(This is a reader-submitted review as part of our rifle and pistol review contest. See details here.)
By William Cruz
A police chief in Texas once told me that the 9mm cartridge was the water gun of the firearms world. He explained that in his experience a 9mm at point-blank range was as capable of stopping a determined aggressor as a fly was at stopping an 18 wheeler; whereas, the .45 ACP just about always takes the fight out of an aggressor immediately.
Body armor? No problem. The energy transferred by a .45 ACP while wearing body armor is equivalent to getting hit with a sledge hammer swung by Barry Bonds. His opinion was formed from years of Special Forces active duty, SWAT and walking the beat, so I tend to take his firsthand caliber critique seriously.
Now that I’ve managed to upset the 9mm fan boys, I know they will, undoubtedly, dig up special bullet load and ballistic gel statistics in order to try to discredit these statements. Please consider the following statement:
No other pistol caliber in modern weapons history has stopped more bad guys than the .45 ACP and in particular John Browning’s 1911. The 1911’s appeal stems from a time when guns were machined entirely out of steel. When they were assembled with exquisite precession and gunsmiths hand-tooled fine adjustments so that each time you pull back on the slide or pull the trigger, the gun reacts in mechanical sequence like a fine Swiss watch. To quote the old timers, “they feel and sound like quality.”
John Browning’s classic handgun design has been around and fighting wars for well over a century. In that time the 1911 has undergone numerous modifications in an effort to remain competitive with other notable designs from GLOCK, FN, S&W, HK and others.
One of the newest iterations available in the Colt 1911 format is Colt’s M45A1 CQBP (Close Quarters Battle Pistol). The M45A1 was initially designed to serve as the Marine Corps (USMC) Systems Command and U.S. Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC) sidearm; however, it can also serve in your household.
There are two versions of M45A1 pistol available. The first version is the $2,400; Colt Custom Shop edition, also known as the ‘Civilian’ version. It is hand fit, hand tooled and comes with a snazzy green Pelican case and cleaning kit. The CQBP CCS, like many other Colt products (Python), is sure to become a safe queen in short order.
The other version is the standard CQBP which is the exact same version that is being issued to the Marine Corps. When I say exact, I mean it’s literally the same gun. It rolls off the same assembly line and has the same identifying marks as the standard Marine Corp issue.
The CQBP does not go through the Colt custom shop like the CQBP CCS so it is significantly less expensive. There are plenty of reviews online for the CQBP CCS but very few for the Marine version which brings me to the point: Is the CQBP Marine 1911 worth $1,600 in its standard form?
At first glance many potential buyers will be turned off by the $1,600 price tag and rightfully so. That sort of cash buys a GLOCK 19 and a Colt 6920 AR-15 with a few hundred rounds of ammo. Because of the high price tag, the M45A1 may only appeal to discerning gun collectors. Regardless, I found that the M45A1 presses all the right buttons and is so much more than just another railed 1911…but I digress.
Military heritage and current accolades aside, why is this particular pistol so much more than a normal Colt Rail Gun or similarly railed 1911? The short answer is MIM or Metal Injection Molding. In an effort to make guns that are traditionally built with steel more affordable, gun manufacturers have created a process to mold low impact gun parts rather than forge or mill each one. Each manufacturer has their own method of MIM’ing parts and some companies are better at it than others but the overall result is a 1911 that is much more assessable to the common man.
Companies like Rock Island, Springfield, Kimber and Colt use MIM parts rather liberally in order to produce a competitively priced product. Springfield and Colt have done a great job in making these MIM parts extremely strong, thus increasing the durability and reliability of MIM-equipped firearms.
Before you hop on Google to search for every MIM part in your own collection please remember that GLOCKs use MIM parts and a polymer frame yet are widely considered to be among the most reliable and durable firearms ever created. MIM parts are a part of the firearms world now and thus are widely excepted as the a standard in the industry. The Marine Corp is aware of this yet opted for steel, so consequently the CQBP does not use any MIM parts. Every piece of steel in the M45A1 is machined to specific tolerances and tested to the specifications put forth by the United States Marine Corps. This makes for an incredibly well constructed pistol.
When you pick up the M45A1 the first thing you notice is the weight. It feels like a man’s gun or in other words, it’s heavy. The Picatinny rail on the bottom of the frame is a full size Mil Standard 1913 rail which holds accessories nice and tight as compared to its competitors with smaller lower rails. This full-size lower rail adds some of the noticeable heft to the gun but that heft seems to balance out the pistol so that the gun doesn’t feel nose heavy.
