Yeah, I clean mine after every range session too but I'm usually shooting 250-300 rds. Granted, I don't go to the range near as often as I used to back when a box of .45 ACP could be had for less than $10 but when I do shoot my 1911 maybe once every 2 or 3 months these days, I try to get it nice and dirty.
I am with you Jerry! I clean after every session in detail. Bill Wilson can go kick rocks with all his spare time 😅 How can he even sleep with all of those neglected firearms ?
I agree. I buy a new Guns and Ammo catalog of new guns for that year. Most makers have the MSRP also listed. Even Les Baer finally put the prices on theirs. I know WC guns are expensive but it would be nice to know how much I need to save. Or if I shouldn't bother.
@@markbowman3475 They have pricing on their site, looks like 3k starting. Steep for many of us, but not completely unobtainable. Not bad for something made the old fashioned way, no corners cut, from the ground up.
Hopefully one day I'll get there i just bought a tisas 3 month ago and a RIA yesterday for $200.00 on sale both 1911 in 45ACP and both A1 after shooting the Tisas for 350 rounds i cleaned it and was a pain had to keep looking at a video to remember stuff and then made a mistake of trying to clean around the firing pin and the plate slide down so the spring hit me in the eye and then spent 20mim looking for it because had no clue where it landed lol
My dad, before he passed away, was a gunsmith and somewhat of a collector of guns. Of the 30-something pistols he had, 13 were 1911 frames in various calibers and sizes,mainly.45 though. I had asked him “Dad, do you like 1911’s much ?” He replied, “Its the best and only automatic pistol made in my mind “. Thank you guys for all the content.
Thanks Mas and Bill. Also comment on Chip. More than 30 years ago, while living in NJ, I ordered some magazines from Chip. He called me to say thanks for the order. I still remember the pleasant conversation. And still have the mags. Respect to all.
Back in the 1970s-80s I read everything I could find about Bill Wilson's recommendations and applied them to my own Springfield Armory basic model 1911-A1 a few years later: extended thumb safety (mostly to give my thumb some place to rest), extended slide release, beavertail grip safety, improved barrel lockup with match grade bushing carefully fit, etc. Even did my own ejection port relief for better ejection. It wasn't a pretty gun but it was reliable and accurate. And I still clean my guns once a year whether they need it or not.
Amen on Bill's magazine choices. You can have an inexpensive gun or a tricked out Wilson. If you stick with those two mags, any feeding issues you had evaporate. Any mag that gives me a problem gets thrown away. The only ones that have survived? McCormick and Wilson. They are worth the price.
Yeah, my Kimber Custom that I got 20+ years ago came with a cheap stamped mag that had occasional feeding issues. I've been using WC mags for many years now and there are no feeding issues with my 1911.
Not even just with 1911’s either. The magazine is often so overlooked but is one of the most important pieces of a semi auto design. You see people encounter problems with AR’s, AK’s, Glocks as well as other modern pistols when using aftermarket mags and they somehow decide the gun which worked fine with the stock mags is the broken piece.
Wilson ETM mags are the best mags I’ve ever had period. A beaver tail and extended thumb safeties, slightly longer slide release, and barrel bushing were the first upgrades I made to my 1911. Best decision ever.
I recently bought a Colt Mark 4 and it came with the old school Wilson's combat build sheet from 1994. The old school logo on the grips .. it's an amazing gun to shoot. Did you personally do the builds yourself at that time Bill??? 1994? Even came with a blue and black Wilson's combat soft gun case and like 5 WC mags
I always recommend an ambidextrous safety. This not only satisfies the needs of southpaws, but it can be useful for those situations where a shooter must switch hands.
Listening to these men reminds me of growing up as a young boy, I was fortunate enough for one to have been brought up in the rural South where men and conversations such as this was common. Just as common was the likelihood that a rifle was in arms reach as much that a wrench, hammer or any other common tool was, and I thank God for it.
And the one thing I constantly constantly constantly have to tell people. Don't put full length guide rods on your 1911. They are completely unnecessary.
Bought a Springfield TRP older model awhile ago. It came two piece full length guide rod. I didn't think it did the pistol justice. #1 you needed a allen to break it down. #2 while I'm almost positive there's a torque spec it tended to loosen up after some heavy use. I went standard GI with flat wire recoil spring bumped up a notch. Both Wilson parts. 10-8 plug. Absolutely no issues and chews up any ammo I've fed it. Agreed. I don't get it with the full length.
The Wilson oil is really good stuff. Since I live in Florida and it's almost always hot... I use the grease and universal oil. If it slides it's greased. If it turns it's oiled. After using it for over 3 years it really stands out compared to other oils. My EDC 45 gets deep cleaned every 60 days if I haven't shot it. I usually shoot my other 45 on the range. Anyway the grease is always still there and wet. I wouldn't want to run 100 rounds through it, but 8 or 15 rounds sure. I also use it on everything else. My 22s love it.
Good information, the first thing I do when I get a 1911 is discard the factory mags. I myself only use wilson combat and chip M magazines. I definitely want magazines that work when they are needed.
I do the exact same thing. I will not use factory magazines. I've used Wilson Combat magazines in all of my 1911's for over 30 years, every one without a failure. I've got 12 Wilson Combat 47D mags, and 8 Ed Brown mags. I do think the Wilson Combat magazines load and feed much smoother. I'm interested in anyone else's opinion about Ed Brown mags.
@@williammatthews2948 I bought my first Ed Brown 8 rounder last month. If I load 8 rounds and then chamber a round, the first round will always nosedive. If I load 7 rounds I have no problem.🤔
@@mmabagain My Ed Brown mags are for plinking, they won't hold the slide back after the last round on any 1911 I've tried them in. I only carry Wilson 47D mags.
Here at low budget motors; I did all the mods Bill mentioned myself especially the beaver tail. I fought with stock mags until I could afford Bill's mags. Nothing works better!!
I was surprised, Mr Wilson didn't mention the magazine! Maybe I'm just old but I remember before we had all the good Wilson Combat, Chip McCormick, etc... magazines that feed worth a damn. Use a good quality mag would have been my thought for the #2 thing he would have said.
