019 10:26 am

I do like my 1911s to have a nice tight fit n the frame to slide, but, honestly, I'd be hard pressed to prove that it makes them more accurate. My humble old SA Mi-spec with some slop in slide to frame fit is an awesome shooter. It's an older vintage SA and it's survived several purges of our 1911 collection. Best gun for the money I've ever bought. Will never sell it. You can spend a LOT of money on a 1911, but you don't HAVE to spend a lot of money to get a good one.

NCG, that is my S/A 1911-A1 to a tee! I've had it since '93[new] and it will shoot like that all day long. These are simply amazing pistols. Thanks for that picture w/ target.

North Country Gal wrote: ↑

Tue Jul 16, 2019 10:26 am

I do like my 1911s to have a nice tight fit n the frame to slide, but, honestly, I'd be hard pressed to prove that it makes them more accurate. My humble old SA Mi-spec with some slop in slide to frame fit is an awesome shooter. It's an older vintage SA and it's survived several purges of our 1911 collection. Best gun for the money I've ever bought. Will never sell it. You can spend a LOT of money on a 1911, but you don't HAVE to spend a lot of money to get a good one.

What this picture tells me is that I wish we lived closer so we could shoot together... I would enjoy it.

I'm glad we didn't live close enough that I had to compete against you. I would have still enjoyed it... ... But likely not cared for the posted outcome.

Marine, I compete only against myself, so not to worry. For sure, you would always be welcome to shoot with us. Any time.

North Country Gal wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 17, 2019 10:44 am

Marine, I compete only against myself, so not to worry. For sure, you would always be welcome to shoot with us. Any time.

That's all the competing I do these days.
I shot a lot of competition when I was teaching and working... Kept me sharp and enhanced my professional resume. Increased my chances of survival if it became necessary, if for no other reason than I was a better shooter for it.

But... Studies have proven that competitive shooting helps you learn to perform under pressure situations. (Of course no one is shooting at you, but you get used to shooting with adrenaline in your bloodstream.)

Since we're doing the 1911 thing, here's another great 1911 for the buck. It's our SA Range Officer in 9mm. It's actually my husband's gun. He has huge paws, so he needs a wrap around grip and, even then, he struggles a bit with the 1911 platform. He does much better with medium to large frame revolvers, but I suspect it's also a matter of how little he shoots "his" 1911.


Me, I love shooting 1911s. They really suit me. I find it easier to shoot 1911s than revolvers to the same accuracy standards. Sometimes strikes me as almost effortless, by comparison to shooting revolvers. (Maybe I shoot revolvers so much because they are a bit more challenging.) 1911s are just a natural for me, and I probably should shoot them, more. As with my Contenders, though, constant posting about 1911s on a Henry rifle site is a bit of a mismatch. Still, one of my favorite western movies, the Wild Bunch, had the guys carrying them new-fangled 1911s.

Here's one I shoot, earlier in the week with my husbands 1911, the SA RO in 9mm. Mostly did it as a sight check before handing it over to him. (I find there is a lot more variation in 9mm ammo than in 45 ACP ammo, so usually more sight adjustment needed.) First two, low and to the right, then a sight adjustment.

Only one I have is my Ruger SR 1911 Commander and it has been a really nice shooter. Had to send it back to Ruger for the
front sight repair after the first 1000 rounds after it broke off. However no issues since then.
I need to get it out more often! It's one of those guns you can just pick up and it's right on target.

Outstanding way to carve a punkin.