1911 buying advice needed

[Rick Lee]

If anyone here is shopping, I am selling the nicest stainless loaded Springfield Champion you'll ever see. Let me know if you want more info. Gotta pay for the Sinn 757 UTC I just bought.

[svandamme]

I think this thread will be instrumental in keeping me thinking about guns while I am waiting for mine..

[svandamme]

Bump with update !

Got a hold of the official who has my papers on his desk..

Rang them up with a "Hey, got my papers sent in , but not sure if the file is complete, can you check if i did things right or not?".

My idea was, if he picks up the file, has it in his hands, if i'm lucky he'll just process it while he has it...

And it worked, guy was friendly, found my file, called me back to tell me i can expect a letter early next week !

Sometimes you gotta be sneaky(but friendly) to get yer file on the top of the the burocratic pile!


So what's next..
- Letter telling me to fork over my fee > next week
- Visit of the LEO resonsible for Weaponry in the local county (already spoke with him a few weeks ago
- Schedule Theoretical test (during visit )
- Schedule Practical safe handling test at the range
- Pick up the Precious and a brick of Hard Ball !




Meanwhile i've been gathering up goodies : trigger lock, A-zoom snap caps, 2 spare Meg-Car 7 rd magazines.

It's actually a PITA here, hunting gear is easy to find, but 1911/.45 ACP stuff, not so much...Local gun stores don't have much in stock for those..

Still to find: Maglula Speed loader, Range bag to hold all my equipment

[id10t]

I'm very happy w/ my Eddie Bauer branded diaper bag as a range bag. Can hold darn near a case of ammo, targets, ear protection, extra mags, etc.

Skip the maglula - 1911 mags are easy to load. Speaking of mags, the mag is a weak spot on the 1911 - keep w/ quality mags - Chip McCormick, Novak, Wilson, etc.

[svandamme]

Was told that the meg-car is good quality, I gotta take what I can find round here, as import is a royal drag..and expensive..

The maglula seems like a handy thingie, considering I cannot load up my mags at home, then drive to the range..
I have to load em at the range But I guess ican give it a try without first

[MotoSook]

I'll second skipping the loader for the 1911 mag. Mec-Gar mags are good in 9mm...never used one for 1911s. I like the Wilson Combat mags...please I've never had any problems with the mags that came with my Springfield....

[BlueSkyJaunte]

I also vote for skipping the Maglula. 1911 mags are probably the easiest to load of any hand-spoon. I have a few Mec-gar mags in Officer's size that I haven't had any problems with. There are several brands that I trust in the regular size (8 or 7 round):

Wilson Combat 47D
Check-mate (Colt)
Chip McCormick

I tend to stick with the Wilsons as I prefer their follower design. However they're also the most expensive, so you may want to consider other options. Are there any import restrictions on things like magazines and other accessories?

[svandamme]

Legally any firearm part I import needs a special import license..even if it's. Just a screw.

A buddy ordered a scope.. Got grief over it...

Obviously, a lot can be avoided by labelling it as "machined parts" or "antiques"

[Jim Bremner]

Wow!

Do you guys have a liimit on how much ammo one can have?

What's the price on "food" for your 1911?

[svandamme]

340 something for a brick of S&B fmj, euros, you really don't wanna know..
Needless to say: I will be saving the spent brass and eventually learn to reload

[svandamme]

not sure bout limit to amount of ammo... not registred anyway, so i don't think that's an issue.

[Jim Bremner]

Originally Posted by svandamme

340 something for a brick of S&B fmj, euros, you really don't wanna know..
Needless to say: I will be saving the spent brass and eventually learn to reload

340 Euro per 1,000? it's the same here in USD but $340 per 1,000 so we get it for 40% cheaper due to the exchange rate.

I don't think that you really need a device to help load 1911 mags they're pretty easy to refill

[svandamme]

the snap caps arrive tomorrow, i'll see how those feed in the spare mags.. 30 euros saved i guess. An extra box of ammo instead!

[Vintage Racer]

Originally Posted by azasadny

This is the M1911A1 Remington Rand that I re-Parkerized a few weeks ago...

Art,
That is a very nice old WW2 1911. The black finish is called a "Black Army" gun.

Is it FS?

Originally Posted by id10t

Speaking of mags, the mag is a weak spot on the 1911 - keep w/ quality mags - Chip McCormick, Novak, Wilson, etc.

IMO, the magazine can be the problem when the pistol doesn't properly reload a cartridge. I had it happen once. I ordered a $10 spring and rebuilt the magazine. That worked well.

I just hesitate before buying a mag for a pistol that was not engineered for that pistol.

Originally Posted by Jim Bremner

it's the same here in USD but $340 per 1,000.

Jim,
It's the same price here. It's about $0.35/round (for 50). There is a small discount for a case (1000). These are 230 grain FMJ "range" rounds. The hollow point and competition stuff can be twice as much.

I've tried the reloading. I borrowed $1500 in equipment. It was $0.25/round. And you can't make a mistake since it will cause serious injury to your pistol (or your hand).

Originally Posted by Jim Bremner

I don't think that you really need a device to help load 1911 mags they're pretty easy to refill.

I agree. The magazine springs are a little "tight" at first. After a few rounds, it takes about 15 seconds to load the mag, place one in the barrel, and replace that one in the magazine.


Most guys use the "locked and loaded" position.


You must field-strip and clean a new pistol, and then every time after firing one. It's a breech-clean thing (never clean it from the front). It takes about 15-20 minutes to strip, clean, and re-assemble.


Fair Warning: you'll find that one 1911 isn't enough (like an early 911).

[svandamme]

No no-no nonono NO.

Not here, to much hassle to buy em... I've more or less decided on 3 guns

-1911, range, zombies,

-m1a for the range and to reach out and touch Zombies before they come close to my house (live on a hill )

-a yet to determine 12 gauge multi purpose double barrel, skeetshooting, close range Zombies and if i ever get hungry, rabbits, pheasants and/or Donald Duck. I know superposes are more modern, but i like the look and feel of a classic side by side twin barrel...

With those 3 i think i have about as much function as i can get, with the least amount of calibers, guns, paperwork, storage requirements.

[chibone_914]

If you want something to customize as your own, you can't go wrong with a Mil-spec SA or a model M1927 Argentine Colt. If you want something already tweaked and ready to go out of the box, Les Baer makes the best .45 out there period and well worth the money.

[svandamme]

papers were in the mail as promised, now i gotta call the cops on myself.. for real.
call em up, get an appointment to get them to visit my crib,do the theoretical test... And then the practical things are moving, slow, but steady ...

[Jim Bremner]

Originally Posted by svandamme

papers were in the mail as promised, now i gotta call the cops on myself.. for real.
call em up, get an appointment to get them to visit my crib,do the theoretical test... And then the practical things are moving, slow, but steady ...

Here in the States we have a great expresion. "Don't invite the MAN into your life"

Do Belgium cops like donuts too? Oh and hide your dog!

[svandamme]

Look, i'm all ok with that idea, but in practice, in Belgium it's unavoidable.

For instance if you move into a new house, you have to register at city hall.
city hall will then send a local beat cop around yer house to check if you really live there.

And in this case, applying for a gun permit, they have to come check if i'm not running a methlab.. and also to check if my wife doesnt' mind guns in the house ( don't have one) and that i have figured out how to keep the gun safe from any kids running arround ( don't have any).

Donuts are not something you'de find around these parts..beer on the other hand, yes.

[svandamme]

And the snapcaps & trigger lock arrived today.
Can start breaking in the mags a bit..