-
If you enjoy the forum please consider supporting it by signing up for a NES Membership The benefits pay for the membership many times over.
-
Be sure to enter the NES/Pioneer Valley Arms February Giveaway ***Smith & Wesson SD9VE 9MM***
Cleaning and maintenance: S&W 1911 vs Sig
- Thread starter hrspear
- Start date
Take down and reassembly of a 1911 is more complicated than take down of a Sig, but it isn't hard. In terms of general care, both need to be cleaned and lubricated regularly. That's about it.
If you are new to shooting pistols, I would not recommend either. I would go with something that has less recoil and is in a cheaper caliber.
If you are new to shooting pistols, I would not recommend either. I would go with something that has less recoil and is in a cheaper caliber.
I have the stainless P220 and I have to say the recoil is very manageable with the mass of the firearm. It's also somewhat easier to take down and reassemble than a 1911...first time I took down my 1911, I shot the recoil spring and spring sleeve across the basement as I didn't hang onto it... a mistake I didn't make again!!!
Not new to shooting pistols, just new to owning them. I certainly would not say I have a lot of experience, especially compared to some on this forum. But I have spent a bit of time with the M9 Beretta, Glock 23 (didn't care for the trigger pull), and some others (Walther PPKS, various revolvers, and a few more that escape me).
I've shot a couple of 1911's, but didn't have to clean them. I shot well with them, and loved the overall feel. But if it's going to mean an additional 30 minutes of cleaning every time I go to the range compared to the SIG, which seems like a great gun and felt pretty good in my hand, then I may go with the SIG. If it's just an extra few minutes then that's not a big deal.
In the end I know that I will buy at least one 1911 at some point...I've already started down the road of thinking I want a large caliber automatic (the 1911 or P220), a .357, a .22 for cheap shooting and maybe pistol team (won't be competing right away but sounds like it might be fun), a shotgun for trap/skeet (haven't done either but looks like fun) and true home defense...well I'm guessing this may sound familiar to a few folks around here.
I've shot a couple of 1911's, but didn't have to clean them. I shot well with them, and loved the overall feel. But if it's going to mean an additional 30 minutes of cleaning every time I go to the range compared to the SIG, which seems like a great gun and felt pretty good in my hand, then I may go with the SIG. If it's just an extra few minutes then that's not a big deal.
In the end I know that I will buy at least one 1911 at some point...I've already started down the road of thinking I want a large caliber automatic (the 1911 or P220), a .357, a .22 for cheap shooting and maybe pistol team (won't be competing right away but sounds like it might be fun), a shotgun for trap/skeet (haven't done either but looks like fun) and true home defense...well I'm guessing this may sound familiar to a few folks around here.
get both. ![[grin]](/xen/styles/default/xenforo/smilies.vb/041.gif "Grin [grin]")
i don't own any sigs (yet), but i shot some of PSS' ones. my next handgun may very well be a sig but i picked up the 1911 first. ask him to chime in on his thoughts about a sig vs. a S&W 1911--he said he wasn't a fan of S&W autos but he did like my 1911.
i don't own any sigs (yet), but i shot some of PSS' ones. my next handgun may very well be a sig but i picked up the 1911 first. ask him to chime in on his thoughts about a sig vs. a S&W 1911--he said he wasn't a fan of S&W autos but he did like my 1911.
It's just a couple extra minutes. The cleaning part is the same for any handgun. The only difference is taking it down and putting it back together. SIG has perhaps the easiest system ever devised for taking down a gun. Taking down the 1911 will seem difficult at first, but with practice takes less than 30 seconds.
A buddy of mine lent me his Sig220 and I just throw it right in the dishwasher...No worries....
By the way - If you can, go Sig 220 - they are really sweet. That being said, I'm jonesing for a 1911 as well, so it's hard to screw up this decision...Good luck!![[cheers]](/xen/styles/default/xenforo/smilies.vb/018.gif "Cheers [cheers]")
By the way - If you can, go Sig 220 - they are really sweet. That being said, I'm jonesing for a 1911 as well, so it's hard to screw up this decision...Good luck!
Cleaning is overrated.
Not that take down is not important, but have you handled and shot both....
- SA vs SA/DA
- for first firearm .45ACP will get very expensive quickly if you do a lot of range time. (I'm even complaining about the cost of reloaded .45ACP...)
- etc.
Just my 2 cents....
- SA vs SA/DA
- for first firearm .45ACP will get very expensive quickly if you do a lot of range time. (I'm even complaining about the cost of reloaded .45ACP...)
- etc.
Just my 2 cents....
My Sig is much easier than my 1911 to clean. The 1911 is more involved than a Sig to clean. My Sig is like my Beretta to strip down for cleaning. Its very simple. The 1911 isn't hard to take apart, but trying to get it back together can be tough if you don't pay attention to how the parts go. That spring is deadly!!! Watch when you put the wrench on the barrel and turn.
Personally, I find the wrench to be the most useless instrument devised. I think using your thumb is safer and easier any day of the week. Field stripping a 1911 is simple and no one should avoid a 1911 because of this. Heck, detail stripping can be done by any monkey with instructions, as well.
All you need to know is they're both about 1000 times easier to clean than a Ruger MKII/III.
Neither the 1911 nor the P220 require a hammer or large amounts of profanity to field strip and reassemble.![[laugh]](/xen/styles/default/xenforo/smilies.vb/012.gif "Laugh [laugh]")
-Mike
Neither the 1911 nor the P220 require a hammer or large amounts of profanity to field strip and reassemble.
-Mike
Bill Nance
Banned
Get the gun that you find most enjoyable to shoot first.
Take-down is a trivial matter really. Even a really craptastic take-down like a Mini-14 isn't really a big deal.
1911s take a little more effort than a SIG, but not enough for you to make a decision based on that. I'm totally NOT mechanically inclined and if I can do it in 10-20 seconds you'll have no issues.
Take-down is a trivial matter really. Even a really craptastic take-down like a Mini-14 isn't really a big deal.
1911s take a little more effort than a SIG, but not enough for you to make a decision based on that. I'm totally NOT mechanically inclined and if I can do it in 10-20 seconds you'll have no issues.
Whether or not you need a wrench is dependent upon how tight the barrel bushing is. On most production guns you don't need a wrench, though I find it convenient. I do have a gun with a barrel custom fit by a gunsmith, and on that one I certainly do need a wrench.
I agree that detail stripping is not particularly hard on a standard 1911. The S&W, Kimber II, and Series 80+ Colts (and their clones, e.g., ParaOrdnance and SIG 1911) have extra safety parts that can be a pain to get back together.
Have shot SAO 1911, the Beretta M9 is SA/DA, Glock 23 was DAO. I shoot all three fine, but I prefer the SAO given the choice.
About how much is .45ACP in MA? Winclean or something simmilar to be specific. I'll definitely be picking up a .22 to help keep the skills up but the practice costs down.
Sigs, Glocks, Rugers, etc....are all easy to take down. The 1911 is just as easy after you have done it a few times. So the take down portion is really a small issue after you've decided which one you like to shoot and can shoot the best.
For the record it does take me a bit longer to clean a SIG than a 1911, due to the oiling required. In times of need I'll grab either, but 9/10 its the SIG since I like them alot.
For the record it does take me a bit longer to clean a SIG than a 1911, due to the oiling required. In times of need I'll grab either, but 9/10 its the SIG since I like them alot.
