Gun Digest Shooter's Guide to the 1911

194 Pages·2011·120.778 MB·English

by  Robert K. Campbell

SHOOTER’S
GUIDE TO THE
1911
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H
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EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
O
T
ABOUT THE MOST FAMOUS HANDGUN
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IN THE WORLD!
Written by renowned 1911 authority Robert K. ’
Campbell, Gun Digest® Shooter’s Guide To The 1911 S
To shooters, collectors, and historians, there’s only is the defi nitive shooter’s guide to John M. Browning’s

one serious candidate for the title of the World’s most famous creation. From tips, tricks and techniques G
Greatest Pistol – the Model 1911. Now, just in time for getting the most out of your 1911 to real-world
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for its hundredth anniversary, comes Gun Digest® evaluations of more than 50 different models of the
Shooter’s Guide To The 1911, a book destined to 1911, you’ll fi nd it in Gun Digest® Shooter’s Guide To I
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become a classic of fi rearms literature. The 1911.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR 1
Robert K. Campbell has a background of over twenty years in law enforcement
as a trainer, weapons tester, and a street cop and is one of the most prolific writ-
ers today on the subject of fighting weapons. He has been published in most
of the better publications dealing with fighting firearms and edged weapons
including American Rifleman and Guns & Ammo. He is also a contributing writer
for Gunblast.com, the online magazine. A previous book, The Gun Digest Book of C
Personal Protection & Home Defense, is available from Gun Digest Books. A
M
P
US $19.99 B
Y0048 (CAN $22.99) E
Gun Digest® Books ISBN-13: 978-1-4402-1434-9 L
C ISBN-10: 1-4402-1434-4 L
UP 51999
An imprint of F+W Media, Inc.
www.gundigeststore.com
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SHOOTER’S
GUIDE TO THE
1911
by Robert K. Campbell
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Copyright ©2011 F+W Media, Inc.
All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any
form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any
information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher,
except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a critical article or review to be printed in
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Published by
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ISBN-13: 978-1-4402-1434-9
ISBN-10: 1-4402-1434-4
Cover Design by Tom Nelsen
Designed by Paul Birling
Edited by Dan Shideler
Printed in United States of America
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DEDICATION / ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
F
irst, thank the Lord for what talent I have earned in life and
the opportunity to share my experiences with some of the most
wonderful people in the world, my readers.
To my children – Robert Alan, Matthew Henry and Bobbie Ann –
who are always a challenge or inspiration;
To my wonderful daughters in law: Jennifer, a wonderful teacher
and mother and always a constant for her family; and Emily, veteran,
citizen warrior and mother;
To my grandchildren: Skye, Ryan and Amber;
And to Carol, who is not especially interested in the shooting sports
but is always interested in my success.
As I have been blessed, I hope you, the reader, may be also.
Robert Campbell
South Carolina
Summer 2010
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GUN DIGEST® SHOOTER’S GUIDE TO THE 1911
CONTENTS
Introduction .....................................................................6
Chapter 1: Background of the 1911 ..................................................11
Chapter 2: Early Actions ....................................................................19
Chapter 3: A Cartridge of Interest .....................................................27
Chapter 4: Human Engineering ........................................................33
Chapter 5: Improved Colt Pistols ......................................................39
Chapter 6: The Great 1911 Wars ......................................................47
Chapter 7: Cocked and Locked ..........................................................57
Chapter 8: Alternate Action Types .....................................................61
Chapter 9: A Consensus Gun .............................................................65
Chapter 10: GI .45 ...............................................................................69
Chapter 11: Service Guns ....................................................................73
Chapter 12: Aluminum Frame 1911 Pistols .......................................81
Chapter 13: Commanders, Offi cers Models and Defenders ................87
Chapter 14: Top End 1911s .................................................................93
Chapter 15: Target Grade 1911s .......................................................101
Chapter 16: 1911 Accuracy ................................................................107
Chapter 17: Sighting Systems ...........................................................113
Chapter 18: The Many Calibers of the 1911 ......................................117
Chapter 19: Reliability and Safety Checks ........................................125
Chapter 20: Ammunition and Ammunition Types ...........................135
Chapter 21: Holsters and Concealed Carry .......................................143
Chapter 22: Aftermarket Parts ..........................................................153
Chapter 23: 1911 Trigger Action in Detail ........................................159
Chapter 24: Custom Pistols: The Boutique Way...............................163
Chapter 25: Firing Tests ....................................................................167
Chapter 26: The 1911 Is For Everyone .............................................189
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GUN DIGEST® SHOOTER’S GUIDE TO THE 1911
INTRODUCTION
H
andguns have played an important role in personal de-
fense, warfare and law enforcement for hundreds of
years. The fi rst handguns were simple iron tubes fi lled
with gunpowder ignited by a match. Progress followed fi rst with the
fl intlock, the cap lock and then the revolver. While
a handgun is far less accurate and powerful than a
rifl e, the light weight and handy size of the hand-
gun make it portable, comfortable to carry and
available at a moment’s notice.
