The Myth of the 1911A1 Inaccuracy

The Myth of 1911A1 Inaccuracy
My buddy Dave Royer and I continued our testing of firearms myths with the classic 1911A1 inaccuracy myth. There are numerous stories of GI's returning from World War II complaining about the inaccuracy of the 1911A1, and since the 1911 can be one of the most accurate combat handguns we decided to put the myth to the test.
The TAC-TV Crew and Larry went to the Gunsite training facility in Northern Arizona to debunk some classic small arms myths including this one on firearm over-lubrication.
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[@johnkizziah108]

Sleep every night with the same 1911 i used over 50 years ago to save my life in Vietnam. Been carrying it ever since. Might ssy its my "warm fuzzy ".

[@RR_.comm_luck]

Mm

[@comodice905]

Bloke chill...pues Como que en El Dia en que LA conoci ist dein Auf Das licht is bucko

[@vHeartAndS0ul]

45 likes 4.5 years later 🤣🤣🙏🙏

[@mrflynn510]

​@@vHeartAndS0ulI had to make it 46 😅

[@SonnyReeves]

I first fired a 1911 in boot camp 1968, from there to Vietnam the 1911 served me well. I shot marksman and better some times. Never heard a Marine say they did not like the 1911, maybe that is all BS but that is my carry weapon today. I had a Wilson worked Colt for shooting with a LEO pistol team after service and was disappointed when the Glocks came in with the different trigger. Still carry the 1911, guess I will dance with the one that brung me now that we are comfortable with each other. Learned to point and shoot with a Colt ACE now I don't need the sights to hit you or a 5 inch group at 25 meters with the .45. I have used it to protect me and mine from harm's way several times . never failed me so far. Semper Fi!

[@DoraTheMFDestroya]

Sonny Reeves semper do! And thanks for your years in service!

[@cryhavoc9748]

Thank you for your service. The Army still used the Colt 45 when I was in. My father fought first in North Africa, then Italy during WW2. My favorite uncle crawled through the sand and mud, taking the Japanese held islands back one yard at a time. They both kept Colts after the war for home defense. I carry a Rock Island .45 , I feel good about my choice being the 1911 pistol.

[@bigjimmy6690]

My dad was a Korean war veteran and he was of the opinion that 1911's were terribly inaccurate as well. I became involved in competitive shooting and my first venture was bullseye with a custom Colt Gold Cup 1911. He was amazed at the accuracy of that weapon. Later I moved to IPSC and my father ended up with an SV Infinity 38 super that he shot along with my son and me until he was no longer able to. I sure miss those days at the range with him.

[@tacobell5150]

my grandad fought in korea at the tender age of 19, and I grew up listening to him talk about how hard the 1911 was to shoot, and how bad the 1911 grouped. it wasn't until I purchased a worn out norinco 1911 at a local pawnshop and started shooting IPSC AND IDPA with it that I realized that what grandpa was telling us maybe had more to it. after talking to him more, and then joining the army myself a few years later I realized that the myth of the 1911 being a poor sidearm was just that,a myth spread by soldiers who's only experience with one was at US weapons day at the range during basic training lol. I later found out that grandpa had only fired the 1911 once during his military service, and fell in line with all the other soldiers who had only fired it once in basic and then went on to add to the myth. Every single soldier that I EVER talked to that actually was issued a 1911 and packed one in the field ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT, (myself included )

[@larrymudroc5719]

Korean vet had a 45 ACP 1911 A1 shot expert with it regular targets

[@Johnny-jr2lq]

Yeah I own a 90% correct WW1 1911 it’s the trigger the trigger on mine and a good friend of mine who also owns a 98% correct WW2 1911a1. They both have a REALLY SHIT TRIGGER. Now if you have the money to find a original WW1 or WW2 1911 and don’t give a rats ass about the history of that weapon. And you send it out to be Accurize and tuned up it will shoot as good as any thing out there. My 1911 has been 100% reliable 0 stove pipes 0 fails to fire 100% that gun will shoot if you let the hammer down on good ammo. As for small groups lol yeah NO

[@largol33t1]

60 year old gun, 60 year old ammo. I say its reliability is also pretty impressive.

[@thegamer813]

Its over 100

[@flyingphoenix113]

The DESIGN is over 100 years old. They were used during both world wars though, so a 1911 can be from WW1 or WW2 (and other conflicts as well, of course).

[@flyingphoenix113]

DvS M16 Correct. I was replying to thegamer813 . Perhaps I should have made that more clear.

[@Carniceir01]

Well, they sure afff weren't under any stress.....meh

[@Gostwriterindisguise]

WW2 ended 75 years ago.

[@Z0mb3hHunt3r]

This is odd, I've rarely heard that 1911's are inaccurate. The few times I've heard it, it applied to worn out M1911A1's that were in service for a long time, with barrels that had very little rifling.

[@UrbanTiger74]

Agreed.

[@Gewehr_3]

Another thing to note is they shot pistols one handed back in the day. Definitely not ideal.

