Whether you love it or hate it, not many guns stir as much emotion and controversy as the 1911 does — over 100 years after its adoption. There is no question that it was birthed by the fertile mind of a firearms genius, John Browning. Browning noted the painful lessons paid by American troops fighting Tausūg guerrillas in the Moro Rebellion, February 4, 1899 – June 15, 1913 — the Philippine Insurrection.
At the time, U.S. troops were using the then-standard Colt M1892 revolver. It fired the .38 Long Colt and was found to be unsuitable in terms of stopping power due to the Moros use of drugs to inhibit the sensation of pain. The problem prompted the then Chief of Ordnance, General William Crozier, to authorize testing for a new service pistol.
Following the 1904 Thompson-LaGarde pistol, “round effectiveness” tested the specifications, which stated that the new pistol “should not be of less than .45 caliber, firing a 230-grain bullet at 930 feet per second” and would preferably be semi-automatic in operation. During the final round of testing attended by its designer, John Browning, 6,000 rounds were fired from a single pistol over the course of 2 days and the gun passed with zero malfunctions.
Because of that, and its distinguished service history, shooters have pretty strong opinions about the 1911. Speaking of its service history, on October 8, 1918, during an attack that occurred in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, acting Corporal Alvin York’s actions that day earned him the Medal of Honor. While using his 1911 pistol, York assaulted enemy machine gun positions and captured 132 German soldiers single handedly.
That is just one of many distinguished performances during the 1911’s long and storied history. It was the standard sidearm of the U.S. Armed Forces from 1911 until 1985. So, why all the controversy? I don’t understand it, so let’s investigate.
Gaining Popularity
During most of its service life, the law enforcement and civilian handgun market was dominated by revolvers. Handgun articles in gun magazines and handgun competition was mostly bullseye shooting with revolvers. But something happened during the 1960s and ’70s that upset the apple cart.
The person most credited for what happened was Col. Jeff Cooper. As an influential gun writer, Cooper pioneered the civilian defensive firearms training industry. He was also a major advocate of the 1911. Cooper brought together the top shooters of the day at his Big Bear Leather Slap competitions that led to Cooper establishing the Gunsite Academy in Arizona in 1976.
The instruction at Gunsite was comprised of his modern technique of the pistol which was based around the 1911. That same year, he also led the effort to begin a scenario-based pistol competition league establishing the International Practical Shooting Confederation or I.P.S.C. The dominant pistol used in those matches was the 1911. If you were serious about pistol shooting in those days, you probably owned or wanted to own a 1911.
Pistol Selection
Back then, Colt was the only company making the 1911 and “You could have one in any color as long as it was black.” The top of the line was the Gold Cup, which had a match barrel and adjustable sights. Other modifications (that we take for granted today) did not exist. It was custom gunsmiths that catered to the competition shooters of the day who created the modifications.
If you wanted your 1911 to feed the ‘new’ hollow point bullets or a beveled magazine well to speed up your reloads, extended beaver tail, checkering to increase your grip, or a larger safety lever, you required the services of a custom pistolsmith. During that time, an entire industry of parts makers and custom shops sprang up to support the shooting craze and the 1911.
The basic design of the 1911 has changed very little throughout its production life. It is basically a recoil-operated design starting with the slide and barrel locked together. After the bullet leaves the barrel, the slide and barrel move rearward (locked together for a short distance).
Then, a link pivots the rear of the barrel downward and out of locking recesses in the slide. The barrel stops when the link reaches the end of its movement. The slide continues rearward, and the claw extractor pulls the spent casing from the firing chamber. The case is then ejected from the pistol through the ejection port.
The slide stops its rearward motion after the hammer is cocked and the recoil spring is compressed. The compressed spring then releases its energy, and the slide is forced forward to strip a fresh cartridge from the magazine and feed it into the firing chamber. At the forward end of its travel, the slide locks into the barrel, and the pistol is ready to fire again. True genius in its simplicity…
Browning’s design is also perfectly ergonomic. Everything is where it should be so it can be operated — simply, easily, and instinctual — with an economy of motion by someone under the stress of a life or death confrontation. If it sounds like I am a fan… well, what’s not to like about the greatest fighting handgun ever designed? I will also admit that the custom features developed by premier pistol smiths did improve on it by considering modifications prompted by the Modern Technique of the Pistol, not as a reaction to any flaws in the design.
Advancements and Modifications
It did not take long for companies to spring up and offer semi-custom 1911s with modifications available ‘off the shelf.’ The market for these premium 1911s spread beyond the competition world and started catching the attention of shooters in general. That was until the 1990s when high-capacity 9mm pistols became popular with law enforcement. This happened because it was less expensive and time consuming to teach those with less strength to shoot than the .45 ACP.
Then, the .40 S&W appeared as the darling of law enforcement along with the cheaper plastic pistols that seemed to put an end to the 1911 — at least in the minds of the less informed. However, faith stepped in, and Congress passed the Assault Weapons Ban of 1994 which prohibited the sale of any new magazines with a capacity of more than 10 rounds. A lot of shooters figured if they had to choose between limited capacity or a bigger bullet, get the one that shoots bigger bullet. That makes perfect sense to me and always has.
