NA - BBQ Musings

Half Fast said:
I’ve never owned a 1911, so I figured it was about time.
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Or overdo. They are a popular choice 114 years after being introduced for good reason. The single stack magazine gives a narrow grip that just feels right, the straight slide trigger is smooth as glass, and they just naturally point so well that with a little practice you don’t even need to use the sights. The military use to train in “point shooting” and modern power tools were inspired by them so they feel natural if you’ve used hay held drill etc.

 
Flatiowa said:
with a little practice you don’t even need to use the sights. The military use to train in “point shooting”
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"The hip shooter stood but a small chance against the man who took his time and pulled the trigger once."

- Wyatt Earp

 
Some of my friends who carried an M9 in the military hated the Beretta. I can take the 92FS (or one of its close variants), look at something in the room as a small aim point, close my eyes, point it at that thing, then open my eyes, and I’m dead on. For whatever reason it fits my skeleton. THIS is a BBQ gun…

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Ed Haywood said:
"The hip shooter stood but a small chance against the man who took his time and pulled the trigger once."

- Wyatt Earp

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True, but a smooth rounded revolver handle of the time is not the same as a 1911’s (I have both, I love the grip on my 1851 navy, but it will never have the consistency of “draw to point of aim” as the 1911). With the 1911 you can firmly plant the web of your hand between your thumb and pointer finger the grasp the handle and have an extremely repeatable draw and point. Plus Wyatt carried a 12” barreled buntline model and engaged at range. The extra barrel gave a longer sight window, increased velocity, and flatter trajectory.. he stacked the deck in his favor, as anybody smart in his position would do.
 
455 Bravo Uniform said:
Some of my friends who carried an M9 in the military hated the Beretta. I can take the 92FS (or one of its close variants), look at something in the room as a small aim point, close my eyes, point it at that thing, then open my eyes, and I’m dead on. For whatever reason it fits my skeleton. THIS is a BBQ gun…

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Yup, love my 92fs.
 
Half Fast said:
Just ordered one of these:

Should arrive next week. I’ll put a few hundred rounds through it to shake out any problems, then decide on engraving. Have to get a holster made for it, too.
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I think you're going to love it. As others have said, for many people, me included, it just fits in your hand. The other nice thing is how crisp the SA trigger is, and how little takeup and overtravel there is.

Nice combination of stock color and stainless, too. That should go with KC, NC, and even Alabama white sauce BBQ...
 
That pistol will also fit in well in more formal occasions with a proper shoulder holster. A bull shined sleek shoulder holster and a tasteful 1911 goes well with a cuff linked shirt, vest, and pants of a fitted suit. And is only visible if you take off the suit jacket.
 
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:) Black tie, I think the only approved sartorial options are 1911 or PPK. Beretta only if you're representing the country of Italy. Black tie BBQ? Only 1911. (Ok, if you were born and still living in Texas, perhaps a SA Colt wheel gun.)
 
Albany Tom said:
:) Black tie, I think the only approved sartorial options are 1911 or PPK. Beretta only if you're representing the country of Italy. Black tie BBQ? Only 1911. (Ok, if you were born and still living in Texas, perhaps a SA Colt wheel gun.)
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Some things are timeless lol
 
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Bill said:
I used to have an Ultra Carry II, I loved every thing about it except for the serrated trigger, I think you’ll like it! Damn boating accident!
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What lake was that? I’ll get a strong magnet and go fishing....
 
Flatiowa said:
I really like the grip scales. How does it balance in your hand?
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Very nicely, as far as I can tell with it unloaded. I haven't had a chance to load it yet and see how it balances with a full magazine.

I need to strip it, clean it, and lube it before I take it to the range. Probably tomorrow or Thursday. I also want to get a second mag for it.
 