[@Z0mb3hHunt3r]

And under extreme duress with adrenaline surging through the body, a marksman becomes a poor shot.

[@ravener96]

Z0mb3h Hunt3r the standard GI pistol training also didnt include "real" aiming if i remmember right. you were supposed to point and shoot, as if pointing with a finger.

[@cliffords2315]

ravener96 Yea unless you were in Combat Arms then you got regular training

[@Jerry10939]

I was in Germany in the Army when I first fired the 45. I was infantry at the time we didn't train with it. only those who were issued 45s qualified any training at all with them. Mostly Officers. I was my COs Jeep driver and he had just qualified with his and asked me if I would like to qualify, I jumped at the chance and shot Poorly. I had only a few rounds on target. I knew it wasn't the weapon but my lack of training with the pistol that accounted for my not qualifying with it at that time. Later after eventually learning to shoot a pistol I did qualify expert with it. I love the M1911 and own one now. It is an extremely accurate weapon.

[@clementello]

3:41 firmly grasp it!

[@jmichaelmahan]

When I bought my government model 1911, it had military style sights. I changed them later on in years to day/night sights, my groups became smaller by more than half. My father carried a Colt 1911 throughout the war as his sidearm. He taught me how to shoot my Colt 1911. Very good pistol. A legion lives on.

[@troy9477]

A few years back i shot a ww2 1911, i think a Remington Rand, that a fellow LE friend had. I think he had inherited it. He had some vintage ammo, probably 50's era, and we tested it. Results were much the same as in the video- probably a 4" or slightly smaller group at 25 yds, well centered. My new Para Ord single stack did a little better, maybe 3" odd at 25 with new anmo, mainly due to better sights and trigger (C&S 4.5 lb matched trigger, sear, disconnector kit; factory parts turned out to be junk, with insufficient sear engagement, probably unsafe). I would certainly not feel poorly armed with a modern "milspec" 1911 (like the Springfields), and i could make a vintage one work for me too. I have several 1911's, 5", commander length and 4" (more than 1 of each) and they all shoot well. The classics endure.

[@jamescooper2618]

When I was a kid, I asked my Dad to get a ".45 auto". He said he hated the .45 auto and would never buy one! Dad had never shot a M1911 style pistol and I asked him why. He said "Uncle Bob was in the Army and he says you can't hit the broadside of a barn with a .45 automatic pistol!" Just goes to show you what word of mouth will do to something.

[@muddyhotdog4103]

Ya, kinda like how it was said that ar15s aren't reliable; or how all ak's are inaccutate.

[@Whitefeather1966]

Amen

[@Wargsy]

I guess his brother Bob was a terrible shot and blamed the gun for it.

[@jamescooper2618]

@@Wargsy No, actually he grew up with hunting and shooting and was quite a good shot, but with long guns. Think about it. The military 1911's were as loose as a box of hammers and shot ammo made by the lowest bidder. The men were taught to shoot one handed with guns that had rudimentary sights at best and heavy trigger pulls. They were not taught how to handle recoil or how to hold on target properly and were started out at a 50 yard target so ya, I can easily see why they would say that. I can take a complete novice, a modern M1911 and good ammo and have them hitting the black at 15 yards on the first magazine. Thats the difference in 1950's army training and 21st century proper training.

[@Wargsy]

@@jamescooper2618 You bring a fair point. I'd still argue not a weapon error but a user error but if you were taught to shoot 1 certain way that is less accurate then thats of course understandable why one may blame the weapon even if it still is a user error because they didnt know how to shoot it more accurately.

[@tacobell5150]

PS I was also ran an arms room and was a unit level armour while in the 101st airborne division. as with any weapon, eventually they wear out, and that was an issue with most of the 1911's that I ran across while in the army.

[@AFpaleoCon]

I've never heard this myth. How is this even a myth? 1911's have been the golden standard for accuracy shooters since it was basically invented.

[@nicknaylor9895]

@John Kale to be fair, the cheap magazines that the government procured for the Beretta M9 were trash, which is the reason why it got a bad rep. It’s unfair because the gun is fine but some bureaucrats decided to cut corners on mags.

[@ryanpeck3377]

@John Kale Its just like he says about WW2 guys only getting Familiarization Training. Same thing happened with the M9. Most guys were never given enough time training with the gun to reach proficiency. Do it a couple times if lucky, no other real handgun training and then try to use the gun in combat, of course youll most likely miss a moving target while you’re adrenaline is spiking, heck you might be moving too. But because were all humans and have Ego’s we will blame the equipment, not ourselves or the lack of training.

[@Johnny-jr2lq]

@@ryanpeck3377 it’s the trigger. The trigger on the original 1911s is terrible

[@bigdaddydon1974]

Another fantastic video! I was just wondering if you guys used the old one-handed, standing perpendicular, feet shoulder width apart stance if that would negatively effect accuracy. I believe this is how the GIs of WW2 era were taught to shoot a pistol. I don't think it was until the 1950s or 1960s that Bill Jordan came up with a technique that you could actually hit the target a little easier with.