Today, there are lots of companies making 1911s and guns based on its design in multiple calibers from .380 ACP to 10mm Auto. So, why do some not like the 1911? I suppose, the main complaint is related to cost and reliability. Some complain that they are big and heavy in relation to their ammo capacity. Admittedly, a good 1911 can be expensive but you get what you pay for… Hopefully, but buyer beware.
As for the reliability issue… Unfortunately, there are 1911 makers whose products are not really that good, but they still charge premium prices. Some make guns that look nice, but tend to be problematic. Occasionally, even some of the good ones can require a little more attention and maintenance than other designs. That said, keep in mind that 1911s can be very reliable but the more you deviate from the original design and calibers, (i.e., .38 Super, .45 ACP, .38 Special), the more problematic they can become.
1911 Trigger
So, why do people like me love the 1911? Beside it being the most intuitively designed pistol imaginable, I suppose the first thing would be the trigger. The 1911 is the gold standard for what we generally consider an excellent trigger to be. The triggers tend to be light with a very short length of travel and reset.
I like my triggers to be 3.5–4 pounds with a wee bit of take up. You can get yours tuned any way you want — lighter or heavier. It also moves straight to the rear rather than on a pivot. That means your finger stays in contact with the same part of the trigger through the entire trigger press. The 1911’s trigger makes it easy to shoot fast and accurately, because they are extremely forgiving of imperfect trigger control technique.
Pride of Ownership
I suppose the other thing about the 1911 that is appealing is pride of ownership. That pride comes from owning a really well made firearm that’s been in the hands of a highly skilled gunsmith that has built the pistol to exact specifications. A gun like that just compels you to take it out to the range and show it off to your friends and shoot it. That is especially true if it is a Series 70 or 80 with that Rampant Pony on the slide. There are very few handguns that you can buy that evoke the kind of pride of ownership you get from a full house custom 1911. Please remember however that a highly tuned 1911 is not a pistol for slackers and Sunday shooters, it is the tool of an expert and they are very unforgiving of even small mistakes in safe gun handling.
Now I know there are a plethora of cheap to manufacture, plastic, striker-fired gun owners that think the 1911 is a very expensive, old fashioned dinosaur. I also realize that the new, ugly, soulless, plastic guns will fire every time you want them to. The problem is, they will also fire when you don’t want them too. Like when drawing from, or returning them to, the holster. I personally prefer a manual safety. The 1911 has two, safeties — grip safety and thumb safety.
Some say the manual safety is too slow. To them I say, “Hogwash!” If you practice as you should, it has no effect on your speed. I also prefer a slide release to a slide lock because it is much faster and more intuitive. Anyone who says otherwise does not know how the human body works. I don’t like guns that think they are smarter than me and want to make decisions on their own, like the slide that releases automatically when the magazine is inserted. Dangerous!
The firearms industry is trying to respond by offering ways to personalize polymer striker-fired pistols, but most efforts are pretty lame, especially if you like the look and feel of polished steel, wood, horn, and ivory, not to mention engraving and gold inlay. If you do, the 1911 is for you.
The author makes a good case, but you are the ultimate decider. Is the 1911 the greatest handgun of all time? Share your answer in the Comment section.
U.S. troops in the Philippines during the Philippine Insurrection, February 4, 1899 – July 2, 1902. 
A Colt 1911A1 as issued. Sergeant Alvin York after his historic heroic action in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. A customized 1911 showing the positions of the key components. What I refer to as my “beater” 1911 Series 70 Colt. It was fully customized by Jim Hoag when he was working at Kings Gunworks and was one of their display guns for years. The much prized Series 70 sporting the Rampant Pony. 
A thing of beauty! A full house factory engraved Series 70 Gold Cup National Match Colt. A custom Officer’s Model showing the intuitively positioned slide release, thumb, and grip safeties of the 1911s design. 
A well-used custom 1911 collaboration between Custom Pistolsmiths Jim Hoag and Armand Swenson. This photo shows the intuitively positioned slide release and thumb safety which are hallmarks of the 1911’s design.
The people who get worked up about this probably also engage in fisticuffs over the direction that the toilet paper roll should go. My favorite pistol is my Custom TLE II, but my EDC is a P365XL. Now both sides can hate me.
If i said the Model T was the greatest car ever built it would ignore the rugged reliability of an 80s Toyota beater that wont quit or the latest McLaren…. In short … 1911s just aren’t for me. Fun at the range but not what I feel is an ultimate goto. That said i have one left in the collection that I’ll never part with because after all… they’re classics.
Fun article, and looking at the comments Ed achieved his mission of stirring the pot. Cheers.
@Bo… can’t go wrong with Henry Rollins… gotta love some Black Flag…
And just ignore Dacian… more issues not worth the time.
Well, I own many different pistols in different calibers but I STILL favor the 1911 in 45 ACP, but one should carry whatever blows his or her skirt up !
