The .45 M1911 Automatic

THE

AUTOMATIC

Assembly, history and performance of the U.S. M1911-series pistols and the commercial models A N AMERICAN RIFLEMAN REPRINT

PUBLICATIONS Copyright© 1980, 1989, 1998 National Rifle Association of America 11250Waples Mill Road Fairfax, Virginia 22030-9400

Fourth Edition, Third Printing December, 2005 THE COVER: On the front cover, an early, blued Model of 1911 Colt .45 ACP pistol and a commercial stainless steel Colt Mark IV/Series 80 Gold Cup National Match model demonstrate how little John M. Browning's original design changed in nearly 80 years. On the back cover, a Wilson Combat Service Grade Classic built on a Springfield, Inc., frame and slide rests on a target that illustrates the inherent accuracy of both the Browning design and the .45 ACP cartridge. Cover photographs by Talmadge G. Rutledge. Front cover pistols courtesy of Doug Wicklund and the National Firearms Museum.

C A U T I O N : The material contained herein is reprinted from past issues of the American Rifleman magazine, a copyrighted publication of the National Rifle Association of America (NRA). Therefore, while technically sound and historically relevant, it may have been updated by research more recent than the original date of publication. All technical data in this publication, especially for handloading, reflect the limited experience of individuals using specific tools, products, equipment and components under specific conditions and circumstances not necessarily reported in this publication, and over which the NRA has no control. The data have not otherwise been tested or verified by the NRA. The NRA, its agents, officers and employees accept no responsibility for the results obtained by persons using such data and disclaim all liability for any consequential injuries or damages.

CONTENTS

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9 0

ASSEMBLY It's Very Easy

Page 2

Takedown of the .45 auto pistol may look difficult, but if you do the job step-by-step, you will have no trouble.

Re-assembly of the .45

Page 6

Colt Mark IV/Series 70, 80, 90 disassembly

Page 7

M1911A1 Exploded View

Page 25

HISTORY Canadian M1911s?

Page 15

Service Pistol Surrogates

Page 16

Everybody wants a pistol that looks like a GI .45, and everybody always has. By J.B. Roberts, Jr.

Trials of the .45

Page 20

Throughout its service, the pistol has been tested and re-tested away from the battlefields. By Col. Jim Crossman

.45 Auto Serial Numbers

Page 24

PERFORMANCE The .45: America's Cartridge

Page 8

Here's how to get the most out of .45 loads.

By C.E. Harris

Making Your 1911 Shoot Straight

Page 12

Does your M1911 live up to its full accuracy potential? Here are some things that you and your gunsmith can do to make it really shoot. By Stanton L. Wormley, Jr.

Takedown of the . 45 auto pistol may look difficult, but if you do the job step-by-step, you will have no trouble ...

VERY EASY

• • •

T

HE fact that the basic John B r o w n i n g - d e signed U . S . Pistol, Caliber .45, Model of 1911, remained the official handgun of our armed services for 74 years, until the adoption of the 9x19 mm Beretta M9 pistol in 1985, speaks well for both the Colt firm and the board of U.S. Army officers involved in its selection. Composed of four line officers and one ordnance officer, the selection board was convened by a special order of the secretary of war dated December 28, 1906. Arms referred to the board were all of .45 cal. and included autoloading pistols of Colt, Luger, Savage, Knoble, Bergmann, and WhiteMerrill design, and double-action revolvers by Colt and Smith & Wesson. Also considered was the unique automatic revolver of Webley-Fosbery make. The evaluation program instituted by the board was designed to simulate rigorous service conditions as much as possible and included endurance, dust, rust, accuracy, functioning, and numerous other tests calculated to reveal design flaws and general service capabilities of the various guns submitted.

Service test revealing By 1907, the board had completed its work, and all but the Colt and Savage entries had been eliminated from consideration. A

2

service test of both the Colt and Savage pistols was then authorized with two troops of U.S. Cavalry assigned for the purpose. That initial service test revealed that neither pistol had reached the desired level of perfection. Accordingly, the Ordnance Department instituted a series of further experiments and informal tests, which eventually resulted in the appointment of a new selection board that convened in March 1911.

Its superiority noted The first paragraph of their final report is as follows: "Of the two pistols, the board was of the opinion that the Colt is superior, because it is more reliable, more enduring, more easily disassembled when there are broken parts to be replaced, and the more accurate." T h a t , in short, e x p l a i n s w h y the Browning-Colt .45 Automatic pistol was eventually adopted as an official U.S. Service arm and formally designated as the

With thumb, press inward on knurled end of plug, at same time rotating barrel bushing one-quarter turn clockwise to free plug and recoil spring assembly. Rest heel of gun on table so both hands may be used.

2

3

1 Press magazine catch with right thumb I while at the same time withdrawing magazine from receiver. Pull slide to rear and look in chamber to see thatgun is not loaded. Close slide and pull trigger so hammer is down.

Remove plug a n d recoil s p r i n g . If spring d o e s not c o m e free easily, rotate plug in counter-clockwise direction to separate plug from recoil spring.

4

Rotate barrel bushing counter-clockwise until d i s e n g a g e d from slide. Remove barrel busing.

7

Pull receiver group to rear and off slide. Recoil spring guide can now be lifted out.

Push link f o r w a r d a n d remove barrel from front of slide.

8

5

Pull slide to rear until lug on slide stop is opposite clearance notch on slide. Use finger on left hand to push inward on rounded end of slide stop pin protruding on right side of receiver, which will disengage slide stop from slide.

"U.S. Pistol, Caliber .45, Model of 1911." It is recorded that Colt made up nearly 200 experimental pistols before producing the model finally accepted. Accurate, readily disassembled without the use of tools, and extremely rugged in every detail, the Model of 1911 has achieved a reputation for combat serviceability unsurpassed by any other military handgun. It is admittedly a difficult pistol to shoot accurately, and during the early 1920s several minor changes were made in an attempt to better its handling qualities. Those changes included frame scallops near the trigger, an arched mainspring housing, shorter hammer spur, Patridge-type sights, short trigger, and longer grip safety horn. The effect of the changes was to eliminate 'pinching' of the thumb web, and men with short fingers or small hands welcomed the shorter trigger. The better sights also improved the sight picture for target shooting purposes. This improved model was designated the U.S. Model 1911-A1 and was adopted in 1924.

9

With hammer cocked, rotate safety lock almost to "on" position. It can now be pulled to left and a w a y from receiver.

3

Not always wanted

Good scores attainable

Surprisingly enough, many present-day shooters prefer the original long trigger and old-style flat mainspring housing and will invariably 'de-modernize' a new gun by substituting old-style parts for the new. Target shooting with the 'as issued' Service pistol can be disappointing if the various moving parts are not precisely fitted and adjusted. In racetrack terminology, the .45 Colt pistol is a 'mudder' designed to function reliably with a good deal of foreign matter in its mechanism. The necessarily wide clearances between moving parts are desirable in a military arm, but are undesirable in a target gun. Thus, in 1933, Colt introduced its National Match .45, which is the same basic pistol machined to closer tolerances, with a specially selected barrel, an optional, adjustable rear sight and precision-fitted lock work. It enjoyed considerable popularity, but was discontinued during World War II. It was reinstated in the Colt handgun line in 1957 as the Colt Gold Cup National Match model.

For decades, most U.S. marksmen have had their commercial or military .45s "accurized" by experienced pistolsmiths specializing in this type of work. Nowadays, however, original U.S.-issue military service pistols have largely been relegated to collector status, and many factory .45s made by current manufacturers come out of the box in configurations ranging from plain-jane duty pistols to heavily modified race-ready competition guns. Also there are an astonishing array of aftermarket parts available for the do-it-yourselfer or gunsmith to make improvements in accuracy, reliability and handling. Popular modern-day variations of the basic Browning-Colt design have led to smaller and wider-framed higher-capacity guns. It all started with the original Colt Commander, which featured a frame and slide of lightweight "Coltalloy." With a 3/4" shorter barrel and weighing 26Vi ounces as compared with 39 ounces for the

Lift out sear and disconnector. Note relationship of these parts to facilitate re-assembly.

Q A W i t h hammer strut, push X v o u l link pin, separating link from barrel.

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W i t h h a m m e r strut, push in on firing pin. At same time place fingernail against top edge of firing pin stop a n d push d o w n w a r d , freeing firing pin stop from recess in slide

Separate firing pin from firing pin spring.

1 Q Depress magazine catch from left side while at the same l O t i m e rotating m a g a z i n e catch lock one-quarter turn counter-clockwise using lip of sear spring as screwdriver. Then remove magazine catch assembly from right side of receiver. Catch assembly can be reduced to components by turning lock clockwise one-quarter turn. Spring and lock will come out.

O O Remove firing pin stop. L ^ F i r i n g pin assembly can now be removed from slide.

O O With hammer strut, pry L O

outand remove extractor.

Model 1911, the Commander found a ready market in those who preferred lightweight but powerful handguns. It has since been followed by other, smaller Colt compacts, such as the Officer's ACP and Defender pistols. Many other variations—including larger magazine capacity or "widebody" guns—have been offered by foreign and domestic arms makers in an almost dizzying number of choices, but all are still based on John Browning's legendary design. The accompanying instructions are for the basic U.S. Model 1911A1 pistol, but should provide enough information to guide owners of most other M1911-based pistols through the disassembly process. Additional takedown instructions specific to the Colt Series 70, 80 and 90 pistols may be found on page 7. Be aware that specialized parts and features found on many custom and competition pistols require specialized tools or knowledge not covered here. (JRf)

DIRECTIONS FOR RE-ASSEMBLY OF THE M1911A1 PISTOL To assemble slide: 1. Insert extractor into slide with its flat side parallel to recess wall and push inward until notch near rear of extractor is opposite notch in right side of recess wall. 2. Place firing pin spring on firing pin and insert assembly into firing pin hole in slide. 3. Depress firing pin with fingertip and at the same time insert firing pin stop with its rounded edge up and notch to left. 4. Push upward on firing pin stop until it engages shoulder at rear of firing pin, thus holding firing pin in place within slide. 5. Using hammer strut, depress firing pin to permit movement of firing pin stop upward into final position. End of firing pin should now protrude through hole in firing pin stop. 6. Assemble link to barrel with link pin. 7. Insert barrel assembly into slide and engage barrel locking lugs with recesses in slide. 8. Insert barrel bushing into slide. 9. Insert recoil spring guide into recoil spring and place assembly in slide with wings on recoil guide toward barrel. To assemble receiver: 10. Insert trigger. 1 1. Insert magazine catch. 12. Assemble sear and disconnector together with flat face of disconnector against trigger yoke and sear over disconnector, curved section inward, lugs pointing to bottom. 1 3. Insert sear pin from left side of receiver. 14. Replace sear spring and retain in place with mainspring housing inserted 1/8" short of final position. 15. Replace hammer and strut assembly. 16. Insert hammer pin. 17. Replace grip safety. 1 8. Cock hammer and replace safety lock. 19. Lower hammer, and, with end of hammer strut in mainspring cap, press mainspring housing into place and insert mainspring housing pin. To complete assembly of pistol: 1. Cock hammer. While holding both slide and receiver bottom side up and with link tilted forward, slide receiver into the slide assembly and insert slide stop, taking care that slide stop pin engages link. 2. Push forward and inward to engage slide stop. 3. Engage safety to lock receiver and slide together. 4. Place plug over end of recoil spring. 5. Push plug into slide until barrel bushing can be rotated into locked position. 6. Disengage safety. 7. Insert magazine.

