Browning 1911-22

I got to handle an interesting handgun over the weekend. It was a Browning 1911-22.

The cool thing about this gun is that it is exactly the same design as the 1911 but only 85% the size.

Scaling it down to 85% is perfect to run 22. LR. Have a look!



--I'd love to try one at the range.

Failure to Feed

I had a new failure this weekend with my 1911. I thought I had worked out all the bugs on this puppy. So much so, that this had become my daily carry piece.

This was a totally new type of failure too. The slide locked open as if it was empty when it was not empty. A quick touch on the slide release and it's ready to go again.

The web does not seem to be much help. I have already tried a giant pile of mags to fix other issues. Different Rounds might cause it. But I have already run about 500 of these same rounds through it.

--Any Ideas?

RIA Question

I received an email asking about my daily carry piece that I posted for my Light A Candle post:

"I happened by your post for gunlight vigil day, and was wondering what your experience has been with the compact 1911 from Rock Island Armory."

It was a long road to get the RIA 1911 to the point where is was reliable enough to be my daily carry.

When I first got the gun it would jam once every 5 rounds or so.  Massive amounts of part polishing, a couple trips to the gunsmith, high quality magazines and about 1000 rounds to break it in and finally it's worked all the kinks out. I also had the hammer bobbed so the damn thing would not bite me and draw blood every time I shot it.


Once it began to shoot reliably I got some nice slim VZ Gator Back Grips for it and an excellent Crossbreed Supertuck Deluxe holster.

I will probably have some trigger work done on it. The trigger is not the worst I own but it's not close to the best either. I have been shooting some sweet 1911's, lately at blog shoots, with triggers like butter. 

Now I have a compact frame, reliable, durable, single stack .45acp, that is slim AND powerful. Plus I only have about $700 into it including the smithing, holster and mags.

The negatives are that the fixed sights are very basic, trigger is not great and it weighs a lot.

Email me if you have any more questions! Or better yet, let's go to the range!! 

--All and all, it took some time but it's good (but not great).

Gaddafi’s Gun

This is the gun they took off Gaddafi when he was captured.

What is it about Middle East dictators and gold plated pimping of firearms? Total 4 rules violations!

Hat tip to Traction Control.

--I wonder who has this piece now?

Gun Bag Go-To Guns

People got me to thinking about the guns I have that usually find their way to the range with me.

When I go to the range it is usually with a specific focus. Sighting in a new scope or airing out a new firearm. That usually never takes a whole hour. So what do I take that makes up the difference? Usually they are guns with lots of mags already loaded.

First I take my regular carry piece. Currently my compact, slim gripped, 1911 RIA goes with five extra mags.

Second I take a Glock. My model 19 or model 21. Each with lots of preloaded mags.

Next would be one of my Ruger Mark III's.

Also one of my Ruger 10/22's.

--At least two of these guys ALWAYS go to the range with me. (One in a holster.)

My New Slim Grips

Lately my most carried handgun is my compact Rock Island Armory 1911.

I have come a long way with this gun. I still call it "The Biter" even though it no longer bites me after a small custom hammer mod.

I also had a run of trouble with the gun jamming a lot on me. Even after a 500 round break in period. A couple runs to the gun smith and some new quality magazines and it's now several hundred rounds jam free.

Once it was running like a top I got a quality, inside the waistband, holster and I started to carry it a lot. It holds a single stack, 6 +1 of .45 ACP goodness.

My most recent upgrade is a set of replacement slim grips from VZ Grips. They are half the thickness of the original wooden grips, they look good, have a nice texture, they're durable and were easy to install.

--I need a range visit soon to see if it shoots any different!!

Duracoat Finishes

When Duracoat goes wrong.

As I was wandering the floor at the NRA Convention I suddenly had to shield my eyes from something that stuck out like a neon light.

It looks like a plastic toy but both the AR-15 and the belly mounted 1911 were both steel, painted with a Duracoat finish.

I swear if you walked through my neighbor with that thing, no one would look twice, thinking it was a water gun!

Now I am not recommending that you run out and paint your favorite rifle like this! The easy of doing it yourself is really great. The examples you can do yourself are really good.



--Available in matte black as well as a variety of florescent colors!  Damn taggers!

Glock vs 1911 War is Over

Gunny Ermey Endorses Glock! Boo-yaa...

--He was also elected to the board of the NRA!

Rugers SR1911

Finally a 1911 that is configured exactly the way I want it, right out of the box, without any need for upgrades or mods after the fact:

--$799 retail and street price will be even lower! Can't wait to handle one.

Talking to my Gunsmith

The Biter

My favorite local gunsmith specializes in 1911's. This is the guy that did the excellent custom hammer work for me on The Biter.

It was a slow day in the shop so we were hanging out talking, drinking coffee, petting the cutest pit bull in the known universe.