I have a WW I issue 1911 that I got for a song. It was inherited by a young kid that wanted to re-blue it and sell it. He had buffed it to white, and softened all the edges before anyone could tell him not to. I have had it since the 1980’s, and my sole modern customization was a full-length recoil spring guide, when I put a replacement spring kit in it. It rattles a little, compared to a very finicky Gold Cup my friend used to have, but feeds and fires everything I have put through it. Steel case milsurp, aluminum case throw-aways, or brass. 230 gr hardball, 200 gr JHP or LSWC, or 185 gr high velocity HP, it just doesn’t matter. It’s not pretty [it’s still in the white] or fancy, but it always works and hits what I aim at. I consider it MY best pistol.
I see my Henry Rollins quote is wrong. It should read “Knowledge withOUT mileage equals B***S***.”
My bad!
@ Dacian; You state “I forgot to mention that the now retired gun writer Jan Libourel did exhaustive research on the invasion of the Philippine Islands in 1900 by the U.S. Jan found zero evidence that the .45 acp outperformed the .38 Colt and .45 Long Colt.”
That is interesting since the .45 ACP was not around in 1900. The 1911 and its cartridge the “Cal. 45 Automatic Pistol Ball Cartridge, Model of 1911″—now known as the .45 ACP was not in existence in 1900. So, I call BS on that statement.
If you doubt me, go to https://www.americanrifleman.org/content/the-45-acp-history-performance/ . There you will find a well put together history of the .45 ACP. In it you will find this sentence. “The first cartridges sent into service came from the Frankford Arsenal and were headstamped “F A 8 11,” for the August 1911 date.”
Now I don’t remember there being time travel to go back to 1900 and test a round that did not get perfected until 1911. There could not have been a comparison of those rounds at the time you cite. Now, please, stop trying to myth bust something by giving incorrect or even bogus data.
@ DACIAN: You state “There was zero difference in killing power when comparing the .38 special, .357 magnum, 45 acp and 9×19.” That sounds good when done to animals. If I may, I would share what I have seen in the ER and other places. But first I would tell you that LAPD did a study back in mid to late 60’s, I believe it was, but it could have been later. They went to an auto salvage yard and fired a number of different caliber weapons at mannikins seated in those cars. They were surprised to see that too many of the .38 Special loads failed to penetrate the windshields of the cars. That led LAPD to move away from the .38 Special and go to .357.
Now in the ER, I saw more than one patient shot in the forehead with a .38 Special where the bullet did NOT penetrate the skull but plowed a furrow under the skin and went out the back. The patients looked like hell and we thought they should be dead, but they were talking to as the ambulance brought them in. I have run into other health care personnel who reported seeing similar events with the .38 Special in other ERs. I have seen multiple patients shot in the center of mass with a .38 but the heart was not hit, nor were any major vessels and we saved their sorry @$$ so they could go to prison for killing the person who shot them. I have seen the same with 9 mm center of mass hits. There were a higher percentage of fatalities with the 9 but there were a surprising number of survivors. That being said, I have NEVER seen a center of mass hit with a .45 ACP that was not immediately removed from the fray and sent into the great unknown beyond. And I have seen a few of those. Most of those were not seen in the ER. In fact, I have never seen a survivor who was hit center of mass with .41 Mag, .44 Sp, .44 Mag, or .45 LC. I did not know anyone when I was overseas who felt the .45 ever let them down. It was well thought of by most of the soldiers I knew, even those who were not issued a 1911. I was requested to be on more than one team, SAR and a Recon team. On the Recon, I was the only one to carry a 1911. As the medic, I was carrying 2 M3 Aidbags and some other stuff. My ruck alone weighed more than what most backpackers today would find reasonable. My 1911 was stashed in a tanker’s holster that I stole when someone left it alone and available. My replacement got it when I rotated back to the US.
And as for head shots, I have seen a number hit in the head with a 9 who were not dispatched. One man, hit in the head with a 9, managed to kill the cop who shot him before he was shot several more times with 9 mm. He was saved so he could go to trial. Maybe a year later, just a few days before the trial, he killed himself in jail. No tears were shed by anyone I knew. Some of those people hit in the head, were left with severe head injury but for the most part, there mentation was intact. I have seen a fair number of people shot in the head with a .45 ACP. They all went to the ground and stayed there, never to move on their own again. None of those head shots required a follow-up.
There are a lot of people who talk about the shortcomings of the .45 ACP, but in my experience, none of those detractors ever had cause to use one, (or any gun, for that matter) in self-defense. That brings me to a statement by Henry Rollins, I will edit it avoid offending anyone “Knowledge with mileage equals B***S***.”
Great, fascinating article on the 1911. I had one in the Army. Too much of a gun for me. I preferred the officers version. It seems a lot of people really love it by the responses the author has generated. Keep those articles coming..
Great, fascinating article on the 1911. I had one in the Army. Too much of a gun for me. I preferred the officers version. It seems a lot of people really love it by the responses the author has generated. Keep those articles coming..
@BRUCE, I agree with HW STONE, with a history story like that KEEP IT IN THE FAMILY, even if you have to sell, or gift, it to someone in your family, obviously with the right to re-claim it in the future if you change your mind.
