Introduction
I Am Smitten!
The .45 ACP Cartridge
230-gr. FMJ Loads
Expanding Bullet Loads
Magsafe 96-gr. Defender +P
Aguila 117-gr. IQ Hollow Point
Glaser Silver 145-gr. Safety Slug +P
Federal 165-gr. Hydrashok
Triton 165-gr. QuikShok +P
Corbon 165-gr. PowRball +P
Federal Classic 185-gr. JHP
Corbon 185-gr. JHP +P
Remington 185-gr. JHP +P
Taurus 185-gr. Hex Head
Winchester 185-gr. Silvertip
Hornady 200-gr. XTP +P
CCI/Speer Lawman 200-gr. JHP
Corbon 200-gr. JHP +P
Federal 230-gr. Hydrashok
Federal 230-gr. Hi Shok JHP
Winchester 230-gr. Subsonic "Deep Penetrator"
Winchester 230-gr. Black Talon
Winchester 230-gr. Ranger SXT
Speer 230-gr. Gold Dot
Remington 230-gr. Golden Saber
Hornady 230-gr. XTP +P
Final Observations on .45 ACP Ammunition
Why is the 1911 So Popular
Range Evaluations
Steel Frame 5" 1911's
Range Evaluation: Springfield Armory WWI Mil-Spec .45 ACP
Range Evaluation: Norinco 1911 Pistol
Range Evaluation: Kinber Custom Classic
Range Evaluation: Springfield Loaded 5" Stainless
Range Evaluation: Colt Mk IV Series 80 Government Model
Range Evaluation: Colt National Match
Range Evaluation: Caspian/Colt by Gunsmith, Lou Williamson
Range Evaluation: Dan Wesson Patriot Expert
Range Evaluation: STI Trojan
Lightweight 5" 1911's
Range Evaluation: Springfield Armory LW 5"
Commanders: Lightweight and All-Steel
Range Evaluation: Colt Commander
Compacts
Range Evaluation: Colt Defender & Kimber Ultra CDP
Long Slides
Range Evaluation: Custom Caspian Long Slide .45 ACP
Other Calibers
9x19mm
Range Evaluation: STI 9mm Trojan 6" Long Slide
.38 Super
Range Evaluation: STI .38 Super 5" Trojan
10mm
Range Evaluation: Colt 10mm Delta Elite
Final Thoughts on Other Caliber 1911 Pistols
.22 Conversion Units
Range Evaluation: Kimber Platinum .22 Kit
Sights
Zeroing Fixed Sights
Adjustable Sights
Grips
Front Grip Straps
Mainspring Housings
Triggers
Barrels, Bushings, and Accuracy
Full-Length Guide Rods or Not?
Forward Slide Serrations
Thumb Safeties and Slide Stops
Grip Safety Selection
Springs
Buffers
Firing Pins and Stops
Hammers and Sears
Extractors and Ejectors
Feed Ramps: Traditional or One-Piece?
Disconnectors
MIM, Cast, or Forged?
Magazines and Magazine Releases
How it Works
Why Won't It Work?
