1911 with or without rail...

[mluikey]

that is the question. I'm looking at buying a Colt 1911 and have 2 in mind, a Colt Combat Elite or a Colt Rail Gun. Both are the same price. Just trying to decide if the rail is necessary/worth it or not. What say you?

[Bawanna]

This is something myself and a couple of the 1911 devotee detectives have been hashing over for quite a spell.

One of them got the Colt Rail Gun and it's pretty nice, not perfect. I'd do a little tuning if it was mine but not at all bad. I want one but I want everything.

The rail does limit holsters some, especially if you want to leave a light or laser on the rail which for civilian purposes adds a ton of bulk and they don't look good.
On the other hand the rail is a nice thing if you decide to hang something on it at home or range, or like some do carry the light separately and only attach when needed.

My mind still isn't made up but I tend to lean towards no rail but I'm kind of like a yo yo, tomorrow I might change my mind.

[mluikey]

This is something myself and a couple of the 1911 devotee detectives have been hashing over for quite a spell.

One of them got the Colt Rail Gun and it's pretty nice, not perfect. I'd do a little tuning if it was mine but not at all bad. I want one but I want everything.

The rail does limit holsters some, especially if you want to leave a light or laser on the rail which for civilian purposes adds a ton of bulk and they don't look good.
On the other hand the rail is a nice thing if you decide to hang something on it at home or range, or like some do carry the light separately and only attach when needed.

My mind still isn't made up but I tend to lean towards no rail but I'm kind of like a yo yo, tomorrow I might change my mind.

I agree 100%, I too am like a yo yo. I will tell you I am leaning towards no rail. Sure fire make a rail attachment that will accept lights (it is secured by the slide stop pin) so the gun can be carried every day without but once you get home and it becomes the night stand gun the light can be attached. The holster thing is an issue as you said. I like using the Milt Sparks Summer Comfort for my 1911s and I don't think they make one for the rail gun at this time.

[O'Dell]

Since I never use rails, I'll vote for the non-rail. The only reason I have a rail gun is that the HK45C only comes that way.

[doublebarrel]

Railed 1911 just don't look right to me,will never own one.That is just my opinion.Get what works best for you though.

[Bawanna]

Railed 1911 just don't look right to me,will never own one.That is just my opinion.Get what works best for you though.

Your definitely not the only one that feels this way. This comes up in every discussion we've had. It just don't look like John Moses planned it that way.

Just ain't natural.

Dawson Precision makes some really nice add on rails. I'd considered adding one to my Para Double stack 45 for a night stand gun and replacing the Glock 21 in there now, but drilling and tapping isn't really my thing, I'm a wood guy.

[gb6491]

I've one 1911 with a rail and while I've never mounted anything on the rail (nice to have the option though), I like the pistol very much. It's a little heavier but shoots with a little less flip/rise. It's not traditional, but this particular pistol fits a niche (or scratches an itch) for me. It's one end of my 1911 spectrum (with my Remington R1S being the other, more traditional end... if you overlook the stainless steel and dovetailed front sight:w00t:). As mentioned, holster selection is not as varied.
http://oi41.tinypic.com/rrjms3.jpg
http://i49.tinypic.com/32znko2.jpg


Your definitely not the only one that feels this way. This comes up in every discussion we've had. It just don't look like John Moses planned it that way.

Just ain't natural.

...
Flashlights have come a lot further than pistols since JMB's day.;)


:Amflag2:
Bottom line? If I could have only one 1911, it would be a non-rail version.
Regards,
Greg

[Bawanna]

Well I totally love both ends of your spectrum Greg. Both are gorgeous.

That Remington just sings to me.

I agree also, I think ole John Moses worked mostly by a window during the best part of the daylight hours, not sure they had much in the way of flashlights but I'm confident he could have invented one had he set his mind to it.

They surely have come a very long way just in the last 10 years or so.

[MW surveyor]

Well, I was gonna go with no rail.....................................but Greg's S&W looks darned good to me. Love the fish scale look, definitely makes the gun look better than JMB intended. Lord (and JMB) forgive me. I'm just a weak man.

[Bawanna]

Been about 10 minutes, have you been struck by lightening yet?

I'm fond of that fish scale too, it looks good and is a very good gripping surface. So it looks cool and works too, a win win.

I think JMB would approve but I'm not risking nothing.

[MW surveyor]

Not yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet.

Hey Mr. B. doez u no how 2 do that fish scale?

[Bawanna]

Not yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet.

Hey Mr. B. doez u no how 2 do that fish scale?

No sir, I surely don't. I wish I did, I surely wish I did.

Glad your still with us. I'd stay inside for a couple of days just to be safe. Another rainy weekend here, so won't be no trouble for me. Wish my Brownells order and some wood had arrived today but alas I'll have to make do without.

[muggsy]

I like my 1911s unadorned. Old school.

[ltxi]

Well, I was gonna go with no rail.....................................but Greg's S&W looks darned good to me. Love the fish scale look, definitely makes the gun look better than JMB intended. Lord (and JMB) forgive me. I'm just a weak man.

x2...in total

[JFootin]

You can get the S&W fish scales without getting the rail.

http://i1230.photobucket.com/albums/ee486/John_England/Miscellanious%20Guns%20and%20Holsters/SW1911SCE-SeriesRight3.jpg

Now the only choice is blued or SS slide. This is my dream 1911. It even has the initial of my last name on the grips! :)

[Barth]

that is the question. I'm looking at buying a Colt 1911 and have 2 in mind, a Colt Combat Elite or a Colt Rail Gun. Both are the same price. Just trying to decide if the rail is necessary/worth it or not. What say you?