Dacian– quoting an author who used mostly second and third hand statements about the Philippine-American War, which ran from 1899 to 1902, being a proof that a round introduced in testing stages in 1910 did not have “killing power” that was better than other pistol rounds is a far fetched idea.
The complaint was also leveled at the .30-40 Krag round as not having “the killing power” needed because the Army units on foot were dealing with drugged attackers who did not go down for the count after being hit with two or three rifle rounds.
One story reported was that an attacker took three rounds, one of them to his heart, and still swung a bolo to severely wound the GI who shot him, then fell dead at his feet.
A twelve gauge with 00 buckshot or a rifled slug did a better job of stopping an attacker at very close range, and if you look at the momentum difference you can see why the greater effectiveness of “my big buddy double-aught buckshot” is warranted.
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BRUCE– Keep it in the family. I’m not part of the family, and I would love to have it, just because it is a 1918 vintage 1911, but I don’t have enough to make a valid offer and I am beginning to release things I intended to keep “forever” simply because my family thinks “the old guy” lives in the old world, and their new world has not yet understood the real world that did not change for any but the few who lived in free places.
It really sounds like my situation, too, a rock and a hard place being the choices.
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I’ve been shooting handguns for over 40 years now. The 1911 has always been one of my favorites and I have owned many over the years in every caliber made from 9mm to .45acp and even one 10mm. I love the design and have trusted my life with it many times over the years. As a graduate of the Gunsite Academy in 1984, Colonel Jeff would only allow the 1911 to be used. He called any other handgun a “sissy” pistol. This is a well-researched article and I enjoyed reading it. I also have owned several Browning High-Powers, Beretta 92, and Glocks. All are excellent weapons. I believe the right choice of a defense weapon comes down to personal preference. Everyone will eventually find a design that suits them. I believe accuracy evolves from good instruction and lots of practice. Shooting is a skill that develops from hard work and repetition. Get used to the trigger of your handgun and practice as often as possible. As Colonel Jeff told me once, firefights happen at close range, usually closer than 12-15 feet. Practicing at long range, from 50-75 feet, is not practical for personal defense. I practice at 15-20 feet and I concentrate on trigger control. In my opinion, any good defense pistol will work perfectly under these conditions.
I carried one during Desert Storm. It never failed me. I now have a Colt government my wife liked it so much that she thought it should be hers. I made her find her own. Which she did and is a he’ll of shot with it. She’s not afraid of the recoil. In fact she has a rougher time with 9mm’s. I think the 1911 has to be the best handgun ever due the fact that it has been made continuously for over a hundred years, by many manufacturers, despite major innovations in firearm technologies.
Sorry, but I’ll never understand the fascination with the 1911. Never owned one and never will. I’ve shot them and just do NOT like them. Can’t stand Glock either. With the 1911 it’s a combination of things… it’s heavy, low capacity, that annoying decocker I don’t trust, irritating grip safety… just not my cup of tea. Kudos to all that DO like it, more power to you and you can have my share of them.
I hunt deer w/my 1917 45 LC, revolver, fed w/jacketed hollow points. Puts deer down & they stay down. My Colt 1911, 45 acp is for that bump in the night.
I own a Ruger 1911 Combat Commander and have fired at least 1000 rounds through it never ever had a bad feed or ejection with whatever ammo I have used and very accurate. My Colt 1911 is also reliable and accurate the only issue is make sure to use high quality clips otherwise excellent. The 1911 just fits my hand and grip wonderfully. I have shot many 9mm guns maybe it’s just me but I am not the biggest fan of double action semi-auto handguns it’s the way the trigger works I guess.
Browning Hi-Power is the final word from JMB, and it is a Masterpiece. 1911s were the warm up to the Masterpiece and IMO don’t hold a candle to the P-35.
I have a 1911 that, according to Colt serial number it was made in 1918. It was owned by one family for over 100 years…I inherited it. The original owner served in WW1, his son, the 2nd owner served in WW11 (Army). One of them, can’t remember which, hand-carved wooden grips while in a POW camp. I have the hand-carved grips as well as the diamond pattern walnut grips, and a holster from WW1. This gun is in excellent condition, looks brand new. I’m thinking of selling it
I forgot to mention that the now retired gun writer Jan Libourel did exhaustive research on the invasion of the Philippine Islands in 1900 by the U.S. Jan found zero evidence that the .45 acp outperformed the .38 Colt and .45 Long Colt. The troops complained about the lack of killing power in regards to all of them. The only praise the troops gave was for the .12 gauge shotgun.
Once again another .45 acp myth busted by none biased research.
I own several Hi-Powers and several 1911s of various calibers. For my money it’s a tie as to which is the greatest.
Sig 220 Legion
Needs no explanation at all.
A few points, DACIAN–
The idea that there was no serious testing of the M1911 .45 ACP round before 1945 is false, and the early testing was to stop people or horses from continuation of the attack. That it did very well, and the later 9mm greatly outperformed the earlier 9mm rounds, showing an improvement in the design of the ammunition used.