The grip is smooth with a small cutout under the trigger housing where your middle finger should slide into place. Please note that despite the grip’s comfortability, there is no front grip stippling whatsoever. This is odd considering it is being touted as a combat firearm. The lack of front stippling is definitely a drawback to a $1600 gun, but not a deal breaker.
The front slide serrations are perfectly placed and have a noticeably deep depth and width, so much so that you can easily feel them while wearing gloves. The FDE Cerakote itself is very nice, but I am a sucker for FDE so take my FDE bias with a grain of salt. Although the M45A1’s Cerakote finish is beautiful to the eye, it makes for a slippery frame. As a result this accentuates the lack of grip stippling when pulling back on the slide. The large slide serrations do help to counter the slick finish but it’s definitely something to note if you are going to actually use your M45A1 for its intended use.
The pistol comes standard with matching G10 grips that provide a generous amount of traction which also help to counter the lack of stippling. The sights are standard Novak sights which work well yet might not fit the bill if your purpose is target shooting. Two Wilson Combat seven-round mags come standard. Plastic pistol fans will be quick to point out that the M45A1 is missing at least seven rounds. To be fair, seven-round mags are part of the original specs the Marine Corp requested, but eight-round mags really are the current standard and should have been included instead. Overall the external design of the M45A1 is striking however the noted missing features should have been standard with any pistol in this price range.
Although they have been solid performers, 1911s have known cycling issues centered on the feed ramp, magazine, ejection port and spring strength. Colt looked to address these concerns with the M45A1. The first thing you notice when racking the slide is the weight of the springs. Colt decided to use a non-captured, dual spring system which adds reliability to the otherwise tried and tested design.
Colt then addressed the ejection port by widening and flaring it out. The feed ramp on the M45A1 was then polished and coated to make the surface extremely smooth. The dual springs have a noticeable slap-back during fire and the flared and lowered ejection port help to eject spent shells out and to the right of the pistol and not back into your grill like many other guns. The feed ramp is smooth and loads up the following rounds nicely. In my testing the M45A1 had zero issues and performed flawlessly even after countless mag dumps and tactical reloads. Total round count for this particular M45A1 is approaching the 1k mark with zero failures of any kind.
Shooting the M45A1 is surprisingly different than shooting other 1911’s. First, there is a bit more weight to this close quarter battle pistol than the standard GI model as mentioned above. This added weight, in addition to the dual spring “slap back,” provide for noticeably less recoil. The trigger is smooth even by series 80 standards and breaks cleanly at 5 lbs. Even in standard form, the 1911 80 series trigger is better than many other firearms aftermarket and upgraded triggers. Aside from a nicely tuned stock 70 series trigger, there is no other non-custom pistol that I have ever shot that has a nicer trigger out of the box.
Colt decided to employ a National Match barrel in the M45A1 instead of their normal barrel option. The quality and engineering on the National Match barrels is exceptional. The overall package helped an average shooter; like myself, to put follow-up shots on target fairly effectively. With that being said, I feel like my Springfield Light Weight Operator is a hair more accurate at bullseye shots at 2/3 of the price.
In my tests the shot groupings were actually slightly better with the Colt M45A1 as compared to the Springfield; however, on prior occasions I have consistently hit quarter sized objects 10-15 yards away on the first shot with the Springfield. This may be due to my years of shooting experience with that particular firearm; never the less, I don’t quite have that confidence yet with the Colt M45A1 even though it performs well each time I put it to work.
Needless to say I love the M45A1, lack of stippling and all. The dual non-captured spring system and added weight really do take away some of the .45 ACP’s known bark though it isn’t necessarily a tack driver out of the box. Yet it can be competition ready with the addition of some aftermarket parts and a little finesse.
Colt designed this pistol for combat and it exceeds all of my expectations as a combat pistol. Very few of us will ever put military-like punishment on any of our firearms but the M45A1 is definitely a firearm built to take that degree of abuse. The M45A1’s looks appeal to a wide variety of consumer’s even those who worship at the altar of Gaston Glock. It has a classic 1911 look with a dash of modern day ‘tac-t-cool,’ appeal to it. Putting it through the mill, one can appreciate the tight fitting, well milled edges and crisp feel. Those details scream quality which translates to excellent performance and of course, lots of money. Colt’s M45A1 CQBP is a worthy successor to John Browning’s original design.
Still let’s get back to the initial question; is the M45A1 worth 1600 big ones? It depends on who you ask and what you are looking for. If you are looking for a gun that will hold its value over time, will work each time you pull the trigger and make you reminisce of old school hardcore then yes, it’s worth every penny. If this sounds like you, then you are most likely a collector and gun enthusiast, such as myself. Guys like us appreciate the quality and craftsmanship that goes into a fine pistol. However, if you’re the guy who complains about leaving a good waiter a 15% tip on a $10 tab, then this gun probably isn’t for you.
