1911...wait,whut?

[Krull]

Let me start by saying that I haven't had the best of luck with the 1911,the first large handgun I shot was a Colt Commander and it was a real turd.
But I have found I like the feel of a full size 1911.

Sooooo today I went through my guns and set aside what I felt I loved most and went wandering with what was expendable,came home with this:



Para Ord GI Expert 1911,no frills,basic-as-hell 1911.

Does feel really nice in my hand........

First one I've had in over twenty years.

[Aughnanure]

There is something about the 1911 that makes it feel just right in my hand; no other semi-auto pistol has ever given me the 'feel' of confidence that it has. I first fired and carried one way back in 1954. . . 56 years ago (OMG ! !). Over the years I've fired most of the common military pistols and a fair few of the uncommon ones as well but nothing came up to the issue 1911 Colt.

[Krull]

Well I took it out to shoot...I'd say it does fine,wouldn't you?



Just plain 'ol 230 gr FMJ ammo,I was shooting fairly fast and trying to figger out how they'd fixed the sights,pretty much how I like them-dead on,put the front dot where you want to hit and it hits!

So the 1911 gets another chance with me

[stripperclip]

very nice I like the springfields right now I'm having fun with the xd in .45.

[Krull]

Started with this:



Now we have this:



Talking to the owner of the local shop I told him I wanted a reg hammer and trigger,the "race gun" parts on the Para were driving me batty-he pulled out a box and dumped out a bunch of 1911 parts.

We did a swap,he told me to just bring the old parts in when I figger out how to get the gun apart,that took me a half hour this evening.

He also had some original GI brown plastic grips,I decided what the hell may as well go all out.

Having some jamming issues,the factory eight round mags and the gun they came with don't get along at all,a Kimber seven shot mag is 99% it may be a combination of things mucking up,but I will get this pistol to 100% if it kills me,the only jam I'm getting is the slide doesn't close all the way at firing,I think it needs loosening up and some polishing.
I may need a slide stop too,the one with the gun is sticking and may be what's causing the slide to jam,or it may be the mags AND slide stop plus everything else.

1911's are sure fun to use

Still love the dang thing.

[riptidenj]

I wouldn't go so far as to describe a Colt Commander with a four letter word but I agree it's a poor choice for
a first handgun. Don't care for aluminum frames myself, years ago when I was in the National Guard an NCO had
a Colt Commander, I had a Combat Commander with the steel frame, it seems everybody who fired them side by side preferred the steel frame. I have 4 1911s at present, though not a GI-must work on that.

[rice paddy daddy]

Krull, as an official Old Geezer, I must say the second version is mush nicer than the first.
I have several 1911's: two Colts, a Rock Island Armory, and what turned out to be less than advertised - a Taurus PT1911.

[Krull]

Well unfortunately the Para was less then expected,I suspect some tuning would have fixed it but I don't barter with a weapon that needs "tuning"

See my new post for my new friend,goes by the name "Smith"

[Brass Rat]

How about 1000 rounds through a Para 1911 in 10 minutes and 44 seconds.
http://www.downrange.tv/show1/index.htm