firearms

[ColoSwiss]

Priorities.

[Chako]

A good buddy of mine called and invited me for a few hours of shooting. I brought my Norinco 1911A1 in 45 ACP...seeing that I haven't shot it in some time. I was using it as my IPSC platform last year until I had the front sight fly off never to be seen again. It took a while to get a replacement, and got this one properly fitted through the local gun smith. I then found I liked 357 magnum revolvers which is my current IPSC platform. Nevertheless, I still have my Norinco which I really like. I have around 13 magazines for it. 5-7 rounders, 7 -8 rounders, and 1-10 round magazine for it.

Here I am getting ready to fire it. Got most of my 8 round magazines loaded and ready to go. Those bottom 5 magazines are 7 rounders.


I have been EDCing a Leatherman Wave which I bought used at the local pawn shop. I have no qualms about using this one rough if need be. So far, it has been an excellent belt companion. Not my Norinco gets a dirty nose whenever I shoot lead downrange.




See what I mean. At least it cleans up nicely with a little TLC afterwards.


Here is my IPSC duty belt for the Norinco 1911A1. An older style  Uncle Mike with padding (Just fits me better), along with a BlackHawk Serpa II duty holster, and 3 BlackHawk dual single stack magazine cases.


And some of my targets. At first I was shooting low, but quickly figured out what I was doing wrong. It didn't take long for me and the 1911A1 to get reacquainted. I was able to hit a few rocks 70 meters away at the end of the berm. The 1911 platform is such a natural pointer. It just feels good to use.

[Chako]

I had another IPSC competition earlier today. I am still the only revolver competitor at the club. I am really getting better with the Smith & Wesson 586. I have noticed better accuracy as times goes on. I guess I haven't reached my plateau yet. I taped my trigger finger and that helped a lot. No blood blister just behind my first trigger finger crease. Still not sure where the finger is rubbing, but I strongly suspect it is happening when the trigger is fully depressed. I am still shooting .357 Magnums downrange. They do make a nice pop compared to the 9 mm majority. I have yet to try 38 specials even though when I first got the handgun, I did buy several boxes of the stuff. I figured I may as well get used to the magnums first. It seems to be paying off.

I did miss one of the metal targets. I think I hit the wooden frame around the metal round, and saw it wobble. I was sure I saw the plate fall down, but it didn't. It blended so well with the back berm and hidden in shadows, I think I saw the barrel flash, saw the metal round wobble, and moved on thinking I saw it fall down. I also made my first procedural error today. We were told to shoot 7 targets within the blue barreled area. I misinterpreted the information and shot the seventh out of the designated area. Still had great fun. I am thankful I now have 12 speed-loaders. I am now able to shoot 3 stages without having to re-load. A great time saver that, and it allows me to have more fun out on the field of fire. Today, was also the first time I used a shotgun pouch. Wow, what a great way to store extra speed loaders and stuff. I can't use it during a competition stage...but we have time in between stages to replenish our stocks. That shotgun pouch is far better than my jean front pockets. I am very happy with that last bit of kit. I do think I need not add anything else to my revolver set up. 

[NutSAK]

I taped my trigger finger and that helped a lot. No blood blister just behind my first trigger finger crease. Still not sure where the finger is rubbing, but I strongly suspect it is happening when the trigger is fully depressed.

   Are you using the tip of your finger on the trigger?  I don't see how this could be happening if you are.  The crease and anything behind really shouldn't be touching anything.

[Chako]

I am...but I do have large fingers...and somehow something is rubbing during the shot. A simple band-aide solved that problem nicely.

[SAK Guy]

A good buddy of mine called and invited me for a few hours of shooting. I brought my Norinco 1911A1 in 45 ACP...seeing that I haven't shot it in some time. I was using it as my IPSC platform last year until I had the front sight fly off never to be seen again. It took a while to get a replacement, and got this one properly fitted through the local gun smith. I then found I liked 357 magnum revolvers which is my current IPSC platform. Nevertheless, I still have my Norinco which I really like. I have around 13 magazines for it. 5-7 rounders, 7 -8 rounders, and 1-10 round magazine for it.