[@arnomaas6452]

these series of mythbusting are extremely interesting ,I hope you will continue them Mr Vickers !

[@johngalt7818]

My grandfather swore by his GI issue.45 from WW2. It still worked perfectly in 1985. I wish I had it now.

[@NewYorkSucks76]

why does no one in the video or comments section bring up that in the 40's you shot a handgun with one hand? it wouldn't effect the mechanical accuracy but it's just more difficult to be consistent with it.

[@classdpersonnel115]

Rollo Lawson pls no

[@shockwave6213]

I brought it up at the top of the comments with a link to a US training film too.

[@jessican.1500]

I have no problem shooting one handed.

[@shockwave6213]

@@jessican.1500 But you also have plenty of regular practice and range time in your preferred shooting method, too, right?

[@iwasadeum]

Great comment regarding accuracy myths of pistols. I grew up shooting only rifles - parents hated handguns (lots of young children in the family). First time I shot a handgun, I could barely land one or two rounds out of 15 on a paper plate from 10 feet away. As I've become more familiar with handguns, I can now land a full magazine of that same gun on a plate from 15+ yards. Handguns are hard to master.

[@Excalibur01]

I don't think the gun itself is "inaccurate", it's because of the limitations of the old sights that makes a person shooting it hard to hit something, especially under combat conditions like night time or during the thick of fighting in the fog of war

[@professorpewpuew]

I heard about the myth but having more to with Vietnam era guys saying the same. But I think a lot of it boils down to that the 1911s they were using were ww2 era and the guns were well shot out by the 60s.

[@camp168]

***** The handgun training had not changed that much either unless you were in special forces. Picture fresh recruits in olive drab lining up to fire one handed 'bulls eye' style!

[@johngregory4801]

When I was first learning how to shoot a pistol, I had a co-worker hand me his grandpa's WWII Remington Rand 1911... And it shot so well, I thought of moving up from my S&W 659... I shot both just as well. (3" groups, the max 19 yards available at what used to be Portland's best indoor gun range, Magnum Alley) I shot a custom 1911 from a high-end boutique shop (one of the top 4) that almost shot as well AND had a FTF, something the older 1911 didn't do for 4 shooters and 100's of rounds, all of us sending rounds downrange on our day off. I LOVE the smell of gunpowder. It smells like.... LIBERTY!

[@doncrocker916]

The Myth of the 1911A1 inaccuracy was obvious to me in the 1960's when I went into the army. The 1911 they had me shoot was old and worn. Could not hit a beer can at 15 yards. Then I came home after a tour in Vietnam and decided to try one again! Well I bought a new Springfield Armory 1911 and it is very accurate with some practice out to 50 yards! Just so you know, The 1911 45 ACP will never die! It is still a great gun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@P46345]

This is why I have a Colt 1911 in my holster everyday. ;-)

[@rudolphferdinand3634]

Old ammo saved SP5 Philips life one day while I was on duty manning the missile site gate. Korean War old .45 caliber ammo. The sentry dog handlers would train their security sentry dogs with blank ammo, shooting blanks to get the dog use to the bang! The PFC with SP5 Philips fell to realize that he chamber a round into his 45 caliber M1911A1 pistol. He leaving the kennel area pointing his pistol at me, drawing it from his holster, he re-holstered it with its hammer cocked. He and Philips walk out the gate and there was a pop sound. I had just turned my head two second when I heard the sound of a shot, I turn to see SP5 Philips holding his neck. The bullet entered below his chin and exited from the right side of SP Philips neck. SP5 Philips lived to see another day all because the ammo was from the early 1950's. The year some time early March 1970. What a day to remember!

[@samhunt9308]

My experience with 1911's in the service in the early 60's was that so many different manufactures made the weapon and worked from one end of the mil spec scale to the other, varied so much that when parts got changed, in the arms room mostly, clearances between parts suffer greatly along with accuracy. I've picked up some pistols and shook them and it would sound like it had marbles in them. I always tried to find a tight one.

[@juniorruiz1146]

Ain't nothing wrong with the colt rattle

[@goramsandangelsful]

Great video. I have a WWII Remington Rand and it is reliable and accurate as Hell. It is a custom pistol built by Armand Swenson, but the base firearm is 77 years old.

[@Hughie1987]

awesome vid I love all of my 1911s, in fact my buddy used my mil spec 1911 and hit the bullseye at 100 yards so after seeing that when I first got mine I couldnt believe they are inaccurate.

[@ebenrummell4663]

Been doing guns my whole life and never heard of this "myth". Must be a Yankee thing. 😂

[@muddyhotdog4103]

Never heard of it either.. I think it was maybe just a myth perpatrated during a specific time and place in history which was long forgotten.

[@nathanaelbas5289]

Ive heard it from ww2 veterans. Saying you were better off throwing the gun at the enemy than shooting it.

