Considering Ruger SR1911 Night Watchman

[Countryside]

Update: I sent it back to Ruger. They called me and let me know they had gotten it but was needing more info about the return address. I told them I would be gone for a few days and that no one would be at the location to sign for it. I asked if they could they delay sending it back until after Sept 28, they said sure...no problem. I did get the name and extension number of the rep I spoke with. While gone on vacation I got an email indicating that the gun had been shipped on its way back to me on 09-21....while I was not there. I called Ruger back and all they could offer was "Oops...sorry." I asked what they did to it and they said they replaced the extractor.
This is one of those times where it helps to be on first name basis with the FedEx guy. According to the rules they are to make 3 delivery attempts and then send it back. He made one attempt on 09-23 but no more after that. He must have saw the note on the door (it's my business address) that I would be gone. The tracking link website says that the next delivery attempt will be on Monday the 28th. He's looking out for me.
I wouldn't think an extractor would be causing all those symptoms, but they said they fired 30rds without issue...so I guess I'll see how it shoots next week.

[Abraham]

Gentlemen, I love the looks of the great 1911, whether made by Colt, Wilson, Kimber etc., but they're all, irrespective of mfg plagued with reliability problems.

The 1911 is wildly popular with many, but then so are flintlocks and cap and ball pistols.

Get a modern, exceedingly more reliable gun.

You won't regret it.

[Taypo]

Gentlemen, I love the looks of the great 1911, whether made by Colt, Wilson, Kimber etc., but they're all, irrespective of mfg plagued with reliability problems.

The 1911 is wildly popular with many, but then so are flintlocks and cap and ball pistols.

Get a modern, exceedingly more reliable gun.

You won't regret it.

So are '67 Chevys but I'd take one of those over a 2016 Camry any day of the week.

We know that there are easier options out there (Heck, I bought a plastic HK for a beater gun) but they dont have as much soul as a well running 1911. Anyone can take a Glock out of a box, load it and punch holes. Those of us who choose to run with JMB's crowning achievement prefer to do it because it's got a heart and a personality that a polymer gun will never have.

[nyj]

Gentlemen, I love the looks of the great 1911, whether made by Colt, Wilson, Kimber etc., but they're all, irrespective of mfg plagued with reliability problems.

The 1911 is wildly popular with many, but then so are flintlocks and cap and ball pistols.

Get a modern, exceedingly more reliable gun.

You won't regret it.

Wat.

[Abraham]

Taypo,

You anthropomorphizing, poetic devil.

Excuse mr. criminal, while I whip out this venerable boat anchor 1911 and it then goes clunk...

Wait, wait, I have a Glock, Sig, etc. BUG, now, BANG, finally another criminal bites the dust.

Yes, the above is a fairy tale, as once the soulful, nay august, 1911 fails, the criminal cuts you down...after he recovers from laughing at your antique blunderbuss equivalent.

[Pawpaw]

Gentlemen, I love the looks of the great 1911, whether made by Colt, Wilson, Kimber etc., but they're all, irrespective of mfg plagued with reliability problems.

The 1911 is wildly popular with many, but then so are flintlocks and cap and ball pistols.

Get a modern, exceedingly more reliable gun.

You won't regret it.

Spoken like someone with absolutely zero knowledge of the subject.

[b4aftr]

Here's a remedy...polymer on your weak side... 1911 on strong side and draw both.

I have yet to have an issue with any 1911 I've had from 3-5" and all different brands. I buy them, take them completely apart, clean, inspect, lube, reassemble. I do the same thing with my polymers though too.

[Abraham]

Pawpaw,

Just being light heartedly silly, no need to get upset.

On a more serious side, I've experienced a number of 1911's, (one I owned) all of different mfgs and ALL had reliability issues. Every dad blamed one of em. So, I'm going by my experience, though I too think they're fine looking boat anchors.

How good is my guess you be a big fan of the soulful 1911?

Btw, I find Kentucky Squirrel rifles things of great beauty, but I prefer an AR.

[Countryside]

My first 1911 was a Llama Max-I (go ahead and laugh)...and that thing went bang every time...fed and fired all that I put in it.
Next gun was a plain-Jane Rock Island 1911...never missed a lick.
Had a couple of Springfields....no issues.
Then I thought I'd step up a bit...got me a Smith and Wesson 1911. Three trips back to S&W...still didn't work right. Sold it for a loss.
Got me a full size Rock Island 1911 and a compact as well. Both fed and fired without issue.
Got me both the blued and the stainless model of the Magnum Research DE1911C. The blued model functioned fine, the stainless took two trips back to the maker and one trip to my gunsmith before it started feeding the way it should.
Since then I sold the Rock Islands and the blued DE1911C for gun-funds to re-invest.
Then I got this Ruger SR1911...back to Ruger for repair...and I'll probably end up at my gunsmith with it.
Thus far in my years of shooting 1911s...it's been the so-called "low end" ones......Rock Island....that have been the best shooting ones. My Springfield 1911s did well, too.
Magnum Research and Ruger are new to the 1911 market...maybe that has something to do with it....I don't know.

[Pawpaw]

Abraham,

If you have to ask about my relationship with the 1911, then you obviously haven't been paying attention to my posts.

Back when the 1911 was first adopted by the US Army, it was the "Glock" of it's day. You could disassemble 50 pistols, scramble the parts, and reassemble 50 fully functional pistols. Of course, it was designed specifically for military use, so it worked with ball ammo.

Then came the aftermarket and our obsession with tight fitting parts which do nothing to increase accuracy but can easily hamper the weapon's ability to function. Of course, we needed it to shoot hollow point ammo, so that required a few adjustments as well.

The 1911 today is not for everyone. It's not a buy it, load it, forget about it type of pistol. If a person is not interested or willing to put in the time to learn about this classic firearm, then it would be foolish to bet your life on it. Of course, I won't bet my life on any pistol (meaning I won't carry it) until I've put it through the wringer and it's earned my trust.

[Abraham]

Pawpaw,

I'm quite familiar with the 1911's revered history.

It replaced the anemic .38 Long Colt which had proved mostly ineffective against the Moro tribesmen during The Moro Rebellion (1899–1913).

As a very young U.S. Army infantryman, I was one of only 3 in my company of 200 soldiers that earned "Expert" status shooting the 1911. (hey, it ain't bragging if you can do it)

At the time,I thought it a great pistol.

And it is, but much like the M1 was replaced with the M14, which in turn was replaced by the M16, I think the 1911 time is, well, on borrowed time.

Were I interested in a .45 caliber, I'd most probably get one of those soulless Glocks.

P.S. I still think they're beautiful!

[Pawpaw]

Then we're mostly in agreement.

I do think that saying, "they're all, irrespective of mfg plagued with reliability problems" is just as absurd as saying, "all Glocks are 100% reliable".

[Abraham]

PawPaw,

Stop yer killin me.

Of course, ALL Glocks are 100% reliable, ah, except when they're not...

[RPBrown]

Just a thought. Is this your first 1911? Is there ANY possibility you may be limp wristing it a bit? Some people that come from another type of gun, usually a revolver but not always, limp wrists a 1911 and that can cause what it seems you are describing.

Just a thought.

[nyj]

People still blame limp wristing on a gun not working?