Here I am getting ready to fire it. Got most of my 8 round magazines loaded and ready to go. Those bottom 5 magazines are 7 rounders.


I have been EDCing a Leatherman Wave which I bought used at the local pawn shop. I have no qualms about using this one rough if need be. So far, it has been an excellent belt companion. Not my Norinco gets a dirty nose whenever I shoot lead downrange.




See what I mean. At least it cleans up nicely with a little TLC afterwards.


Here is my IPSC duty belt for the Norinco 1911A1. An older style  Uncle Mike with padding (Just fits me better), along with a BlackHawk Serpa II duty holster, and 3 BlackHawk dual single stack magazine cases.


And some of my targets. At first I was shooting low, but quickly figured out what I was doing wrong. It didn't take long for me and the 1911A1 to get reacquainted. I was able to hit a few rocks 70 meters away at the end of the berm. The 1911 platform is such a natural pointer. It just feels good to use.

 

[jerseydevil]

  How did I forget to post these? These are some of the guns on display at Fort Miles, DE. This fort was directly across from Cape May NJ, and defended the entrance to Delaware Bay. The casemates were not open by the time I got there, but still.....


Me on a 3" antiaircraft gun.



8" Coast Defense gun.



And last but CERTAINLY not least, a 16"!!



This particular gun is a 16"/50 naval rifle from the USS Missouri. This gun was the center gun in Turret 1 when the Japanese surrendered aboard Missouri. The plan at the museum is to mount it in a casemate like the original 16" guns at the fort were.  Very cool stuff!

[Gareth]

That's one very impressive gun! 

Cool pics mate.

[ColoSwiss]

Some interesting shots!   

[SAK Guy]

That's one very impressive gun! 

Cool pics mate.

+1!!!

[SAK Guy]

Well, Hell's frozen over...  I finally broke down and bought a couple of new fangled mags for my pistol.   

Chip McCormick Blackened SS Power Mags-8rd. I usually use the Chip McCormick Shooting Stars and they are fantastic mags but since I tend to leave them loaded for years and years...and years, decided to try some with better springs. Will eventually swap all my "ready" mags for these. I even like the bumper pads.....which surprises me a little...   Also bought a few parts (recoil spings and plugs, a barrel bushing etc.  Bought a couple of WWII 1911 field take down tools too because I wanted something simple in my bag that could push pins.

[SAK Guy]

Another victim of standardization? 

https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2016/10/5/the-keefe-report-marine-raiders-throw-45-overboard/

[David]

How did I forget to post these? These are some of the guns on display at Fort Miles, DE. This fort was directly across from Cape May NJ, and defended the entrance to Delaware Bay. The casemates were not open by the time I got there, but still.....



Me on a 3" antiaircraft gun.



8" Coast Defense gun.



And last but CERTAINLY not least, a 16"!!



This particular gun is a 16"/50 naval rifle from the USS Missouri. This gun was the center gun in Turret 1 when the Japanese surrendered aboard Missouri. The plan at the museum is to mount it in a casemate like the original 16" guns at the fort were.  Very cool stuff!

     

[David]

Another victim of standardization? 

https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2016/10/5/the-keefe-report-marine-raiders-throw-45-overboard/

Bummer.

[David]

Well, Hell's frozen over...  I finally broke down and bought a couple of new fangled mags for my pistol.   

Chip McCormick Blackened SS Power Mags-8rd. I usually use the Chip McCormick Shooting Stars and they are fantastic mags but since I tend to leave them loaded for years and years...and years, decided to try some with better springs. Will eventually swap all my "ready" mags for these. I even like the bumper pads.....which surprises me a little...   Also bought a few parts (recoil spings and plugs, a barrel bushing etc.  Bought a couple of WWII 1911 field take down tools too because I wanted something simple in my bag that could push pins.