Specifications: Colt M45A1 CQBP
Caliber: .45 ACP (Automatic Colt Pistol)
Action: Single-Action Hammer-Fired Semi-Automatic
Weight: 2.8 lbs (1.27 kg)
Frame Material: Stainless Steel
Capacity: 7+1 round magazine (Wilson Magazine)
Safety: Ambidextrous Safety (thumb safety), upswept Beavertail grip safety
Grips: G10 Desert Tan Grips
Sights: Novak Tritium front and rear 3-dot night sights.
Overall Length: 8.5 in. (21.59 cm)
Barrel Length: 5 in. (12.7 cm)
Firing Action: Single Action
Other: Machined MIL-STD 1913 Picatinny accessory rail, serrated mainspring housing with lanyard loop
MSRP: $1,999 (about $1,600 street)
Ratings (out of five stars):
Style: * * * * *
It’s a legit 1911 that’s go-to-war ready. What’s not to like?
Ergonomics: * * * *
The fit is nice, but the weight is a drawback if you intend to use this as a carry/duty gun. The lack of front stippling is definitely a drawback on a gun in this price range.
Reliability: * * * * *
Runs flawlessly. Zero Failures.
Accuracy: * * * *
Very accurate with a crisp trigger and noticeably less recoil due to the Dual Recoil spring system and weight. Nevertheless, I’ve shot 1911’s that seem a little more accurate that cost less.
Customize this: * * * *
There are plenty of aftermarket products out there, but holsters are non-existent due to being the only guy on the block with a true Mil Spec rail. If you go with a custom holster, make sure it’s from a quality manufacturer because this gun has significant weight.
Overall: * * * * *
It’s a very stylish gun that keeps its old school heritage intact while earning its way into the Marine Corps current lineup. It fires a large projectile and is as reliable as any gun I’ve ever shot to this current round count (900 rounds or so).
Dan Wesson’s Suppressor-Ready DW Discretion 1911 Pistols in .45 ACP and 9mm Luger
Gun Review: Springfield Armory XDm-45ACP
How do I take seriously any article written by anyone that starts it off with that outlandish claim about the .45 acp? More bad guys……really.
Apparently, a few hundred foot pounds is the difference between a fly and sledge hammer…
Don’t tell Mr. Operator Guy about the .30-06…
That is akin to a short range ballistic missile.
Obviously you’re not an operator whose opinion was formed from years of Special Forces active duty, SWAT and walking the beat.
Exactly.
Forgetting the caliber was stuff the 1911 probably has killed more “bad guys” (specific designation varies country) then any side arm in history. It’s been in use for a century.
Which completely ignores that the 9mm has been in service for a longer time and in many more countries and platforms than the .45.
His choice of calibers is his. But to make such an over the top statement is just begging for rebuttal.
“whereas, the .45 ACP just about always takes the fight out of an aggressor immediately.”
https://www.policeone.com/police-heroes/articles/6199620-Why-one-cop-carries-145-rounds-of-ammo-on-the-job/
“At the core of his desperate firefight was a murderous attacker who simply would not go down, even though he was shot 14 times with .45-cal. ammunition — six of those hits in supposedly fatal locations.”
Exaggerating the effectiveness of the 45 only serves the egos of M1911 cult members. One need only read a few Medal of Honor citations to learn that pistol and even rifle rounds cannot be counted upon to “take the fight out of aggressors.”
Who else carrys a pistol into Combat besides the command element? And he was known to use a pistol in WWII And Korea.
While we’re grouching, “assessable” is not the same thing as “accessible”, and “excepted” is decidedly different from “accepted”. Really detracts from the read.
And a $2400 gun from the Custom Gun Shop which is not Colt Royal Blue is a ripoff, whether you’re a FDE freak or not.
I have seen slightly different info on these, and a $1950 offering on GB for the CCS version. Other sources say the MC issue pistol is supposedly CCS with an initial run of about 4500 units, as it is not for the rank and file – SF operators only. The civvie unit is non-CCS @ $1500. I am leery of the series 80 tho – this is the first guy I ever read who likes them.
Don’t forget this one:
“When they were assembled with exquisite precession…”
Derp. On top of a whole mountain of derp. This article has a ton of good information, folded lovingly in with a whole truckload of just incredible dumbness. The whole “some old cop in Texas told me…” was maybe not the way to start a serious discussion.
I was going to say the exact same thing.
And I’ll add that the recoil is more than the impact force. I think Barry Bonds swinging a sledgehammer would hurt a lot more than the recoil from a 1911.
