Wear and tear

[Painless]

I've fired about 250 rounds through my 1911 now and I'm wondering if I should be worried about wear and tear on a weapon that is in effect a piece of history (mine is an ex-us military remington rand dated at 1944 and completely original) and if I should be severely limiting the amount of rounds I put through it per year.

I guess what I'm wondering is if one can fire a 1911 enough to wear and tear it to the point where it is irreperable without having to replace something and hence make it non-original. If this is the case, what sort of limits should I be imposing on myself? ... or am I worrying about nothing?

Russ.

[Tankcommander]

Painless, I'm not sure what the life is on the weakest part of the pistol or what that part might be. While in the National Guard before the M9 we had mostly WW2 1911A1s and some 1911s all had new barrels and springs and other asorted parts and most rattled like a baby's toy. How much use did it have before you got it. If you want to keep it original I think it best to use it sparingly. Another few 1000 rounds may start wearing out parts.

TC :cannon:

[Painless]

Currently, my 1911A1 is pretty damn solid. It seems to have been well looked after and there is little to no rattling, all the parts fit pretty snug. It shoots decent groups of 3ish inches when I do my part at 25yds.

I look after it like a baby, I stop and let it cool down every two or three mags when I'm shooting and full field strip and clean it as soon as I've finished every trip to the range. I keep a coat of oil over the entire piece all the time. I'm getting ready to detail strip it after my next trip and think I'll be doing that every 5 or so range visits.

I love shooting it, I just don't want to ruin it.

Russ.

[Dorkface]

well most would agree that a 1911 isnt even broken in untill after 1000 rds or so. i think the first thing that wears out is the main spring at around 20,000 rds for the recomended change. go to M1911.org lots of good info on there aswell as on their forum. theres a post there somewhere that discusses this very thing and was answered very well by a smith.

net effect is the 1911 is a tough cookie and you dont really need to baby it all that much. want to say i remmeber the smith saying to not even both cleaning it except for every 500 rds or so. but check out that place. lots of good info for the 1911.

your .45 will serve you well. the only thing it might not like to do is feed simi wad and wad cutters but give em a try cause my .45 feeds them fine. about the only thing to look into like all guns is getting some quality mags. i like Wilson Combat mags myself and so does my .45 :D

[JAD1225]

Painless, I would just shoot it very sparingly and keep on babying her. No sense putting a lot of wear and tear on a pistol that you obviously care for, and is a piece of history to boot. There are plenty of newer pistols for you to blast away with. Turn her into your bedside gun and take care of her.

[Timberland]

If you want a shooter, unless it is a mixed part, refinished gun, I would get a Springfield military spec and keep the RR in the safe. Do the blasting with the springfield, and occasionally, if you want, take out the old girl and put a magazine or two through her. Clean her up real good, then put it back in the safe and forget about it for awhile. Thats what I do with all of mine. That way you don't kill the finish or the fit

[Edward429451]

I agree with Timberland. Getcha a shooter and shelve this one. I wouldn't 'never' shoot it, lifes too short to leave the 57 Chevy in the garage! Just don't shoot it constantly.

[ts0100]

I see that no one has posted hear for a while, so maybe this will fall on deaf ears.

Shoot the hell out of it. The 1911 is meant for that.

What will affect its actual value is damage to the frame and/or slide. I have a 1911 from 1918. Unfortunately my father re-blued the slide when he was younger, to make it look nicer, not knowing that it would decline in value from $1,350 to $600-$700.

It's all about original finish, almost regardless of the shape its in, and the serial number that proves who it was made by and when.

I recently stopped shooting it just because I hate the old-school military sights on it.

my 2¢

[merlin]

I've replaced all of the original parts on my 70 series Colt Combat Commander with aftermarket Wilson, Ed Brown, etc. parts and have put the original parts away.

I am still contemplating switching out the slide with an aftermarket or old slide.

This is a satin nickle plated sidearm that was a carry gun for the previous owner. There are a few holster marks and minor wear.

I would be more tenative with this piece but it is incredibly accurate even with the laughable original sights so it is a lot of fun to shoot. Those dang sights are the motivation for another slide.

Besides, I haven't a single firearm for show. They all get used. It seems a waste not to use them.

Besides, it is cool to bring an old Colt to the range.

Good luck Painless.

Merlin

[jdp223]

I've fired about 250 rounds through my 1911 now and I'm wondering if I should be worried about wear and tear on a weapon that is in effect a piece of history (mine is an ex-us military remington rand dated at 1944 and completely original) and if I should be severely limiting the amount of rounds I put through it per year.

I guess what I'm wondering is if one can fire a 1911 enough to wear and tear it to the point where it is irreperable without having to replace something and hence make it non-original. If this is the case, what sort of limits should I be imposing on myself? ... or am I worrying about nothing?

Russ.

Just shake the pistol, if it sounds like a baby rattle, you need serious help.

[dvdstdg]

If you are concerned about retaining the orginal parts replace the original parts (springs and bushing) with aftermarket parts. Unless you are shooting k's of rounds you aren't going to hurt the piece; why not enjoy it, you can't take it with you afterall.

[gunrun45]

Remington rand? Keep the round count low and you won't be sorry. It can only apreciate in value and if it is in better than average condition might be worth some bucks. Why not buy something like a springfield or even older model 80 just to shoot and keep the RR in the safe. I kinda think of it this way. My grandfather gave me a 1911 RR that he carried in WWII as a spotter pilot in the army and a Luger he got from a killed german. They have been in my family for 3 generations now and I plan on giving them to my kids to give to their kids.
You can read about history but feeling it in your hands makes it tangible. I don't shoot either much but they ahve a place in my heart that not even a Patterson device equiped 1903 springfield could replace.

[Metalhead]

Painless,
I can understand your concern about nearly 40 oz. of history that can't be replaced for this reason I say follow Timberland's lead....besides that baby deserves her rest for all the jobs well done!