I had a Kimber Stainless II for years. Bought it from a guy who fired a couple of magazines through it and decided he didn't want it. He called it a "jam-o-matic". I didn't bother telling him that you just can't reliably shoot SHP through those stamped GI style magazines that come in the box. A couple of Wilson Combat mags with the correct follower profile, and I never had a problem with it. I sold it to fund another acquisition and I've regretted it ever since....:confused:

I still have my dad's '64 NMP with the Drake slide. Hands down, the best 1911, EVER! https://sightm1911.com/lib/history/nm.htm
 
Half Fast said:
Very nicely, as far as I can tell with it unloaded. I haven't had a chance to load it yet and see how it balances with a full magazine
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It gets better with a full mag..
wilkersk said:
He called it a "jam-o-matic". I didn't bother telling him that you just can't reliably shoot SHP through those stamped GI style magazines that come in the box. A couple of Wilson Combat mags with the correct follower profile, and I never had a problem with it
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If it’s made and profiled to GI specs fmj ball ammo only or your inviting frustrations. Even then a polishing of the loading ramp with OOOO steel wool until it is smooth as glass goes a long way in shortening the break in period on 1911 platforms. (And they do need a few hundred rounds through them to break in and get all the sliding surfaces honed and mated together. Then they run like clockwork).

Edit: limp wrist grip will also cause them to jam or stovepipe. Firm but not hard grip, forearm tensioned but not flexed
 
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Polished feed ramp for sure. But I run standard GI style Colt magazines with the normal follower in my 1911's, and never have a feed failure. Almost never use FMJ. Mostly 200gr lead SWC, and jacketed HP 200. That's in 45 and 10mm. Maybe I've been lucky. I've heard folks have more trouble with feed failure in 9mm and 38 super. Also, with lead, I set to leave a little tiny shoulder of lead above the case mouth...the brass itself of course won't go up the ramp well. Have never run silvertip in 45...I can see how the pyramid type shape might not fed as well.

Oh, and if you handload and have the cases either flared out or crimped in, or cracked, then that could cause a problem. They're supposed to be straight.
 
The ones chambered in 9mm definitely have a higher rate of feed issues in my experience. The bore center is higher from the reduced diameter of the bore, and the inertia dynamics of the round being fed are different. They are very finicky on magazine spring tension and follower profile in my experience . It was made for .45acp, don’t get me wrong, a well tuned with matching round it was tuned to 9mm 1911 is an awsome gun, reduced recoil, faster follow up, higher capacity in the single stack, still packs a punch, cheaper ammo… it is just a lot harder to get it to run correctly.
 
My personal carry one is chambered in 9mm and tuned to ball round nato. It took some work and alot of rounds through it breaking it in to get it fully reliable, but I’ve had old injuries to my wrist and arthritis is a factor so the reduced recoil is a plus (even if it makes me feel sad that it’s not a .45)
 
wilkersk said:
I had a Kimber Stainless II for years. Bought it from a guy who fired a couple of magazines through it and decided he didn't want it. He called it a "jam-o-matic". I didn't bother telling him that you just can't reliably shoot SHP through those stamped GI style magazines that come in the box. A couple of Wilson Combat mags with the correct follower profile, and I never had a problem with it. I sold it to fund another acquisition and I've regretted it ever since....:confused:

I still have my dad's '64 NMP with the Drake slide. Hands down, the best 1911, EVER! https://sightm1911.com/lib/history/nm.htm
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Second the Wilson Combat mags! I've got two and they're excellent.
 
Spent a while cleaning and lubing the new hand cannon this morning, then took it to the range this afternoon and put about 75 rounds through it. After running a few rounds as a function check, this was my first couple of magazines:
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For my first shots with a new out-of-the-box gun, I was pleased. It will get better as I get it (and me) dialed in. I ran a few rounds at various ranges while resting the gun, and it's shooting a bit low with the target ammo I was using, but I won't adjust the sights until I pick out a defensive load and shoot a couple of boxes of it.​
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The gun ran flawlessly, no failures at all. Of course, I want to put a lot more rounds through it, but today I also fired a few mags through my PA-63 and I started flinching a bit, so I decided that was enough for one day.​
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So far I'm very pleased!​
 
Half Fast said:
Spent a while cleaning and lubing the new hand cannon this morning, then took it to the range this afternoon and put about 75 rounds through it. After running a few rounds as a function check, this was my first couple of magazines:
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So far I'm very pleased!​
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Not bad from three feet!​
 
eman1200 said:
I thought a red flag law meant I should shoot at every red flag I see, no?

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Sounds reasonable.

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Looks like one of the B course daily drivers I first qualified with almost 50 years ago. The range master had a peg-board full of .45s with numbers painted on the grip, you had to line up and check them back in, in number order. That was one of the sillier days I ever spent at the range. But, it got me my first "qual". Go Navy!

As far as M-60s: Somewhere in the Taiwan Straits, some years ago, 'AZ3 (supply clerk), where the hell are those gun mounts you were supposed to bring?'
 