Sights on a 1911? Gee, I didn't realize they were supposed to have any. LOL That long barrel has always been my idea of a sight. Something happened to the sights on the one I have so I wasn't sure if they were supposed to come with them. That extended beaver tail is an excellent idea. My old springfield has bit me a few times.
As usual, I have zero arguments with any of this...you guys are pure 1911 gold! Speaking as a 50 year 1911 daily carrier, certified instructor and former L.E. instructor, Bill's remark about buying ammo and shooting the gun is 100% spot on. Better sights, better trigger, then go shoot the hell out of it. Frequently.
I have always wanted a 1911, so when one became available that I could afford, I jumped on it. Gear heads will bash me I’m sure, but it’s the Citadel A1FS in 45 auto. I am still loving this thing. Maybe someday I’ll get a Wilson, I’ll have to save my pennies because I’m retired and on a fixed income now. The only regret, I should have gotten one earlier in life. From California too, so it’s not like I have many choices.
I’ve installed WC sears, triggers, and barrel bushings in several 1911’s. The WC sear alone is a great improvement, and stoning the hammer hooks to the proper dimensions does wonders. Triggers with vertical play make me crazy, so fitting a WC trigger is quick and easy.
My 1911 was issued in 1941 and spent the first four years of its life on a pacific island scouting for Japanese movements. When it came to me, it was beat up and lost all its park rising. Day I took it to the range and all eight rounds came out at once. Clearly it needed a rebuild. I brought it to Turnbull for restoration and then had it refinished. And also got a new trigger and several of the internals. Still has the same barrel it had during the war. At first I didn’t get anything you could call a group, so I handed it to a friend of mine, who is a sniper in the Marine Corps. He put all eight rounds through the same hole at 25 yards. Clearly I needed practice. But reliability and accuracy were certainly not an issue.
... he said he wanted to make a stock colt series 70 combat ready ? as if it isn't ? I think he meant to say he wanted to make it fetch a much higher price than it normally would ....
when they are done with that gun there is no comparison they shoot, a lot better when they are finished with it. Its all about making a good gun great.
With 60,000 rounds down the pipe of my Wilson 1911, Bill is SPOT ON when he says a lubed 1911 is a runner! Just like a combustion engine, it needs lube!
No question a lubed 1911 is the top of the line. I carried one 40 years. The pistol never had a failure to fire during stressful circumstances & during training circumstances. 👍😊🇺🇸
Grip enhancement if needed, red dot, depending on the trigger I like to do the same as bill and just clean em up. Including what bill said of course Lol ammo!!!
Pretty much the same things. My exceptions would be Ambi-safety and Mag-well. Hoagie makes a grip that works great especially on the officers size grip. Just enough for a better grip but doesn't impact conceal ability
When I took my conceal carry class the two things the instructor told us over and over was do not modify your gun keep it box stock and do not use hand loaded ammunition or you could have legal issues if you were involved in a shooting . What are Massads thoughts on this ?
There are older video of Mr. Ayoob teaching classes about defensive shootings and the court fallout afterwards where he goes into detail on that topic. Search Massad Ayoob and look for the longer videos (45 to 60 minutes). Long short of it was no punisher skulls, shredder self defense ammo or unsafe triggers. Everything else should be dealt with in court by saying "I did x to my gun so I can more safely handle it, shoot it more accurate to minimise dangerous misses..." etc.
Any modification made to your pistol is subject to legal issues and questions in court. I prefer my guns to work well straight out of the box without the need of barrel polishing (making them work), new sights, different barrels, lighter trigger etc. etc.
Doesn’t matter about after market parts There are no legal ramifications for upgrading your gun to perform same function but more efficient or cosmetic swaps If u put a silencer on it/ put zombie rounds in it and still kill someone it’s still circumstantial as for ammo, just buy from a store and they are liable , not u bc their ammunition is “overpowered “ not a thing tho
My stainless 1911 5" runs perfectly on mec-gar magazines, all of them. Hammer forged everything as far as major components. The only mods have been G10 grips and self induced trigger work.
thank you Gentlemen for a nice presentation on the 1911. I would like to know you opinion on the Taurus PT 1911. It seems they did all the good modifications right from the factory on this pistol. Do you have any negative feedback on it?
Good advice by Bill Wilson. The modifications I totally agree with. Also I would dehorn sharp edges on the pistol. You folks put out top notch videos. Thank you!👍😊🇺🇸
Back in the day when Colt was the only game in town you gave your new 1911 to a pistolsmith and they did their magic. I had one that was made in 51 and wish I would have kept it as it never jammed, but it had an issue with the barrel lugs being worn out and was shooting low. I had a smith fit a new barrel and bushing and it still shot low so I sold it.
Thank you for all the great info. Mr. Ayoob and Mr. Wilson, 2 all time greats in the industry. It was an honor to.watch you both. Have a safe day. Keep your powder dry.
Just got my Service Grade M-1911A1 from the CMP. It’s a Union Switch&Signal (sn 107xxxx) frame with a “GI repro” slide. Hopefully I can locate the proper US&S slide for it. These improvements will go on my Delta Elite.
Good questions and good answers. It is obvious that you two have the experience..... in more ways than one. I have been following you two for 50 years. I have faced the fact that I am getting older... which is better than the alternative! Thanks, guys!
I picked up a Remington R1 CARRY, full size. Only gripe: The "de-horning" guy went a touch overboard. The slide serrations are beautifully scalloped. They have almost NO edge. Wet or oily hands and you'll slide right over them. Other than that; phenomenal piece.
And people complain about Colts being sharp on the edges at least the serrations give me some grip lol On a serious note you can fix that with some careful use of a safety edge file but it might take a while.
@@Full_Otto_Bismarck Nah. I'm not gonna change the thing. I just carry it, loaded, and save the step. It's a thing to be mindful of. Besides: That "Remington" is dead and gone. I want to keep it as original as possible.