Safety Checks for the 1911
Variations by Brand
Firing Pin Safeties
Disabling Safety Systems
The Defensive 1911
Modes of Carry
Disassembly
Magazine Disassembly
Cleaning and Maintenance
Conclusion
FIGURES
Figure 1. Customized 1911 and Ammunition
Figure 2. Aguila Expanded Bullet
Figure 3. Corbon .45 PowRball Expanded
Figure 4. Federal 185-gr. JHP Expanded
Figure 5. Taurus 185-gr. JHP
Figure 6. Deer Killed with Hornady 200-gr. XTP
Figure 7. Corbon 200-gr. JHP Expanded
Figure 8. Changes in Federal Hydrashok Profile
Figure 9. Federal 230-gr. Hydrashok Expanded
Figure 10. Federal 230-gr. Classic JHP Expanded
Figure 11. Winchester 230-gr. Subsonic JHP Expanded
Figure 12. Winchester Black Talon Expanded
Figure 13. Winchester Ranger SXT Expanded
Figure 14. Remington 230-gr. Golden Saber Expanded
Figure 15. Hornady 230-gr. XTP Expanded
Figure 16. Winchester Ranger Ammunition
Figure 17. Les Baer 1911
Figure 18. Springfield Armory GI Mill-Spec
Figure 19. Mill-Spec 15-yd. Groups
Figure 20. Customized Norinco 1911
Figure 21. Kimber Custom Classic
Figure 22. Kimber Custom Classic 25-yd. Group
Figure 23. Springfield Loaded with Snub .38
Figure 24. Colt Series 80 Mark IV
Figure 25. Customized Colt National Match
Figure 26. Customized Caspian Colt
Figure 27. Kart Barrel Bushing and Group
Figure 28. Dan Wesson Patriot Expert
Figure 29. Dan Wesson with Magazines
Figure 30. Dan Wesson External Extractor
Figure 31. Internal 1911 Extractor Claw
Figure 32. Broken Dan Wesson Magazine Release
Figure 33. STI Trojan and 25-yd. Groups
Figure 34. STI Trojan .45 ACP
Figure 35. Springfield Lightweight 1911 and Kimber
Figure 36. Springfield Lightweight and Target
Figure 37. Springfield Lightweight 15-yd. Groups
Figure 38. Springfield Lightweight 25-yd. Group.
Figure 39. Custom Colt Commander
Figure 40. Colt Commander and Rapid-Fire Group
Figure 41. Colt Commander 15-yd. Groups
Figure 42. Colt Commander 25-yd. Group
Figure 43. Colt Commander 50-yd. Group
Figure 44. Colt Defender Muzzle
Figure 45. Colt Defender and Kimber Ultra CDP
Figure 46. Colt Defender .45
Figure 47. Colt Defender 15-yd. Group
Figure 48. Kimber Ultra CDP 15-yd. Group
Figure 49. Kimber Ultra CDP
Figure 50. Colt Defender and Expanded Ammunition
Figure 51. Custom Caspian Long Slide
Figure 52. Custom Caspian Long Slide 25-yd. Group
Figure 53. Custom Caspian Long Slide 50-yd. Group
Figure 54. STI 9mm 15-yd. Groups
Figure 55. STI 9mm 50-yd Group
Figure 56. STI Trojan 6"
Figure 57. Deer Killed with STI 9mm
Figure 58. STI .38 Super 1-Piece Feed Ramp
Figure 59. STI Trojan .38 Super
Figure 60. STI Trojan .38 Super 50-yd. Group
Figure 61. Expanded 147-gr. XTPs from .38 Super
Figure 62. Expanded .38 Super Corbon Bullets
Figure 63. Colt Delta Elite
Figure 64. Colt Delta Elite Combat Groups
Figure 65. Colt Delta 10mm 25-yd. Group
Figure 66. Colt Delta Elite Grip Safety Tang
Figure 67. Kimber Platinum .22 Conversion
Figure 68. Kimber .22 Conversion 15-yd. Groups
Figure 69. Kimber Platinum .22 Magazine Lips
Figure 70. Patriot 1911
Figure 71. K-Tappen Rear Sight
Figure 72. Les Baer 1911
Figure 73. Proper Sight Picture
Figure 74. STI Post Front Sight from Top
Figure 75. Serrated Ramp Front Sight
Figure 76. Bomar Adjustable Rear Sight
Figure 77. STI Adjustable Rear Sight
Figure 78. S&W Revolver Sight on 1911
Figure 79. Millett Adjustable Revolver Sight on Star Pistol
Figure 80. MMC Rear Sight
Figure 81. Hakan Pek 1911 Grips
Figure 82. Micarta Grips
Figure 83. Checkered 1911 Grip with Diamond
Figure 84. Caspian Frame with 20 LPI Checkering
Figure 85. STI Front Strap
Figure 86. Anti-Skid Tape on Front Strap
