THE SOFTEST SHOOTING 1911

[Mikey]

Spirithawk:  Hold it right there buddy!  I claim Moderator's Priviledge to test all new custom 1911s and I never set a end date as to when I might finish (kinda locks ya in, ya know), and ya forgot to ask for all his ammo, too.  So if ya wanna step up to the plate, bring a bag big enough to haul around all the ammo ya gotta shoot up testing new pistols.  Just to letcha know.   And never ask to keep the pistol afterward as ya can get a new one the next time someone buys one.....

[saltydog]

You could give up the 1911 quest and go for a S&W Model 625 or 25 - you get the 45 acp and the ability to not have to rack the slide. Recoil is very manageable in the big frame Smith. Just a thought. 

[SharonAnne]

hmm, not rack the slide VS opening the cylinder and pushing the cartridges in one at a time then closing the cylinder? I will rack the slide.

[gstewart44]

SharonAnne - the model 25/625 and M1917 in .45 acp are loaded/reloaded via moon clips........extremely fast and convenient.    I'd  prefer a nice 1911 for myself but right now I have a collection of 45acp revolvers.    The revolver is bulkier than the 1911 for sure,  but I have found that for training my family the revolver is easier.    My daughter as of late though has migrated to the single action semi auto as her favorite.......  I have told her to follow some of your posts......thanks for your experience and wisdom.


The link below is Jerry Miculek putting 12 rounds .45acp on target in less than 3 seconds with a 625.....



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLk1v5bSFPw

[1911crazy]

My softest shooting and smoothest handling is my Chinese norinco 1911a1 build that I did.  I installed the FLGR (full length guide rod) with the 18# recoil spring.  The slide is a tad hard to pull back for me since i'm losing strength and muscle too but I still can rack it with the best.  But its a dream to shoot. I still can shoot my 44mag with one hand and hit what I aim at. I still like CCW carry'ing my 44mag. and my 41mag what ever I hit is going to stop and stay where it is with one round.
Calibers for thought;
Its said the 22lr bullet has the killing power out to 450yds as tested for over 59ft lbs.   The 22lr needs at least 59ft lbs to kill.  As we get older we do have some neat choices to make all the way down to the 22's.

[SharonAnne]

44, I know first hand how fast Jerry M. can reload having been in a squad with him in the 2000 USPSA/ IPSC Hemisphere Championship. He is truly amazing and good fun to be around as is his wife Kay.

Umm, experience yes, wisdom, well I will paraphrase Levon Helm to Mark Wallberg in "Shooter", "wisdom, you'll have to go somewhere else for that".

I just have had the good fortune to be around some of the best shooters in the world. It rubs off on you. Just watching one of them for a day is worth thousands of dollars in education. I have had many days of observation.

Now if I could put it all into practice I would be amazing too.

[gstewart44]

44, I know first hand how fast Jerry M. can reload having been in a squad with him in the 2000 USPSA/ IPSC Hemisphere Championship. He is truly amazing and good fun to be around as is his wife Kay.

Umm, experience yes, wisdom, well I will paraphrase Leon Helm to Mark Wallberg in "Shooter", "wisdom, you'll have to go somewhere else for that".

I just have had the good fortune to be around some of the best shooters in the world. It rubs off on you. Just watching one of them for a day is worth thousands of dollars in education. I have had many days of observation.

Now if I could put it all into practice I would be amazing too.

You're doing great SA - keep "sharon" your experience and knowledge with us! 


PS:  Great flick - and may Levon Helm RIP

[SharonAnne]

amen

dang it. I know it is "Levon". Must have been a typo.

[wxl]

  I am 70 and still love to shoot all of my 1911s. Have 3 in 10mm 5", 3 in 45acp 5", a Colt Defender and a Colt CCO and a DW 5" 9mm. The 9mm is the softest shooting 1911 with factory 115s. Qualified for my CHL 2 years ago shooting a 100% score. Also more than adequate for SD with 124 gr and 147 gr loads. With hand loaded 147 XTPs @ 1200+ fps, it is still softer than stock load 230 gr 45acp (and the 147 has more ft-lb energy, a SAAMI load, not +P, with Vhiv 3N38 powder).

[SharonAnne]

wxl. I do not care what load you are shooting as long as you keep a 1911 limbered up. Nice collection BTW

[Spirithawk]

I don't find my RIA Government Model A-1 .45 unpleasant to shoot at all in any way. Actually I find it a lot of fun and was a bit surprised at the recoil. As for myself I've seldom found recoil a problem with any gun. The few exceptions were a Mauser 7mm with a steel butplate, a .44 mag single action and my son's T/C Encore 12 gauge. That Encore, short, light, wit 3" mag shells kills at both friggin ends!    Way worse than my Mossberg 835 3 1/2" mag!
 
  Just my opinion but I think a lot of folks psych themselve's out about recoil. An prime example is the Kel Tec PF-9 9mm. If I had a dollar for everyone I've heard say the recoil is unmanageable I'd be rich. I'm a firm believer that most actualy talk themselve's into believing so! Most who think so never even fired one or limp wristed it if they did. I find the recoil snappy but I've certainly fired handguns much worse.  A lot, and I mean a LOT, can be said for holding a gun properly be it a handgun, shotgun or rifle. I can see though, if shooting in any kind of competitive situations, how low recoil would definetly be a big plus.
 
Sharon, please don't think I'm flirting with ya but I can't help but think that you'd be a lady I'd love to share a cup of coffee with and just talk. I'm betting I'd learn a thing or two about 1911's and shooting in general. Being a lady, and one with a wealth of firearms experience, I think you give a refreshing spin to things around here.

[SharonAnne]

Spirithawk, I do not think you are flirting and I would love to chat over a coffee. There are quite few on here I would love to get into a regular coffee klach. Back in the 80s we would always go to eat after our regular thursday night shoot. It is fun to socialize on the range but with hearing protection and not being able to talk with more than maybe 2 at a time restricts conversation.  We learned a great deal from each other during those meetings. Sometimes a newbie would say something that would have all of going 'oh yeah'.

Coffee and chat would be just so very fine.

[williamlayton]

SA
There are at least a couple of us who think you are already awsome.
Now. why did I go there?
Blessings

[SharonAnne]

blush