There are others that roll off the tongue, but they essentially are all the same.
I think it is time we examine the 1911 and get a better understanding of this classic blaster.
A Step Back in Time
The 1911 handgun has been around since, well, 1911.
Why do some people hate the 1911 pistol? The author takes a hard look at the handgun and if it deserves any of the shade thrown its way.
As the saying goes, it has won two world wars.
The 1911 pistol is a single-action, semi-automatic, magazine-fed, recoil-operated pistol originally chambered for the.45 ACP cartridge.
It served as the standard-issue sidearm for the United States Armed Forces from 1911 to the mid-1980s.
The M1911 and M1911A1 pistols are said to have won two world wars. Does this mean it is up to the task of personal protection in the modern world?
So where did its supposed reputation for unreliability come from?
For decades, there was little to no complaints or whining about the 1911.
There was no shortage of veterans and law enforcement officers with an extensive history on the 1911.
Modern 1911 pistols like this 1911 DS Prodigy double-stack 9mm offer the ability to add optics and accessories.
You figure that if there was a major problem, it would have come out.
In my opinion, the myth of problems is based on two things.
Second and more influential is a younger shooting demographic that prefers what they believe are the newest and coolest.
At its core, the modern 1911 is the same gun as the original. Small changes have been introduced over the years, but Browning’s classic design remains intact.
Add to that peoples desire to sound knowledgeable mixed with social media and the cliches are perpetuated.
The 1911 trigger has always been the gold standard in performance.
For those that live and breathe striker-fired guns, the 1911 trigger is a different creature.
The Springfield Armory 1911 DS Prodigy takes the classic design and injects it with adrenaline to create a 9mm pistol that can hold up to 26 rounds in a single magazine.
Mechanically, it is drastically different and allows a shooter a much better trigger press.
The trigger on a gun such as theSpringfield 1911 DS Prodigyembodies that performance and more.
In fact, every Springfield 1911 I have tried has had the expected excellent trigger pull.
Accuracy Champ
Secondly, the 1911 can be a very accurate gun.
Once again, we look at the wall of shooting trophies amassed by 1911 shooters.
A big benefit of the 1911 is something that most people think is a downside weight.
The belief is that your EDC needs to be feather-light, but that is simply not true.
you better ditch this idea if you are carrying for real personal defense.
Many people carry mid-sized polymer-framed pistols that weigh just under 30 oz.
for their EDC, yet the Springfield Prodigy, for example, is only three ounces heavier.
Most of the gun-owning public sees pistols in the mid-$500 range as affordable and reliable.
That is a solid assumption for that class of guns.
1911s, with some exceptions, are a different creature.
They are generally all-steel guns that cost more to produce, and produce well.
Conclusion
In my humble opinion, it boils down to this.
1911s simply are not for everyone.
In fact, there is no one perfect gun that works well for everyone.
In a striker-fired world, the 1911 requires a little more training because it has an external safety.
These classic pistols also require more attention and maintenance.
Spoiler alert: So does your polymer-framed pistol.
On that note, I feel compelled to say this.
If it is clean, maintained and taken care of, you are probably a 1911 person.
Remember, though, that if you go the cheap route you probably should not complain.
Its like going to a fast food joint and then complaining about the food.
Dont let yourself fall into the 1911 cliche trap.
Choose wisely and you will end up with a gun that will last generations.
Go to forum thread