[@martyyoung3611]

I heard that from an uncle that served in Vietnam, he was a great guy, but he couldn't shoot very well. The first time I fired a 1911A1 a friend had one that his dad owned, just like the one in the video with the tiny sights and heavy trigger. I had learned to shoot a pistol using an old Colt Challenger and was pretty good with it. Imagine my surprise when, at a range of about 30 feet, I put three rounds in the same hole.

[@thomassmestead6424]

Listen, until recently my primary carry gun was a WW2 army issue Remington Rand. Carried in Europe against the Germans by it's first "owner" who so liked the pistol that he purchased it as surplus from the army when he returned to civilian life, passed it on to his grandson, and I bought it from his grandson. Other than to replace the standard hard grips with more ergonomic grips when they became obtainable in the 1980's this is a stock, standard issue, m 1911 A-1. Accurate? I used to do 2 qualification shoots per month at a local indoor range at a distance of 25 yards, and then 50yards. Never had a problem with muzzle flip or accuracy. My only "gripe" with it was that it wouldn't reliably feed hollow points without work on the feed ramp so I was , (with one exception) confined to FMJ rounds. Got pretty much the same grouping showed on this vid. As I've said, this was my primary carry, until 2 years ago and retired it, not due to any other reason than the fact that it has historical value as a family heirloom, and went to a Ruger American in the same caliber. But if necessary, the "Old Warrior" could be returned to an active duty status, you know. In the right hands, (willing to put in the practice time) the issue m1911-A1, if not worn out, is still pretty formidable in a gunfight.

[@abramhepp8729]

Thats what they are made for . 1911 was not invented for sport or hunting game . they were designed to kill men . and im gonna tell u 45 acp has killed alot of men

[@outerheavenpaintball]

Inaccuracy stories also came from Vietnam. That was based on the fact that those pistols didn't get the full maintenance needed for then and many of the parts were worn out. I've used a 1911 before and it was a pretty solid pistol. Personally, I'm a rookie in commission to other shooters and I'll say that the 1911 is definitely a pistol for experienced shooters.

[@UrbanTiger74]

Sgt. York would tell nay sayers otherwise.

[@coleh2053]

Uniform Tango 74 thats great

[@clay-r15]

That was world war 1 it wouldn't have been an A1 1911 but more likely a 1918 which were known to be extremely accurate

[@RockandrollNegro]

York's model was a 1917 early production.

[@Spartan265]

There on that day Alvin York entered the fray Saving the day 82nd all the way Into the fires of hell, the Argonne, a hero to be Entered the war from over the sea Intervene, 1918, all the way from Tennessee Hill 223

[@tonylittle8634]

I own a ww2 vintage that went through depot in the 50’s. Deadly accurate

[@alpalmieri8644]

I hit a 20gal propane cylinder with my 45.at 50 yrds everytime which is a torso size target.On a good day i do it at 80 yards.

[@hunterspangler8955]

This whole video is extremely intense, from the music to the expressions on their faces.

[@nejinaji]

never heard of this myth.

[@Warhorse469]

I think your 15 years being in the The Unit had something to do with your groups.

[@billsixx]

The 1911 "inaccuracy" results from shooter flinch. Period. Watch a guy shooting a 1911 when he thinks there's still a round left in the mag. He jerks the trigger and his whole arm jerks downward. Overcome your flinch and you'll get excellent results.

[@Lajos_Kelemen]

I've just recently tried out an original 1911A1 for the first time It ain't inaccurate at all, it's recoil is more than fine, personally I prefer it over the 9mm because of it's stopping power

[@sorenfranson3323]

It would have been interesting to see how Larry would have done with the WWII 1911A1 and Dave with Larry's custom 1911. That way any difference in proficiency between the two gents would have been evened out.

[@cloud819]

Love the test. It may still be worth discussing that 1911 in the field may have been pretty abused and neglected. A running gun (despite its issues) was more valuable in the field than in a scrap pile during war. Everyone has read accounts of the rattling 1911s that still always shot. Used up guns compound with poor training (as you mentioned) and comparisons with lower recoiling pistols from other forces, could have helped the myth along. Heavy 9mm pistols get back on target quickly.

[@fullstrutn]

105 years old design still going strong ,,beat that with any other [except a revolver]

[@escabrosa1]

I went to SOT training in '85 and we used old, beat up 1911s that were rubbed nearly bare. They were plenty accurate, even out to 25 yards, after we trained for several weeks. I almost got tired of shooting in that course.

[@USSEnterpriseA1701]

This myth reminds me so much of my Grandpa. He was a machine gunner in North Africa, Sicily, and part of Italy before he had been wounded enough times to be sent home. He told my dad about how "They tried to make me carry an M1 carbine, but that would just make the Germans mad at you. So then, they tried to give me a .45, but I couldn't hit the broadside of a barn with it." Dad and I never were sure if he ended up carrying either one. I know from experience shooting a 1911 that it takes some getting used to as a new shooter, so I think it has more to do with not having shot a handgun before combined with a lack of practice.