First thing I do is I run about 200 rounds through my 1911 just to break it in. Then I strip it clean it and function check it. Then I put it back together Run a thousand rounds through it. Then I strip it clean it function check it. Then I strip off the grips put better ones on. Then the hammer and Trigger goes then the sights as well as the magazines. Once you finish your modifications now you have a real 1911 to be proud of
2:30 After I got my first 1911 back in 2009, I quickly realized (before the end of the first box of ammo) that it was beating the crap out of my hand. It was a Colt O1991 which had the GI style hammer/grip safety as the gun on the left. The tip of the hammer would bang on my flesh and took a patch of skin off. Before long, I started bleeding. I replaced them with WC Drop In Grip Safety (part number 429BG) and Value Line Hammer (455B). Not only these were the cheapest replacement parts I could find, but they were also actually really "drop in", that I didn't have to do any fitting at all. Great products, great price, and no fitting, love them! :)
I’m like Jerry. I clean my gun after each range day and if it’s carried at least once every other week. I’m super anal. Absolutely not necessary but it’s so easy to do and doesn’t take a ton of time so i do it. I guess i do need a life but a clean gun is a happy gun! :)
I think the best mod when you have a 1911 is changing it. HK45/USP MK23 Glock 21/30/36 Hell, even Bonds PPQ had an ACP variant... *pulls out a Kriss Vector in case some Fudd pulls up*
Do not modify that series 70! It looks mint on this video. It should be kept, loved, displayed proudly. Get a cheaper gun that works (Tisas) and modify at will.
Tripp Research Cobra mags are quite possibly the best mags money can buy in terms of finish and function. They are pricey, but awesome. I've got about 20 of them and they perform great.
I bought a 1911 Series 70 Govt. in the early 80 from a friend of mine for $200.00 he said he had problems with it the first time I took it to the range it had a stove pipe jam and I noticed the brass ejected just over my head, I did some reading and I decided to have to the ejection port lowered, feed ramp polished and replaced the oem ejector with a commander ejector, the next weekend I took it back to the range and to my surprise it didn't jam once, the brass ejected about 15 feet behind my with no damage....one of my favorite guns ever 45 ACP
Unnecessary on a 45, none of the top builders do it as standard and is mostly treated only as a last resort on guns with incorrectly machined frame ramps. Its a lot of money spent for something that 99 times out of 100 wont bring any benefit on a 45 auto 1911 and if done by an incompetent gunsmith it will ruin your frame. 9mm, 10mm, 40 s&w, etc that's a different story and you're asking the 1911 to do something it was never intended to do so in those cases the ramped barrel is a good solution for feeding those cartridges.
@@Full_Otto_Bismarck I completely disagree but you are entitled to your opinion. The one thing that truly separates a 1911 from a modern handgun is the 2 piece feed ramp.
@@Full_Otto_Bismarck never owned either of those but I had a 228 and it had a one piece ramp. I would also point out the 220 and 226 are over 50 year-old designs.
@@Valorius P220 was the first of the lineup of the modern Sigs and debuted in Swiss service in 1975, they are not over 50 years old, on top of that the beretta 92 and the glock 17 came out in 1976 and 1982 respectively and are also considered modern firearms.
I put a couple of drops of light oil on the slide before I go to the range. When I get home i clean the barrel. Every 2 years I drop it off at my dealer. He cleans the entire gun. Then inspects the gun. I've had it 22 years. Not 1 problem. I'm not a mechanic or an electrician. If I'm not sure about something. I hire someone who is. I'm real big on safety. I'm not a gunsmith. A guy down the street from us did all the wiring in his new 3 car garage. Sure enough it burned to the ground. The insurance CO refused to pay the claim. He never had a permit or an inspector check the work. That part of there property still sits empty. If you don't know what your doing. Hire a professional.
I like the 1911 platform - particularly Colts, which I have owned and used for 45 years. While I respect all the knowledge and mods that are so popular, I have witenssed qute a few issues with modified guns. Not mine. All of them have been or are, govt models or combat commanders - strictly bone stock. I use mostly NATO ball and have only experienced three failurs to eject moments with 11 different guns, all Colt. The minute I tried flat nosed bullets, I had failure to feed problems. Fails with the 185grn "flying Ashtrays". Went back to 230grn ball - no problems. Last time I checked, that round stilll bears the reputation as a man stopper. As to accuracy and sights: it's a combat pistol designed as a last ditch weapon. I don't need Olympic performance when I'm statistically likely to be less than 20 feet from trouble. Most likely much less. Eight on a plate inside 20 are all I need. The average standard Colt 1911 is way more accurate than I am. If I want to plink, then I'll plink. Nor do I want a trigger on a defense gun that is too sensitive, possibly resulting in a negligent discharge under stress. The stock trigger on my current series 70 CC is perfect, with just enough take up to warn me. Now, for guys that train a lot, shoot tons, and are avid gear heads, I say: Go for it. It's part of the life.
So basically what they're saying is don't buy a mil-spec 1911 for self defense? Seems like its best to buy something ready to go instead of modifying it. I'd love to have a mil-spec 1911, but I don't think I'd like to alter it.
Without Mas's detailed and very thought out revolver handling training videos I would not have been able to see Paul Harold's brilliant and well detailed but in no way short response video to Caleb of gun nuts media lunatic rantings. He's (Gun nuts Media) reformatted his channel hopefully he's reevaluated how he approaches people and has a few less drinks when critiquing other people's videos. Mass is the leading defensive handgun expert for a reason.
The big thumb safety is one thing I don't like and don't understand (until now) why, manufactures put the POSs on the gun. cause Bill says so. The normal size Colt safety is perfect if you have normal hands. An extended slide release is a must have along with a spring guide rod. The latter is another mis-understood reason for the part. It's for function not accuracy. Slide release makes reload faster, Glock started the bazar sling shot method cause they were to cheap to put a decent release on their pistol. It was easier to convince people they didn't need it, just do this ignorant thing instead.
I purchased a new DW Bobtail in 10mm when they first came out. I heard Wilson mags are the best! the 8 round Wilson 10mm mag finally came out so I purchased one for around $45. Failure to feed left and right. FMJ, hollow points all the same results. Compatibility issue was the culprit. SO I purchased TRP's Cobra mags. NEVER had a failure to feed problem again. The correct magazine is everything.