The Barry Bonds comparison was in reference to the feeling of being hit by a .45 in the chest while wearing a plate carrier. It was not a reference to the recoil force.
You don’t take him seriously at all. If he starts his review of a 1911 by talking about the 9mm, then he is obviously an idiot, and not worth reading.
I’d still take a G21 for 1/3 the price, and relegate this to the safe and range-fun.
Sure. Glock is a viable alternative. So is Ruger, Remington, SigSauer, Springfield, Taurus or any number of other companies who not only make contemporary pistols but 1911 clones as well- some of which may be available with similar or virtually identical features but still cost $500 less simply because the word “Colt” isn’t engraved on their slides. I still see absolutely no reason to give Colt extra money for no extra features. Safe queen indeed…
Man that’s a lot of dough. It does look nice…
Funny. I saw that first picture at the top of the article and my first thought was, “MAN! That’s one fugly pistol!”
As for the caliber wars BS – A .45 is almost always single stack, which means maybe 8 rounds on board. Most full size 9mm are double stack, 13 – 18 rounds. The .45 is a handful of recoil, the 9mm, not so much. Result, two 9mm close on target = @ .76 caliber (2 x .38 = .76). Unless you are a full-on operator you’re not likely to get the results shown in the .45 ACP accuracy target above, especially under stress, so counting on a double-tap equaling a .90 caliber hole in the BG is unlikely.
So…9mm wins again.
(/sarc?)
Re capacity, a typical modern 1911 magazine holds 8, yes.
A Tanfoglio Witness (CZ derivative) in .45 holds 10 per mag. A Springfield XD or XD(m) holds 13. An FNH holds 15. The magazines for the latter two take up about 2x the volume of a 1911 mag.
Simply, the .45acp cartridge is bigger than a 9mm Parabellum cartridge; so all else equal (grip size, length, etc.) a given platform can hold more 9mm than .45; and a double- or stagger-stacked magazine will hold more than a single stack.
Choose your gun, choose your caliber, and then learn to shoot it well. What stops the bad guy is hits in good places, not lots of misses. The rest is details. Always fun to argue details, but details nonetheless.
No such thing as a “double tap” controlled pair or hammer pair. Difference is in sighting.
Nice review. I like the pistol. Now to go see if they make one in a lightweight commander version…
They did at one point. I looked it up and the model number for the Lightweight Commander Rail Gun is O4840RG. Springfield makes an aluminum-framed “Champion” Operator (4″ instead of 4.25″), which would actually fit a normal railed 1911 holster.
A champion operator. Is that, like, Olympic? What a concept.
That would be cool, but if it were true that would probably be something like RIA’s Pro line, but in doublestack .38 Super. In reality it’s what Springfield decided to call a 1911 that’s a quarter-inch shorter than a Commander. I think Kimber and a couple other companies also make 4″ guns instead of normal 4.25″ Commanders.
I was thinking more along the lines of a competition between Ahnold and Sly Stallone, for the undisputed champeenship of the operator world!
Held one of these at my LGS. Really nice gun and $1600 is not bad for a quality 1911. I may pick one up once I get some other gun needs sorted out first.
How does it stack up against a TRP, though?
Couldn’t help but laugh at “exquisite precession.”
Is it 400 dollars better than a kimber warrior which was also designed for marsoc
Good question. Why don’t you ask the USMC?
I actually purchased one a month ago. It was mine until my son saw it.
My son a former Marine who served in the Infantry and the Security Forces. I know longer own it. He is quite pleased with it.
I do prefer the series 70 trigger to the series 80 trigger. The trigger is actually quite nice.
I thought the review was excellent. I do have a bias, I carried a 1911 in Vietnam. I also conceal carry an Ed Brown.
A rock is better than a Kimber.
never saw any full size crapber that did not have to be sent back to KCS for work.
Hey look a 1911.
::Snicker::
An overpriced “tacticool” 1911 at that. 😀
$1600 for a 1911 that actually works and is accurate? Roflol
The only 1911 I’ve carried/fired was mid 80s for Uncle Sugar (so would have been WWII vintage pistols). Qualified Expert a could times (low bar as I recall) but I’m very certain “Swiss watch/precision” is not something that comes to mind. Rocks rattling in an ammo can would be more accurate.