The bouncing off the helmet versus penetration was real– but you failed to note that the 2×4 support for the helmet was cracked or broken by the heavier and slower bullet, and in the unsupported helmet test the helmets moved enough distance to indicate there was a disabling impact with either round.
Also note that “the pigs jumped higher and squealed louder” indicates a lower level of disablement of the target animal, but in all cases the rounds performed well enough to make them useful if you are attacked by a food source raised pig.
The “looping” comment applies to longer range shooting, not to twenty five meters or less.
Recoil impulse testing is controlled by the equal but opposite effect of impact energy divided by the weight of the weapon, and the size and weight of the pistol in dealing with the recoil is more subjective than most people realize– what we “feel” we should experience affects our perception of the recoil, and people hyping up how bad the recoil of one weapon is might not be unbiased.
Worry about fewer rounds in the pistol is a major concern to those who do not put their rounds on target, so a single round of .22LR that hits is more effective than five rounds of .30-06 that miss.
Incapacitation is the key, and that is why the 5.56mm round “worked” as well as the .30-06 “base level of effectiveness” standard, but that does not mean the the smaller round is better or worse, although more rounds on the user means he can miss more, and with the newer 5.56mm rounds there is penetration of vests that were able to stop the ’06 round.
The “full metal jacket” was what was tested, with comparison tests of the expanding rounds, and to incapacitate was the key answer, which the larger, slower bullet did better AT CLOSE RANGE and the “at close range” was key to the choices made.
That does not mean that 9×19 is bad, and if you are dealing with expanding rounds against unprotected targets HP usually will do much better than FMJ. And I admit, that while I much prefer the 45 ACP FMJ over the 9×19 FMJ for close quarters, for military use supply lines, weight of ammunition, and just convincing people to aim and hit the target is the biggest factor.
I do own well regarded 9mm pistols, and a good or great 9mm is a better choice that a larger caliber clunker with “iffy” ammunition– I still choose the better bigger caliber over the smaller faster round when my life is on the line.
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When I got back into shooting a few years ago, I got the recommended common 9mm polymer-frame pistols, and after trying a few models/makes they never felt right. Finally got a 1911, everything felt fine again and my accuracy went up. Being an old engineer, i tried various 1911 models and modifications, and now I have 10, from the basic Colt and Philippines copies to fairly high end (with better sights and lighter triggers), and in both 45 and 9mm, and all three barrel lengths. I only had one (well known 1911 brand) that had problems, and it was due to an over-bent extractor from the factory – which was easily tuned. All of them, down to the cheapest, are now totally reliable, and I shoot them more accurately than any of my other pistols. Even the Officer model is heavy for a EDC, so I normally carry something more pocketable. But going to the range I prefer a 1911.
US NAVY. 1969 to 1973. Eaned the privilege to serve in the Whie House Service. The President had to sign off (after a year of clearances and training) on me to protect him and his family. I was issed a Colt 45. As a side note: We were told NATO decided the 45 acp was too merciless a round. The Navy and Marines still carried the 45, army and airforce went to 9mm. The Presidnt wanted protection and was NOT worried about anything else. It just works.
I can’t say that I know what is the best pistol, not having shot very many different pistols. However, I can say that I fell in love with one 56 years ago when I fired one for the first time at ROTC Summer Camp. As a boy, I had heard that they had a horrible kick. At the time we fired off-hand and I found that the pistol didn’t kick. It just rose up and then came down to my aim point. It didn’t call for frenetic firing, just calm aimed fire. Now I fire with the two-handed grip and (when I have been shooting regularly) I shoot 2-inch diameter, 5-shot groups at 15 yards. I’m sure my pistol could do better with a better shooter and non-range-round ammunition.
I can’t say that I know what is the best pistol, not having shot very many different pistols. However, I can say that I fell in love with one 56 years ago when I fired one for the first time at ROTC Summer Camp. As a boy, I had heard that they had a horrible kick. At the time we fired off-hand and I found that the pistol didn’t kick. It just rose up and then came down to my aim point. It didn’t call for frenetic firing, just calm aimed fire. Now I fire with the two-handed grip and (when I have been shooting regularly) I shoot 2-inch diameter, 5-shot groups at 15 yards. I’m sure my pistol could do better with a better shooter and non-range-round ammunition.
The 1911 has become over the decades one of the biggest “Myth pistols” and calibers of all time.
In 1945 the U.S. Military actually got around to doing some serious testing of the 1911 pistol and what they found shocked them. They found that the .45 ACP cartridge actually bounced off of a military helmet at a scant 35 yards while the 9×19 penetrated it out to an astonishing 125 yards and might have been able to do it even further away than that but no one could hit the helmet beyond 125 yards. See the book “The Inglis Diamond”.
The killing power of the 1911 is a myth as well. In the 1980’s Pistolero Magazine went to Mexico to avoid U.S. animal cruelty laws and shot barnyard pigs at point blank range. What they found astonished them. There was zero difference in killing power when comparing the .38 special, .357 magnum, 45 acp and 9×19. As a matter of fact the pigs jumped higher and squealed louder when hit with the 9mm that with the .45 acp.