If you need to use grease on your guns ive had good results from Lucas Oil Red and Tacky, #2 i think. Its a marine (as in boats not marine corps) rated grease that is water resistant and fairly high temp too if i recall. You can buy a big tube of it that'll last you years and years of gun lube use for well under 20 bucks, mine was like 8 bucks but that was years ago. A caveat however, i dont know how safe it is have lots of contact with your skin but motor oil isn't any better in that regard so you may not care. It wont give you a rash or anything but you know how they say that petroleum products are bad for your skin.
I gave up other guns over the years and now I have 4 Wilson .45 1911’s, 1 9mm and 2 EDC X9’s - the EDC or SFX line covers all my higher capacity 9mm needs and my 5 traditional Wilson 1911’s cover my need to have phenomenal 1911’s. I have learned that you invest in the best, you are never disappointed!
So.......if the 1911 is so wonderful, and John Browning was such a genius, why do YT "experts" prattle on endlessly about modifying it? If it's all that great, why can't it be used right out of the box? Why does it need a break-in? Why does it need ..... ..................(fill in blank here) What a joke.
Check out the Tisas 1911B. It's got sights, trigger, beavertail, hammer and internals upgrade right outta the box for $339 at Classic Firearms. I took possession of mine yesterday for a total of $427 for a super sweet shooting 1911.
I bought a few Chip and Wilson mags when i got my first 1911. The junk base pad broke off the Wilson mags within a month. They live in the bottom of my tools/cleaning kit. Still using the Chip mags and recently added another dozen or so. After all, every gun deserves at least 4 mags.
Wilson Combat 1911’s, second to none in my book, great video and not sure when you did it but thank you for changing the opening music, that twangy guitar was depressing 😂all the best to you both
Teenager thinks: “I know more than these old guys.” 20 something year olds think: “Mayne I should listen to these old guys.” 30: “I better listen to as many old guys as I can.”
Gentlemen, always such a pleasure to listen to you both very educational as always, I love my guns from Wilson Combat what precision and fit and finish you put into your firearms, keep up making the remarkable products you make.
Glad they affirmed my belief that it isn’t necessary to clean a 1911 until it’s filthy dirty. In fact I just spray G96 or CLP into the internals to bring back smoothness in the action, then went right back on shooting. IIRC, I’ve shot 3-400 rounds before my 1911 malfunctioned, sprayed, shot a total of 700 rounds with a couple more squirts of lube. This was a WWII Remington customed and tuned into a compensated pin gun.
I've used about every brand of 1911 magazine out there, the most consistent/reliable have been chip mccormick's & novak's (steel followers instead of plastic)
Not true! I shoot a gun at least 25 rounds before i clean it! OK, maybe I do clean a gun after 20 rounds…. :)
Hah! Got called out by Bill Wilson in front of thousands of fans. Gotta keep them clean!
That's right. I clean mine after every rang day.I don't want a Dirty carry gun on me
🤣🤣
Yeah, I clean mine after every range session too but I'm usually shooting 250-300 rds. Granted, I don't go to the range near as often as I used to back when a box of .45 ACP could be had for less than $10 but when I do shoot my 1911 maybe once every 2 or 3 months these days, I try to get it nice and dirty.
I am with you Jerry! I clean after every session in detail. Bill Wilson can go kick rocks with all his spare time 😅 How can he even sleep with all of those neglected firearms ?
I truly envy the wealth of knowledge that Bill has of the 1911 platform. Thank you so much for sharing some of it, and please keep it coming!
More to come!
The wisdom gleaned from these gentlemen is priceless.
Bill seems like a really humble guy. Wish I could afford one of his 1911's.
same
Most folks can afford anything they want, just not everything they want.
There are some cheaper brands of 1911's
I agree.
I buy a new Guns and Ammo catalog of new guns for that year.
Most makers have the MSRP also listed. Even Les Baer finally put the prices on theirs. I know WC guns are expensive but it would be nice to know how much I need to save. Or if I shouldn't bother.
@@markbowman3475 They have pricing on their site, looks like 3k starting. Steep for many of us, but not completely unobtainable. Not bad for something made the old fashioned way, no corners cut, from the ground up.
I actually like sitting down and cleaning my 1911 after a trip to the range. It's therapeutic.
Hopefully one day I'll get there i just bought a tisas 3 month ago and a RIA yesterday for $200.00 on sale both 1911 in 45ACP and both A1 after shooting the Tisas for 350 rounds i cleaned it and was a pain had to keep looking at a video to remember stuff and then made a mistake of trying to clean around the firing pin and the plate slide down so the spring hit me in the eye and then spent 20mim looking for it because had no clue where it landed lol
@@billys4625I believe we all have done a bone headed thing like that once in a while.lol
My dad, before he passed away, was a gunsmith and somewhat of a collector of guns. Of the 30-something pistols he had, 13 were 1911 frames in various calibers and sizes,mainly.45 though. I had asked him “Dad, do you like 1911’s much ?” He replied, “Its the best and only automatic pistol made in my mind “. Thank you guys for all the content.
I like your Dad, wish I could have met him. ;
Your dad was a wise man.
I’m pleased to say that I now own my first Wilson Combat 1911!
Thanks Mas and Bill. Also comment on Chip. More than 30 years ago, while living in NJ, I ordered some magazines from Chip. He called me to say thanks for the order. I still remember the pleasant conversation. And still have the mags. Respect to all.
Thanks for sharing
Back in the 1970s-80s I read everything I could find about Bill Wilson's recommendations and applied them to my own Springfield Armory basic model 1911-A1 a few years later: extended thumb safety (mostly to give my thumb some place to rest), extended slide release, beavertail grip safety, improved barrel lockup with match grade bushing carefully fit, etc. Even did my own ejection port relief for better ejection. It wasn't a pretty gun but it was reliable and accurate. And I still clean my guns once a year whether they need it or not.
Amen on Bill's magazine choices. You can have an inexpensive gun or a tricked out Wilson. If you stick with those two mags, any feeding issues you had evaporate. Any mag that gives me a problem gets thrown away. The only ones that have survived? McCormick and Wilson. They are worth the price.
Yeah, my Kimber Custom that I got 20+ years ago came with a cheap stamped mag that had occasional feeding issues. I've been using WC mags for many years now and there are no feeding issues with my 1911.
