Hello all, here is today's article posted on TheArmoryLife.com. It is titled “Ayoob’s Top 1911 Hacks” and can be found at https://www.thearmorylife.com/ayoob-the-1911-mistake-trainers-tried-to-teach-me/.
Ayoob’s Top 1911 Hacks
- Thread starter Mike H.
- Start date
fstartsman
Alpha
I keep a guitar pic around to use the way you use a pen to avoid the idiot scratch.
TidalWave
Professional
I file a small shallow groove in the face of the slide lock, where the plunger rides when the slide lock is pushed into the frame.
dub2sound
Alpha
I have to disagree with the sentiment or statement or ideology of “quirkiness” as a general concept when it comes to 1911. While there are some that do have elements of quirk, most are not. That’s just the nature of the beast. The beloved 1911 has withstood the test of time and it is still the best thing since before sliced bread.
My first acquaintance with the 1911 was in 1957, when I was "drafted" into the Ft. Belvoir, VA, pistol team. Our 1911s were old, worn beaters that rattled when you shook them. You had to make sure that you got the same one every time, because they were highly idiosyncratic. The post teams we competed against were equally handicapped, so it was a fair competition.
Wilderbee1965
Alpha
Silvermane
Alpha
"The Infamous Idiot Scratch" piece is welcome info. A 1911 .45 has been my carry for decades and I adore them, with my Ronin being the current one. But I've never been able to master getting the slide stop into its home without causing the idiot scratch, unless I used a tiny flathead jeweler's screwdriver to push the plunger in, then slip the stop home.
It's always been frustrating to me since that scene in 'Scent of a Woman', where a blind Pacino reassembles his .45 in moments without any tools, as well as numerous videos of 'experts' easily & quickly reassembling their .45's without any issues with the slide stop. I always thought I must be mentally disabled not being able to do this, since I couldn't do it without a small screwdriver...so it's good to know that even a guru like Ayoob notes that it's a common issue and provides usable tips.
It's always been frustrating to me since that scene in 'Scent of a Woman', where a blind Pacino reassembles his .45 in moments without any tools, as well as numerous videos of 'experts' easily & quickly reassembling their .45's without any issues with the slide stop. I always thought I must be mentally disabled not being able to do this, since I couldn't do it without a small screwdriver...so it's good to know that even a guru like Ayoob notes that it's a common issue and provides usable tips.
Wilderbee1965
Alpha
In 1966 I was assigned to a unit where the 1911 was the designated sidearm. All on duty members of the unit carried a 1911 every day, every shift, around the clock. There was also a policy that each individual must meet the military qualification requirements of "Expert Marksman" with the 1911. Those that did not score expert at the gun range swept parking lots till they qualified. With the help of an understanding NCO (and some pine tar) I scored expert on my third try. Over the years I have owned and carried a variety of pistols, but I always came back to the 1911. The only thing that is even a distant second is the Browning High Power.