Hated the this pistol when I was issued it in MARSOC. I was excited to get it before deployment, but was very displeased with it once we finally got them. The rail is 1913….. And might hold accessories tighter…. But the gun did not fit into anyone’s holsters anymore. We had been using 1911s for decades, and guys had the holsters that worked for them. My issued M45 didn’t shoot near as well as the older 1911s they took away. In fact, my point of impact was far below my sight picture. I had to aim 5-7 inches above where I wanted to hit. I know this can be fixed with different height sights….. But not on a military issued gun and in the beginning of a deployment to Afgh. I managed to acquire a glock 17 in country and stuck with that. We didn’t have enough issued glock 19s for the whole team, but the guys who had them, used them over the m45. And I’m not even a glock fan.
yep
Close Quarters Boat Patrol
So, William, you once spoke to a blustery buffoon who told you outlandish and provably idiotic lies and you apparently believed every one of them. This makes you….
As someone who spent the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s as a committed .357 Mag devotee, I can vouch for the fact that his assertion was correct! The 9mm round was a beanshooter. In fact, so was the .45 acp! The point is, though, they are not anymore, advances in ammunition (notably projectiles) have rendered either one acceptable, only giving away a small amount to the altar of the mighty .357.
A “small amount”? You mean like 300-400 ftlbs? Yeah, that’s a small amount. In a Lazerroni Warbird, not so much in a handgun.
How come this piece is too expensive at $1600 and a more expensive Wilson Combat is not? Just asking.
I was thinking about indulging my 1911 fetish with a TRP but I would rather have this one.
The kinbers aren’t worth their price tag either. ….
Once again Colt prices itself out of the market and can’t even give a 3rd mag with it (let alone 8 rounders).
This is supposed to be a combat weapon. Wouldn’t a Marine fighting human waves at the Chosin Reservior given his left arm for a Gen 4 G 21 with 2 spare mags ? This is zero improvement over the WWII surplus 1911A1’s they had back then. Anything you can do with this newcomer I can match with my father-in-law’s 1919 1911 or my Colt Officer’s, bought for $350 used in 1992. As it is, the USMC has doomed its personnel to fight 21st century wars with an archaic weapon.
Look fanboy, you don’t stop human wave attacks with a pistol. It is for close quarters fighting and the old GI-45 did just fine a Chosin.
You also may want to read up on SGM Basil Plumbly. The 1911 was his weapon of choice.
First, his name was Plumley. I have nothing but respect for the man. But if you followed his example rifles would not be carried into combat, just sidearms. Does that appear a smart move to you.
Plumley was part of the command structure. An enlisted man, yes, but his primary job wasn’t fighting. His primary job was putting the younger, lower ranks into the fight.
You mean CSM Basil Plumley ? What is an SGM ?
oh boy, riling up the natives I see. Nice way to start 🙂 I’m not even going to touch that whole 9mm thing…
If you’re really hell bent on .45 ACP for actual ‘combat’ or defensive use though, I’d probably default to the FNX 45 Tactical instead –15 round mags, reliable as all-get-out, comes with tritium sites, is suppressor-ready – and you can spend the extra $500 you’ll save on mags, a TLR2s, a nice holster and a couple boxes of HST. Maybe even drop the dime for an Osprey some day. This is my nightstand/HD weapon.
Now back to the Colt. Yeah, having a solid appreciation for 1911’s, it sure looks like a nice one. I’d find a spot in my safe for it, but it would probably be just that – a safe queen.
The cult of the M1911 rears its head one more time. It’s too bad that oldies seek to indoctrinate so many uneducated newbies and spoil their foray into handgunnery. But so it goes. They are more interested in increasing cult membership than in ensuring that newbies have a good experience.
1. Hackathorn, “King of the feedway stoppage.” If the oldies don’t know what this means, then I recommend a newfangled thing called “google” to them.
2. 10 lessons from the worst gun I ever owned. Kimber Stainless Ultra Carry
http://www.luckygunner.com/lounge/10-lessons-learned-worst-gun-ever-owned/
My recommendation to those willing to learn: Get something that you can shoot faster and more accurately. And, get something that doesn’t require trips to the gunsmith.
Larry Vickers and Ken Hackathorn:
“The 1911 is an enthusiast’s pistols. In order to keep that gun running you have to, it’s not optional, you have to become your own armorer to a degree. You have to be able to diagnose and fix minor problems on an end user level. If you’re not willing to sign up for that, frankly you have no business running a 1911 for anything other than occasional recreational shooting. If you’re going to put yourself in harm’s way with that gun and you’re not willing to sign up for that, then you need to avoid it.”
+1000^^^^
In the old days, one would shave their head, get a tambourine, done an orange sari, and dance around in an airport after one joined a cult. This being the modern age, one can now purchase a silk screened T shirt.
http://store.kimberamerica.com/mens-what-all-guns-should-be-shirt-green
The 1911 may not be the best option today but you keyboard commandos need to stop jabbering about how it’s an unreliable pistol. It is the most combat proven firearm ever made, a handgun is at best a secondary miltary weapon. It probably doesn’t matter what you carry.
