Full Auto .45?

[CPO15]

Been thinking I need to re-introduce a 1911 to my handgun inventory and have been Binging various models and reviews (bummed-out by Kimber reviews and their 500 round break in, intrigued by the SA Range Officer) but I stumbled upon one particular review wherein the author, testing a NIB model, loaded three rounds and emptied the mag so as to verify the gun would not go "full auto." He then proceeded to shoot a few boxes for the review. I cannot recall which gun was being reviewed but it was a mainstream model.

WTH?? Is this a common malfunction? With a NIB gun? Or, for that matter, common with any 1911? As much as I may be intrigued by the concept, I would wish to avoid it if unexpected.

Thanks for any input.

[getsome]

If you get a NIB 1911 or any other type semi auto pistol to fire more than one round per trigger pull then you got a good lawsuit on your hands....When you hear of a 1911 going full auto it's because someone who didn't know what they were doing tried to do a trigger job and took off too much metal from the sear....I have never heard of an unaltered pistol doing this...

[Bawanna]

It would be an extremely rare thing with an unaltered pistol as getsome so eloquently stated.

I do check for it with each acquisition though.

[Raulf]

I own 3 Kimbers(3"/"4/5") not sure what are you talking about, not sure you are going to find anything better out there.

[wyntrout]

After the first shot things could get dicey... where does YOUR muzzle point... and it could really be "fun" if the pistol can't be stopped until it's empty... of course, there's the chance it would stop with the "limp-wristing" if you dropped it!:eek:

Wynn:)

[MW surveyor]

I'm pretty sure that just about any semi-auto gun can go full auto if someone screws with it.

[JimC]

Back in the late '60's, I had the surprise of my life when my .45 ACP Colt Gold Cup went full auto while shooting a B'Eye match in Bethlehem, PA.

I touched off the first round in the slow fire stage and the pistol emptied the remaining 4 rounds up the backstop!!! :eek:

The embarrassing part was they immediately called a cease fire on the entire line. :blushing:
Mine was due to premature wear on the sear/trigger engagement. The pistol had not been worked on, I bought it NIB and it had several thousands rounds on it.
Colt repaired it under warranty.

[Longitude Zero]

The trigger/sear engagement is the key to avoid this malady. As to being bummed out about the 500 round break in that is pretty much standard for pistols and good common sense. To do less invites trouble.

[Barth]

The trigger/sear engagement is the key to avoid this malady. As to being bummed out about the 500 round break in that is pretty much standard for pistols and good common sense. To do less invites trouble.

I'm not sure how often a agree with this Longitude guy? LOL
But 500 rounds is like a minimum for me.
More like 1000.
Not just to verify function.
But to gain a high level of proficiency with that handgun.
If I'm going to carry a handgun?
I need to be sure it will work.
And be very comfortable shooting it.

[ptoemmes]

I know nothing of this, but I ran across the term "bump fire" not too long ago which looks to be a technique whereby the trigger finger does not move but rather the recoil "motion" of the pistol results is multi round fire - again without moving the trigger finger.

Could be urban legend though.

Figure someone here will know.

Google search show up a fair amount of "how to" for Glocks. Can't speak to the veracity of the techniques much less the wisdom of doing the mod. I don't think I would, but YMMV.

[Bawanna]

Bumpfire is mostly a rifle thing, would be darn hard to achieve with a handgun.

They actually make bumpfire stocks. I think Jeepster got one. It's designed to help make that happen.

[ptoemmes]

Not disagreeing with ya: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHYZp8UEEzg

But then it's a Glock ;-)

[Longitude Zero]

I know nothing of this, but I ran across the term "bump fire" not too long ago which looks to be a technique whereby the trigger finger does not move but rather the recoil "motion" of the pistol results is multi round fire - again without moving the trigger finger.

Could be urban legend though.

Figure someone here will know.

Google search show up a fair amount of "how to" for Glocks. Can't speak to the veracity of the techniques much less the wisdom of doing the mod. I don't think I would, but YMMV.

Having seen the videos I have bumpfired a rifle. HOWEVER I would consider bump firing a pistol to be near suicidal aka very stupid. Potential nominees for a Darwin Award.

[CPO15]

Sigh......I almost deleted the reference to Kimber in my OP....guess I should've done so. And I'll regret this comment as well:

I enjoy shooting 500 rounds out of any gun, but in an exercise to make a $1K gun work like it should from the factory it just seems like wasted time and resources, as well as an insult to me as a customer. Factor in the negative comments, which are easy to find in a search of "Kimber Issues", and it's just not a brand I'm willing to take a risk on. Love to own a good one, just don't have the money to waste on a lemon.

[Bawanna]

Never seen that, with an AR you can do it with your finger.

[getsome]

WOW, Full auto fire like that would make one foul their ejection port if you weren't expecting it...