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.45 Firing Pin Safety

Q

After I purchased my Colt Mark IV, Series 80, .45 Auto—with its firing pin block safety—a friend reported that Colt made guns like it in the 1930s, then stopped. What's the story?

A

The pre-World War II safety device to which your friend refers was patented in 1939 by William J. Swartz of Colt's Engineering Department. A report on the device appeared in the January 1976 issue of American Rifleman. Colt installed Swartz safety devices on approximately 2,900 Government Model .45s and Super .38s between late 1937 and 1941—when production of commercial pistols ceased for the duration of World War II.

Series 70/80 Disassembly

Q

When I follow the conventional instructions for disassembling my unmodified Colt Mk IV/Series 70 .45,1 am unable to turn the barrel bushing without a great deal of effort. It is even tough using a bushing wrench. What is the problem?

Colt opted, in its post-war commercial production, to revert to the original design of the .45 Auto, and dropped the firing pin safety-until the 1980s. In the late 1970s, Colt undertook a program to develop a firing-pin-block safety for use in all Colt pistols. The results of that program were introduced in 1983 as features of the .45 Government Model, Mark IV/Series 80. Today, all Colt semi-auto pistols, including the 10 mm Delta Elite and the .380 G o v e r n m e n t M o d e l and .380 Mustang, feature a Series 80-style firingpin-block safety. The Series 80 safety, unlike the Swartz, which released the firing pin when the grip safety was squeezed, works off of the trigger. Thus, the Series 80 safety will not release the firing pin until the trigger is

back the collet clear of the enlarged portion of the barrel and the bushing can be turned and removed with relative ease.

A

Beginning with the Mk IV/Series 70 and continuing into Series 80 production, Colt changed the bushing in its commercial .45 Autos from a simple cylinder to a spring-tempered collet, the fingers of which grasp an enlarged-diameter portion of the barrel just back of the muzzle. Without following the special procedure described below, it is extraordinarily difficult to turn the Series 70/80 bushing. Having first made sure the pistol is unloaded and then resting the heel of the butt on a table or bench—according to the manual supplied by Colt Manufacturing—push the slide back about 1/4 inch, press down on the recoil spring plug, located just below the muzzle, and at the same time rotate barrel bushing clockwise about a quarter turn, using a bushing wrench if necessary. From a practical standpoint, opening the breech far enough to insert an empty .45 case so that it emulates a "smokestack" jam will

To remove the collet-style barrel bushing of a series 70 or 80 Colt Government Model pistol, begin by drawing the slide slightly to the rear.

Old "NRA" .45s

Q

Is it true that Springfield Armory sold .45 pistols for NRA members with "NRA " stamped on the frame?

Firing-pin-block safety in Colt Mark IV/Series 80 and later pistols remains engaged until pressure on trigger pivots lower sear lever, which in turn actuates upper sear lever and presses firing pin lock plunger out of engagement to free firing pin.

actually pulled. Series 80 safety parts, shown in the accompanying illustration, are peculiar to Series 80 pistols and will not fit earlier .45s.

A

In the August 8,1912, issue of Arms and the Man, predecessor of the American Rifleman, .45 Model 1911 pistols were offered for sale to NRA Life members and individual members of NRAaffiliated clubs. Approved for sale by the Ordnance Department, the M1911 sold for $ 1 6 . 0 4 , with p a y m e n t to be made to Springfield Armory. The actual delivery of the .45s did not take place until a few years later. The M1911 s, produced by both Colt and Springfield Armory, were stamped with the letters "N.R.A." below the serial number on the right side of the frame. There is some question as to the actual number of NRAstamped 1911s that were sold. Gen Julian S. Hatcher, answering a Dope Bag inquiry of March 1951, stated that only 57 such pistols were sold prior to 1922. The book "United States Martial and Collector Arms," published by Military Arms Research Service, estimates that 100 Springfield Armory and 10 Colt NRA-stamped pistols were sold to members. Although the exact number of these pistols is not known, the N R A stamped .45 s are among the rarest of M1911 variations. After World War II, the Director of Civilian Marksmanship sold M1911 and M1911A1 pistols to NRA members, but these lacked the NRA marking. That program was discontinued in 1968.

7

AMERICA'S CARTRIDGE Stateside shooters may flirt with the slim and exotic, but they come back to the fat and familiar. Here's how to get the most out of .45 loads. By C.E. Harris

M

Y first a r t i c l e on the .45 A C P appeared in these pages more than 20 years ago (American Rifleman, February 1972, p. 38). Time has only reinforced my opinion that the M1911A1 and its variants remain the best pistols in this

caliber. If you prefer revolvers, you can still find a .45 ACP to your liking. Technology has not improved the handling or accuracy of general-purpose handguns very much, but handgun ammunition is much improved from that of even 10 years ago. The traditional .45 ACP menu of "hardball," wadcutters or cast lead now includes

Reloading for the venerable and versatile .45 ACP can yield satisfying results, given the wide variety of bullet and powder choices. The short, fat case makes handling it easier than most. Of course, all the usual safety procedures should be observed when preparing to assemble your favorite load.

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jacketed hollow points, +P law enforcement loads and shotshells. So, the .45 ACP is now better than ever. Although U.S. Armed Forces declared the M1911 A l pistol obsolete, military and police organizations still use .45 ACPcaliber pistols for some counter-terrorist, drug enforcement and special operations. Despite the general issue of 9 mm Berettas and SIGs, Colt and Heckler & Koch are working on .45 pistols for use by elite members of the Armed Forces. New-generation handguns such as the Glock 21 and Ruger P90 are available for the .45 ACP and provide users with more options than ever. Advocates of the .45 reason that a single, well-placed, half-ounce bullet is preferable to using twice as many 9 mm rounds to do the same job. The .45 vs. 9 mm debate will continue, but the availability of modern pistols and new ammunition for this fine old cartridge ensures that the .45 ACP will be with us well into the next century. The reason for the .45's longevity is that it is m o r e f l e x i b l e t h a n m o s t s e m i automatic pistol rounds. It is one of the most inherently accurate handgun loads ever designed and is highly suitable for sporting, military and law enforcement use. For the civilian hunter and sportsman, the availability of mid-range wadcutter, j a c k e t e d h o l l o w - p o i n t and s h o t s h e l l ammunition provides obvious field utility for small game and varmints, the handgun's typical targets for those users. Its fine accuracy, adequate power, manageable recoil and lack of extreme penetration are important advantages for the urban handgun owner who wants one sidearm to do double-duty both on the target range and for home defense. The only place the .45 auto falls short is as a primary hunting arm for. deer-sized game. A handgun powerful enough for deer is bulky and has excessive

recoil for general use. Because the These are a great buy for the .45 is a c c u r a t e , " p o w e r f u l volume user. enough," and provides a variety of In my opinion, the most satisammunition options, it is an obvifactory .45 ACP ammunition is ous choice when a firearm is indiobtained with the fastest powder cated, but a rifle is either inconthat provides the desired velocivenient or simply too obvious. ty with the m i n i m u m charge It is true that the .45's trajectoweight. This provides an ecory is not as flat as that of the .357 nomical, clean-burning load. Mag. or similar rounds, but this is Charges approximating hardball unimportant at realistic handgun velocities with 230-gr. FMJ bulranges. The Government Model lets are 4.6 to 5.0 grs. of Bullseye, A representative sample of .45 ACP hollow-point bullets. Note pistol, when zeroed to center on a Red Dot or 700-X; 5.5 to 6.0 grs. differences in length, hollow point diameter and jacket design. 25-yd. target using a 6 o'clock of SR7625 or W231; or 6.0 to 6.5 hold, strikes close enough at 100 g r s . of U n i q u e . T h e r e is no yds. that you can hit a woodchuck using a 25 yds. with match ammo, and 4" groups advantage to using slower powders for head hold. with ordinary "ball." This is adequate for hardball loads, but they may be beneficial Selection of proper ammunition is the practical field use because you use a hand- with JHP bullets to achieve higher velocikey to making your .45 perform for you. gun 10 times as often within 50 ft. as you ties to enhance expansion and maximize Four basic ammunition types cover all will beyond 50 yds. striking energy. potential uses. These Bullseye and are military "hardUnique used to be ball" or full-metalmy favorite .45 ACP jacketed (FMJ); powders, but today semiwadcutter my preference leans (SWC), which may toward SR7625 and be either full-metalW231 because they j a c k e t e d or lead; burn cleaner, meter jacketed hollow well and seem more point (JHP) hunting flexible for other and defense loads; purposes. Blue Dot and either factory or is the slowest powh a n d l o a d e d shotder I ever use in the shells for poisonous .45 ACP. My use of it snakes and hunting is limited to bullets small game. over 230 grs. to permit reasonable The military .45 PISTOL BALL CARTRIDGE, CALIBER . 4 5 , MODEL OF 19! v e l o c i t i e s within ACP Ball, M 1 9 1 1 cartridge fires a 230- The drawing above, from a 1918 "Manual of the Automatic Pistol Caliber .45 Model of 1911," illus n o r m a l o p e r a t i n g gr. round-nosed, full- trates components of the original military .45 ACP loading—a 230-gr. bullet traveling at 855 f.p.s pressures. metal-jacketed bullet I recommend that Handloaders, of course, want to pro- shooters who fire several thousand rounds at 855+/-30 f.p.s. at 25!^ ft. from the muzzle. Commercial hardball loads are some- duce safe, accurate and reliable ammuni- yearly cast their own bullets. This saves times loaded to a lower velocity of 800 to tion that is less expensive than factory money on components and helps expensive loads. Making handloads approximate custom barrels last longer. Most commer830 f.p.s., depending upon manufacturer. Military service ammunition must pro- G.I. ammunition is easy. Sierra, Speerand cially cast bullets lead bores in other than duce no worse than a 7.46" mean diagonal for Hornady FMJ bullets are the most accu- minimum-dimensioned match barrels, even 10-shot groups at 50 yds. while match ammo rate for competition, but economy-minded with light loads, because they are too hard shooters will be entirely satisfied with bulk and undersized. can be no worse than 3" from a test barrel. In my experience, military hardball Winchester or Remington factory bullets, Best results for full-power SWC loads ammunition in an accurized M1911 Al pis- such as those available from Midway. in the .45 ACP are obtained with bullets tol produces 5" 10cast of 1 3 t o l 5 B H N , shot groups at 50 yds. s u c h as 1 lb. of from a machine rest. Linotype to 5 lbs. of Match hardball may wheelweights. These approach half that. should be sized to not Factory wadcutters more than .0005" may shave another less than the diameinch off the average ter of the f o r c i n g group size. cone entrance of the The as-issued pischamber. Note I say tol, assuming good the chamber throat a m m u n i t i o n , will here, and not groove The .45 ACP cartridge is extremely versatile as shown above. From left to right: two shot loads, a semi-wadcutter match bullet, a lead round nose, an FMJ round nose and a soft point. produce 3" groups at diameter, which is

n

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almost meaningless in determining proper bullet size. Lead bullets for the .45 auto pistol s h o u l d never e x c e e d . 4 5 3 " d i a m e t e r because case bulging from seating oversize bullets will impair reliable function. When loading for .45 ACP revolvers, best results are obtained with bullets sized to fit the cylinder throats, typically .454" to .455". If you have both revolvers and auto pistols in .45 ACP and want to use the same ammo in all, size to .453". Depending upon the specific alloy and the amount of sizing required, the final most desirable bullet diameter may vary from the nominal size of your lubricator die. It is worth the effort to check several sized bullets with a micrometer to ensure proper fit when compared to a chamber cast of your gun. Powder charges listed for the FMJ bullets should be initially reduced a full grain when loading lead bullets, then increased carefully to obtain best accuracy and function. The c h a r g e s listed must not be