I just got the regular Power Mag SG. Yours look  !     

[SAK Guy]

Well, Hell's frozen over...  I finally broke down and bought a couple of new fangled mags for my pistol.   

Chip McCormick Blackened SS Power Mags-8rd. I usually use the Chip McCormick Shooting Stars and they are fantastic mags but since I tend to leave them loaded for years and years...and years, decided to try some with better springs. Will eventually swap all my "ready" mags for these. I even like the bumper pads.....which surprises me a little...   Also bought a few parts (recoil spings and plugs, a barrel bushing etc.  Bought a couple of WWII 1911 field take down tools too because I wanted something simple in my bag that could push pins.

I just got the regular Power Mag SG. Yours look  !     

Thx!!!  I nearly bought the reg ones (and still might) but found the BO ones for 26 bucks ea and went with them. The BO's were coated in grease so tough that I had to clean them with alcohol which was a lot different that the reg Shooting Stars which were virtually clean right out of the bag. Considered the Wilson's as well but they were more money and in my research, couldn't see any difference in performance.

This article won me over...

http://www.10-8performance.com/1911-magazines/

[SAK Guy]

Another victim of standardization? 

https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2016/10/5/the-keefe-report-marine-raiders-throw-45-overboard/

Bummer.

Was reading this article:

http://www.military.com/daily-news/2015/02/19/marines-allow-operators-to-choose-glocks-over-marsoc-45.html

...and it strikes me as odd that the Marine "experts" sourced all had negative comments on the 1911 which was the chosen as a result of an "exhaustive " pistol trial in 2012. Stuff like...

"The design is still popular, but it's also heavy, prone to malfunction and limited to seven or eight-round magazines, pistols experts have said."

"But military pistol experts maintain that the 1911 design, while extremely accurate, requires more training and care than other modern tactical pistols."

"Young operators have had trouble with the 1911's beavertail grip safety, according to one former Marine weapons instructor who trained MARSOC members."

"Many shooters wearing gloves tend to grip the 1911 too high and do not properly disengage the beavertail grip safety, so the pistol won't fire, he said. A lot of professional shooters who run custom 1911s will disable that beavertail grip safety to avoid this problem, he added."

"The 1911 design is also known for feed-way stoppages, a malfunction caused when a round gets stuck feeding into the chamber, experts said. Horizontal and vertical stovepipes – types of malfunctions that occur when an empty shell casing gets caught in the ejection port – are also a problem with the 1911 design."

Wasn't all this addressed in 2012 and all the preceding years (from the mid 1990's) that they used the same design? Sounds like Monday morning quarterbacking to justify the switch to a caliber that the rest of the Marine Corps uses.

Everybody knows Glocks are great but why did they have pull out tired old arguments to run down a great, timeless American design in order to justify their standardization on pistols and calibers.   

IMO of course.

Rant off.....

[NutSAK]

Everybody knows Glocks are great but why did they have pull out tired old arguments to run down a great, timeless American design in order to justify their standardization on pistols and calibers.   

IMO of course.

Rant off.....

As a 1911 and Glock owner, my opinion is different.  I agree with many of their arguments about the 1911 and, though it is a great design, I wouldn't call it "timeless".  There are modern designs that have proven simpler in operation, manufacture and are more reliable.

However, I agree with you that those arguments should not be used solely for standardization, if that's what they're doing.

[jerseydevil]

Many of the M1911's "issues" have to do with tuning and tightening the action. It's a combat pistol at its core, not a match one. Pick up a GI spec M1911a1 and shake it. It'll rattle. Those loose tolerences are intentionally built into the weapon to keep it running while dirty in combat conditions......

[NutSAK]

Many of the M1911's "issues" have to do with tuning and tightening the action. It's a combat pistol at its core, not a match one. Pick up a GI spec M1911a1 and shake it. It'll rattle. Those loose tolerences are intentionally built into the weapon to keep it running while dirty in combat conditions......

