Search Results for: 1911

Springfield Armory Ronin Compact M1911, by Pat Cascio

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…durability, with lightweight and ease of carry. The .45 ACP pistol features a forged alloy frame for an overall weight of around 30-ounces. The short 4.25-inch barrel matches up with a traditional barrel bushing system, and a forged hot salt blued slide and stainless steel hammer-forged barrel ensure a lifetime of service.” That’s quite a mouthful to say. But I agree with everything that was said about this outstanding 1911 from Springfield. I’ve probably owned no less than a hundred 1911s over the years, from the full-sized Government Model, to the smaller Officer’s style, and everything in between, and from dozens of 1911 makers, I’ve owned some really expensive 1911, including a Wilson Combat, and from Les Baer. I used to build 1911s when I was younger, too. So, I’m more than a little intimate with the details of a 1911 method of operation. Wish I still owned many of…


Pat’s Product Reviews: Ruger SR1911 .45 ACP Pistol

…for a more secure grip. What I usually do is add a piece of skate board tape to the front strap of 1911s that have a smooth front strap – it’s a cheap fix – and I only have to replace the friction tape about once a year. This takes only about 3 or 4 minutes to do. I make no apologies when it comes to the 1911 – it’s my all-time favorite semi-auto pistol, bar none. So, I have some prejudices when it comes to 1911s – I like ’em – period! Also, when doing a Test and evaluation on any 1911 pistol, I’m a hard person to please – they’ve gotta be done right. I’ve built a number of 1911s over the years, and customized – well, more than I can remember, 1911s. It’s not that I’m hard to please, it’s just that I think I can improve…


Pat’s Product Review: Springfield Armory Champion Operator 1911

…either one of these guns/caliber picks, I’m looking at serious hard-core survival scenarios – in the big city or out in the wilderness.   Okay, just to confuse you all, my all-time favorite handgun is a good ol’ 1911 some some sort, and given a choice, I’ll stick with a “Commander” sized 1911 with a shorter barrel than the full-sized Government Model with the 5-inch barrel. The shorter barrels on the Commander-sized guns just seem to balance and point better for me and I can shoot ’em faster and more accurately, too. No science behind it that I can think of, but it works for me.   Consider the Springfield Armory  Operator “Champion” 1911. It has a 4-inch barrel, as opposed to a 4.25-inch barrel on some other similar 1911 “Commander-esque” sized guns. And, I’m not going to quibble about a quarter inch here or there. The Champion Operator has…


Metro Arms, American Classic Commander 1911, by Pat Cascio

…might. I don’t like the overly extended slide lock/release – its simply not needed. The all-steel trigger – that is easily replaced with a nice match-grade Aluminum trigger – will do that one of these days. Before the pandemic started, when I would walk in the front door or my FFL dealer, and they saw me, they would hold up the latest 1911 they had just gotten in – knowing me to be a real sucker for a nice 1911 – they know me too well. Now, I know a lot of readers believe that gun writers make a lot of money – the simple fact is we do not! So, I have to watch how I spend my money – and I have to pass-up a lot of guns I would like to own. Once in a while, a used version will come in, that I can afford –…


Springfield Armory Ronin 1911 10mm, by Pat Cascio

I requested a sample of the new Springfield Armory Ronin 1911 in 10mm as soon as I heard about it. Still, I had to sit and wait for my sample – this gun, in this caliber, is in great demand! Back in 1988, I owned the only 1911-pattern pistol chambered in 10mm at that time. I ended up selling it, because we just moved back to Oregon, and my wife wasn’t yet working as a teacher and I was on disability from an auto accident – collecting a whopping $125 per week. I thought I’d never own another 10mm in a 1911 configuration. That gun that I ended up selling, is no longer made. However, a quick check on GunBroker.com revealed that it is now selling for over $2,000. As long-time readers will know, my end-of-the-world handgun is a Glock 19X. However, my all-time favorite handgun is a good ol’…


Ruger SR1911 Lightweight, by Pat Cascio

…This newest version is called the Model 6792. The Ruger website says that it is currently available. Of course, it is chambered in .45 ACP/ That is my favorite caliber in a 1911. The slide is made out of stainless steel, and the frame is anodized Aluminum that is black coated. This makes for a very attractive 1960s/70s type of custom 1911 look. I really like it! Ruger added custom-made G-10 grips instead of the traditional walnut grips – again, I like those a lot. However, I swapped out those grips for a pair of my own design “Code Zero 1911” grips. I just like my own design a little bit better. The SR1911 lightweight comes in at only 31.1 ounces – and that is a lot lighter than the traditional all-steel M1911 variants which, depending on maker, typically weigh around 42 ounces. Carrying 10 fewer ounces makes a big…


Gunsmith Training: Pistolsmithing – Week Two, by R2

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Last week was primarily learning about the Colt 1911, as much of the the design and function aspect of it can be found in nearly every gun designed. This week, I finished up the 1911 with tips for solving common problems and issues with it. With the 1911 being one of the most popular handguns in America, they are always there to work on (and fix problems caused by others as well.) Browning Hi-Power Immediately after the 1911 section, AGI covered another one of Browning’s masterpieces. While not completely of Browning’s design, since Dieudonne Saive, Browning’s apprentice had to finish the design due to Browning’s death, the Browning Hi-Power is one of the finest firearms in existence. Though many here in America believe the 1911 is the most popular handgun, the Hi-Power has actually held that position for a long time, when you consider the rest of the world. I’m…


