Birthday Gun

[Pathfinder]

I was thinking about all those little 1911 guns, but almost all are around a thousand bucks...I was in the  "under $500" range this time around.

In case you have some Grandma's birthday cash left over, RIA sells a pretty good 1911 for under $400. Made in the Philippines as I recall, and apparently very nicely done. MB has noted it here and even spent some time on it on Downrange radio a couple months back.

[jaybet]

That last post wasn't very clear. I had been thinking about the MINI 1911s like the Para PDA, the Springfield EMP, etc. Most of THEM are around $1K. If it wasn't for the fact that I'm limited in how often I can buy, I'd have a RIA 1911 in a minute. I've heard a lot of good about them.

[jaybet]

We got a small break in the weather this morning and I got out and put 100 rounds of 115gr Remington UMC through the SR9. It's all very stiff of course. I used the little mag loader they provide which was very thoughtful considering I couldn't get them loaded without it. I'm in NJ so I have the 10 round magazines with plastic extension. They're stiff but I'm leaving them loaded at home to try to loosen them up a little.

So in 100 rounds I had about 8 stove pipes. No particular pattern, and I'm thinking I should give it a few hundred rounds before I worry about stuff like that. After a pretty big adjustment to the rear sight elevation it was shooting accurately (for me). I've heard some complain about the size of the safety button- I thought it was fine. Other good points are:
In my hand it feels a lot like a light, single stack 1911
It is pretty accurate
It is light but balanced- the slide doesn't dominate the frame- might make a nice carry piece
The trigger feels good and smooth- I didn't think it would while dry firing, but with ammo it's good
VERY low recoil. I'm used to my Sig 2022 which is top heavy and has a lot more recoil.
Has a reversible backstrap that is convex from the factory. Reversed it is flat. I tried changing it but returned it to convex because with the backstrap reversed the grip felt too small in my hand.

I have fired Glocks, XDs, M&Ps, etc and was concerned about the striker fire trigger, but I was pleasantly surprised. I may want to get some work done on the trigger, but I'm just going to let it go and get used to it first.
Stovepipes aside, all in all I am pleasantly surprised by how smooth and easily the gun fires, and how easy it is to keep on target in rapid fire.

For a $450 pistol new, I recommend it highly.

[Hazcat]

Thanks for the report.

Do you think the stove pipes might be from you?  Did you clean and oil it well before shooting?

[jaybet]

Thanks for the report.

Do you think the stove pipes might be from you?  Did you clean and oil it well before shooting?

DUDE!!!
Ever since I saw a new Ruger revolver with that thick brown gook all over it, I would never shoot a new gun without cleaning and oiling unless the dealer assured me they had gone over it. I did NOT, however, take the magazines apart, but the stovepipe is in the ejection phase, so I'm not sure if that would have any affect.
I'll be cleaning it again in a little while before I head off to PA for a gig. I'll be looking more closely at everything this time.

[Sponsor]

[Hazcat]

Jaybeth,

No offense intended!

By YOU causing it I meant the way you shoot it.  I have some guns that I can shoot forever with no problems but if I give it to SOME others they jam it.  Same with other guns I have fired.  Owner has no problem and I can't get through a mag.  Odd but true.

[tombogan03884]

Jaybeth,

No offense intended!

By YOU causing it I meant the way you shoot it.  I have some guns that I can shoot forever with no problems but if I give it to SOME others they jam it.  Same with other guns I have fired.  Owner has no problem and I can't get through a mag.  Odd but true.

I've heard it refereed to as "limp wristing" The way the particular shooter is holding the gun does not provide enough resistance for the recoil to properly cycle the action. Since the design is different maybe you need to change your grip a little.

[jaybet]

You guys might be right, although I've never been accused of being "limp wristed" it could be something like that, so like I said before, I'm just going to shoot the snot out of it and see if things improve or I figure it out, because I LIKEY the gun!

[tombogan03884]

You guys might be right, although I've never been accused of being "limp wristed" it could be something like that, so like I said before, I'm just going to shoot the snot out of it and see if things improve or I figure it out, because I LIKEY the gun!

It has to do with GRIP, not orientation

[jaybet]

It has to do with GRIP, not orientation

Isn't it all  in how you orient the grip? Conversely, your orientation influences how and what you grip, right?

Never mind.