Table I Jacketed Bullets Mid-Range Target Loads 185-gr. F M J S W C Velocity 7 5 0 - 8 5 0 f.p.s./OAL: 1.25" Start (grs.) 4.6 4.6 5.9 4.9 4.7 6.7 8.3 6.1 5.9

Maximum Powder Type (grs.) Alliant Bullseye 5.3 5.1 IMR 700-X 6.6 Winchester W231 5.4 Hodgdon HP38 5.4 Alliant Red Dot 7.3 IMR SR-4756 8.8 Accurate Arms No. 5 6.9 Alliant Unique 6.7 Winchester 473AA

.035/.045.049/.039.034/.024-

r

.4732/.4672-

.4730 REF.

-.4760/. 4700

3 5 7 55-

- .4530/.4500 LEAD BULLET

1.190/1.275

- .4520/.4490 JACKETED BULLET

Reloading manual drawing for the .45 ACP reveals crucial case and overall dimensions necessary to produce safe, accurate handloads for this tried-and-true, rimless-design autopistol cartridge.

increased without cross-checking against published data. Round-nosed cast bullets like the Lyman No. 452374, LeeTL452-230-2R and RCBS 45-230RN feed well in as-issued pistols, and give good practical accuracy. Heavy, flat-nosed conical or SWC bullets like the H&G No. 292 are more accurate and generally better than lead round-nosed bullets for general use. If you intend to buy only one .45 ACP mold, I recommend a 200-gr. SWC such as the H&G No. 68, Lee T L 4 5 2 - 2 0 0 , RCBS 45-200 or 45-201 or the Lyman No. 452460. Factory .45 ACP midrange wadcutter loads all feature a 185-gr. FMJ SWC at 770

f.p.s. These loads are intended to provide top accuracy combined with reduced recoil for timed and rapid stages in matches. These make fine small-game loads as-is and really would be no slouch for personal defense as they have about the same energy as .38 Spl. +P rounds. The problem is that not all pistols feed them reliably, and tuning a pistol to work reliably with them requires some gunsmithing, whereas obtaining functional reliability is seldom a problem with full-power 200-gr. SWCs. Factory wadcutter velocities are approximated with 185-gr. jacketed bullets by using Bullseye, Accurate Arms No. 5, Hodgdon HP38, Red Dot or 700-X; or W231 orSR7625.

200-gr. F M J S W C Velocity 7 5 0 - 8 5 0 f.p.s./OAL: 1.23" Start (grs.) 4.3 4.0 5.2 7.1 4.2 6.2 8.3 5.6 5.9

Maximum Powder Type (grs.) Alliant Bullseye 5.1 4.5 IMR 700-X 5.9 Winchester W231 Hodgdon HS-6 8.1 Alliant Red Dot 4.8 6.8 IMR SR-7625 8.9 Accurate Arms No. 5 6.3 Alliant Unique Winchester 473AA 4.5

230-gr. F M J Velocity 7 5 0 - 8 5 0 f.p.s./OAL: 1.27" Maximum (grs.)

Powder Type

4.7 4.5 4.9 7.9 4.7 5.5

5.5 5.1 5.7 8.8 5.4 6.0 9.0 6.9 6.1

Alliant Bullseye IMR 700-X Winchester W231 Hodgdon HS-6 Alliant Red Dot IMR SR-7625 Accurate A r m s No. 5 Alliant Unique Hodgdon HP38

a>

Start (grs.)

6.0 5.5

Abbreviations: OAL (overall length), FMJ (full metaljacketed), SWC (semi-wadcutter)

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A sampling of .45 ACP propellant choices suggests that most buyers will have little need to run out to the store for powder before reloading for this popular, well-established autopistol cartridge.

Table II Jacketed Bullets Full-Power Loads 185gr. F M J / J H P Velocity 8 5 0 - 9 5 0 f.p.s./OAL: 1.155" Start Maximum (grs.) (grs.) 5.3 6.1 5.1 5.6 6.6 7.4 8.9 9.8 5.4 6.0 7.3 8.0 8.5 9.5 6.9 7.7

Powder Type Alliant Bullseye IMR 700-X Winchester W231 Hodgdon HS-6 Alliant Red Dot IMR SR-4756 Accurate Arms No. 5 Alliant Unique

200-gr. F M J / J H P Velocity 8 5 0 - 9 5 0 f.p.s./OAL: 1.245" Start (grs.) 5.1 4.5 5.9 8.1 4.8 5.6 8.9 6.3

Maximum Powder Type (grs.) 5.8 Alliant Bullseye 5.1 IMR 700-X 6.7 Winchester W231 9.2 Hodgdon HS-6 5.4 Alliant Red Dot 6.2 IMR SR-7625 9.5 Accurate Arms No. 5 7.0 Alliant Unique

230-gr. F M J / J H P Velocity 8 0 0 - 9 0 0 f.p.s. Start (grs.) 4.6 5.8 8.1 6.6 6.7 6.0 5.6

Maximum (grs.) 5.2 6.2 9.1 7.4 7.5 6.8 6.2

Powder Type Alliant Bullseye IMR SR-7625 Hodgdon HS-6 Alliant Herco IMR SR-4756 Alliant Unique Winchester W231

240-gr. J H P Velocity 7 5 0 - 8 5 0 f.p.s./OAL Start (grs.) 4.6 4.7 5.7 7.0 6.1

Maximum Powder Type (grs.) Alliant Bullseye 5.4 5.5 Alliant Red Dot 6.4 Alliant Unique 7.8 Accurate Arms No. 5 Alliant Herco 6.9

260-gr. J H P Velocity 7 5 0 - 8 5 0 f.p.s./OAL Start (grs.) 5.8 5.8 5.4 6.3

1.185"

Maximum (grs.) 6.4 6.4 5.9 6.9

1.185"

Powder Type IMR SR-4756 Alliant Unique Winchester W231 Alliant Herco

Abbreviations: OAL (overall length), FMJ (full metaljacketed), SWC (semi-wadcutter)

When using cast lead SWCs. you don't need quite as heavy a charge to reach the same velocity as with a jacketed bullet. Traditional target loads with the "buttonnosed" 190-gr. H&G No. 130 and the similar Lyman No. 452488 bullets are 4 grs. of Bullseye, or 4.2 grs. of W 2 3 1 . T h e charges listed above for jacketed wadcutters are not maximum with cast SWCs of comparable weight, but they should be initially reduced a half grain and adjusted upward until best functioning and grouping are obtained.

Lighter SWC bullets such as the Lee 45M1911A1 pistols that feed other SWCs 1SSS WC require heavier charges to operate reliably will perform well with these heavythe pistol reliably. My experience with such bullet loads, which produce about 840 f.p.s light bullets in the .45 ACP is limited, but I in the auto pistol. If continued use of these have found standard "hardball" charges are is contemplated, I recommend the charge be safe, function well and give good accuracy reduced to 8 grs. of Blue Dot or 5.5 grs. of with almost any lighter SWC bullet. Unique (800 f.p.s.). This reduces the recoil The most accurate .45 wadcutter ammu- impulse to approximate "ball" ammunition. nition I ever used was a "mistake" in which Otherwise, the increased recoil can be 185-gr. jacketed wadcutters were assembled expected to batter an M1911 -type pistol with a full hardball powder charge, produc- pretty severely. ing about 880 f.p.s. The .45 ACP offers everything the handIn factory acceptance this particular lot gunner needs: adequate power, excellent was the most accurate .45 ACP ammuni- accuracy, manageable recoil and flexibility. tion the factory ever tested, but while safe And, in the words of the late Harry Archer, and satisfactory, it didn't meet specifica- when confronted by a threat, "If you Brasso tions, so it was offered to military teams. the top hardball round, the fellow can readIt was great for 50-yd. slow-fire, but had ily see the bullet pointed at him, and he may more recoil than competitors liked for just drop dead of fright. If he persists, and timed and rapid. you don't want to shoot, you can still crawl The availability of the 185-gr. J H P down the barrel and hide!" (M Hornady XTP and Sierra Power-Jacket hollow-points and the 200-gr. Speer JHP have —Reprinted from the June, 1993 American Rifleman. revolutionized the field performance of the .45 ACP. Early JHP bullets for the .45 ACP did not expand reliably in safe loads at the velocities readily obtained, but that has now all changed. Table III I don't recommend anyone try to approxCast/Swaged Lead Bullets imate the law enforcement +P loads at more Mid-Range Target Loads than 1100 f.p.s. I don't think their terminal effect is enhanced enough to justify the 185-gr. S W C V e l o c i t y 7 5 0 - 8 5 0 f.p.s./OAL: 1.13" increased recoil and reduced penetration caused by greater bullet upset. Maximum Powder Type Start (grs.) (grs.) If high-velocity is important, handload4.8 Alliant Bullseye 4.0 ers can safely break the 1000 f.p.s. barrier 4.7 IMR 700-X 4.1 4.2 5.0 Winchester W231 with 185-gr. jacketed bullets using 6.5 grs. 5.0 Alliant Red Dot 4.1 of Green Dot, or 10.0 grs. of Accurate No. 5.2 6.0 Alliant Unique 5.7 IMR SR-7625 5.0 5.1 prefer modest, practical loads at around 950 f.p.s. that are readily assembled using my old standbys of 5.2 grs. of Bullseye or 200-gr. RN/SWC V e l o c i t y 8 0 0 - 9 0 0 f.p.s./OAL: 1.16" 6.2 grs. of W231 or SR7625, or 6.8 grs. of Maximum Powder Type Unique. When substituting the 200-gr. Start (grs.) (grs.) Speer or cast SWCs, these charges must be 6.0 Alliant Bullseye 4.6 reduced 0.3 gr. 5.1 IMR 700-X 4.2 5.9 Winchester W231 5.3 Remington and CCI both offer factory5.1 Alliant Red Dot 4.5 loaded .45 ACP shotshells for occasional 8.2 Hodgdon HS-6 7.3 5.5 Winchester W S L 4.7 users who don't want to spend $100 or so 7.5 Accurate Arms No. 5 6.9 for t h e f o r m i n g a n d l o a d i n g d i e sets 6.2 Alliant Unique 5.6 from RCBS. In a .45 ACP revolver, you can approx230-gr. RN/SWC imate .45 Colt ballistics using 250 to 255Velocity 7 5 0 - 8 5 0 f.p.s./OAL: 1.23" gr. Keith-style SWCs at 1.24" overall carMaximum Powder Type Start tridge length with a charge of 6 grs. of (grs.) (grs.) 5.1 Alliant Bullseye 4.7 Unique or 8.5 grs. of Blue Dot. These 4.7 IMR 700-X 4.3 loads are accurate, provide deep penetra5.1 Winchester W S L 4.5 5.1 Alliant Red Dot 4.7 tion on game and "ring" satisfyingly on 6.1 IMR SR-4756 6.0 metal silhouettes. 5.9 Alliant Unique 5.3 A Ruger convertible Blackhawkwith 4%" 6.8 Accurate Arms No. 5 6.2 7.8 Hodgdon HS-6 7.0 barrel and .45 ACP cylinder is about the handiest big-bore revolver around. The Abbreviations: OAL (overall length), FMJ (lull metalS&W M1917 also comes close, but can't jacketed), SWC (semi-wadcutter) take the stout loads that some people feed the Ruger.