The handgun is a defensive weapon designed to al-
low a defender to take control of a situation. The element of
surprise in the inherent ability to conceal a handgun has saved
many lives. However, only an exceptional handgun may be used as an
offensive tool. The 1911 pistol is among a very few handguns that have
There are many idioms in
been used successfully in this manner in warfare. The fi rst offensive use handguns, including, top to
of American handguns came when, fi rst, the single-shot cavalry pistol bottom, the double action
revolver, the safe action
Glock and the 1911. The
The 1911 was used by mounted cavalry in the Punitive Expedition against Pancho Villa of author maintains that there is no combat handgun
1916-1917. Earlier U.S. horse soldiers used the M1873 Single Action Army. that is as effi cient as the 1911 pistol.
6
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GUN DIGEST® SHOOTER’S GUIDE TO THE 1911
replaced the saber as a cavalry weapon, a role that was serve the Republic. Simple pride of ownership is reason
later assumed by the revolver. The fi rst large-scale use enough for owning the handgun, giving it a value be-
of the handgun as a sidearm suitable for tactical use yond the practical. My handgun is the 1911. The term
began during the Mexican-American War, when the fi rst 1911 once meant the Colt Army gun but now the term
Colt revolvers proved their mettle in the hands of Amer- encompasses dozens of makers and numerous varia-
icans on horseback. Colt handguns continued to play a tions of the 1911 theme. There is no handgun that suits
part in cavalry charges for 70 years. The Colt revolvers me as well as the 1911. I have been taken to task as
were handy, light, hard hitting, quickly deployable and to this choice more than once but no matter how the
reliable. No other fi rearm of the day could match the argument is planned or how skillfully the opponent
reputation and effectiveness of the Colt. measures his skill at linguistic jousting, he cannot per-
The occasional brilliant military use of the pistol is suade me to feel any differently from how I feel at this
always interesting, but the primary role of the handgun moment. Every year that goes by reinforces my faith in
is personal defense. The handgun is a weapon of oppor- the 1911 pistol and in fact it seems that more and better
tunity that may be carried at all times in anticipation of 1911s are yet to come.
trouble. Normally, it requires planning and forethought
to arm oneself with a long gun. The handgun is a sec-
ondary fi rearm to the rifl e in hunting. In competition
the handgun competes in events designed to test the
mettle of both the handgun and the handgunner. In this
arena men and women test their determination, build
defensive skills, or simply be all they can be. The self de-
fense aspect is there but sometimes competition is un-
dertaken for its own sake. I am not a doctrinaire on con-
necting competition to defensive skills. Sport shooting
is a good thing. Many of these shooters are outstanding
athletes. The 1911 has proven by far and away the most
popular and capable of all competitive handguns.
Handguns are fascinating functionally and opera-
tionally. Historically handguns have been used to pre- Here is the world’s most reliable handgun in action.
Note the blinding speed of operation with the 1911.
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GUN DIGEST® SHOOTER’S GUIDE TO THE 1911
comes to mind. Synergy is simply the interaction be-
tween elements or forces in a manner that makes the
combination of these elements more effective than the
individual elements operating separately. While I favor
the 1911, I have not avoided fi ring every other type of
handgun. I have gone through case lots of ammunition
in testing all types of fi rearms. I do not believe I wasted
the ammunition because I learned a great deal about
handgun construction and performance.