The .45 ACP has a looping trajectory which makes it more difficult to hit a longer ranges than the flatter shooting 9×19,
The .45 ACP recoils more making it less accurate in the hands of most non-expert shooters which comprises the bulk of concealed carry people,
The .45 ACP holds less firepower which can mean life or death in a gunfight.
It was discovered as long ago as 1891 when smokeless powder first came into wide use that it was “not” bullet diameter but bullet penetration and placement that was the more important requirement of incapacitation.
In the famous 1900 stockyard tests conducted by the great charlatan Col. Thompson that the .30 Luger and 9×19 Luger killed huge steers as well as the larger .44 and .45 cal revolvers he used in the tests, even when Thompson cheated and used expanding ammo in the .44 and .45 cal revolvers. Thompson concealed this from the Military Review Board when he was pushing to get a .45 cal pistol adopted by the U.S. Military.
…. and still my favorite, of which I have several.
Ed,
You mistyped ‘browning hipower’…
Several times.
🤣
Personally I believe the author has demonstrated remarkable journalistic courage with the title of this article, to say nothing of the content. I’m not surprised that the handgun users who commented on the text primarily favored the .45ACP cartridge first. While I’m at this point, allow me to state that I carried the 1911 in Korea, during the Cold War in Europe and in the RVN as a unit commander as well as a staff officer. While in Germany in the early 1960s I acquired (purchased) a 1944 build of the FN HP Pistol. You can guess who directed the manufacture of that piece.
Back to Ed Aka’s article, my next surprise is the failure to mention the worldwide popularity of the Fabrique National (FNH) High Power Pistol of 50, some say 100, foreign military and polices forces as their primary sidearm. Where was the 1911 used? By Canada, Mexico, Britain, France, Germany, USSR, or even Israel? No! Frankly I’m not clear if it’s a problem with the pistol or the .45 cartridge?
What is interesting, and has been mentioned in the article above, is both the 1911 and the FN HP were both products of the mind of the great American Gunsmith John H. Browning. Importantly, Browning’s goal of improving his earlier 1911 which was the 1935 HP that he failed to live to see it’s completion or success. Browning is a national hero.
End of the story, I no longer carry very often, but my preference is still the Browning HP 9mm.
@MICHAEL HALL. “I jumped to Glocks (G17) 15 years ago. Least accurate gun I ever owned”. I had a new Glock 19 that was also the least accurate gun I ever shot. One day at the range sadly with basket ball size groups at 7 yards for 15 rounds (Note: 15 rounds at 25 yards, luck may put 3-4 somewhere on a torso size target, and the rest were misses), the RSO came up behind me and asked: Whats going on here, you are better than this. I told him I didn’t know, it has always been this inaccurate. He said change the guide rod assembly. I asked what that would do? He replied it wasn’t locking up consistently. That made a lot of sense to me, so having the $5 part in my bag I changed it out, and my basketball size groups went down to softball size groups at 7 yards. Better, but still pretty bad. Cleaning it at home, pulled the trigger and the slide just ran off the front without pulling the take down release lever (whatever that thing is called). Turns out, from the factory it had a weak or defective guide rod, AND the slide take down release lever was in backwards. A small hook on one side, and a radius on the other, the hook goes to the rear. Watched a You-tube video for correct orientation, and upon returning to the range, could group within a baseball size group @ 7 yards. Good, but a SR1911 can do better than that @ 25 yards. While the Glock should not have been that way, I learned a lot when the issue was finally solved, and I do have confidence in the solution. A real plus for both the 1911, and Glocks, is that internal parts, springs, etc. are BOTH plentiful, and affordable enough to keep some on hand.
Excellent article about my favorite firearm! I remember my good friend Ed taught me the fundamentals of firearms shooting on a 1911! Wonderful memories and lessons that have served me well.
I’ve been fooling about with various M1911’s since the only choices was Colt, or one of the GI surplus names – Remington-Rand, Ithaca, US&S, etc. That was it. Now, thanks to a market that responds to shooter interest and demands, there’s a plethora to choose from.
Still have my first – an early Colt Series 70 I bought, barely used. I was a teen working at a LGS and the very knowledgeable Manager was my mentor and exceptional shooter.
He put me in contact with a excellent 1911-smith and I had the slide milled and a S&W K frame adjustable rear sight installed, along with a ramp front sight. THAT was considered ‘hi speed – low drag’ back in the day. At the time there were very few choices for ‘carry sights’ for 1911’s. Everything was geared toward being high and blocky for Bullseye use.
Went on to use that gun in the growing sport of IPSC and worked my way to Class A. Later, started my LE career (revolver days, of course), but the Series 70 saw a lot of OD carry.
Now, I no longer shoot competitively, but enjoy various 1911’s in 9mm, .38 Super, 10mm and of course .45. I’ve actually been impressed with the imports from Philippines and Turkey. They offer a good product at entry level prices.
Another great article Ed, and on a topic that I am most enthusiastic about and one I adhere to whole heartedly.