11

MAKING YOUR 191

Does your M l 9 1 1 live up to its full accuracy potential? Here are some thi ngs that you and your gunsmith can do to make it really shoot. Left, lower lugs of match barrel (bottom) show consistent thickness around hole, flat bottom (dotted line) and properly radiused profile (lower arrow), enabling precise fit; upper stock barrel shows less-than-optimal profile with varying lug thickness, angled bottom and poorly radiused profile. Also note shallow lug recess (upper arrow) of match barrel. Below, too-long link and improper lower lug profile on stock upper barrel prevents lower lugs from making desired contact with slide stop pin, permitting play; lower match barrel shows correct lug profile and link length.

P

ERHAPS the most common M1911 owner complaint, next to poor reliability, is poor accuracy. Many brandnew M l 9 1 Is seem to have difficulty keeping five shots on a pie plate at 25 yds., prompting the question, "Why do target shooters use the M1911 if it's so inaccurate?" The answer to that question is not that the M1911 is inherently more accurate than any other pistol—it's not—but that it is more amenable to custom modification than perhaps any other semi-auto handgun. Several q u e s t i o n s m a y need to be answered to fully diagnose M1911 accuracy problems. First, how much accuracy does a shooter need? While stock M l 9 1 Is from reputable manufacturers will generally group into 3" to 6" at 25 yds.—sufficient for self-defense and casual recreational shooting—customized pistols for target competition will generally better 3" at 50 yds., with some—particularly NRA Bullseye-type guns chambered for .38 Spl. wadcutters— giving 50-yd. groups as small as VA". Second, if an M1911 has accuracy woes, is it the gun or is it the shooter? The recoil of the .45 ACP, .40 S&W or 10 mm may induce flinching, jerking the trigger or other accuracy-destroying reflexes in the inexperienced shooter. Third, what is the limiting factor preventing good grouping? A distinction must be

made between intrinsic accuracy and realistic accuracy. Intrinsic accuracy is that level of performance built into the pistol, demonstrated only under controlled, ideal conditions, such as firing from a Ransom machine rest. Realistic accuracy is that level of performance achievable when the human operator is put back into the equation, along with the factors that may affect his or her performance—primarily trigger pull and sight picture. This article deals with ways to improve mechanical accuracy and trigger quality; sights will be the subject of a separate article at another time. Though many believe M1911 accuracy can be enhanced merely by installing a new "match-grade" barrel, barrel replacement is actually only one of several pistol modifications ensuring that barrel-to-slide lockup, slide-to-frame alignment and much more are absolutely consistent shot-toshot—a consistency precluded by the manufacturing tolerances of most stock M191 Is. Since the barrel rides in both the slide and frame, the first step in accurizing is usually a slideSlide-to-frame tightening using (clockwise from r.) J-B Bore Paste abrasive compound, dial calipers, Brownells 1911 Slide/Frame Rail File, slide with Alpha Precision Rail Gauge, assorted files and stones and Brownells 1911 Slide Fitting Bars. Gunsmith has fitted bar under right-side frame rail slot in preparation for peening with hammer; note that in actual use, front of frame would be supported before peening.

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to-frame tightening that, when properly done, can result in less than .001" of lateral and vertical play. Actually, slide-to-frame tightening should improve both reliability and accuracy, for the tight barrel hood fit needed for accuracy will interfere with proper functioning if the slide does not track straight and true each and every shot. To remove lateral and vertical play (as much as .015" to .020" on some guns) the frame rails must be broadened and lowered by swaging or peening down the rails in the front and rear, using frame rail slot bars— hardened pieces of flat steel ground to precise thicknesses—to control the amount of lowering and widening that is done. After milling, grinding or filing the slide rails to a consistent thickness, a bar .001" thicker than the slide rail is inserted in the ways beneath the frame rail area being peened or swaged. As the rail is lowered and meets the way bar, the rail spreads laterally; thus both vertical and lateral play are removed simultaneously. Bowed or tapered slide rails may require squeezing or expanding, but this requires a

SHOOT STRAIGHT BY STANTON L. WORMLEY, JR. Associate Technical Editor gentle touch and specialized tools to prevent damage to the slide. As a last step, the slide and frame are usually lapped together using a fine, slightly abrasive, non-embedding compound until a smooth, drag-free fit is achieved. Chromemoly guns can be lapped to a dead-tight fit with no discernible play; stainless steel M191 Is are often left slightly loose to prevent galling. If the disparity between frame rail and slide rail dimensions cannot be remedied by swaging or peening, small "fitting pads" can be welded on the upper and outer surfaces of the four corners of the frame rails. These can then be dressed down and lapped in the familiar manner. Note that the above description grossly oversimplifies slide-to-frame tightening. Amateur slide-to-frame tightening jobs usually loosen quickly and may damage the frame or slide or both; leave such work to an experienced pistolsmith. An alternative to traditional methods of slide-to-frame tightening is the Acc-U-Rail S y s t e m d e v e l o p e d by g u n s m i t h B o b Krieger. Rounded grooves are precisely machined lengthwise in the pistol's slide and frame rails, into which are fitted hardened rods a little over 3" long and about .075" thick. In use, the slide rides on the hardened rods rather than on the rails. The Acc-U-Rail system yields a slide-to-frame fit fully the equal of what can be obtained by conventional methods. Extra sets of rods can be obtained in .001" size increments to allow for wear. Once the slide tracks straight on the frame with no wobble, barrel fitting proper can begin. While most specify a "match grade" barrel for their pet .45, few realize that it is not primarily bore quality or dimensions that make such barrels desirable (though many custom barrelmakers optimize land, groove and throat dimensions for best accuracy). Their advantage lies in the fact that they are oversize in critical areas— hood, lower lugs and radial lugs—and can

Tuning the part-to-part fit of 1911 style pistols, such as this highcapacity Para-Ordnance model, can tighten shot-to-shot results.

be precisely fit to the slide and frame. Barrel fitting, like s l i d e - t o - f r a m e t i g h t e n i n g , is a j o b o n l y for an e x p e r i enced pistolsmith, so the subtle nuances of this process will not be presented here. Some differences between factory and customfitted barrels are worth noting, however. One of the most critical accuracy factors is the fit of the lower barrel lugs or feet to the slide stop pin, which retains the slide, barrel and recoil spring in the frame. In factory guns those feet hardly contact the slide stop at all, until they rest against it at full barrel lockup; barrel movement is controlled by the link. When the slide is fully forward, there is a gap between the bottom of the feet and the pin, allowing vertical barrel play (demonstrated by pushing the barrel

down against the pin) which contributes to vertical dispersion. On match barrels, the oversized feet are fit to contact and ride on the slide stop pin, allowing no vertical play. Oversized feet require the installation of an oversized link, and increase the engagement of the barrel and slide radial lugs. While the link still serves a mechanical purpose, it no longer controls the height of barrel lockup, now

A selection of accuracy bushings includes (l.-r.): Briley spherical bushing; Clark and MGW bushings; King's bushing for Officers' ACP-size Ml911s; WCPI bushing with pre-mach ined relief cuts; and Colt collet-style bushing. A King's bushing wrench is in foreground. At rear, a gunsmith is relieving bottom front area of Wilson bushing u s i n g an a b r a s i v e w h e e l .