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So, the story behind the 1911 is that if you carry an M60, you are issued a pistol as well. That was on a practice session for the LMG marksmanship team. I was the #1 gunner in my division, and #3 in all of USAEUR.

We had three man teams - a gunner, an assistant gunner, who helped with barrel changeouts and was the backup gunner, and an ammo bearer, who just carried ammo, and helped carry the gun. It wasn't just shooting, 10K forced marches were part of the program too. Pop up target ranges were set across mountain valleys ranging from about 50M to 1000M.

The M240 was adopted but not widely issued until the '90's, although we had a version of it that served as the coax machine gun in the Bradleys. I would have actually preferred the ground version M240 over the 60, since the 60's tend to be finicky. I don't think I've ever seen a 240c malfunction even once.

Same thing with the M9. It was adopted in 86 but they weren't widely issued until the 90's.
 
Sac Arrow said:
…I would have actually preferred the ground version M240 over the 60, since the 60's tend to be finicky…..
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I did exactly one stint as a -60 gunner before becoming a grenadier. The -203 and even the -79 with a rifle were easier and lighter to hump than the M60.

I later got my hands on a MK19 and all was right with the world.
 
Sac Arrow said:
We had three man teams - a gunner, an assistant gunner, who helped with barrel changeouts and was the backup gunner, and an ammo bearer, who just carried ammo, and helped carry the gun. It wasn't just shooting, 10K forced marches were part of the program too. Pop up target ranges were set across mountain valleys ranging from about 50M to 1000M.
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I have a mental image of someone shooting an 8 mile sporting clays course with an M60. I wouldn't want to annoy anyone that did that, partly because of the M60, partly because of anyone that could shoot one like a shotgun.

Closest I know of to somebody that did that besides the above is an old friend who was a BAR guy in Korea.

I think either would make pretty good BBQ guns.
 
Half Fast said:
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Being an old fart, I'm a bit old school. Been using Love Potion #9 since the 1970s. :)
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I love Hoppes too, but I'm worried about aluminum frames and nitride coating, although I guess the newer formulations are safe. Mil spec Break Free works fine. I put the Rig lube on high wear areas like the barrel and slide rails.
 
Yeah, but nothing smells as good as No.9

We should start a “hobby smells” thread - what smells the best in a given hobby. :)
 
Sac Arrow said:
I love Hoppes too, but I'm worried about aluminum frames and nitride coating, although I guess the newer formulations are safe. Mil spec Break Free works fine. I put the Rig lube on high wear areas like the barrel and slide rails.
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I know people who have used Hoppes on many Sigs for years without issue. YMMV.
 
BBQ gun update:

I picked up my new custom holster, with matching belt, this morning. If anyone needs any leather work (holsters, belts, saddles, sheaths, whatever) I most highly recommend CJ Brown in Haines City, FL. https://www.brownssaddleshop.com/ CJ's work is superlative (he does the saddle work for the US olympic team), and he's easy to work with. He and I discussed what I wanted, he made some really good suggestions, and he delivered precisely what I ordered. Plus he's fun to talk with; he has a lifetime of great stories.

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The holster is a little snug at the moment so that over time it will stretch and loosen slightly to fit the gun precisely. It has a thumb break retention strap, and a slotted flap in addition to the regular belt strap at CJ's recommendation. That allows me to put the flap slot behind a belt loop and the belt strap in front, thus locking the holster into position. It rides a bit high for better concealment under a jacket or untucked shirt, and has the slight forward cant that I requested.

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I'm very pleased with how it turned out.

Next will be engraving for the gun, but I want to get some more rounds through it first. I'm close to 200 rounds now and the gun is running well, but I want to be sure it won't need to go back to Kimber for work before I have the slide engraved. I picked up an 8-round mag from Wilson Combat (the stock Kimber mag is 7 rounds) and tried it out this week and it worked fine.

I haven't fully made up my mind about engraving yet, but this is what I'm considering for the left side of the slide:

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The right side has less space due to the ejection port, so I'm thinking about a Florida state flag with some scroll work.

I had planned to get a set of burlwood grips made, but now I'm debating with myself. The stock Kimber grips are very pretty wood and it's not really necessary to replace them to have a dressy-looking gun.

Anybody planning a POA barbecue soon?
 
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