[@Whitefeather1966]

I had a HK Mark 23 and a colt M45A1. The colt shot tighter because of the grip and that smoooth trigger after it was polished.

[@brianmaccaughey6664]

From what my grandfather told me, its because they taught them to shoot the firearm one handed standing sideways.

[@tyates4398]

i recently watched a training video circa 1944 on how to shoot the 45. this was the official army training film in WW2, and it's easy to see why guys were saying it was inaccurate. The technique they were showing was totally ridiculous, with proper training there wouldn't have been any question.

[@Pendraeg]

I'd never heard the inaccuracy myth before. Of course, most of the WWII stories I grew up with were from my Great Uncle Joe Dawson, who served in the 1st Infantry and who mostly relied on his M1 Garand. However, the one story of his involving a 1911 highlights the accuracy and reliability of the pistol from his point of view. While directing a tank in support of his infantry company through some woods in Belgium, my Uncle came under fire from a German "sniper" from about 25yds. The German missed twice (hence "sniper" in quotes), my Uncle returning fire from the back of the tank with his Colt 1911 didn't. :)

[@coryjanko]

Fun coincidence. I too also just fired a ww2 Colt 1911a1 that someone found in their grandfather's attic! Very fun and quite accurate to shoot, albeit @ 25 feet. (I pitched the first shot while getting reacquainted with the short trigger.)

[@samuelleahy4780]

Is no one going to mention how casually he grabbed the slide and fired the gun without flinching, I'm only watching the video and my butthole puckered a little

[@djay6651]

My grandfather who spent 3 years in the South Pacific said the Tommy gun was inaccurate as hell, so he traded it for a pistol.

[@matthewrobinson4323]

Great video. I have a Springfield Armory m1911a1 GI. It's a replica of the guns we had when I served (1964-1968), and is as close to the real ones as I could find. Even with the GI sights, if I miss at up to at least 10 yards, I was firing a warning shot. It's an amazing gun.. 😎

[@InfestedChris]

Thanks for the tip at the end. Might come in handy one day, you never know.

[@pb68slab18]

A few years ago, I picked up a totally original 1943 Rem-Rand in very good + condition. I tok it to the range with a box of 1943 ECS steel-case and steel-jacketed bullets. While it's not on par with my 1960 Colt GCNM, it's nothing I want to be 25yds away from in the hands of a decent pistol shot! Now I have shot a few rattle-trap mixmasters during my Navy days (80s), and they were probably the basis for those myths.

[@evand848]

3:58 FIRMLY GRASP IT!

[@ronalexander4955]

I honestly never heard this before, my dad spoke highly of his when he was in Vietnam.

[@STB-jh7od]

My Grandfather was a soldier in WW2, European theatre, and said the 1911 was very accurate, and liked the weight of the pistol for absorbing the 45 acp recoil.

[@AndrewNL08]

That was fun to watch and educational!!! :D I like!

[@countryguywithcamera]

The inaccuracy myth came from Improperly maintained pistols... You get a pistol in the 1940's that hasnt been worked on since it was first tooled at the turn of the century, that has god knows how many thousands of rounds through if, of corrosive ammo none the less, and those barrel bushings were probably looser than a $2 port hooker. so all those thing combined led to inaccurate pistols. My stepdad is one of the best shots ive ever seen, and he said his service 1911 didnt shoot for shit. (1979-1982)

[@yuibot5998]

US military 45 ACP switched to non-corrosive in 1951 so they *should* have checked the barrels and replaced bad ones around that time. You would think they would have had plenty of spare barrels to swap out but either they didn't or they were being overly stingy. I wonder where were all the 1911's the CMP got their hands on being hidden when troops were being stuck with worn out 1911's that couldn't hit anything? The ones the CMP has are in amazing shape, I got one, dad got one, and my mom is waiting for hers. The ones dad and I got are in amazing shape and I am sure the 3rd one will be just as nice. Sucks that troops had to work with crap when they had many tens of thousands of nice ones stashed away.

[@countryguywithcamera]

@@yuibot5998 I completely agree, a lot of inaccuracy also came from lack of training with sidearms

[@reddevilparatrooper]

If you ever watch the WWII training films on the 1911A1 G.I.s who were recruits or officer canidates did not have handgun skills prior to being drafted or enlisting.The main emphasis was on one handed bladed body position bullseye shooting style in that era.The other positions may have been taught as familiarization during their training.Recruits were first and foremost trained on their issue service rifle.Machinegunners,officers,and NCOs who were issued handguns had this training especially for infantry units.The MPs might have had more handgun training because they had to be familiar with both the 1911A1 and revolver.Great video by the way..

[@undergroundminer3262]

I shot competition with a kimber TLE 2 and it was a flawless tack driver out of the box.