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P a

determined by the engagement of the barrel feet and slide stop pin. Radial lug engagement in stock Ml91 Is may be as little as .025" to .035". Most custom pistolsmiths try to obtain at least .045" e n g a g e m e n t with a match b a r r e l ; the increased contact area yields a longer-lasting fit and also keeps the barrel and slide locked together longer. Oversized match barrels are also gener- ^ j ously proportioned in the hood area, ^ allowing the gunsmith to use specialized techniques and tools to create a light-tight fit between the hood and the breechface cut in the slide. This fitting precisely and repeatably positions the rear of the barrel in the slide, and also eliminates fore-and-aft barrel play ("end shake"). The lowering of the slide during the slide-to-frame tightening and the increase in barrel lockup height caused by the installation of a new link and the fitting of the oversized barrel feet usually necessitate some fitting of the top (radial) lugs of the match barrel. The first lug recess on oversized match barrels is often left some .005" shallower than the standard depth of about .055", allowing fitting so that the barrel is sandwiched between the slide lugs at the top and the slide stop pin at its bottom feet—without play and without binding. Barrels so fitted return to the same vertical position for every shot. Match barrels are also usually shortchambered, allowing precise headspacing after final hood length is determined. Ramp-

ed barrels have the advantage of providing both a single feed ramp (rather than the separate frame ramp and barrel throat of stock M1911 s) as well as additional case head support in the feed ramp area—a concern primarily in guns using higher-pressure .38 Super or 9x21 mm ammuni-

Wilson Combat's Service Grade Classic offers a match barrel and bushing, tightened slide-to-frame fit, and custom h a m m e r , sear a n d t r i g g e r to improve the .45's inherent accuracy.

requires that the front of the barrel be likewise stabilized by a match bushing. Such bushings have an oversized outside diameter, which is reduced to fit tightly in the slide, and an undersized bore diameter, that is bored out to .001" or less over the muzzle diameter of the barrel. Note that most aftermarket M1911 5" and 4'A" barrels measure .580" to .581" at the muzzle, but taper slightly to around .575" about 3/8" to 1/2" back from the crown, preventing the bushing from dragging on the barrel after unlocking. The inside of a solid bushing must also be relieved slightly at the bottom front and top rear, to allow the barrel to swing up into lockup without "springing" the bushing. This relief is not needed with WCPI's solid bushing with pre-machined relief cuts, nor with Briley's spherical bushing, which encircles the barrel with a TiN- (titanium nitride) coated ring, which is itself captured within a housing that allows it to turn freely. Officer's ACP-type pistols use short, tapered, large-diameter barrels requiring special bushings. Oversized tapered barrels that fit closely in the slide eliminate the need for bushings altogether. This concept is also employed in Schuemann Hybrid barrels,

tion that attains the "major" IPSC power factor. Some gunmakers offer ramped barrels as a standard feature. Fitting such a barrel to a stock M1911 involves all the standard barrel fitting techniques, plus major—and irreversible—frame alterations. Some b a r r e l m a k e r s offer " d r o p in" match barrels that are slightly larger than stock barrels in the hood and lower lug dimensions, but will still fit most M1911s without gunsmithing. An increase in accuracy is usually seen when such barrels are installed, but rarely the type of improvement produced by a properly fitted oversized barrel. By the way, the rifling of good factory barrels is q u i t e c o m p a r a b l e to many match-grade barrels. Most match barrels will shoot 2'A" five-shot groups at 50 yds.; Colt barrels welded up to oversize dimensions and then properly fitted will typically group into 3" or less. P e r h a p s the single most effective accuracy aid Extended lower lugs of ramped barrels require a channel cut in the frame, as shown in this Para-Ordnance frame and barrel. that can be installed by the n o n - g u n s m i t h is the Dwyer which feature a ported rib that runs in a large Group Gripper, which consists of a slot machined in the slide. special recoil spring guide and barMatch barrels, unfitted, will normally rel link. A spring-loaded tongue pro- run from about $ 100 to over $200, with most trudes from the rear of the Dwyer in the $ 130 to $ 150 range. Most custom gunspring guide and pushes upward smiths will charge between $350 and $500 against a shelf in the special link, to tighten the slide-to-frame fit and supply forcing the barrel up into the slide and fit an oversized match barrel and bushlugs, eliminating play and promot- ing—all that can be done to achieve maxiing consistent vertical barrel posi- mum mechanical accuracy. Trigger work is tioning. A test of this accessory usually required, however, to enable a shoot(February 1988, p. 48) showed accu- er to do his best. racy increases, in one gun with two Under no circumstances should nonbrands of ammo, of 23 percent and gunsmiths perform modifications to ham33 percent. mers, sears or disconnectors. Injury or death Top: Dwyer Group Gripper, showing spring-loaded tongue that pushes upward on overhanging shelf of Precise fitting of the barrel hood, could result from a gun that fires unconspecial link (arrow), forcing barrel up into slide lugs. trollably or unpredictably as the result of Bottom: match barrel links, such as those made by feet and radial lugs positions the rear Kings, Al Marvel and Wilson, come in several sizes. of the barrel. Optimal accuracy "kitchen table gunsmithing."

CD CD

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For maximum safety, all trigger work—even simple parts replacement—should ideally be performed by a pistolsmith. The inveterate do-ityourselfer should limit himself to installing one of the drop-in sets available, which typically consist of a match-grade hammer and sear with reduced, polished engagement surfaces, sometimes accompanied by Close fit of match barrel in slide is enabled by wider, additional parts such as reduced- longer barrel hood (arrow)on unit made for that purpose. weight springs. Note that many "drop- Match barrel hood (I.) lies next to stock barrel hood (r.). in" units may still require gunsmith fitting to plunger and spring and two levers) prevents a work properly and safely. light, crisp pull. These parts are available, A lightweight, oversized trigger having however, with a coating of titanium nitride and aluminum, titanium, magnesium or carbon- molybdenum disulfide for reduced friction, fiber components will not only track more allowing safe trigger pulls of less than 3 lbs. precisely in the frame, eliminating trigger A good M1911 trigger will have a modslop; its low mass also helps prevent trigger est amount of takeup, but no perceptible bounce, which can cause doubling on guns creep or overtravel when it breaks. A 4-lb. with lightened springs and reduced hammer/ trigger on a carry or defensive gun is gensear engagement. erally considered optimal, while triggers on Lightweight parts, such as cutaway ham- match guns can be less than half that weight. mers and sears, as well as Trigger work from a titanium firing p i n s , custom gunsmith can hammer struts and mainrun from around $50 spring caps, contribute to for a 4-lb. pull with better accuracy by reducthe factory hammer ing lock time. Such parts and sear, to $150 or may also reduce ignition more for a 1 'A-\b. trigreliability, however, and ger using c u s t o m are therefore generally aftermarket parts. limited to fine-tuned S c h u e m a n n H y b r i d p o r t e d b a r r e l An M1911 owner match guns rather than installed on Colt Commander slide. Slot should safety check .337" wide has been milled in slide to carry pistols. any trigger work done

L

accommodate the raised Hybrid port rib.

Trigger quality can The barrel's .695" muzzle diameter fits on his gun—even by precisely inside the slide, making a sepalso be improved by arate match barrel bushing unnecessary. a professional pistolsmith. First, with the replacing the rather heavy 22-lb. stock mainspring with a 19-lb. magazine out and the pistol unloaded, lock aftermarket unit, installing oversize pins to the slide back. Then, without holding the reduce hammer and sear wobble; and putting trigger back, drop the slide on an empty in a four-leaf sear spring. Unlike the stock chamber. If there's no hammer follow after three-leaf unit, the four-leaf spring has sep- two or three tries, the gun passes the test. The live fire test employs a single live arate leaves for the disconnector and trigger, allowing finer adjustment of spring tension. round in the magazine, followed by an Many pistolsmiths insist that the Colt action-proving dummy to prevent an acciSeries 80 safety system (consisting of a dental discharge if the gun doubles. Load a full magazine only after firing 10 or so rounds in this manner without experiencing hammer follow or doubling. Accurizing an M1911 requires skill, patience, and, often, considerable expense; but the thrill of seeing five shots cluster into one ragged hole at 25 yds. is, for many, well worth the cost and effort. Q|R|) To test for the proper relationship of frame, lower lugs, and link, force barrel down and rearward in the frame barrel bed and insert the slide stop pin through the frame and link. If the barrel and link are properly fitted, the pin rotates freely.

—Reprinted from the August 1996 American Rifleman.

«ESTIOKS= Canadian M1911s?

Q

l have seen pictures of World War I Canadian soldiers armed with Colt M1911 pistols. A friend told me they were made by the Ross Rifle Co. In Quebec, Canada. Did the Canadians actually make their own Ml91 Is?

A

The M1911 pistols carried by Canadian troops in the World Wars were all of U.S. manufacture. The Canadian-made M1911 s that you refer to were actually made by North American Arms Co., Ltd., in Quebec City, Quebec. North American Arms leased the former Ross Rifle Co. plant in Quebec (which had closed in 1917) to produce the pistols and is listed in John A. B e l t o n ' s Canadian Gunsmiths from 1608 as being in operation from 1917-1918. During World War I, the U.S. Ordnance Dept., after perceiving a deficiency in the production and delivery of pistols, contracted with three additional firms to produce M1911s, one of which was North American Arms. Charles Clawson, in Colt .45 Service Pistols—Models of 1911 andl911Al, cites a July 1, 1918 contract for North American Arms to furnish 500,000 pistols at $15.50 each, at a rate of 2,000 per day. The contract was suspended on December 4, 1918, and no pistols were ever delivered. Though none of its M1911 s made it to the U . S . O r d n a n c e Dept., North American did reach the pre-production stage and approximately 100 toolroom samples and prototypes were made. Operations may not have ended completely when the contract was canceled, as a pistol, number 46, was submitted for evaluation to the Canadian Imperial M u n i t i o n s B o a r d in 1920. North American Arms pistols are considered to be among the rarest variations of the military M191 Is and are highly sought after by collectors.

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Service Pistol EVERYBODY WANTS A PISTOL THAT LOOKS LIKE A GI . 4 5 , AND EVERYBODY ALWAYS HAS. T'S more than 75 now, old enough to have been retired and draw- release lever that is distinctly different from those on both Colt and ing Social Security. Its service career has spanned twice the years M/1912 Norwegian pistols. The Kongsberg plant turned out about 20,000 M/1914 pistols of all but the oldest of the soldiers who have carried it. It has been sworn by and sworn at. Efforts to replace it have only made it look between 1919 and the early '30s. Then, military demand satisfied, better. It is the U.S. Pistol, Cal. .45, M1911A1—the indefatigable the line shut down. Under German occupation during World War Colt .45 Automatic, and today, in 1980, it is more popular than ever. II, the production of M/1914s was re-started, and another 10,000 Colt .45 Autos have been copied, both here and abroad, almost produced. Following the war, a few M/1914s were assembled from since the first ones were made. The first of the foreign copiers was parts to bring the total made to just under 33,000. Norway. Seeking a suitable semi-automatic pistol, the Norwegian Norway was not the only foreign country to use a Colt .45— military decided on the M1911 as early as 1912. In 1913 and 1914, or a homemade lookalike. Great Britain purchased 1,500 comthe Norwegians purchased 300 commercial .45s from Colt and then, mercial Colts, all caliber .455", for use in World War I and conhaving established that no Norwegian product was accept able, began to negotiate for a license to build guns in Norway. Under an agreement signed in January, 1915, payment of 25,000 kroner bought the Norwegians a set of Colt's drawings and the right to make M1911 pistols at their Kongsberg Weapons Factory for as long, and in whatever quantity, they desired. Formally adopted as the "Colt Automatisk Pistol Model 1912," the first 500 guns are virtual twins of the Colt product, differing only in marking. The second production Colt's re-introduced the Model 1 9 1 1 — porting a Parkerized finish, 1920s lot, begun in 1919, carried a different slide marking—11.25 supgrades and a modern, passive-firingm/m Auto. Pistol M/1914. The M/1914 also features a slide pin safety—as the Series 80 M 1 9 9 1 A 1 .

I

Target shooters were introduced to the .45 ACP when NRA rules required its use. They have since taken the gun, and its .22 or .38 and .45 wadcutter versions, to heart.

