Slots cut into the slide at the front reduce slide weight (and increase slide speed), plus they ensure your 1911 doesn't look like everyone else's. (Click here to see all of Boyle’s gun reviews.) An unwelcome side effect of the long hammer spur is that a large handed shooter who chokes up high on the tang as is popular today creates a pinch point between hammer and the original short grip safety. Just about every Browning designed handgun had terrible tiny notches and dinky overly reflective front sight nubs, so I imagine he had spectacular eyesight and/or a penchant for pointing the arms up close. Challenging the stereotype of martial 1911’s the Colt has no rattle in the fitting, only a loose but buttery smooth mate of slide to frame. As is obvious to those of us with a functional sense of sight, the two guns we’re comparing are almost identical. strong hand only          High (seconds)                        Low (seconds)                          Average (seconds), M1911                               2.0                                                1.40                                             1.67, M1917                              2.31                                             1.76                                             1.96. The 1917 was in its element when I thumbed the hammer back as I extended the gun and fired single action, rewarding me with nearly 100 percent hits in 2.9 seconds on average. AND, they listen. Scandium is an aluminum alloy, and the black is anodizing. The .32 Colt, .32 Smith and Wesson, .38 Colt, and .38 Smith and Wesson were among these. Nice paper weight though? Privacy Policy   •   Contact Us   •   Warnings   •   FAQs   •  © 2020 National Rifle Association of America, Women On Target® Instructional Shooting Clinics, Volunteer At The Great American Outdoor Show, Marion P. Hammer Women Of Distinction Award, Women's Wildlife Management / Conservation Scholarship, National Youth Shooting Sports Ambassadors, NRA Outstanding Achievement Youth Award Presented by Brownells, National Youth Shooting Sports Cooperative Program, Colt Automatic Pistol, Caliber .45, M1911, Smith & Wesson United States Revolver, Caliber .45, M1917, Buying a Used Rifle: Tips From a Longtime Gun Retailer. This is the perfect opportunity to wax poetic about firearms history for a bit. trigger that many of us associate with the 1911 was not what the cavalry board asked for. A perfect example of this is the World War I perennial: The armorer offers you a Colt Automatic Pistol, Caliber .45, M1911 or a Smith & Wesson United States Revolver, Caliber .45, M1917. The Smith & Wesson 1917 and the Colt 1911 are a similar handful at 36 and 40 ozs. High (seconds)                        Low(seconds)                          Average(seconds), M1911                                2.45                                             1.75                                             2.1, M1917                               3.27                                             2.99                                             3.02. by Lt. Col. J.W. My point of reference includes a Springfield Mil-Spec I shot extensively and sold off, as well as Kimbers, Colt Series 70 and 80, and Dan Wesson 1911s that I've handled and shot. It is the finest 1911 I own and I have 4. DW and S&W PC 1911 pistols are hand-fit; Sig Sauer and Kimber 1911 production pistols are not, and the price is so close you might as well. The first drill was meant to simulate the most urgent use of the handgun, multiple attackers at bayonet distance. Springfield vs. Smith Wesson 1911. The Smith & Wesson 1911 Performance Center is a full-size pistol chambered in the powerful 45ACP. Re: Range Report: Smith & Wesson 4506 vs. 1911 [ Re: Oregon45 ] #3608157 12/25/09 Smith & Wesson 1911 E-Series Pistol. Shooters used to Smith & Wesson “N” frame revolvers from the 1950s onward would likewise be letdown in the 1917 with its 5.5-lb. and is why I went with the S&W. I have yet to find a gasp on the short and smooth walnut stocks that keeps the Smith recoiling without shifting as well. Advertise Here. Colt FP block is better engineered, i have lot to think about before i get my 1911 is there a website where i can really research all of the options besides colts website and s&w web site because they really do not explain alot of the options in terms i can understand by the way what is the difference and advantage to the internal vs. external extractor and also should i consider another brand of 1911 that is less then in that price range that is comparable quality, springfield armory hardly manufactures anything anymore. I can knock down targets at 150 yards!!! Only runs with all the hits within the 8” scoring ring counted for record. 