Colt M1911A1 bite

[fredthe]

Today I learned why "modern" 1911s have redesigned hammers. I went and shot the Colt that my father had in WWII, for the 1st and likely last time (it is a 100 year old gun.)

I didn't feel this as it was happening, but noticed it when I went to reload. I decided 14 rounds was enough.

(photo about 6 hours later, it looked much worse at the time.)

 

[Art3]

I thought the A1's somewhat improved this. My non-A1 gets me a little, but it usually feels more like an irritation than a bite for me. I don't normally like shooting in gloves, but it can help.

My Hipower bites...hard

Sometimes, maybe it's ok not to take such a nice high grip

 

[trailtoy]

Yes they will take a nip! Makes you wonder how it got through thousands of rounds of testing and they didn't remedy that.

 

[Rockzilla]

Sometimes, maybe it's ok not to take such a nice high grip

Ya think..got bit a lot. changed the grip, also comes from big hands and fat hands. Oh well
Easy fix...

-Snoopz

 

[Bob A]

My Hipower bites...hard

Ring hammer for the win.

 

[Huckleberry]

It's not the hammer, it's the Standard USGI Safety and Hammer

Get yourself a Beaver Tail Safety and Cmdr Hammer will solve your biting issue

If you don't want a BT then the Commander Style hammer will also work alone

Easier if both can be added at the small time.

Minor fitting required but most modern CNC parts are almost drop-in.

If you want a GI Issue look then you need maintain a proper grip and toughen up, buttercup for the occasional hammer bite if your over rotate your grip. A USGI 1911 is not user friendly if you're cursed with sausage fingers and pudgy hands

 

[LuckyShot]

i shoot the piss out of my tisas 1911a1 that has the exact same hammer.

800 rounds deep and still love shooting it. I just grip a tiny bit lower and hold it tighter is all.

 

[BurkeM]

Today I learned why "modern" 1911s have redesigned hammers. I went and shot the Colt that my father had in WWII, for the 1st and likely last time (it is a 100 year old gun.)

I didn't feel this as it was happening, but noticed it when I went to reload. I decided 14 rounds was enough.

(photo about 6 hours later, it looked much worse at the time.)

It's like the M-1 Thumb. Millions of soldiers fire both, without injury.

I qualified once upon a time with the 1911, never had hammer bite., fired thousands of .45 ACP before switching to the Burrito. (M-9)

 

[Biggfoot44]

I thought the A1's somewhat improved this.

Yes ! Yes it Did !

But will still bite some hands, particularly large and beefy hands.

My Hipower bites...hard

But no . Not as bad as BHP .

 

[JasonD67]

You should have seen my thumb when I had the brilliant idea of lowering the hammer on a live round with my thumb. Dropped it a bit too fast and it went off -- ouch! Rookie move.

 

[RFBfromDE]

i shoot the piss out of my tisas 1911a1 that has the exact same hammer.

800 rounds deep and still love shooting it. I just grip a tiny bit lower and hold it tighter is all.

I don't have to, but I wear an unlined leather glove just in case...

 

[fredthe]

Thanks for all the comments. The A1 does have a larger beavertail, similar to modern 1911s, hence why I wasn't expecting an issue. I do have very large hands (mostly long fingers) so I expect that is my underlying problem. I may well give it another try with a slightly lower grip, though that isn't optimal.

In the long term I expect to use this experience as an excuse to collect more 1911's until I find one that fits my hand better

 

[Boats]

Since you're not using that 1911 anymore, I'll buy it off ya.

Also, the 1911a1 doesn't have a beaver tail. It has a grip safety.

Give the 100+ year old design a break. It was designed when men had man hands. Usually from working the earth to make food.

If you choose to keep it, the answer is shoot it enough so that you get a callous where the hammer gets you. By then you should be pretty good at it. You're welcome

Please, PLEASE do not chop up a classic USGI 1911.

 

[fredthe]

Since you're not using that 1911 anymore, I'll buy it off ya.

Also, the 1911a1 doesn't have a beaver tail. It has a grip safety.

Isn't the "beaver tail" just the elongated part of the grip safety? The grip safety was elongated as part of the A1 update, is it not proper to refere to it as a beaver tail?

In any case the hammer doesn't extend over the grip safety, like it does on the original M1911. I figured I'd be safe.

Please, PLEASE do not chop up a classic USGI 1911.

I have absolutly no intention of doing that! I do have an appreciation of what a USGI Colt 1911 made in early 1924 represents.
(Barrel, grips, and a couple of other parts are not original, which is why I even considered shooting it.)

 

[Defense Initiative]

Today I learned why "modern" 1911s have redesigned hammers. I went and shot the Colt that my father had in WWII, for the 1st and likely last time (it is a 100 year old gun.)

I didn't feel this as it was happening, but noticed it when I went to reload. I decided 14 rounds was enough.

(photo about 6 hours later, it looked much worse at the time.)

View attachment 450775

From the picture, it looks like your grip might be a little too high. If not, you should use a 1911 with a beavertail grip safety.

 

[Trigger Time]

Today I learned why "modern" 1911s have redesigned hammers. I went and shot the Colt that my father had in WWII, for the 1st and likely last time (it is a 100 year old gun.)

I didn't feel this as it was happening, but noticed it when I went to reload. I decided 14 rounds was enough.

(photo about 6 hours later, it looked much worse at the time.)

View attachment 450775

I love those hammers on a 1911. They are getting hard to find.

 

[wreckdiver]

Reminds me of the first time I shot a 1911 in competition. I usually would have used my Glock 9mm, but for some reason this match was 45 only. I borrowed my father in law’s 1927 Argentine Colt. Ran at least a hundred rounds over the course of fire. The web of my hand still has a scar. Bought my own “modern” 1911 with a proper beaver tail after that.

 

[TI-tick]

I don't have to, but I wear an unlined leather glove just in case...

?
I have a 1990's era Springfield 1911A1 with thousands of rounds through it w/o any bite.

I also have these two to test out; someday.
Found them in the bunker.

I roll bareback .

 

[Boats]

Isn't the "beaver tail" just the elongated part of the grip safety? The grip safety was elongated as part of the A1 update, is it not proper to refere to it as a beaver tail?

In any case the hammer doesn't extend over the grip safety, like it does on the original M1911. I figured I'd be safe.

I have absolutly no intention of doing that! I do have an appreciation of what a USGI Colt 1911 made in early 1924 represents.
(Barrel, grips, and a couple of other parts are not original, which is why I even considered shooting it.)

A beaver tail grip safety is a modern iteration to keep hammer and slide bite from happening. The flattened, extended portion of the tang of a pistol. (hence beaver tail). On USGI, series 70, the 1991, and original series 80s they just have a grip safety.

The term has become ubiquitous with the part that meets the shooters hand (the web between thumb and forefinger). But unless it is significantly flattened and extended from the original design, it is not a beavertail, it is either a grip safety or most correctly, the tang of a pistol, as the grip safety is a dynamic device, the tang is specifically the ergonomic point at which a shooters hand web meets the weapon

You have a USGI grip safety or tang. Both are correct. One is specific to the 1911, the other is for any pistol

 

[Biggfoot44]

Isn't the "beaver tail" just the elongated part of the grip safety? The grip safety was elongated as part of the A1 update, is it not proper to refere to it as a beaver tail?

Actually no .

An A1 was an " extended tang " . Same shape , just longer .

Was it an improvement ? Sure , but not a total solution for everyone .

A * Beavertail * has a flared shape , similar to the actual tail of the 4 legged furbearer .