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t r a d e d for a n o t h e r 12,000 from military production, all bearing a ' W " prefix on the serial number. A total of 13,510 of the .455s were delivered to the British between 1915 and 1919. The Mexican and Argentine governments, too, placed orders with Colt for .45s to equip their military and police forces. And, like the Norwegians, both countries built their own versions of the M1911. Mexico decided on the .45 after World War I, placing orders for both M1911s and M1911Als from commercial production. Specimens of Colt-made guns are marked "Ejercito Mexicano" and have "C"-prefixed serial numbers. The Mexican government then turned temporarily to the manufacture of M1911A1 -style pistols based on patents issued to Alejandro Obregon in 1934. Obregons are rare. Probably fewer than 1,000 were produced and most remain in Mexico. The Obregon pistol was featured in American Rifleman for May, 1978 (see "The Obregon .45: Rare & Mysterious Pistol," by Richard Brezener, p. 32). The Argentines, on the other hand, followed Norway's lead, purchasing small quantities of Colt .45s between 1916 and about 1925. These guns are referred to as the Argentine Model 1916. They bear commercial serial numbers and the Argentine seal stamped into the slide.

SURROGATES After adoption of the M1911A1 in the U n i t e d S t a t e s , the ^ Argentine government purchased that pistol from Colt as the Model 1927. In the 1930s, the Argentines secured license to manufacture their own . 4 5 s . These Model 1927s were made by Fabrica Militar de Armas Portatiles "Domingo M a t h e u , " in R o s a r i o , A r g e n t i n a . T h e y are m a r k e d ' F . M . A . P . " or "D.G.F.M. (F.M.A.P.)" on the left side of the s l i d e and "Ejercito A r g e n t i n o , Sist. Colt, cal. 11.25 m.m. M O D 1927" in two lines on the right. All Model 1927s b e a r the Argentine seal on the slide. In addition to military produc tion, the firm of Hispano Argentino Fabrica de Automoviles. SA (HAFDASA), manufactured an unlicensed copy of the Colt known as the "Ballister-Molina." Most features of the HAFDASA gun are taken directly from the Colt product. The trigger and trigger linkage differ, however, in that the trigger pivots, and the trigger extension is external. Both the Model 1927 and HAFDASA .45s are extremely well-made pistols. The 1920s and '30s also saw Spanish copies of the M1911A1 produced in some quantities. There were undoubtedly o t h e r s , but the chief copiers were Gabilondo and Star (Bonifacio Echevarria). Star joined the act first with their Modelo Militar pistols of 1920, ' 2 1 , and '22. Of these, the Model 1922 is the best known. It was adopted by the Spanish armed forces and the Guardia Civil and was made for export as well. The 1922 Military Model was made not only in .45 ACP but also in 9 mm Bergmann-Bayard, 9 mm Parabellum, and .38 ACP. Star pistols resemble Colt externally, but have trigger mechanisms and extractors that differ from the guns they emulate. Star triggers pivot instead of sliding back and forth, and the sear bar and disconnector are external. Star extractors are also external and are pinned in place. Gabilondo entered the .45 market in the early 1930s in an attempt to capture some of Star's sales. Under the trade name "Tauler,"

by J.B.Roberts,

Jr.

Lookalikes for the service gun have been popular since the first Gl holstered a 1911. Springfield, Inc.'s 1911A1 is one of the best.

Gabilondo made locked-breech, full-size M1911A1 copies in both 9mm Bergmann-Bayard and .38 ACP calibers. Subsequently, under the "Llama" tradef mark, Gabilondo introduced miniature blowback-operated .45 copies in .22 LR, .32 ACP, and .380, and full-sized locked-breech guns in .38 ACP and .45 ACP. The Llama guns were imported by Stoeger and Import Sports for U.S. sales. Unlike Star pistols, locked-breech Llamas are to all intents and purposes part for part copies of the Colt .45 Automatic. The Colt has also been copied by less well-organized foreign enterprises. There are numerous examples of .45 copies made in Oriental workshops, both large and small. The quality of these latter guns is almost uniformly less than good. All, however, seem to be serviceable, and some, like the Vietnamese copy illustrated, are downright well-made. There are two more groups of .45 auto lookalikes in need of mention—U.S. military contract production and civilian production for sport and target shooters. Through seven decades, demand for M1911 and M1911A1 pistols has generally been more than Colt could meet. When we entered the Great War, the U.S. government had purchased some 140,000 M1911 pistols from both Colt and Springfield Armory. The Armory tooled up in 1913 to make M191 Is and help fill initial orders. Altogether some 31,000 M1911s were built at Springfield prior to U.S. entry into World War I. To meet wartime requirements, they made 45,000 more, all in 1918. To meet the needs of our expanding armed forces, 1917 planners estimated that a total of 765,000 pistols would be required. The estimate was later revised upward, first to 1.3 million then to 2.7 million. Filling the projected needs meant that pistols would have to be made by contractors other than Colt. Thus orders were placed with Remington-UMC, Winchester, Burroughs Adding Machine Co., Lanston Monotype Machine Co., National Cash Register Co., A.J. Savage Munitions Co., Savage Arms Co., and two Canadian firms, Caron Brothers Mfg. Co., and North American Arms Co., Ltd. Of those firms, only Remington-UMC delivered any meaningful quantity (22,000 of 150,000 ordered). North American did make some pistols, but the total was probably less than 100.

17

World War II was a replay of the situation in 1917, but worse. Colt .45s were in demand, not only by the U.S. Armed Forces, but also by the military establishments of our major allies. Again, contractors other than Colt provided the balance of the 2.5 million .45s made during 1941 to 1945. In all, four contractors added their share to Colt's 480,000-pistol contribution. RemingtonRand produced 1.03 million. Ithaca turned out 370,000. Union Switch and Signal Co. of Swissvale, Pa., received and filled an order for 55,000 M191 l A l s . And Singer Sewing Machine contracted to provide 500 1911 A l pistols—which it did. Since 1945, Colt, and lately others, have kept busy supplying the

growing civilian demand for guns that look like "the Army .45." Target shooters who once shot the smallbore and center-fire stages with revolvers are turning more and more to rimfire conversions on the M1911 frame and either. 3 8 Special or .45 ACP wadcutter guns for center-fire matches. In response to an Army search for a lighter sidearm, Colt devised the alloy-frame 4^"-barrel Commander, now available in 9 mm Parabellum, .38 Super and .45 ACP. It later introduced an all-steel Combat Commander, the Defender and the Concealed Carry Officer's model. In 1970, Colt came forth with the only real improvement in the M1911 since the gun was designed. The collet-type barrel

The ".45s" shown here are all surrogates. None of them was actually made by Colt. Pictured with the flags of the nations they served, they are: 1. 2. 3. 4.

18

A U.S. Springfield Armory M1911 A license-built Argentine Modelo 1927 A post-war Spanish Star 9 mm Modelo Super A Spanish Llama Model IXA made since 1957

bushing of the Mk IV/Series 70 licks the chief complaint concerning the .45, its lack of accuracy without special tuning. For the target shooter Colt makes the Gold Cup National Match—it has made target-grade M1911A1 -style guns since 1933—with the Series 70 collet bushing. If Colt didn't stop making .45s after World War II, neither did its competition. Star made Military Models until 1945 (except during the Spanish Civil War) and then introduced its B-series guns. It also sold the BK, BKS, and BKM, all scaled-down versions of the .45, and the PD, a cut-down .45 that isn't really a lookalike. Llama remained in the game, too. With exterior

5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

changes to meet import requirements under the 1968 Gun Control Act, Llama sold the full line of miniature and full-size .45 twins. Finally, American firms AMT, Auto-Ordnance, M-S Safari Arms, Springfield Armory and Vega, build M1911 copies. What does all this mean? It means two things. First, the .45 Automatic, despite its age, is nowhere near ready to retire. Just the opposite is true—today's demand is greater than ever. And, second, it means that those who "just gotta have an Army .45" can get one, even if it's a surrogate. C|R|) —Reprinted from the March 1980 American Rifleman.

A Vietnamese copy of the M1911A1 Norway's license-built M/1914 An Argentine Ballister-Molina A 9 mm Star "Military" model A pre-1957 Llama .38 Super Model VIII AU.S.IthacaM1911A1 Guns courtesy of NRA and U.S. Treasury Dept.

19

TRIALS OF

THE

1^ HOSE who think the recent "selection" of a 9 mm double-action pistol as A m e r i c a ' s official P e r s o n a l Defense Weapon was arrived at hastily should consider the following: The U.S. Government first tested a 9 mm semi-auto (Luger) in 1903 and a doubleaction semi-auto (Knoble) in 1908. It has been "testing" ever since. It all started in 1901 when 1,000 .30-cal. (7.65 mm) Lugers were purchased and allocated to troops for testing. Reports from troop commanders trickled in, but weren't good. They felt the small projectiles lacked "stopping power," as did bullets of the .30-cal. Mannlicher and Mauser pistols, which also had been briefly tested. The bias in favor of larger pistol projectiles came from the ongoing Philippine Insurrection where the recently adopted and

i

u n d e r p o w e r e d .38 Colt d o u b l e - a c t i o n revolver (in .38 Long Colt) failed to "give a good account of itself against the Moros, thus prompting a recall to duty of the .45 Single Action Army revolver. It should be noted, however, that the .30-40 Krag rifle didn't always "stop" a drugged and/or fanatic Moro, either. In April, 1903, the Army proposed trading 50 of its test Lugers to Deutsche Waffen und Munitionsfabriken (DWM) for 50 "bigger-is-better" 9 mms. Georg Luger himself brought sample 9 mms of several barrel lengths to the United States the following month, and the testing proceeded. In 1904, the Army established a board consisting of Col. Louis LaGarde, Medical Corps, and Col. John Thompson, Ordnance Department, to look into the caliber matter. As reported in Col. LaGarde's "Gunshot

Injuries" of 1914, the board shot a number of different cartridges, including the two Lugers, several .38s, several .45s and even some of .476 cal. The board shot into 10 cadavers, 16 beeves and two horses and decided that the best cartridge for "stopping power" was the big .476 cal. at a moderate 729 f.p.s., with smaller sizes less effective, and recommended the .45 cal. as the minimum. But all the Luger bullets tested were jacketed, and all the revolver bullets were of unjacketed soft lead that were soon to be considered unacceptable for military use. Despite this anomaly, the Army went back to the .45 Colt cartridge in the Colt Double Action Frontier model, a rodejector, for use by the Philippine constabulary, and, in the Model 1909, issued it as a military version of the Colt New Service .45. The Colt .45 revolvers were, however, interim solutions only. The Army really wanted a semi-automatic. Except for its .38 cal., the Army liked the Model 1900 Colt semi-auto used in the 1904 tests. In 1907, the Army requested more pistols and revolvers for testing, but all were intended to use the same government-supplied ammunition, differing only in their rimmed or rimless treatments, with 230-gr., .45 cal., full-jacketed bullets traveling at about 800 f.p.s. The speedy 9 mm was temporarily forgotten in the post-Moro environment. Colt and S & W provided revolvers, Service medals bestowed on American veterans of the four major 20th century conflicts in which M1911 pistols also served recall (I. to r.) World War I, World War II, Korea and Vietnam.

