Opinion on Auto Ordnance 1911

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visigoth4

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Guys,

Looking for some feed back on people who own and who have possibly shot this. Looking to get my first 1911. I personally like the classic 1911 look from WWII. I know this comes with very basic sights and and probably a bit heavier trigger than some of the other stuff that's out there like the S&W, Ruger, etc.

Any opinion or feed back would be great.
 
visigoth4 said:
Guys,

Looking for some feed back on people who own and who have possibly shot this. Looking to get my first 1911. I personally like the classic 1911 look from WWII. I know this comes with very basic sights and and probably a bit heavier trigger than some of the other stuff that's out there like the S&W, Ruger, etc.

Any opinion or feed back would be great.
Click to expand...

Many reviews at:

http://forum.m1911.org/forumdisplay.php?f=8

This version sounds better, $400, but not MA Legal:

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/21_1171/products_id/411552921/TISAS+Classic+1911-A1+45ACP+5%22+GI+BLACK
 
I hope the post Kahr era guns are a lot better than the crap they made in the 80's.
I had a ZG-51 Pit Bull and it was the biggest POS 1911 I've ever owned, even worse than the AMT I once owned.
 
Zappa said:
I hope the post Kahr era guns are a lot better than the crap they made in the 80's.
I had a ZG-51 Pit Bull and it was the biggest POS 1911 I've ever owned, even worse than the AMT I once owned.
Click to expand...


Have been hearing and reading some mixed reviews. Trying to find some stuff on youtube as well.
 
I like mine. Bought it NIB. Didn't change anything including polishing, etc. has been 100% reliable. Love how it looks and feels. If your eye sight allows use of those original sights, I'd recommend it.
 
Also take a hard look at Rock Island Armory 1911. They are very good value. Made in Philippines on CNC machines. If any country deserves to make 1911's, it's the Philippines.
 
If it's a Kahr made gun then it's well made. I have one and it shoots as well or better than any of my other 1911's. If its a West Hurley made gun then generally stay away. Those were manufactured by Numrich.
 
tag cuz i have an eye for em too.
Love the classic look. I have heard good things about the ones Kahr makes & if its as good quality as my pm9, then I am in for 2!
i really like the Thompson one that they make in stainless also.
getdynamicimage.aspx
 
The minute they start putting "lightening holes" in the Trigger - I find that a little too "precious" and a total turn-off.

Just my two cents.
 
SalemCat said:
The minute they start putting "lightening holes" in the Trigger - I find that a little too "precious" and a total turn-off.

Just my two cents.
Click to expand...

There is a real reason for having a lightweight 1911 trigger (referring to the weight of the part itself, not the pull weight). It's not just cosmetics or preciousness.
 
bill o said:
There is a real reason for having a lightweight 1911 trigger (referring to the weight of the part itself, not the pull weight). It's not just cosmetics or preciousness.
Click to expand...

Well, what is that reason ?

I have an open mind.

Though inside that mind is a voice telling me if JOHN BROWNING didn't put it there, it ain't right.
 
SalemCat said:
Well, what is that reason ?

I have an open mind.

Though inside that mind is a voice telling me if JOHN BROWNING didn't put it there, it ain't right.
Click to expand...

Trigger bounce. A heavy steel trigger with a light pull can make something bad happen.
 
SalemCat said:
Though inside that mind is a voice telling me if JOHN BROWNING didn't put it there, it ain't right.
Click to expand...

I love 1911s, but there are quite a few things about the original that simply don't work for me.

1) The original sights are tiny and just useless for me. Good sights let me shoot far more quickly and accurately. That is a good thing. I like Heinie and 10-8.

2) For me, the original safety is too small to quickly and easily operate. A slim extended safety is easier to operate and allows me to comfortably ride with my thumb while shooting. This is important because if your thumb is not riding the safety, while shooting you could accidentally apply the safety during recoil. That would be a bad thing if you were using the gun during a social occasion.

3) The standard grip safety pinches the web of my hand. A beavertail lets me get a higher grip on the gun without beating up the web of my hand.

4) A lowered, flared ejection port improves reliability.

5) A lighter titanium firing pin reduces the chances of the gun discharging if it is dropped.

6) bill o already covered the reasons for a lighter trigger.

John Browning certainly was a genius, but the modern changes really do improve the gun.
 