3 drops of oil (total) and these magazines is all a series 70 .45 really needs. New I spent $125.00 and have thrown away several magazines.
I have those too. The Tripp Cobra mags are also good. I have all three. But the Wilsons are my favorite. No complaints.
Not even just with 1911’s either. The magazine is often so overlooked but is one of the most important pieces of a semi auto design. You see people encounter problems with AR’s, AK’s, Glocks as well as other modern pistols when using aftermarket mags and they somehow decide the gun which worked fine with the stock mags is the broken piece.
I’ve got 2 CM and 1 Wilson mags and at various times one or the other wouldn’t lock back when empty. I’m shooting a Kimber Aegis custom II.
Wilson ETM mags are the best mags I’ve ever had period. A beaver tail and extended thumb safeties, slightly longer slide release, and barrel bushing were the first upgrades I made to my 1911. Best decision ever.
I have Wilson 47D and Cobra mags, too.
3 legends at 1 table, thanks fellas ⬆️💪🇺🇸
Good information as usual......In 1917, a corporal named York seemed to be pretty effective with a basic 1911.
yes, and I hear muskets were great firearms a some point in history.
Nope they were never good and replaced ASAP. Now back to the 1911 that is still selling strong at any gun store... @@billmoyer3254
Yes, Alvin Cullum York is a legend. Fun fact: He's whom the city & state of New York were originally named after.
@@HTown99kidding right?
I recently bought a Colt Mark 4 and it came with the old school Wilson's combat build sheet from 1994. The old school logo on the grips .. it's an amazing gun to shoot. Did you personally do the builds yourself at that time Bill??? 1994? Even came with a blue and black Wilson's combat soft gun case and like 5 WC mags
I always recommend an ambidextrous safety. This not only satisfies the needs of southpaws, but it can be useful for those situations where a shooter must switch hands.
Agreed I was thinking the same thing.
Absolutely, but they probably avoided that topic as there are some incredibly outspoken haters of ambi safeties among 1911 fans.
@@Full_Otto_Bismarck And one should always give in to those who yell the loudest. It worked for Barabbas.
@@Paladin1873 Interesting comparison, but not far off the mark from what I've seen from 1911 aficionados.
@@Full_Otto_Bismarck the 1911: Thou shalt have no other guns before me.
Sounds alot like Col Cooper and his views on a defensive weapon.
Good ideas never go bad with Time
Yep,sounds exactly like Cooper’s specs for the first Gunsite Service Pistol
One of my favorite subjects. The mighty 1911!
Two Masters. Top of their class. 👍🇺🇸
That's right
Well said
Listening to these men reminds me of growing up as a young boy, I was fortunate enough for one to have been brought up in the rural South where men and conversations such as this was common. Just as common was the likelihood that a rifle was in arms reach as much that a wrench, hammer or any other common tool was, and I thank God for it.
And the one thing I constantly constantly constantly have to tell people. Don't put full length guide rods on your 1911. They are completely unnecessary.
Bought a Springfield TRP older model awhile ago. It came two piece full length guide rod. I didn't think it did the pistol justice. #1 you needed a allen to break it down. #2 while I'm almost positive there's a torque spec it tended to loosen up after some heavy use. I went standard GI with flat wire recoil spring bumped up a notch. Both Wilson parts. 10-8 plug. Absolutely no issues and chews up any ammo I've fed it. Agreed. I don't get it with the full length.
Much appreciate Massad's recommend to buy a Wilson. Massad says everyone that has one is pleased. Good to know!
The Wilson oil is really good stuff. Since I live in Florida and it's almost always hot... I use the grease and universal oil. If it slides it's greased. If it turns it's oiled. After using it for over 3 years it really stands out compared to other oils. My EDC 45 gets deep cleaned every 60 days if I haven't shot it. I usually shoot my other 45 on the range. Anyway the grease is always still there and wet. I wouldn't want to run 100 rounds through it, but 8 or 15 rounds sure. I also use it on everything else. My 22s love it.
“The main cannon on a tank actually has a guy with a 1911 shooting out of it”
- RJ Smackhammer
Good information, the first thing I do when I get a 1911 is discard the factory mags.
I myself only use wilson combat and chip M magazines. I definitely want magazines that work when they are needed.
Right on
I do the exact same thing. I will not use factory magazines. I've used Wilson Combat magazines in all of my 1911's for over 30 years, every one without a failure. I've got 12 Wilson Combat 47D mags, and 8 Ed Brown mags. I do think the Wilson Combat magazines load and feed much smoother. I'm interested in anyone else's opinion about Ed Brown mags.
@@williammatthews2948 I bought my first Ed Brown 8 rounder last month. If I load 8 rounds and then chamber a round, the first round will always nosedive. If I load 7 rounds I have no problem.🤔
@@mmabagain My Ed Brown mags are for plinking, they won't hold the slide back after the last round on any 1911 I've tried them in. I only carry Wilson 47D mags.
Here at low budget motors; I did all the mods Bill mentioned myself especially the beaver tail. I fought with stock mags until I could afford Bill's mags. Nothing works better!!
I was surprised, Mr Wilson didn't mention the magazine! Maybe I'm just old but I remember before we had all the good Wilson Combat, Chip McCormick, etc... magazines that feed worth a damn. Use a good quality mag would have been my thought for the #2 thing he would have said.
Sights on a 1911?
Gee, I didn't realize they were supposed to have any. LOL
That long barrel has always been my idea of a sight.
Something happened to the sights on the one I have so I wasn't sure if they were supposed to come with them.
That extended beaver tail is an excellent idea. My old springfield has bit me a few times.
As usual, I have zero arguments with any of this...you guys are pure 1911 gold! Speaking as a 50 year 1911 daily carrier, certified instructor and former L.E. instructor, Bill's remark about buying ammo and shooting the gun is 100% spot on. Better sights, better trigger, then go shoot the hell out of it. Frequently.
When Bill speaks I listen. Wilson magazines are the only mags I'll use in a carry gun.