Absolutely.  That goes for any firearm.  Put a round in the chamber of a Glock 19 and see how tight it fits.  Regardless of how tight it is, I personally have not experienced any 1911 that was on the order of reliability of a Glock.  Has there been a lot of tightening of the action in military issue 1911s that would cause them to have these complaints?

Tightening can be done to an extent and maintain reliability.  Compare a Glock to a Springfield XD-M.

[SAK Guy]

Everybody knows Glocks are great but why did they have pull out tired old arguments to run down a great, timeless American design in order to justify their standardization on pistols and calibers.   

IMO of course.

Rant off.....

As a 1911 and Glock owner, my opinion is different.  I agree with many of their arguments about the 1911 and, though it is a great design, I wouldn't call it "timeless".  There are many modern designs that have proven simpler in operation, manufacture and are more reliable.

However, I agree with you that those arguments should not be used solely for standardization, if that's what they're doing.

I understand completely Terry.     Glocks are fantastic and probably exactly what any modern military needs but why, if 1911's were so flawed, didn't they address it back in 2012? I think the 1911's were just fine so they wanted another one but now in a time of continuing shrinking budgets, the pressure to standardize is even greater. Different caliber, different mags and holsters, different training for two completely differently operational designs etc. The 19's were proven, cheaper, held more rounds already in use, was already green lighted for MARSOC optional carry and in federal pipeline for use by other SF groups. I think someone way up high looked at the numbers, said "standardize" and make it look like we weren't complete idiots back in 2012....  What I'm miffed about is them blaming the design that they wanted, used since the 1990's, and replaced with a "better" model but now it's total crap. In 40 + years of travel/carry, recreational use/competition, I can count 1911 stoppages on one hand and all were due to either poor quality handloads, worn out WWII mags or repairs/mods made by previous owners. But I've only shot 25,000 rounds or so through them.

And an essentially unchanged design from 1906 fits the "timeless" descriptor in my short sighted, highly biased, crotchety old book of adjectives! 

[MadPlumbarian]

Many of the M1911's "issues" have to do with tuning and tightening the action. It's a combat pistol at its core, not a match one. Pick up a GI spec M1911a1 and shake it. It'll rattle. Those loose tolerences are intentionally built into the weapon to keep it running while dirty in combat conditions......

Absolutely.  That goes for any firearm.  Put a round in the chamber of a Glock 19 and see how tight it fits.  Regardless of how tight it is, I personally have not experienced any 1911 that was on the order of reliability of a Glock.  Has there been a lot of tightening of the action in military issue 1911s that would cause them to have these complaints?

Tightening can be done to an extent and maintain reliability.  Compare a Glock to a Springfield XD-M.

There's not much that can be done to a glock, I mean taking it apart and there's only a few parts like the spring and release pin, which can be replaced if changing over to a laser.
JR

[SAK Guy]

Many of the M1911's "issues" have to do with tuning and tightening the action. It's a combat pistol at its core, not a match one. Pick up a GI spec M1911a1 and shake it. It'll rattle. Those loose tolerences are intentionally built into the weapon to keep it running while dirty in combat conditions......

Absolutely.  That goes for any firearm.  Put a round in the chamber of a Glock 19 and see how tight it fits.  Regardless of how tight it is, I personally have not experienced any 1911 that was on the order of reliability of a Glock.  Has there been a lot of tightening of the action in military issue 1911s that would cause them to have these complaints?

Tightening can be done to an extent and maintain reliability.  Compare a Glock to a Springfield XD-M.

Also, those new Marine pistols had cerakoted feed ramps/slides /rails which caused problems....this same issue has cropped up on cerakoted glocks from Lipseys (so I've read) until they've been shot in and those contact points have smoothed out or polished out by owners/smiths..

