Posted on 07/28/2012 11:46:19 AM PDT by Red in Blue PA
It’s been called the greatest handgun ever made, and it has barely changed sine 1911, when the legendary John Browning designed it especially for the U.S. Military.
And now, the Colt .45 M1911 is making a big comeback, now that the U.S. Marines have placed a $22.5 million order for the Connecticut-made pistols.
The gun, which has been wielded on film by John Wayne and in real life by Sgt. Alvin York and Maj. Audie Murphy, was the standard-issue sidearm in the military for decades, until it was replaced by the Beretta M9 in 1985.
"It just became an iconic part of military and American history." - Gerry Dinkel, CEO and president of Colt Defense
"It just became an iconic part of military and American history," Gerry Dinkel, CEO and president of Colt Defense, told FoxNews.com.
The gun, one of the most successful pistols ever used at Camp Perry's National Matches, a competition known to be the main world event in artillery sports, has barely changed since it's creation. Dinkel says that shows the gun's "elegant design" just can't be improved on. And firearms experts agree.
"You can’t beat a .45 cartridge," Jack Lewis, firearms director for Cowan's Auctions, told FoxNews.com. "Some things are hard to replace," he said.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
I’m not sure what John Moses Browning would think about the rail. But, good. I like my 1911 (except for the dents that the I put in the ceiling with the recoil spring plug).
yea, the best auto pistol that i know. had a browning HP also. great gun.
for hunting, nothing could beat a ruger blackhawk. love revolvers, my favorite is a dan wesson 357.
if i had to go to combat, i would prefer a 1911.
with a lot of clips, of course.
Blessings, bobo
Lose the romance of the 1911.
Some reports suggest Marines are not happy with their main Beretta M9s for their lack of accuracy and stopping power.
FYI, Since the Marsoc guys stopped using 1911’s they got rid of 9MM. My son was one of the first operators and they were the same until they tested and finally on the Colt.
By tha time my son had rotated out of Afghanistan and had about 3 years to stay around as a Marsoc instructor both pistol or rifle. ( switched and now an officer)
First .45 I owned was a Star PD. I bought it used and shot it a lot, thousands of rounds, and the frame cracked. I used it a lot harder than it was meant to be used, so I still think of it as a decent carry pistol. If another came my way, I wouldn’t turn my nose up at it.
As to the USMC purchasing this gussied up M1911A1, I think it’s a good decision. I never had a problem shooting those “old, worn out” pistols that Uncle Sam issued to us, even though several examples required some pretty pronounced Kentucky windage and elevation. Never did feel as secure with that M9 as with that old slabsided hand cannon by my side.
If I recall correctly, the USMC fairly recently decided that sidearms were only going to be issued to officers O-6 and above, and the SNCOs and junior officers were going to get M4 carbines. This new 1911 is going to be for special operators, an important but limited role. It’s not like they are ditching all the M9 Pistols and M4 carbines USMC wide to go back to the 1911.
I have had the pleasure of firing an Army 1911 built in 1921 and re-arsenaled at Anniston Arsenal, GA. in 1945. It shot unnaturally well-I actually shot better with it than with a finely tuned custom 1911.
It's a mortal sin to shoot such a thing, but one should do it a few times just to know what shooting is supposed to be like.
We don't need a plastic pistol that blows up and has inadequate safety features. Kimber would have been a better choice than Colt, however.
Great face-eating-zombie stopping power!
Much as I love my 1911 pistols, a handgun in today’s military of little consequence in the big scheme of things. The new M45 is a specialized tool in a specialized role.
If I was in charge (shudder to think of it) I’d let NCO’s and officers carry any pistol or revolver they wanted, if they didn’t like the GI one and they could qualify with it.
That sounds about right for the PD. As you said it was intended as a carry pistol not for heavy duty use. Star certainly knew how to build heavy duty guns tho.
I have read that some of the model 28/30s have fired over 90,000 rounds.
I think part of the problem with the .38s in the Phillipines was those .38 Colt Army and Navy revolvers fired a really weak cartridge, less than half as powerful as the 9mm.
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/1041872/chinese_pla_infantry_weapons/
U.S Marines vs Chinese Marines
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFoWCbQjwXw
Semper Fi
A .45 has such a kick to it unless your wrist is as thick as a normal guy`s leg.
After each shot I`ve always had to pause and reacquire the target.
But I do like the slug. Even Rodney King on crack wouldn`t get up when you get hit with one.
As a “non-combatant” corpsman i carried the m1911a1 in Nam until it was stolen. I replaced it with a sawed-off 12 gauge pump shotgun. I was never questioned about what i carried.
.45 ACP. designed especially to kill moslem Juramentados. and it works!
I would have to learn a lot more about that obstacle course before I worried about it.
Was that just a regular Marine unit grabbed off the base and seeing the course for the first time, and who were the Chinese, and had they trained for the event on that course.
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