I have always wanted a 1911, so when one became available that I could afford, I jumped on it. Gear heads will bash me I’m sure, but it’s the Citadel A1FS in 45 auto. I am still loving this thing. Maybe someday I’ll get a Wilson, I’ll have to save my pennies because I’m retired and on a fixed income now. The only regret, I should have gotten one earlier in life. From California too, so it’s not like I have many choices.
Don....nothing wrong with the Citadel, better yet, it's yours to enjoy...!
There’s a lot of people in this world who would give anything for that Citadel. Happy shooting, my friend!
upgrade it with wilson parts 👍
I’ve installed WC sears, triggers, and barrel bushings in several 1911’s. The WC sear alone is a great improvement, and stoning the hammer hooks to the proper dimensions does wonders. Triggers with vertical play make me crazy, so fitting a WC trigger is quick and easy.
My 1911 was issued in 1941 and spent the first four years of its life on a pacific island scouting for Japanese movements. When it came to me, it was beat up and lost all its park rising. Day I took it to the range and all eight rounds came out at once. Clearly it needed a rebuild. I brought it to Turnbull for restoration and then had it refinished. And also got a new trigger and several of the internals. Still has the same barrel it had during the war. At first I didn’t get anything you could call a group, so I handed it to a friend of mine, who is a sniper in the Marine Corps. He put all eight rounds through the same hole at 25 yards. Clearly I needed practice. But reliability and accuracy were certainly not an issue.
... he said he wanted to make a stock colt series 70 combat ready ? as if it isn't ? I think he meant to say he wanted to make it fetch a much higher price than it normally would ....
when they are done with that gun there is no comparison they shoot, a lot better when they are finished with it. Its all about making a good gun great.
With 60,000 rounds down the pipe of my Wilson 1911, Bill is SPOT ON when he says a lubed 1911 is a runner! Just like a combustion engine, it needs lube!
No question a lubed 1911 is the
top of the line. I carried one 40
years. The pistol never had a failure to fire during stressful
circumstances & during training
circumstances. 👍😊🇺🇸
An often overlooked advantage of cleaning is it allows for a thorough inspection . Preventative maintenance .
Sights and Trigger, absolutely the most important fundamentals and most important upgrades.
Will get allot of hate lol I know I know but.......... Can I put WC internals on my Girsan 1911 .45 and turn it into something worthy?
We want to hear from you too! What modifications have you made to your handgun? What would you recommend?
None. Only buy guns that fit in my hand, like the trigger feel, and shoot well with. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
$$$$$ ammo back to $$ ammo ..Joey did this !!!
Tritium sights, WC bullet proof ambi safety and a lighter mag release spring for this lefty. And of course Wilson Combat magazines.
Grip enhancement if needed, red dot, depending on the trigger I like to do the same as bill and just clean em up. Including what bill said of course Lol ammo!!!
Pretty much the same things. My exceptions would be Ambi-safety and Mag-well. Hoagie makes a grip that works great especially on the officers size grip. Just enough for a better grip but doesn't impact conceal ability
When I took my conceal carry class the two things the instructor told us over and over was do not modify your gun keep it box stock and do not use hand loaded ammunition or you could have legal issues if you were involved in a shooting . What are Massads thoughts on this ?
There are older video of Mr. Ayoob teaching classes about defensive shootings and the court fallout afterwards where he goes into detail on that topic. Search Massad Ayoob and look for the longer videos (45 to 60 minutes). Long short of it was no punisher skulls, shredder self defense ammo or unsafe triggers. Everything else should be dealt with in court by saying "I did x to my gun so I can more safely handle it, shoot it more accurate to minimise dangerous misses..." etc.
Any modification made to your pistol is subject to legal issues and questions in court. I prefer my guns to work well straight out of the box without the need of barrel polishing (making them work), new sights, different barrels, lighter trigger etc. etc.
Doesn’t matter about after market parts
There are no legal ramifications for upgrading your gun to perform same function but more efficient or cosmetic swaps
If u put a silencer on it/ put zombie rounds in it and still kill someone it’s still circumstantial as for ammo, just buy from a store and they are liable , not u bc their ammunition is “overpowered “ not a thing tho
Wilson Combat rocks! I'd love to see you folks come out with a high capacity 1911 some day
My stainless 1911 5" runs perfectly on mec-gar magazines, all of them. Hammer forged everything as far as major components. The only mods have been G10 grips and self induced trigger work.
im a big fan of mec-gar mags. they are good quality.
@@leftyo9589 I am as well. Mec-gar manufactures many of the oem manufacturers mags. I have never had one fail to date.
+1 on the mec gar mags . 🙏😀😍
Some day I'll have a Wilson Combat. Truly beautifully made with skill and care.
thank you Gentlemen for a nice presentation on the 1911.
I would like to know you opinion on the Taurus PT 1911. It seems they did all the good modifications right from the factory on this pistol. Do you have any negative feedback on it?
Good advice by Bill Wilson.
The modifications I totally
agree with. Also I would dehorn sharp edges on the
pistol. You folks put out top
notch videos. Thank you!👍😊🇺🇸
Series 70.. my favorite 1911
Wilson mag's are superior to Chip macormick mag's hands down
Wilson makes Chip Macormick mags.
NEVER had a problem with the Wilson 47D magazines I use in my Gold Cup or the standard Wilson magazines that came with my M45A1.
I do believe that when Bill gets to heaven, JMB will be there to smile and shake his hand !
I love these conversations between Mas and Bill. May God bless you both with good health and a long life for you and your families!
Throw into the garbage, buy a modern pistol.
I do not like cocked and lock, they are unsafe per John Moses Browning .
I've had great luck with the Wilson magazines
As a retired Navy armorer, I enjoy the Information that y'all pass on.
Back in the day when Colt was the only game in town you gave your new 1911 to a pistolsmith and they did their magic. I had one that was made in 51 and wish I would have kept it as it never jammed, but it had an issue with the barrel lugs being worn out and was shooting low. I had a smith fit a new barrel and bushing and it still shot low so I sold it.
Thank you for all the great info. Mr. Ayoob and Mr. Wilson, 2 all time greats in the industry. It was an honor to.watch you both. Have a safe day. Keep your powder dry.
Our pleasure!