[SAK Guy]

Many of the M1911's "issues" have to do with tuning and tightening the action. It's a combat pistol at its core, not a match one. Pick up a GI spec M1911a1 and shake it. It'll rattle. Those loose tolerences are intentionally built into the weapon to keep it running while dirty in combat conditions......

Absolutely.  That goes for any firearm.  Put a round in the chamber of a Glock 19 and see how tight it fits.  Regardless of how tight it is, I personally have not experienced any 1911 that was on the order of reliability of a Glock.  Has there been a lot of tightening of the action in military issue 1911s that would cause them to have these complaints?

Tightening can be done to an extent and maintain reliability.  Compare a Glock to a Springfield XD-M.

I have a buddy who is a 1911 guy and he loves his Springfield XD!  The grip angle is the same as a 1911 so if I get a polymer framed pistol, it will probably be one of those or an HK.  The Glock has a steeper grip angle and doesn't point as naturally for me.

[NutSAK]

I have a buddy who is a 1911 guy and he loves his Springfield XD!  The grip angle is the same as a 1911 so if I get a polymer framed pistol, it will probably be one of those or an HK.  The Glock has a steeper grip angle and doesn't point as naturally for me.

I absolutely love my XD-M, but I also have no issue with Glock's grip angle.  I always index, so they both point naturally for me, but I feel that I can lock my wrist more effectively with Glock's angle.  All in all I prefer Glock over XD simply because, though the XD is a direct Glock rip-off, for some reason Springfield unnecessarily decided to make it more complex than a Glock.  It simply doesn't need a grip safety and a striker status indicator.

I'll refrain from saying anything else about the 1911, as you obviously have more experience there than I even if you are highly-biased and crotchety.   

[SAK Guy]

I have a buddy who is a 1911 guy and he loves his Springfield XD!  The grip angle is the same as a 1911 so if I get a polymer framed pistol, it will probably be one of those or an HK.  The Glock has a steeper grip angle and doesn't point as naturally for me.

I absolutely love my XD-M, but I also have no issue with Glock's grip angle.  I always index, so they both point naturally for me, but I feel that I can lock my wrist more effectively with Glock's angle.  All in all I prefer Glock over XD simply because, though the XD is a direct Glock rip-off, for some reason Springfield unnecessarily decided to make it more complex than a Glock.  It simply doesn't need a grip safety and a striker status indicator.

I'll refrain from saying anything else about the 1911, as you obviously have more experience there than I even if you are highly-biased and crotchety.   

    I think that Glock angle was intentional as it effectively lets you lean into the pistol and control recoil/rapid fire. Like everything else on the Glock it was well thought out and innovative! Used to do a lot of quick presentation drills and with the 1911, I could point shoot center mass hits out to about 15 yards. Trying those drills with a buddy's 17 resulted in me pointing about two feet over the target at the same distance. Could probably get used to one if I owned one to shoot a lot.

[SAK Guy]

The Chip McCormick Power Mag functioned flawlessly with hardball late yesterday afternoon . This skunk was coming right up on the front porch and eating cat food. My Mom became afraid to go outside after about 4pm and having cats and small dogs, the rabies risk was real so I had to do something.

Been watching him for several days and he usually stayed where there was no safe shot and then quickly disappeared. But yesterday, he changed his routine just long enough for me to get out the door and line up a shot as he was leaving. The .45 was close by (no time to drag out and load the .22 rifle) and the mags functioned flawlessly. He was moving away fast at about 14 yards. Took a couple of shots. Probably the first time in nearly 3 years that I had shot the 1911. Was glad to see it's like riding a bike for me.

I walked further down the porch and took a pic.

[Gareth]

I suspect hitting a skunk with a .45 means it's definitely not getting up again.

[SAK Guy]

I suspect hitting a skunk with a .45 means it's definitely not getting up again.

LOL, +1, a fact I was very glad of when I went over and poked him with a shovel. 

[ColoSwiss]

.45s work great for vermin control.