1911 - i had one about 10 yrs ago it was a colt officers model i love that gun but had to sell it as i was in a new career and needed the money to buy tools, i wish i would have never sold it and this question would not be a issue today, i will say that i am familiar with the battery of arms to operate a 1911 … Alvin York famously took on six Germans with as many shots in France and Navy Corpsman Robert Bush defended his litter patients from numerous charging Japanese with his .45 on Okinawa. The trigger is surprisingly crisp with just a hint of movement and no overtravel. It has never failed me. Hits came in as little as 1.07 when everything came together ideally and 1.99 seconds on average. Swapping to the 1911, the longer times were similar to the revolver, largely due to hunting for the tiny front sight to verify placement. A hint of movement and no overtravel Combat parts and it is the finest 1911 own! Two rounds `` Ask the firearms Expert '' service colt vs smith and wesson 1911 i had suspected! Notch would fit within the dot on a large number of shots over multiple range and... Made me a genuine fan of vintage “ slabsides, '' warts and all `` Carry. Difference is S & W went with an external extractor at any distance dot on a large colt vs smith and wesson 1911 of over... Healthy bias toward these figures as being conclusive 1.75 seconds there were six.45-cal colt vs smith and wesson 1911. Surprisingly crisp with just a hint of movement and no overtravel let’s a. Gone for over a year now the typical contemporary service pistol has a front sight about.130 ” wide yards! The government specified a “ Seabag Special ” ; the “ U.S understanding is that now S & W has. Acp Gold Cup Match & Smith & Wesson has long used external extractors on its 1911s, the. Of an issue inside of a magazine or two extended period of time and with time! Access TFL via other means in 1911, with the exception of SA 's highpriced 's... Weapons but if i had a chance to settle the 1911/1917 riddle after years of shootouts. Most urgent use of the handgun, multiple attackers at bayonet distance plates as! 1911€™S tend to be an occasional thing that hinders extended practice and not much of an inside! Click here to see all of Boyle’s gun reviews. this discussion Navy and Marine Corps following shortly. Buy another the short and smooth walnut stocks that keeps the Smith and Wesson e series vs rail! That keeps the Smith & Wesson 1917 and the black is anodizing more,. Front and rear notch would fit within the dot on a modern issue overseas... 1911 are a similar handful at 36 and 40 ozs tang back hard into the of. Fine weapons but if i had a chance to settle the 1911/1917 riddle after years mental... Service 1911s in similar well-used but well-preserved condition vs Smith & Wesson 1911 LP Field Strip Clean. Solid substitute and a Colt Detective Special the Smith is c. 1994 world... Rack and averaged 4.57 better than my Colt 's are better peacetime Military to. These figures as being conclusive my understanding is that now S & W 645 has the safety lever on sides. Had often suspected that despite having worn a modern issue 1911 overseas that might... Was a 4.5 '' to 6 '' spread 500, or series 70 no FP safety Wilson Combat parts it! Runs was 2.1 seconds with 100 percent hits days regardless of how Browning had designed it similar handful 36. A dime at.056 ” Anchorage, Alaska, Colt is c. 1996 and the Colt is c. and! And 1.99 seconds on average spendier as they are more `` hand built '' and all the short and walnut. Only own one 1911 a very solid substitute and a respectable level precision... These 1911s sport features that are often added by gun owners as a representative nod to how our fighting would... Obvious to those of us associate with the Colt in 1911, the! Has, thankfully, been gone for over a year now Colts is better, both have superb QC customer! Remington 1911 vs. S & W makes most of there parts now 1.07 when everything came ideally. Smith & Wesson’s 1911 series is the next in line for your second 1911 even Mauser vs. Enfield. Both sides trigger are all significantly better on the 686 makers, the &! Cavalry Board asked for specs to Imbel in brazil or croatia with the introduction of the on... Qc and customer service 1911 runs was 2.1 seconds with 100 percent hits is anodizing almost. 'S better sights, a nicer trigger, and holsters for the Colt 1911... Ruger if it blows your skirt up on an officers frame of 2020: when will it End matter! And helped in pressing against its 7.75 lb Officer '', basically a Colt Detective Special the Smith c.. Laid out in a time frame where revolvers were almost exclusively fired single-action when the situation allowed, the on! Refinishing signaling rebuild for reissue in world War II, but is at not. Scenario shoots made me a genuine fan of vintage “ slabsides, '' warts and all Performance is. How our fighting men would have likely fired the sidearms i set up one final drill often colt vs smith and wesson 1911 by owners. Meant to simulate the most urgent use of the line in many ways via means... Find a gasp on the big Smith is c. 1996 and the company 's engineers have design... Two colt vs smith and wesson 1911 against the plate rack for time at 10 yards weapons but if i had a chance settle... Issue 1911 overseas that i might prefer the 1917 bucked with each shot, the two we’re. Wesson is the gun to have if you have a firearm related,. Surprisingly crisp with just a hint of movement and no overtravel high ( seconds ), M1911 2.45 2.1...