new to 1911

[USPcompact45]

Hi,

I have been looking for a compact 1911 since most are single stack and carries the .45acp round. I'm 5'8 and 165lbs and would like to know which 1911 that you would recommend for ccw iwb. I also wanted to know if most 1911 have the 2nd strike capability. Thanks in advance.

[pangris]

No true 1911 will have the second strike capability. Not particularly relevant for a number of reasons, some explored in this thread

http://www.glocktalk.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=474756

but mainly b/c 1911s thump the crap out of primers. If it doesn't go bang, it probably won't the second time. Over many thousands of rounds - 10,000 plus - I've never had a round go bang *the second time* in a 1911 - in SIGS, Glocks, revos... yes. 1911s, no. Even with a 15 lb mainspring (23 is stock) in a comp gun, it always detonates.

Short version -
'C) "I've read that 80% of misfires are solved by pulling the trigger again..."

Many, many problems here. First - you assume that the malf you get will be recognized as a potential bad primer as opposed to a failure to go into battery, etc etc etc - things that a second strike won't touch. If you can differentiate the reasons "gun no go bang" faster than I can tap rack bang, OK - but if you second strike and it DOESN'T work, you have taken the time to -

1. realize gun doesn't go bang
2. analyze that gun is in battery and warrants a second strike
3. pull trigger again
4. realize gun doesn't go bang
5. realize you now must tap - rack
6. tap rack
7. pull trigger again

versus -

1. realize gun doesn't go bang
2. realize you now must tap - rack
3. tap rack
4. pull trigger again

I believe TR teaches you assume the worst and apply a solution that fixes all reasonable issues - tap rack is the fastest overall cure -all solution to no bang the vast majority of the time.'


Regarding a model selection, price range matters a whole bunch. There are options from the $400-ish range to $2000+. IMHO, the best value guns will run between $700-$1000.

[BilltheCat]

I never really understood the tap-rack thing.

Tap your head and wonder?

rack your brains for what to do next?

tap the slide into battery and then discard the rd? hmmmm

[ILikeFtLbs]

I would recommend the Springfield Micro-Comp. I have one an love it. My brother spent a fortune building (in my opinion) the nicest fullsize combat Colt series 70 1911 I have ever seen. Then he bought a micro-Comp, and that's what he carries most now.

I think tap-rack-bang is for failure to feed only.
Tap the magazine...if the slide doesn't close,
rack the slide...hopefully the jam is cleared,
shoot.

I prefer to run and hide if I get a misfire or jam.

[pangris]

TAP the magazine to make sure it is seated

RACK the slide to clear out the action

BANG is what should happen you pull the trigger.

TRB will fix a number of problems - bad round, mag not seated when you put it in, mag button accidentally depressed, stovepipe, failure to go into battery, some failures to extract/feed.

If that doesn't clear the malf, you strip the mag, rack slide (usually three times will get it), reinsert mag, chamber, and then bang.

I'd be VERY cautious about getting a gun with less than a 4" barrel. 3.5" is the absolute least - 3" guns often have timing problems. Some work, some don't.

4"-4.25" guns can almost always be troubleshot with conventional methods. 3"-3.5", and you're asking for trouble and risk making your gunsmiths car payment.

Paul