20

An honored veteran for four generations, the U.S. Model 1911 has survived major wars and numerous engagements. Throughout its service, the pistol has been tested and re-tested away from the battlefields. By Col. Jim Crossman DWM sent in a .45 Luger and other .45 semi-autos arrived from Savage, WhiteMerrill and Bergmann. There also came two versions from Knoble (one was a double-action), a Webley-Fosbery auto-

to the present time with essentially no change. In commercial form, the gun has also been chambered for the .38 Super cartridge, the 9 mm Luger (and other metric calibers for export), and the .22 Long Rifle (plus conversion kits). This gun has been extensively used by civilian, police and military, shortened, lengthened, lightened, heavied, accurized, otherwise gunsmithed

The original John Browning-designed Automatic Pistol, Caliber .45, M1911 (above) along with its revision, the M1911A1 (below), proved steadfast through four wars and remained the official sidearm of U. S. forces for 74 years.

revolver and, last but not least, the Model 1905 Colt. The Model 1905 .45 Military Automatic Pistol used in the tests was similar in appearance to and generally based on John Browning's Model 1900.38 automatic. It was soon to be tested in the improved Models 1907, 1909 and 1910. It was apparent that the Colt had the edge over its closest competitor, the Savage. Final tests were conducted in March, 1911, between the Savage and the Colt. The Savage had some malfunctions and broke a few parts, but the Colt went through the 6,000-round test without a malfunction. This gun, chambered for Browning's original cal. .45 Colt Auto cartridge, was adopted as the standard U.S. service pistol, the Model 1911. Around 1924, the gun was modified by the addition of a longer spur on the grip safety, an arched mainspring housing and by cutting away a portion of the receiver just back of the trigger. This, then, became the U.S. Pistol, Automatic, Caliber .45 M1911A1, which has served faithfully up

and extensively c o p i e d , to the eternal credit of John Browning. The new handgun was put to the big test when the United States entered World War I in 1917. The story is best told by the enthusiastic Benedict Crowell, Assistant S e c r e t a r y of War, in his " A m e r i c a ' s Munitions 1917-1918": "The American pistol was one of the great successes of the war. For several years before the war came, the Ordnance Department had been collaborating with private manufacturers to develop

the automatic pistol; but none of our officers realized, until the supreme test came, what an effective weapon the pistol would be in the hand-to-hand fighting of the trenches ... .In the hands of a determined American soldier, the pistol proved to be a weapon of great execution, and it was properly feared by the German troops. "Only a few men of each infantry regiment carried pistols when our troops first went into the trenches. But in almost the first skirmish, this weapon proved its superior usefulness in trench fighting," Crowell continued. "By midsummer of 1917, the decision had been made to supply to the infantry a much more extensive equipment of automatic pistols than had previously been prescribed by the regulations—to build them by the hundreds of thousands where we had been turning them out by thousands." In December 1917, orders were given Remington U.M.C. to make 150,000 pistols.

But it was difficult to get proper drawings from Colt, as the gun had long been made by old hands in the plant who worked up little tricks to make the job easier or the parts fit better. In short, the pistol did not really match the drawings. But, finally, revised drawings were made, and in the summer of 1918 contracts for the M 1 9 1 1 pistol were also let to N a t i o n a l C a s h R e g i s t e r C o . , North American Arms Co. of Quebec, Savage A r m s C o . , C a r o n B r o s , of M o n t r e a l , Burroughs Adding Machine Co., Winchester Repeating Arms Co., Lanston Monotype Co., and Savage Munitions Co. None of these firms had ever made the pistol before, but all were working hard on getting into production when the Armistice stopped it all. The only guns actually used were made by Colt, Remington U.M.C. and Springfield Armory. 21

According to Crowell, when the war began, the Army alone owned approximately 75,000 M1911 s. At the signing of the armistice, there had been produced and accepted since April 6, 1917, a total of 375,404 pistols. In the four months before November, 1918, the daily production averaged 1,993 pieces produced at an approximate cost of $15 each. In World War II, things were much better organized, and production on most small arms got under way fairly quickly in 1940-42 because the basic designs and m a n u f a c t u r i n g t e c h n i q u e s had b e e n worked out and standardized long before the outbreak of hostilities. Pistols were made at first only by Colt, but in 1942 three other producers were added—Remington Rand, Union Switch & Signal and the Ithaca Gun Co. Even the Singer Sewing Machine Co. made a few. Pistols were in short supply during the whole war, their production suffering from the serious obstacles of low priorities and fluctuating requirements. W h i l e a d o p t i o n of the Ml c a r b i n e brought some reduction in overall pistol requirements, the demand nevertheless remained strong throughout 1944. Almost 2 million pistols were p r o duced during the war, plus almost 1 million .38-cal. revolvers. At that time, the Ordnance Corps was responsible for developing and manufacturing weapons for the using arms—Infantry, Cavalry, Air Corps, Artillery. Sometimes the item was developed to meet Military Characteristics (MCs) sent in by the customer. T h e s e told the Ordnance folks what the customer felt he needed in the way of weight, rate of fire, d i m e n s i o n s , ease of u s e , capability and so on. The MCs constituted a "wish list" and were usually tough to meet, as the customer was pushing beyond the "state of the art." On other occasions, O r d n a n c e would p r o p o s e something that had come from ideas in-house or from outside suggestions to see if the user wanted it. All this was a considerable improvement over the system in effect at the turn of the century, in which the Ordnance Dept. developed things and then made the decisions on their adoption for use.

Toward the end of WWII, many extended meetings were held to get the opinion of the users on how their equipment had worked, what i m p r o v e m e n t s could be made and what new equipment was needed. It was interesting to hear the many violent differences of opinion, depending on whether the man had been in the jungles of the Pacific, the mountains of Italy or the plains of France. The Infantry B o a r d studied future weapons for the Infantry and in 1945 wrote MCs for a new pistol. As a Test Officer and later Test Director of the Board, I recall arguing over many of the features with the project officer. It was to be 9 mm in caliber, light in weight and have the doubleaction feature. Other details I have forgotten, but the MCs were recorded by the Ordnance Corps, to enable them to start development work on guns to meet these requirements. A year or two later, I transferred from the Infantry to the Ordnance C o r p s and w e n t to the S m a l l A r m s Research and D e v e l o p m e n t Branch in Washington. Lo and behold! One of the jobs that fell into my lap was the new lightweight pistol. As I recall it, High Standard had a contract to work on a model. We had

^2

22

"Didn't we meet at Cassino?'

found a bug in the gun, and on a visit to the plant I told them that their gun had a safety problem. After some heated discussion, one of the engineers quietly left with the gun. Pretty soon we heard the sound of a shot and he shortly came back in with a sheepish look on his face. Meanwhile, Smith & Wesson was developing a gun in-house to meet the same MCs. The first gun they sent down for us to work with looked fine, but it also had a safety problem. They had a magazine disconnect that pulled the ejector out of place. So if you had a loaded chamber and took the magazine out, you could work the slide all you wanted, but you would never eject the loaded cartridge. It would ride back and forth with the slide, putting the cartridge back in the chamber each time. When I called them, they were much surprised and didn't know how they could have missed this in all their testing, but that gun grew into the fine Model 39 and its later versions. But the enthusiasm for developing a new lightweight pistol disappeared when the Army looked at the stockpile of .45 s and what it would cost to replace them, their spare parts, ammunition, holsters and other equipment, compared to the benefits to be gained. As a result, Ordnance Corps work was stopped on this project in the mid-'50s. For n e a r l y 70 y e a r s , Aberdeen Proving Ground has been the center of Army engineering and development testing of weapons of various sorts. Many ranges, elaborate instrumentation and experienced engineers and testers m a d e this an o u t s t a n d i n g installation. Guns were tested there from time to time during their development at or t h r o u g h the a r s e n a l s and armories with detailed and accurate i n s t r u m e n t a t i o n . When the gun had seemed to be satisfactory, it was normally sent for user testing to the customer for its evaluation. In the case of small arms, this was usually the Infantry Board at Ft. Benning, where tests were conducted using soldiers, to see if the item could be handled properly by the user and to see if it really had any value to him. I spent four years there doing this delightful and fascinating testing. Aberdeen was an interesting p l a c e , and for a gun e n t h u s i a s t to be assigned

there was like turning a 12-year-old loose in a candy store. I know. I was assigned there for three years after I transferred to the Ordnance Corps from the Infantry. While at Aberdeen, I ran into another ardent shooter, one Bill Brophy, a fine shot and eager experimenter. For several years, I was also assigned as the Ordnance Officer of the National Matches at Camp Perry, and for a good part of the time Bill worked with me, taking over the job when I got kicked upstairs to be the Match Director for four years. After the Korean War hiatus, the matches resumed in 1953. We issued Ml rifles and M1911 pistols to the competitors, to a cer-