No military that deploys has carried a polymer pistol and it remains an unproven weapon for the kind of military use that it would face in the US military. All the torture tests you see on YouTube don’t mean Jack. Only the UK and France come anywhere near what we do and it isn’t even close. Just because the Austrians issue Glocks doesn’t mean squat. Their biggest function is holding parades. My guess is that if we go with Glock the US Army will destroy their reputation.
I wouldn’t classify Vickers (1st SFOD-D) as a keyboard commando. Nor would I say as much about Hackathorn. But, to each his own.
BTW, in case you’re not up to speed.
https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/story/military/2015/02/17/glock-19-pistols-approved-for-marsoc-operators/23548847/
Well first of all the Army doesn’t have that great of a reputation today. That being said you are 100% correct. The 1911 is the most used military handgun in the WORLD! Period. But I see from reading this article all anybody seems capable of talking about is the plastic Glock, toy gun. I was in the Marines for 30 years. All in the infantry field. I never heard a single Marine say they would rather have a Glock than a 1911. Not one time. I personally have over 22 1911’s, 16 of them Sig’s. In my opinion the Sig 1911 is the BEST production 1911 made.
Sorry if I offended any Glock fan boyz but Sig out sells your plastic by over 200K every year.
I know the science now about the 45 & 9. that said,,, shot people with both, shot placement IS MUCH MORE IMPORTANT with a 9 than a 45. pistols are one step above a randall of FS knife when your rifle is black.
Just gonna leave this here
http://modernserviceweapons.com/?p=3250
If I had the money for a 1911, this one would make the shortlist.
OK. I followed the link to Lucky Gunner expecting to see a list of mechanical failures.
But no. Turns out the criticisms were: Caliber- it was not a 9mm; Construction- it was not a polymer frame, and Ergonomics- it was not a Glock, M&P etc. So that article had more relevance to selection than to the attributes of the Kimber in question. The post title was somewhat misleading and the comments degenerated into a dispute about the *superiority* of Glocks.
Regarding build quality of 1911s. I have owned several Colts, All were Series 70 except one S 80 Enhanced Combat Commander. I tried to like that pistol but gave up. The Gold Cup is exquisite. The Nickel Combat Commander is reliable but the edge breaks are truly shitty. Saving it for a future project.
Not sure how long I have owned the Kimber Compact Stainless, long enough for the tritium to die. This is without a doubt the best 1911 I have ever owned. When the chips are down, that’s what I’ll grab. I love my Kimber.
The last-production Para Elite Commander approaches the quality of the Kimber. Lockup and slide clearance not quite as tight, but the machining and finish are flawless, and it seems a bit more accurate. Both pistols will eat anything I feed them.
These days any 1911 under a grand will likely have some MIM parts. They have a poor reputation for reliability, but one hears of very few actual failures. Obviously properly made machined parts are preferred.
All respect to Ken Hackathorn. I agree it is an enthusiast’s weapon which requires some attention to detail. But I doubt the vast majority of servicemen who carried it in combat felt it necessary to become an armorer.
I’ll see the Hackathorn quote, and raise with Libourel, Seyfried, and Col. Cooper.
The 1911 remains a top choice for those willing to invest some time and effort.
“But I doubt the vast majority of servicemen who carried it in combat felt it necessary to become an armorer.”
The majority of servicemen who carried their M1911s into combat a) had an armorer at their disposal b) used their radio and rifle a lot and their M1911 very, very little.
There is a huge difference between being a modern pistol shooter and being a WW2 soldier, with regard to pistol use. It is common for modern pistol shooters to shoot their pistols a lot compared with WW2 soldiers.
Hey, how about Vietnam? I paid a visit to squadron HQ once, and was required to unload and surrender my handgun, S&W Combat Masterpiece, and had quite the time with the “unloading” portion, the cases had corroded into the cylinder and were not interested in extracting. Once I managed to talk them out, the nice armorer assured me he would have it all spiffy and ready with new ammo when I came back for it. I seem to recall being too busy at the time to be nearly as embarrassed as I should have been.
Good review. I appreciate a ttag article that doesn’t judge a company based on its recent past and simply appraises the firearms function and usefulness. The gun is pricy, but nice things usually cost more. Ignore the glock/9mm crowd, most of them got into firearms around 2008 with Obams and now are the true “experts” around anything “gun.” I doubt that most of them have even fired a 1911. 1911s have better triggers, they shoot way more naturally, they are more accurate and safer than a trigger mounted “safety.” On top of that the .45 hits harder especially when you are forced to shoot ball ammo. People talk about 1911s not being reliable and that is a mystery to me. Not in my subjective experience at all. I trust the marines opinion more than some keyboard commando. To each their own, if you like your plastic fantastic go for it, some of us prefer guns that are not disposal.
