Marines Returning to M1911

swpa19 · 07-28-2012, 15:20

Hope this is not a repeat. Did a quick search with no results.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/07/28...liber-pistols/

Sohei · 07-28-2012, 16:06

I would certainly like to have one of those!

kgoerz · 07-28-2012, 19:21

It's only over a 100 years old. Great Pistol, but it's 2012. Need I say more

Streck-Fu · 07-29-2012, 06:25

With many good double stack options available, why limit the capacity?

kgoerz · 07-29-2012, 10:13

Actually the reason they went with the 1911. The process of acquiring a new pistol would have taken years. Since they are essentially buying the same gun. The process was much faster. The Marines can't just buy a new gun as fast as the Army spec ops can.

TiroFijo · 07-29-2012, 16:59

I'm not a .mil guy, nor a US citizen, but I've read reports that the USMC was looking for a COTS replacement of their MEUSOC/M45 for at least a decade, and this solicitation is more than two years old. Perhaps they cannot just select anything they want, but it sure took them some time to select a 1911. They are not "returning" to the 1911, just replacing the relatively small numbers they already have at hand.

There are very interesting stories about this selection all over the net, with pictures and even the USMC less than stellar test report included...

**Team Sergeant** · 07-30-2012, 10:22

100,000 1911 gunsmiths and 1911 parts dealers just breathed a sigh of relief.

We should bring back the Model T too.

Dusty · 07-30-2012, 10:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Team Sergeant

100,000 1911 gunsmiths and 1911 parts dealers just breathed a sigh of relief.

We should bring back the Model T too.

Yeah, it's old tech. But you can cusomize the grips...

Badger52 · 07-30-2012, 13:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Team Sergeant

We should bring back the Model T too.

I've got a park'd beater 1911, runs great; but if they're gonna keep the nostalgia going could I please have my 3/4T truck back please, in M43 ambulance configuration would be nice but the basic M37 is ok, w/winch, 1 ea.

The cost of .45ACP die-sets and other components just went the same direction as the ratio of 1911-related ad pages in the magazines. The fora-sphere is acting like this is some 'Messianic event' and America just came to her senses...

Guymullins · 07-30-2012, 13:30

I own a Luger P08, which was designed just three years before the Colt 1911 and also had a long and distinguished history in the German and other forces.
The Luger was replaced by the Walther P38 mainly because the Luger was just too expensive to make. The engineering is complex and the "Breaking Knee" action elaborate. It never fed wonderfully , mainly because of the angle of the butt to the barrel was too acute. This made it perhaps the most pointable handgun ever made, but feed from the magazine to chamber suffered. Loading the long magazine was also very difficult, especially if one did not use the special tool supplied for this purpose. The Colt 1911 on the other hand was simpler to manufacture, fed like a dream, packed a bigger wallop and because it outclassed the Luger everywhere, except in looks and weight, had a much longer service life. This latest order from the Marines just confirms that some of the older designs are superior to all the modern slickness that is often sold to us as technological advances, but is in fact cost saving shortcuts.

CW3SF · 07-30-2012, 15:05

I guess I am in the minority here. I don't have a problem with their choice. A brand new Colt 1911 produced to todays specs is a far cry from the old worn out 1911's that sat on the arms room shelves back in the day.

I'd take one of these new Colts into combat over an M9 every day of the week and twice on Sundays. I have put thousands of rounds thru my 1911's with hardly a burp.

Dusty · 07-30-2012, 15:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by CW3SF

I guess I am in the minority here. I don't have a problem with their choice. A brand new Colt 1911 produced to todays specs is a far cry from the old worn out 1911's that sat on the arms room shelves back in the day.

I'd take one of these new Colts into combat over an M9 every day of the week and twice on Sundays. I have put thousands of rounds thru my 1911's with hardly a burp.

Oh, I love a 1911, myself. Addicted to them.

The point is, you say "hardly a burp"-they do sometimes burp. I like the ones that never burp, because of Mr. Murphy.

I'm planning on ordering a Les Baer when I finish pouring money into this shack, but I'll keep an HK as a fighting gun (God forbid I ever have to use it for that). Less reloading, too.

kgoerz · 07-30-2012, 16:39

The 1911 pistols they have now are unserviceable. They had to work with the system they have, even if that system sucks. The big Marine Corps is very much in charge of MARSOC. They are not a separate entity like Army Spec Op's. It's extremely frustrating for them.

Guymullins · 07-31-2012, 03:48

I wonder whether this Marine order for the .45 has anything to do with a general feeling that the older bigger calibers are perhaps better after all?
I know that many of our military regretted going 5.56 from 7.62 Nato. We never had a .45 pistol option but switched from a Star 9mm to the CZ 9mm which was a great improvement.

Dusty · 07-31-2012, 04:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guymullins

I wonder whether this Marine order for the .45 has anything to do with a general feeling that the older bigger calibers are perhaps better after all?
I know that many of our military regretted going 5.56 from 7.62 Nato. We never had a .45 pistol option but switched from a Star 9mm to the CZ 9mm which was a great improvement.

Guy, when I was a young Pistols and Subs Instructor (low man on the totem pole) at Wpns Branch, we were still talking about the Hatcher Formula; I bet the reason for using the .45 is still somewhat based on those results.

To me, it's seems logical that a bigger chunk of lead ball, going slower, is gonna open a bigger can of smoke.