The 1911 went on to be Americas longest-serving sidearm, and the enthusiasm for the 1911-style platform pistols continues.
In my opinion, the original mil-spec 1911 pistols have real mojo.
It was kind of a no-brainer for the Army brass to adopt the new firearm as the Model 1911.
Springfield Armory offers a modern Mil-Spec 1911 pistol chambered for the .45 ACP cartridge.
The design has changed over the years, withit being re-designated the M1911A1 in the 1920s.
That 1911A1 served during the Second World War, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.
Uncle Sam ended up procuring about 2.7 million 1911 mil-spec pistols over the years.
Combined with the .45 ACP cartridge, the mil-spec M1911 pistol was a formidable handgun in the hands of U.S. troops.
Theres a reason the 1911 pistol was bought in bulk.
Think of the span of time this firearm has endured.
Not many pistols have the endurance and stamina to span the length of time the 1911 has.
Both of these M1911A1 .45 pistols served in World War II. The gun on the lower-right entered Europe on Omaha Beach on D+1 ofOperation Overlord. Gun courtesy of J. Bennett collection.
Some call it Brownings design genius, I call it mojo.
They were designed to take abuse and give it back.
Designed as a combat pistol, it hangs tough with the latest striker-fired pistols because of its stellar features.
Being on the wrong end of the M1911 must have been an intimidating sight for the enemies of the United States.
The Details
Lets start with the grip angle.
Eighteen degrees is the sweet spot.
It doesnt feel chunky like it does with some double-stack magazine pistols.
The next feature to consider is the trigger.
Ah, a 1911 trigger.
On a mil-spec 1911, the triggers job is to do one thing release the hammer.
Even the worst 1911 trigger pull is better than some trigger pulls on some modern semi-automatic pistols.
The single-action trigger pull on the 1911 is perhaps its most endearing feature.
There is no other trigger I like more and can shoot better than a 1911 trigger.
Call me old school, but when I think 1911, I think .45 ACP.
The calibers performance in combat and on the street is unimpeachable.
Sure, it takes a bit to master the recoil, but thats why you consistently train, right?
The last attribute I like about mil-spec 1911s is the muzzle bushing and ease of maintenance.
[Dont miss Massad Ayoobs review of theSpringfield 1911 Mil-Spec.]
The honorable mention list is the ease in loading cartridges in the magazine.
You dont bust your thumb loading those single stacks.
In fact, the 1911 has multiple safeties to make it extremely secure.
That why mil-spec 1911s have mojo.
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