“Ignore the Glock/9mm crowd”. Well said but hard to do. Few if any have ever, or will vever be in a gun fight. Especially a handgun fight. But each and every one of them is an expert and their Glock is the “best and most reliable gun in the world”. Bullshit!
well written review but, apparently a lot of the Marines issued the M45 don’t really like it and prefer the Glock:
http://www.military.com/daily-news/2015/02/19/marines-allow-operators-to-choose-glocks-over-marsoc-45.html
and is often said, “all of you people shot dead with a 9mm! Get up! You’re not really dead because a 9mm is ineffective!”
It was a bad day for the US when the phone company automated and put all those operators out of work. Now they got nothing better to do than haunt the interwebz and open training acadamies.
For the low price of 800 bucks and one short weekend you too can be an operator.
Le Sigh…. MIM is steel. MIM uses powdered metal combined with a plastic binder. It is then injected into a mold, let to cool. They then remove the binder so all that is left is almost completely pure steel with very little of the binder left in the part.
Everytime Colt sells an outdated over priced gun to the military a General gets his wings ( and a post military advisor career)
When I had to qualify with the M1911 on various occasions, back in the day, I learned to hate it. Every one I ever fired in the Navy, probably shot equivalent groups of 6-9″ at 25 yards. Why anyone would use a pistol in combat, unless it was a last resort……?
Yes, because pistol qualification in the Navy with old, long worn-out, WWII era M1911A1’s is reflective of Marine Force Recon and MARSOC using brand new, modern, M45A1’s.
I’m having a tough time with the price tag…
What I can afford and what I’m willing to pay are two different things.
Even if the plastic-fantastic 9mm’s aren’t your thing, there are good steel .45’s out there that aren’t a mortgage payment.
I don’t know, I guess you can take the kid out of poor house, but you cannot take the poor house out of the kid.
Claim at the beginning of the article has zero factual basis, I know it wasn’t yours but you should’ve addressed it in an objective manner. That and after the second or third time you said “Marine Corp” I lost interest. It’s Marine Corps, with an “s” at the end, we aren’t a corporation. Was looking forward to a good review and now this Marine is just annoyed. Btw, most Raiders and Recon operators who have the option choose the dinky little Glock 19 over the M45A1. But what do they know?
My GF’s dad got a Para 1911 Hi-Cap Airborne some years ago and the slide would hang up on the rails so he never used it. I had a gunsmith look it over, he said the slide stop was buggered a little and got it back to normal. We took it to the range last week and it was a tack driver! I haven’t fired a 1911 since I qualified expert in BT with one at Ft. Knox in 84′, I am mainly carrying G30S or G43 these days and I am very accurate with both. I was seriously impressed with the accuracy of the Para for under a grand. But gawd that thing was a brick. For EDC I’ll keep my Glocks, lighter and more $$ left over for ammo and they haven’t failed to go bang yet.
I’m not sure if this was a gun review or an article trying to stir people up. It was written in a combative way that took away from the gun being reviewed. He was trying to hard to justify his opinion on a whole platform and caliber that wasn’t necessary. My .02 cents
I would comment on the review but I stopped reading after wading through the obnoxous drivel at the onset. While I do enjoy some rangetime with 1911s, you sir are perpetuating the stereotype of 1911 fans of being the first to attempt to start a urination contest. Inmy hastily scrolling to the end I caught a glimpse of what appeared to be shot group photos. I’m surprised you included any such photos since clearly the mighty 45 could incapacitate the most determined and violent attacker by simply striking his pinky toe… shot placement be damned am I right?
I could buy a lot of Ruger P97s for this price.
I can now verify the claims of the power of the mighty .45 round. After reading this article I filled 10 55 gallons drums with cherry jello ( with bananas). I put said drums in a straight line. I piece of A500 class 3 armor on the front of each drum. I then stepped back 10 yards and fired for the center of the plate on the first drum. The round penetrated all 10 drums, all 10 armor plates, and then deflected away at a 60 degree angle and apparently took out the satellite supplying my dish tv. Calibers wars over. Or I forgot to pay my Dish bill. You decide.
Nobody puts bananas in cherry jello.
Enjoy that cracked frame after 12k rounds of standard 230gr ball.
That’s why the frame was thickened.
