February 25th, 2024
6minute read
The 1911 pistol has been with us for a little over a century.
Yep, there are a lot of 1911 handling mistakes going on out there right now.
So lets look at a few examples, and why each of those is a really bad idea.
The 1911 is an outstanding design, but it requires specific handling and operation procedures. Are yours the right ones?
Moreover, most 1911 pistolsmiths agree that the habit doesnt do the sear mechanism any good, either.
Remove the magazine and replace that topmost cartridge.
Now, we are going to shut the slide and put the unloaded pistol away.
NOOO! Dropping a round into the chamber by hand and then slamming the slide closed is the mark of an amateur, and can damage the pistol.
kindly dont let it slam forward.
As noted above, it is harmful to the sear mechanism according to some top pistolsmiths.
That cushioning is absent when the slide is slammed closed on an empty chamber.
Left thumb is about to slam slide closed on empty chamber. This doesn’t do the extractor (or sear on a 1911) any good.
You want toeaseit forward when its unloaded.
check that the thumb safety is up, in the on safe position.
On the single-action 1911 this only works if the hammer is cocked.
Safety engaged, thumb on hammer, trigger finger straight is the safest way to holster the loaded 1911 pistol, says author.
Carefully place the thumb of the gun hand on the hammer.
One famous advocate of the 1911anda high thumb position, therefore, recommended deactivating the grip safety.
His formative years came before todays litigious society.
Wrong Kind of Press Check
Some of us get slovenly with our terminology.
Deactivating the grip safety is troublesome if you ever end up in court over the use of the gun.
Don’t use this old press check technique to examine the chamber with your finger under the muzzle and thumb in the triggerguard.
Lowering or cocking the hammer with a live round in the chamber is a recipe for disaster. Cocked and locked carry tends to be much less fumble prone.
A quality 1911 like these Springfield Armory models will offer you a lifetime of service, so make sure you treat them right!