[@josephstalvey6878]

During WW2, many soldiers who were officers, or got promoted to Sgt. , were issued the 1911 without training. Two of my uncle's said it was inaccurate. I shot expert at MP school, but I was properly trained.

[@VickersTacticalLAV]

Exactly

[@RockandrollNegro]

I've found four reasons why this myth persisted: 1. Most of the guys that spread it were never even issued a 1911. Aside from officers and special personnel, most enlisted men got a battle rifle but no sidearm. Of the men who were issued a pistol sidearm, very few actually used it. Even though every NCO will want you to think he was Sergeant York, he's probably lying if he claims to have taken out 13 men with his 1911. 2. Standard pistol technique of the era was the one-handed shooting stance. As we know, this greatly limits your ability to actually hit something with your pistol. You have to remember, the battle rifle had replaced the broad sword and the pistol had replaced the short sword. The mentality was the same; IE, your short sword was not your primary battle implement, it served only as a backup if you lost one limb and could not effectively wield your broadsword with one hand. So, we were taught to shoot one handed, as that should have been the only time you needed to produce your sidearm. This also gets back to 'why were only officers issued pistols?' which isn't exactly true, but they made up the largest group that were issued the weapon. In standard warfare, the officer leads the charge and fights ahead of his men, hence the officer needed full range of weaponry. Nowadays, it's laughable that a four star general would be ahead of his men in the field screaming encouragement and rallying the troops, instead of behind the confines of an air-conditioned office in DC. 3. Some guys just couldn't shoot it. Either their hands were small, they couldn't take the recoil, or they just plain weren't good marksmen. One reason German Lugers were so popular is because they were smaller, easier to shoot, and less potent. The same pros and cons that come down to the .45 vs 9mm battle today. The going rate for GI trade was two 1911s for one Luger, and some guys will say that the Luger is a better pistol. I disagree, but if I had small hands and flinched under recoil, then I probably would prefer the Luger as well. 4. The pistols actually were inaccurate. Either it had been shot out (which was already becoming an issue during WWII and definitely the case by the Vietnam era and even into the first Gulf War) or it came from the factory with defects inherent. I had an unissued Remington Rand that came out of the factory with rifling so faint that you can barely hit paper from 10 feet- and Remington Rand has a reputation for being the best of the best. So it's very likely with the sheer number of guns manufactured and the number of contractors that were making them, that a few bad apples slipped through. I personally prefer the 1911 to any sidearm that I've ever had to carry. During the first Gulf War, my squad had horrible failures with the Beretta M9 related to sand and dust. We were issued soon-to-be-destroyed 1911A1s that performed flawlessly. Later, we were issued M&P Centennial Airweight 38s as Air Crewmen and those performed great, too, and were easy to carry.

[@muddyhotdog4103]

Pretty much.. Not much emphasis was made towards training on handguns, if any at all.. They're a whole different animal to master in comparison to the mainstay long rifle that they were probably used to.. Especially if said poor accuracy was based on "point and shoot" methods lol.

[@highsierra]

You also have to take into account it was wartime; shortcuts were made. The WWII era 1911 pistol(& weapons) were being manufactured as quickly as possible. Within safety limits, the fitting & other features which aided the weapons accuracy had to be sacrifice, to get them out into the field as promptly as possible.

[@justinkipp6830]

Very informative and educational as usual. Did not know that about the slide.

[@nilescoyote4829]

The only inaccurate 1911's I have heard of stem from models that were still being used right before the switch to Beretta... These guns had seen so many rounds armorers where having to mix and match parts to keep as many as possible functioning for qualification purposes. There was little comfort shooting those old rattle traps. Grab the pistol by its slide and watch how much wobble was present in the handle while wondering if it was even safe to shoot... But even then scoring hits on the commie pop up targets were no big issue inside 25 yards, now the 50 yard popup could be hit or miss depending on how well the armorer liked you, LOL.

[@Johnny-jr2lq]

See this makes sense to me but honestly I own a WW1 Colt 1911. It’s not anywhere as lose as your describing what you dealt with. My gun is I would say is 90% as far as the components in it. Now it’s finish the bluing is low it’s not rusted but it definitely showing it’s 108 years of being being on this mud ball. Probably 60 years of that 108 were spent in the military being holstered and unholstered. Hell who knows it probably put a couple germans on there backs who knows. But that dam gun it extremely difficult to shoot. If I had to compare the trigger on my gun to any other pistol it would be a hi point. I want to make it clear I’m not being disrespectful but the trigger is truly that bad. I will NEVER give up my Colt 1911 the history that’s attached to that firearm is mind blowing. A true testament of a time in the United States of America that was all the emotions you can think of all at once. That pistol represents Good beating Evil it’s definitely a pice of kit.

[@redv311]

Thanks for the video. I carry a 5" Colt series 80 Government model that I had some work done to the trigger. I prefer it to high end guns like Kimber's because the slightly looser tolerances allow it to feed any brand or bullet style I load in it (My Kimber will not feed any hollow points). When I go to the range guys laugh at me when they see what I'm shooting and tell me things like "you can't hit the broad side of a barn from 10 feet away with that". After we shoot they are usually embarrassed or in awe when I shoot a group almost as tight as theirs. Then I really get them when I tell them I spent 1/3 the money they did to be just as lethal.

