Tag Archives: Pistols

Weapons

ATI Commander Update

5 Comments

Had some emails asking about how this gun has held up.  Well, I’ve not shot it much lately primarily because I’ve been off my feet letting my knee mend.  But before me knee issue, I’ve put a number of rounds through it.  It has about 350 rounds fired of mixed ammunition.  PMC, CCI, Speer, Cor-bon, and Remington UMC.   I did have one hiccup in the first round of firings, a failure to feed.  That was with some Remington UMC ammo…. which any time I do have a failure in any gun – it’s usually Remington UMC ammo that has the hiccup.  I really don’t like that ammo.

I put in a heavier recoil spring.  Reason being, it felt like it was under sprung.  Just a couple pounds more…. feels just right now.  Since then, I’ve not had a single failure of any sort.  Then again, I’ve not fired any more Remington ammo through it.

Ejection remains very consistent.  Accuracy, while yet to be put on paper, has been Minute of Water Bottle.  My impression is that it’s very accurate.  However I still need to paper this gun along with a couple others.  (My Springfield GI and the Sterling)  When I am more “On my feet” I’ll do that.  Until then I’m only speculating on the accuracy.

The gun shoots better than other 1911’s that cost much more.   Cosmetically, the gun remains unchanged so far… as far as Finish goes.  It’s only sporting the swapped grips I mentioned in another post.  I’ve yet to have the finish altered in any way.  So other than a spring and some wood, this ATI remains stock.

I do want some more appropriate grips for it.  The very nice reddish wood grips don’t quite look right.  They are too nice.  And I need an appropriate holster.  Simple brown leather.

I remain well pleased with this little Commander.

Crusader

Ogre Edition 1911?

2 Comments

I’ve been thinking about what a Crusader Ogre Edition 1911 would be.  I don’t have any photoshop skills, so I can’t do up a picture to show you.  But let me paint the picture for you in the mind. A stainless Dan Wesson V-Bob, a Commander length… with a blued carbon steel slide, and a muzzle treatment like a Nighthawk T3, and Straight 8 night sights.  Done.  Simple.  Oh, and it would be a 10mm.

 

Weapons

Springfield XDM Compacts

6 Comments

We got in a few of the .40 XDMC’s…  You know, while at SHOT I took a look at them and at the time they just didn’t blow my skirt up.  However after handling the production gun here… taking some more time to examine it…

I like it.  It’s the first XDM that I could see myself getting if I was in the market for a Sub-Compact sized Poly-Striker.   The grip is short, but it works.  The 3.8 inch barrel and related sight radius makes getting a good Sight Picture easier than on other sub-compact guns.   And the XDM’s lines seem to work better with this hobbit sized grip.    I give it my nod of approval.

Weapons

Cool Rims

3 Comments

The lowly .22LR is the most common and popular of the rimfire category… and the stuff that comes out for it is pretty amazing.  I find myself in modes where it’s almost like I consider a .22LR to be a “Kid’s Gun” or something.  Honestly, I think since I got a .17HMR, I’ve only fired about a dozen rounds of .22LR.

But .22’s are not just for kids anywhere, not by a long shot.   .22’s are getting serious.  We’ve seen the .22 Colts and M&P 15-22, and of course the plethora of modification options for the Ruger 10/22…  But what you are about to see here… These are just staggeringly cool on a whole new level. Continue reading Cool Rims →

Crusader, Weapons

ATI GI 1911 Commander, an observation

13 Comments

As readers will know, last week I picked up a 1911 Commander from ATI.  “American Tactical Imports“.

I remain impressed with the overall quality of the gun.  It’s so far proven to be a great buy.  At the time of purchase, and even since I had first seen them, I had only one complaint.  The wood grips look like they are cheap plastic.  Now I have another complaint.

Continue reading ATI GI 1911 Commander, an observation →

Weapons

Top 5 1911’s

6 Comments

One of The Horde has asked for a Top 5 1911 list.  This is difficult, because saying 1911 is like saying Pickup Truck.  There are different types, classes of truck.  Class wasn’t specified.  So this is going to be an overall pick, cross classes.

1.  Springfield TRP
2.  SIG 1911 TacOps
3.  Dan Wesson V-Bob
4.  STI Ranger II
5.  Springfield 1911 GI

Three of the five selections are full sized, 5” guns.  The other two are Commander length guns.  There are no three inch guns on my list for a reason.   The smaller sized guns get more finicky in terms of reliability and for me, that’s a huge disqualification.  The full size and the Commander length guns are where it’s at.
If I was going to pick a few more, the other guns on my list would be the guns in the Colt CCO type configuration with a Commander length barrel and slide on an Officer’s length frame.  Such as the SIG C3 and RCS.  Both would make the list for sure.  Also, if I had another spot, I’d have to put an STI Tactical 4.15, which would also be the only double stacked 1911 on this list, and the only one in 9mm.
If I was going to pick something on the more Budge Minded level, the options are fewer, but some stand out.  The pistols from ATI have a strong showing with tolerances on par with guns that cost 3 times as much.  The newish Remington R1 is a nice pistol, if you can find one.  The Para GI Expert is a very similar gun at a similar price point, and it’s a good one.  Then there are the guns from Taurus which are solid values and surprisingly good shooters.
Notice I am not talking about the Semi-Custom Production guns from makers such as Wilson Combat, Les Baer, and Ed Brown.  They are certainly good, but the cost level is puts them far and away above the reach of a lot of shooters, without a drastic or tangible increase in returns for the money.

Weapons

More on the 1911

3 Comments

ToddG from Pistol-Training.com knocked it out of the park. This is well said.
I look at the 1911 much like Muscle Car. You can buy faster modern cars, but they just don’t have the class and style that a classic muscle car has.
As much as I love my G23RTF2, it doesn’t evoke the romance and the passion that my 1911’s inspire.
The 1911 is for the Aficionado and the Professional. It’s not for the rank and file foot-soldier. Yes, there is an Elitist aspect to it.

Government, Weapons

NC Alcohol Bureau’s 1911’s

10 Comments

NC Alcohol Bureau has to ditch their unreliable weapons.
This is an interesting article and needs to be read.  To see what these guns are, take a look here.  As you guys know, I am a huge fan of the 1911.  It is a romance kind of thing.  I can’t help myself.  However I am also a huge fan of the Glock, because, well, Glocks take away doubt.  Doubt about reliability.  Doubt about reliabilty can really put a sour taste in my mouth about any gun.
As much as I love the 1911, one company has caused more than one raised eyebrow for me.  And that company is Kimber.  About two years ago I started seeing some Quality Control issues with Kimber.  Some of them minor details, others glaringly obvious factory fumbles.  I had to send two guns back to the factory that had just arrived.  In my Defensive Pistol training classes, I had a couple Kimbers come through that didn’t want to run… one in particular, a full sized SIS, just about refused to function altogether.  That thing jammed like a jazz band.

Continue reading NC Alcohol Bureau’s 1911’s →