Smith & Wesson E-Series .45 1911

[LockedBreech]

About three years ago, I prosecuted a case involving an attempted murder of a LEO. One of the perpetrators used a gorgeous Smith & Wesson E-series 1911, stainless with wood grips. Stolen from under a truck seat in an unlocked truck, of course.

I was offended at such a lowlife having such a nice gun and using it so heinously, so I promised myself that if I got the perpetrators behind bars, I’d get myself one as a victory gift. The case was successful, I put the two attempted cop-killers away, both effectively for life, but when I actually tried to get the 1911 I could only find it for $1200-1300. I couldn’t afford that at the time so I deferred the dream.

Well, last week I came across that exact 1911, a stainless E-series full-size .45, on a qualified purchaser sale for $800 including shipping and tax. I just had to do it, so it’s on the way.

Now that it’s on the way, I’ll use this thread to post impressions / updates. I’ve been reviewing the “art and science of 1911” thread and I’m sorta relieved it has an external extractor so I don’t have to fuss with that.

Other than quality ammo (I have Federal AmEagle 230-grain and Gold Dot 230-grain and will probably just order some more of both) and some Wilson magazines, if anyone has any suggestions for success I’m all ears. I have a great Colt Series 80 basic GI 1911 but this is my first “a couple bells and whistles” 1911.

[KevH]

For what they are the E-Series S&W's are actually pretty decent. They ditched the firing pin safety and they're not Nighthawk or custom quality, but they're usually pretty well put together for average use.

[kwb377]

Not an E-Series, but I bought a basic Model #108285 new @ 2008.

I installed C&S trigger/hammer/sear/spring kit and an Ed Brown thumb safety. I carried it for a couple of years on-duty as an investigator and have a few thousand rounds through it...it's been nothing but 100% reliable.

https://a4.pbase.com/g12/07/240307/2/171526583.45gWnPv0.jpg

https://a4.pbase.com/g12/07/240307/2/171526584.jHS86yJf.jpg

[45dotACP]

IIRC the external extractor on the S&W E series 45s was one of the better ones and got the nod of approval from the likes of Hilton Yam

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[FrankB]

My E Series was less when I bought it, but it’s a great pistol. I added nice wood stocks, a Wilson Combat sear/trigger/hammer. The slab sides were mirror polished. The properly fitted sear and hammer made the trigger spectacular.
ETA: I just saw your actual purchase price, and that’s what I paid. It was a steal!


https://youtu.be/NnruXP31Y_4

[LockedBreech]

The only thing giving me pause is the huge variety of Wilson magazines. I’ve had an awesome experience with my $38 ETMs but I’m not crazy about the baseplate with the raised letters. Are the Vickers ETMs worth $60 (!) and/or do the $45-48 HD/+P ETMs work fine with standard pressure 230, because that’s all I’ll be shooting. I’ve worked on two different shooting cases involving 230-grain Gold Dot. That round does the trick without +P.

[Robinson]

The E Series guns tend to work and don't have the firing pin safety so that's a plus. The one I have has run fine since I bought it. The trigger is decent.

If you want to change out the sights it can be a little tricky because they don't use the standard Novak sight cuts. 10-8 discontinued their rear sight for these guns, but I think one or two manufacturers still offer them.

[Amp]

The only thing giving me pause is the huge variety of Wilson magazines. I’ve had an awesome experience with my $38 ETMs but I’m not crazy about the baseplate with the raised letters. Are the Vickers ETMs worth $60 (!) and/or do the $45-48 HD/+P ETMs work fine with standard pressure 230, because that’s all I’ll be shooting. I’ve worked on two different shooting cases involving 230-grain Gold Dot. That round does the trick without +P.

The HD/+Ps have the flat wire springs and they work great. I've had no issues with mine shooting 230gr standard pressure ball/hollow points thru multiple 5" 1911s.

[JTQ]

You sound like you have a pretty good knowledge base so you're probably good to go.

In the Wilson line-up, if you want an 8 rounder, get something from the ETM line-up, they should all be good. If you're picking something beyond the baseline ETM, there should be some reason, like you roll in the sand a lot - pick the Vickers mag, otherwise the baseline ETM is really all you need.

The full size 7 round 47 is my mag of choice.

[LockedBreech]

The E Series guns tend to work and don't have the firing pin safety so that's a plus. The one I have has run fine since I bought it. The trigger is decent.

If you want to change out the sights it can be a little tricky because they don't use the standard Novak sight cuts. 10-8 discontinued their rear sight for these guns, but I think one or two manufacturers still offer them.

That’s great to know, thank you!

Thanks y’all, I think I’ll go with the ETM HD/+P with the aluminum base pad. Can’t quite get myself to spend the Vickers money. I’ll update the thread once I have a decent number of rounds downrange.