[@NoTalentBen]

There is no documentation or even logical reason to say Browning ever had such a vision. Surely the man was smart enough to know that if he was designing a pistol specifically for the military it would not 'be made only by master machinists who physically viewed and finished each part.' How many 'master machinists' were there in the early 1900s? No mass production line is going to yield the same precision as a shop with more gunsmith involvement, but the 1911 can be and has been made in many factories which produced guns of adequate accuracy and reliability to make viable service weapons. I have personally used several production 1911s with various CNCed parts. They tended to average at or below one stoppage in 500 rounds with normal off-the-shelf ball and probably half the stoppages were due to ill-sized or non-uniform casings. (Usually I would take such rounds and try them in a Glock or HK and they would not chamber there either.) None of these pistols ever missed a silhouette within handgun distance unless it was my fault. In fact, rested over a sandbag I never had one of these guns miss a half size USPSA silhouette at fifty meters. Not many people shoot smaller than 9 inch groups offhand at that distance and just as few shoot 500 rounds without cleaning the gun. The 1911, even mass produced, can be adequately accurate and reliable for the vast majority of users.

[@darksoul1381]

LOL Nichols even Mr hickok would be amazed at your troll

[@zakrobertson8160]

I feel like the shoot, pull to chest, aim habit could get you in trouble in a fire fight.

[@justindr.yaegertodd6220]

My Metro Arms 1911 shoots a very tight shot group at 10yds! I was incredibly impressed...

[@francismartino6890]

I own a 1911A1, black with classic brown handguard. Hollow points with an extended 10 rounder. No sights, no lights....

[@VintageTeak]

The official military training films at the time demonstrated one handed point shooting, where the sites weren't even being utilized. They literally just pointed at the target and fired. I wonder if the claims of inaccuracy were a consequence of that methodology.

[@troy9477]

Years ago a friend brought a WW2 Remington Rand that he inherited from his dad out to our club. He had some surplus ammo, 1950's i think. I was getting about 4" avg groups at 20 or 25 yds, maybe with a touch of support from the roof post. That's about what i can do with any quality handgun. It may have taken slightly longer due to having to carefully align the tiny sights, but the accuracy is there. Results were about the same with new ammo. And the sights were pretty close to on. I think POI was just slightly low. Most guns can shoot better than the shooter can. No surprise there.

[@jakewolf079]

never heard of this myth but thank you for proving it wrong

[@mrhellotherehowareu1384]

For some odd reason I can only shoot the 1911 accurately. The Glock comes in a close second but anything else I can’t hit for the life of me. The shots go all over the place, even something small like a .22. I think there is something about the way it fits my hands or maybe I am more relaxed but I’m not sure.

[@johnmcleod4859]

I know this is off topic, but talking about the 1911 being inaccurate reminded me of the AK and a question that I've forgotten, should I use plastic hand guards that my SAM7 came with or should I go and put on wood furniture?

[@robertdeen8741]

I once saw a guy on TV popping Balloons at 400 yards with a 1911. No match grade gun or ammo. Booth just out of the box. Same dude could get off 3 rounds faster on SA Colt revolver faster than an auto. He started with the gun cocked, fired, then fanned it with a cupped hand letting off the next 2. That was amazing. Wish I could remember the gentleman's name but it was many years ago.

[@VickersTacticalLAV]

Jerry Micolik I’m sure

[@williamswan9114]

Lot of things for the 45 many of them were well-worn, giving Barrel wiggle , most people are used to shooting a fixed Barrel better sights, trigger pull on double actions are heavier , 45 little heavier then other single actions of the time, usually an in accuracy bushing wear

[@joelp77440]

I have a WWII 1911A, my grandfather’s weapon. I have a much newer colt 1911. Yea, the old one is horrible and jams. I keep it cleaned and oiled but it still jams, especially with hallow points or other types of self defense rounds. My newer gun, I can shoot old rusty mud cover rounds and it has never jammed.

[@Trump145]

I just learned something thank you gentleman

[@kenparnell4297]

I can attest to that being a myth. I was pretty sure the cause was because the military bought so many of them in WWII and they kept recycling parts and if you were issued a M1911A1 with a worn out barrel, then yeah it probably was inaccurate. However, having managed to get my hands on one that was forty years old and still in it's original shipping wrapping from Colt, way back in 1978, and it took me almost a week to properly clean all the heavy, dried on thick ass grease off it. Then I had to go through the "break in" phase of about fifty rounds. (I actually went through about a hundred rounds to break it in properly) However, after all that is shot sweet. I still have that gun and other than it spending years forgotten in an old army storage warehouse and me, we are the only two owners of that pistol. I took it hiking with me, it was my CC weapon, until 1990 when I was introduced to a S&W 4509 stainless steel pistol with the first version of the single/double action and a safety decocker. ambidextrous controls and a plastic body. Literally, three ounces less than my M1911A1 and 15 + 1 rounds rock'em sock'em .45 SUPER ammo

[@jamespisano1164]

Wow. Very cool WW2 1911 and the exact ammo! Cool.