Handgun geometry is rather simple. The grip has
to be comfortable and the controls in ready reach of the
digits. The grip should be angled to present the sights
toward the target. Pretty simple, but there is little natu-
ral point in most handguns. I discovered the 1911 early
in my quest but just the same I continued to test other
handguns. After 40 years of experimentation I have
come to the conclusion that nothing equals the 1911 in
the important particulars. Few handguns even approach
the deadly effi ciency of the 1911 in trained hands.
With the 1911 the best at what it does, we are led
to ask what a handgun should do. The handgun is
a personal defense weapon pure and simple. A threat
is not enough and the mere presence of a handgun is
not enough. The handgun must be brought into action
quickly and strike a powerful blow with some degree of
accuracy. Speed and power are not negotiable but ac-
The 1911 demands practice. This shooter is wringing out the Kimber .45.
curacy requirements are dependent upon the mission.
I have seen few 1911s that are not accurate enough to
I did not arbitrarily choose the 1911. I did not choose save your life even at a long 50 yards. When you are
the 1911 because it is a good looking gun or because it under the terrifying oppression of fear, a 1911 is a great
was expected of me. I recognized the 1911 for what it is. equalizer.
You simply cannot undermine the persuasive evidence The 1911 features an ideal blend of weight and bal-
in favor of the 1911. If a Smith and Wesson Model 10 ance. The cartridge is the most powerful we are likely to
.38 Special revolver had been the ne plus ultra of hand- be able to control well in a 40-ounce handgun and does
guns I would have kept my old heavy barrel Military and well in handguns appreciably lighter than that. The bore
Police. But it wasn’t. The Browning High Power wasn’t, axis or the height of the middle of the bore above the
either, and the low-bid polymer frame guns are not. The hand is low enough that muzzle fl ip is limited. There is
1911 offered the best combination of fi ghting pistol at- little leverage for the muzzle to rise. The controls are
tributes of anything I have tested. The term “synergy” in the ideal location for rapid and sure manipulation.
This young woman is practicing night fi re with the SIG GSR.
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GUN DIGEST® SHOOTER’S GUIDE TO THE 1911
The Springfi eld Super Tuned is carried in a Nick Matthews holster. This
is a good kit.
The trigger press is straight to the rear. The single ac- help propagate the locked wrist. The 1911 meets these
tion trigger is among the great advantages of the 1911 requirements. Remember, once you have acquired the
handgun; it’s well suited for service use and may be grip in the holster you have to live with it throughout
tuned to a very crisp letoff. Durability of the 1911 is un- the fi ring sequence. There is nothing that feels like the
questioned. The 1911 may be broken or mishandled but 1911 and no grip as comfortable to the human hand.
it will outlast all but the most dedicated competition Over the years I have interviewed many gunfi ght
shooters. The pistol will stand tons of abuse and con- survivors. Those who used the .38 Special, the .357
tinue to operate. I have seen pistols with cracked frames Magnum or a 9mm will relate the tactics they used
and a broken barrel bushing continue to function. and tell you what they did to survive. “I did this and
The modern 1911 is a far different pistol than the prevailed” or “I managed to survive” are the common
one introduced in 1911 to the Army and available com- quotes. Those who use the 1911 will tell you that the
mercially in 1912. Just the same a trooper who served in gun saved their lives. They used the pistol competently
Mexico would instantly recognize the modern 1911 pis- but the awesome effi ciency of the 1911 stood them well.
tol. The 1911 is an enigma. A contemporary of the Ford Trainers tell us that shooters often perform at a fraction
Model T the 1911 has outlived its competition. The pis- of their “range capacity” when they are engaged in a life
tol is a milestone of engineering expertise. The pistol is or death incident. I believe that trained shooters retain
as accurate as anyone can hold in its best examples. The far more of their learned capacity during a critical in-
1911 fi ts most hands well with a natural feel that seems cident when they have trained with the 1911. A rough
inspired. Let me expound a little. The grip you affi rm trigger and a grip that doesn’t fi t well are easily over-
with the 1911 handgun allows you to take control of the come on the range with practice and dedication, and
handgun, aim it correctly and recover the pistol from you are lured into false confi dence. You may feel you are
recoil. The barrel should line up with the forearm and good enough for any defensive need. But are you?
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