A kahr made one I fired was absolute GARBAGE, my friend has had nothing but problems. I'm of the line of thought that if you can only afford a glock and want a 1911, buy a glock. This only applies if you want this as a defensive firearm however, if it's for a range toy that you won't mind if it doesn't go bang every time, then by all means buy one. This is coming from someone who carries a 1911 almost every day, but my experiences with the 1911 is that you will not find one in a glock price range that will out perform a glock. The Sig Sauer fastback I'm carrying now will outshoot a g21 day in and day out and only lose to capacity, but if you gave me a Rock Island Armory 1911 and a Glock to bring to a gunfight, I'd pick the 1911. My advice? Save a little bit more if it's for a defensive weapon and get something of better quality, or buy something reliable in your price range. Cheap and 1911 don't go well together in my experience.
 
One thing to remember JMB designed the 1911 to work and have a reasonable chance of hitting your torso sized target. I think the only gun he designed to be close to a target gun. Is the colt woodsman. Other than that he seemed to base his designs on getting lead down range with reasonable accuracy.
One thing my grand uncle said about being in WW2 about the weapons he used.
I didn't care much for the accuracy of the 1911 but I sacrifice accuracy for function, those 1911s much like my garand would function lubed with blood and sand..
I think any decent manufacture that builds a true milspec 1911 or 1911A1 should do what it was intended to do.
 
mac1911 said:
One thing to remember JMB designed the 1911 to work and have a reasonable chance of hitting your torso sized target. I think the only gun he designed to be close to a target gun. Is the colt woodsman. Other than that he seemed to base his designs on getting lead down range with reasonable accuracy.
One thing my grand uncle said about being in WW2 about the weapons he used.
I didn't care much for the accuracy of the 1911 but I sacrifice accuracy for function, those 1911s much like my garand would function lubed with blood and sand..
I think any decent manufacture that builds a true milspec 1911 or 1911A1 should do what it was intended to do.
Click to expand...

Accuracy and reliability are not mutually exclusive. You can have both in a properly built 1911.
 
bill o said:
Trigger bounce. A heavy steel trigger with a light pull can make something bad happen.
Click to expand...

Sounds plausible.

Though any new 1911 from a MA Dealer is going to have a heavy trigger.

But other states would allow a light trigger.

So I agree - in some cases those holes may have a function.

Personally I still think holes in a 1911 trigger look goofy. But to each his own.
 
This is incorrect. A model 1911 has a manual safety and thus does not require the mass 10lb trigger.



SalemCat said:
Sounds plausible.

Though any new 1911 from a MA Dealer is going to have a heavy trigger.

But other states would allow a light trigger.

So I agree - in some cases those holes may have a function.

Personally I still think holes in a 1911 trigger look goofy. But to each his own.
Click to expand...
 
I like mine. The magazine that comes with it is junk,Colt mags work great in it.
I bought mine because I didn't want to spend three times as much on a original WWII 1911 that was beat.
I know it's not fooling anyone but it's a decent reproduction.
 
"SalemCat said:
Though any new 1911 from a MA Dealer is going to have a heavy trigger.

But other states would allow a light trigger..
Click to expand...

That is simply untrue. The trigger weight of 1911s sold in MA is the same as the weight of those 1911s sold in other states. And if you want a lighter trigger pull, any decent gun plumber can do that for you.
 
Make_MA_2A_Compliant said:
It's arbitrary. There are plenty of handguns with manual safeties that have 10lb+ triggers on the MA compliant versions.
Click to expand...

I don't know of any 1911 sold in MA that has a 10 lb tigger. I've fired S&W and Ruger 1911s sold in MA and their triggers were just fine, in the 5 lb range I'd guess.
 
"You probably already realize this, but you can have as light a trigger as you want in MA once you own the gun."

True.

But if you want to sell it through a FFL you have to restore the MA-Compliant Trigger.
 
Seems to me it all just comes down to Personal Preference.

I prefer a 1911 that strictly follows the WWII look.

Might be I have fond memories from carrying one in my National Guard days.
 
Last edited:
SalemCat said:
"You probably already realize this, but you can have as light a trigger as you want in MA once you own the gun."

True.

But if you want to sell it through a FFL you have to restore the MA-Compliant Trigger.
Click to expand...

Once again, there is no requirement that a 1911 sold in MA must have a heavy trigger. And even if you have a trigger job done on it an FFL can still resell it.

Please stop spreading fear, uncertainty and doubt. MA gun laws are hard enough for people to understand without people making $;!@ up.
 
I have a Kahr built AO1911 bought new and I love it. Love the WW2 look, love how it shoots. It has been accurate and reliable for me, although the factory mag is junk.
 

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