Over the years I’ve owned several fine examples of the 1911, from the Colt Combat Commander to a Para-Ordnance P-14 with custom Stainless Slide and Match Barrel. All have been fine performers and Ruggedly Dependable. My current and probably final 1911 to grace my Safe and Shooting Bench is a well-worn Government Issue “Remington Rand” that may not win any Beauty Contests but is Slick Cycling and likely more Accurate than I am, and Yes! Just like You Ed and several of my fellow readers have opined, I would choose It over Any Glock, Sig, Ruger or Other Polymer Pistol.
To coin a phrase, “My Holster, My Choice”!
Great article,Ed
In 1972 got a COLT 1911 series 70 45. Spent several hours slicking up the action, as there were some minor toolmarks. About 12 years later I got a commercial STAR BM in 9mm. STAR BM was based on the 1911 design, less the GRIP SAFETY. As the BM was also issued to the Spanish Navy, it was NATO rated. After using an original 1911 and the BM semi clone version, I believe that the basic 1911 design still has so much to offer for today’s shooters. A 1911 can be “tuned” by most owners or be customized by several professional gunsmiths. Another plus is that the basic 1911 design has been adapted to a number of different calibers and even frame sizes. If the 45 version 1911 is not the best pistol ever, it would be hard to not agree that the 1911 design is in the top five. Of course, any design by M. Browning is still a winner.
I’ve been shooting pistols since about 1965, yes I’m old and the only pistol better then. 1911a1 is a Browning HP. I can only say this is because of the new JHP rounds. Both weapons do what a combat weapon needs to do is to go bang every time the trigger is pulled. Secondly it needs to hit where you aimed. Those two do it every time and have none it for more years then any other handgun in the world. Prior to good JHP’s no auto pistol fired a round better then a 1911a1. I can say no more. The weapon is reliable and shoots when needed. My wife was 5’ 4 1/2” and 115 pounds asked me why the US Army went to 9mm. I told her because of the recoil. She replied in shoot a Commander, what are they pu$$ys?
@MB. I take issue with what you say. My first thought was of Merle Haggard’s 1970 classic song which had a chorus that ran, “They’re walking on the fighting side of me…” But rather than pick a fight, I would ask you, how many soldiers or Marines do you know that would pick a Glock or a Sig over a 1911? While we’re there, how many major conflicts has either of those weapons been instrumental in bringing to a close? The 1911 went through both World Wars, Korea, Vietnam, and was (and still is, for some) the choice of many Spec-Ops men in a number of unspecified missions, some in places you have never heard of. When Marine Force Recon is still using 1911s today, that says something. They don’t call it a 1911 but that’s what they are using.
I would also ask if you have ever carried a weapon in military action? I have; back some 50 years ago, I was an Army medic playing with a bunch of guys who spent time out in the boonies doing things like Search and Rescue and Recon. As a medic I was issued a 1911A1. Now, over the years, there have been a number of people who have told me that “Everyone” knows medics do not carry weapon. That is urban myth. The only medics who did not carry weapons were Conscientious Objectors who had been drafted. I was not one of those people. I joined the Army.
When I was overseas, one of our jobs (SAR) was to go out into the boonies and find pilots and crew of aircraft that had had unfortunate run ins with flying projectiles that put their aircraft out of commission. In an ideal world, we would go in unnoticed by the locals, retrieve our package(s) and go to our exfil (extraction point) all the while staying completely under the radar of those whose projectiles caused the craft to lose altitude. We were not living in an ideal world. We also spent time out in the boonies just watching other people (Recon) to see what was going on. We were seldom appreciated by the locals and many were overly enthusiastic in showing that disapproval.
I have nothing but respect and love for the 1911. I have never seen anyone who was hit with it who was not removed from the fray. It is, in my mind, the best, the finest sidearm any soldier, in any conflict has ever carried. That is my .02 from a vet who carried one. I own more than one today, and when I carry, that is what I carry. I realize that there are people who do not appreciate the 1911, but very few of that persuasion have been in a firefight. But, I have not met any vet who used one who ever said a negative thing about the weapon. I cannot say the same for the subsequent sidearms issued by the Army. The 9 mm is not universally adored according to some vets I know.
It is the best there ever was and will be. And the high-end manufacturers truly give you a work of art.
I am continually amazed at those who bark out the utter nonsense of: “its an old design therefore no good in today’s modern world”. Well folks, the round wheel is an old design too!
I jumped to Glocks (G17) 15 years ago. Least accurate gun I ever owned; and yes they will go off taking them both in and out of a holster. I have a grazed leather boot to prove it. Also the least ergonomic gun I’ve ever owned.
Sold the Glock after two years of frustration. My Springfield 1911 does just fine; and a .45 will stop the guy long enough to take the kill shot if you need a second shot. Also enjoy my Springfield SA-35 (Hi Power), even though I am not a fan of 9mm.
Thank you for another informative, persuasive, & inspiring article. I’m already a fan of the Colt 1911 for all the great points you mention. The Colt Gold Cup National Match is the epitome of precision fit & finish, and can keep shots within a half inch @25 yards. In stainless steel, it’s a looker too. Since shot placement is everything, bigger really is better.