If you're planning on attaching something to the rail? Then it's worth it.
If you're planning on selling it down the road? Then might be worth it.

Other than that it's just personal preference.
Like front slide serrations.
Or a bobbed hammer.

Just like girls with different colored hair.
I've got guns with and without rails.

[JERRY]

i find a railgun is best and most likely to be used when building clearing and such other tactical operations. off duty ive yet to have the occurance nor can i image the occurence where i would need a light mounted on my gun. i do not clear buildings by myself....

that said, i in no way trivialize a tact-light. carrying a small flash light which you can use seperate from your gun is advisable.

i like having the tac-rail option such as on my glocks, i can add or remove the light at will.

[jeepster09]

You can get the S&W fish scales without getting the rail.

http://i1230.photobucket.com/albums/ee486/John_England/Miscellanious%20Guns%20and%20Holsters/SW1911SCE-SeriesRight3.jpg

Now the only choice is blued or SS slide. This is my dream 1911. It even has the initial of my last name on the grips! :)

I love the looks of those :amflag:

[wyntrout]

Man! You guys are talking about the wrong kind of rail gun. I'm thinking of the one with the electro-magnetic accelerator that can whip small projectiles down the rail at several thousand METERS a second... punch holes through tanks and ships!

I still don't like the idea of a light on a weapon... nice target! LASERs are bad enough!

Wynn:)

[Barth]

Man! You guys are talking about the wrong kind of rail gun. I'm thinking of the one with the electro-magnetic accelerator that can whip small projectiles down the rail at several thousand METERS a second... punch holes through tanks and ships!

I still don't like the idea of a light on a weapon... nice target! LASERs are bad enough!

Wynn:)
http://images4.static-bluray.com/reviews/663_5.jpghttp://www.movie-censorship.com/www/SBs/4900/e77.jpg
http://xtiner18.edublogs.org/files/2010/09/eraser.jpg

[mluikey]

Thanks for all of the input. I think I will go with the non railed gun. GB that S&W is beautiful. The Colts are very bland in comparison.

Jerry, since I am no longer an LEO, I don't think I will be clearing any buildings any time soon. I do keep a flashlight (or 2) with me at all times.

JFootin, that is also one fine looking Smith.

Wynn.... hehehehehehehe :)

[wyntrout]

Ahhh... Hollywood and scriptwriters.... I still remember that Jag episode... or was it Patriot Games... where the BGs were coming across the field at night and all you saw were saucer-sized "eyes"... big glowing ones... supposed to be the night vision golggles... REAL stealthy... like the glowing wands with LASER sights.

Wynn:D

[HappyCamper]

that is the question. I'm looking at buying a Colt 1911 and have 2 in mind, a Colt Combat Elite or a Colt Rail Gun. Both are the same price. Just trying to decide if the rail is necessary/worth it or not. What say you?
Amazing this thread came up. I have always wanted a 1911 .45. Of course I have waited so long that guns are at a premium but yeah, I am fascinated at having a rail. I was kind of thinking what might be available in a few years and a guy might wish he had an attachment point for it. There are after market rails available but the ones I saw needed holes drilled. My situation is that I already have a Colt 1911 but it's 10mm. I DO NOT want to alter that gun but it is a darn good weapon.
My buddy says there is a light that strobes for disorienting the attacker but I do like the idea of just simply carrying a light. Dunno :confused:
"Man! You guys are talking about the wrong kind of rail gun. I'm thinking of the one with the electro-magnetic accelerator that can whip small projectiles down the rail at several thousand METERS a second... punch holes through tanks and ships!"
Yeah Wynn, that's what I thought when I went to the Colt website. Right now it takes too much electricity for a man portable unit if I understand correctly but I've played computer games that had them. FUN FUN!

[Salty]

No rail on my 1911's - rails on my XD's is the way I roll. I carry a handheld flashlight most of the time with me and find I don't often mount anything on the rail guns. I keep an xd by the bed with a combo laser and led light on the rail for emergency use; plus a 97 Winchester 12 ga. for those really bad days. A rail on a 1911 just doesn't look right to me.

[TheTman]

One thing I do like on a pistol is the front cocking serrations. I have a couple pistols with rails, but have never mounted anything on them.

[ltxi]

No rail on my 1911's .................... A rail on a 1911 just doesn't look right to me.

Doesn't to me either, really. But more importantly, what good is it unless you hang stuff on it and hanging stuff on a 1911 looks and feels even less right...to me.

[mr surveyor]

I don't care for the rails, particularly on a 1911 platform. I have a buddy that bought one of the early Sig 1911 .... with a rail ... and I don't think he ever found a commercial, ready made holster offered for it. Since he's not one to spend a lot on a custom holster, and didn't plan to carry it (except as a side arm when we hog hunted a lot), I think he finally found a cheap Uncle Mikes rag holster it would shove down in to.

If you want to hang those battery powered doodads on your sidearm, then you may want a gun with a rail. I just wouldn't do it to a 1911.