Spoons For Real Men

[Tim Hancock]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

I know I've mentioned him before, but Ross Seyfreid (out of Oregon) won the world IDPA championship when it was held in South Africa some 20-odd years ago. He had a pair of matching 1911's that were built for him by one of the old 'smiths who knew what it was all about. This was back before the "race guns" took over, so his two guns would probably fit the "production gun" class these days. One can certainly buy guns today, right off the shelf, that are far more "custom" than his were.

Anyway, Mr. Seyfreid was adamant that he would not trust either gun in an important match - or with his life - if was clean. He insisted on putting several hundred rounds through them before he would have trusted them to have "settled down" and started to shoot consistantly.

I find it amazing that a combat sidearm that served our armed forces for generations, having earned an enviable reputation for reliability while doing so, can be so primped and preened as to render it unreliable. And shooters have been conned into not only accepting that, but paying vast sums for that... amazing...

Well they are usually pretty simple to clear, but a few seconds worth of hiccups in an IDPA stage drops you several positions in a match. To be fair, I am not saying all 1911's have hiccups in every IDPA match, but when there is a problem at a match, I would guess 60-70% of the time it is a 1911.

I hated Glocks (triggers feel aweful initially compared to single action guns) when I was getting started in IDPA, but a friend who places well at the Nationals and other big matches convinced me to buy a Glock due to their proven reliability in competition. I have to say that he and most of the top IDPA shooters are right in choosing Glock for THIS TYPE of shooting. After one whole season of competing and practicing several times a week (probably around 8000 rounds), I have never had a single malfunction with my slightly modified Glock. I have a few Glock mags and 8 cheap aftermarket Korean mags.... they all run flawlessly and I have never had any of them apart for cleaning even though they all have been dropped many times in the dirt/sand/gravel/mud.

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by tabs

Would U like to have some wine with your whine. It is a nice fking spoon that I got at a good price relative to its retail and Dealer costs.

I'm sure it's a great gun, for a guy like you. You collect, I shoot. Two different ways to enjoy our guns, and I'm sure they have brought a great deal of enjoyment to both of our lives.

I just look at guns from a very pragmatic, practical point of view (o.k., with a fair dash of old school romance and nostalgia thrown in to spice things up). I will never have any "NIB, unfired, original papers" guns. I will never have wall hangers or safe queens. I shoot everything I own. A lot.

As such, I'll never fully appreciate the extraordinarily expensive custom 1911's. Maybe the more historic and collectible ones from top 'smiths who have earned a reputation, but not the run of the mill "custom". Especially after witnessing the "performance" or the latter (and increasingly, the former) on the range. Even the ones that manage to go "bang" every time shoot no better than mine, and the majority of their owners can't shoot anyway. And god forbid one of those gentrified 1911's get dropped in the mud or sand... they are like the prissy "four wheelers" (Cayenne, Range Rover, etc.) that will never get their boots muddy.

[GG Allin]

I keep a 1911 on hand. It's my #1 go to gun.

[JTO]

Last year I bought two STIs; a Lawman for IDPA and an Escort for concealed carry. The Lawman had one failure to go to battery in the first magazine I shot through it. It hasn't bobbled since. That is with my handloads (200 gr SWC). The Escort, being a three inch gun is supposed to be less reliable. It hasn't bobbled yet. It shoots the same size group as the 5" Lawman. They are very nice guns for the money, both being just North of $1100. They outshoot the Glock 20 I used previously in IDPA in terms of group size and it is much easier to shoot well on the qualifier at 25 yards with the sweet single action trigger and superior accuracy. They are made in Texas.

But, the gun I carry in the woods is my Glock Model 20.

Troy

[enzo1]

took my 45 1911 Kimber NIB to gun range all excited to shoot it..... stovepipe, hand it to the owner of gun range-stovepipe, not happy. Called buddy that talked me into this gun: " your shooting limp wristed ... Huh, so range owner is tooo.... then you need to break it in, shoot a thousand rounds through it. I need my gun to shoot, period. I've even thought of gong to a revolver.... or glock but not sure of trigger

[Henry Schmidt]

Originally Posted by tabs

People with short Peee Pee's shuldn't get into pissing matches with Boyz who have fire hoses for dicks.

I assume this is some sort of self-deprecating revelation.

[tabs]

Originally Posted by Henry Schmidt

I assume this is some sort of self-deprecating revelation.

I compensate with the number of spoons I have......

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by enzo1

took my 45 1911 Kimber NIB to gun range all excited to shoot it..... stovepipe, hand it to the owner of gun range-stovepipe, not happy. Called buddy that talked me into this gun: " your shooting limp wristed ... Huh, so range owner is tooo.... then you need to break it in, shoot a thousand rounds through it. I need my gun to shoot, period. I've even thought of gong to a revolver.... or glock but not sure of trigger

A buddy at work just took delivery of a Commander sized high-end Kimber Ultra Custom Carry Tactical Special Forces Operator Thunder Ranch Elite Meltdown Satin Stainless Limited Edition something-or-another. It averages several jams of different kinds per box fired. He has called Kimber several times, and all he hears from them is "you need to break it in". He's reluctant to send it back - it took them eight months to get it to him. He's kinda stuck... Meanwhile, my dead stock mil-spec Springfield keeps a-banging' away. I could buy four or five more for what he has into that Kimber. His is prettier, though.

[JTO]

enzo1:
I've never had good luck with Kimber. Too bad. I had to send it back to Kimber several times. Then finally they just refunded my money. I have been extremely happy with the STI.
Troy

[enzo1]

2 of my buddies have 4 Kimbers between them, they all shoot fine, they keep trying to get me to buy Combat Wilson clips. Kimbers are like good looking(trophy)women.....

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by tabs

Another John Browning legacy. This was picked up yesterday for $499 plus shipping and receiving. It is a Browning HP (mdl 1935) made in Beligium from 1980 to 85. It is Hard Chromed version wt std Pachmeyer ruber grips. Me thinks it needs a good cleaning

Now you're talking...only mine is blued. All depends on what you get used to, I guess...

[azasadny]

I wish I was home, I would post a few pics of the 2 WWII Remington Rand M1911A1
s that I have. They aren't worth anything to anyone but me, but I really like them!

[Henry Schmidt]

She 's not as pretty as some of these other 45s but at over 100 she still shoots like to day they built her.

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by azasadny

I wish I was home, I would post a few pics of the 2 WWII Remington Rand M1911A1
s that I have. They aren't worth anything to anyone but me, but I really like them!

Now we're talkin' - those are spoons for real men. Probably pretty damn reliable when fed hardball, too. These were real fighting guns - the best man has ever produced. I like the no frills, purposeful demeanor of these old war horses. They get it done without unnecessary bells and whistles, or all the trendy frills that many think are so "necessary" today.

Here's a modern version of these honest, hard working guns, my mid '80's issue Springfield. Nothing to look at, but all business:

[enzo1]

I've been "schooled", I too was looking for the frills, next one I buy will be all business and approved by the "brain trust" 1st

[BRPORSCHE]

You guys need to stop posting these.

[Shuie]

no jams

[enzo1]

Here's the culprit...

[porsche4life]

Its too pretty, thats the problem. You don't need a pretty gun, you need a gun that works!

[enzo1]

Damn right! I think I'll just start shooting the sh#t out of it.... oh and Syd, remember that when your looking at woman. LOL The little girl just caught my eye and next thing ya know....