Figure 87. Wilson Drop-In Checkered Front Strap Cover
Figure 88. Cracked Plastic Mainspring Housing
Figure 89. Disassembled Mainspring Housing
Figure 90. Tapered Mainspring Cap
Figure 91. Long Trigger
Figure 92. Jeweled Trigger
Figure 93. STI Long Trigger
Figure 94. Long Trigger with Arched Housing
Figure 95. Kimber Barrel Crown
Figure 96. Crowned Kart Barrel
Figure 97. Kart EZ-Fit Barrel
Figure 98. Colt Collet Bushing
Figure 99. Solid Bushings
Figure 100. Barrel Link and Lower Lug
Figure 101. Barrel Link and Lower Lug with Flatter Surface
Figure 102. Standard vs. Extended Thumb Safeties
Figure 103. Bullet Position vs. Slide Stop
Figure 104. Dished-Out Traditional Grip Safety
Figure 105. Drop-In Grip Safety
Figure 106. Various Grip Safeties
Figure 107. Shock Buffers
Figure 108. Inertial Firing Pin Position
Figure 109. Soft Hammer
Figure 110. New Sear Surface
Figure 111. Commander Hammer and Strut
Figure 112. Hammer Hooks
Figure 113. New Extractor Claw
Figure 114. Smoothed Extractor Claw Surface
Figure 115. Two-Piece Feed Ramp
Figure 116. One-Piece Feed Ramp
Figure 117. Disconnector Hole in Frame
Figure 118. Polished Disconnector
Figure 119. Cartridge Release Positions in Magazines
Figure 120. Flat vs. Rounded Magazine Followers
Figure 121. Various Magazine Followers
Figure 122. Slide Stop Engagement with Magazine Follower
Figure 123. Follower Forward of Magazine Body
Figure 124. Examples of Different Magazine Followers
Figure 125. Front Strap Notch
Figure 126. Tripp Cobra Follower
Figure 127. Lower Chamber Edge of Barrel
Figure 128. Carry 1911s
Figure 129. Colt Series 80 Mk IV
Figure 130. Hand-Built Caspian Patriot
Figure 131. Other Defensive Handgun Choices
Figure 132. Empty Chamber
Figure 133. Bushing Turned for Removal
Figure 134. Slide Stop Lined Up with Notch
Figure 135. Slide Assembly Ready to be Removed
Figure 136. Rotating and Removing Bushing
Figure 137. Barrel and Slide Removed
Figure 138. Removing Firing Pin
Figure 139. Colt 80 Series Firing Pin Safety
Figure 140. Extractor Being Removed
Figure 141. Field Stripped 1911
Figure 142. Frame with Grips Removed
Figure 143. Thumb Safety Being Removed
Figure 144. Plunger Being Removed
Figure 145. Colt Series 80 Lifter
Figure 146. Plunger Assembly
Figure 147. Mainspring Retaining Pin Removal
Figure 148. Mainspring Housing Being Removed
Figure 149. Mainspring Housing and Sear Spring
Figure 150. Hammer Pin Removal
Figure 151. Sear Pin Removal
Figure 152. Magazine Release Removal
Figure 153. Trigger Removal
Figure 154. Sear and Disconnector
Figure 155. Barrel Link Forward
Figure 156. Colt Magazine Disassembly
Figure 157. McCormick Magazine Disassembly
TABLES
Table 1. Norinco 1911 Chronograph Data
Table 2. Kimber Custom Classic Chronograph Data
Table 3. Springfield Armory 5" Chronograph Data
Table 4. Colt Series 80 Mark IV Chronograph Data
Table 5. Colt National Match Chronograph Data
Table 6. Caspian/Colt 5" Custom Chronograph Data
Table 7. Dan Wesson Patriot Expert Chronograph Data
Table 8. STI Trojan 5" Chronograph Data
Table 9. Springfield Armory Lightweight 5" Chronograph Data
Table 10. Colt Commander Chronograph Data
Table 11. Colt Defender Chronograph Data
Table 12. Caspian .45 Long Slide Chronograph Data
Table 13. 9mm STI 6" Trojan Chronograph Data
Table 14. STI Trojan .38 Super Chronograph Data
Table 15. Colt Delta Elite 10mm Chronograph Data
Table 16. Kimber Platinum .22 Chronograph Data
Table 17. 1911 .45 Magazine Dimensions
Table 18. Notch Height in Various 1911 Pistols
Table 19. Slide Stop Dimension Comparison
Table 20. 5" Slide Variations
Table 21. 5" Frame Variations
Table 22. Ejector Lengths by Maker