As a lifetime California residence, I really like my WC stainless Protector.
Just got my Service Grade M-1911A1 from the CMP. It’s a Union Switch&Signal (sn 107xxxx) frame with a “GI repro” slide. Hopefully I can locate the proper US&S slide for it. These improvements will go on my Delta Elite.
Would you guys carry a full size, all steel 1911?
I do
Good questions and good answers. It is obvious that you two have the experience..... in more ways than one. I have been following you two for 50 years. I have faced the fact that I am getting older... which is better than the alternative!
Thanks, guys!
Our pleasure!
0:41 Bill points firearm at Massad. 0:47 Massad - I think I’ll sit back a little bit.
This! I couldn’t believe Mas didn’t say anything!
I have 2 WC’s…..Tactical Elite 45acp & SFX9
Love them
I own a bunch of top shelf 1911s but my favorite is my WC .45 ACP 1911 Tac Elite.
Buy a Canik and 3 cases of ammo.
It's All I've Ever Used , Wilson and Chip M. Mags Here we have 2 of the top 10 1911 Oficionado's !
Just bought my first 1911, very excited to put some bullets down range!
I have learned some stuff fixing up a 1911. I am about to try the the Wilson Combat Group Gripper link mod to my old pistol. Any thoughts on that?
I only use their mags!
I picked up a Remington R1 CARRY,
full size. Only gripe: The "de-horning" guy went a touch overboard.
The slide serrations are beautifully scalloped. They have almost NO edge. Wet or oily hands and you'll slide right over them.
Other than that; phenomenal piece.
And people complain about Colts being sharp on the edges at least the serrations give me some grip lol
On a serious note you can fix that with some careful use of a safety edge file but it might take a while.
@@Full_Otto_Bismarck Nah. I'm not gonna change the thing. I just carry it, loaded, and save the step.
It's a thing to be mindful of.
Besides: That "Remington" is dead and gone. I want to keep it as original as possible.
@@schrodingersgat4344 I can understand that sentiment.
First thing I do is I run about 200 rounds through my 1911 just to break it in. Then I strip it clean it and function check it. Then I put it back together Run a thousand rounds through it. Then I strip it clean it function check it. Then I strip off the grips put better ones on. Then the hammer and Trigger goes then the sights as well as the magazines. Once you finish your modifications now you have a real 1911 to be proud of
Lose the toupee my friend ~
2:30 After I got my first 1911 back in 2009, I quickly realized (before the end of the first box of ammo) that it was beating the crap out of my hand. It was a Colt O1991 which had the GI style hammer/grip safety as the gun on the left. The tip of the hammer would bang on my flesh and took a patch of skin off. Before long, I started bleeding. I replaced them with WC Drop In Grip Safety (part number 429BG) and Value Line Hammer (455B). Not only these were the cheapest replacement parts I could find, but they were also actually really "drop in", that I didn't have to do any fitting at all. Great products, great price, and no fitting, love them! :)
I’m like Jerry. I clean my gun after each range day and if it’s carried at least once every other week. I’m super anal. Absolutely not necessary but it’s so easy to do and doesn’t take a ton of time so i do it. I guess i do need a life but a clean gun is a happy gun! :)
I think the best mod when you have a 1911 is changing it.
HK45/USP
MK23
Glock 21/30/36
Hell, even Bonds PPQ had an ACP variant...
*pulls out a Kriss Vector in case some Fudd pulls up*
Beavertail grip safety is my first must have on any 1911.
Do not modify that series 70! It looks mint on this video. It should be kept, loved, displayed proudly. Get a cheaper gun that works (Tisas) and modify at will.
Tripp Research Cobra mags are quite possibly the best mags money can buy in terms of finish and function. They are pricey, but awesome. I've got about 20 of them and they perform great.
I use the Tripp’s for my 45’s and my 10mm. Never a problem, ever!
Checkmate mags are equivalent or better than Wilson. Chip McCormack have gotten worse last 5 yrs. Ed Brown mags are top shelf too.
Bill, Massad and the series 70 1911A1 are awesome!! Thanx for the great content. I continue to learn from you guys.
I bought a 1911 Series 70 Govt. in the early 80 from a friend of mine for $200.00 he said he had problems with it the first time I took it to the range it had a stove pipe jam and I noticed the brass ejected just over my head, I did some reading and I decided to have to the ejection port lowered, feed ramp polished and replaced the oem ejector with a commander ejector, the next weekend I took it back to the range and to my surprise it didn't jam once, the brass ejected about 15 feet behind my with no damage....one of my favorite guns ever 45 ACP
In all seriousness, if you can make only one mod on a 1911, an integral feed ramp Barrel is the one I would do every time.
Unnecessary on a 45, none of the top builders do it as standard and is mostly treated only as a last resort on guns with incorrectly machined frame ramps. Its a lot of money spent for something that 99 times out of 100 wont bring any benefit on a 45 auto 1911 and if done by an incompetent gunsmith it will ruin your frame.
9mm, 10mm, 40 s&w, etc that's a different story and you're asking the 1911 to do something it was never intended to do so in those cases the ramped barrel is a good solution for feeding those cartridges.
@@Full_Otto_Bismarck I completely disagree but you are entitled to your opinion. The one thing that truly separates a 1911 from a modern handgun is the 2 piece feed ramp.
@@Valorius the Sig P220 and P226 use a two piece ramp
@@Full_Otto_Bismarck never owned either of those but I had a 228 and it had a one piece ramp. I would also point out the 220 and 226 are over 50 year-old designs.
@@Valorius P220 was the first of the lineup of the modern Sigs and debuted in Swiss service in 1975, they are not over 50 years old, on top of that the beretta 92 and the glock 17 came out in 1976 and 1982 respectively and are also considered modern firearms.
I put a couple of drops of light oil on the slide before I go to the range. When I get home i clean the barrel. Every 2 years I drop it off at my dealer. He cleans the entire gun. Then inspects the gun. I've had it 22 years. Not 1 problem. I'm not a mechanic or an electrician. If I'm not sure about something. I hire someone who is. I'm real big on safety. I'm not a gunsmith. A guy down the street from us did all the wiring in his new 3 car garage. Sure enough it burned to the ground. The insurance CO refused to pay the claim. He never had a permit or an inspector check the work. That part of there property still sits empty. If you don't know what your doing. Hire a professional.