I have three 45s. One is even an old Remington Rand. Carried it in my truck for 20 years. I also have Glock, S&Ws, Remington,CZ82, P38, Pistols made in Turkey, And a few others. All fine shooters. My favorite one is the one I am shooting at the time. I am 70 now and do not shoot as much as I used to. But still like all my pistols..Nice article.
A quality name brand 1911, a Glock, a Beretta, all very good pistols. But the 1911 is a nicer pistol than the Beretta, and much nicer than the Glock. Much easier to shoot well, and .45 acp is inherently a better cartridge than 9mm.
The 1911 is the rapier of the handgun world. Issue the Glock to the troops, but experts and professionals may prefer a private purchase 1911.
The 1911 is what they sent me “down the rabbit hole” with – X 2. The Glock is an awesome brand, but if I had a choice of a CZ or a Glock…. the CZ it would be – because it’s “BATTLE PROVEN”. If I had a choice of the 1911s or CZ… I choose the 1911.
Certainly, the impact of the 1911 cannot be disputed. A topic for future exploration would be to contrast the 1911 to Browning’s subsequent development of the High-Power Pistol and his improvements to the “best pistol” ( further developed by Dieudonne Saive following Browning’s death ). Leroy Thompson’s books for Osprey Publishing offer useful histories of both weapons.
A gazillion different handguns are manufactured because there are a gazillion different people with different hands, strengths, sizes, and opinions. For me and me alone, a 1911 variant is the very best handgun because thanks to the trigger I can shoot it far more accurately than any others. But my choice of a 1911 may surprise you.
First of all, it is double-stacked because in 2023 a single-stack handgun is simply inadequate except as a BUG. Secondly, it is a 9mm — after shooting .45ACP for nearly two decades, in 2023 what changed my opinion is that first, two decades ago, 9mm and .45ACP sold for nearly the same amount; now .45ACP is twice or more as expensive as 9mm. Secondly, everything I have read states that a good quality 9mm HP (especially +P) is just as effective as .45ACP. Thirdly, I have an 18+1 capacity compared to a heavier 14+1 (at least in the gun which I chose.
So, in November of 2018 I sold my Kimber CDP in .45ACP and bought a Remington 9mm Recon Commander. Truthfully, it is the best handgun I have ever owned, and it is a real pity these are no longer available after Remington went bankrupt. It is all steel, so there is virtually no real recoil from 9mm, making it very easy to control. I keep it properly lubricated, and it has been 100% reliable at the shooting range, even with the cheapest and crappiest ammunition. It carries comfortably in a SwapRig holster with a below barrel green Crimson Trace Railmaster, requiring only a covering vest or shirt to make it a true concealed carry weapon (yes, I am licensed for concealed carry by the State of Texas).
But this works for me; it may not at all be best for you.
Love the 1911, only got two but they are great. Got the Springfield Garrions 45acp and a Colt Defender Lightweight 45acp
Nice article, and I use to be one of those who wondered why anyone would want a new version of an antique heavy old gun design, well until I tried a Ruger SR1911, other than capacity, it will run circles around a Glock. It may only hold 7-8 rounds, but for sure ALL of them will fire without issue. Just a thought here: “and the claw extractor pulls the spent casing from the firing chamber.” I know this is what we have all been taught to think, but think about it: What is actually making the slide go rearward? Is it not the brass casting pushing on the bolt face? If so, then does it really need to be extracted? If it does not need to be extracted, then what is the extractor for? My thinking is; The extractor does extract, when you are unloading a live, unfired, round, but what about a fired round? In the firing process, the extractors other job is to hold the case tightly into the bolt pocket, as it rakes across the next round in the magazine, until the ejector comes into play. If the extractor, cannot hold onto the fired case tightly until the ejector can come into play, then the casing just falls loose in the chamber, and results in a Fail To Eject. With this thinking, I have learned that most Failure To Eject issues can be cured by a stronger extractor spring, so it can hold onto the casing in the firing process until the ejector can come into play. This thinking would apply only to Blow-Back systems. Note: This thinking does not apply to AR Direct Impingement gas tube type system, as in the case of a direct impingment system, the bolt is being forced rearward by the gas itself, and in this case the extractor is actually extracting. If you have a gun collection, and have never had a 1911, when you finally do get one, you will wish you had gotten it a lot sooner. Modern 1911’s are everything John Browning intended them to be. Just a great, and now classic, firearm.
I sure think so, even though at 76 the finger arthritis is making it hard to use. Learned pistol on a 1911 from dad & uncles who used it in WW2 in the 50s. Shot it in the Marines, carried it in VN, was my first CCW weapon & was carried exclusively from full size to officer size until the late 90s in conjunction with S&W revolvers, 357 & .45acp. Mostly revolvers now due to the hands but my shop gun is a custom Combat Cdr from the 90s & still carry one one occasion. If I had to go back in combat – no doubt full size 1911 (w/some upgrades)!
I would disagree, The 1911 is a good gun, but nowhere near a Glock 17 or a Sig 226.
“The Greatest” is always a subjective choice, but i shall note that I have trusted one Colt for well over fifty years and it has never failed when called upon.