I was looking for some thin grips and maybe a new trigger. Conversation came around to how he came to specialize in 1911s. His answer surprised me, "1911s are the perfect storm. They are expensive and need a lot of gun smithing to sort out their bugs." He continued, "The design is a hundred years old, we learned a lot in that hundred years. The mag design alone is awful. Even Jeff Cooper would bitch about their capacity and reliability now. What the F&%k, it's been a hundred years."

That was the point when coffee blasted out my nose. But he didn't stop.

Referring to my compact 1911, "People still love em though. This little guy you have will jam at least once every hundred rounds, I'd bet money." He's right. "It weighs a ton. This mechanical design should have a longer slide run. They just made it shorter. No design optimization. They left that to the smiths."

He said, "I Love 1911's,and people that get nostalgic guns that make me a ton of cash.  Average 1911 owner will spend about $2000 on a 1911 between initial cost and smithing. Even then they will still be picky about ammo. Me? I'll carry a gun that can be shot 10,000 times without cleaning, with no modifications."
 
I peeked. He carries an HK 45.

--I still like my 1911. But I only have about $410 into it total so far.

Cheap Ammo and Fast Food

Some of my favorite handguns are kind of finicky about what I feed them. My Beretta 96D and my Compact 1911 do not like steel casings for some reason. (neither does my AR15 or Mini-14s either) The cheaper stuff usually shoots dirty as well.

My Glocks on the other had will eat anything. They don't even care if you clean them. Seriously. It's awesome.

So I can buy the cheap tuna cans of budget ammo. Perfect stockpile for the Zombie Apocalypse!


--It's like fast food. It just doesn't agree with some people.

WANT: HERA-ARMS Colt Pistol Extension

I have been looking for a carbine in .45 ACP.

The HERA Arms CPE converts a 1911. It can even allow a long barrel or a suppressor.

The GCC model brings the same love to a Glock.

"This unique shaft system is for Glock pistol models 17 and 19 Generation 3 frames: A simple assembly through utilization of the available front Picatinny rail as well as the included front rail locking bolt. Included is an ambidextrous charging handle which gives the possibility of assembly to both right and left handed firers. For users that wish to use longer barrels and or silencers, our system is compatable with barrels up to 16" and Impulse barrels. The G.C.C. has a super ergonomic design and allows the possibility to mount a front grip, lamps, lasers and iron sights to the additional Picatinny rails along with a cheek and shoulder rest that is made of a high quality neoprene rubber for extra comfort."


--I Like it. WANT!

Slim Single Stack 1911

I have been trying out many conceal carry rigs.

My Glock 21 is thick as a brick. My favorite round is still the .45ACP.

I have an RIA 1911 compact frame. It has a single stack .45 in a 6 +1 setup. I had the hammer trimmed to smooth it and reduce the "Hammer Bites" on the meat of my hand.

Another great addition is the "slim grips". This image shows how much thinner the grip can be. They are avail from many makers and even support ambi-safeties.

--Now I just need to find the right holster!

Internet Movie Firearm Database!

One of my favorite Internet resources as a gun owner is the Internet Movie Firearm Database.

I go to the movies sometimes I will see a gun I don't recognize. I enjoy following up and seeing what Make and Model it was. It's great for links and pics and discussion starters.

So if you see a big chain gun or a modified revolver for a scifi film. Check out IMFDB!

--I'll be back... to www.imfdb.com

My Shopping List

---

I have been thinking about the official want list.

I believe it is time for a carbine in a 9mm or .45acp.

T-Bolt was talking about it over in his blog.

Best case scenario would be to obtain a one that actually used the same magazines as a handgun I have. The first would be a Beretta in .40cal that was compatible with a CX4 Storm:

I'd also love a Kriss that is compatible with my .45 Glock model 21:
I'd still also love a Marlin Camp Carbine. It takes standard 1911 magazines for .45acp goodness.


All good. All on the list. All great for Zombies!

--I will probably go with the CX4 first!

Comments from a guy that owns both Glock and 1911 .45's:

Simply put, Glocks are the McDonalds of combat handguns. (I love McDonalds, BTW) They are reliable, consistent from gun to gun, simple, high capacity and inexpensive. Pick any Glock up and it will shoot like every other one you have ever picked up. Like McDonalds, they are good, really good, but can only get so good.

1911's are the private American Grill of combat handguns. Some are great, some are bad. Every individual 1911 is different. If you pay $499 for a new 1911 you will not get the reliability, capacity or consistency of a Glock. The Beauty of 1911s is that you can upgrade it in many ways, unlike Glocks. Triggers, sights, grips, slides, springs, hammers, mags all can tune it up to be way better than a Glock. But it costs. It's not unusual to pay $1500 - $2500 for a tuned up 1911.

The Springfield XD line may be the best compromise. They seem to satisfy all my requirements. I have an XD 9mm now. I need an XD .45.

The thing I dislike most about the Glock is the safety/trigger system. I miss the manual safety and light pull..

The thing I dislike most about 1911's is capacity. I believe eights rounds is not enough.

I will get a sweet 1911 one day and make a hobby of tuning it up.

--So I like both. Discount neither. But I carry a Glock.