My walther ppq45 shoots better, holds 5 more rounds, has adjustable grips and costs 1/4 as much. And I get tighter groups despite owning it only a month.
I’m just not that into 1911s I guess.
And there is no reason to pee on the 9mm. It’s saved enough lives to have earned respect.
“No other pistol caliber in modern weapons history has stopped more bad guys than the .45 ACP and in particular John Browning’s 1911.”
…what is this actually supported by?
also, EXCELLENT job starting a handgun review with fanboy spam that honestly serves no purpose other than to make a portion of readers immediately bail on the article.
How can I take any review seriously when it omits mentioning the almighty 10mm??? Serious operators that operate operationally know only it can defeat the bad guys.
It’s what Mack Bolan uses!
The other issue I have with the beginning of the article is that the original GI 1911 was hardly a finely machned gun worked on by craftsmen. In actuality it was hastily manufactured to very loose tolerances with reliability rather than pinpoint accuracy as the goal. Today, you can buy such finely crafted versions of the 1911 and they are indeed supremely accurate and operate like the proverbial swiss watch, but the original nescwere not.
Let me be the first not to insult you on your choice of 1911s, but instead ask a serious question. Why should I buy this gun when I can get a MIM free Dan Wesson Specialist for the same cost or lower? Cerakoting doesn’t cost that much.
Difference of opinion does not an idiot make.
NOT a smart or even accurate review…. I cut my teeth on the .45… almost literally as my first colt was a Colt Gold Cup at the age of 11 and so have a deep abiding appreciation for the .45… but its’ time has come and gone…. my 9 will run circles around the .45 and do the job when required…. and it has more rounds available.
Man, the “9mm is king” argument is getting old. The 9×19 is in fact an older cartridge than the .45 acp. So the 9mm isn’t this new cartridge that solves everyones problems. I’m not saying the .45 is king either, but the 9mm is turning into the most overrated and boring cartridge of our time.
I’ll take anything over 9×19 at this point just because everyone and their brother has a gun chambered in it, and they all preach the same darn thing: it’s good enough and you can hold a million rounds. Oh, and it’s pretty hilarious hearing these same guys say that their 9mm’s have a lot of recoil! This generation is a generation of vaginas.
Did somebody say 9mm was a new cartridge? Literally nothing in your comment is an actual rebuttal to “9mm is king” thinking.
My First gun was a Colt. Colt guns are always classic. Nice review of Colt M45A1 CQBP. Do you think the price is worthy to have it?
It is instructional reading this over three years since the last comment was made. I guess I am one of the “oldies” one of the commenters talked about.
At the age of 17 I was given my first 1911 by the US Army. For the next ten years until I was wounded I carried that pistol and my civilian Colt 24/7. In 1983, I was given the opportunity to test the 9mm. Watching the 9mm rounds bouncing off the windshield of a Camaro on our range at Fort Bragg. I laughed and picked up my 1911 – the weapon that had rounds so slow I could often watch them walk down range. Let’s face it gun/ammunition in the 80s was still pretty poor.
Retiring from the Army I continued to carry the Colt 1911. My son enlisted and he took that gun with him and I bought a new Colt Series 80. I have carried that for the last twenty years without issue. The only work I’ve done to it was having it cerakoted a few years back and having the trigger pull cleaned up a bit. I continue to get very respectable groups with that pistol.
A few years back when my state allowed CC I looked for something to use. While I’m a fairly large guy and have used the Colt for concealed carry under a shirt in a shoulder holster I am not young enough or quick enough to make that work any longer so I bought a Glock 30s.
Could I have bought a 9mm, I could have. The 30s gives me a double stack of ten in the magazine and 1 in the chamber – if I was foolish enough to carry it that way. It also gives me groups comparable to the Colt in a package much smaller.
My point, in this long ramble, is that the Colt is a fine weapon that after almost fifty years of carrying it has served me well in Combat. I trust the 45 caliber Speer Gold Dot ammunition to give me respectable groups on target. I trust the frangible rounds I use in my Glock to put down a target.
What none of you mentioned is that if you have decades of experience with a weapon/round combination then go what works for you, not what any “expert” claims. To me the M45A1 is a respectable weapon, chose by the Marines for their use. Most elite units use WHAT THEY WANT, not what is always issued to them. To be honest I would like to fire it because I suspect those who chose to use it are not typewriter commandos who have taken polymer guns out in some swamp or desert. Like many here I have laughed at my weekly range visits when I hear grown ass men complaining about the recoil of a 9mm. As for the authors point of view, it’s just that a point of view. Obviously, since he is the author and the trolls aren’t, I tend to respect his opinion a bit more. Whether I agree with it or not it is, his opinion.
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