I like the 1911 platform - particularly Colts, which I have owned and used for 45 years. While I respect all the knowledge and mods that are so popular, I have witenssed qute a few issues with modified guns. Not mine. All of them have been or are, govt models or combat commanders - strictly bone stock. I use mostly NATO ball and have only experienced three failurs to eject moments with 11 different guns, all Colt. The minute I tried flat nosed bullets, I had failure to feed problems. Fails with the 185grn "flying Ashtrays". Went back to 230grn ball - no problems. Last time I checked, that round stilll bears the reputation as a man stopper.
As to accuracy and sights: it's a combat pistol designed as a last ditch weapon. I don't need Olympic performance when I'm statistically likely to be less than 20 feet from trouble. Most likely much less. Eight on a plate inside 20 are all I need. The average standard Colt 1911 is way more accurate than I am. If I want to plink, then I'll plink.
Nor do I want a trigger on a defense gun that is too sensitive, possibly resulting in a negligent discharge under stress. The stock trigger on my current series 70 CC is perfect, with just enough take up to warn me.
Now, for guys that train a lot, shoot tons, and are avid gear heads, I say: Go for it. It's part of the life.
I don't know he actually popularized customs 1911s... What about the Capone Brother at King's Gunworks or Jim Hoag? Can't forget Terry Tusney... ...
Girsan MC 1911 Match. In 45 AARP. One sveet pistol for the money. Thanks for the share!!
So basically what they're saying is don't buy a mil-spec 1911 for self defense? Seems like its best to buy something ready to go instead of modifying it. I'd love to have a mil-spec 1911, but I don't think I'd like to alter it.
Without Mas's detailed and very thought out revolver handling training videos I would not have been able to see Paul Harold's brilliant and well detailed but in no way short response video to Caleb of gun nuts media lunatic rantings. He's (Gun nuts Media) reformatted his channel hopefully he's reevaluated how he approaches people and has a few less drinks when critiquing other people's videos. Mass is the leading defensive handgun expert for a reason.
Did bill just flag you? dang, Ayoob and I seen you cringe and rightly so ............(0.40)
The big thumb safety is one thing I don't like and don't understand (until now) why, manufactures put the POSs on the gun. cause Bill says so. The normal size Colt safety is perfect if you have normal hands. An extended slide release is a must have along with a spring guide rod. The latter is another mis-understood reason for the part. It's for function not accuracy. Slide release makes reload faster, Glock started the bazar sling shot method cause they were to cheap to put a decent release on their pistol. It was easier to convince people they didn't need it, just do this ignorant thing instead.
I purchased a new DW Bobtail in 10mm when they first came out. I heard Wilson mags are the best! the 8 round Wilson 10mm mag finally came out so I purchased one for around $45. Failure to feed left and right. FMJ, hollow points all the same results. Compatibility issue was the culprit. SO I purchased TRP's Cobra mags. NEVER had a failure to feed problem again. The correct magazine is everything.
I use Mobil 10w40 on all my guns. It stays on for long and runs my guns as smooth as butter
If you need to use grease on your guns ive had good results from Lucas Oil Red and Tacky, #2 i think. Its a marine (as in boats not marine corps) rated grease that is water resistant and fairly high temp too if i recall.
You can buy a big tube of it that'll last you years and years of gun lube use for well under 20 bucks, mine was like 8 bucks but that was years ago.
A caveat however, i dont know how safe it is have lots of contact with your skin but motor oil isn't any better in that regard so you may not care. It wont give you a rash or anything but you know how they say that petroleum products are bad for your skin.
I’ve been using Chip McCormick mags since the early 90s.They were more affordable and just as reliable as the Wilsons😂
I gave up other guns over the years and now I have 4 Wilson .45 1911’s, 1 9mm and 2 EDC X9’s - the EDC or SFX line covers all my higher capacity 9mm needs and my 5 traditional Wilson 1911’s cover my need to have phenomenal 1911’s. I have learned that you invest in the best, you are never disappointed!
So.......if the 1911 is so wonderful, and John Browning was such a genius, why do YT "experts" prattle on endlessly about modifying it? If it's all that great, why can't it be used right out of the box? Why does it need a break-in? Why does it need .....
..................(fill in blank here)
What a joke.
Check out the Tisas 1911B. It's got sights, trigger, beavertail, hammer and internals upgrade right outta the box for $339 at Classic Firearms. I took possession of mine yesterday for a total of $427 for a super sweet shooting 1911.
I bought a few Chip and Wilson mags when i got my first 1911. The junk base pad broke off the Wilson mags within a month. They live in the bottom of my tools/cleaning kit. Still using the Chip mags and recently added another dozen or so. After all, every gun deserves at least 4 mags.
Wilson Combat 1911’s, second to none in my book, great video and not sure when you did it but thank you for changing the opening music, that twangy guitar was depressing 😂all the best to you both
Right on
Teenager thinks: “I know more than these old guys.”
20 something year olds think: “Mayne I should listen to these old guys.”
30: “I better listen to as many old guys as I can.”
Gentlemen, always such a pleasure to listen to you both very educational as always, I love my guns from Wilson Combat what precision and fit and finish you put into your firearms, keep up making the remarkable products you make.
Glad they affirmed my belief that it isn’t necessary to clean a 1911 until it’s filthy dirty. In fact I just spray G96 or CLP into the internals to bring back smoothness in the action, then went right back on shooting. IIRC, I’ve shot 3-400 rounds before my 1911 malfunctioned, sprayed, shot a total of 700 rounds with a couple more squirts of lube. This was a WWII Remington customed and tuned into a compensated pin gun.
I've used about every brand of 1911 magazine out there, the most consistent/reliable have been chip mccormick's & novak's (steel followers instead of plastic)
Think of all the spin-offs that started at Wilson and built 1911 businesses in the Harrison AR area.
I've got about 1300 rds thru my 10mm 1911..
Its time to fully clean it.
It stopped ejecting. I am upgrading to WC parts