I'm an obsessive record keeper when it comes to shooting. Since I started taking this seriously, I've logged almost every round I've fired since 2008, with the only un-counted ones being guns I've shot at media events or during periods of active duty.
While crunching my numbers, I realized that at a steel challenge match this past weekend, I went over 38,000 rounds on 1911s alone. I broke out 1911s ever since I started focusing my blog almost entirely on 1911 Reviews. I don't claim to be an expert like Hilton Yam or Jason Burton or any of the serious 1911 gunsmiths out there, but I'll go over 50k on the platform this year for sure, and I have learned a few things. For example,
1. "1911" is meaningless. When someone says "1911s are finicky and unreliable" it's the most meaningless statement someone can make. I had a Sig 1911 chambered in .357 Sig that was finicky and unreliable. I have a 600 dollar Rock Island 9mm 1911 that has fired over 3,700 rounds without a single failure of any type. I've had Colts that were dead-ass reliable tanks and Colts that had trouble feeding JHP. I had a different Sig 1911 in .45 ACP that worked so long as you used Wilson Combat magazines, but wouldn't work with anything else.
2. "1911s are more accurate than other guns."
What other guns? My Rock Island that runs like a raped ape is also less accurate than a bone stock Gen 4 Glock 34. Costs about the same too. My Kimber Team Match II in 9mm is more accurate than any other gun I own, and is one of the three most accurate guns I've ever shot.
3. 1911s are easy to maintain right up until they're not.
Most problems with a 1911 can be fixed by a moderately competent armorer. I'm not sure where people got the idea that these guns were hard to work on, because they're not. The problem with working on the platform is that there's no standardization of part sizes across the industry. An aftermarket part that drops in and fits perfectly in a Colt may require fitting in a Kimber or a Springfield.
4. 9mm 1911s are better than .45s
Sorry not sorry, they're like easy mode for shooting and are just more awesome in every way.
5. Sig has pretty much figured out how to make the external extractor work. At least on the .45 ACP guns.
These are just observations typed up by slightly intoxicated me as I review the last 10 years of my career and wonder what I've done with my life other than get kind of okay at shooting and be able to detail strip a 1911.