I could feel for Frank Allen, a pistol shooting Air Force colonel when he was assigned to Aberdeen. His enthu siasm showed itself in a March 1952 article for The American Rifleman covering tests run on various auto pistols. Included were the M1911 Al and a number of foreign pistols in various calibers. All w e r e run t h r o u g h an endurance test of 5,000 rounds— or as far as they would go. Most of the guns "What say we go down an' strafe 'em?" gave many malfunctions or finally quit altogether. In contrast, the .45 sailed gaily through the 5,000 rounds the 1911 acceptance tests and the Aberdeen with only one minor stoppage. affair, all showed that the M1911 was a Some 15 years ago, the U . S . mighty reliable pistol. Treasury Dept. had tests conducted The last M191 1 pistols were bought in by a private testing laboratory on a 1945, but even before that, many M1917 Colt number of handguns in a fruitless and S&W .45 revolvers had been issued, search for the elusive "Saturday together with .38 Spl. revolvers for special Night Special." purposes. In 1963, the Air Force switched The tests ran over an eight-month from the M1911 to the .38 Spl. revolver period and covered some 150 guns almost entirely, and since then the services of 38 m o d e l s , from .22 S h o r t have bought many kinds of revolvers, and revolvers to the .45 auto. Of interest ammunition to match. By 1976, testing starthere are the results with the bigger ed out again in confusing earnest. Something pistols—9 mm and .45, but none of had to be done, for the old M 1 9 l i s were them were double-actions. In the wearing out and the .38s were of too many endurance test, the lab tried to put types for logistical practicality. 5,000 shots through each of two samIn that year, the Air Force Armament ples, with one gun getting an initial Development Laboratory at Eglin A.F.B., proof round and the other a proof Fla., began to evaluate commercially availround after every 100 shots, some- able 9 mms with a view toward replacing all thing you would never expect to the .38s in USAF inventory. The 9 mm pisencounter in actual use. tols tested included double actions by FN, Incidentally, the Sporting Arms H&K, Star, S&W, Colt and Beretta, with the "Aim between th' eyes Joe . . . sometimes and Ammunition Manufacturer's last rumored to have taken the lead. they charge when they're wounded." Institutes' standards call for maxiIn 1977, the Department of Defense asked tain amount of unhappiness. The shooters mum average pressure of 19,900 c.u.p. in the House Appropriations Committee for the .45 and a n o m i n a l felt that the Ml was "not up to the good oV some money to design a new .38 carSpringfield ' 0 3 " as a match rifle, and 3 8 , 5 0 0 c . u . p . for tridge. Instead, the committee "knew" that the issue .45 wasn't accurate. the p r o o f load. asked a subcommittee to We got Ordnance interested in showing that Similar figures for investigate the existing the Ml and the .45 could be made into fine the 9 mm show status of military match guns with a little work. In the 35,700 c.u.p. for handguns. process. Bill and I wrote an article for The service loads and In 1978, that American Rifleman (August, 1959), giving 47,500 for proof. subcommittee results on the testing (mostly by Brophy) of Several 9 mms r e p o r t e d that .45 ammunition and of hundreds of .45 pis- and .45s of U.S. there were tols, straight issue as well as guns worked and foreign make something over by gunsmiths. like 25 difwere run through I ferent handWe, and gunsmiths in the field, found that the tests. The only gun m o d e l s the very things which made the .45 a reli- ones that went all and 100 difable combat gun—the loose fit of the the way through the ferent ammuparts—ruined accuracy. Most of the "accu- 5,000 rounds were nition items in racy jobs" tightened the slide on the receiv- the two Colt 45 s, one military stocks. er, the barrel bushing in the slide, the barrel Browning Hi Power 9 T h i s s e e m e d a trifle in the bushing, the barrel locking in the slide mm and one of the 9 mm excessive, and the military and some other loose fits, all trying to make French M A B s . A n o t h e r "Pass, friend." was directed to standardize. the critical parts return to the same place Browning almost went 5,000 (with 47 The Air Force tests were incomplete and after each shot. If the work was done prop- proof rounds) and a second MAB went over erly, the result was a fine-shooting gun. 4,900 with 50 proof rounds. This test, plus inconclusive, and in late 1978 the Department

.1

23

of Defense placed the responsibility for small- hands, and those remaining were old and a single gun for the services, and would leave arms research development, testing and eval- tired. It would cost about $160 to refurbish the question of the .38 revolvers up in the air. In 1981, pistol makers were invited to uation under the authority of the Joint an old pistol into a relatively unsatisfactory, submit 30 pistols for evaluation in the fall Services Small Arms Program (see American partly new pistol; would not give the troops what they wanted in the way of magazine of that year, with production of the selected Rifleman, June and July, 1980). capacity, double-action, safety, light weight model scheduled for 1983. Models were A short time later, the Under Secretary of submitted by several makers, but early the Defense directed the establishment of a joint and other features; would not standardize on next year, after some testing, the study to determine the minimum numwhole thing was called off as none ber of ammunition types, what to do of the guns gave desired reliability. about the handgun problem, and if all More testing loomed. the U.S. services should adopt the After this affair, the H o u s e A l i s t of the m a k e r s of . 4 5 - c a l . M 1 9 1 1 9 mm or stay with .38s and .45s. p i s t o l s a n d s e r i a l n u m b e r s they u s e d Committee on Appropriations had Everyone joined in this J S S A P some thoughts on the subject of all study—Army, Marines, Navy, Air In an effort to supply information that would be usethat testing with no results and Force, Coast Guard, FBI, Secret ful to those concerned with the identification of .45-cal. made dire threats. Not too strangeService and others, as everyone had an M1911 pistols, we published on page 46 of The American ly, this stirred up some prompt interest and all had experience to conRifleman for August 1953 a list of the serial numbers action. Some revisions were made tribute. The Army chaired the study. assigned to the different makers. This information was to the Joint Services Operational A report of 1980 showed that 70 furnished to us by the U.S. Army Ordnance Corps. Requirements (what we used to call out of 95 ammunition items had After this list was published, certain duplications and "Military Characteristics") and been eliminated. A number of the 25 discrepancies began to show up, and we requested and were new trials were started, with eight remaining were .38-cal., mainly promised verification of the list by the Ordnance Office. makers each submitting 40 guns used for Air Force revolvers. If one After some time, we learned that verification would designated "XM9": Colt, Walther, caliber was adopted for all services, be near impossible as the records had all been removed S & W , Steyr, B r o w n i n g , S I G , it was obvious that the number of from the Pentagon and sent to storage. Accordingly, we Beretta and H&K. ammunition items could be still furmade inquiries direct to the firms concerned. Through Two guns successfully passed ther reduced. the prompt and complete cooperation of the Colt's Patent these tests, SIG and Beretta. Based After much debate, the JSSAP Fire Arms Manufacturing Co. and the Ithaca Gun Co., on t h e " l o w e s t o v e r a l l c o s t s , " 1980 study recommended a 9 mm we are now able to give a new list in which the discrepBeretta was announced the winner Luger/Parabellum/NATO handgun ancies referred to above have been eliminated. on Jan. 14, 1985, and the contract family, with a basic gun for general Following is the revised list: was to have been signed "in approxuse and limited issue of a smaller con710,001 to 800,000 Assigned to Colt's imately 30 days." cealable version. This would pretty S800.00I to S800,500 Assigned to Singer Mfg. Co. During the first year after the well take care of everyone's require800,501 to 856,100 Assigned to Colt's contract is signed, Beretta expects ments and called for more tests. 856,101 to 856,300 Renumbered by Rock Island to import made-in-Italy pistols, In 1 9 8 1 , t h e A r m y i s s u e d a Arsenal 10-3-1941 while the second year will see parts request for proposal that it hoped 856,301 to 856,304 Renumbered by Augusta Arsenal made in Italy but assembled here, would result in a contract award for 4-28-1942 and by the third year they expect to the so-called XM9 pistol in January, 856,305 to 856,404 Renumbered by Rock Island be in full operation in Maryland. 1982. But that same year a conArsenal 4-28-1942 There will be those who view gressional investigations subcom*856,405 to 916,404 Assigned to Ithaca Gun Co. *916,405 to 1,014,404 Assigned to Remington Rand with high joy the demise of the .45 m i t t e e of t h e A r m e d S e r v i c e s 1,041,405 to 1,096,404 Assigned to Union Switch & as our military handgun; folks who Committee held hearings to examSignal Co. have cursed the weight of the gun, ine the requirements for the 9 mm 1,096,405 to 1,208,673 Assigned to Colt's the large size, the heavy recoil and gun, why it was preferred to the 1,208,674 to 1,279,673 Assigned to Ithaca Gun Co. the difficulty of shooting it. They guns in the inventory, the cost of the 1,279,674 to 1,279,698 Renumbered by Augusta Arsenal will laugh with glee as they throw change-over, the specifications of 1,279,699 to 1,441,430 Assigned to Remington Rand their detested .45s in the junk box the new gun and the ability of U.S. 1,441,431 to 1,471,430 Assigned to Ithaca Gun Co. and grab the new guns. firms to make it. 1,471,431 to 1,609,528 Assigned to Remington Rand And there will be those who have The General Services Admin1,609,529 to 1,743,846 Assigned to Colt's 1,743,847 to 1,816,641 Assigned to Remington Rand seen the M1911 develop into a topistration also had decided to have 1,816,642 to 1,890,503 Assigned to Ithaca Gun Co. grade match pistol, with excellent another look at the new proposal. 1,890,504 to 2,075,103 Assigned to Remington Rand functioning, who have felt the weight Was it really necessary to change cal2,075,104 to 2,134,403 Assigned to Ithaca Gun Co. of the gun on their hip as a very comibers? If so, couldn't existing guns 2,134,404 to 2,244,803 Assigned to Remington Rand forting thing when trouble brews, be converted to 9 mm at less cost? In 2,244,804 to 2,380,013 Assigned to Colt's have used the gun in combat and have fact, GSA had an M1911 Al convert2,380,014 to 2,619,013 Assigned to Remington Rand faith in its reliability, and who have ed to 9 mm and found that it worked 2,619,014 to 2,661,613 Assigned to Ithaca Gun Co. great confidence in the .45's manokay. This shouldn't have come as —NRA TECHNICAL STAFF stopping power. They will join a large any great surprise, since Colt had group which reluctantly s a y s , made the 9 mm on the M1911A1 * Serial numbers to the contrary, Colt-made M1911 Al pistols appear in both Ithaca and Remington Rand 1943 produc"Goodbye, Old Friend!" as the tears action for some time. Although the tion blocks—between 856,405 and 1,041,404. Colt frames slowly trickle down their cheeks. GSA proposal to convert .45s to 9 bear the inspector's mark "GHD." Colt slides have commermm would be cheaper, it didn't make cial markings of the period 1915 to 1929 and are serially —Reprinted from the May too much sense, since there were not numbered beneath the firing pin stop. 1985 American Rifleman. enough .45s left to convert for all

.45 AUTO SERIAL NUMBERS

24

Colt Government Model M1911A1 .45 Auto Pistol Detailed Parts Drawing

Parts Legend 1. Barrel 2. Barrel bushing 3. Barrel link 4. Barrel link pin 5. Disconnector 6. Ejector 7. Ejector pin 8. Extractor 9. Firing pin 10. Firing pin spring 11. Firing pin stop 12. Front sight 13. Grip safety 14. Hammer 15. Hammer pin 16. Hammer strut 17. Hammer strut pin 18. Magazine assembly 19. Magazine catch 20. Magazine catch lock 21. Magazine catch spring 22. Magazine follower 23. Magazine spring (not shown) 24. Main spring 25. Main spring cap 26. Main spring cap pin 27. Main spring housing 28. Main spring housing pin 29. Main spring housing pin retainer 30. Recoil spring plug 31. Plunger spring 32. Plunger tube 33. Rear sight 34. Receiver 35. Recoil spring 36. Recoil spring guide 37. Safety lock 38. Safety lock plunger I I 39. Sear ~» 40. Sear pin 41. Sear spring 42. Trigger bar lever 43. Slide stop 44. Slide stop plunger 45. Stock, left hand 46. Stock, right hand (not shown) 47. Stock screw (four required) 48. Screw bushing (four required)

r—13

m

Note While not shown in the illustration at right, firing-pin safety components installed in Colt Series 70, 80 and 90 pistols include the following: 1. Trigger bar lever 2. Plunger lever 3. Firing pin block plunger 4. Firing pin block plunger spring (See illustration on page 7 of this reprint for arrangement of parts.

Drawing furnished by Colt's Manufacturing Company, Inc

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