If you are looking for a nice 1911 for a decent price I can vouch for the Smith & Wesson models....I have a stainless one and it's a fine shooter and I have never had any problems at all with any type ammo, factory new or handloads since out of the box...Retail is about $700.00 new and if you want a super nice 1911 check out the S&W E series 1911 pistols which are on par with anything else short of a custom Les Baer or Ed Brown...

I guess I'm lucky but I have only had a couple problems with a new semi auto pistol giving feeding problems...One was a S&W 645 .45 ACP back in the 80's when they first came out...Smith was going through some internal ownership changes and had some quality control issues at that time...I sent my 645 back twice and not only did they not correct it the first time they made it worse so I traded it for something else...The only other problem child was a Ruger LCP which would try to double feed but one trip back to the mother ship fixed it...Traded it for my current PM40 which has been perfect....

There are some nice reasonable 1911's on the market now like the Ruger SR1911 and the SA Range Officer models....I have a friend with a Kimber 1911 which I have shot and it's a very nice pistol but I think he over paid for it being there are other equal choices available....The only thing I have ever heard negative about a Kimber is complaints of so so customer service but like anything else we usually only hear from people with issues and never from the happy satisfied owners....Go ahead and get a nice 1911 you won't ever be sorry!!!!

[wyntrout]

I sold my 645 last year. My 2nd P380 or S.A. Champion might be next... buying too many pistols. Wifey's okay with things so far, but I feel bad not shooting everything often enough!

Wynn:)

[getsome]

Me too Wyn, my son asked me the other day when we could go to the range again...Right now I'm afraid of using up my ammo stash which isn't all that big anyway....I think I will pick up a nice AirSoft or BB pistol and shoot with him in the back yard until this ammo scare blows over if it ever does....:(

[Barth]

I'm not selling any of my handguns.
But have shot most of the target ammo I've got.

Ordered some Lawman 45 for the HK45C.
And will shoot up some of my 1K M855 green tip 5.56 in the Arsenal SLR-106U.

But my shooting days are pretty much over for now.
I wait and watch for the crazy to pass...

[wyntrout]

The LGS/Range where I shoot still has re-manufactured ammo form AAA out of Atlanta and it has been okay... at the same old prices, but limited to shooting at the range and only two boxes. I've used a box of that my last two trips to cut down on using up too much of mine. There might come a time when they have none of that on their shelves... .45 acp at $17+tax a box... still! I'll try a box with the Glock when I get it to the range.

Most of my range ammo for .45 was bought online at $14 to $15 a box delivered... for new FMJ.

Wynn:)

[wyntrout]

Oh! When I was buying the Glock yesterday, people were queued up trying to buy ammo as well as guns. The limit was two boxes and NO RANGE AMMO, only hollow point. Several people were buying the $949.99 S&W AR and turned down the .223 HP because it was about $1 per round!

Wynn:)

[gb6491]

Sigh......I almost deleted the reference to Kimber in my OP....guess I should've done so. And I'll regret this comment as well:

I enjoy shooting 500 rounds out of any gun, but in an exercise to make a $1K gun work like it should from the factory it just seems like wasted time and resources, as well as an insult to me as a customer. Factor in the negative comments, which are easy to find in a search of "Kimber Issues", and it's just not a brand I'm willing to take a risk on. Love to own a good one, just don't have the money to waste on a lemon.
I can see regretting the first reference to Kimbers, but as you have done so again, let's look at the "break in" period for Kimber 1911 pistols.
This is from the manual for full size Kimber 1911 pistols:
"BREAK IN PERIOD
Before firing the pistol for the first time, Field strip and clean the firearm following proper procedures. (see DISASSEMBLY,CLEANING and LUBRICATION and ASSEMBLY Instructions in this Manual)
"Kimbers firearms are quality custom pieces. Our firearms are are hand fitted to tight tolerances. For proper Break-in of the firearm shoot 400-500 rounds of Quality Factory Ball (230gr. FMJ) Ammunition, cleaning and lubricating the gun every 100-150 rounds." (http://www.kimberamerica.com/uploads/manual-download/1911Fullsize45.pdf Page 23)
There is no mention that the gun requires this "break in" to be dependable (my Custom TLE II certainly didn't need it). To me, it just reads that extra care (IE: initial cleaning, "lubricating every 100-150 rounds") should be taken during the first 400-500 rounds to insure that the parts mate together properly during initial use. That falls in line with other products I've owned. It's been a while since I've bought a brand new vehicle, but as I remember they came with specific instructions about driving and maintenance during the first 500 miles.
The above is not written to convince you to buy a Kimber (though I'm very pleased with mine) or refute internet accounts of Kimber issues (I've only shot mine and a buddy's), but to give my take/experience on the Kimber "break in" thing.

FWIW, the SA Range Officer you mention is an excellent pistol. The one I owned was well made, accurate, and reliable. I've no qualms about recommending one of them to someone looking for a 1911 style pistol.

Regards,
Greg

[ltxi]

M3 machine pistol....after that full auto .45 ain't so bad.

Just like the winter I spent in Newfoundland.......