[@edm240b9]

3:42 FIRMLY GRASP IT!!!

[@nimbly1693]

I watched videos with Ken talking about how even today, American military pistol training, unless they're special forces or something is pretty awful.

[@kenharrington3783]

Brother you and I joined the military in the same year, only I ran the USMC route. I remember FAM firing the 45 in boot camp. Only basic instruction was involved. I actually remember PVT's scared of the damn thing. Only when I went for advanced "training" did I become proficient in the service pistol. I shot USMC expert every time, when I was allowed to qualify. Training is everything as you know better than...thanks for the Video SF kenny..ps yeah the site suck, but so does my 1936 P08. A pistol i.can shoot 10"steel all day long at 100...lol lol 😆

[@texasbornrefinerymade753]

Say what you will about kimber but I got a custom ll and I've been pretty satisfied with it's accuracy at 20 yards. that's with the factory trigger, factory matte black sights

[@P46345]

My sister has a Colt 1911 Canadian Army Issue made in 1917, all original and verified. It is without a doubt the best shooting 1911 I have ever fired.

[@manusairsoft6359]

Also many of the G.I.s in WW2 did a one handed grip aswell

[@patluvsvettes]

Love my 1911. Colt Combat Commander. I've knocked a squirrel out of tree with this pistol from a good distance away. Very accurate if you know how to shoot it.

[@billx4266]

hero

[@BaronGlacius]

The military issue M9 is getting the same reputation, however if the weapons are properly serviced the issues that cause the inaccuracy: worn slides, rails, additionally for the 1911's barrel linkages and barrel bushings all get replaced in a timely manner and that issue is no longer an issue. 27 years U.S. ARMY. Former owner of a Vietnam era 1911. It performed flawlessly. The only reason I'm a former owner of that firearm is due to someone stealing it.

[@TheLucydegan]

Hello Larry, I dont know if you will remember me but Dave Royer is my Uncle David. This is Lindsey, Rads daughter. I was sharing all this with my son who finds it all extremely "epic". Just wanted to say hi and glad to see you are doing so well.

[@TheLucydegan]

*****

[@killerwowmaster]

Kiowa did you get your name from the book "The Things They Carried" ?

[@TheLucydegan]

killerwowmaster No.

[@ten8goa]

Larry is a master w/ a handgun. 10+ yrs on Delta Force. He's fired well over a million rounds, and that's no exaggeration.

[@undergroundminer3262]

Kimber TLE for IDPA competition . Very accurate.

[@Rymantactical]

I have a Colt armorer mismatch 1911 that my Grandfather gave me. He carried it in WWII and the frame is dated to be around 1919 and the slide 1942. Even without a front sight (it fell out), and being almost 100 years old, the firearm is still accurate.

[@ethanperks372]

They ignore the training techniques. My fathers 1941 training manual shows a side on single hand stance with a BENT wrist. The above test has an expert pistolero using modern shooting stance. No comparison at all. My first handgun experience was with a Llama .45 rental. I had no trouble staying in the black. Of course I was using a two hand Weaver stance.

[@keewatin427]

Being from Canada I haven't had much access to fire arms due to our reasonable gun laws, so if you want to fire pistols, more often than not you're going to go to a gun range and rent them. I've only ever fired 5 or 6 hand guns in my life, of all variety of caliber from 9mm to .50 AE. and the .45 1911 I fired, out of the three pistols I rented at my last range session, was by far the most accurate. I'm sure I wasn't handling the other pistols properly or whatever some self described gun expert will espouse, but as an complete novice with next to no firearm experience the .45 1911 handled like a dream.

[@daviddundrea4985]

1911’s have always been my most accurate pistols. Fantastic trigger, natural pointing. Now reliably may not be the best, but it’s still pretty good for such an old design.

[@Fabianp1960]

Back then,GIs were shooting one handed,not with two hands,plus combat stress,that makes a difference when comes to accuracy.

[@ap13461]

GREAT video, as of back then yes the 1911 was a great pistol as far as reliability goes. It didn't help that they trained soldiers to shoot pistols one handed back then and mix that with what you said in the video that the sights weren't the best and they trigger was fair. and also great point that there wasn't a lot of ammo to be trained with. the soldiers often took their pistols to war having only fired 8-10 mags of ammo through them.

[@juanfranciscocaba3420]

I have fired Glock 17 and 19, and also the 1911. And firing out of 25meters, I had the best results with the 1911. I my personal opinion the cause was the iron sights of the 1911, which allowed me to fire more acurately. The iron sights of a normal service Glock are meant for a firefight and not for giving precise shots out to 25meters or more.