Pat Cascio’s Product Review: Springfield Armory TRP vs TRP Operator

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The 1911 handgun has been around since, well, 1911, so the design is more than a hundred years old. For an old work horse, the design shows no signs of slowing down. As a matter of fact, there are probably at least 50 companies producing the 1911 in one form or another. We can have a 1911 in the basic mil-spec version or a fully decked out custom gun with more bells and whistles than we could ever use. We can find 1911s imported from The Philippines for well under $500 or acquire custom guns that easily cost tens of thousands of dollars. We can have a full-sized 1911 or a sub-compact version and everything in between those sizes. One of the major players in the 1911 field is Springfield Armory in Geneseo, IL. They have some 1911s produced in Brazil, and many are made in-house. You can choose anything…


Pat Cascio’s Product Review: Springfield Armory EMP 4

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…our readers with a rehash of specs that they can read for themselves, so direct them to the specs at the gun company’s website. When the original EMP came out, it really shook up the 1911 industry. The EMP isn’t just a cut-down, compact version of the full-sized 1911. Nope! Instead, what we have is a 1911 that appears to have been tossed in a hot dryer and shrunk down in all dimensions in size. It isn’t just a simple cut down 1911; it’s an entirely different creature. There are no less than 17 different parts in the EMP that will not fit into the original 1911. They are proprietary parts that only fit in the EMP, and the corresponding parts from an full-sized 1911 won’t fit into the EMP. Springfield Armory designers, under the guidance of Dave Williams who runs their Custom Shop, came out with a smaller and…


Pat’s Product Review: The Para P14 Returns

Para Ordnance started the trend with hi-capacity 1911-style handguns back in the 1980s. People said it couldn’t be done – putting more than 7 or 8 big ol’ .45ACP rounds in a 1911 frame, and still have a gun you could wrap your fingers around. Para Ord proved everyone wrong! Para didn’t start out with a complete 1911, instead, they manufactured a frame only. And, people could simply fit the slide, barrel and other upper parts onto the Para frame. I still remember the first Para frame I saw – it wasn’t nicely finished, and it was a little bit bulky. Still, it fit the hand fairly well. Para Ord was started in Canada, and several years ago, they made the move (wisely) to the USA. They also changed their name from Para Ordnance, to Para USA – to indicate where all new Para firearms are being made. I’ve owned…


Pat Cascio’s Review: Magnum Research, Desert Eagle 1911s Siblings

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Tom Martirano Desert eagle 1911 c stainless what is your opinion Hugh James Latimer @Tom, Pat’s still down from surgery, so I’m relaying what his response was.=> “If you’ve ever looked at any on-line 1911 forums – you come away wondering if there are any good 1911s – no matter who makes them – everyone is a critic. Truth be told, most 1911 makers are turning out some really good guns – and to my way of thinking, most of the guns are more accurate than any of us are capable of shooting…” Justin Took my magnum research 1911 to the range yesterday, ran about 4 magazines through, then it turned fully automatic on me? It’s not supposed to do that. One trigger pull and it would empty the whole magazine? Info and suggestions guy?…


Pat’s Product Review: Magnum Research Desert Eagle 1911C

…Some of these features would easily cost you $500+ if you had a gunsmith fit and install them on a basic plain Jane 1911. The Desert Eagle 1911C has a full-retail of $874 and it can often be found for quite a bit less than that. As always, I try to get the most for my hard-earn bucks…and if you’re in the market for a new 1911, or you’re a first-time buyer looking for a 1911, take a close look at the Desert Eagle 1911C and if you want a full-sized model, check out their 1911G model. Now, as usual, I have to justify keeping this sample…which means coming up with the money to buy it – but buy it I will – it’s not going back to the company…it’s a great buy, in a full-featured 1911 “Commander” sized gun in my book. – SurvivalBlog Field Gear Editor Pat Cascio…


Rock Island Armory GI Compact, by Pat Cascio

…better selection for those positions. I made do, with what I had, though. Even today, I don’t feel under-armed if all I’m carrying on my hip is a 1911, with a “mere” 8 rounds on-tap. I have a lot of faith in this old workhorse, to still get the job done, that it might be called upon to do. So, if you’re in the market, for a good “shooter” in a M1911, then check out the Rock Island Armory line of handguns – I’m sure you’ll find something to your liking – and if all you want is something to plink with or use for home defense, you’d be hard-pressed to find anything better than the compact 1911 for the money. Check one out, I think you’ll really like that you will get a lot of gun, for so little money – in the way of a 1911. Highly recommended!…


Ruger Officer-Style SR1911, by Pat Cascio

…be some kind of 4-inch barrel .357 Magnum revolvers of some sort – and it was, and still is a decent choice. However, some years later, I said that a 1911 in .45 ACP would be my choice if limited to only one handgun – and it was, and still is a great choice. It took a lot of convincing, to sway me from a 1911, and my choice these days, would be a Glock 19x and I will have an article forthcoming on my reasoning for this. Still, I love the grand old 1911… For many years, the full-sized Government Model 1911 was the only type to be had. Then the Commander-sized 1911 came along – and even though it was only ¾ of an inch shorter in slide and barrel length, it was easier to pack. Then came along the Officer’s style of 1911, and it comes in…


Springfield Armory Emissary 1911, by Pat Cascio

…we probably have 50 or 60 different companies producing a 1911 in some form. In the Philippines alone, I believe there are at least 3 companies manufacturing 1911s, and my information says that the Philippines, produces more 1911s than any place else. And, to be sure, they are turning out some very good 1911s, at some competitive prices. Back in the mid-1980s, I had an early M1911 from Springfield Armory – it was a Plain Jane model – basically a mil-spec version – nothing fancy about it at all. However, that gun just wouldn’t function out of the box – it had feeding problems, with all of the ammo I tired. Having been trained as a military armorer – one of my various MOSes, I knew how to make a 1911 run. In short order, I had that Springfield up and running like a champ. Over the years, I’ve owned…