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[42Willys]

About three years ago, I prosecuted a case involving an attempted murder of a LEO. One of the perpetrators used a gorgeous Smith & Wesson E-series 1911, stainless with wood grips. Stolen from under a truck seat in an unlocked truck, of course.

I was offended at such a lowlife having such a nice gun and using it so heinously, so I promised myself that if I got the perpetrators behind bars, I’d get myself one as a victory gift. The case was successful, I put the two attempted cop-killers away, both effectively for life, but when I actually tried to get the 1911 I could only find it for $1200-1300. I couldn’t afford that at the time so I deferred the dream.

Well, last week I came across that exact 1911, a stainless E-series full-size .45, on a qualified purchaser sale for $800 including shipping and tax. I just had to do it, so it’s on the way.

Now that it’s on the way, I’ll use this thread to post impressions / updates. I’ve been reviewing the “art and science of 1911” thread and I’m sorta relieved it has an external extractor so I don’t have to fuss with that.

Other than quality ammo (I have Federal AmEagle 230-grain and Gold Dot 230-grain and will probably just order some more of both) and some Wilson magazines, if anyone has any suggestions for success I’m all ears. I have a great Colt Series 80 basic GI 1911 but this is my first “a couple bells and whistles” 1911.

Good job on the case

[HCM]

For what they are the E-Series S&W's are actually pretty decent. They ditched the firing pin safety and they're not Nighthawk or custom quality, but they're usually pretty well put together for average use.

Glad to hear the ditched the FP safety as the only real negative to these as the used the Shwarz/Kimber style FP safety rather than the series 80.

[JTQ]

Glad to hear the ditched the FP safety as the only real negative to these as the used the Shwarz/Kimber style FP safety rather than the series 80.
For the trivia lover, it is/was a Mochak firing pin safety. While it also is activated/deactivated by grip safety like the Swartz firing pin safety it is a different design, with different parts.

https://patents.google.com/patent/US6374526B1/en

[JAH 3rd]

I have a Springfield 5" Loaded and Dan Wesson 5" A2. I have run WC 47 and Checkmate mags, both 7 round, in each. No problems. I have run Checkmate 8 round mags with hybrid and wadcutter feedlips with no problem. The factory Springfield and Dan Wesson both work flawlessly. Chip McCormick 8 round Power Mags and RPM have been flawless as well. This is getting repetitively boring. But they all work in each pistol

The ammo used has been factory hardball, Federal HST 230 grain JHP and Remington Golden Saber 230 grain JHP.

Any combo of magazine, ammo. and pistol has been 100%. I feel truly blessed!

[LockedBreech]

Good job on the case

Aw thanks man I wasn’t fishing but I appreciate that. Two amazing LEOs on that case, one that took most of the fire and stayed primary the whole chase, one that drove up next to the perp and got the driver with his sidearm one-handed. No good guys got hurt.


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[DaBigBR]

I've got a stainless E series that I bought in probably 2007 or 2008. It's probably my favorite production 1911 I own. Mine is very tight, accurate, and reliable. The out of the box trigger was acceptable and the fit of the safety, grip safety, and bushing were all pretty decent. I find the front strap checkering a little lacking but it's a lower priced, mass produced gun. I even think the M&P style serrations are a nice nod to S&W's striker gun.

A Springfield TRP or any number of Dan Wessons would probably be a "better" gun at $1200-$1300 (if you can still find them for that, but $800 is about what I paid for mine and I'd submit that it is a far better done gun than most everything else at that price.

[42Willys]

Aw thanks man I wasn’t fishing but I appreciate that. Two amazing LEOs on that case, one that took most of the fire and stayed primary the whole chase, one that drove up next to the perp and got the driver with his sidearm one-handed. No good guys got hurt.


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I represent the State as well so I know the game. Glad your officers were safe. And I am glad I’m the only one who is inspired to buy guns by cases….although I can’t say I’ve actually followed through on it yet because let’s face it, most crime guns are….not good guns.

Though a buddy of mine prosecuted a homicide committed with a HK P7 and went and bought not one but two of them. :eek:

[MattyD380]

Nice.

I’ve always been a little curious about the Smith 1911s. I see the external extractor as a potential plus—maybe less likely to need tuning than an internal. The extractors on the E-Series and Pro Series 1911s look more or less like 4506/645 extractors to me. And those worked. So, I like to think Smith put a little 3rd gen know-how into their 1911s. But maybe that’s an entirely unfounded perception.

Either way, nice gun. Hope it shoots awesome-ly.

[Jim Watson]

Early SW1911 extractors look like the DA guns'.
Pro and E extractors are wider, similar to Sig and EGW.